Chapter 18: 018 part 1
Zhu Ran returned home, basked in the sun, and took an afternoon nap. With the help of the mutated beast meat, he felt his spiritual sea was recovering slightly faster. This meant he could catalyze more Daisy cuttings today to make into dried flowers.
Thanks to Zhu Ranâs hard work, nearly thirty pots of flowers now lined the balcony, taking up almost a third of the space. A sea of vibrant green was interspersed with red and white flowers, overflowing with vitality and the breath of nature.
âI should buy some shelves to organize these.â
Zhu Ran placed an order immediately. Just then, a message arrived from Xiuna.
[Xiuna]: The Daisy tea is delicious! Itâs light, leaves a lasting fragrance, and is much better than those messy interstellar drinks. Itâs perfect for Awakeners.
[Xiuna]: It even has a soothing effect, helping to calm a spiritual sea thatâs overactive from overuse. This is good stuff.
Having received positive feedback from Xiuna, Zhu Ranâs previously uncertain heart settled. He decided to list the Daisy tea in a few days.
[Xiuna]: [Transfer: 200,000 Star Coins]
[Xiuna]: Vier asked me to transfer this to you. Military personnel canât accept gifts, otherwise theyâll be disciplined. Just take it!
[Zhu Ran]: This is way too much.
A single Daisy currently sold for 24,000 on the Star Network. The small jar he gave Vier used three and a half daisies, so about 80,000 would have been enough. There was no need for 200,000. Besides, his actual cost was only a few Star Coins… Zhu Ran really didn’t dare accept this 200,000.
Just as Zhu Ran was about to transfer the money back, Xiuna stopped him.
[Xiuna]: If itâs extra, just bring some more Daisy tea next time itâs convenient.
[Zhu Ran]: Alright. Iâll send some over next week then. And thank you for the lunch you guys ordered; it was delicious.
[Xiuna]: Donât mention it.
After Xiuna finished messaging Zhu Ran following Zefaerâs instructions, he bowed his head slightly, respectfully waiting for Zefaerâs orders.
The natural plants Zhu Ran cultivated and the tea he made were clearly useful for Awakeners. They even achieved what high-tech medical equipment couldn’tâstabilizing Zefaerâs spiritual sea. Xiuna thought Zefaer would surely find a way to persuade Zhu Ran to join his direct team, because Zhu Ranâs ability was truly important to him.
Yet, the man sitting on the sofa merely sipped his Daisy tea, giving no further instructions.
âYour Majesty, do you need me to invite Zhu Ran to join…â
âNo,â Zefaer refused decisively.
Several red and white flowers floated in his cup, the lingering fragrance of the tea imbuing even his cold demeanor with a sense of peace and tranquility.
Zefaer said in a low voice, âThe situation is unstable; the timing isnât right.â
âFirst, encrypt Zhu Ranâs optical computer address, and increase security near his residence.â
âYes, Your Majesty.â
Zefaer was naturally aware of Zhu Ranâs special nature. However… before the situation became clear, Zefaer didn’t want to over-interact with Zhu Ran to avoid him being targeted. Regarding the treasure he had set his sights on, Zefaer was very patient and very protective.
At midnight, the December Newbie Leaderboard in the Xinggou app was finalized based on turnover during the newbie period. Simultaneously, the seven-day newbie period for [Zhuying Anxiang] entered the settlement stage.
Unsurprisingly, Zhu Ran received a push notification from the app.
[System]: Congratulations to owner [Zhu]! Your shop [Zhuying Anxiang] has taken 1st Place on the December Newbie Store Leaderboard.
Xinggou will run an advertisement for your shop during the second week of January. The ad will be placed in the Central Plaza of all districts ending in the number 1 for a duration of one day. Please ensure sufficient stock on that day.
[System]: Congratulations to owner [Zhu]! Your shop [Zhuying Anxiang] has accumulated a turnover of 444,000 Star Coins within 7 days. Newbie Store Incentive rewards confirmed.
- One-month rent-free usage rights for a designated shop in Districts 10-19 (Choose one of three).
- 10,000 Decoration Coins (Valid for 1 month).
