Chapter 146: The Circus's premium services
Several months later.
The date had reached the end of Solar Calendar 4418. The exact time of the open beta was eight o'clock in the morning on June 1 of the following year.
There were now six months left until the open beta.
The weather in Amber City gradually grew colder.
Light snow even began falling from the sky. Swept along by the wind, snowflakes landed on pedestrians' hats, scarves, and shoulders. Their body heat melted the snow into icy water that seeped into the fibers, making them shiver.
The residents of the Inner District had prepared well in advance: wool overcoats against the cold, thickened trench coats, all manner of fashionable fur gloves and hats, and even hot-water bottles studded with jewels and diamonds.
"The winters have been getting colder and colder these past few years..."
At a table in front of Chen Lun, two old men wrapped in overcoats were drinking and chatting.
"I heard the crops outside the city yielded a poor harvest, and next spring's crops will be affected too. Food prices are rising across the board, and crime in the Outer District is rising even faster. Sigh."
"Heh, last week my son had dinner with Mr. Hardy from Moses Shipping to discuss a deal. They happened to talk about these things..."
One of the old men lifted his exquisite glass, took a sip, and shook his head with a sigh.
"The salt shipped in from salt-producing cities like Amethyst City, Apatite City, and Waterless Mang City now costs several times as much... Without enough salt, preserved fish and meat spoil easily. Add the high cost of food, and refugees outside the city are already dying in droves."
Three gentlemen at another table overheard their conversation and joined in with