Chapter 14: : Procurement Disturbance (Part 2)

After that, Xiye and his group spent a whole day in the market. Colorful products tempted Xiye to consider buying this or that, but every time he checked the price, it gave him a sense of alertness that kept him from getting carried away.

Persisting, Xiye finally led everyone to the private lord market.

As one of the three largest markets in the Federation, this market had not only high-end exhibits but also good and affordable items from various private lords.

Although there was no official federal certification, those with a keen eye often found high-quality products at reasonable prices. Most of the products from small lords without trademarks, beyond their own star domains, were only sold in this free market, making them more affordable.

However, as a major market, the stalls in Prosina's market were expensive. This was one of the planet's important sources of income. Only lords of significant means could afford to set up stalls here. Prices were steeper compared to lower-level free markets, but the likelihood of buying subpar items was much smaller.

Guided by the pandaren guide, Xiye soon arrived at a simple-looking store.

Despite the plain decor and style, the shopkeeper took Xiye by surprise.

"Why is it you again?"

Several players were bewildered because the shopkeeper who greeted them was not the same panda from the Mecha Store earlier.

Remembering Grandpa Lu's discomfort in his pocket, Xiye didn't want to shop at a store that had harmed his companion, even if it meant losing money.

The pandaren guide quickly clarified the situation. "Please don't misunderstand, honored lord! The previous panda was fat, but this one is two fat, they're not the same panda person. You see, this one is only 372 kilograms, while the other was even larger, with forty kilograms more meat and more well-maintained fur. After all, the other one works for a lord."

Xiye raised an eyebrow and responded, "Is that so? You do seem a bit different."

The shopkeeper, Er Chuan, eagerly asked, "What would you like to buy, esteemed guest? I detected a hint of Dryad elf scent. Are you here for seasonings? We have excellent pickles and condiments, such as garlic and fruit oil extracts. The garlic is made by high elves, untouched by genetic modifications!"

Xiye retorted, "I'm here for business."

Er Chuan's smile widened as he said, "I can tell that you're a powerful goddess lord. Are you looking for large-scale interstellar weapons or perhaps an interstellar transmission station? We even offer terrifying biological weapons, such as pure-blood sixteenth-order dragon-class star beasts with formidable combat capabilities. We have detailed model data, and if you'd like to see the real thing, you can visit our main store. We even provide free delivery!"

Xiye's enthusiasm waned. "It's not quite that big."

Er Chuan adjusted his approach, "What can I assist you with, then? Rest assured, our shop is directly affiliated with Lord Brewmaster, and we've garnered a good reputation here. We can generally provide most items unless it's a highly specialized product."

"Brewmaster?" Xiye was surprised. "The only pandaren lord I've heard of?"

"It seems you've heard of him," Er Chuan said with pride. "Our predecessor is a legend. The Tengyun Group College showcases his achievements every year to promote our high-quality education. Even the laziest of panda people can be trained to be elite. Our college is renowned for turning every student into a success story."

Xiye realized that the pandaren had grown rapidly. It was a remarkable success story, as the previous lord had reached his status just 90,000 years ago. Now, they stood prominently in the frontline free market.

Er Chuan smiled and continued, "Now, guest, what can we help you with?"

Xiye inquired about the availability of a mold machine.

"Mold machine?" The two fat shopkeepers were momentarily puzzled, then wore expressions of embarrassment. "Guest, you should know that very few people sell those."

"I understand," Xiye nodded. "But considering Brewmaster's rapid progress, there must be a significant number of mold machines being phased out. Instead of keeping them unused, it might be better to sell them to me. In return, I can give you priority for D-level energy ore production for seniors."

Er Chuan was intrigued. "Energy ore? Do you have it on your planet? What's the storage capacity?"

Xiye explained, "Our storage capacity is sufficient. We estimate it will last for 400 years. Once our base is established, we'll be able to provide at least one million tons of refined source stones annually."

Er Chuan hesitated for a moment and then smiled, saying, "That's promising. Let me discuss it with our boss. Please take a seat."

Xiye calmly found a place to sit, while the group of players and Nicole continued to explore the store.

The guide quickly served Xiye and his dad with brewed green tea. The tea leaves were top-quality, from the snow-capped peaks. Its quality was high, from the authentic Snow Elves. A single serving of this tea would cost thousands of god coins. Xiye's dad had tasted it once when he was the patriarch.

As Xiye's dad enjoyed the tea, Xiye was deep in thought about whether this business could succeed.

This purchase was intended to address four critical issues for the base: energy, accommodation, the consumption of basic materials, and large-scale crop expansion.

The fire ant mine significantly eased the energy situation at the base. The energy power extracted from D-level energy ore and the advanced refining technology would more than suffice for an eight-level planet at the early stages of development.

For accommodation, Xiye believed it wouldn't be an issue. The people of Planet D were hardworking and didn't need high-end accommodations. Black Iron Dwarf compressed apartments should suffice.

The same applied to crops. The crops were highly adaptable and had a high yield. The seeds were relatively cheap, and with additional investment, the need for canned food and nutrient solutions would be eliminated.

However, the most crucial issue was acquiring basic tools. The base was developing rapidly and was projected to reach a population of 100,000 soon. Energy mining required fine ore picks, mining carts, and mining points, and they were in short supply.

Buying finished products would be expensive, and importing them for an extended period would risk exposing their location. Therefore, Xiye's ideal approach was to hire experienced blacksmiths and mechanics and purchase a batch of mold machine tools.

While good blacksmiths and mechanics were relatively easy to find, machine tools were a rarity. Most private lords preferred selling finished products and rarely offered machine tools for sale. Even when they did, they typically sold outdated models. Finding high-quality machine tools was a challenge, and dealing with after-sales and machine tool upgrades was a problem.

The most efficient approach was to partner with a senior lord to acquire their retired technology. This would reduce costs and significantly improve the base's growth efficiency, bypassing many hurdles.

Everyone understood the principle, but new lords seldom secured cooperation like this. Fellow lords were often seen as competitors, and few wanted to see more peers succeed, even if the other lord was a seemingly simple panda.

Xiye hoped that his D-class mine could impress the other lord.

As he waited, the two fat shopkeepers returned, visibly

  sweating and out of breath. "Esteemed guests, our lord would like to meet with you!"

Xiye's eyes lit up—it looked like there was potential for a deal.