Disaster Strikes - Chapter 18:

Chapter 18: The White Four-Piece Set

Over the next two days, Chen Mo left the academy early in the morning and went to the square to look for opportunities. He tried to purchase equipment at the lowest price possible. However, buying a weapon, armor, helmet, and shoes four-piece set with just 76 points was proving to be extremely difficult, even for white quality equipment.

Except for one vendor who reluctantly offered to sell a helmet for 20 points, everyone else stated that 25 points was the minimum price in the market. Weapons and armour were even more expensive, generally around 30 points.

Chen Mo couldn’t accept these prices, but he didn’t give up and continued to try. After all, this was a matter of life and death. He was willing to be cautious and only consider buying fewer items if absolutely necessary, just to get a three-piece set.

That day, he went back to the booth where he had previously bought energy stones. It had been three days in a row. The female natural disaster vendor almost saw Chen Mo pass by her booth repeatedly every day. At first, she greeted him and tried to sell her white quality equipment, but later realized that Chen Mo had no intention of buying and stopped paying attention to him.

However, today was the third day in a row, and she was quite curious about this little guy. “Hey!” She actually greeted Chen Mo first. The white quality dagger on the female natural disaster’s booth had been sold, leaving only the shoes and potions waiting to be sold.

“Hi.” Chen Mo couldn’t avoid the greeting, so he awkwardly responded. “I’ve seen you here dozens of times these days, back and forth. What exactly do you want to buy?” Chen Mo hesitated slightly and said, “I want to buy white quality weapons, armor, helmet, and shoes four-piece set at a suitable price, without any specific attributes.”

Today was the last day, and to say that Chen Mo wasn’t in a hurry would be a lie. “A suitable price?” The female natural disaster asked, “How many points do you plan to use to buy this four-piece set?”

“76 points.” Since energy stones could be cashed out at any time, Chen Mo also calculated that his actual points were 76. Seeing that he stated an exact number, she could guess that it was all the points he had.

But wanting to buy four white quality items with this number of points was truly wishful thinking. The female natural disaster couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Dream on. Do you think the disaster world is a charity organization?”

The female natural disaster mocked him. Chen Mo also knew that it was indeed difficult, but since he was new, how would he know if he didn’t try? He even regretted a bit now. If he hadn’t spent those points in the cafeteria over the past three months, indulging in a few ordinary meals, he might have had more points and a better chance.

Just as Chen Mo was about to try his luck again and leave, the female natural disaster suddenly said, “But there are also opportunities.”

Huh? Chen Mo stopped in his tracks and looked at her in surprise.

The female natural disaster raised an eyebrow and said, “Just go over to the teleportation gate and tell those higher-level natural disasters who are about to go on missions that you can use a few more points than the gate’s buyback price to purchase the four-piece white quality equipment. Maybe someone will bother and sell it to you before tossing it to the gate for recycling?”

She then mocked, “You want to try your luck at the square? Have you even considered who these natural disasters selling these white quality equipment are? If it weren’t for life’s pressures, who would waste time here? And since they are already here, why would they sell to you at such a low price?”

Chen Mo suddenly felt enlightened. Yes! As long as he went to the teleportation gate and informed those high level natural disasters about to go on missions, maybe someone would sell it to him before tossing it to the gate for recycling?

After all, even though it was just a few extra points, it was a simple matter. Maybe someone would remember?

Thinking of this, Chen Mo suddenly showed a joyful expression, as if the dawn was right in front of him.

But then he remembered something and asked tentatively, “How long does it usually take for natural disasters to return from their missions?”

It’s no wonder Chen Mo would ask such a question. After all, he only had one day left, and the trial of the starving ghosts was about to begin tomorrow!

“It’s not certain,” the female natural disaster said lightly. “It could be just a few hours, or it could take several days, or even months. It depends on the length of the mission, the distance between the disaster world and the mission world, and the influence of the disaster world’s orbit on the flow of time. It is said that when there are fewer natural disasters going on missions, or when there are fewer survivors returning at the same time, time flows faster. In short, it’s full of uncertainty.”

Chen Mo’s face fell when he heard this. “I only have one day.”

“One day?” The female natural disaster shrugged. “Well, that’s still better than just wandering around here.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo hesitated no longer and quickly ran towards the teleportation gate.

A towering stone monument stood tall, reaching a hundred meters. The teleportation gate below the monument flickered with a faint blue light, like a vortex leading to an unknown place. People entered the vortex and came out of it continuously.

It was bustling with people coming and going.

“Hello, I would like to purchase a four-piece white quality set of weapons, armor, helmet, and shoes for 15 points. I will wait here for a day.” Chen Mo said to a natural disaster who was about to enter the teleportation gate.

He omitted the price difference between the weapons, armor, shoes, and helmet. After all, for these advanced natural disasters, white quality equipment was just an extra little reward in their missions, and they would usually throw them to the gate for recycling as resources during the mission settlement.

This was a man wearing a denim jacket with a revolver at his waist and a huge pair of scissors on his back. After hearing Chen Mo’s voice, he glanced at him, and Chen Mo could feel the man checking his disaster level. Then he chuckled and ignored Chen Mo, walking straight into the teleportation gate.

“Hello, I would like to purchase a four-piece white quality set of weapons, armor, helmet, and shoes for 15 points. I will wait here for a day.”

Another male natural disaster. He was wearing a casual suit, glasses, and holding a book. He seemed to have noticed Chen Mo’s voice but didn’t even glance at him.

“Hello, I would like to purchase a four-piece white quality set of weapons, armor, helmet, and shoes for 15 points. I will wait here for a day…”

Chen Mo stood in front of the teleportation gate, and every time someone entered, he would tentatively speak.

