Chapter 254: Another Service Area Encounter
Yu Jiang was thinking that if the service area allowed overnight stays, it would be perfect to go out and farm Crystal Coins at night.
Killing lots of monsters also gives achievements, and there’s a chance to get Weapon Upgrade Items.
The monthly leaderboard only gives one Stone, and now it takes several Stones to upgrade her weapon once—too slow.
Leaderboard rewards might not even include White Crystal.
Weapons with such special attributes are powerful, but similarly, upgrading them is harder too.
The Mileage Task is already completed, the service area is just 2 kilometers ahead, switch the team to the right lane.
Upon arriving outside the service area, everyone realized there was another team ahead, slowly passing through the gate.
There was a floating light screen by the gate bar, displaying:
Knock Off Work time 19:00, survivors prohibited from fighting, scavenging prohibited, parking free, safety not guaranteed.
Purple Butt Can Do It: “Good grief, might as well charge some Crystal Coins.”
Yu Jiang glanced at the vehicles driving into the service area in the rearview mirror, as well as the surrounding environment.
This service area looked like a shop that used to sell souvenirs in an amusement park.
There was a vending machine at the entrance, the shop was just for show and not open at all.
The things in the vending machine were so expensive they made merchant caravans cry.
One bottle of mineral water 80 Crystal Coins, one bowl of handmade wonton 100 Crystal Coins.
Doomsday Fight for a Meal Blind Box, 250 Crystal Coins.
The team that arrived first had been worried that Yu Jiang’s Team would rob things from them afterward—they all knew many service area shops had guest limits.
They rushed over before even parking their vehicle properly, and upon seeing the vending machine prices, the smiles vanished from their faces.
Looking at the people walking over next, Pure Love Cockroach Spicy Spicy with a cockroach drawn on her white T-shirt and the words “Your strength has arrived,” Yu Jiang in her floral print grandma top, Lightning Mage King in the blue-and-white patient gown—this outfit he had just scavenged yesterday.
The several players’ gazes were full of disdain—a bunch of unlucky weirdos who looked even poorer than them.
Before entering the service area, Yu Jiang and Shi Xu had used the battle-damaged vehicle cover, so the vehicle looked old and rusty from outside.
Yu Jiang stared at the vending machine prices, lost in thought; the system’s service areas and vending
But it’s so expensive. I always feel like something bad is coming up ahead.
Just as she was thinking that, Yu Jiang’s eyes suddenly widened. The one who just walked into the parking lot wasn’t the Monster Merchant, so who else could it be!
There are a total of three teams of players in the service area parking lot, and everyone has an excited look on their face.
Monster Merchants on the Road appear randomly, and you might also encounter them at the Service Area. The supplies carried by NPC merchants are generally good things, and the quantity is limited—whoever buys first gets them!
But the next second, the Monster Merchant walked straight toward Yu Jiang, “Want to buy things? I’m about to knock off work.”
“Why?! We entered the service area first, why let her buy first?” The male player leading the other team looked at Yu Jiang unkindly.
The Monster Merchant said irritably, “You’ve bargained multiple times, current Favorability -55, unable to trade.”
The male player opened his mouth. These damned NPCs drop affection as soon as there’s a disagreement. To increase affection, you have to give them things or become a big customer.
Once Affection drops below -50, the Monster Merchant will refuse to trade.
How would he know what gifts the NPC likes? Last time, he gritted his teeth and gave a pack of instant noodles, but the NPC didn’t like it and refused to take it. It’s the doomsday, yet still so picky!
They finally encountered the Monster Merchant, but couldn’t buy anything. Several people stood there with very ugly expressions. For the time being, they really couldn’t think of how to increase the Affection.
The male player’s gaze fell on Yu Jiang, they probably couldn’t afford it either, and with that thought, he felt much better.
“Buy!” Yu Jiang nodded.
“Alright, Respected Guest.” The Monster Merchant smiled and extended his right hand.
Only the guests selected by the Monster Merchant can see the light screen, and the conversation content is also shielded from the outside world.
No matter how much people outside crane their necks, they can’t possibly know what things Yu Jiang bought.
The Monster Merchant is selling only two things this time.
Permanent Item ‘Portable Kerosene Lamp’, priced at 999 Crystal Coins, an item that dispels Vengeful Spirits—even red Elite Monsters can’t damage Players holding the Kerosene Lamp.
But it requires Crystal Coins to refresh the valid time, 200 Crystal Coins for 4 hours, and it can only be refreshed once per week.
It’s equivalent to spending money to buy a safety buff, and then renting it to the merchant caravan to exchange for some medicinal herbs. Permanent items won’t lose out.
Additionally, you can purchase 25 special bullets, which can deal damage to all monster-type monsters. This costs 500 crystal coins.
Yu Jiang quietly sent 4 cakes obtained from the Manor instance and softly asked, “Do you have White Crystal Stones for sale?”
“None left. White Crystal is only sold in the handicraft shop in a certain instance. For other ways, you’ll need achievements and entering instances.”
The Monster Merchant happily put away the gift. This was a cake carefully made by the cook of the Ancient Castle, with powdered sugar and almond slices sprinkled on top!
“I forgot earlier, there’s also a spray here. Spraying it on the weapon is very useful.”
Before leaving, the Monster Merchant also traded with Wholesale King Wang Defa and Purple Butt Can Do It; this is the privilege of the Doomsday Broker.
As long as they encounter NPCs whose names contain the word “Merchant”, they can purchase Supplies. The Supplies on the purchase page also randomly refresh, with great variations in quantity and price.
It’s usually compressed biscuits, old materials and such. Only with good luck can you buy good things.
The two of them directly split 55%, clearing out the procurement page.
When the Monster Merchant left, the smile on his face couldn’t be contained. His luck was really good today; the customers were too generous.
Yu Jiang also thought their luck was good; they bought the much-needed supplies.
The other team of players, as well as the players who came in later and missed the Monster Merchant, all looked toward Yu Jiang and the others.
The male player whose favorability was too low and was rejected for trade stepped forward. “What did you buy just now?”
“Bought message for 100 crystal coins. I want to eat handmade wonton.” Yu Jiang looked toward the vending machine.
The male player almost couldn’t catch his breath. 100 crystal coins—she must be crazy to quote that price.
“How about this: tell me what you bought, and I’ll add 200 crystal coins to resell some to us. Of course, I need to see the things first.”
After seeing the things, he wouldn’t buy them. He’d just block them at the door and wait, deal with them, and get the things without spending coins. That’s what he was thinking.
“Not good. We don’t even have enough to split among ourselves; we’re not reselling.” Yu Jiang refused outright, with no room for negotiation.
The male player opposite darkened his face. Before he could speak, the Crew Cut Man next to him spoke first.
“Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Fighting is prohibited among players in the service area. You can’t stay in the service area parking lot forever.”
Yu Jiang raised her eyes slightly. “Come on, let’s go out now.”
Seeing that Yu Jiang and the others were unmoved and standing firm, the opposite side was momentarily at a loss for words.
The male player glanced at the vehicle specs of Yu Jiang and the others, feeling a bit unsure.
The battle-damaged vehicle cover could only add some disguise to the outside of the vehicle; it couldn’t change the size.
“It’s getting dark soon; I’m not going to argue with a woman like you.” He left those words and turned to leave.
Though he said that, the Crew Cut Man’s eyes showed he wasn’t letting it go. Wait until nightfall, and there would be a time when they were unlucky! Another team was on the way, and those were all ruthless people.
At this moment, players were driving into the service area one after another. Though safety wasn’t guaranteed, it was still better than outside.
