“No?!! Who is being warned? Boss Crow?!! Boss Crow, you…”
“Hahaha!! Angry Crow Takes Flight! You’ve finally shown your true colors! She really was cheating, she really was! When I said she was cheating back then, you all called me crazy! Hahahaha, I’ve finally waited for this day!!”
“No, is the person above crazy?! What are you talking about?”
“So, Crow really used a loophole in the system to get over four million??? Is this announcement really a warning? Why does it feel like Crow isn't paying back the money, so it was posted to make everyone pressure Boss Crow?”
“Brothers and sisters, what exactly are you talking about? What 'Crow really was cheating' and 'Crow needs to pay back the money'? Don't you realize how heaven-defying it is to be able to use a system loophole to get over four million game coins?!!”
“It really is too heaven-defying, truly. It’s reasonable to suspect the system posted this just to see us jealous, to see us filled with righteous indignation, and then help it solve the big headache that is Boss Crow.”
“I also think the system has that intention, but it doesn't stop to think that compared to Boss Crow, we obviously hate it more—this human trafficker that snatched up all humanity without a word! I support Boss Crow in continuing to fleece the system!! I suggest Boss Crow release the loophole so we can all fleece it together!”
“Right! Since it’s about the system, of course we should do it together. @Angry Crow Takes Flight, Boss Crow, don't be stingy! Release it so everyone can fleece it!”
“Exactly, exactly! Isn't something that can make the system unhappy something the more the better? Boss Crow, don't hide it; release it so everyone can take advantage of the system!”
These people tagged the regional channel for a long time, but they didn't stir up any real waves.
They claimed they wanted to make the system unhappy, but in essence, they just wanted to know how to take advantage of the system themselves.
They claimed not to be greedy or jealous, but in reality, they were turning green with envy. They were dying to know how to operate the loophole from Crow so they could go get ten or twenty thousand game coins for themselves to spend.
As for whether they could pay it back...
Heh, Crow got four million, didn't she? How much did they get?
If the system were to look for trouble, it would look for Crow first, right? How could it possibly find them?!
Holding such thoughts, these people jumped around in the regional channel, thinking their proposal was the prevailing trend, when in reality, if you looked closely, not even one of them had a well-known ID.
Those with any brains were mostly watching from the sidelines. To put it bluntly, this matter was just like the previous full-server announcements; they would sigh at how impressive Boss Crow was and then move on.
Calling for Crow to share, saying Crow was selfish...
Honestly, these people were truly tired of living.
Cheng Shuili was very busy and had no time to pay attention to these people right now.
As it stood, this debt didn't have much of an impact on her; the safe zone's revenue was simply deducted immediately after it arrived.
Regardless of how little the impact was, watching so many game coins disappear just like that still made Cheng Shuili's heart ache.
She wouldn't forget where this money had been spent.
The Rat King hadn't made a move yet, but Cheng Shuili was very much looking forward to the day she met it.
Closing the debt collection page, Cheng Shuili carefully read through the safe zone rules. The leader's authority was immense, allowing her to control every aspect of the safe zone.
Where to open to visitors, where not to. Which areas were for merchants, which for public facilities, and even how much the merchants were taxed, or whether to provide meals and lodging—Cheng Shuili was truly like a creator, able to see the most detailed data and the potential impact of any changes.
Among them, the most important data points were taxes, ticket prices, and the level of attraction for visitors.
Currently, there was only one merchant in the safe zone, the monster merchant, so the impact of taxes was negligible, and the attraction was influenced by how complete the safe zone's facilities were. Therefore, the only thing Cheng Shuili could change right now was the ticket price.
Today was considered the first day of business, so being cheaper was naturally fine.
It was just that it was better to be clear about the ugly things upfront; if there was going to be a price increase, it definitely had to be stated clearly in advance.
Cheng Shuili wrote this matter, along with the recruitment notice, into the territory announcement. After it was posted, the human channel, which was constantly monitoring this new safe zone, exploded once again.
