During their conversation, Lu Luo interjected some remarks that could influence others.

If one's observational skills were strong enough, they could even see the purple hues within Lu Luo's pupils.

This was the Nightmare Power hidden in Lu Luo's gaze.

Yin Qi was quite strong, but he clearly did not possess this ability. During his conversation with Lu Luo, he was unknowingly influenced.

Yin Qi looked at Lu Luo, somewhat blank.

"Can people really live a relaxed and happy life?"

"Yeah! Of course, they can."

"But some people, from the moment they are born, are burdened with all sorts of matters and pressures. It's really hard to live a carefree life like Mr. Zhang Dechui said."

Lu Luo shook his head. "It primarily depends on how you view it yourself. Even if you really carry a lot of pressure, it doesn't matter. As long as you don't do those things, the pressure you bear is nothing."

Yin Qi's entire face twisted in confusion. "Not do it? How could that be possible? If I don't do it…"

"Why not? If you don't like doing it, then naturally you don't have to."

"But I will be pressured by my family."

"If you just insist on not doing it, they can't really kill you. Isn't that an easy thing to understand?"

"Can you be more specific?"

"As long as you become useless, no one can take advantage of you."

"If I become useless, no one can take advantage of me! Is that really possible?"

Lu Luo's skewed logic somehow managed to persuade Yin Qi.

There were many family matters he truly did not want to do, but…

Wait a minute! He felt that there was something off in his conversation with Lu Luo. How did his thoughts get so easily swayed?

Yet, he felt that what Lu Luo said seemed to make sense; if those were things he didn't want to do, why should he force himself to do them? If he didn't do them, his family couldn't possibly kill him.

"Mr. Zhang Dechui's words make sense!"

"Right? Think about it. In life, there are no obstacles that can't be overcome."

Yin Qi kept nodding. At this moment, the owner of the Transcendent shop came out carrying two boxes.

When he saw the owner, Yin Qi paused. He realized he hadn't accomplished a single one of his objectives for coming to see Lu Luo today—sounding him out, testing his strength, and the like.

"Gentlemen, come take a look. These are some of the true treasures of my shop."

At this point, Lu Luo patted Yin Qi's shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother Yin, let's take a look together. I am quite interested in weapons and firearms."

Yin Qi was startled again. Suddenly he had become "Brother Yin"?

But this time, he had no strange reaction, just a realization that he had been led into a mental trap by Lu Luo.

This person is not simple!

"Alright, let's have a look together."

The owner opened one of the boxes, inside which three Alloy Swords lay quietly—two long and one short—all appearing to be cast from the same material.

"These three swords are imperfect products from a developer's workshop in the Inner Ring. They are practice equipment from previous developers, which I managed to get hold of with great difficulty…"

"Imperfect products from a developer's workshop?"

Lu Luo was a bit puzzled. Unfamiliar with the Inner Ring, he didn't even know what a developer's workshop was. Why would flawed items from there even be worth collecting for an Inner Ring Transcendent shop?

Seeing the confusion on Lu Luo's face, Yin Qi couldn't help but laugh. It turned out there were things Lu Luo didn't know.

"The developer's workshop is the highest weapon craftsmanship workshop in the Inner Ring, jointly established by the Council and the Church. It housed a plethora of cutting-edge technologies, along with masters of weapon and equipment design, alchemy, and other related fields. The best technicians in the entire Alliance exist within the developer's workshop. Even the flawed products that trickle out of the workshop, when found outside, represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship in the entire Wasteland Alliance. Therefore, anything that comes from the developer's workshop is, without exception, a collectible treasure."

Yin Qi, who had come to his senses, explained in great detail. He felt that Lu Luo had just been fooling him. So now he just wanted to see Lu Luo look embarrassed and flustered. But he waited a long time without seeing Lu Luo exhibit such an expression; instead, Lu Luo turned his head to look at him.

"What are you looking at me for, Brother Yin? I do know about the developer's workshop! It's the highest weapon craftsmanship workshop in the Inner Ring jointly established by the Council and the Church… Isn't it just these things?"

The copy ability you used here makes perfect sense!

Lu Luo repeated every word Yin Qi had just said without missing anything, his expression not changing one bit, as if he had always known these things.

Yin Qi was stunned. How could this person be so shameless? He even began to feel as if, perhaps, Lu Luo truly knew these things, and that he himself had just had some kind of misperception!

"Mr. Zhang Dechui spoke very truly…" Looking at Lu Luo, Yin Qi actually started to doubt his own recent memory.

Lu Luo looked unperturbed. This was what they called composure; as long as he didn't feel embarrassed, the embarrassment fell on others.

"This gentleman speaks the truth. These three swords are all fine pieces from the developer's workshop, belonging to practical combat craftsmanship. Whether it be strength, toughness, or sharpness, all are exceedingly perfect."

The shop owner was enthusiastically praising his wares, while Lu Luo casually picked one of them up.

