Chapter 289: Rippling Orchid (1/2)

Chapter 289: Rippling Orchid

Translator: EndlessFantasy TranslationEditor: EndlessFantasy Translation

”So what brought you guys here?” asked Hai Lian, confused, especially after seeing the gears Guo and his squad brought. With those gears, Guo would be as good as dead stepping into Calamitous Asteroid Belt. Hai Lian thought he was poor enough, till he saw the Papatte.

Guo was blushing while his balloon-headed friend shouted, ”Because of money, what else? Who else would come to this cursed place?”

”All of you actually took a request here?” Hai Lian could not believe his ears as his eyes went wide. Did they really disregard their capabilities and took up a deadly request here? Hai Lian had been a freelancer long enough to understand the working of the billboard. Every single request associated with the Calamitous Asteroid Belt was immediately ignored by most sane people, as those requests were easily the most dangerous requests ever. Nobody would take those. Wow these men actually came all the way here to die? Not even the elites of the major squads would have the courage to accept the request.

Look what poverty had done to humanity. Save poverty, people!

”Mhm, pretty much.” Nodded Guo helplessly, ”We are just here for a plant called the Rippling Orchid but sigh... laugh all you want, we are hobos you see. We would be disbanding in starvation if we never take up any more request.”

”I see. Now that explains it.” Nodded Hai Lian, who was informed about the competitiveness in the market, but he simply did not imagine it to be this tedious.

”Excuse me, what is this thing you called 'Rippling Orchid'?” asked Sang Fan in curiosity.

”A decorative plant. Not much of value.” No one would have expected the answer to come from Ye Chong.

It was surprisingly to hear it from Ye Chong as he did not look like the kind who would admire the beauty of decorative plants. Not even elderlies like Guo and his men had heard of this goofy Rippling Orchid in their life before taking up the request.

Well, Ye Chong was still an alchemist and that encyclopedia given by Lunatic Guan had all the records he needed, including Rippling Orchid, which he had remembered by heart. The entry for Rippling Orchid was brief though, it seemed to be a material to produce hallucinogen? That was an overrated plant indeed. Commented Ye Chong, as he thought this hard-to-find plant was too demotivating for its capability. He could simply name a few other plants which were more common and would do probably the same as Rippling Orchid.

”Who said it is not much of value! A sprout of Rippling Orchid could cost 50,000 points!” Argued Francis Jr., blushed.

”Fifty thousands what?” Screamed everybody. How much are fifty thousand points you asked? Hai Lian was already stunned upon knowing Sang Fan's Lavagold dagger being priced at 30,000 points. And that little plant for ornamental purpose could go for 50,000 points?

And people began coveting this plant, even Ye Chong was feeling a sudden urge. How in the world! Would this stupid plant! Worth 50,000 points!? How many mechs do I need to sell to even get 50,000 points?!

To be frank, all of them were practically hobos, be it Ye Chong and the Sangs or the Papatte. They were so poor that they would want to sell themselves.

”This is the Rippling Orchid,” said Guo as he projected the visual of the plant.

A tender little sprout with thick broad leaves flipping like a gentle breeze, the slender stem was colorful, the petals too were unique, as they were forming a perfect circle, with lines over them like ripples.

Okay, that's a good-looking flower. Still, how! In the world! It would! Worth 50,000 points?!

”Is it near?” asked Ye Chong, since the encyclopedia did not state the habitation of Rippling Orchid.

”Yes, according to the info given by the requester. The last sprout was discovered in this area, so we came to try our luck,” stated Guo.

”Sang Pu, send half of our men to find this plant,” ordered Ye Chong as his pointed at the visual. 50,000 points, you got to be kidding me, I am so getting this plant. Thought Ye Chong. It would be a dangerous request for mere folks, but it would be simple for Ye Chong.

”Yes sir.” Nodded Sang Pu agreeably. Being the frontline commander of the 5000 men, he was manically passionate over armory but any piece inside the armory would require currencies, which soon he redirected his focus onto finances instead.

Everyone of Papatte had joined Sang Pu to search for Rippling Orchid other than Guo.

There remained about two thousand men resting at the spot. They had been traveling nonstop for the past few days and they would certainly take this golden opportunity to leave their cabin at once and have some good old-fashioned face-to-face conversations without having to shout. There were still a few skeptical ones stuck in their cabin though. Soon the Sangs formed a lively crowd of chatters, where they would sit in circles, eagerly proceeded with their recreational activity - Wrestling. As much as the word had implied, it basically suggested a game of hand-to-hand combat between anyone in interest within the circle.

”Go! Go!”

”Woo!”

Traveling in the space with the most fundamental facilities was absolutely boring them to death. And finally they got the chance to have fun, the wrestling session was intense, there were screams and overjoyed hurrahs.

The changes in the Guo's expression were grabbing the interest of Ye Chong, it was rather dramatic to his taste as it literally underwent a metamorphosis from grimness to surprise to disbelief.

It did feel like a dream for Guo the Old Chief as he watched the group of people started fighting on each other in a simple stage they created with their formation. It was not a nightmare but it was not a pleasant dream either.

The two men in the circle were demonstrating astonishing techniques. He simply did not foresee to witness great practitioners right here! Those skills, Guo - although he did not wield even the standard moves - could confidently state them to be of the level of the top few most pilots in the major squads, only the top few, a tiny handful of them. And there he was, seeing a random two persons from a 5000 army of nowhere doing superior martial arts techniques.

He thought it was the nature's law of strongest to the weak.

But the following participants were sending him more shockers.

He almost could feel his cheek twitching.

The combat remained as intense as ever with the following entries.

How the... Guo could not process what was happening. Don't tell me all of them just so happened to be the greatest fighters? Thought Guo as he looked at the wrestling men in blank dismay. 2000 greatest fighters? Two thousands of them? At here? Guo wanted to deny his speculation but the reality seemed to be what he exactly speculated.

He tried shrugging such terrifying thought off.

”Sir...” He shot a glance, with much consideration, ”About our base... where... umm is it?” He carefully asked.