Chapter 116: Deep Blue Data
He Jie behind him nodded deeply in agreement.
Su Huan: “?”
He Jie added, “Very unexpected.”
Su Huan shook his head, “This is not the apocalypse for one person or one part of us. Before production resumes, these supplies will only become scarcer. Burning them gets us nothing.”
“But if left here, perhaps one day we return and can still use them.”
He Jie sneered, “If you’re thinking that way, forget it. With the Steel Council here, this batch of supplies will soon be discovered. Even if the Steel Council has no time, the passengers on your train will leak it. You have no control over them.”
Su Huan’s gaze was extremely calm, “So what if they get them? It just means a few more people survive. Destruction itself has no meaning. Destroying just for destruction is a waste of time. If this batch of supplies starts circulating, it might even return to our hands one day.”
This was actually said by the Train Conductor.
He Jie felt his brain lag a bit, couldn’t help lighting a cigarette and taking a slow drag.
Wan Xing also lowered her eyes without speaking, obvious shock in her eyes.
“Such good supplies, yet you want to burn them in one fire. You guys are really bad seeds.”
With a faint sigh, Su Huan turned and walked out.
He Jie, Wan Xing: “……?”
Standing outside the Logistics Center for a while, he heard a buzz of an engine mixed with the roar of rain curtain being torn apart. Looking up, a pickup truck and a fire truck drove toward the Logistics Center.
They stopped right outside the new organization’s defensive fortifications. Three figures in black raincoats got out.
In a few moves, they climbed over the defensive truck and came before Su Huan.
The leading figure pulled back his hood. It was Lu Xiao, whom he had sent to carry out the task. His face showed helplessness as he said, “By the way, Train Conductor, can’t the rental fee for the fire truck be lowered a bit? Three points a day, and I only get ten points per task.”
Su Huan gave his first Captain on the train a warm smile, “You can get one yourself, can’t you?”
Lu Xiao rolled his eyes, “Then you’d charge parking fee, right?”
“Clear prices, no cheating young or old.”
“I’ve brought the people. Including the two Logistics Center tasks, total 30 points.”
“Rest assured, not a single point less.”
Hearing their conversation, the two behind exchanged a glance, showing slight surprise.
When Su Huan’s gaze turned to them, they decisively removed their hoods, revealing two faces clearly different in style from Su Huan and others.
Pale golden long hair and blue eyes, but he spoke fluent Mandarin.
“When Mr. Lu found me, I was very curious what force knew my location. Didn’t expect it to be such a young man. Deep Blue Data, temporary resident Acid Rain Area business development manager, Victor Haywood.”
Su Huan looked at the youth around thirty before him, showed a hypocritical smile, and gripped that hand.
“Armored Train, Train Conductor Su Huan.”
Haywood’s eyes showed some surprise. He silently chewed on those four words in his mind and smiled, “What an interesting name.”
Su Huan knew the other had started comparing lists in his mind.
The other’s surprise was also shown to him.
After all, Deep Blue Data was not like the Steel Council. This was a proper major force spanning several districts. Tricking them with information advantage was meaningless.
With this man’s status, a headquarters check would reveal no such major force as Armored Train.
But Su Huan had no intention of hiding.
Even if the other knew, so what? Would Haywood travel thousands of miles to tell the Steel Council?
Su Huan smiled without answering and led the two toward the Logistics Center interior.
Like casual chat, he said offhandedly, “Deep Blue Data currently has no branch in the Acid Rain Area, right?”
Haywood stomped his feet twice to shake off the acid rain, “Not planning that yet.”
“Perhaps it can be sooner.”
Haywood gave Su Huan an extra look, “That’s headquarters’ matter, not my responsibility. By the way, didn’t Mr. Su find me to talk business?”
Su Huan pointed at the huge Smart Logistics Center before them.
Various pre-apocalypse technologies were displayed vividly here. Workers orderly reclassified and sorted various supplies, covering them with waterproof rain cloths. Though much had been moved to the train by him, the rest was still considerable.
“This is the transaction I mentioned.”
Without waiting for Haywood to ask, Su Huan led him past various supplies, “This is the largest Logistics Center in Qingchuan Province. This side is the cold chain Storage Area. I’ve had it simply processed. Food can last about ten days, total around 60,000 tons, 15%.”
“This side is daily necessities, 30%.”
“Various appliances and home goods, 25%.”
“Various scattered industrial products, 15%.”
“And some miscellaneous hard-to-classify items, 10%.”
“Plus 300 robots, 15 cross-sorting lines, 80 stackers, various backup generators, 50,000 emergency kits including gas masks… and this entire 80,000㎡ Smart Logistics Center. What do you think it’s worth, Manager Haywood?”
Haywood vaguely understood Su Huan’s intent. His golden eyebrows twitched, and he said honestly, “In the apocalypse, it’s hard to quantify exactly. This is enough to build a large Settlement.”
“Snap!”
Su Huan snapped his fingers and smiled, “Then let’s be straightforward. I want to trade this Logistics Center to Deep Blue Data. Are you willing to do this deal?”
He Jie, who had been quietly eavesdropping from afar, immediately darkened his face.
This black-hearted Train Conductor.
How could he say those words so righteously just now?
Something about for future generations, destruction has no meaning.
Damn ridiculous!
Even more ridiculous, he actually believed it!
Scolded as a bad seed by a bad seed to his face, and he deeply agreed…
Shameful!
Haywood pondered a moment, “I have to say, this is a big business, but it’s not in the company’s plan. I need to consider.”
Su Huan shook his head, “To be honest, we don’t have that much time.”
“Hm?”
“Meaning, we won’t stay at the Logistics Center long.”
First time someone so sincerely revealed their weakness. Haywood was somewhat surprised.
