Chapter 55: Talking about Cooperation - A Pie Falling from the Sky
“Let’s just look around.” One of the men casually pointed to a sleekly designed longbow displayed in the window. “How much is this one?”
"You two have excellent taste," the waiter exclaimed. "This is a heavy bow and arrow crafted by Master Iron Tree using meteorite iron, with an additional 5% critical hit rate. It's one of our best-selling models right now, and if you buy it now, you'll also receive a jar of twelve specially made arrows as a gift."
"We need to think about this price," the man said casually. "We'll take a look first; you don't need to follow us the whole time."
"Alright, feel free to contact me anytime if you need anything."
After dealing with the waiter, the two carefully examined the craftsmanship and price tags of the weapons displayed on the counter. They whispered to each other, "These bows and arrows seem to be better than those made by the blacksmith in our town. I glanced at the price; they're only two thousand game coins, at least half the price."
“I think so too. If I weren’t on a mission, I would have bought this bow and arrow right now.” The speaker happened to be an archer.
The waiter stood on the other side of the shop, seemingly unconcerned about their whispered conversation, and continued to wait professionally by their side.
After seeing it, the two men's evaluation of the territory's forging level and commercial system improved even further.
On the other side, two female team members from Yunpei Town, who were parked in front of the Xingxing Milk Tea shop, discussed for a while and then stepped into the shop hand in hand.
"Welcome to Xingxing Milk Tea Shop! What would you two like to drink?" A young employee with a lively ponytail greeted them warmly.
"Give us eleven glasses of chilled lemonade, to go."
While waiting, the woman approached the counter and asked the wheelchair-bound server who was packing orders for customers, "Auntie, have you been working here for a long time? You're so skilled."
Upon hearing this, Li Suhua did not pause her work at all and smiled gently.
She was already used to customers' various attempts to strike up a conversation, whether out of curiosity or tentativeness. "Yes, I've been here since the store only sold three kinds of drinks."
"So early? Does that mean you were already living here when this safe zone first appeared?"
“Yes.” Li Suhua raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the bright and clean shops and the bustling streets outside the window, her eyes filled with gratitude: “To be honest, with my old bones and these legs, I’m afraid no one would want me in any other town.”
"But here, the boss not only assigned me suitable work, but also specially adjusted the height of the workbench and sink so that I could keep busy even while sitting in a wheelchair."
She carefully packed up the last milk tea, her tone becoming increasingly sincere, and deliberately said, "Watching this territory gradually transform from a small camp into such a bustling town, everything we eat, use, wear, and live in is a hundred times better than outside. Even my daughter says that after working here, she feels much more energetic."
"Here, as long as you are willing to work, you will not go hungry and you can live with dignity."
She handed over two large bags full of packaged milk tea, saying, "Your eleven cups of milk tea are ready. Hand them carefully."
The two team members who had been gathering information received the heavy cups of milk tea and were momentarily speechless.
Even disabled people can find suitable jobs here, be respected, and live a life full of hope.
This detail, more powerfully than any magnificent architecture or powerful weaponry, demonstrates that the core of the Star Territory is far more benevolent, inclusive, and powerful than they imagined.
An hour later, the members of the Yunpei Town exploration team returned to the agreed street corner on time.
Yun Aobai silently accepted the lemonade offered by his teammate and, imitating the surrounding residents, leaned against the railing at the street corner and slowly sipped it.
At this moment, she seemed no different from any other consumer who came to Star Territory to enjoy a moment of peace.
She sipped her drink while listening to her teammates' hushed reports.
The cool liquid slid down her throat, seemingly soothing her nerves, which had been constantly tense due to anxiety and responsibility, allowing her to think more calmly.
The team members' reports were remarkably consistent, with positive feedback exceeding expectations on everything from the stability of the barrier, the abundance of resources, the vitality of commerce, to the residents' morale.
Clearly, the true situation in Star Territory was far better than they had imagined.
"It seems that our initial idea can be fully realized here."
After finishing the last sip of juice, Yun Aobai accurately threw the empty glass into the trash can. Suddenly, she turned around and focused her gaze precisely on the shadowy corner of a seemingly ordinary building not far away.
"Mayor, after observing for so long, what advice do you have?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Nanxing was somewhat surprised to find herself discovered, but she remained calm and gracefully stepped out of the shadows.
“Mayor Yun has a good eye,” she readily admitted, then asked, “I’m a little curious, how did you recognize me? Logically speaking, not many people should know that I’m the manager here.”
Yun Aobai's gaze shifted slightly downwards, landing on the magical plant that, despite its efforts to minimize its presence, still radiated powerful life energy.
Her eyes seemed to say: Isn't this obvious enough?
Lin Nanxing followed her gaze to the loyal banyan tree beside her and suddenly realized that the banyan tree was a magical plant that had existed since the early days of the territory and had been guarding the territory ever since. Those who had visited her territory in the early days all knew this.
