<b>Sharkskin Diving Suit</b>


    Type: Rare Item


    Effect 1: Reduces water flow friction resistance by 30%, wave resistance by 30%, and form drag by 30%.


    Effect 2: Increases swimming speed by 40% and reduces stamina consumption by 30%.


    Description: A diving suit designed to mimic sharkskin, highly sought after by swimming enthusiasts.


    This suit was perfect for the impending flood. Thomas''s eyes lit up. He already had the Oceanborn gene-enhancing potion. Once synthesized, it would grant him underwater breathing and water manipulation. Combined with the Sharkskin Diving Suit, his mobility in the underwater world would be significantly enhanced.


    He immediately contacted the seller, learning that they were suffering from a life-threatening case of influenza, hence the reason for trading such a valuable item. The seller''s starting location was near the coastline. They had planned to explore the underwater world after the blizzard, but survival now took precedence.


    Thomas traded three bowls of Nourishing Mutton Stew, two meat cans, two fever reducers, and two amoxicillin tablets for the suit. These supplies would be enough for the seller to pull through. The blizzard was expected to weaken after tonight.


    This early success buoyed Thomas''s spirits. He returned to his private messages. He had a busy day of trading ahead. Today was the best chance to acquire the materials to upgrade his Intelligence Center to level 2, his Generator to level 3, and his Hideout Walls to level 2. If he missed this opportunity, the chances of finding these materials after the blizzard subsided were slim.


    Once the surviving newcomers integrated into the Apocalypse Game, the value of these high-tier materials would likely multiply. Thomas knew that these newcomers would become prime targets for veteran survivors, their advanced materials and rare items highly coveted. Those who survived in the Apocalypse Game were seasoned players. It was a world where only the fittest survived, and any means justified the end. Even fellow humans couldn''t be fully trusted, let alone the other races mentioned in the training manuals.


    While cooperation among humans was possible, interactions with other races were likely to be hostile. This had been emphasized repeatedly during his pre-game briefing. "Speaking of which, other races must also have regular influxes of newcomers," he mused.


    Snapping back to the present, Thomas realized over an hour had passed. Driven by the pressure to survive, he had managed to gather most of the upgrade materials. However, each upgrade was missing one or two key components.


    The Intelligence Center needed two Confidential Intel reports. The Generator required a fuel injector and a thermostat. And the Hideout Walls, oddly enough, needed a sledgehammer.


    Unable to wait any longer, Thomas contacted Ben Walker, hoping he was awake.


    [Ben Walker: What''s up, Legend?]


    [Thomas Smyth: Whoa, you''re still up?]


    [Ben Walker: I was asleep! Your message woke me.]


    Thomas realized Ben had set his messages to alert him. He felt a pang of guilt.


    [Thomas Smyth: Sorry! Do you have any World Chat announcements left?]


    [Ben Walker: Yep! What do you need to announce?]


    Thomas explained his requirements. Soon, a message appeared in the World Chat.


    [City - Ben Walker: Attention everyone, Legend Smyth is buying Confidential Intel reports, fuel injectors, thermostats, and sledgehammers. He''s offering ten bowls of Nourishing Mutton Stew for each item. Offer valid until 7 PM tonight. Don''t miss out!]


    The message caused a stir. Nourishing Mutton Stew was the hottest commodity in the past few days. Even rare items usually fetched only three or four bowls. Ten bowls was an unprecedented offer.


    Many were tempted. The high price was the main draw, of course. While Thomas was the primary source of the stew, a few other survivors were also selling small quantities in the World Chat. These were people who had previously traded with Thomas and had a surplus.


    Since Thomas wasn''t buying everything, and his acquisitions were focused on specific items like medical supplies, electronic components, and high-tier materials like graphics cards and rare items, the market had stratified. Nourishing Mutton Stew circulated in the high-end and a small portion of the mid-tier market. Low-tier materials were rarely traded for the stew unless Thomas specifically requested them.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    For example, lumber, cotton, and wool, essential for warmth, were currently in high demand. But Thomas had ample supplies and wasn''t interested in reselling. His focus was on upgrading his hideout and acquiring the Arctic Snow Lotus.


    This created a supply imbalance. A network of resellers emerged in the mid- and low-tier markets. Those with surplus stew traded it for large quantities of lumber, cotton, and wool, then used these materials to acquire other low-tier resources, preparing for the aftermath of the first disaster. For these resellers, a single bowl of stew was a small fortune.


    This explained Howie''s excitement when Thomas offered to trade stew for the Guan Yu statue. It was all about profit. Even if they didn''t use the stew themselves, trading it was a lucrative venture.


    So, when Ben Walker, Thomas''s spokesperson, announced the offer, those with the required items were immediately interested. Some hesitated, however. While they didn''t know the true value of their items, the fact that Thomas was willing to pay such a high price suggested they were significant. They wavered between keeping and trading.