【Territory Announcement: 1. Given that the early operations and facility improvements of the safe zone require continuous investment, the current temporary experience ticket of 100 game coins will be officially adjusted to 300 game coins/time starting at 0:00 in three days. Holders of the Black Feather faction badge or those with a reputation of Friendly or above are permanently exempt from admission fees. 2. We are sincerely recruiting various functional talents and merchants...】
“The ticket price is going up! Good thing I came in today!”
“300 game coins?! That’s too expensive! Has Boss Crow gone crazy for money?”
“If you think it’s expensive, don't come? Nobody begged you to come. Does the safe zone construction not cost money? Look at this place, then look at the beastman town. I think an absolutely safe human territory for 300 game coins is worth it!”
“Exactly! And didn't you see the part after? Join Black Feather or build up reputation and it's free! Isn't this much better than those places in the beastman town that you can only enter if you're lucky enough to pass by?”
“Recruiting, recruiting! I’ve finally waited for this day! I can cook! I’m a chef in reality! Boss, look at me!”
“I’m a medical student! I know basic bandaging and how to handle common illnesses! Please take me in!”
“I don't seem to have any special skills... but I can learn! Boss, can you give me a chance?”
Cheng Shuili closed the noisy regional channel and turned her gaze back to the bustling territory below.
The effect of the announcement was immediate.
The already crowded Black Feather territory became even more packed, and more players with skills began impatiently contacting her via private messages.
Processing these applications was a tedious task, but it was a necessary step.
Relying solely on the monster merchant Bone-Er and the existing faction members was not enough to support the operation of a truly safe zone.
She needed more talent to turn this place from a bustling "tourist attraction" into a fully functional, self-sufficient, and continuously developing home.
Cheng Shuili curled the corners of her mouth, clicked on the private messages that were flying in like snowflakes, and began to filter them one by one.
These applications were only from her own partition, while more players from other partitions couldn't send applications via private message and had to pay 100 game coins to enter the Black Feather safe zone for an in-person interview.
Cheng Shuili had long since made plans; almost the entire Black Feather team was busy with this today.
Time passed quietly. By the time Cheng Shuili finished processing the last batch of applications and rubbed her aching temples, it was already dusk outside the window.
The golden afterglow spilled onto the territory, casting a warm halo over the noisy crowd and the budding buildings.
Su Rui arrived on the balcony at some point and stood quietly behind her.
“Boss, Bone-Er's trading volume for today has been tallied.” Su Rui's voice carried a hint of undisguised amazement. “By selling intelligence, its net income exceeded 300,000 game coins. According to the agreement, 60% of that is ours.”
Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow.
The ability of this skeleton frame to rake in money was indeed not to be underestimated.
Although this money was deducted by the system to pay off debt as soon as it was recorded, it proved the territory's attraction to merchants.
“It seems we need to designate a fixed shop location for it as soon as possible; always dragging a bedsheet in the corner as a stall is not a long-term solution,” Cheng Shuili said.
“Yes, and this.” Su Rui nodded, then handed over a notebook. “This is what Xinxue asked me to bring over, saying Boss needs to make the decision. Because joining the safe zone represents absolute safety, our recruitment has a huge attraction for players. Because of this, most are just muddling through and lack the ability to provide stable goods.”
At this point, Su Rui raised a hand and scratched her head, seemingly forgetting what else Xinxue had said. Cheng Shuili stared at her, intending to ask about Xinxue, when she remembered.
“Oh, she said that only the first few have the ability to support a shop, and the rest almost all have shop-opening experience but need us to provide the goods. She also said that if we need to provide the goods, wouldn't it be better to just let our own Black Feather people fill those roles? Why recruit from outside?”
This made some sense, but Cheng Shuili was more interested in those few who had the ability to support a shop.
The first person's ID was Old Chencu, whose real-world profession was a high-level chef specializing in multiple cuisines. He seemed to have a food truck like Wanyi and said he could open a restaurant to process food for players.
He submitted a detailed menu and pricing plan, ranging from simple barbecue and flatbreads to stews and soups that required complex preparation, and even included several specialty dishes developed using ingredients unique to this world. All he needed was a fixed shop and a stable supply of ingredients.
At the end of the text was Wanyi's note: “A very excellent peer; we can recruit him.”
Cheng Shuili accepted her suggestion.
The second person, ID Miaoshou Huichun, was said to be a top student from medical school who had been in the field for over twenty years.
