Among a group of people trekking across the distant wilderness, Yang Zicang held the supply letter in his hand, hesitating.
–Oh well, to get noticed by them sooner, I’ll just follow the handbook’s advice. Play it safe… I just need to gain fame faster.–
Yang Zicang chose to use the supply letter given by Hubville, Ju Yin, Chase, and Futown, thus becoming the exclusive Cargo Crew supplying Hubville.
After registering as the Cargo Crew using the supply letter, the crew gained two additional member slots for communicating with the outside world through Hubville. From then on, they no longer had to rely solely on themselves to relay information between the outside world and Hubville.
The moment Yang Zicang’s Moxel completed the registration of the Cargo Crew via the order form, a telepathic voice echoed.
{Your weekly reputation value has exceeded 10, currently at 15.}
The dim voice came, and at the same time, the image of a medieval town shrouded in silver-white mist surfaced in his mind, as if this voice was the town itself conversing with him.
–Huh?– Yang Zicang was taken aback. The so-called influence was exactly what was mentioned in that document.
Hubville, in a retro conference room.
–Just that Yang Zicang alone—can he really pull it off?–
Around the oval table, Ju Yin Chase and several town administrators gathered together, as a man in a suit stared at Ju Yin Chase.
–Xiao Yin, it’s not that we brothers don’t trust you, but handing over such a crucial matter to a complete stranger just doesn’t sit right with us.–
–Exactly, Futown, you should have discussed it with us. Now that last manual is gone for good.–
As masters of the town, they were far from subtle with their words.
Beside Ju Yin Chase, the mustachioed man in a round-brimmed hat exhaled a puff of smoke:
–Gentlemen, this whole matter is an extra scheme, isn’t it? Saying it a scheme might even be an overstatement—what can we scheme? All we can do is rely on luck.–
A man with the appearance of a dignified elder at the table spoke tersely:
–But haven’t we been stuck here this whole time just for that very thing?–
Ju Yin Chase tapped the table with his finger: –Enough bickering. At this moment, finding a perfect candidate like Yang Zicang is our only chance. If you all believe that our previous thorough scrutiny was correct, then why has no one succeeded in retrieving that thing so far?–
Silence fell over everyone.
–At least give us some peace of mind—at least let us know if he’s genuinely working for us, Ah Yin.–
–It’s been days, and Yang Zicang hasn’t even activated his founding Cargo Crew qualification yet. When is his reputation going to take off?–
–Without any name recognition, who even knows what he’s up to. I have reason to believe he’s on guard against us—it’s a sign of distrust toward everyone.–
Amid their aggressive questioning, a faint and oppressive mental voice suddenly echoed in everyone’s mind.
[The procurement letter you marked has been activated. Hubville’s 1,782nd founding Cargo Crew is now established. Current Overseer: Yang Zicang.]
–Heh heh, speak of the devil, and he shall appear.–
Ju Yin Chase let out a sigh of relief as he massaged his temples.
About an hour later, the group emerged from the meeting room after discussing town management. The elder lingered at the back, walking alongside Ju Yin Chase, and said:
–Xiao Yin, please understand everyone’s earlier frustration. The reason we’re all still hanging around is to cling to that faint shred of hope. Climbing to this position in Hubville still gives us a much higher chance of obtaining ‘that thing’ compared to back in the old days, doesn’t it?–
–I understand. You think I was reckless for handing him ‘that thing’ the moment he arrived. But none of you brilliant ones have ever managed to climb to my position, have you?–
Ju Yin Chase walked out of the meeting room without ceremony. As he passed the newspaper rack at the doorway in the corridor, he took two steps back, grabbed a freshly printed weekly report, and glanced through it.
Just delivered, the scent of ink still lingering.
Shibin Wastes Weekly (Insider VIP Edition)
A faint smile curled at the corner of Ju Yin Chase’s mouth.
The old man who had walked out caught a glimpse of Futown’s leader’s now-energetic back; he, too, picked up a copy of the report from the rack.
He flipped it open twice, and his gaze naturally landed on the chart at the very last page.
— This Week’s New Dreamweaver Popularity Rankings in Shibin Wastes:
Natural Fortune Crew Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 60.
Shibin Wastes Authentic Daily Supplies Association Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 50.
Wang’s Premium Metal Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 45.
Jiao-Jiao the Most Beautiful Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 45.
Aba’s Mega Guild Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 40.
…
Porridge Folk Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 25.
Bridge-Dwelling Steadfast Auxiliary Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 20.
Yang Zicang, Popularity Score: 15.
Shibin Wastes Well Administration Cargo Crew, Popularity Score: 10.
–Hold on.–
The old man’s hand gave a small tremble.
He stared at that name. After double-checking, he confirmed that it did not have the three-word suffix –Cargo Crew– after it.
Although both ZHU Cargo Crew and individuals could appear on this ranking list, the influence a team can exert within the same amount of time is undoubtedly far greater than that of a single individual! Therefore, he had rarely seen individual names listed here before.