Nameless non-standard alloy sword, made from the rare metal Ros Alloy…

The sword's attributes were quite respectable; it was sufficiently sharp and tough. From the feel alone, it was almost identical to Qi Xinzhu's previous sword. The only shortcoming was that it was too light. Lu Luo, accustomed to amplifying his power with heavy weapons, could only use this type of light weapon as an extension of his limbs.

"What about firearms? Show me some guns as well."

The shop owner immediately brought out his treasured pistol with enthusiasm. "A 22-round high-capacity pistol, the Peacemaker, exquisitely made with a smooth feel…"

The owner was still boasting, but Lu Luo had already decided to buy it. Compared to swords, his requirements for firearms were much lower. As long as it could be used and the power was decent, that was enough.

"The material of the swords is good, I like them, and the firearm is also acceptable. So, put everything together; how much does it all cost?"

Lu Luo didn't bluntly say things like, "Pack it up; I'll take it all." That would have been too pretentious. Asking the price was a rational and polite way to proceed, plus he wasn't particularly clear on the prices in the Inner Ring. Although he had a decent amount of Dark Spirit Stones, if the prices here were too high, it wouldn't be worth it.

The shop owner had originally thought that the customer would choose just one of the three swords, never expecting him to want everything. He suddenly mused, Wealthy people indeed keep a low profile!

"The two long swords are priced at 80,000, the short sword at 70,000, and the pistol at 10,000. If the customer buys them as a package, I can offer an additional discount of 2,000. So, that comes to a total of 238,000."

When Lu Luo heard this number, 238,000, he was clearly taken aback. Over two hundred fifty thousand? Is that… money? Well, it had been a while since the original Alliance Currency circulated in the Outer Ring, and "money" as a concept was indeed somewhat unfamiliar to him.

"Hmm, does this place accept Dark Spirit Stones? What's the exchange rate?"

Seeing that Lu Luo intended to pay with Dark Spirit Stones, the shop owner's face lit up with a pleased smile. The Inner Ring and the Outer Ring were now completely severed. The Fourth Ring no longer served as an exchange point for resources and Alliance Currency. The value of the Alliance Currency could be said to have fallen again and again. Compared to the unstable Alliance Currency, Dark Spirit Stones, a hard currency, were more suitable for circulation. For instance, in the current trade between the Inner Ring and the Outer Ring, the Outer Ring no longer accepted Alliance Currency.

"Accept? Of course, we accept. The price of Dark Spirit Stones is now 1,900 per gram."

This price caught Lu Luo by surprise. Although the Inner Ring's price for Dark Spirit Stones had always been higher than that of the Outer Ring, it had never been absurdly high. Lu Luo remembered Ludie mentioning that when Dark Spirit Stone prices were stable, the price outside the wall was about 600, inside the wall around 650, and the Hunters' standard price was 700. In the Inner Ring, the price for a Dark Spirit Stone of relatively perfect quality was about 750-800. But now, the price had actually reached 1,900. What did this signify?

This meant the Inner Ring's economic system had undergone a massive transformation, and many citizens and merchants would be affected as a result. Because the Inner Ring's light industrial system was very weak, and there was not enough labor or land. If this continued, even if it didn't lead to economic collapse, the outcome would definitely not be good.

Just over 100 grams of Dark Spirit Stones can be exchanged for these few weapons! The Inner Ring's current resource shortage, and their estimates of the Outer Ring's resources... it seems both sides have developed misconceptions about each other!

Lu Luo had good reasons for thinking this way. After the Dark Energy Level increased, the Fourth Ring had a chance to naturally produce Dark Spirit Stones. Of course, the Inner Ring had the same conditions. However, the Inner Ring's consumption levels and area ensured that their production of Dark Spirit Stones could never compare with that of the Outer Ring. Now that the Inner Ring had lost information from the Fourth Ring, many things had indeed changed from how they once were.

Due to the increase in Dark Spirit Stones and the absence of a specifically issued currency, the purchasing power of Dark Spirit Stones in the current Outer Ring was declining—the complete opposite of the Inner Ring, where Dark Spirit Stone prices were rising, and sharply at that.

If the purchasing power of Dark Spirit Stones has reached this state in the Inner Ring, then perhaps the Circular could use its Dark Spirit Stone resources to make some exchanges with the Inner Ring?

From just one simple shopping trip, Lu Luo had already formed a new plan for his company's future trade negotiations with the Inner Ring.

Dark Spirit Stones are indeed a good thing!

He took out a roughly 200-gram Dark Spirit Stone from his pocket and handed it to the shop owner. "I don't have exact change. Can you make change, boss?"

"Uh, of course, of course I can. Do you need bullets or other standard items, sir? We have everything here."