She applied to open a clinic to treat common trauma and illnesses and hoped to obtain a small plot of land for growing herbs.
If the medicine was grown by herself, this person could indeed be self-sufficient, meeting Cheng Shuili's expectations.
Another ID was Blacksmith Lao Wang, a high-level technician from a machinery factory in reality who was also a system-recognized player with a special vehicle.
He hoped to build a blacksmith shop to repair and craft weapons and tools.
Unlike someone like Cheng Shuili who needed blueprints, this person was an old expert; the vehicle had production tools, and he had stable channels for materials. Never mind farm tools—he could even churn out firearms!
In addition to these, there were three or four others capable of opening independent shops.
Xinxue's report made Cheng Shuili marvel; there were indeed many talents among humans, it was just that they weren't in the same partition as her.
Cheng Shuili had previously thought that partitions were beneficial to humans, as leaderboards were based on partitions and more partitions meant more rewards. Now it seemed it was clearly a form of restriction.
Distributing talent into various areas was the greatest restriction on humanity.
Cheng Shuili pondered for a moment, opened the private chat page, and replied to Xinxue: “Recruit these people first. Those who can't be self-sufficient, except for chefs, don't need to be accepted.”
【Xinxue Chu Ji】: Understood, Boss. Zhou Zhuxing says the first batch of vegetables in the fields is about to ripen. Our own people definitely won't be able to finish them, so we can supply them to these shopkeepers later.
Cheng Shuili had the same idea.
All these miscellaneous matters in the safe zone could be handed over to the Black Feather people. She had only spent today busy with them to set a standard, making it easier for those under her to understand how to handle things.
She stood up, stretched, and looked at Su Rui standing to the side. “Are they still interviewing?”
Su Rui shook her head. “They’ve been busy all day. Does Boss Cheng really have so little patience for her subordinates to rest?”
Cheng Shuili was certainly not like that, but she wanted to be right now.
“Is it dark outside?”
“Not yet.”
“Then why aren't you going to drive?”
After Su Rui clearly understood what Cheng Shuili said, she was stunned for a moment, then frowned and asked, “Is this your true nature being revealed now?”
That was indeed her nature.
Cheng Shuili showed a perfect smile and didn't speak again.
Su Rui understood her boss's temper; she had spoken in a way that made her uncomfortable, so she was just finding something for her to do.
In such times, of course, it was better to go along with the boss.
After Su Rui left, Cheng Shuili stood up again and stretched.
This place was initially a manor, abandoned, with only the consultant acting like a ghost.
Then it became Black Feather's territory, where they built faction structures and held a victory banquet. Although there were few people, it at least had some popularity.
Now it had become the only human safe zone in the entire highway world...
The sky in the territory was closer to reality. It was six or seven in the afternoon; although it wasn't dark outside yet, the sun was setting inside the territory, and the sky had darkened.
Black Feather members lit bonfires in the open areas. Cheng Shuili took one last look at the territory, which was gradually lighting up with sporadic lights in the twilight and still teeming with people, before turning to head downstairs.
Xinxue, Wanyi, and others were still tidying up in the temporarily designated interview area, their faces showing the exhaustion of a busy day, but their eyes shining with a sense of fulfillment.
Seeing Cheng Shuili approach, Xinxue and the others immediately came to greet her.
“Boss, we have the initial manpower, but the location for the commercial street hasn't been determined yet.”
Cheng Shuili nodded. “Don't worry, we'll talk about this tomorrow. Let's have dinner first.”
Cheng Shuili had also learned about building houses; the materials required were fine, and Black Feather could definitely afford them, but it required careful planning.
Moreover, the materials needed were wood and stone. If she didn't have the Taotie Furnace, it would be another huge sum of game coins.
Cheng Shuili had finally understood: whether it was a faction or a safe zone, if you wanted to develop your own strength, game coins were absolutely indispensable.
Wanyi heard this and immediately raised her hand: “No problem, Boss! It just so happens that Old Chencu... the newly recruited chef... says he has several rare seasonings on hand and wants to show us his skills. Let us try his food first to see if he qualifies to open a shop in Black Feather.”
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