    Unaware of the ripples his actions had caused, Thomas shifted his attention to the lower-tier trade offers. Today, few offered medical supplies or electronic components. Those who had them had mostly traded with him yesterday. Today''s offers primarily consisted of raw chemicals from survivors in the mining and city zones, hoping to barter for Nourishing Mutton Stew.


    Thomas efficiently negotiated with each offer, finalizing trades where appropriate. If the offered quantity was too low, he''d explain and let the other party decide.


    After half an hour, his original four-tiered shelf was overflowing. He contacted Howie again, requesting two more. Only then could he adequately store the influx of chemical materials.


    Looking at his increasingly cramped hideout, Thomas frowned. "This place is too small!" He''d already upgraded it once with a scroll, expanding it from 82 to over 200 square meters. It had felt spacious then, but the constant upgrades and accumulating supplies were now making it feel tight.


    He rubbed his temples. So many things to manage. It felt like a constant game of whack-a-mole. "One step at a time," he sighed, brewing a cup of black tea to revive himself.


    He checked his messages again. Ben''s announcement had worked. Three people had contacted him, confirming the ten-bowl offer for the listed items. Thomas replied in the affirmative.


    Two survivors offered a sledgehammer and a fuel injector, exactly what he needed for the Generator and Hideout Walls upgrades. The trades were swiftly completed. He now had all the materials to upgrade his Insulated Walls to level 2. The Generator only needed a thermostat.


    Coincidentally, the third survivor had a thermostat. Thomas''s initial joy turned to apprehension when he saw their asking price: fifteen bowls of Nourishing Mutton Stew. His worst fears were realized.


    After a moment of thought, he replied, "[City - Thomas Smyth]: Fifteen bowls is steep. Any room for negotiation?" A tentative probe.


    [Storage Depot - Dash Strong]: Seriously, Legend? This is what you''ve been looking for! I almost died getting this. Fifteen bowls, firm.]


    Thomas scrutinized the message, his gaze flicking between the avatar and the text, analyzing the underlying implications. He desperately wanted the thermostat, but the seller clearly had him over a barrel.


    After a few seconds of hesitation, he made up his mind. Fifteen bowls was a price he could afford. "[City - Thomas Smyth]: Fine. Let''s trade.]"


    This time, the other party went silent. A minute later, a new message arrived.


    [Storage Depot - Dash Strong]: Seems I''m the only one with this. I''ve changed my mind. I want thirty bowls.]


    Thomas closed the chat window, blocking the sender. A cold smile touched his lips. He knew these greedy types were never satisfied. Had he agreed to thirty, the price would have instantly jumped to fifty.


    "Storage Depot - Dash Strong," he murmured. "Interesting. I''ll remember you." This was the second name he''d added to his mental blacklist. The first was Sandy. He wasn''t one to turn the other cheek. He believed in retribution. Especially in the Apocalypse Game, where kindness was a weakness. He''d bide his time. Opportunities would arise.


    As if to compensate for the previous encounter, someone immediately offered to trade Confidential Intel. They wanted ten bowls of stew and a submachine gun. Thomas readily agreed. Confidential Intel was too rare to pass up. He traded one of the silenced submachine guns he''d acquired from the hospital.


    The trade went smoothly. Now, he only needed one more Confidential Intel report and the thermostat. After quickly scanning his messages for any other relevant offers, he cleared his inbox and waited.


    He retrieved the upgrade materials for the Hideout Walls.


    <b>Hideout Walls - Insulated Type (Level 1)</b>


    Type: Hideout Facility


    Effect: Reduces hideout temperature loss by 60%, increases soundproofing by 40%.


    Next Stage: Hideout Security Level 2, Ventilation System Level 2, Generator Level 2, Sledgehammer x1, Toolbox x1, Metal Parts x5, Expanding Foam Sealant x10, Duct Tape x5, Electrical Wire x15, Screws x3.


    Upgrade Time: 120 minutes.


    Upgrade conditions met. Upgrade now?


    [YES]


    The wall shimmered, dissolving into light. "Two hours until completion. Not bad." He sighed. "Just the Intelligence Center and the Generator left." He wasn''t discouraged.


    Checking the time, he saw it was 3:30 PM. After another fruitless scan of his inbox, he returned to his sleeping area and crawled back into bed. Time to rest. Tonight''s operation was crucial. He needed to be at peak physical and mental condition. He set an alarm for 7 PM and closed his eyes, his breathing gradually evening out.


    Meanwhile, at the Storage Depot, Dash Strong, having been blocked by Thomas, sent him another message, only to receive a notification that he''d been blocked. He immediately contacted his accomplice.


    [Dash Strong: Dude, Thomas blocked me. Did we push too hard?]


    A few seconds later, the reply came.


    [Liam Brightman: Damn, that Sandy chick is unreliable. She said this Thomas guy would pay anything for stuff he needed.]


    [Liam Brightman: Whatever. Blocked or not, I''ll contact him tonight. You got him to agree to fifteen bowls, right? I''ll go for fifteen… This idiot doesn''t know how to make money. What a waste of a good opportunity…]