Chapter 72: Captain Wu’s Business Philosophy

After returning to the city, Chen Hao sought out the six pale-faced prodigies and shared with them some tips for leveling up, instructing them to form a team for training. Now that he had become a Second Lieutenant, he could assemble a six-person squad. If he joined in, there would be seven, but his focus for the time being was to hone his marksmanship, so he let the other six form their own group.

Within the squad, the pale-faced prodigy was already at level eleven, while the others were still just shy of level ten. Thus, Chen Hao appointed him as the team leader. Apart from the fisherman, the others were already familiar with each other. Chen Hao asked the pale prodigy to help the fisherman integrate into the group and cautioned him to be wary of that individual, for the fisherman had left a deep impression on him during the assault on the cathedral.

After the six departed, Chen Hao made his way to the Patrol Camp’s headquarters. At the entrance, he saw three players walking out, their faces brimming with excitement. A sense of foreboding settled over him; their happiness surely had a cause, most likely that they had discovered the Patrol Camp sold 8mm rounds.

Feigning curiosity, Chen Hao stopped the three and asked, “Brothers, did you gain anything from entering the camp?”

“N-no, nothing at all. What could we possibly gain?” stammered the player in front.

The player beside him was much more composed. He laughed and said, “We were lucky enough to receive a unique quest. We’re in a hurry to complete it, and my brother is just too excited.”

Chen Hao put on a disappointed face. “A unique quest, is it? I thought if it were a regular quest, I could go in and grab one myself!”

“Haha! If it were a regular quest, we wouldn’t be so delighted. If you want a standard quest, you can go to Qianhu Zhong Wenhai. He gives out missions to deal with the local thugs.”

Chen Hao was now almost certain they had purchased cheap ammunition. Their feigned enthusiasm in directing him to Zhong Wenhai for quests was likely an effort to keep him away from Quartermaster Wu. Pretending to be grateful, he replied, “Thank you so much. I’ll go find Zhong Wenhai and farm some thugs.”

After searching for Zhong Wenhai, the once-nervous player now wore a gloomy expression. “Lu Renjia, do you think that guy will find Quartermaster Wu?”

The calm player responded coolly, “The system won’t let us profit from selling ammunition forever. Even if this guy doesn’t find Wu, others will soon learn about the ammo sales just as we did. We should hurry and buy as much ammo as possible for reselling.”

Had Chen Hao overheard, he would surely have agreed. His own business of reselling ammunition had been thriving, but in a single day, three other players had caught on. Once these three began reselling, more would quickly follow, sealing the fate of the ammo trade as a short-lived venture.

The bullets in the Patrol Camp’s armory were training rounds, and thus not unlimited in supply; once the stock was depleted, there would be restrictions. When Chen Hao found Quartermaster Wu, he was humming a tune, quite at ease. Upon seeing Chen Hao, he smiled. “Chen Baxian, are you back for more ammunition?”

Chen Hao nodded. “I’d like to purchase thirty-three boxes this time. By the way, Master Wu, the ammo here isn’t unlimited, is it? I’m worried if I try to buy in bulk, there won’t be any left.”

Wu patted his chest confidently. “Rest assured, we’ve been stockpiling these rounds for two years. More than half remain. You can buy as much as you want.”

Chen Hao smiled wryly. “I ran into a few friends as I came in—they bought ammunition too. I’m concerned that with so many buyers, the stock won’t last.”

Wu’s demeanor soured. “I treat everyone equally. If other ‘strangers’ wish to buy, I won’t refuse, but of course, you can buy as well. Even if the stock runs low, you’ve bought so much recently that it should suffice for your marksmanship practice.”

With that, Chen Hao abandoned any hope of exclusivity. The system clearly intended for many players to discover the ammunition supply, so his best course was to buy as much as possible while it lasted. Loading thirty-three boxes, he headed to the market and found Honest Trader, turning his five hundred coins into six hundred in an instant. He couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly money multiplied.

Leaving the Patrol Camp, Wu mused to himself, “It seems my thinking is correct. These strangers all want to buy ammunition, so there’s no worry about finding buyers. I’ll go ask a few more and if they all want to buy, I’ll raise the prices…”

Wu certainly knew how to do business. He sent his personal guards to find more strangers, and before long, over ten showed up at the camp. Wu raised the ammo price to sixteen copper coins per round, but the players he summoned bought up everything they could, his plump face blooming with joy.

Back at his rented courtyard, Chen Hao briefly recounted the successful rescue to Wang Wu, then deposited his items at home. Ammunition was heavy, and his satchel could hold only thirty-three boxes before reaching its limit. This time, with plans to buy forty boxes, he emptied it to make more room.

When Chen Hao saw Wu again, the quartermaster was handing three boxes to another player. After the player left, Wu beamed and said, “Chen Baxian, starting now, the price has gone up. I’m selling to other strangers at sixteen copper coins per round. As an old customer, I’ll let you have them for fifteen, but this is the last time.”

Chen Hao couldn’t be bothered to argue. He promptly handed over six hundred coins for forty boxes and hurried to the market. There, he found many more players selling ammunition, most listed at eighteen copper coins per round in their eagerness to make a quick sale.

Seeing Chen Hao, Honest Trader’s face darkened. “Chen Baxian, the market is flooded with ammo sellers now. Prices are eighteen copper coins per round, some even sold for seventeen earlier. I’ve taken a huge loss this time.”

Chen Hao shook his head. “To be frank, all the ammo I sold you came from the Patrol Camp, and so did theirs. The camp’s stock is limited. At this rate, it’ll be gone within two hours, so the price won’t drop. Tomorrow, things will be back to normal.”

Honest Trader looked troubled. “Even so, I can’t buy any more ammo. I’ve invested all my money in purchases from you these days—I don’t have enough funds…”

Chen Hao replied coldly, “You’re thinking of buying directly from the camp, aren’t you? Let me be clear: the price was sixteen copper coins per round, now it’s seventeen, and you might not even get any. The ammo I have is yours if you want it.”

Honest Trader hesitated. “With prices so low today, buying at eighteen copper coins per round is too risky. I’d rather try for myself first. If it really turns out as you say, I’ll get back to you…”

“As you wish.”

Chen Hao had no interest in talking further. He knew the ammo business was over and simply placed a box for sale in the market. He wasn’t worried about future prices, but since he’d converted all his coins into ammunition and Honest Trader wouldn’t buy more, he had to sell a box to cover immediate expenses.