Chapter 124: Selling Materials

With that, Zhang Ran moved his mind, retrieving an incendiary grenade from his storage box. He sliced open the casing and poured the high-efficiency fuel directly onto Sadan’s abdomen. Having done this, he pulled out a lighter, crouched down, and ignited the fuel with a steady flame.

Visible to the naked eye, a fierce blaze erupted across Sadan’s stomach, rapidly spreading to the rest of his body. Although an evolved individual’s physique is slightly superior to that of an ordinary person, they are still flesh and blood, not forged steel. Without defensive abilities, he was utterly unable to withstand the scorching heat, suffering rapid dehydration and carbonization.

In less than twenty seconds, Sadan’s body was charred black. As the flames spread, the fat and tissues within him ignited, becoming fuel themselves and causing the fire on his body to surge to the height of half a person.

"Hmph, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for taking that mission and for daring to strike at me!"

Looking down at the unrecognizable, burned remains, Zhang Ran spoke coldly. Without a second glance, he turned around and strode toward Black Hawk City. Barring any surprises, Sadan’s body would be completely incinerated within five minutes, reduced to a heap of ash and becoming fertilizer for the wilderness.

...

After two hours of traveling, Zhang Ran returned to Black Hawk City and walked back to his apartment.

He locked the door, opened his storage box, and took out the spoils from killing Sadan: the heavy machete he had used, the rifle slung on his back, and his pack. As for Sadan’s combat suit, since it was only made of Level 2 materials, Zhang Ran did not bother keeping it and instead left it to be incinerated.

"Very good. This is truly a bountiful harvest! It seems I am one step closer to successfully forging the second-generation 'Pojun'!"

While inventorying the loot, Zhang Ran nodded in satisfaction.

As expected, Sadan’s machete was indeed forged from a Level 3 alloy. It weighed eighty-five kilograms and bore three enchantment effects—Sharpness, Armor-Piercing, and Heavy Strike—making it a rare and valuable weapon.

If Zhang Ran were to commission such a blade, it would cost him at least one million Black Hawk Coins. However, selling it to the Black Hawk Corporation would involve a significant discount, netting him only seven hundred thousand. The corporation, in turn, would flip it for over nine hundred thousand—a truly heartless practice.

Zhang Ran already possessed 1.5 million Black Hawk Coins. Adding the proceeds from the machete brought his total to 2.2 million. According to his calculations, the second-generation Pojun would cost three million, meaning he had already reached about three-quarters of his goal.

Next, Zhang Ran turned his attention to the rifle. It was an MMT-Striker Type 2, a highly refined automatic rifle. Its quality was far superior to his AM41, crafted from top-tier Level 2 alloys with custom modifications and a "Precision Strike" enchantment. When paired with psionic ammunition, it could even threaten Level 4 or Level 5 mutant creatures. It was worth a hefty one hundred thousand Black Hawk Coins.

Although this weapon was stronger than his AM41, Zhang Ran was not a psionic-path evolved individual, so it wouldn't significantly boost his overall combat power. To save enough for the Pojun, he hadn't planned on upgrading his firearms, but since he had acquired this one as loot, he decided to keep and use it rather than sell it.

Finally, Zhang Ran opened Sadan’s pack. Aside from ammunition, three bottles of emergency medicine, and a simple water purifier, the pack contained thirty deep purple crystals. They were uniform in size and radiated a beautiful luster.

These were primary high-energy crystals, each worth ten thousand Black Hawk Coins. Being a universal currency in the wilderness, the Black Hawk Corporation bought them at full price, unlike other materials which they heavily devalued.

"With these high-energy crystals, my funds have reached about 2.6 million. I’m only short four hundred thousand! If I can build the second-generation Pojun, my combat power will skyrocket, allowing me to take down Level 5 mutant creatures. It seems I should take out a loan to get it finished as soon as possible!"

As he totaled his assets, Zhang Ran pondered. Like in the Old World, the Black Hawk Corporation offered loan services to evolved individuals. Of course, the interest rates were exorbitant—2% per month, compounded, resulting in an annual rate of 27%. It was pure usury.

Despite the high rates, Zhang Ran knew he could pay off the loan within a month. The interest would only be eight thousand coins, a small price to pay for obtaining his weapon at least two weeks earlier.

With this in mind, Zhang Ran gathered the machete and other mutant beast materials and headed to the acquisition center in the Black Hawk City guild hall. After showing his credentials, he entered the office reserved for employees ranked 2-star and above.

"Hello, I would like to sell these materials, this weapon, and these high-energy crystals."

He placed his haul on the counter.

"Yes, sir!"

The attendant respectfully began to tally the items.

"Sir, you have provided materials from six Level 4 mutant beasts, worth twenty-three thousand Black Hawk Coins and two thousand three hundred contribution points. As for this weapon and the crystals, I do not have the authority to process them. I must call a supervisor to set the price. Please wait a moment."

After finishing the count, the attendant bowed and stepped out.

About two minutes later, the attendant returned with a man in his thirties. He had slightly graying hair and faint wrinkles around his eyes. A quick check with his chip revealed that the man was not an ordinary person but a Level 1 evolved individual—albeit the weakest kind.

Typically, such individuals were the children of high-level Black Hawk officials. Sheltered by their parents, they didn't have to endure the life-or-death training of the Black Hawk bootcamp. Their combat prowess was poor, so they were usually kept in the city to serve as guards or supervisors.