Chapter 35: Integrity Value +1

“Oh~ Easy?” Fatty Lei turned to look at his steward upon hearing these words spoken behind him. “How is it easy? Explain it to me.”

Even Andrew watched Wangcai intently through the monitor, waiting for his answer.

Wangcai straightened his posture and adjusted his clothes.

“Ahem~”

After clearing his throat with a cough, Wangcai answered under Fatty Lei’s slightly impatient gaze. “Mr. Andrew, Master, what you both just said is correct. Especially what Mr. Andrew said – the Dimensional Trading Device does have rule restrictions. These restrictions are particularly important when my Master’s Merchant Rank is still low. But…” Wangcai smiled mysteriously then.

“But did you both forget something? What my Master needs to buy are creatures that can guard the planting base. That just means they need to be obedient and able to do the work. They absolutely don’t have to be purchased from your Fantasy Dimension, Mr. Andrew. Yours is a Fantasy Dimension! My Master’s Merchant Rank is too low, so our World hasn’t received the Dimensional Trading System’s Dimensional Plane rating yet, but it seems to be a Sci-Fi Dimension too.” Wangcai stood there talking confidently.

“So, the relationship between my Master’s Dimensional Plane and yours, Mr. Andrew, is subject to some restrictions by the Dimensional System rules.”

By this point, Fatty Lei and Andrew understood what Wangcai meant.

“So, my Master could find merchants from other Sci-Fi Dimensions and purchase labor hands from them.” Wangcai shrugged, looking casual. “After all, both are Sci-Fi Dimensions. The rule suppression from the Dimensional Trading System shouldn’t be a worry anymore then.”

“I’m so stupid! Why didn’t I think of that!” Fatty Lei smacked his thigh loudly, criticizing himself.

This wasn’t really Fatty Lei’s fault. He had only been a Dimensional Merchant for a few days. His thinking simply hadn’t shifted yet, so it was understandable.

Later, once he’d been a merchant longer and knew more about the Dimensional Trading System’s restrictions, solving such problems would be straightforward.

As for the Magic Apprentice Andrew, even though his Rank was eighty levels and one tier higher than Fatty Lei, he too was just a small fry. Andrew mostly traded with fellow Fantasy Dimension merchants, so he hadn’t encountered such a situation before either. That’s why good advice wasn’t immediately forthcoming.

Now, with Wangcai’s reminder, Fatty Lei and Andrew were naturally delighted.

For Andrew, the joy came from Fatty Lei finding a way to get labor hands, enabling him to expand the planting area. This meant the next harvest would yield far more goods than the current one.

How could this not make Andrew happy?

For Fatty Lei, while being able to expand the planting area was certainly good, the primary source of his happiness was different. After buying labor hands, the Military Outpost wouldn’t feel so empty and lonely anymore.

Fatty Lei had been alone and isolated for a long time; he yearned to have more people around him to talk and chat with.

Besides, with more people close by, he would feel safer, wouldn’t he?

Currently, the huge Military Outpost held only him and one Intelligent Butler, Wangcai. Everything felt vast and empty, making Fatty Lei feel hollow and uneasy.

Add to that the nightly roar of the Planetary Storm and the regular harassment by Xenomorphs and Seeds, it made Fatty Lei strongly wish for more companions around him.

The reason was simple enough: Fatty Lei himself wasn’t strong. This created a deep desire inside him for many subordinates. It felt like only a large number of followers could guarantee his safety.

Perhaps this was just another form of fear. Fatty Lei was flesh and blood, an ordinary man; he wasn’t heartless or fearless.

“Good! Since we can solve the labor problem, then expanding the planting area after this harvest shouldn’t be an issue,” Andrew said happily to Fatty Lei and Wangcai.

“Hmm~” Fatty Lei lifted his hand to stroke his stubbly chin and nodded. “If the labor problem can be solved, expanding the planting area isn’t an issue. Bigger area means more Credit Points for us next time!” Fatty Lei was now quite happy too.

“After this harvest, you keep half as seeds. I’ll trade the other half. Three hundred Credit Points each – I don’t think you’ll object?” Andrew asked Fatty Lei somewhat nervously.

Even though Fatty Lei had agreed not to raise the price, Andrew had already told him his own potential profits. He’d even added two hundred Credit Points each. Yet, Andrew still felt uneasy.

He felt he was being a bit too greedy. (His own thought, of course.)

