Chapter 476: Chapter 278: Sell Yourself for a Price_2
This is a marketplace, filled with a large variety of daily necessities, from everyday pleasures to daily activities, and even several protective devices for civilians. On the surface, you can’t tell this is a black market at all.
However, the information Shen Shi received clearly revealed everything about this place.
"Where is the intelligence trade happening?" He stopped an Es person.
To be honest, in this place filled with eighteen civilized races, encountering an Es person gave a certain familiarity, as this was the civilization he was most familiar with.
In fact, he himself was also disguised as an Es person at the moment.
"Please follow me." The Es person was a staff member of the black market. He scrutinized Shen Shi yet couldn’t discern anything, only feeling a chill in his heart, realizing that Shen Shi’s Primordial Energy mastery was far superior to his own.
In fact, this was also a method to screen customers.
For these powerful B-level civilizations, the situation was completely different from weaker ones. There was no talk of talent here. Under the powerful gene control and early education technologies, all Es people’s Primordial Energy talents were actually about the same, so Primordial Energy mastery basically depended on one’s choices and resources.
Therefore, in these civilizations, Primordial Energy mastery could already be seen as a symbol of status and power.
Although it wasn’t absolute, it was enough in most cases.
Like now.
The Es person didn’t take Shen Shi directly to the intelligence market but to another person, followed by the next person, and then the next one...
As Shen Shi went deeper into the building, the people he met had increasingly higher statuses and showed more respect.
Because no one could discern his level of Primordial Energy mastery!
Until finally.
A Three-Day person appeared before Shen Shi.
Three-Day people usually existed as spiritual bodies housed within special devices. Seeing one was akin to seeing the entire spiritual base of all Three-Day people within the device. However, this one was different; he actually had his own independent body!
Still in human form!
This meant that A-level civilization had already revealed the foundational form of Relic Civilization in this war, or at the very least, was no longer hiding its form.
"Interesting." Shen Shi sat on the soft chair, looking at the Three-Day person in front of him, his expression containing obvious amusement. "Considered a traitor of the Three-Day Civilization?"
"I’m not a traitor, just chose a different way of life." The other person wasn’t surprised by Shen Shi’s reaction. "In this cosmos, even the most rigid civilization should allow the existence of a few special individuals. This is the cornerstone of civilization and species diversity, isn’t it?"
"Of course." Shen Shi nodded slightly. "It’s just that it’s rarely seen among the Three-Day people. It seems this war is changing you."
"War is indeed the greatest driver of transformation for civilizations." The other person didn’t disagree. "You can call me Gao Ting. How should I address you?"
"Call me the Antique Dealer." Shen Shi used a transliterated name from Eastern Country Language.
After all, it’s just a code name. As long as it’s convenient, any name would do.
"It’s an honor to meet someone as esteemed as you." Gao Ting maintained a very respectful demeanor. "However, I am already the highest member here. If you are not satisfied with me handling the transaction, I can inform my superiors, though this would take some time."
"After you learn the contents of the transaction, you can still inform your superiors." Shen Shi glanced around. "It would be best to notify the A-level civilization member behind you right away. If my guess is correct, that person’s status shouldn’t be too low."
"..." Gao Ting was silent for a moment.
For most people who know them, it is hard to imagine that they have the backing of an A-level civilization nobility.
That would pertain to the extraordinary "big figures" for the majority of intelligent life within B-level civilizations.
Yet, the other party directly laid it out.
Either they were already informed, or...the information had been obtained from his mind.
However, for someone like him, there was protection in the consciousness world. It’s not strange to break through that protection, but to do so without the slightest detection implies a very high possibility, to the extent that it’s not necessarily reflective of the opponent’s true level.
Relying on his powerful Primordial Energy mastery, this minority individual among the Three-Day Civilization almost instantly analyzed the situation before him, and the possible implications couldn’t stop his emotions from trembling.
"Please rest assured." He said, "This is, after all, the frontline, and the upward channel for information is incredibly smooth. In fact, even without coming here, as long as you find any larger venue, there’s a chance to contact the highest level. Of course, the premise is that the transaction you want to conduct truly has its value."
"Of course." Shen Shi also understood this, but he just smiled slightly. "But I prefer the black market."
In fact, after arriving here, he had already roughly understood the structure here. Underneath the seemingly relaxed atmosphere hid a well-ordered wartime hierarchy.
So a place like the black market was indeed not "black".
Without the tacit approval of the upper echelon, or even demand, such a place simply couldn’t exist. In name, it was a black market, but in actuality, it couldn’t be more official.
However, the reason Shen Shi chose the black market instead of elsewhere was naturally to declare his stance.
A stance adopting the "black market" transaction method.
"I understand. I will convey your will." Gao Ting’s attitude was growing more respectful, Shen Shi noticed he even slightly bowed.
This way of showing respect isn’t universal among all civilizations; only some would adopt this as a form of expressing respect or apology, while some would even see it as a provocation. Evidently, the spiritual-bodied Three-Day people naturally didn’t possess such a culture.
Combined with his human form...
Perhaps, what the Mude System’s A-level civilization obtained from the relic civilization’s legacy wasn’t just the human form, but also parts of the culture.
Shen Shi increasingly realized how right it was to choose to leave the Milky Way Galaxy and the Mude System in the main future line.
Otherwise, as they became stronger and garnered more attention from advanced civilizations, they would inevitably be discovered for any connections they might have with Relic Civilization.
Now, the second future line already exposed this point. The third future line, being the immediate future of the main world line, also doesn’t need to worry about this issue. Only the first future line probably needs to quickly ensure their escape.
A fleeting thought crossed Shen Shi’s mind, and then he calmly said, "The first piece of intelligence is that on this battlefield, there’s the emergence of a third-party force different from the Mude System and Thousand Alliance System."
Yes, Shen Shi planned to first sell himself at a good price.
After all, their arrival couldn’t possibly remain hidden, but while they hadn’t been discovered, this intelligence was still extremely valuable.
In that case, rather than benefiting others, it’s better to benefit himself and make a tidy sum first.
"A third party?" Gao Ting’s emotions couldn’t be hidden from Shen Shi.
Obviously, he was shocked.
Though there were indeed various civilizations outside the Mude System and Thousand Alliance System, just those clinging onto barren territories struggling in resource-poor environments total quite a few, it’s clear that these civilizations didn’t even qualify as a "third party" upon arriving at the battlefield.
Because "third" is relative to the "two" of the Thousand Alliance and Mude systems!
At least, it has to be a force like the Gus Land, which has already surpassed B9 Level and is nearly at an A-level civilization status, to have such qualification.
And if such a civilization really made a large-scale entrance to such a battlefield location, it could completely change the situation on the battlefield!