The morning passed, and Chen Mo’s throat was tired from shouting. However, no one responded from the people coming out of the teleportation gate.

The afternoon passed as well. Chen Mo’s throat was a bit hoarse, and he needed to drink water constantly. However, no one responded to him from the people coming out of the teleportation gate.

Seeing the sky gradually darken, Chen Mo felt a bit desperate.

“Hey, kid.”

Suddenly.

A man walked out of the teleportation gate and shouted towards Chen Mo, who was already desperate, revealing a look of surprise.

Surprisingly, this person was the man in the denim jacket with the huge scissors weapon on his back from the morning. He took out three white quality items from his storage space and initiated a trade request.

Prompt: The Wild King has sent you a trade request.

A short sword, a helmet, and a pair of shoes.

Confirming that these were not items for the same slot, Chen Mo didn’t even look at the attributes of these three white items. He immediately took out 45 points of disaster contribution and completed the transaction.

Prompt: You have obtained a Bronze Short Sword.

Prompt: You have obtained a Viscount’s Coronet.

Prompt: You have obtained Deer Leather Boots.

Using up 45 of the points he had, Chen Mo was left with 21 points. Holding these three items, he couldn’t believe how quickly his luck had turned.

Like it was a trivial matter, the other party completed the trade with Chen Mo and left in large strides.

Only then did Chen Mo look at the attributes of the three items.

Prompt: Bronze Short Sword.

Quality: White.

Usage Requirement: None.

Item Attribute: Damage +12.

Item Description: A weapon crafted using ancient techniques, sacrificed with a newborn lamb during the forging process, hence gaining extraordinary power.

White quality weapons typically have damage attributes ranging from 10 to 20. This Bronze Short Sword’s attribute of +12 falls into the inferior category for white quality weapons. However, considering that he only spent 15 points to purchase it, Chen Mo didn’t mind. It was much better than bare hands.

Unfortunately, this weapon didn’t match his basic psychic power attribute, so it could only be used for close combat and couldn’t gain the psychic power attack bonus like the spinning top before.

Next, Chen Mo looked at the helmet.

Prompt: Viscount’s Coronet.

Quality: White.

Usage Requirement: None.

Item Attribute: Health +16.

Item Description: Made of bronze, it was crafted with the burning of sage, hence gaining extraordinary power, symbolizing noble status.

White quality helmets typically have health attributes ranging from 10 to 20. This Viscount’s Coronet’s attribute was above average and had already passed the qualifying line. This showed that the seller was just selling these white quality items casually.

The following pair of Deer Leather Boots made Chen Mo more certain of his guess.

Prompt: Deer Leather Boots.

Quality: White.

Usage Requirement: None.

Item Attribute: Health +20.

Item Description: Made from the toughest part of a forest stag’s leather, the embroidery on the insole carries a mother’s earnest hope, hence gaining extraordinary power.

These were perfect attributes for white quality boots! With a solid 20 health points, it had reached the limit for white quality boots’ attributes. Chen Mo had seen a pair with the same attributes on the square yesterday, and the seller was asking for 35 points.

This was truly a pleasant surprise!

With these three items, Chen Mo only needed a piece of armor. With 21 points left and an energy stone worth 10 points, Chen Mo couldn’t help but consider whether to continue waiting here, trying to buy a piece of armor for 15 points, or try his luck on the square.

After some thought, Chen Mo decided to take a stroll on the square first. After all, if he continued waiting here and someone responded but then found out he only wanted a piece of armor, they might get angry.

After wandering around for a while, Chen Mo luckily found a white quality armor. The stall owner seemed to have been about to close up, but when she saw Chen Mo’s keen interest in the item, she stopped.

Prompt: Hemp Coarse Cloth.

Quality: White.

Usage Requirement: None.

Item Attribute: Defense +2.

Item Description: A common piece of clothing woven from coarse hemp cloth, but it has gained extraordinary power from the blood of the strong who wear it.

“If you want it, it’s yours for 30 points, the last price,” said the stall owner, a female natural disaster with a good figure, wearing a short-sleeved shirt with red hearts on it, said plainly.

The defense attribute of white quality armor typically ranges from 1 to 4. This piece of clothing had a defense attribute of +2, falling into the inferior category. While the market price for white quality armor was indeed 30 points or more, the other party clearly only knew the basic market price. Chen Mo planned to try his luck here.

“15 points,” Chen Mo offered.

The female natural disaster widened her eyes at his offer. She hadn’t encountered someone bargaining so fiercely before.

Chen Mo responded, “This white quality clothing with a defense attribute of +2 is still considered inferior even among white quality items. The market price of 30 points is for clothing with a defense attribute of +3. In reality, almost no one besides the students whose about to start the starving ghost triall would choose to buy white quality clothing. Most sellers would wait a few days without any inquiries, then choose to give it to the teleportation gate for recycling, often earning only a few points.”

Chen Mo’s words were quite true.

The female natural disaster showed a pensive look, then said, “25 points, no less, I’ve already made the biggest concession.”

Seeing that the other party had loosened up, Chen Mo gritted his teeth and said, “16 points, this is my limit.”

“A fixed price, 22 points, no less!” the female natural disaster said firmly, cutting off any further negotiations.

“18 points, I’m genuinely buying, I’ve shown my utmost sincerity,” Chen Mo insisted.

“21 points, absolutely no less, if you keep babbling, I won’t sell,” the female natural disaster said firmly.

“19 points, I’ve made the maximum effort, if you’re still unwilling to sell, then I can’t do anything else,” Chen Mo countered.

After a round of bargaining, they finally settled on 20 points. The female natural disaster closed her stall and went home.

Chen Mo was left with 1 point of disaster contribution points, and with a full harvest, he returned to the academy dormitory.

(End of chapter 18)