Survival Game: Call Me an Honest Businessman

The shadow actually brought Mingchun.

Mingchun was still examining the leaves when she saw Li Zhi enter. She smiled and asked, "Congratulations on your territory expansion."

Li Zhi looked at Ying: "Your whispering spirit is still following me?"

Shadow: "You are now my biggest source of information. Do you know how many new races are buying your information in the trading hall? The whisperers in the trading hall have made dozens of gold coins just from this little bit of information you have."

Li Zhi: "Not even 100 gold coins?"

影：「你以为都是你啊？随随便便就花1金买消息？新生种族的消息一般在10铜到1银币之间，就算是你们新生种族官方的消息最贵的那条消息也才50银币，但是你的消息最贵一条到了90银币。」

Li Zhi: "It barely matches my worth, but it doesn't match yours. The cheapest piece of information you have costs 1 gold. You can't sell all this information you've collected, so why bother?"

Shadow: "Aren't you curious who bought your information?"

Li Zhi shrugged: "It wouldn't be surprising if anyone bought my information."

Ying rolled her eyes: "Forget it, I knew it was pointless to talk to you about this. My sister agreed, so hurry up and grant us the status of a citizen of Bu Wangwei, and then tell me the answer."

Li Zhi: "Sister Mingchun has to listen too?"

Shadow: "She'll be leaving soon."

Mingchun: "...Yes, I'll be leaving in a bit."

Li Zhi was very efficient and issued the certificate directly.

[Subordinate citizen status certificate has been issued; one new subordinate citizen added to the territory, increasing its potential by 800]

[Subordinate citizen status certificate has been issued; one new subordinate citizen added to the territory, increasing its potential by 800]

The potential values ​​of those who possess the Heart of a Strong Person in the Starry Sky Corridor vary, with the lowest being 1000.

Kage and Akiko actually reached 800.

Does this mean that the two of them are actually very close to understanding the heart of a strong person?

Li Zhi: "Mingchun, what level are you at now?"

Mingchun: "S2".

Shadow: "I'm also S2, why are you asking this?"

Li Zhi: "Haven't you considered upgrading to S3?"

Shadow nearly rolled his eyes to the heavens: "Do you think this is something we can just consider whenever we want? Do you know how hard it is to find the Origin? Especially for us, some Darkborn and Holyborn never manage to upgrade to S2 in our entire lives!"

Her eyes darted around, landing on Li Zhi: "But you really leveled up too fast. Even if it's easier to find your origin when your race level is lower, it's too easy for you. Where did you find your origin? I don't have any information about it."

Li Zhi: "10000 gold coins per message."

Shadow: "...You're number one on the wealth list entirely because of me, right?"

Li Zhi: "You underestimate me too much. I rely on my hard work and diligence in doing business and trading."

Mingchun: "I have to go now. You two chat. Li Zhi, your exchange is opening, will your teacher come?"

Li Zhi: "I will come."

Mingchun: "Are you sure?"

Li Zhi sensed something was amiss: "Sister Mingchun, is there something you want to tell me?"

Mingchun: "Celia was subjected to a collective trial by the high-ranking members of the Forging Clan. Although the final result was good, all the caravans she recently sent out to search for longevity items have been withdrawn."

Li Zhi was taken aback: "They've all retreated?"

Mingchun's usually smiling face now held a hint of gloom: "It's not just the caravans from Dongqi; the caravans from Xiyuan and Nanqi are also retreating. You... you should ask her what she's thinking when you have the chance."

Li Zhi: "I will."

She immediately sent Celia a message:

[Where are you, teacher? I need to speak with you urgently.]

Celia didn't reply.

Li Zhi had previously thought it was normal, but now, after hearing Mingchun say this, he felt somewhat uneasy.

I sent a few more messages, but they all went unanswered.

Li Zhi sent the message directly to Riley: [Riley, do you know where my teacher is?]

She also sent a message to Perth: [Where are you? Have you seen Celia? Are you in Black Iron Harbor?]

Perth didn't reply, but Riley did: [She's been at the air fortress in Sector 786 these past two days, but it seems she just went back to Black Iron Harbor to handle some business.]

Li Zhi wanted to ask more, but Ying had already imprinted her secret mark and was urging her to tell her the answer.

"Tell me quickly!"

"have."

Shadow: "What? What? Hey! Where are you going!"

The leaves opened and then fell.

Li Zhi has disappeared without a trace.

Black Iron Port was very deserted.

Only a few merchants and patrolling robots were moving around the port.

Li Zhi went straight to Celia's office.

Just as they were about to get on the elevator, they saw Perth standing dejectedly in the elevator that was coming down next to them.

Li Zhi immediately took two steps back, and as soon as the elevator doors in Perth opened, he slipped inside.

"Why do you look so worried? What happened? Have you seen Celia?"

Perth's initial angry expression softened upon hearing Li Zhi's voice as she entered, "Why are you here?"

"I sent you a message, but you haven't replied. What's wrong with you?"

Perth pursed his lips, lowered his head, and suddenly said to her, "I'm sorry."

Li Zhi was taken aback: "I'm sorry... what?"

Perth didn't speak, but tears fell to the ground.

Li Zhi was truly at a loss now.

"What's wrong? Don't cry. You lent me your hairdryer and you've been so good to me. As long as you haven't tried to steal my money or kill me, I'll forgive you."

Perth sniffed. "Did you give Celia a red ore?"

Li Zhi hesitated for a moment.

Was it a gift?

Wasn't that a deal she made with Celia?

But she didn't show any surprise; she simply followed Perth's words and asked, "What's wrong?"

Perth: "I've always wanted to upgrade my mech with red ore, but I haven't been able to apply for it. When I saw Celia using that red ore to make a mech, I assumed that she had applied for it, and that there was a new quota for red ore in the clan. So I went to the elders in the clan, but I never expected... that it would cause Celia to be subjected to a three-way trial."

Li Zhi slowly processed what Perth had said. "You mean, Celia was put on trial because of a red ore?"

With reddened eyes, Perth corrected, "It's not 'just because'. Red ore is one of the most precious strategic resources of the Forging Clan. The other seniors all said I should have asked Celia back then. It was my fault, but I really didn't think that much about it at the time, but no one believes me..."

"Celia will never forgive me."

Li Zhi: "I believe you."

Perth was stunned, looked up, and stared at Li Zhi in disbelief.

"You...you believe me?"

She certainly believed it.

If Perth had such a mindset, Celia would have taken her on as a student long ago.

Li Zhi: "Celia will believe you too, so don't worry."

Perth sniffled hard, her lips pressed tightly together, but she finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears, sobbing, "She won't believe me! Nobody in the caravan believes me! I'm going to be expelled from the guild soon! I'm really good for nothing..."

Li Zhi: "I am the next successor of the Chamber of Commerce. I assure you that you will not be expelled."

Perth sniffled: "But the court wants to hold a second hearing to remove you from the position of heir."