Chapter 37 - 32 Sudden Wealth

Chapter 37 - 32 Sudden Wealth

"It seems value grants the eligibility to be used..."

After leaving the Starshine Recycling Station, Tao Yu felt like he was back in the 'Black House.'

It's not the use that scares people, but rather the fear of being worthless to others.

Was Liu Hong, the store manager, fond of him at first sight?

No, it was that he was optimistic about Tao Yu's potential, a kind of expectation and confidence.

Fifteen thousand units of Yuan Force!

That was the current amount of Yuan Force Tao Yu possessed.

A set of skills cost five thousand, but the bulk of it was from that Blood Orchid which sold for over twenty times its price!

When Tao Yu presented the Blood Orchid, he could clearly perceive the other party's breath become hurried. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

In the end, he could produce ten thousand Yuan Force, not just from the Blood Orchid itself, but also with the inclusion of intelligence about the general environment where the flower grew.

In fact, Tao Yu knew even more about the Blood Orchid, such as the fact that it blooms only once every few years or so.

But he didn't give an answer beyond what seemed within his proper knowledge.

Perhaps more detailed intelligence could also be sold, but what's the use of money if you're dead...

Such matters weren't for Tao Yu to concern himself with at the moment; what he needed now were resources and time to grow.

Even casually releasing some simple information about the Blood Orchid was actually something Tao Yu had intended to do all along.

After all, Li Le had also obtained the Blood Orchid—if he were to collude with some heavy hitter to take long-term control of that canyon, then Tao Yu, who shared the same knowledge and secrets, would become an obstacle.

If that was the case, it was better to just sell that information as a freebie along with the deal.

No matter how high the price or profit, he couldn't guard it just yet.

Fifteen thousand was stretching it as is.

"You still need strength."

About eating dozens of Blood Orchids, Tao Yu had no regrets.

Five was no big deal, but trotting out fifty, whether he could leave there alive would be in question.

Store Manager Liu Hong might seem amiable and keen on peaceful profit-making, but Tao Yu had no means to probe his humanity. In fact, Tao Yu openly expressed his fear of being coveted, consuming most of the flowers himself to emphasize safety first.

From outside, one could faintly hear the rhythmic shouts of "Heave!" echoing from within, indicating the trainees had already begun their exercises.

Wanliu Dojo was the only training establishment in Hunter's Fort and ranked among the top outside the city.

The martial essence of their Five Gate Boxing Techniques, Tiger, Crane, Python, Bear, Ape, each cost as much as five thousand, and that didn't include eventual mastery.

The establishment taught a variety of other skills including firearms, Basic Combat, bladed weapons, Basic Breathing Method, footwork, climbing, and many others.

Individual techniques like "Burst", highlighting specific explosive movements, were also available.

The prices varied widely.

But even the cheapest cost eight hundred units of Yuan Force.

It was safe to say that any Outsider who could afford to pay for lessons here in one go either had a considerable personal value or came from affluent family conditions.

However, there were also those on a 'skill loan'.

In the past, as long as one had combat talent, they could 'borrow skills' here, with an annualized interest rate of thirteen returned on nine borrowed, accrued interest compounded over installment periods.

Even among Outsiders, this was considered a reasonable rate.

For the Dojo, if a student were to die during an Abyss mission and couldn't pay back the loan, they'd only lose a bit of teaching effort, a loss they could easily absorb.

This strategy greatly expanded the target demographic able to afford the services.

Those already possessing combat talent were highly likely to be gathered in the company districts, where survival rates were much higher compared to the initial Awakening. Individuals with combat talent were also more likely to possess the capacity to repay the debt, making it a no-lose situation for the dojo.

Similarly, some people from less affluent backgrounds, who urgently needed certain foundational skills, would also opt for a loan to navigate through the difficult initial stages.

The dojo's registration area was located outside of the walls, entirely outdoors.

It was just a sign that read "Registration", hanging near an old wooden desk, behind which sat a young person dressed in a gray dojo uniform.

Compared to the relative quiet when Tao Yu passed by before, he noticed the area now had a queue.

And glancing over, he recognized quite a few faces.

Several were survivors from the recent event, faces that Tao Yu, with his Dynamic Vision, had scanned and not easily forgotten.

"Everyone's here for a free ride, huh? But I get it, a learning fee of five thousand must be the high-end rate in the Outsider regions," Tao Yu pondered. Whether it was for the half-price deals, skill loans, or the free skill slots, if used on the most expensive skills, it seemed perfectly sensible.

Isn't that what I've been thinking too?

But looking at the constipated expression on the face of the young person managing the registration desk, Tao Yu understood that Wanliu Dojo itself was probably not so willing.

It was possible that they were being pressured to teach at low rates or even for free by the company...