Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1836: Small profits huge turnover

"Ye, do you really think that will work? That woman didn't seem the least bit interested when she walked away. You only gave her empty promises. Honestly, if I were in her shoes, I wouldn't buy it either."

Jie Kui used a mix of frantic gestures and words to express his doubts to Ye Zhongming.

Ye Zhongming remained silent. He wasn't entirely certain about the female life form's internal thoughts himself. He had presented his best case; whether she chose to join his ranks was ultimately beyond his control.

In truth, the Cloud Peak King was more than eighty percent certain that she would eventually join a team during the final cycles. For her, it was the only logical path to survival.

The only thing Ye Zhongming couldn't be sure of was whether he would be her choice of leader.

Ye Zhongming had no desire to manage a massive, multi-racial coalition. While such a group offered point bonuses, the logistical nightmare of distributing rewards was too high a price. He would much rather spend that energy securing kills on his own.

His vision was an elite strike force focused on hunting high-value mutated lives and parasitic beasts. To succeed in such high-stakes hunting, the ability to maintain continuous combat was vital.

It would be a failure if the team required two full days of recovery after every major kill.

However, when facing off against powerful mutated life forms and parasites, sustaining injuries was a mathematical certainty. This was precisely why that female life form was so essential.

A professional medicine-maker! Ye Zhongming considered it a stroke of luck that someone with her skills had even reached this stage. It would be a devastating loss if he failed to recruit her.

He headed toward the store with Jie Kui. The crowds had thinned significantly by now. Jie Kui’s wounds were relatively minor, costing him forty points for two potions. After consuming one, his injuries were largely mended; he tucked the second away for emergencies. For a man with barely over a hundred points to his name, the expense was physically painful.

Ye Zhongming’s own recovery was more complicated. While basic potions were available, the specific treatment for his arm was priced at forty points. Furthermore, lifting Naka’s curse required a "Negative Status Cleanser." Each bottle cost a staggering one hundred points and only removed a single debuff.

Ye Zhongming’s current point total allowed for only one bottle.

He and Jie Kui traded a glance, both silently agreeing that the store was a total rip-off.

Gritting his teeth, Ye Zhongming purchased one Negative Status Cleanser to fix his hearing.

As for the damage to his arm, he decided to let it mend naturally. Since he possessed the Sea King’s Crown, the toxins had already been neutralized by the seawater earlier.

After lingering in the shop a bit longer, the pair exited with long faces. Everything was simply too expensive for their current budget.

Following the flow of the crowd, they headed to the free market with their remaining points.

"Ye, are we putting our gear up for sale?"

"Let's scout the area first."

"Scout what? These top-tier lives are surprisingly organized. Look, the materials section is over there, finished goods are right here, and the miscellaneous items are on that side."

"Mm."

"Ye, more than two thousand out of thirty thousand people died in just three days. That’s a crazy casualty rate. If things get as violent as you predict, how many will actually be left? Ten thousand? Maybe only five thousand?"

"I don't know."

"Ye..."

"Shut up!"

"Fine."

Communication became much easier once his hearing was restored. However, Jie Kui was proving to be quite the chatterbox, a habit Ye Zhongming felt the need to crush immediately.

The makeshift market offered a bit of everything. Everyone was desperate to trade their three-day haul for points, especially since the window for point-based trading only lasted for the twelve hours between cycles.

Ye Zhongming moved through the stalls quickly, appearing to give the wares only a passing glance. He bought nothing, only stopping occasionally to inquire about a price.

"Ye." Jie Kui finally broke his silence, dying to know what the plan was.

"Just taking the pulse of the market."

Ye Zhongming gave a short answer before pivoting and walking briskly toward a specific section. This time, he moved with purpose.

Upon reaching a stall, he wasted no time on small talk and began a buying spree.

Watching from the sidelines, Jie Kui noticed Ye Zhongming was picking up very basic, cheap materials—the kind of junk most people ignored. Ye Zhongming dropped fifty points on a massive pile of these scraps.

When they returned to their foul-smelling tent, Shi Kangbu was still there, wallowing in misery. It seemed he had only left long enough to seek basic medical aid.

Jie Kui curled his lip, feeling zero sympathy. At this point in the game, everyone’s heart had turned to stone. Besides, Shi Kangbu and Bu Lanuo hadn't exactly been kind to them before. The fact that Jie Kui didn't openly mock him showed a surprising amount of restraint.

Ignoring Shi Kangbu entirely, Ye Zhongming went to his bunk. He began processing the materials one by one, swiftly forging them into various pieces of equipment.

Jie Kui was well aware of Ye Zhongming’s skills, but the sheer speed of the manufacturing was breathtaking. Even the depressed Shi Kangbu couldn't help but stare, drawn in by the display of craftsmanship.

"Want to invest?" Ye Zhongming asked Jie Kui.

Jie Kui blinked in surprise, then turned and bolted out of the tent.

He returned a short while later hauling another massive load of raw materials.

"We split the profits fifty-fifty."

"You're the boss."

With the deal struck, Ye Zhongming immediately began converting the materials Jie Kui had bought with his savings into gear.

By the time they finished the work, three hours of the rest period had vanished. Many of the participants were already asleep.

Ye Zhongming and Jie Kui took the new equipment back to the free market, which was now much quieter.

The moment they displayed their goods, they drew a crowd.

It wasn't that the quality was legendary, but the sheer volume was impressive—hundreds of individual items. The selection was vast, ranging from basic weaponry and armor to accessories and utility parts. They had a bit of everything.

Many high-level combatants took one look and walked away; the equipment tier was too low to be of use to them. However, others were intrigued and began haggling over prices.

As a master craftsman, Ye Zhongming used high-quality materials to ensure durability. He could have made higher-tier gear, but that would have lowered his success rate and drained more energy. Such items would also have specific requirements that might limit the pool of potential buyers.

By sticking to mass-market items, he ensured a near-perfect success rate and broader appeal.

The prices were kept low to ensure a quick turnover, yet the profit margin was nearly one hundred percent. Within two hours, their entire stock was gone. Ye Zhongming walked away with a hundred points in total revenue; Jie Kui earned a similar amount, though he had to pay Ye Zhongming a twenty-point cut.

"That's it? No more?" Jie Kui was hooked on the easy profit. He looked confused as Ye Zhongming began packing up.

"Don't be fooled by the number of rookies. Right now, the demand isn't at its peak. Most people still have functioning gear. They'll choose to repair their high-tier items rather than buy our basic stuff. But after the next cycle, when the fighting gets brutal, their equipment will start to shatter. That’s when the real demand starts. Besides, we need to sleep."

After finishing his explanation, Ye Zhongming returned to the store. He purchased another Negative Status Cleanser but didn't use it immediately, opting to keep it as a backup.

As he stepped back into the tent, Shi Kangbu unexpectedly approached him.