Third Enlightenment Fruit!

Chris wasn't idle either. He sent a message in the group chat:

"To overcome these difficult times together, I suggest we set up a free trading market to exchange what we have for what we need. The red fog only reaches the 21st floor. I suggest we have a trade session in the hallways above the 21st floor every afternoon at 2 PM."

Soon, people responded:

"Exactly, exactly! I have three bottles of Fine Whiskey, one bottle for 10 packets of instant noodles!" "2 packets of instant noodles, trading or not?" "You're too greedy! How much is a bottle of Fine Whiskey? Instant noodles are only worth a few coins!" "Money? What good is money?! Go drink your Fine Whiskey." "I have a packet of Oreo. Does anyone have ham sausage? I want some meat, I'm dying for some." "Envious of you guys who have meat to eat. I've eaten braised eggs for three days." "I have cigarettes. I want to exchange for a box of antibiotics. I had diarrhea from eating spoiled food yesterday. Help!" "I have antibiotics, I want to exchange for food, not cigarettes." "Help, big brother." "I do have antibiotics, but we're not in the same building. I don't dare leave my building. How about you come over and get it?" "A giant ant bit me yesterday. Now the wound is festering. Help!"

...

Chris looked at the messages in the group chat smugly. Now I know who has food at a glance. When the time came that he was forced to rob, he'd know who to target. Of course, some people were hiding supplies, but it didn't matter; he just needed to obtain enough supplies. The nation couldn't possibly never send aid, right? Once the big shots are rescued, it should be their turn, right? If that kid Room and board included also went to exchange supplies, he could grab him then!

...

Jake, of course, also saw the message Chris sent. He thought: Trading market? Maybe I should get some new supplies. He needed to continuously diversify his supplies. Women could farm supplies, but they only returned what he already had. With too little variety, he'd inevitably get tired of the food.

Suddenly, he "saw" the yellow light on Chris's body turn into a dazzling red. Huh? Jake sneered. He's probably targeting the ability fruits I have. Others didn't know, but Chris definitely knew the effect of black lychees. Since that's the case, then you can just go die!

...

21st floor. Apartment 2104.

Lily hadn't eaten all day. She lay weakly on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The red fog had already risen past the 21st floor's floor, about half a meter high, just reaching the level of her bed. The entire room was like a bizarre stage, filled with red mist.

"What the heck is going on!" Lily was about to cry. She was a beauty streamer. She could earn 20-30 thousand in pre-apocalypse currency per month. For her, a university student, this income was very satisfying. She lived a very comfortable life. Now, it's all over!

Lily's stomach cramped with hunger. It took a few minutes for the pain to subside. No! I have to find a way. She thought of [Room and board included]. Lily was very unwilling to exchange her body for food, but she really had no other way. I'm still young! I can't starve to death here!

Lily opened her phone group chat and saw someone else organizing a trading market. Trading market? But I don't have anything good to exchange! Lily scrolled up further and saw the new message posted by [Room and board included].

"Black lychees?"

Lily looked in surprise at her window. The window was covered in Virginia creeper. Under a Virginia creeper leaf, a black lychee was hanging right there, suspended outside her window.

"Why is Room and board included seeking to buy this?" This black lychee had been growing for 2 days. She hadn't paid much attention to it originally. But [Room and board included] seeking to buy it instead made her curious.

She opened the window, reached out, and plucked the black lychee down. The fruit smelled very fragrant, made one can't help but want to eat it. But Lily didn't dare eat it. Now plants are mutating rapidly, there are all sorts of strange fruits. Who knows if it's poisonous? What is this thing for?

Lily searched online for a bit but didn't find any useful information. If she wasn't hungry, she would have thought about it more. But the hunger in her stomach made it unbearable. She just wanted to quickly trade it for food to fill her stomach.

Lily took a photo and sent a message to [Room and board included], expectant in her heart. Wondering how much food she could exchange it for?

