Chapter 138: Purchasing Supplies
Black Pine Small Base was located on the edge of the Cloud Mist Basin, within a narrow mountain valley.
This place mainly provided various services to hunters from all over.
Alcohol, women, firearms, medicines……
As long as one had money, anything could be provided here, even contraband.
For those who controlled private bases, making money always came first; otherwise, why would they go to such lengths to establish a private base?
Zhou Ming, who was preparing to enter the Cloud Mist Basin, had no choice but to prioritize dealing with his spoils of war due to the unexpected gains delivered right to his doorstep.
The internal space of the Spatial Ring was limited. He could not stuff it full and had to reserve a certain amount of space for entering the Cloud Mist Basin.
The spoils were tightly wrapped in Beast Taming hides. Silver Scale used its tail to lift the load while traveling. A package weighing over a hundred kilograms was effortless for Silver Scale.
This was the advantage of large Beast Tamings, and also the reason why many Beast Tamers liked to ride common Beast Tamings such as Violent Lions and Diamond Apes.
Their abilities were comprehensive. Their bodies could ignore ordinary bullets, allowing them to engage in frontal combat, serve as cover, and even act as mounts and laborers.
For Beast Tamers of ordinary background, these Beast Tamings were the best choices. Even if problems arose during cultivation, solutions could usually be found.
In less than an hour, following the road long opened by hunters over the years, Zhou Ming quickly arrived at the valley where Black Pine Small Base was located with Silver Scale.
At the valley entrance, tall perimeter walls built from logs and massive stones stood firm. Machine cannons capable of threatening high-level Ferocious Beasts were deployed, along with heavy machine guns used by armored vehicles.
With just these two types of weapons, not only could they fend off most Ferocious Beasts, but they could also intimidate the hunters who came here.
Zhou Ming’s arrival did not attract much attention. After all, hunters came to Black Pine Small Base every day.
“Entering Black Pine Small Base, ten thousand per person.”
A guard holding a rifle walked up to Zhou Ming, directly ignoring Silver Scale beside him, and stated the entry fee without hesitation.
As soon as the words fell, Zhou Ming immediately took out ten thousand Alliance Coins in cash from his clothes and handed them over. This was loot he had taken from the hunters who had attacked him.
After receiving the money, the other party said nothing more and stepped aside to open the entrance into the base.
Inside Black Pine Small Base, rough wooden houses were built along both sides of the valley, along with various tents erected using oilcloth.
Hunters carrying firearms on their bodies, with their Beast Tamings following behind them, were completing transaction after transaction.
If Qinghui Base was a modern city, then the Black Pine Small Base before him was a barbaric tribe.
“This brother, looking to deal with the goods in your hands?”
Just as Zhou Ming was surveying his surroundings, a plump middle-aged man took the initiative to approach him.
He showed no fear at all toward Silver Scale, which could swallow a man whole, because those who understood Beast Tamings knew that without a Beast Tamer’s command, Beast Tamings generally would not launch attacks.
Zhou Ming sized the man up twice. Although there was no fear in his expression, there was also no trace of killing intent between his brows.
An ordinary businessman? A thought arose in his mind.
“Looking at the goods here?”
“There’s a place, there’s a place. Brother, please follow me.”
Hearing that Zhou Ming intended to sell his goods, the middle-aged man who had come to solicit business was instantly delighted.
Upon arriving at a rough room built of logs, Silver Scale directly tossed the bundle coiled in its tail onto the ground, then coiled its snake body and stood guard behind Zhou Ming.
Seeing the goods Zhou Ming was selling, the middle-aged man also silently glanced at him several times.
There was no need for careful identification; he already knew this was black-market merchandise.
But out in the wilderness, there was no distinction between black goods and white goods. Whatever the price should be, that was the price.
Soon after, the plump-faced middle-aged man arranged for people to begin inventorying the goods. In a short while, a detailed list was produced.
“Brother, how about this price?”
The middle-aged man raised one finger toward Zhou Ming, indicating that he was willing to offer a round one million.
If this price were placed in Qinghui Base, it would definitely be considered selling cheap. After all, the normal prices of those firearms alone would already reach several hundred thousand.
But this was the wilderness. Firearms were unlike medicinal ingredients or rare resources. Weapons obtained from others could not be sold at high prices.
The reason was simple: there was no way to guarantee their quality. Hunters preferred to obtain weapons through proper channels.
“Alright.”
Since the price was acceptable, Zhou Ming agreed directly. There was little point in haggling further, as it would not increase the amount by much.
Moreover, if there were no profit to be made, who would be willing to risk coming to a private base to purchase goods?
Money and goods exchanged hands, the transaction was completed. Zhou Ming retrieved Silver Scale into his Beast Space, then began wandering around inside Black Pine Small Base.
Rough houses, chaotic tents, yet inside were places of pleasure, taverns, and casinos.
A scene filled with order amid chaos, entirely reliant on the weapons placed atop the cliffs on both sides of the valley for deterrence.
After a simple round of wandering and gaining a general understanding, Zhou Ming entered a tent occupying dozens of square meters.
However, inside was neither a tavern, nor a casino, nor a pleasure den where people wore only a few scraps of cloth.
Inside the tent before him, various firearms and ammunition were mainly being sold.
Since he was already at Black Pine Small Base, Zhou Ming planned to conveniently replenish some supplies so he could stay longer in the Cloud Mist Basin.
Thunder Type-2 Revolver Specialized Bullets were running low. He replenished one hundred rounds, each priced at three thousand.
For the Blood Hunter Type-1 Handgun, he replenished one thousand rounds, each priced at one hundred.
In addition, there were incendiary grenades and Grenades, and Zhou Ming took the opportunity to purchase quite a few of them as well.
Then came antidotes and other medical supplies.
Since he was already here, there was no need to waste the opportunity. He bought everything that needed to be bought, and in the blink of an eye, one million was left at Black Pine Small Base.
Fortunately, the supplies Zhou Ming purchased did not take up much space. Even without putting them into the Spatial Ring, the backpack on his back could barely hold them.
By the time Zhou Ming finished all his errands, the sky had gradually darkened.
Normally, this would be the time for hunters to return to Black Pine Small Base to rest. Even if they did not return, no one would go out once night fell. Yet Zhou Ming chose to leave Black Pine Small Base as darkness descended.
Inside Black Pine Small Base, the hunters who had originally regarded Zhou Ming as prey were now staring at one another, none daring to leave easily.
No one knew whether Zhou Ming’s actions were reverse bait, luring them to leave the base at night.
And precisely because of such thoughts, they instead preserved their lives, because night was Zhou Ming’s home ground.
“Didn’t follow?”
Within the forest shrouded in faint mist, Zhou Ming watched behind him for a moment, then sighed at the caution of those hunters within Black Pine Small Base.
Black-on-black dealings were for profit, but few people were willing to lose their lives for profit in such a trade.
The night wind blew. Riding on Silver Scale, Zhou Ming slowly disappeared into the mist-shrouded forest.