Apocalypse Gachapon - Chapter 1860: Cruel start

Ye Zhongming did not really like people calling him Lord Ye; it was a bit rustic and carried too much of a gangster vibe.

People from Cloud Peak called him Boss, Boss Zhong, Zhongming, Brother Ye, or Little Ye. Outsiders mostly called him Boss Ye. Those close to him and of high status called him Zhongming or brother, while those of lower status called him Brother Ye or Brother Zhongming. Those more distant might politely call him Mr. Ye.

There were some who called him Lord Ye, but not many.

For some reason, Ji Ruiguang just liked calling him that.

In the past, the two could be considered enemies. Aside from large-scale conflicts, there were many frictions between Cloud Peak and the resistance zones. Especially after full cooperation with Chief Commander Mu, relations with the other resistance zones reached a freezing point, eventually leading to incidents such as the attack on Cloud Peak and Cloud Peak’s counterattack.

However, Ji Ruiguang’s later actions left Ye Zhongming puzzled about what this big shot intended. He mediated on behalf of Mu Hanyi, saving people but sending apologies to Cloud Peak. The top brass at Cloud Peak thought for a long time but couldn’t figure out his goal.

Was it to reconcile with Cloud Peak? Or a signal of truce? Or did he have some request, using this as a precursor to easing relations?

Regardless, Ye Zhongming and Ji Ruiguang now had a basis for conversation rather than mutual attacks when they met.

Ye Zhongming shook hands with the leader of the resistance zone. It had been so long since he experienced such etiquette that he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Ji Ruiguang was accompanied by a life form, not an Earthling, but a creature covered in blue-green scales, somewhat like a lizardman from games, but without a tail.

The resistance zone leader glanced at the tent behind them and said softly, “Speaking quietly, it shouldn’t be a disturbance, right?”

This guy clearly knew which race’s camp this was and who was inside.

Ye Zhongming nodded, looked around, saw a few stone stools, and gestured to sit there.

These things were everywhere in the newcomer camp; anyone could make one in a few seconds.

“I’ll be direct. We’re all from the same country; I think we should cooperate.”

“All from the same country”—this phrase had an effect bonus anywhere outside the country, and it was no exception for Ye Zhongming.

“Two things for now: equipment and medicines.”

This was not unexpected for Ye Zhongming. After all, the Cloud Peak King was also known as the Equipment King, famous throughout the country zone. Anyone who owned a piece of equipment made by Ye Zhongming personally was envied.

Although Ye Zhongming produced equipment in high volume and quality, the vast majority was consumed by Cloud Peak itself. The rest were prioritized for allies, with very little leaking outside, creating a situation where scarcity drove value.

“It’s just the method of transaction I’d like to discuss with you. Can we change the form?”

Ji Ruiguang stated the main reason for his visit today.

If it were just about using points to purchase, anyone could do that; it didn’t necessarily require being from the same country zone. Since he brought up this emotional premise, there must be a purpose.

Ye Zhongming gestured for him to continue.

“Points are important. As fellow agents, we both have to consider the interests of the races behind us. Therefore, we can’t solely use points to make purchases. I was wondering if we could use alternative methods or approaches instead of points. For example, some things we have, or if you need certain materials, provide a list, and we’ll search for them, using these materials to offset part of the value, and so on.”

“Of course, there are other ways…”

Ji Ruiguang spoke softly, and as Ye Zhongming listened, he couldn’t help but admire this big shot. He truly was once the number one in the country zone; his thinking was extraordinary. Ye Zhongming, who had initially been indifferent, was swayed by his words.

After consideration, the Cloud Peak King also proposed some conditions and his own ideas. The two sat together discussing for over half an hour.

Afterward, Ji Ruiguang left, and Ye Zhongming returned to the tent. Inside, He had already completed her crafting.

“According to your request, this time I mainly refined a large amount of second-turn wound medicine, effective for both internal and external injuries.” He first pointed to a large box. Ye Zhongming opened it to find at least three hundred deep red pills. For external injuries, they needed to be crushed into powder for application; for internal injuries, taken orally directly, one pill at a time. The effect, compared to third or fourth-turn medicines, was naturally incomparable, but they had good efficacy for nine-star evolvers, at least equivalent to high-level healing potions produced by the wheel on Earth.

Last time, He had sold quite a few of these, each priced around ten points. To be honest, it was expensive, but the official potions cost twenty points. Although slightly more effective, the efficiency was lower.

Ye Zhongming thought for a moment and took out a hundred pills.

“Five hundred points.”

He stated a number and took out fifty more pills for Ye Zhongming. “Consider this the material cost.”

The actual cost of these pills was around five points each. Essentially, she was giving them to Ye Zhongming for free, and the extra fifty pills as material cost meant He would incur quite a loss.

However, Ye Zhongming did not refuse; some things were intangible.

Besides this, He had also refined two other types of medicines: one was a third-turn poison with very potent toxicity, and the other was a fourth-turn auxiliary medicine, similar in effect to a stimulant but much more powerful. After consumption, it would increase skill attack power, body defense, reaction ability, and a bit of agility, with no major side effects—just some bodily heat or cold after the thirty-minute effect wore off.

Of these two medicines, there were two small bottles of poison, each about a hundred milliliters, and twelve fourth-turn stimulants.

“One fourth-turn stimulant for each team member, consider it my greeting gift. The rest are for you, for fifty points.”

He still gave Ye Zhongming a loss-making price.

Ye Zhongming still did not refuse.

Afterward, He stayed to rest. Ye Zhongming, according to the prior agreement, found Jie Kui, Yang Tuo, and others, retrieved the materials they had purchased as he requested, combined them with those he bought himself, and returned to He’s tent to begin crafting.

This time, he planned to refine some more advanced weapons and equipment.

After the intense second small cycle, Ye Zhongming found that many people needed to replenish their equipment, especially weapons and armor for key areas. He focused on these two aspects and began manufacturing with concentration.

Time passed bit by bit. When there was only one hour left before the third cycle began, Ji Ruiguang’s figure appeared outside the tent again. Along with He, Jie Kui, and Shi Kangbu, who had already returned, they waited for Ye Zhongming.

“Come in,” Ye Zhongming’s voice came from inside. These people entered the tent together and were immediately taken aback by the scene inside.