Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 1860: Cruel start

Ye Zhongming wasn't particularly fond of the title Lord Ye; it felt overly crude and evoked a heavy gangster atmosphere.

Within Cloud Peak, individuals addressed him as Boss, Boss Zhong, Zhongming, Brother Ye, or Little Ye. Strangers outside typically used Boss Ye. Intimate allies with elevated positions opted for Zhongming or brother, whereas subordinates preferred Brother Ye or Brother Zhongming. More remote acquaintances might courteously say Mr. Ye.

A few people did use Lord Ye for him, though they were rare.

For whatever reason, Ji Ruiguang insisted on that particular address.

Previously, the pair could almost be labeled foes. Beyond major clashes, Cloud Peak and the resistance zones clashed frequently in smaller ways. This intensified particularly after aligning fully with Chief Commander Mu, pushing ties with other resistance zones to a chill, which sparked events like the assault on Cloud Peak and its fierce retaliation.

Yet, Ji Ruiguang's subsequent moves left Ye Zhongming baffled regarding this influential figure's true aims. He stepped in for Mu Hanyi, rescuing folks while dispatching regrets to Cloud Peak. Cloud Peak's leadership pondered deeply for ages but failed to decipher his intentions.

Did he seek harmony with Cloud Peak? Or signal a ceasefire? Perhaps he harbored a specific demand, leveraging this to soften relations gradually?

No matter what, Ye Zhongming and Ji Ruiguang now shared a foundation for dialogue instead of clashing upon encounters.

Ye Zhongming clasped hands with the resistance zone's chief. Such formal manners had faded from his routine for so long that he sensed a touch of unfamiliarity.

A non-human entity trailed Ji Ruiguang, no native of Earth, but rather a being clad in bluish-green scales, resembling a game lizardman yet lacking a tail.

The resistance zone head cast a look at the tent nearby and murmured, "If we keep our voices low, it won't bother anyone inside, will it?"

This fellow obviously recognized the camp's affiliation and its occupants.

Ye Zhongming gave a nod, scanned the surroundings, spotted several stone stools, and motioned to take seats there.

Such items dotted the newcomer camp abundantly; crafting one took mere seconds for anybody.

"Let me get straight to it. We're all from the same homeland; cooperation makes sense between us."

The words "all from the same country" carried extra weight beyond borders, and Ye Zhongming felt their pull just like anyone else.

"For starters, two items: gear and drugs."

Ye Zhongming saw this coming. After all, the Cloud Peak King doubled as the Equipment King, renowned across the national zone. Possessors of gear forged by Ye Zhongming himself drew widespread envy.

Though Ye Zhongming churned out equipment in bulk with solid quality, most went to fuel Cloud Peak's own forces. Remaining stock favored partners first, leaving scant amounts to trickle outward, which fueled high demand and prices.

"What I want to talk about is the trade method. Could we switch it up?"

Ji Ruiguang revealed the core purpose of his arrival.

Mere point-based buys were open to all; nationality wasn't a factor. By invoking that shared bond, he clearly aimed for something deeper.

Ye Zhongming signaled him to proceed.

"Points matter a lot. As representatives of our races, we must prioritize their benefits. So, relying only on points for deals won't work. I'm suggesting alternatives or methods beyond points. Like, items we possess, or if you require specific resources, share a list, we'll hunt them down, and apply their worth to offset portions, things like that."

"Naturally, additional options exist…"

Ji Ruiguang kept his tone hushed, and as Ye Zhongming absorbed his words, admiration stirred within him for this powerhouse. He had indeed topped the national zone once; his mindset stood out sharply. From initial detachment, Ye Zhongming found himself drawn in by the proposals.

Upon reflection, the Cloud Peak King countered with his own terms and thoughts. The duo huddled, hashing out details for more than thirty minutes.

Following that, Ji Ruiguang departed, and Ye Zhongming stepped back into the tent. By then, He had finished her production run.

"As per your instructions, I focused on brewing heaps of second-turn wound remedies, suitable for wounds inside or out." He indicated a sizable crate first. Ye Zhongming pried it open, revealing no fewer than three hundred vivid crimson tablets. For outer wounds, grind them to dust and apply; for inner ones, swallow whole, one by one. Their potency paled against third- or fourth-turn variants, sure, but they delivered strong results for nine-star evolvers, matching at least the top-tier healing brews from Earth's wheel.

On the prior occasion, He had offloaded plenty of these, fetching about ten points apiece. Truth be told, that was steep, yet official elixirs ran twenty points. Though a tad stronger, their output lagged behind.

Ye Zhongming paused briefly and extracted a hundred tablets.

"Five hundred points total."

He quoted the figure and added fifty more tablets for Ye Zhongming. "Count these toward the material expenses."

In reality, each tablet cost roughly five points to make. She was basically handing them over gratis, and tossing in the extra fifty for costs meant He would shoulder a hefty deficit.

Still, Ye Zhongming accepted without pushback; certain values defied easy measure.

Apart from those, He had whipped up two further medicine varieties: a third-turn toxin boasting fierce venom, and a fourth-turn booster akin to a stimulant yet far superior. Upon intake, it amplified skill damage, physical resilience, response speed, and a dash of quickness, sans severe drawbacks—merely some lingering warmth or chill once the half-hour boost faded.

For these, two vials of toxin held about a hundred milliliters each, alongside twelve fourth-turn boosters.

"Hand one booster to each squad member as my welcome token. The remainder goes to you, for fifty points."

He stuck to a discounted rate that cut into her margins.

Ye Zhongming accepted once more without objection.

Next, He lingered to recuperate. Per their earlier pact, Ye Zhongming sought out Jie Kui, Yang Tuo, and the rest, collected the supplies they'd acquired per his wishes, merged them with his own purchases, and headed back to He's tent to kick off her forging.

On this round, he aimed to craft higher-grade arms and gear.

Post the grueling second mini-cycle, Ye Zhongming noted widespread needs for gear restocks, particularly arms and protective pieces for vital spots. He zeroed in on those categories and dove into focused creation.

Moments ticked away steadily. With just one hour remaining until the third cycle's launch, Ji Ruiguang reemerged beyond the tent. Joined by He, plus Jie Kui and Shi Kangbu who'd just arrived back, they all stood ready for Ye Zhongming.

"Enter," came Ye Zhongming's call from within. The group stepped inside collectively and froze at the sight awaiting them.