In the heart of the settlement stood a modest plaza, nearly a thousand square meters in size, adjacent to a five-story building. This was the martial training ground and administrative center of the Settlement Governance Council.
Dusk had already fallen. A large diesel generator hummed loudly, supplying electricity to the building as figures came and went, each tending to the day's final tasks. In the plaza, a unit of enforcers stood in orderly formation under the command of a squad leader.
Beep—
A small cargo truck blared its horn as it returned, pulling up in front of the administrative building. Even before it had come to a complete stop, several sturdy men leapt down with practiced ease. Luo Hou narrowed his eyes. On the back of the truck was a mound of indistinct shapes—and even from afar, the metallic tang of blood was unmistakable.
This vehicle was one of only three still operational in the settlement and belonged to the hunting team.
Clearly, the hunters had returned from a successful expedition.
The men began unloading the truck, flinging open the rear doors.
Gasp—
A collective breath was drawn from the gathering crowd. Inside the truck bed lay the piled corpses of horned mountain goats—first-tier mutant beasts. As each carcass was hauled down, Luo Hou counted nearly twenty in total. Though these creatures stood less than a meter tall and weighed only seventy to eighty kilograms each, they possessed razor-sharp horns and surprising agility. Mild by nature, they rarely attacked unprovoked—but in battle, they were more than a match for a first-tier Evolver.
Each goat yielded a gray crystal and a well-preserved hide worth another. Its tender meat, a favorite among survivors, could fetch one and a half more. Altogether, the value of a single horned mountain goat was roughly three and a half gray crystals. Twenty of them meant a total value of seventy gray crystals.
There were five members in this hunting party. After their mandatory contribution to the council, each would still walk away with at least ten gray crystals—a handsome reward.
The crowd looked on with envy. In this new world, strength was survival. Every hunter here was at least a second-tier Evolver.
Luo Hou watched a moment longer, then slung his snakeskin bag over his shoulder and slipped around the edge of the crowd. He followed a stone path at the plaza's edge toward a traditional two-courtyard residence, its wooden gates exuding an air of antiquity.
"Halt! Who are you? What business do you have here?"
Before he reached the entrance, two first-tier Evolver guards stationed beside the stone lion statues blocked his path.
Their expressions wary, they looked Luo Hou up and down—worn clothes, a shabby bag slung across his back. Clearly a poor drifter. One guard's eyes flashed with contempt.
"If you have something to say, say it to us," he said coldly. "If it's important, we'll pass it along."
Luo Hou smiled disarmingly, revealing neat, pale teeth. "Could you please inform Chairman Cheng I have something I'd like to discuss with him?"
The guards exchanged skeptical glances. One of them frowned. "If it's not urgent, turn back. The Chairman doesn't meet just anyone."
Luo Hou scratched his nose, placed his bag on the ground, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offering each man one. "I promise, it's worth his time. I'd appreciate the favor."
The guards examined the cigarettes—and to their surprise, found it was Huangfu, a brand worth twenty white crystals per pack. Just two sticks were worth a full two white crystals. They pocketed the smokes without a word.
"Wait here," the first guard said expressionlessly. "If the Chairman refuses to see you, there's nothing more we can do." With that, he turned and entered the courtyard.
Roughly five or six minutes later, he returned and gave Luo Hou a nod. "Follow me. The Chairman will grant you an audience."
Luo Hou followed the man through a lush inner garden filled with fragrant plants, arriving at a brightly lit hall. The guard stopped outside the door. "The Chairman awaits inside," he said, then turned and left.
Luo Hou ascended the stone steps to the hall's entrance.
Inside, a tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man lounged in a grand armchair. Beside him, a graceful young woman poured tea into two porcelain cups. As Luo Hou reached the door, the man didn't rise. Instead, he gestured lazily with one hand and said, "Come in. Sit."
This man was none other than Cheng Qiyi, Chairman of the Settlement Governance Council—the most powerful figure in the settlement.
Luo Hou nodded, lifted his bag, and walked directly across from Cheng Qiyi. He gave a slight bow before taking a seat.
Up close, Cheng Qiyi's presence was formidable. With a square jaw, thick brows, and a prominent nose, his piercing eyes gleamed with shrewd intelligence. Even seated, his large frame exuded an oppressive authority, a natural aura of command built from years of wielding power over nearly five thousand people.
After a moment of silent observation, Cheng Qiyi spoke calmly, "No need to be nervous. Have some tea."
"Thank you, Chairman." Luo Hou lifted the cup before him and drank in a single gulp. The yellow-green brew had a subtle sweetness, leaving a pleasant aftertaste. Though he couldn't identify the variety, it was clearly no ordinary tea.
Cheng Qiyi beckoned for the young woman to refill Luo Hou's cup. Only then did he speak again.
"And what may I call you, young man? What business brings you to me?"
"I'm Luo Hou," he replied with a relaxed smile. "I came today to offer you something for purchase."
Cheng Qiyi raised an intrigued brow. Most couldn't recover so quickly from his deliberately projected pressure. He glanced at the snakeskin bag with mild interest. "Oh? Something valuable enough that you'd bring it directly to me, instead of selling it at the market?"
"Take a look, Chairman. I promise it won't disappoint."
Luo Hou opened the bag and carefully unwrapped the plastic covering, revealing rows upon rows of neatly arranged cigarettes.
Gasp—The young woman at his side let out a soft cry, quickly covering her mouth.
Even Cheng Qiyi's eyes flickered with surprise. He studied Luo Hou again, this seemingly unremarkable young man who had somehow acquired a trove of cigarettes. Interesting, he thought. With a nod, he smiled.
"Impressive, Brother Luo. Very impressive. I must say, this truly is a rare find. You didn't exaggerate—it's quite the surprise."
After mentally tallying the cigarettes' worth, Cheng Qiyi nodded once more.
"Very well. I won't shortchange you. Let's settle at market value—how does one hundred gray crystals sound for the lot?"
"My thanks, Chairman." Luo Hou accepted the offer without hesitation. The price was fair—perhaps he could earn a bit more selling them on the open market, but it wasn't worth the hassle or risk of attracting attention. His strength was still lacking. Staying low was the wiser path.
"Haha! Refreshing, young man! I like that." Cheng Qiyi laughed and signaled the woman to fetch the payment. He raised his cup. "Come, have more tea!"
They chatted casually for a few minutes until the woman returned, carrying a small tray. She placed it respectfully on the table. Under the bright overhead lights, the pigeon-egg-sized gray crystals shimmered with a soft, silvery glow—nearly blinding in their brilliance.
"Brother Luo, should you come across treasures like this again, be sure to bring them to me first!"
With the transaction complete, Cheng Qiyi offered Luo Hou one final cup of tea before seeing him out.
As Luo Hou stepped beyond the courtyard, Cheng Qiyi stood at the threshold, watching him leave.
"Interesting... very interesting. Not even a first-tier Evolver, and yet he smuggled this many cigarettes from Weiyang City? Remarkable. Have someone look into him. If there's potential, keep an eye on him."
"Yes, Chairman," the young woman replied, bowing before she retreated into the inner hall.