Chapter 268: The Crimson Chamber of Commerce
“Know it, know it. I’ve lived in Morninglight Base since I was young. The Mysterious Black Crystal Stone you need, sir, can be found at the Crimson Chamber of Commerce.”
Seeing the Source Crystal Coins in Zhou Ming’s hand—glittering and radiating golden light—the young man immediately answered his question.
At the same time, he was certain in his heart that the other party was absolutely a Professional Beast Tamer.
After all, even if an Apprentice Beast Tamer possessed Source Crystal Coins, they would not be as lavish as the lord before him.
But when he saw Zhou Ming’s youthful appearance, a trace of jealousy surged in his heart. To have advanced to Professional Beast Tamer at such a young age, the other party’s background must be extraordinary.
“The Crimson Chamber of Commerce? Take me there.”
Zhou Ming paid no attention to the youth’s changing expression. He directly tossed the Source Crystal Coin in his hand to him, not in the slightest worried about being deceived.
“Please follow me, sir.”
After receiving the Source Crystal Coin, the young man became noticeably more enthusiastic. He immediately stopped a taxi with Zhou Ming and headed toward the Crimson Chamber of Commerce he had mentioned.
Along the way, observing the scenery outside the streets, Zhou Ming came to understand even more clearly what was meant by a Logistical Hub.
Shops selling firearms, combat vehicles, Ferocious Beast cubs, potions, and hotels providing lodging could be seen everywhere. This place did not resemble a base meant for Alliance residents to live in; instead, it felt more like a private base unrestrained by Alliance law.
“Sir, we’ve arrived. It’s right here.”
More than ten minutes later, the two arrived in front of a building about seven stories tall.
The building’s decoration was plain, yet it gave Zhou Ming a sense of heaviness. If ordinary rocket shells were used to bombard it, they might only be able to blast off a layer of outer wall.
However, this architectural style was very common within Morninglight Base, as if once the Furious Flood Dragon Mountain Range fell, the Alliance would rely on the bases near the mountain range for defense.
Under the youth’s guidance, Zhou Ming smoothly met the sales manager of the Crimson Chamber of Commerce. After all, the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone was not an ordinary material—it was a Transcendent material known as a spiritual object.
Inside the reception room, a formally dressed middle-aged man placed a cup of coffee in front of Zhou Ming before asking, “May I ask how much Mysterious Black Crystal Stone you require, sir?”
“At least three cubic meters.”
Zhou Ming took a sip of coffee and calmly stated the quantity he needed.
“This… sir, you’re not joking, are you?”
In the past, other customers purchased Mysterious Black Crystal Stone by the jin. This was the first time he had heard of someone calculating it by cubic meter. This wasn’t cement needed for construction work.
“If you cannot make the decision, then bring someone who can. Money is not the problem.”
Without further explanation, Zhou Ming directly placed a High-grade Source Crystal on the tea table. Its mysterious and dazzling golden radiance was incomparable to that of Source Crystal Coins.
“This is…”
As the sales manager of the Crimson Chamber of Commerce, the middle-aged man naturally recognized Source Crystal Coins. However, he did not recognize the High-grade Source Crystal Zhou Ming had taken out.
“A High-grade Source Crystal. Even Legendary Saints can make use of it. Still need to ask?”
“No, no need, sir.”
Upon hearing that even Legendary Saints could use it, the middle-aged man instantly stood up. Even his form of address changed.
As a salesperson, other abilities could be lacking, but being able to lower oneself was the foremost requirement.
“Please wait a moment. I will immediately invite our chamber’s general manager.”
Without wasting time, the middle-aged man promptly left the reception room.
A short while later, just as Zhou Ming continued savoring his coffee, the reception room door was slowly pushed open.
An elderly man who appeared to be around fifty entered, carrying a faint aura of authority. Behind him followed a young man who exuded a hint of nobility.
“Greetings, sir. I am Han Yue, the general manager of the Crimson Chamber of Commerce in Morninglight Base. If my subordinates have shown any inadequacy in hospitality, please forgive us.”
“My name is Zhou Ming.”
Seeing the other party extend his hand first, Zhou Ming also stood up and offered his right hand in introduction.
Judging from the aura emanating from the other party, if his guess was correct, he should be a Professional Beast Tamer who had specialized as a Beast Knight.
Regardless of strength, among those of the same rank, one must offer corresponding respect. This was an unspoken rule within the Beast Tamer community—unless there was enmity between the two sides.
“Brother Zhou, please sit. I heard you require three cubic meters of Mysterious Black Crystal Stone?”
After greeting him, Han Yue glanced at the High-grade Source Crystal placed on the tea table and directly entered the main topic.
“Correct. As long as there are three cubic meters of Mysterious Black Crystal Stone, I don’t mind purchasing it with High-grade Source Crystals.”
“Of course, if the quantity is insufficient, I can only purchase the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone at normal price.”
Zhou Ming did not wish to risk entering the Endless Forest Sea. Since he knew the Crimson Chamber of Commerce had channels to obtain the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone, he intended to use this method to pressure them into gathering three cubic meters.
Han Yue naturally understood Zhou Ming’s intention.
“Haha, Brother Zhou has quite an appetite. Unfortunately, even if we gathered all the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone within Morninglight Base, I dare say we still could not reach the three cubic meters you require.”
Worthy of being the general manager of the Crimson Chamber of Commerce, Han Yue did not directly say that the chamber could not produce three cubic meters. Instead, he stated that Morninglight Base as a whole could not.
“So Manager Han’s answer is to tell me that the Crimson Chamber of Commerce cannot produce three cubic meters of Mysterious Black Crystal Stone?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Ming directly retrieved the High-grade Source Crystal from the tea table.
Seeing this, the young man standing behind Han Yue grew anxious.
“What are you anxious for? We may not have it now, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know where to get it.”
High-grade Source Crystals were extremely rare within the Alliance. The benefits contained within them were enough to invite even Transcendent experts to take action. The young man did not wish to see it slip from their grasp.
“This is…”
“Brother Zhou, my apologies. This is a descendant of our chamber’s upper echelon. He has come to Morninglight Base for training. If he has been presumptuous, please forgive him.”
After hearing Han Yue’s explanation, Zhou Ming immediately understood that the young man’s earlier words were not empty boasting.
“Oh? Then young master, do you know where three cubic meters of Mysterious Black Crystal Stone can be gathered?”
“We have already discovered the existence of a Mysterious Black Crystal Stone mine at a certain location on the edge of the Endless Forest Sea. Give us some time, and we can gather the three cubic meters you require.”
“Some time? How long? Ten days, or half a month?”
Hearing the reply, Zhou Ming immediately pressed the matter. It concerned his advancement to Transcendent Master—he had no time to wait slowly.
If the location where the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone had been discovered were easy to mine, they would have already transported it back, rather than sitting here negotiating with him.
Faced with Zhou Ming’s questioning, neither the young man nor Han Yue beside him gave a concrete answer.
“Brother Zhou, I’ll speak frankly. The place where the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone was discovered is extremely dangerous. There is also a Hunting Spider Queen whose strength is comparable to a High-level Professional.”
“In addition, there are dozens of ordinary High-tier Hunting Demon Spiders, as well as over a thousand Low-tier Hunting Demon Spiders.”
“Combined with the hidden dangers of the Endless Forest Sea, if we wish to excavate the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone, our Crimson Chamber of Commerce must make thorough preparations.”
After hearing the explanation, Zhou Ming fell into contemplation.