Chapter 54: Seems... A Bit Poor
The first transaction went relatively smoothly. Although there was no immediate benefit, Su Xiao unexpectedly discovered a 'special' use for the Derived World Contact Platform.
As long as someone posted in the contact platform, Su Xiao could send an email to that contractor by consuming 30 Paradise Coins. This type of email would not reveal any information about either party, so names had to be noted within the email.
Su Xiao rarely posted in the contact platform, so he had no idea this 'amazing' function existed. After Su Xiao told Bubu Wang about this 'amazing' ability, Bubu Wang was 'shocked'.
What shocked Bubu Wang was that Su Xiao didn't know the contact platform could be used this way. As Su Xiao's follower, as Su Xiao's rank increased, Bubu Wang had already gained access to the contact platform, but he couldn't post in it. However, he knew the platform had this function. He had previously thought Su Xiao already knew.
"Indeed, there's still a lack of intelligence."
Su Xiao muttered. After all, he was a solo player; having shortcomings in intelligence was inevitable. However, after forming an adventure group, this weakness would be compensated to some extent.
Within Reincarnation Paradise, there was a function specifically serving adventure groups: the Adventure Group Guild. This was a facility similar to the Attribute Enhancement Hall and the Skill Upgrade Hall, a semi-public facility where one could apply to form an adventure group or transfer one.
Inside the Adventure Group Guild, various adventure groups would sell intelligence to other groups. This intelligence was clearly more reliable than that from intelligence merchants, as the financial strength of adventure groups was guaranteed. Important intelligence could fetch high prices, creating a virtuous cycle.
A solo adventure group was still an adventure group and could participate in this intelligence trade. Su Xiao also possessed a lot of important intelligence, such as the underground research facility beneath the royal palace in the Akame ga Kill world, or the hidden missions of the Zoldyck family in the Hunter world.
If he sold this intelligence, he would definitely get a large amount of Paradise Coins. Unfortunately, this would expose Su Xiao's personal information and development direction. There were likely many highly intelligent contractors who could deduce many things from the smallest clues.
If it were a group of dozens or even a hundred people, there would naturally be no problem of exposing personal information. Only heaven knew which members had experienced those worlds. Except for open or semi-open worlds, adventure groups above second rank preferred to split into several teams to experience derived worlds.
This risk-free public disclosure of intelligence greatly improved its quality. The only downside was that this type of intelligence trade mostly occurred between adventure groups. As for solo players, aside from wealthy lone wolves, most solo players didn't have much financial strength.
It was difficult to get in touch with lone wolves, and selling intelligence was a 'willing buyer, willing seller' relationship, not something that could be sold through promotion. Over time, those adventure groups couldn't be bothered to trade with solo players; it was entirely thankless work.
Su Xiao temporarily set these thoughts aside. He still had to sell the remaining Ant King heart. From the current situation, the dozen or so solo players who had been eliminated through the previous rounds wouldn't be forcibly executed, provided they could offer a price that satisfied Su Xiao.
Derived World Contact Platform.
White Night (Solo): "Second round of trading begins. 150 grams of Ant King heart, limited to 15 people. Highest bidder wins."
Rong Jia (Solo): "What's going on? Ant King heart? Is it a hidden quest item? Or an item that can boost attributes?"
Duan (Solo): "Shut up, you salted fish above. It seems the first round of trading was successful. Judging by this, I might still have a chance to live? Big Shot White Night, I offer three Soul Crystals (Medium), one Dark Purple chest, and one Purple equipment. This is all my savings. Any higher price would cripple me, and I might die in the next derived world."
Black Heart Maniac (Solo): "Poor bastard above. I offer one Soul Crystal (Large). Sincerity shown."
Moon Demon (Solo): "One Light Gold chest. Email with photo attached. Can trade for a round."
Bald Eagle (Blazing Fire Adventure Group): "What's going on? What does the Ant King heart do? Is it an aphrodisiac????"
Dead Laugh (Blazing Fire Adventure Group): "Idiot. The point is these people killed the Ant King. Are the contractors in the East Gorteau region all this strong?"
...
The derived world was in chaos. As a semi-open world, the Hunter world didn't only have third-rank contractors like Su Xiao; there were also many second-rank contractors.
Clearly, the situation in the contact platform left those second-rank contractors completely baffled, and they were also envious, given the shocking bids from the third-rank contractors.
Su Xiao scrolled through the messages in the contact platform. He gained a new understanding of how poor solo players could be. It was clear that some were already offering prices that would cut into their own flesh. As for trying to get the equipment they were wearing, it would be more reliable to trick them all together, kill them, and open their Scarlet Cards.
The equipment they wore was their lifeline, something essential for survival. Trying to strip equipment from them was truly less reliable than opening their Scarlet Cards.
Losing equipment meant death, and failing the quest also meant death. They could be cut to the bone, but they would never be drained of 'blood'. That was the nature of contractors in Reincarnation Paradise. Not everyone was strong, but most had backbone. Those with weak willpower had already been weeded out in the first and second ranks.
Su Xiao could tolerate them being poor, but what was that about trading for a round? However, judging from the photo sent (nude photo), this woman had some charm—long legs, a slim waist...
Su Xiao certainly wouldn't have a round with her in the derived world. In a derived world, it was more likely to get stabbed mid-encounter. Female contractors were dangerous; they were women who had fought their way through fire and blood. This more open type of female contractor was even more dangerous, basically a venomous beauty.
"Hoo~"
Bubu Wang beside him let out a long sigh. He looked at Su Xiao, as if to say: "Master, these solo players are so poor it stings the eyes. What do we do?"
"Indeed... I didn't expect them to be this poor."
The highest bidder was the contractor willing to offer one Soul Crystal (Large). This was likely obtained after completing some quest in the Hunter world, as this place was a high-yield area for Soul Crystals.
Apart from that contractor, no one else could produce a Soul Crystal (Large). This showed that Soul Crystals (Large) were extremely rare materials within the third rank.
Su Xiao began arranging the trading locations. He wasn't too worried about these contractors ganging up on him. He hadn't feared them before, and now with Bubu Wang and Amu backing him up, it was even less of a concern.
Three hours later, Su Xiao traded away the last 10 grams of Ant King heart. The large number of items he obtained would be processed uniformly after returning to Reincarnation Paradise. After a moment's hesitation, he decided not to linger in the Hunter world.
Continuing to develop plotlines in other regions was tempting, but the remaining time was clearly insufficient. After obtaining the Ant King's heart, Su Xiao's remaining stay time was drastically reduced.
As for the East Gorteau incident, there was nothing left to develop. The Ant King was dead, and the Chimera Ants had been almost completely wiped out by the contractors.
[Hunter has completed the main quest: The Ant King's Heart.]
[You have obtained 3 True Attribute Points, Soul Crystal (Large) x3.]
[Due to main quest completion rate exceeding 95%, final evaluation increased.]
[Tip: The Hunter will return to Reincarnation Paradise in 60 seconds.]
...
One minute passed quickly. The sensation of teleportation appeared. Su Xiao's body gradually faded and finally disappeared. Bubu Wang beside him did the same. Before disappearing, the dog let out a satisfied burp, a burp of contentment.