The final line of small print read:
【Friendly Reminder: Place samples of the three crops and one jin of each of the three types of ore into the trading bay and submit them to the Galactic Empire Data Bureau to complete the mission.】
Jiang Ye fell into deep thought as he looked at the upgrade conditions.
He felt that the upgrade conditions held a deeper meaning.
All colony commanders, in order to upgrade to an Level 8 base, had to submit some crops and ore.
Once everyone submitted theirs, the Galactic Empire could analyze the general data of the planet: what kind of plants could be grown, and what types of ore it contained.
Through this method, the situations of numerous wild planets were easily understood by the Galactic Empire.
Truly efficient.
Jiang Ye first went to the warehouse and took a peanut, a stalk of wheat, and a grain of rice.
He placed them into the trading bay.
The first upgrade condition, 【Grow three different types of crops】, immediately had a green checkmark next to it!
Jiang Ye was delighted; the upgrade progress had already completed 50%!
However, the remaining 50% was quite difficult.
Three types of ore, with a specific mention that they had to be metallic ores.
Originally, Jiang Ye had planned to stay indoors and warm himself by the fire during the harsh winter. He wouldn't be going out to be a miner this winter.
Now, it seemed he had no choice but to go out and find ore.
Three types of metallic ores, and he already had two.
The galena he hadn't finished mining before, Jiang Ye found the ore too cheap and stopped mining it. Galena, with its metallic radical, was naturally a type of metal.
There was also magnetite. Although Jiang Ye had extracted most of the ore, some residue and powder remained in the mine pit. Collecting it should be enough to make up one jin.
So, obtaining one jin of galena and one jin of magnetite, he still needed one more type of metallic ore.
Jiang Ye opened the Galactic Mall to check the newly added items.
Wow! The moment he saw the new items, he exclaimed subconsciously.
【Item: Kai Xi Assault Rifle】
【Item Description: Traditional firearm without energy charging, uses 5.8mm bullets, powerful with a fast rate of fire, recoil reduced to almost zero, a killing machine for mid-to-close range assaults. Purchase includes a 4x scope and three empty magazines, each with a capacity of 35 rounds.】
【Price: 86,000 Credits】
Jiang Ye was ecstatic!
He had always wanted an assault rifle or a submachine gun. The shotgun was powerful, but it went silent after just a couple of shots.
With this Kai Xi, his firepower would increase dramatically!
He decisively tried to purchase it!
【We regret to inform you that your balance is insufficient.】
A cold, unfeeling prompt appeared.
Jiang Ye scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He had spent all his money upgrading his base, and now he was broke.
But no need to panic, 86,000 credits was not a big deal, he could earn it back quickly.
My little darling, wait for me! Jiang Ye thought, staring at the gun on the screen.
Next was the second item, complementary to the gun.
【Item: 5.8mm Dum-Dum Bullets】
【Item Description: Suitable for firearms with a 5.8mm caliber. The bullets in this batch have special tips; upon entering a target, they expand, causing massive, festering wounds and expelling a toxic lead core. Due to the extreme pain inflicted upon being shot, for humanitarian reasons, these types of ammunition are prohibited in many regions. If you are a kind person, do not shoot people with these bullets.】
【Price: 5 Credits/round】
Jiang Ye showed a devilish smile.
Prohibited weapons?
Excellent!
As everyone knows, weapons that are prohibited are often the most terrifying in terms of power.
People often say they don't want them, but secretly keep large quantities of prohibited weapons.
Dum-dum bullets are cruel, and Jiang Ye liked them very much.
The third newly unlocked item, however, surprised Jiang Ye quite a bit.
【Item: Polaroid Camera】
【Item Description: High-definition camera, prints an 8-inch photo immediately after taking a picture, battery lasts for one month. Purchase includes 100 sheets of waterproof photo paper. If you see something interesting or an important scene, you can use it to record it.】
【Price: 8,000 Credits】
Jiang Ye fell into thought.
