When he reached the 42nd floor, Lin Fan looked around.
Unlike the noisy purchasing area downstairs, which was as loud as a bustling market, this floor had none of that rowdy, rough atmosphere.
Beneath his feet was a sound-absorbing carpet that sank halfway under his shoes, and soft spotlights shone overhead.
Lin Fan glanced at the display case nearest the entrance.
A war blade gleamed with a faint blue light. A small label beside it read:
[Series 7 Kro Alloy War Blade "Shadow Blade," Price: 28,000,000 Huaxia Currency.]
"...What a rip-off."
Lin Fan grumbled to himself without changing expression.
The HR Alliance had just about everything on the market, but the prices were downright terrifying.
Just then, a saleswoman in a blue-and-white porcelain qipao with a high slit sauntered over.
Although Lin Fan was wearing a cheap school uniform, anyone who made it to the 42nd floor was either a rich second-generation kid or a martial artist. No one here judged people by their appearance.
She stopped in front of Lin Fan and bowed respectfully.
"Hello, sir."
"My employee number is 089. You can call me 089. Would you like to look at finished war blades or throwing knives?"
Her voice was so sweet it made his ears feel soft.
Lin Fan looked away from Shadow Blade and said calmly,
"I'm not buying a finished product. I want recycled A-grade alloy scraps."
"Huh?"
The saleswoman's perfect professional smile froze on her face. She almost couldn't keep it together.
Who came to the 42nd floor to buy scrap?
It was like someone going to a three-Michelin-star restaurant, slapping the table, and demanding a bowl of slop.
"S-sir, you mean recycled material for disposal?"
The saleswoman swallowed with difficulty, trying to salvage the awkward conversation. "Those are industrial rejects or fragments of battle-damaged weapons. They're made of A-grade material, but their shapes are irregular, so they can't be used as they are..."
"I know." Lin Fan cut her off. "Do you have any in stock? If not, I'll go somewhere else."
At the cold look from Lin Fan, the saleswoman shivered. Her professional instincts immediately kicked back in.
"We do! Of course we do!"
Her attitude changed in an instant.
"Right this way! The Alliance just recycled a batch of wreckage last night. It hasn't been melted down yet."
The saleswoman led Lin Fan to a counter on the floor and explained the situation.
Behind it, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline tapped rapidly at his keyboard.
"A-grade mixed-alloy scrap. Since you're a friend of Master Tianhai, I'll give you a price of 9,500 per kilogram."
"For one ton, the total comes to 9.5 million."
Lin Fan didn't even blink. He paid immediately.
Beep.
Payment successful.
After paying, Lin Fan gave them the delivery address.
"Send it to 199 Bright Moon Residential Quarter, Yi'an District."
"Certainly, Mr. Lin! We'll arrange an escort vehicle right away!"
With his "main course" taken care of, Lin Fan headed to the general supplies area nearby.
"Five sets of Intermediate Gene Nutrient Solution."
Lin Fan pointed to the test tubes in the display case, which gave off a pale golden glow.
"Also, twenty cases of premium high-energy nutrition bars. Get me some that taste good."
Lin Fan added.
"Certainly, sir!"
The clerk scanned and packed the items with practiced ease.
"That'll be 2.54 million."
Beep.
Payment successful.
Lin Fan checked his account. His balance had plunged from over ten million to just over nine million.
"Looks like I can't afford any high-end combat suits."
At last, Lin Fan stopped at the protective gear section.
His gaze passed over the protective gear that cost hundreds of millions before settling on a dark gray combat suit.
"D5 series, B-grade combat suit, size 185."
Lin Fan pointed to the one on the mannequin.
B-grade meant it could withstand the bite of an Intermediate Beast General without being breached. It was more than enough for his current strength. Besides, he could recycle it, so he wouldn't lose much.
"6.8 million. We'll throw in a tactical backpack."
Beep.
Payment successful.
As he left the HR Alliance Building, Lin Fan glanced at the balance on his phone.
[Current Balance: 2,261,400.00 yuan]
In just half an hour.
Nearly twenty million had dwindled to a mere pittance.
"Spending money like water..."
"Damn, this feels great."
Half an hour later, at the entrance to Bright Moon Residential Quarter.
A taxi came to a slow stop by the entrance.
"Young man, you can't just park here. This is Bright Moon Residential Quarter..."
The driver kindly warned him, with a hint of awe in his eyes.
"I know."
Lin Fan paid the fare, picked up the pile of priceless supplies, and calmly stepped out.
"Hello. Please show your ID."
The sentry at the entrance looked at the unfamiliar young man and spoke politely.
Lin Fan didn't say anything. He simply took out his ID and waved it over the access-control sensor.
"Beep! Quasi-Martial Artist Lin Fan. Welcome home."
Swish!
The sentries holding rifles immediately stood at attention and saluted in perfect unison.
The taxi hadn't gone far. The driver saw it all in the rearview mirror, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. He almost mistook the brake for the accelerator.
"Good heavens... A Quasi-Martial Artist this young?!"
Lin Fan returned the salute, picked up his things, and strode into the residential quarter under everyone's gaze.
When he reached Villa 199, Lin Fan looked at the grand villa and couldn't help but marvel.
"Well, that's the difference status makes."
The fingerprint lock clicked open, and Lin Fan pushed the door inward.
Inside was a luxuriously decorated home, immeasurably better than the doghouse his predecessor had lived in.
"Now this is more like it."
Lin Fan casually tossed the several million worth of nutrient solutions onto the leather sofa, then walked to the center of the living room.
A huge metal crate sat there, just delivered by an HR Alliance escort vehicle.
With a thought, Calamity instantly appeared in Lin Fan's hand.
He kicked the lid off the crate, revealing a pile of silver-gray alloy scraps.
Then he gripped Calamity in one hand and plunged it straight into the heap of metal.
Szz—
Like a hot knife through butter, the incredibly hard A-grade alloy softened the instant it touched the sickle. It melted like snow, turning into streams of silver-gray liquid light that surged madly into the blade.
As the metal was devoured, dark purple patterns began to appear on the sickle's originally pitch-black blade, and its edge grew thinner.
Lin Fan could clearly feel the weapon in his hand getting heavier.
Ten minutes later.
Not a speck remained of the entire ton of alloy.
A line of data appeared before Lin Fan's eyes, visible only to him:
[Devouring Complete]
[Material: Series 3 Alloy (99% Purity)]
[Growth Progress: +10% (Total Progress: 23.5%)]
[Current Weight: 4,900 kilograms]
4,900 kilograms!
Nearly five tons!
If it hit a monster, even without using the blade, it could smash an Iron-Bristled Wild Boar into a pulp!
Lin Fan swung the sickle with one hand.
Whoosh—
The air split apart, releasing a deep boom.
"A weapon weighing nearly five tons..."
Lin Fan looked at the menacing weapon in his hand, glowing with a dark purple light, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
"Now, if I head back to the Wilderness Zone, even if I run into a Junior Beast General, it'll be their turn to run."
Before you continue