Seeing his gaze shift toward the other houses, the child added, "Three Red-Eye Fruits for food and lodging—that's the factory director's rule. No one dares to break it. It'll be the same no matter who you ask."
A tiny town that could be seen from one end to the other at a glance, ramshackle houses so ordinary they seemed like a trap, and children who were cautious and skittish as startled birds—it took no thought to guess what state the town's residents were in.
"Where can I find more Red-Eye Fruits?" Xu Huo asked, holding out a lollipop.
Longing appeared in the child's eyes, but he did not reach for it. Instead, he negotiated, "Can you trade food instead?"
"Are you that short on food?" Xu Huo asked. "Doesn't the factory provide meals?"
The child hesitated before saying, "It's not enough to fill us up..."
Xu Huo took out a bag of jerky and some candy as well, handing them to him. "I'll come back to your house after I find the Red-Eye Fruits."
The child was delighted and was just about to take them when another child in the distance shouted, "He's a liar! Don't give him food—give it to me!"
"Give it to me! Give it to me!"
Children farther away began shouting too. Without exception, they all communicated with the outside through the small windows beside their doors. Not a single one came out.
"What are you making all that noise for?! Keep it up and I'll smash your mouths!" A Player in a factory uniform came over from the town center, yelling at the children impatiently.
When he saw Xu Huo, his impatience became even more obvious. Still, he did not start a conflict with him. He merely walked to a house in the middle of