Up to this point, everything in the Galactic Mall had been highly practical. Even the subwoofer, which seemed useless, could be used to attract the silly Blood Kangaroos.
A Polaroid camera? Was this very useful?
As usual, after getting new goods, he went to see Cao County Citizen.
Jiang Ye: You there? I've got some new goods.
Cao County Citizen: Oh! Boss, you've upgraded again? What new goods do you have?
Jiang Ye: A new item, not particularly essential, a Polaroid camera. Battery lasts for a month, comes with 100 sheets of photo paper. My selling price is 10,000 credits.
Jiang Ye didn't plan to sell the Kai Xi assault rifle or the Dum-dum bullets, at least not in the short term. So he only mentioned the Polaroid camera.
Cao County Citizen: Oh my! This is great! I'll buy one, but I have a request!
Jiang Ye: What request?
Cao County Citizen: Take a selfie and send it to me, hehehe.
Jiang Ye's old face blushed; it was a bit embarrassing.
Cao County Citizen: What's embarrassing about that! We've been cooperating for so long, and we still don't know what you look like. Little brother, show me your picture, I'm curious.
Jiang Ye: Alright, but you have to take one for me too.
Cao County Citizen: That's a bit embarrassing!
After chattering for a long time, going back and forth, they finally reached an agreement. Cao County Citizen would send her photo first, and then Jiang Ye would send his photo to her.
After receiving the 10,000 credits, Jiang Ye went to the Galactic Mall and bought a Polaroid camera.
The trading bay flashed, and the camera appeared.
It was a very ordinary black camera, but there was a slot at the bottom for photo paper. It also came with a box of photo paper, totaling one hundred sheets.
Jiang Ye transferred the camera and photo paper to Cao County Citizen.
Then he waited patiently.
Five minutes.
Ten minutes.
Fifteen minutes.
Jiang Ye grew anxious and typed to inquire:
Have you taken it yet?
Cao County Citizen: Wait a moment, I've taken over thirty pictures, but I'm not satisfied with any of them. This camera doesn't have a beauty filter, why are my pimples so big? I didn't have pimples before, but I've been staying up late selling goods these past two days, and the lighting in the base isn't right. Oh dear, I haven't washed my hair in a long time, wait for me to wash my hair.
Jiang Ye clicked his tongue; was taking a photo this difficult?
Jiang Ye: No rush, take your time. I'll go out to work first, and we can chat again tonight.
Cao County Citizen: Okay, okay!
Jiang Ye wrapped himself tighter in his cotton-padded clothes and went out with his gun.
He first turned off the subwoofer; he didn't want random music to attract a horde of beasts while he was away.
Leaving the perimeter wall, he headed in the direction of the galena deposit from memory.
The cold wind bit at him; even his two layers of cotton clothes felt cold.
The Snow Oil Grass grew densely. Stepping on it made a crunching sound and sprayed oil onto his shoes.
Jiang Ye advanced cautiously, holding his five-shot rifle.
After his legs had gone numb from walking, the scent of galena finally reached him.
Jiang Ye followed the scent and soon found the ore pile.
Everywhere else was covered in Snow Oil Grass, but there wasn't a single blade of grass on the ore pile.
He picked out a few pieces of galena, estimating at least one jin, and carried them back to the base.
Next, he successfully found magnetite again. He scooped up a jin of magnetic powder and ore fragments with his hands and put them in his pocket.
It was dusk, and the sun slowly set, casting a golden glow over the grassland. The frost crystals on the leaves of countless Snow Oil Grass blades sparkled like gold dust.
Jiang Ye quickened his pace towards the base. The road was still long, and he wanted to get home before dark if possible.
Suddenly, he stopped.
His expression changed, and he immediately lay down in the grass, concealing himself amidst the dense Snow Oil Grass.
He pointed his gun in one direction.
On a hill about four hundred meters in front of his gun, a person suddenly appeared!