An important armaments factory in the Outer Ring had been completely taken over by the Hunters. Lu Luo had also acquired many pieces of equipment, weapons, and ammunition from the transactions between the two parties. His approach to combat had now stabilized, and things like the energy grenades he used to use were now unnecessary. However, there were still many conventional weapons he could use, such as stun grenades, caltrops, and steel wires. But these items were available in the Outer Ring, and he had also stocked many in his ring; there was no need to spend money on them in the Inner Ring.

"Yeah, I do need some bullets, but nothing else."

"Alright, I'll fetch them right away for you."

"Mr. Zhang Dechui certainly spends generously! It seems all this money is but a trifle to Mr. Zhang Dechui," Yin Qi remarked from the side. Though not particularly concerned about a sum of over 200,000 himself, he wouldn't likely spend money as casually as Lu Luo did.

Unknowingly, Lu Luo's identity and status had already changed significantly. With the resources of the Fourth Ring base as his foundation, Lu Luo could now be considered the head of his own faction. It was just that Lu Luo was usually so low-profile that many people had no idea what level he had truly reached.

"It's not exactly a trifle. After all, I saved this money by pinching pennies and economizing since I was young."

Lu Luo's way of speaking remained as unreliable as ever. Yin Qi almost exclaimed in disbelief!

But at that moment, Zhang Yifan entered the store. "Lu Luo? What are you doing here? Let's get going."

"Oh, Zhang Yifan. I'm here buying some things."

Having his name revealed by Zhang Yifan, Lu Luo still maintained his composure. It was Yin Qi who breathed a sigh of relief; at this moment, he no longer had to awkwardly call him Zhang Dechui.

"So, your name is Lu Luo?"

"Yes, my formal name is Lu Luo, my nickname is Zhang Dechui."

Yin Qi was speechless. He then looked towards Zhang Yifan, recognizing the Luo Family Head's personal bodyguard.

"Luo Family, Zhang Yifan!"

In fact, it wasn't just him; many people knew Zhang Yifan. Luo Shan was in the military, Luo Feng was a profligate, and Luo Nan was an alchemy enthusiast. Consequently, Zhang Yifan practically served as the representative for the Luo Family's younger generation and was their main support. Although many people speculated that Zhang Yifan might change his surname to Luo, it struck many as odd that after so many years, Zhang Yifan had never changed his name; it was unclear what principle or conviction he was upholding.

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Yin Qi? My apologies, I didn't notice Young Master Yin Qi just now. Is Young Master Yin Qi looking for Lu Luo for something? Lu Luo is new here and doesn't understand many things. If Young Master Yin Qi has any issues, you can tell me directly. Whether there's a conflict or a wish to make an acquaintance, I can arrange to handle it."

Zhang Yifan positioned himself as a servant, but he spoke with a strong and confident voice. In Lu Luo's opinion, Zhang Yifan clearly wasn't taking Yin Qi seriously at all. But at this moment, Lu Luo didn't want to make enemies for himself, and besides, this Yin Qi wasn't particularly bad. So, Lu Luo actually took the initiative to speak up for Yin Qi.

"Not at all, Brother Yin Qi and I have had quite a pleasant chat. Brother Yin Qi taught me some things I didn't know before, like about the developer's workshop, and the lifestyle of some young people from Inner Ring families. Our relationship is good, Zhang Yifan, you shouldn't overthink it."

My host is truly a good person!

Hearing Lu Luo explain on his behalf and even describe their conversation, Yin Qi suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of happiness, as if he had been acknowledged.

"I indeed had a very pleasant chat with Mr. Lu Luo. Since Mr. Lu Luo has other matters to attend to, please go ahead."

"Alright!" Lu Luo nodded with a smile.

His approach was simple. When it was just the two of them, he could choose not to give Yin Qi face. This would make Yin Qi understand that he wasn't the simple-minded fool from the Outer Ring Yin Qi had imagined. Nor was he someone Yin Qi could easily sway. But in front of Zhang Yifan, he gave Yin Qi face. This allowed Yin Qi to instantly gain the sense of superiority and satisfaction he had desired. And this satisfaction, when displayed in front of Zhang Yifan, was effectively doubled. Coupled with the influence of the Nightmare Power, Lu Luo believed Yin Qi had already developed a favorable impression of him—a respectable kind of favorable impression, of course.

Lu Luo was well aware that Yin Qi's visit was definitely not unprepared. He and Yin Qi, or rather the people behind Yin Qi, were bound to make contact again. At that time, Yin Qi's favorable impression might serve some other purpose, perhaps even become a breakthrough point. Even if it proved useless, it was no big deal. After all, it was just a casual remark; Lu Luo wouldn't lose anything by it.

So, under Yin Qi's friendly gaze, Lu Luo collected the shopkeeper's change and packed away the weapons from the boxes. He then got into Zhang Yifan's car and left the street.

This Lu Luo really is quite interesting. Too bad I didn't get to probe his true depth!

At that moment, his phone rang. Yin Qi took it out.

"Hello, who is this? Yuan Mian?"

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