Chapter 417: Ashore
The person registering them was an old man, who pushed up his reading glasses and glanced at them. "All three of you?"
Xu Huo turned around and found the masked player he had seen once on the train standing behind him. He answered the old man's question, "I'm also going to Deep Blue Laboratory."
"Name," the old man asked.
"My name is Chu Yuan." Chu Yuan looked back at Xu Huo. Xu Huo didn't use his own name. "Xu Zhi."
"Mao Wei." That was the masked player's name.
After registering the three of them, the old man handed each of them a card representing their first time ashore, along with a guide to the island. "At the Iris Hotel, you can stay for free just by showing this card. As it happens, there's a ship to Deep Blue Laboratory tomorrow. You can buy some necessary items today, and you'll get a discount with this card."
"Great." Chu Yuan happily took them, then handed the remaining two to the people who didn't like to reach out.
"When is the next ship to Deep Blue Laboratory?" Xu Huo asked.
"Hard to say. Maybe a week later, maybe not until next month. There aren't many players going to Deep Blue Laboratory. Otherwise, you could charter a boat yourselves." The old man glanced at him and Mao Wei, then gave each of them a can of wheat ale and a coupon for a massage parlor.
Xu Huo took the coupon, flipped it over to look at it a couple of times, then smiled and said, "This place is really nice. They give away so many things even before you get on the island."
"Of course. We make sure everyone who comes to Saiel Coast feels at home." The old man beamed.
Walking out of the shop, Xu Huo deliberately lagged behind a little, letting Mao Wei go first, then told Chu Yuan he had some business to take care of and wouldn't go to the hotel first.
The two of them were now tied together and couldn't go anywhere separately. Chu Yuan said with difficulty, "How about we don't go tomorrow and wait for the next one?"
"I don't have the money to charter a boat." Xu Huo had seen the price list for chartering boats when he walked over. A vessel that could safely navigate the Saiel Sea cost at least a hundred thousand White Notes, and that didn't include the cost of hiring crew. The price for returning was even higher—unless you planned to trade ore, you'd have to get in touch with the Bolen Clan.
All the boats here prioritized transporting players in groups, which was a way for the Bolen Clan to control resources.
"That's true. There might not be a ship to Deep Blue Laboratory next week either." Chu Yuan tugged at the rope on his wrist in frustration, looking at Xu Huo with resentment. "Fine, let's go. We're tied together on this rope. Don't hold me back."
"No problem." Xu Huo agreed readily, then turned around and headed for the massage parlor with the coupon.
"You only have one day to prepare, and you're in the mood for this?" Chu Yuan stared at him in shock. "And you're dragging me along?"
Xu Huo glanced at him, and the man choked on his own saliva. "Don't look at me like that. I don't have that kind of hobby... and I'm definitely not going to squat outside the door keeping watch for you!"
"You have quite the imagination." Xu Huo said flatly, stepping into the shop first.
Chu Yuan followed reluctantly. When he saw a few women in swimsuits walking toward them, his eyes widened slightly, and he blurted out, "What are your rates here?"
"What are you talking about, big brother? This is a legitimate massage parlor." A woman in a black swimsuit draped one arm over his shoulder and blew into his ear.
Chu Yuan's face flushed red, and he stammered, "Legitimate... I know it's legitimate..."
"Big brother is so cute." The woman kissed him, then turned to look at Xu Huo. "What kind of service would you like, sir?"
"Have someone buy some essential items for going ashore," Xu Huo said. "Price isn't an issue, but the quality has to be good."
"Easy." The woman had them taken to a private room, picked up the remote, and turned on the electronic screen. "We have a list of essentials here. Whatever you need is on it. Just pick, and we'll have someone buy it right away. We'll keep the line open the whole time, and the transaction will be recorded clearly. No cheating you."
"You can enjoy a massage while you wait. Pay after the items are delivered."
"New players get a discount?" Xu Huo asked.
"Of course. Just show your landing card." The woman smiled sweetly. "With the landing card, our service fee is also discounted."
"So affordable. How much profit do you make?" Xu Huo casually gave her two thousand as a tip.
The woman's smile grew even sweeter. "Small profits but quick turnover. Besides, this is Saiel Coast. Everyone who comes is a friend. Being stingy would look bad."
"You have to be generous to keep friends." Xu Huo nodded, selected some items for going ashore, which had their prices listed. After choosing, he asked Chu Yuan, "Are you buying?"
Chu Yuan certainly wanted to, but after seeing the prices, he showed the embarrassment of the poor. "I'll look at another list."
The woman in the black swimsuit, still smiling, switched to a list with lower prices.
He hastily picked out a diving suit, an ore detector, anti-radiation medicine, food and water, and some repellents for snakes, insects, and rodents, then handed the list back to the woman.
"Why come here for a proxy purchase?" Chu Yuan couldn't help asking after the woman left. "Plenty of other shops can do it."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow at him. "I believe in being frugal. Not using a coupon when you have one is a waste. By the way, we're splitting the tip."
"Do you see the flames in my eyes?" Chu Yuan pointed at himself. "That's the fire of resentment against the rich burning. You're so rich, and you still want to split the tip with me? I didn't ask you to give it."
"A tip makes the buyer more attentive. You also benefit from it in practice. Splitting it is fair." Xu Huo didn't plan to say more and changed the subject. "Are you getting a massage or not?"
The massage was real, but it was done by robots, reportedly high-end androids imported from other game zones that could serve as companions, only available with the top-tier package.
Chu Yuan looked very disappointed and finally choked out, "Since they're so realistic, why not just use real people?"
The robots scanned their bodies. Xu Huo's robot said, "Your body is very healthy and doesn't require special massage. It is recommended you use the gentle mode to relax your body."
When it came to Chu Yuan: "Your body is relatively weak. Please rest more and avoid overexerting yourself. Based on your health condition, it is recommended you choose the stimulation mode to enhance cell activity."
Xu Huo glanced at him. "With a condition like that, don't even think about real people."
Chu Yuan shamefully switched his robot to stimulation mode.
Half a minute later, screams filled the room.
Xu Huo put on noise-canceling headphones and watched the video feedback from the buyer.
In addition to the items Chu Yuan had bought, he purchased an inflatable raft, a tight-fitting protective suit and helmet, reinforced isolation gloves, two anti-radiation sleeping bags, and bodily fluids from mutated species. He didn't buy any of the food, water, ore detectors, or the appraisal and mining tools the players on the train had mentioned.
He wasn't here for the ore. He'd pick up a couple if convenient... The problem was this Chu Yuan. He'd still be tied to him for four more days, which would be very inconvenient inside the instance.