Cpt 2104, Bldg C "NotReallyAFox": [I have a black lychee.]

Jake's eyes lit up. There really is one! And it's from the Little Fox! Should I just go take it? Jake thought about it for a bit and felt it was better not to. What if she gets angry and eats it immediately, or throws it away? That would be a real loss. He didn't need to take the risk. First, trick her into giving him the Enlightenment Fruit.

Room and board included: [3 packets of instant noodles.]

Lily was surprised and delighted. It can actually be exchanged for 3 packets?!!

Cpt 2104, Bldg C "NotReallyAFox": ["Can I ask, what can this fruit do?"]

Room and board included: [None of your business. Trading or not?]

Looking at the black lychee in her hand, she was still a little unwilling. Cpt 2104, Bldg C "NotReallyAFox": [Then I won't trade.]

Jake chuckled. This little girl actually thinks she can scare me? Whatever, I'm just messing with you.

Room and board included: [Okay, think carefully and find me later. Let's be clear, I'm only accepting it today. No deals after today.]

Lily felt a bit confused. It seemed like the other party didn't want it that much. Cpt 2104, Bldg C "NotReallyAFox": ["Why?"]

Jake intentionally scare her: "Once plucked, it spoils quickly. I don't want spoiled ones."

Lily was dumbfounded: "Ah?" She immediately understood that the other party wasn't joking. Now no fresh fruits can be preserved; they will quickly rot and spoil. Lily indeed wanted to know what this thing was for, but the hunger in her stomach made it unbearable.

Cpt 2104, Bldg C "NotReallyAFox": [10 packets of instant noodles.]

Jake smiled. Still trying to haggle with me? Haggle all you want, as long as I get the fruit, you yourself will be mine!

Room and board included: [5 packets at most. If you don't trade, forget it.]

Lily hesitated for a moment, could only agree: "Okay."

Jake smiled. The third Enlightenment Fruit is finally within reach!

Room and board included: [I'll come to your place to trade.]

"No way!" Lily wouldn't dare let him come over. Looking at Room and board included's previous comments, this guy is definitely a huge pervert. Order is chaotic now; she wouldn't dare trade with him one-on-one. Cpt 2104, Bldg C "NotReallyAFox": [We'll trade at the trading market later.]

In front of so many people, you can't just act recklessly, right? Now, most survivors are still following inertia, obeying the laws of the civilized age. Lily felt that if there were many people, he probably wouldn't dare force her.

Jake didn't care; he wanted to go check out the trading market anyway. If he needed to snatch it by force, can't snatch it just because there are many people? Jake sneered:

"Okay. Contact later."

Jake went back to Olivia's apartment, first took a hot shower, washing off the dust from punching walls. The two women were awake. They noticed Jake wasn't there and felt a little nervous. In this chaotic world, having no man at home made her uneasy. When Jake returned, the two women visibly relaxed.

Jake took out the steak and pork he just got: "Who knows how to fry steak and make braised pork?"

Olivia was troubled. She was a second-generation official, also attending university. How could she know how to cook? Michelle glanced at Olivia smugly and said softly: "I know how to cook. I'm pretty good."

"Oh?" Jake was surprised and delighted. After he got the Portable Space, he put all the food from home into the space. He had rice, flour, cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and other seasonings. Even some green vegetables, cauliflower, tomatoes, and eggs. These were originally prepared by his female roommate Skylar. Jake wasn't very good at cooking, so he hadn't touched these ingredients. Since Michelle knows how to cook, then take them out and let her handle them.

"Okay, let me see your skills."

[Ding! Michelle consumed 1 tomato, returned 300 tomatoes. Already placed in Portable Space.]

[Ding! Michelle consumed 2 eggs, returned 600 eggs. Already placed in Portable Space.]

[Ding! Michelle consumed approx. 0.5 kg / 1.1 lbs of M9 Sirloin Steak, returned approx. 150 kg / 330 lbs of M9 Sirloin Steak. Already placed in Portable Space.]