It's not surprising that Yun Aobai knew Da Rong's identity, and Lin Nanxing, who could make Da Rong follow him, must have an obvious identity.
“Alright, that was my oversight. With such conspicuous bodyguards, it’s indeed hard to keep a low profile. But…” Lin Nanxing changed the subject and continued with a smile, “I’m very curious, Mayor Yun, did you have any instructions for personally leading such a formidable team to explore my territory so deeply?”
The moment the word "advice" was uttered, the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly became tense, and an invisible tension seemed to fill the air.
The Yunpei Town team members standing behind Yun Aobai subconsciously adjusted their posture and quietly tightened their grip on their weapons. Even the banyan tree spirit seemed to sense the change in atmosphere, its branches and leaves moving without wind, making a slight rustling sound.
Yun Aobai's expression remained unchanged. She raised her hand and gestured slightly behind her to signal her team members to relax.
The powerful woman calmly met Lin Nanxing's gaze: "Mayor Lin, you misunderstand. We have no ill intentions on this trip. On the contrary, I am here to discuss cooperation."
Ten minutes later, in Zhou Qisheng's office, which was piled high with documents and drawings.
Zhou Qisheng was sitting behind his desk, looking at the two female managers sitting on the left and right of each other on two single sofas, and felt that the atmosphere in his office was a bit tense.
He silently placed a cup of freshly brewed hot tea in front of Yun Aobai, while handing another cup of lemonade to his lord, trying his best to play the role of a background character.
Yun Aobai didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point with her cooperation proposal: "Mayor Lin, my proposal is very simple. We hope that Star Territory can provide a stable food supply to Yunpei Town, and at the same time, we hope that you can grant consumption rights to the residents of Yunpei Town, regardless of whether they have formal resident status in Star Territory."
She paused briefly, observed Lin Nanxing's reaction, and continued to offer her bargaining chip: "In return, Yunpei Town can provide Xingxing Territory with an experienced and reliable guard team to be stationed here permanently, responsible for assisting in maintaining the territory's security and order, and undertaking some of the outer patrol and defense tasks."
Yun Aobai had long ago observed that the Star Territory was in a period of rapid expansion, and there was a relative lack of various talents, especially military talents who were good at combat and security management.
The existing defenses rely more on powerful barriers and Lin Nanxing's personal magical plants, and there are obvious shortcomings in human resource organization and daily management.
This weakness is precisely what Yunpei Town, with its years of experience in resisting monster tides, can perfectly compensate for.
"It's that simple?" Lin Nanxing asked subconsciously, her tone still revealing a hint of undisguised surprise.
Someone offered to help maintain the territory's security, and all I had to do was grant access to a consumer business that I had already planned to operate.
In her eyes, this was like a windfall, a sure-fire way to make money, and the conditions offered by the other party were so generous that she could hardly find a reason to refuse.
Hearing her tone, Zhou Qisheng's heart skipped a beat. He sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. His boss was good in every way—good personality, good temper—but he trusted people too much and had no sense of caution whatsoever.
“Boss,” Zhou Qisheng coughed lightly, and waited until everyone’s eyes were on him before intervening in the conversation, “Mayor Yun’s proposal does show great sincerity. However, any cooperation needs details to ensure its longevity and stability.”
"For example, the specific size, personnel composition, and command authority of the guard team you are deploying, as well as the party responsible for supplying materials during the deployment period. On the other hand, regarding the opening of consumption rights, its specific scope and the mechanism for handling potential disputes, etc., all of these need to be carefully discussed by both parties and clearly written into the contract in order to avoid future misunderstandings."
His words were clear and logical, instantly shifting the topic from "whether to cooperate" to the specific details of "how to cooperate," demonstrating his determination not to let his boss suffer losses due to momentary carelessness.
Yun Aobai looked at Zhou Qisheng with some surprise. She had worked with Zhou Qisheng in Yunpei Town for a period of time before, and she knew how outstanding his abilities were.
But his arrogance matched his abilities. When Yun Aobai saw him wholeheartedly protecting the interests of the Star Territory, he was no less shocked than when he first saw the Star Territory's advertisements to the world.
However, she quickly composed herself and replied, "Of course."
Lin Nanxing had no interest in the formal exchanges between the two; her thoughts had already drifted far away, and her fingers unconsciously opened the virtual backpack.
In the five consecutive draws from the reputation gacha machine, besides the most eye-catching Five Flavor Tree and Train Track, I also got three other items.
A pile of game coins, five plots of farmland, and a longbow that is entirely ice blue.
Game currency and farmland were common resources to her and didn't interest her, but the bow was a rare find.
However, her profession is a summoner, so she has no need for such a top-tier physical weapon. Among the people she knows, the only one who seems to be worthy of using a bow and arrow is Shu Yi, who is always taciturn but has excellent archery skills.
"Hmm... what's a good opportunity to give it to him?" She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes glazed over, already seriously considering what excuse she could use to give the gift naturally and without seeming abrupt.
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