Su Huan pointed at distant He Jie, “See that man in short sleeve?”
Haywood looked puzzled, “Should be an outstanding soldier.”
“He’s my capable subordinate, but has a fiery temper. He’s advised me many times to burn this Logistics Center. See, he’s preparing. If we can’t agree, today might be your last glimpse of it.”
“That’s absolutely a terrible decision. Burning such precious supplies is too wasteful!”
Haywood frowned at He Jie.
Humans are a lavish race, no doubt, but such meaningless destruction is instinctively rejected by all.
Because it brings no joy.
Su Huan helplessly spread his hands. He Jie seemed to hear something and walked farther.
Cigarettes one after another in his mouth.
Old San got kicked several more times by him for some reason.
Looking at Su Huan’s helpless face, Haywood pondered a moment and said, “Since Mr. Su found me, you know our company’s power. I happen to have enough permissions. Let’s talk openly about this transaction.”
“No problem!”
The two went to a temporary office nearby. Su Huan took out two prepared glass cups and red wine.
Seeing Su Huan heat the bottle mouth barehanded then flick the cork off, Haywood’s follower darkened his gaze.
Su Huan poured a glass and handed it over, “Try it.”
Haywood refused, “When discussing important matters, I don’t like drinking. It leads to wrong decisions.”
Su Huan showed a pitying expression on his face and downed the wine in one gulp.
Though much was moved to the train, the warehouse would eventually be theirs. Treat it like a buffet—drink as much as possible.
If not for avoiding habit-forming among passengers, he’d let the thousand-plus behind feast.
“What does Mr. Su want in exchange for these?”
“Full set of Blazing Sun Patrol Angel profession potions from Tier 1 to Tier 5.”
“!”
At those words, the office atmosphere froze instantly.
Haywood lost his earlier calm, his eyes flashing cold suspicion.
‘Sure enough, they have it.’
Su Huan knew from the reaction he’d hit the mark.
“Don’t be nervous. Business is all about haggling.”
Haywood said coldly, “How did Mr. Su learn of ‘Blazing Sun Patrol Angel’?”
Su Huan’s gaze was calm, “You shouldn’t ask me that.”
Haywood stared at Su Huan’s face. After a long time, seeing nothing, he yielded and chose his words, “Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Su. Let’s continue the transaction talk, but ‘Blazing Sun Patrol Angel’ is impossible to trade. Not even matching potions, let alone skill combinations.”
From this moment, Haywood finally took seriously the always smiling young man before him.
These five words were far more important than this province’s largest Smart Logistics Center!
‘Looks like profession matching potions aren’t researched yet, but Tier 1 to Tier 5 profession skill combinations likely have results.’
Su Huan calculated silently in his mind.
This statement today was actually risky. Getting noticed early by a force like Deep Blue Data wasn’t good.
But compared to that, he wanted to know how far ahead such a major force was.
Now it seemed, the R&D speed wasn’t outrageous.
“What about other profession potions?”
“Mr. Su, name what I can do.”
“Like ten sets of Gunfire Lineage, full gene potions from Tier 1 to Tier 3.”
“Impossible, can’t be done.”
“Quantity issue, or tiers too high?”
Haywood hesitated, “Tiers too high, and quantity too much.”
Since trading, had to reveal a bit.
Two probes, and Su Huan had a rough guess of Deep Blue Data’s foundation.
Inaccurate, but like groping a woman in the dark—no exact data, but rough range possible.
“Like this: full info on Tier 1 ‘Soldier’, including skill combinations, skill use, tactical designs, etc. Then full gene potions for Tier 2 ‘Steel Body Shield Guard’. If no full gene potions, give skill potions. If no skill potions, give lots of basic potions enhancing strength, agility, defense, constitution, etc.”
Haywood watched the young man opposite list a string of names, frowned, and turned to his follower, “Does our company have these potions?”
The other tapped his mobile phone a few times, then nodded, “Newly developed before departure, but only ‘Soldier’ skill potions. Tier 2 only has skill combinations.”
Hearing the follower’s response.
Haywood’s sense of absurdity grew stronger.
He felt the other knew the company better than him.
“This can be done.”
Su Huan raised a brow, “I don’t need Tier 1 skill potions. Then add Tier 3 ‘Iron Viscera Commandant’ skill combinations for this line.”
Haywood got confirmation from the follower again, then nodded sullenly.
“Can be done.”
Su Huan relaxed. This line was heard to have later developments.
Then locked up by Deep Blue Data.
Even the name changed; Tier 3 became ‘Ferocious Might Commandant’.
Haywood felt it was awful.
This kind of negotiation where he was information-suppressed everywhere was unprecedented in his over ten years of negotiations.
Fortunately, Su Huan didn’t spit out unfamiliar terms next.
Su Huan mainly got some basic potions and common Tier 1 lineage potions.
Like ‘Apothecary’ and such.
Then filled hundreds of career directions he’d learned or heard of, but without specific skill combinations.
As for other physical trades, Su Huan didn’t mention. Deep Blue Data headquarters wasn’t even in Acid Rain Area.
Otherwise, no matter the reputation, he wouldn’t push his luck.
The whole transaction, Haywood was somewhat distracted, but very smooth.
Su Huan first demanded hugely, then broke the other’s psychological defenses with information advantage, then negotiated from psychological superiority.
Got some advantages in the process.
Trading with Deep Blue Data was well thought out.
Deep Blue Data’s businesses were varied, non-monopolistic, so no conflicts with other forces.
Mostly researched evolution in their own turf, occasionally released useful black tech, good reputation in the Wasteland.
Sounded like a bunch of tech nerds.
But actually far from it.
Su Huan nicely gauged this, enough to stimulate without making Deep Blue Data really mad.
‘But internal chaos is certain.’