The two consecutive messages made Zhu Ran beam with joy. Not only could he open a shop in a highly sought-after district, but he also received 10,000 decoration coins and a promotional opportunity. This gave Zhu Ran a great sense of achievement.
Compared to when he first arrived in the interstellar era with only 70-some Star Coins, in just one week, Zhu Ran now had a six-figure balance and was about to have a small holographic shop on the largest shopping platform in the stars.
Zhu Ran was in high spirits. His eyes curved into crescents, his emerald eyes shining as if they held the galaxy itself. Even though it was already midnight, Zhu Ran wasn’t tired at all; he was full of energy.
âNo time like the present. I might as well go see what the reward shops are like now!â
With that thought, Zhu Ran logged into the Xinggou holographic streets.
The Newbie Street of the Xinggou holographic world was currently in nighttime, matching the outside world. Under the deep night sky, many shops stayed open, lighting up the entire street in a bright, bustling, and colorful display.
Zhu Ran summoned the Xinggou AI. After a ripple effect spread around him, a palm-sized five-pointed star of light floated in the air, looking bouncy and soft. The little ball of light pulsed, emitting a monotonic electronic voice.
âAI No. 0121 at your service. How may I help you?â
Zhu Ran poked the little ball of light. âI received the Newbie Incentive rewards. Iâd like to see the shops provided.â
As soon as Zhu Ran spoke, the lightâs pulse quickened. Within a second, it provided an answer.
âIdentity confirmed. AI No. 0121 will explain the reward details.â
âThere are three shop locations available for the Newbie Incentive. You may choose one for a one-month rent-free period. If you wish to continue after one month, a lease renewal is required.â
- Shop 1: District North 11, No. 342. Area: 8 square meters.
- Shop 2: District South 15, No. 154. Area: 10 square meters.
- Shop 3: District Central 19, No. 81. Area: 10 square meters.
âWould you like to conduct an on-site inspection now?â
âYes, please,â Zhu Ran replied.
âYouâre welcome. Please follow me.â
Under the guidance of the little ball of light, Zhu Ran quickly toured all three shops, finishing in just half an hour.
The shop in District North 11 had the lowest district number, and thus the highest foot traffic. Even at midnight, the streets were packed with people, laughter ringing out constantlyâit felt like a city that never slept. However, the rewarded shop was located near the back of the district, tucked away and not easily found. If he rented this shop, he would need to use advertisements to guide customers.
The location in District South 15 was quite good, situated in a relatively prosperous part of the street. The neighboring shops all sold small commodities, figurines, cotton dolls, cosplay outfits, and gaming merchandise. The “Otaku” concentration was very high. Zhu Ran saw many people browsing in strange formsâsome even as 2D paper cutoutsâgiving the impression of entering different dimensions. Zhu Ran himself was approached a few times by people asking if he wanted to join their clubs; the atmosphere was very warm and friendly.
Compared to the bustle of the first two, District Central 19 presented a completely different scene. Most of the shops in District 19 were closed, and both sides of the street were shrouded in darkness and quiet. He occasionally saw a coffee shop that was still open, seemingly the only operating business on the entire street.
Zhu Ran took a quick look; a cup of coffee for online tasting cost 30 Star Coins, but a 50g bag of coffee beans made from genetically synthesized plants cost 526,880 Star Coins. Six figures! That was enough to support a family of three on a B-rank planet for several years.
Even though Zhu Ran knew interstellar food was expensive, he hadn’t expected coffee beans to become something he couldn’t afford.
âWould you like to try a cup, young man? Itâs only 30 Star Coins.â
Rarely seeing anyone in District 19 at night, the clerk, Yan You, summoned his courage to greet Zhu Ran. Yan You had been in a bad mood recently due to a lack of inspiration, so he had come to District 19 in the middle of the night to find some peace and quiet, and to work a part-time job while he was at it.
The nights in District 19 were very quiet, giving a sense of being the only person left in the world, which allowed Yan You to find some inspiration.
Zhu Ran, following the principle of “since I’m already here,” smiled and nodded. âSure.â He paid 30 Star Coins for an Americano.
Yan You used various specialized tools to skillfully brew the coffee. Soon, along with the curling steam, a bitter fragrance spread, adding a sour-bitter scent to the small shop.
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