C11 Showing Off!

The Ocean Mountain Base buzzed with excitement, as if in the midst of a festival celebration. People were shouting joyously, caught off guard by their sudden good fortune, completely unprepared.

Baldie scowled at Shen Chen, particularly irked by Shen Chen's relaxed posture, legs crossed in a carefree manner. He could still faintly recall the pitiful sight of the young man, once covered in festering wounds.

It was uncanny.

The man who'd once scavenged through trash heaps now appeared spotless, his injuries miraculously healed. And then...

Baldie's eyes darted to the icy beauty standing behind Shen Chen, and his pupils shrank in shock. It was Yang Hanshuang!

"How can this be!" he blurted out, doubting his own vision. A level-three fire elementalist from Cloud Mountain Base was actually accompanying this down-and-out kid, showing him respect?

No, it had to be a hallucination. How could a lowly earth elementalist be seated while a level-three master from Cloud Mountain Base stood by?

Absolutely a hallucination!

"What do you mean, 'how can this be'?" Shen Chen retorted with a grin, catching every flicker of emotion on Baldie's face, guessing his thoughts with ease.

Amu, without a word, dropped a hefty sack onto the table and ribbed Baldie, "Brother Qiang, aren't you curious to have a look?"

"You're joking. Where did you get that rice?"

Despite having seen the rice brought before him by his underlings, Baldie remained skeptical that such a bounty could come from the once-mocked and tormented kid.

Shen Chen's smile faded, and beside him, Yang Hanshuang's eyes narrowed, a thread of fire energy swirling within them. The air thickened with the element's presence.

Baldie's face stiffened, and he forced a dry laugh, "What brings Miss Yang to our neck of the woods?"

He bypassed Shen Chen, addressing only Yang Hanshuang.

With a tight-lipped smile, Yang Hanshuang responded, "The boss here is Shen Chen. I'm just lending a hand."

Baldie stood dumbfounded. With Yang Hanshuang's own admission, he had no choice but to grapple with the reality before him.

Shen Chen didn't waste time with pretenses. With a knowing look to Amu, the latter quickly untied the sack. Suddenly, a cascade of gleaming white rice spilled out, shining like sacred grains in a hazy glow, blinding everyone in the base. They pinched each other's cheeks in disbelief, murmuring in awe, "My god, this isn't a dream. It's real…"

"Come quick if you're looking to trade for rice—great prices! Just one level-1 Crystal Core for a kilo and a half of rice."

Shen Chen's grin was devilishly smug. Baldie was still reeling when a sudden "whoosh" swept through the crowd. The folks at Ocean Mountain Base swarmed like they'd spotted a naked goddess, nearly crushing Baldie in their frenzy. Lucky for him, his skills saved him from becoming the first leader trampled to death by his own men.

"These damn fools!" Baldie's rage was futile; his crew had lost their minds at the sight of rice.

Shen Chen exchanged a knowing glance with Yang Hanshuang, who chuckled and began tallying up the sales, while Amu barked orders, trying to organize the chaotic queue.

In under ten minutes, all fifty kilos of rice were snapped up.

Fifty kilos were clearly not enough for the crowd; only a handful managed to get their share.

The lucky few who got their rice were ecstatic, nearly moved to tears, while the rest beat their chests in despair, cursing their luck for not having eight legs to run faster. The tantalizing glimpse of the rice had been intoxicating, and the disappointment was palpable—some even resorted to head-banging against walls, decrying the injustice.

"Mr. Shen, got any more?"

"Yeah, Mr. Shen, can't you spare some for us?"

Desperation finally broke the dam, and teeth clenched, they ignored Baldie's seething glare, crowding the table, nearly groveling at Shen Chen's feet.

Shen Chen took it all in. In these times, rice was an irresistible lure for the survival-hungry masses, making even Baldie's authority seem insignificant.

With a hearty laugh, he announced, "Of course, there's more—plenty more."

He emphasized the point, boldly meeting Baldie's furious stare.

Baldie faced a dilemma: either strike a deal with Shen Chen or watch his influence over his men dissolve.

Indeed, securing the loyalty of Ocean Mountain Base's inhabitants with rice was a bargain—a very good bargain.

"Shut up!"

Baldie erupted, startling everyone at Ocean Mountain Base into silence. The clamor ceased in an instant. Though they retreated, heads bowed, their faces were etched with discontent. Why were they denied rice? Hadn't they been promised shared prosperity when they joined the base?

"Shen Chen, are you here to cause trouble?"

Baldie's hand came down on the table with such force it nearly splintered. But as he locked eyes with Yang Hanshuang's fiery gaze, his tirade of curses morphed into a grumble of frustration.

"No, I'm here to propose a partnership." Shen Chen's smile was tight-lipped. Baldie scowled. "Why should I partner with you? You know Ocean Mountain Base provides food. Are you just flaunting your rice?"

"Exactly, I'm flaunting it." Shen Chen openly confessed.

Yang Hanshuang and Amu were taken aback before they looked on with contempt. He was so unabashedly brazen.

"You..."

"Calm down, I'm not done yet. In all fairness, it's you who stand to gain." Shen Chen's grin grew more mischievous. He was confident, bolstered by the eager looks from the base's brothers. "A single Level-1 Crystal Core for one and a half kilograms of rice. It's a daily limit per person, but that's a steal for you, isn't it?"

Baldie, at a loss for words, caught Yang Hanshuang and Amu's mocking glances and could only respond with a bitter sneer. "And if I refuse?"

"Are you certain?" Shen Chen arched an eyebrow, scooped up his bag, and stood. "Those who want rice, follow me."

"Mr. Shen, I'm coming with you!"

"Boss Shen, I'm tired of eating dirt. I want rice!"

His words were a clarion call, and a throng surged forward, including those who had already secured their rice. Baldie, unprepared, was nearly crushed.

As the crowd swelled around the slender figure, Baldie swallowed his grievances and, with a shove to his pressing brothers, bellowed, "Fine, I agree! Let's negotiate!"

His voice silenced the entire room, just as Shen Chen had anticipated.

With a languid air, he reclaimed his seat and slid the pre-drafted contract across to Baldie. "Every term is spelled out in black and white—take a good look."

Once Baldie had the contract in hand, Shen Chen reclined in his chair, his gaze inadvertently drawn to Yang Hanshuang's bare legs. He tugged gently at her finger and murmured, "Isn't that a bit too breezy for you?"

Yang Hanshuang's face tensed, and upon catching Amu stifling a laugh, she nearly smacked the audacious man who had the nerve to rib her publicly.

Baldie's face soured at that moment. "You expect Ocean Mountain Base to take orders from you? No way!"

"Are you certain?"

Shen Chen's eyes narrowed, his slender fingers drumming a steady beat on the tabletop.

Baldie's eyelids spasmed as the Ocean Mountain Base crew around them grew restless once again.