Boss Chu Fei

Leaving the Academic Affairs Office, Chu Fei asked Sun Xiangqing, "Brother Sun, may I ask you a few questions?"

Sun Xiangqing immediately thumped his chest, brimming with confidence. "No problem."

Sun Xiangqing now viewed Chu Fei in a whole new light—he had gone head-to-head with Liu Tingyun and won!

Chu Fei asked, "Brother Sun, what are the usual rules for investments? How are material prices calculated?"

Sun Xiangqing instantly wilted, scratching his head. "That's a bit complicated. Let me explain it bit by bit."

"Sorry to trouble you, Brother Sun."

"First, investments... Well, we don't even have the right to voice an opinion, much less complain.

"You're the only one who dared to do that—and succeeded.

"Maybe that's the treatment geniuses get."

Chu Fei smiled. "Brother Sun, I was just talking nonsense back there. Two hundred and forty thousand!"

Sun Xiangqing sighed and continued, "Our experience with investment amounts probably won't be useful to you.

"For people like us, if they toss us a bone, we have to crawl over on all fours to get it."

Hearing those utterly defeated words, Chu Fei could only remain silent.

Sun Xiangqing continued, "As for material prices, there are two categories.

"One is goods produced by the teams themselves, such as hunted mutated beasts. They're generally supplied internally at cost price.

"Those of us who receive investments can also enjoy lower prices. We count as half-insiders.

"As for how much lower, that depends on luck. If the team says casualties were severe or market prices fluctuated, all we can do is nod.

"The other category is things bought from the market, like Superbrain Potions. Those are provided at market price."

Chu Fei nodded silently, then asked, "What are mutated beast flesh and blood used for?"

Sun Xiangqing said, "The human body generally contains twenty-one grams of energy, but there's very little free energy—at most around two micrograms a day, perhaps even less.

"If a person wants to become 'smarter,' two basic conditions are necessary: a powerful brain and a strong body capable of supplying that brain with energy.

"Mutated beast flesh and blood contain large amounts of free energy. That free energy can directly replenish the body's needs, especially the energy needed by the brain.

"Daily strengthening exercises and the like also require free energy supplements. Otherwise, not only will they be ineffective, they may even damage the body. Then it's all over.

"Still, the mutated beast flesh the teams provide us is basically whatever they've picked over.

"But even the leftovers are good stuff."

Chu Fei frowned slightly. "Picked-over leftovers?"

But after thinking about it for a moment, Chu Fei could only sigh. Having something to eat was already good enough. He shouldn't be so picky.

Sun Xiangqing continued, "Hunting mutated beasts is the teams' main source of income, so naturally, the good stuff gets sold.

"Besides energy, mutated beast flesh and blood have other effects and uses.

"For example, some have powerful medicinal properties that strengthen muscles and bones, treat certain illnesses, even suppress mutations and aid cultivation.

"Some can be modified into biological implants, or simply trained into 'battle pets.'

"Some are especially delicious. Others can be used to extract medicines, such as all kinds of poisons and addictive drugs.

"There are even genetically modified biochemical beasts that contain 'hormones' beneficial to the human body and so on.

"For instance, they say Superbrain Potions are extracted from genetically engineered brain beasts."

As he spoke, Sun Xiangqing suddenly remembered something. "They say that more than twenty years ago, the cost price of a Superbrain Potion was already close to ten thousand.

"Only after research into brain beasts advanced and artificial cloning of brain beast cells succeeded did the cost come down.

"So, the price of Superbrain Potions isn't just made up. It's only that the price hasn't dropped in over twenty years."

Chu Fei: ...

After learning plenty of common knowledge from Sun Xiangqing, they arrived at the dormitories.

Sun Xiangqing was about to leave.

"Brother Sun, this is for you!" Chu Fei took out a bottle of Superbrain Potion and stuffed it into Sun Xiangqing's hand.

Sun Xiangqing gripped the Superbrain Potion tightly, yet said, "Oh, this is too expensive. I can't accept it."

Seeing how tightly Sun Xiangqing's fingers were clenched around it, Chu Fei rolled his eyes inwardly. "I'll have to trouble you with things in the future, Brother Sun."

Sun Xiangqing drifted away as though he were walking on clouds.

Although the price of Superbrain Potions was heavily inflated, as Liu Tingyun had said, without connections, no amount of money could buy one.

Even if Chu Fei did not use the Superbrain Potion himself, he could still sell it.

At the dormitory entrance, some students saw how "generous" Chu Fei was and could not help marveling—while they had only just heard the name Superbrain Potion, he was already using one as a gift!

But Chu Fei had his reasons.

This was the apocalypse. Nothing came free. If he wanted to save money, he had to be prepared to get cheated.

Besides, even keeping a subordinate required paying wages, much less an elite like Sun Xiangqing.

Sun Xiangqing might be acting meek and submissive now, but Chu Fei remembered their first meeting: when Huang Dapeng, Tang Zhengang, and Sun Xiangqing stood at the restaurant entrance, everyone gave them a wide berth.

The reason Chu Fei could now "win over" Sun Xiangqing was partly because he had killed Huang Dapeng and Tang Zhengang in succession, but more importantly, because of the talent Chu Fei had displayed!

Chu Fei knew exactly where his advantages lay. To maintain those advantages, he had to devote all his energy to cultivation.

As for all the trivial matters of daily life, someone else would need to handle them.

Who could be more suitable than an old hand like Sun Xiangqing?

He was capable, he could fight, and he already had dealings with Liu Tingyun. He was the best lubricant between Chu Fei and Liu Tingyun.

Since Chu Fei wanted to use someone, he had to pay "wages."

If he wanted the horse to run fast, he had to feed it well.

Since he had decided to give something, he should not be stingy. He had to give enough in one go, beyond the other person's expectations, to achieve the desired effect—the prerequisite being that he could keep them under control and did not fear they might turn ungrateful.

Besides, Superbrain Potions no longer seemed so important to Chu Fei.

After taking them continuously for several weeks, he had already developed a slight resistance, and their effects had begun to decline.

Not to mention that an investment of two hundred and forty thousand was about to come pouring in.

Thinking about it carefully, it was actually quite satisfying. Dawn Academy had trained Sun Xiangqing for at least a year, and the Greedy Wolf Team had invested who knew how much in him. Yet now, with just one bottle of Superbrain Potion, Chu Fei could have Sun Xiangqing run errands for him.

But all of this rests on the premise that I perform well!

Chu Fei quickly calmed himself, sat cross-legged, and began meditating.

Though he made almost no progress, his earlier conversation and analysis had helped him understand where the problem lay.

Sometimes, the scariest thing was not knowing what the problem was.

Since he knew he had encountered a bottleneck, he would just keep at it until water wore through stone.

It was time to use the twenty-odd Wisdom Dewdrops he had accumulated.

Wait, could the Wisdom Tree Seed be used?

Ever since it had activated, the thing had been playing dead!

Chu Fei focused his will on the Wisdom Tree Seed, but it remained completely motionless.

After thinking for a moment, he used a Wisdom Dewdrop to "nourish" it, like watering and fertilizing it.

After the Wisdom Tree Seed slowly absorbed the Wisdom Dewdrop, a faint glimmer flashed across its surface. Then a strange piece of information began to circle in Chu Fei's mind.