Chapter 43 The Troupe Leader of Meteor City, Sarasa
“Of course, there’s strength in numbers!” Uvogin scratched his head and smiled at Machi.
He handed the potatoes he had just dug up to Machi, saying, "These are all grown by ourselves! What do you think, not bad, right?"
Machi took the potato, still covered in dirt, and looked puzzled: "Can something like this really grow in Meteor City?"
Her voice was very soft, as if she were asking Uvogin, or as if she were simply talking to herself.
"These seeds were brought by Ayana. She's the one who discovered this place and taught us how to grow them," Kuroro said to Machi as he approached her.
There is actually a subtle network of relationships among the children of Meteor City.
Although they all live in Meteor City and are struggling to survive in this godforsaken place, wherever there are people, there will always be relationships of closeness and distance.
Some children will get closer to each other because they get along well and their personalities are compatible, while others will travel together because of mutual benefit.
If this relationship develops further, it will evolve into small groups.
Machi and Kuroro maintained a tacit understanding that was neither too close nor too distant.
They are among the few "smart people" in Meteor City. While other children rely on instinct and act solely with their bodies, they have already learned to use their minds to weigh gains and losses.
Therefore, they can still exchange a few words occasionally.
Machi glanced at Kuroro, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before falling on the field behind him.
The freshly turned soil radiated vitality under the sunlight, creating a striking and peculiar contrast with the surrounding mountains of waste.
She didn't say anything, but silently squatted down, picked up a small shovel that was still idle nearby, and actually started to help dig potatoes.
Machi seemed to have never done this before; her movements were a little clumsy at first, but she quickly grasped the essentials.
Moreover, because she always seemed to be very serious about her work, it didn't take long for her potato-scooping skills to surpass those of Uvogin and the others.
With each scoop, she precisely avoided any spots that might damage the potatoes, her technique clean and efficient, and she scooped out several potatoes in no time.
Ayana noticed the commotion, walked over with an empty basket, handed it to Machi, indicating that she wanted to use the basket to put the potatoes, and thanked her.
"Thank you for your help, Machi."
Machi simply responded with a soft "hmm".
She raised her eyes, her gaze briefly sweeping across the girl's face before quickly returning to her work.
Ayana blinked, and seeing that Machi had no intention of continuing the conversation, she stopped bothering her and turned back to digging potatoes.
They worked for a long time, until evening, when the setting sun dyed the sky orange-red, before they finally finished their work.
Almost all the potatoes in the field have been harvested; there shouldn't be any left that escaped.
Uvogin carried the simple frame full of potatoes at the front, with the others following behind.
[Congratulations, host, on successfully completing the mission and harvesting potato fruits. Points rewards are being distributed.]
Ayana had just breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the system emit a cold, mechanical voice.
[The host will soon be given a new task.]
[Task Objective: Sell the potatoes.]
Wait, is there something wrong with this task? There must be something wrong with it, right?
The children in Meteor City are mostly penniless and rummage through garbage for food every day. The adults target the children and only think about how to open their hearts to them. Who can she sell potatoes to?
"Host, you can sell it to people outside Meteor City," the system thoughtfully added.
That being said, selling them to people outside Meteor City is no easy task.
Ayana has no idea how to leave Meteor City and contact the outside world.
Just as she was about to ask the system a question, she suddenly heard Machi speak up beside her.
"Hey, where are you guys headed now?"
Ayana snapped out of her reverie at the system notification and looked at the enigmatic girl beside her: "Let's go back to our lodgings. We need to find a place to store these potatoes."
"Hmm," Machi replied, her gaze sweeping over the mountain of potatoes piled on the stretcher. "There's so much, you can't possibly finish it all, can you?"
Ayana nodded, sensing a hidden meaning in Machi's words, and then asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"
"Yes." To everyone's surprise, the girl actually gave a direct answer.
She looked at Ayana and asked, "What do you plan to do with the extra parts?"
Ayana hesitated for a moment, then remembered the system's prompt, and tentatively replied, "Perhaps we could try selling it to someone who needs it?"
This suggestion was completely out of place in Meteor City. Even Nobunaga, who was walking ahead, turned around and glanced at her, as if he had something to say but didn't say it.
In Meteor City, those without strength rummage through garbage dumps to find food and make ends meet, while those with strength steal food from others. Those who are smarter will trade for food with others using items they can exchange.
The word "buying and selling" is almost non-existent in the rules of Meteor City; it is an extremely unfamiliar concept at this time.
Kuroro's lips trembled slightly, and he was about to speak when the pink-haired girl continued, "Who are you planning to sell it to? Outsiders? Only outsiders would be willing to buy this kind of thing."
These words silenced everyone present. Even Uvogin put down the stretcher, turned to look at Machi, and asked gruffly, "Machi, what do you mean?"
“There are some special markets on the outskirts of Meteor City,” Machi’s voice remained extremely calm. “Some merchants come here to buy special items, and they come every week.”