Fatty Lei smiled at Andrew. “Mr. Andrew, I’m very happy to partner with someone like you. Three hundred Credit Points is a very high price for me, especially since you provided the seeds. You handle the selling of the harvest; I’m really just doing Contract Manufacturing.” Fatty Lei seemed very calm about it.

“I’m looking for a long-term partnership, not just short-term profit.” Fatty Lei was utterly serious when he said this.

Seeing Fatty Lei’s earnest and grave expression, Andrew also nodded solemnly at him.

“Mr. Odin, your Integrity Value has earned my respect. In this Trading Space full of lies and trickery, meeting someone like you is an honor for me, Andrew.” Andrew bowed to Fatty Lei through the monitor.

“We are now Special Friends. You will learn the hidden significance of this later. It was precisely your Integrity Value that made me add you as a Special Friend.” Andrew spoke seriously to Fatty Lei.

Does being Special Friends offer some benefit? Fatty Lei thought to himself, seeing Andrew’s stern face. He then glanced at Wangcai, seeming to inquire about the meaning of this “Special Friend” status.

“Master, I’ll tell you later. I’ll explain it,” Wangcai whispered to Fatty Lei.

Clearly, this wasn’t the right time for such a discussion.

Fatty Lei pushed his thought aside and spoke to Andrew. “Thank you so much for your trust. It’s my honor.”

“No~ no~ no,” Andrew raised his hand and shook it towards Fatty Lei. “As Special Friends, it’s solely because of your Integrity Value. If not for your high Integrity Value, I wouldn’t have done this.” Andrew told Fatty Lei.

“So there’s no need for thanks, Mr. Odin. You earned this yourself.”

A smile spread across Andrew’s face as he looked at Fatty Lei. “From now on, I will only partner with you. Unless I, Andrew, am dead. Otherwise, nothing can break the cooperative relationship between Mr. Odin and me.” Andrew stated this with absolute seriousness.

“Ding dong! Received a Merchant’s Oath. Odin Shop Integrity Value +1.”

The cold, rigid System Notification Sound suddenly echoed within Fatty Lei’s Trading Space.

What the hell?! What’s going on? Fatty Lei was startled by the unexpected system notification.

The notification sound repeated three times before stopping. Fatty Lei was still clueless about its meaning; he had no idea what had just happened.

Andrew, unaware of what transpired, smiled at Fatty Lei. “Then, Mr. Odin, I won’t disturb you further. Please inform me when it’s harvest time.” Fatty Lei nodded. “Alright! It’s settled. I’ll keep a close watch on the goods. I’ll contact you again after the harvest, once I have the final count.”

Fatty Lei’s mind was now filled with endless questions. He fervently wished Andrew would hurry and end the call so he could ask Wangcai right away.

Soon after, both men closed their Communicators.

Once the communication ended, Fatty Lei motioned to Wangcai. The steward brought Fatty Lei out of the Trading Space, returning them to the Military Outpost.

“Come! Let’s go sit on the Metal Wall for a while. I have some things I don’t understand and need to ask you. We can also keep an eye on those near-ready harvests.” Fatty Lei waved his hand at Wangcai and started walking towards the Metal Wall.

“Master, what do you wish to ask?” Wangcai followed closely behind Fatty Lei.

“There’s a lot I want to ask you. I’m discovering many things about the Trading System that I knew nothing about. The more I think about it, the more secrets it seems to hold.” Fatty Lei said to Wangcai as they walked.

“Master, you really don’t need to think that much about it.” Seeing Fatty Lei dwell on the Dimensional Trading System, Wangcai advised him. “Even many high-ranking Dimensional Merchants haven’t figured the Dimensional Trading System out.”

They quickly reached the top of the Metal Wall.

Fatty Lei slung his Laser Rifle onto his back, climbed onto the edge of the wall, and sat down. Gazing at the distant white cloud masses and the immense Planet behind them, he stared blankly for a long moment.

“Even high-ranking merchants haven’t figured it out?” Fatty Lei murmured after a long while.

Wangcai sidled next to Fatty Lei, leaning against the gun slit of the Military Outpost wall.

“The Dimensional Trading System is a very mysterious thing. No one knows when it appeared. No one knows what kind of entity built it. It truly is incomprehensible.” Wangcai sighed, telling Fatty Lei everything he knew.

Fatty Lei listened to Wangcai’s account. Watching the giant Planet in the distance, his heart churned, unable to find calmness for a long time.