–Yang Zicang? Didn’t that guy just get there two or three days ago…–
New names appear on ZHU Cargo Crew’s list every week, either fresh entries or resurgences after falling off the chart. Yet the three characters –Yang Zicang– exploded like a depth charge, seizing his gaze with an irrepressible pull!
The old man flipped through the newspaper repeatedly, searching for reports of Yang Zicang’s fame-earning deeds, but found none.
It was possible Yang Zicang was using an alias, or maybe his actions had already concluded before any reporter could document them.
–Impressive, that kid.–
In the corridor, the two men ahead stopped in their tracks.
–Tianlu, why aren’t you moving?–
The old man’s face twisted with a bewildered expression as he handed over the newspaper: –Take a look for yourself.–
The two walked back and glanced at the news on it—nothing more than trivial, filler content about high-value distorted scenes appearing somewhere, settlement zones emerging or being destroyed elsewhere, or some gorgeous blossom blooming someplace with petal-smooth comfort.
Mi Tianlu tapped a finger behind the newspaper, producing a crisp rustling sound.
Their gazes swept across the ranking list in an instant, and they both snatched the newspaper up in surprise.
–The one with fifteen fame points—could that be the person chosen by that kid Ju Yin Chase?–
–Who else? How many more freaks are there in the world with a name so damned bizarre?–
–Appearing on this list as an individual—it’s a clever scheme. This way, he truly draws more attention!–
–This is the closest we’ve ever come to success.–
–Hold on, he just founded Cargo Crew. Too bad.–
……
In a sheltered hollow shielding them from the wind, the group leaned against an earthen slope.
Yang Zicang was beside himself with frustration—he never expected to have racked up over a dozen fame points out of the blue. About that matter… If only he’d known earlier not to register Cargo Crew, he would’ve had an easier time getting noticed.
The young man turned his head. –Does anyone know what time it is?–
–Ah, bro, aren’t you just putting us on the spot?– Several people shrugged.
But the hulking Lyu Zhi crouched down, sniffed the air deeply with his nostrils, and said, –Should be around five or six, right about when work lets out.–
–Whoa, how do you have that skill? Dude, how can you sniff out the time?–
–Is this one of your abilities?–
Shiu Siuchuan bent over, watching him curiously. Fan Xiuyun also crouched and took a sniff but caught nothing unusual.
–Stop sniffing—it’s just a bad habit I picked up on the job working during rush hour.–
Lyu Zhi turned around, staring at Fan Xiuyun and Shiu Siuchuan, and said, –The company next door goes to lunch at this hour. I stayed late working and watched them carrying delicious food past the office glass wall. For a long time, I had excess stomach acid, which gave me gastritis. Now, every day at this time, I’m starving.–
「……」
The others exchanged awkward glances—they indeed hadn’t eaten lunch yet.
After saying this, Lyu Zhi’s forehead broke out in a sweat. He felt he had really brought up the wrong topic at the wrong time.
–We’ll have a late-night meal. I’ll rest first; you guys keep watch.– Yang Zicang turned over and went to sleep.
At the mention of a late-night meal, their minds conjured images of hotpot, barbecue, and pork rib soup. But in the end, they all realized: if they could just get their hands on some real bread, that would be more than enough.
–By the way,– Yang Zicang opened his eyes, –I’m thinking of starting a Cargo Crew to sell goods as well. What do you all think?–
–Hell yeah!– The others cheered.
Hearing their cheers, Yang Zicang revealed a faint smile and closed his eyes to rest.
In a daze, he dreamed of a vast land where people lived in peace and prosperity.
One day, without any warning, the land was destroyed and turned into nothingness.
In the starless darkness of the night, Zuo Feixian’s silhouette stood at the mouth of a wide and deep cave.
He propped up his broad and formidable arms, his body clad in grass skins, exuding an aura of desolation and majesty, his eyes bleakly fixed on him.
{This place is not the end… Take what you desire as soon as possible, and leave…}
–What I desire?–
Yang Zicang’s memories surged forth, making his surroundings feel unreal, and then he recalled the purpose that had driven him here.
{Don’t think. Be careful. They are watching.}
–They? Who are they?–
{They who seek the shining, they who probe the past.}
Yang Zicang lowered his head in thought, then felt as though he might drift off to sleep.
{Let me come to your side. In the coming crisis, you will receive my help, if you are willing to accept the condition I set forth.}
He spoke with a slightly unusual sentence structure, but Yang Zicang understood that he wanted someone to bring that condition to him, and if he agreed, he could gain his aid.
Suddenly, Yang Zicang could sense his own existence.
He stood up to examine himself, then raised his head to scrutinize the figure before him. Zuo Feixian’s features grew ethereal, as if morphing into another person, yet they could never become clear.
–Whose dream is this?–
{This is half of Shibin Wastes’ dream.}
The dream collapsed into nothingness.
{Don’t become a star here; your path still stretches far ahead.}
Upon waking, as Yang Zicang, lying within the blanket, mulled over this somewhat hazy dream, the sound of the train had already appeared in his heart.
Yang Zicang stepped out, yawned, and said, –What do you guys want to eat?–
–Bread!– they chorused in unison.
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