She added, "I've observed it."
Ayana paused for a moment, then heard Machi continue, "I know the specific route and can take you there, but you need to make an exchange with me."
Machi is a smart and perceptive child.
During the few days that Uvogin disappeared and stopped causing trouble, she became suspicious, so she secretly kept an eye on what Uvogin was doing and noticed Ayana and her group.
"What do you want to exchange with me?" Ayana asked, realizing that this might be the opportunity to complete the mission.
“It’s simple.” For the first time, Machi’s gaze lingered on Ayana’s face for an extended period, looking directly into her eyes without any hesitation. “I want you to take me with you and share some potatoes with me.”
This request came as a surprise to everyone.
Uvogin couldn't help but interject, "I can understand if you want food, but what are you doing on the outskirts of Meteor City?"
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on Machi, bathing the girl in a glow. Her expression remained unchanged as she said solemnly, "I have my own plans."
He said no more, clearly not intending to explain.
Ayana thought for a moment and then agreed: "Okay, I promise you."
Having received permission, Machi's lips twitched slightly upwards, then she resumed her steps, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction from the others, leaving behind a single sentence.
"Meet me here two days from now. I'll be waiting for you."
As night fell and darkness gradually enveloped the entire Meteor Street, Machi's figure disappeared from their sight.
Aunt Yana gazed in the direction the girl had left, a vague unease creeping into her heart.
*
"Did you succeed?" A deep male voice rang out from the shadows.
“Yes, it went smoothly.” Machi stood opposite the man, her voice devoid of emotion. “She agreed. I have done what you asked me to do, and I hope you can keep your promise.”
The man chuckled, his voice tinged with a hint of mockery: "Of course, I'm a man of my word, why would I lie to a little kid?"
He threw something to Machi, deliberately leaving it on the ground, his intention clear: he wanted to see Machi bend down to pick it up.
Maggie remained motionless, standing ramrod straight, her calm eyes fixed on the man without a ripple, as if she had long seen through his childish tricks.
"Tsk." The man clicked his tongue in annoyance as his plan failed, then threatened, "Don't forget what you promised me. If you don't want anything to happen to the child you care about, do as I say, understand?"
"Bring that girl to see me in two days."
Machi lowered her eyes, concealing the expression in them, and replied with an "okay".
The man snorted and his figure slowly disappeared into the darkness.
Only after confirming that the man had completely left did Machi slowly bend down and pick up the things on the ground.
She grasped the key, walked to a steel gate securely locked with a seashell, aligned the key with the keyhole, and inserted it.
With a "click," the door opened.
A young girl rushed into Machi's arms, anxiously and nervously asking, "Machi, are you alright? Did that person do anything to you?!"
"You don't need to come to save me. I'm sure I can find a way to escape on my own!"
"Let me see if you're injured!"
March remained calm and showed no reaction. She patted the girl on the back and reassured her, "I'm fine. He didn't do anything to me."
She looked the girl up and down again, carefully checking for any additional injuries, and said, "But you, you're not hurt, are you, Salazar?"
"I'm fine, nothing's wrong." To prove she was alright, Sarasa hopped around twice like a lively little rabbit.
This adorable gesture brought a slight smile to Machi's tense lips, revealing a rare hint of amusement.
But Machi was still worried and checked Salazar's entire body. Only after confirming that Salazar was truly alright did she feel at ease and take Salazar away from this place of trouble.
The two found a relatively secluded corner and settled down there for the time being.
Sarasa was very worried. She gripped Machi's hand tightly, her little face full of concern: "Machi, what does that person want you to do? Don't listen to him, let's run away, run far away!"
"Where can we escape to?" Machi simply raised her hand and ruffled Salazar's hair.
She sighed and said, "We can't escape Meteor Street, and we've already been targeted by that person. If he could catch you the first time, he can catch you the second time. Only by completing what he asks of us can we achieve true safety."
"But he wants you to bring that girl to see him, what is he going to do!" Salazar is not stupid, nor is she malicious; she can be said to be one of the few good kids in Meteor City.
Not wanting to hurt anyone, she added, "That person clearly has ill intentions; he'll definitely do something bad to that girl!"
Machi remained silent for a moment.
Machi is a smart person.
She knew better than anyone that the man harbored malicious intentions.
She took advantage of the girl's trust and lured her into a trap.
This kind of practice should be commonplace in Meteor City.
In this chaotic land devoid of order, betrayal and exploitation are commonplace.
And even if she really did do such a thing, only she and Salazar would know about it, and Salazar wouldn't tell anyone else, so she wouldn't be blamed.
But she hesitated inwardly; she wasn't as cold as she had imagined.
Maggie didn't like this approach.
Moreover, she knew that even if she temporarily complied with that man's wishes, he would not let her and Sarasa off so easily.
“I won’t let that man have his way,” March said in a deep voice. “I will find a way to get rid of him.”
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Author's Note: I'm really pushing the main storyline forward!
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