Chapter 145 Extreme Fanaticism
Josie steadied herself, turned to him and smiled, "It's okay."
Just then, Poison Scorpion, rubbing his calloused and greasy hands, with an almost fawning smile on his face, strode up to the second floor and stood before them.
He deliberately lowered his voice, yet with a hint of smug satisfaction, and pointed to the dark mass of people below:
"Grandma, look! I've gathered everyone together for you, not a single one is missing!"
His small, beady eyes gleamed as he pointed out each person, "Those in gray combat uniforms over there are from the 'Rock' safe zone, the most powerful, with an abundance of crystal cores; those scarred men in leather armor over there are ruthless bandits from the 'Blood Wolf Gang'; further on, those few with calm demeanors, well-equipped but discreet, are from the 'Dawn Merchant Guild,' their connections are far more complex... and those few in the far corner,"
Scorpion's voice was even lower, tinged with a barely perceptible hint of apprehension, "Look at their attire and that aura that keeps strangers at bay, I think... they're from Hope Base. In short, all the important ones have arrived!"
His detailed intelligence was both a gesture of goodwill and a way of demonstrating his value to Josie.
Josie's gaze, like a cold probe, slowly swept over the crowd below, each with their own thoughts.
Shen Han stood half a step to her side, his aura deep and imposing, like a volcano poised to erupt, silently protecting her.
Josie nodded slightly, her voice coming through the fox mask, "Well, now that everyone's here, let's go down."
The scorpion hurriedly nodded and bowed as it led the way.
The three of them walked down the rusty, creaking iron stairs to the platform and stepped into the relatively open "square" in the center of the factory.
Those gathered below were all people who had lived on the edge and held power in their own right. They usually gave Scorpion some face because of his connections and status as a local tyrant.
But did they leave so many of them waiting down there like cargo for almost ten minutes?
This pomp and circumstance angered many people.
"Scorpion! What the hell are you up to?" A burly man with a face full of scars and a thick gold chain around his neck was the first to attack, his loud voice making the factory vibrate. "Spit it out! I don't have time to sit here and starve!"
“Exactly! All this secrecy, are you wasting everyone’s time?” Another tall, thin man with eyes as sinister as a venomous snake coldly echoed.
The crowd began to stir, with voices of discontent and urging rising and falling.
The air seemed to be filled with the invisible smell of gunpowder.
At this moment, the scorpion stood ramrod straight, the obsequiousness on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by an unprecedented, confident arrogance.
He cleared his throat and gestured with his hands to try and drown out the noise: "Everyone! Please calm down! I, Scorpion, dare to put on such a show today because I have something incredibly good to offer you all!"
"Something good? Show it to me!" The burly man with the gold chain sneered. "If it's really something to your liking, you'll get your share of the crystal core!"
"Stop keeping me in suspense!" some people urged impatiently.
Scorpion chuckled, his beady eyes scanning the room, building up the tension before he dropped the bombshell: "This thing... it can turn those ordinary people around you who are powerless, like your family, lovers, and confidants, into powerful superhumans!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the once noisy factory fell into a deathly silence!
It was so loud you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone's eyes were now fixed on the scorpion, their gazes burning with an unbelievable, fanatical greed!
"Scorpion! Are you fucking serious?!" The burly man with the gold chain was the first to rush forward, his large, fan-like hand almost grabbing Scorpion's collar. His voice was hoarse with excitement, "If you dare to mess with me, I'll chop you up and feed you to the zombies today!"
"Does such a thing really exist? Show it to us!" The snake-man couldn't hold back any longer, his voice sharp.
"I want the entire 'Rock' Safe Zone! Name your price!" The representative of the Rock Safe Zone, a middle-aged man with a cold and stern face, spoke in a deep voice, his tone carrying an undeniable forcefulness.
The scorpion was forced to take a half step back by the overwhelming force, but it still wore that "everything is under control" smile on its face.
He turned to the side and respectfully pointed to Qiao Xi and Shen Han, who had already walked up to him: "Gentlemen, please calm down! The item belongs to this Miss Qiao. Naturally, she should set the rules."
He cleverly distanced himself from the situation, drawing everyone's attention to Josie, who was wearing a fox mask.
Whoosh!
Dozens of gazes, like tangible searchlights, instantly focused on Josie.
There is scrutiny, there is suspicion, there is undisguised greed, and there is deep-seated scheming.
Josie met those gazes and took a step forward, with Chen Han following closely behind.
Her voice was calm and even, yet it carried a chilling power that pierced the heart: "The things are mine, so the rules must naturally be followed."
She paused, her gaze slowly sweeping over each face—whether excited, gloomy, or greedy.
"When you trade with me, mutual respect is paramount. Any form of disrespectful language, threats, probing, or coercion will result in your permanent disqualification from trading with me! I guarantee that the forces behind you will never receive a single superpower catalyst!"
This almost arrogant declaration made some people frown, especially those representatives of powerful forces who were used to being high and mighty.
A disdainful snort came from the corner: "Ha, what arrogance!"
Josie ignored this.
She knew all too well that when faced with absolute benefits, even the greatest arrogance had to bow down.
Without further ado, she opened the cryogenic storage box in her hand, took out a test tube that shimmered with a deep blue hue, and held it high.
The cold pipe walls refracted an alluring and mysterious halo in the dim light.
“I know that words are not enough.” Josie’s voice regained its previous calm. “Then, let’s begin the auction for the first catalyst. Starting price: five second-tier crystal cores. Each bid must be at least one second-tier crystal core.”
Given the current increase in second-tier zombies and the relative ease of obtaining crystal cores, this price is not outrageous; it's more like a tentative stepping stone.
After a brief silence, a young man standing behind the representative of the "Rock Solid" safe zone raised his hand: "Five pieces!"
Clearly, they intended to be the first to take a picture and verify its authenticity.
However, after his offer, an eerie silence fell over the room.
The other members exchanged glances, their eyes darting around, but no one immediately followed suit.
They are observing and weighing their options.
Five second-order crystal cores may not be exorbitantly priced, but no one wants to be the first to be ripped off.
Time ticked by, and just as a smug look appeared on the face of the "Rock Solid" representative, who thought they could easily win,
"Six pieces." A deep, steady voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, rang out from the corner of the factory, from among a group of well-equipped, mysterious figures.
It's that man in the dark gray windbreaker!
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