Chapter 435.2: Friendship

Both parties rented a storage warehouse and completed the transfer of goods and payment.

Watching the crates of coins on the ground, the merchant finished his work with a clap of his hands and turned to Sisi and her group with a smile. "Since you've made me a fortune, I'll give you a piece of advice. Whatever business you're here to do, I advise you to quickly convert those Camel Coins into Dinars or other stable assets."

Tail tilted her head and asked, "Why?"

"When the Army come, this money will turn to junk... Just look at the people in the refugee camps and slums. Their pockets are stuffed with Lion Coins and Honey Badger Coins, yet they can't even buy a piece of bread. I hear that many rich merchants in Silvermoon Bay are exchanging their Camel Coins for Dinars or ships to go overseas."

Being in someone else's territory, the merchant didn't state his message too directly. He simply hinted before stopping.

With the Honey Badger Kingdom falling within a week and the Lion Kingdom losing half its territory, those ancient kingdoms were no match for the Falcon Kingdom which had the support of the Army. They couldn’t win in either equipment or military theory.

In his view, the Sunset Province’s fate was sealed.

The Camel Kingdom's fate would likely be the same as the Falcon Kingdom’s, bowing down to the Army, adopting the Dinar as legal tender.

"Then... What about converting them to gold?" Sesame Paste asked quietly.

"Gold..." The merchant shook his head. "I wouldn't recommend it."

While there were plenty of places in the wasteland that used gold for coins, the awkward fact was that gold itself wasn’t really valuable.

There were many deep reasons for it, including the abundant gold mined from space during the Prosperity Era, the total value of precious metals far exceeding the gross social product, and the cultural forms of the Wasteland Era where everyday might be their last...

The biggest difference between a wasteland and an era of chaos was that people in a chaotic era believed that stability would eventually return. But for people on the wasteland... Not many could see hope for revival of a dead civilization.

Therefore, what was valuable in the wasteland wasn’t really the precious metals but rather the confidence in a certain currency!

A currency that was weak would soon become worthless.

As for other factors like military power, productivity, technology, culture, and more... Those would add value to their currency, but were just superficial elements.

The merchant looked at Sisi, feeling she might understand the implication of his previous words before taking off his hat to bid them farewell.

"Thanks again, generous and pretty lady. Your goods have perfectly concluded my journey to the east, and I earnestly advise you to leave this place of conflict before it's too late."

"Thank you for your advice, I'll take note." Sisi waved without giving any judgment as she said goodbye to the merchant.

Old Buma, seeing the client walk away, finally couldn't help but curse. "Petra Fortress will never surrender to the Army, we're not cowards like those others!"

Tail was full of zeal. "Oh! Of course, once we rebuild Petra, everything will get better!"

Old Buma didn't understand what she was saying but felt the praise for his homeland, his face instantly blooming with joy.

Roshan couldn't help but tease, "Tail, you're playing the wrong game."

As they watched the back of the merchant, who was secretly happy, disappear around the corner, Sisi glanced at the coins in her hand with a camel imprinted on them, then at the crates stuffed behind her. After a moment of thought, she turned to Buma.

"I'm thinking of starting a bank where people fleeing from the Lion Kingdom can exchange their Lion Coins for Camel Coins... Is it allowed here for private individuals to operate a bank?"

It wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment idea.

But the merchant's words had opened up a new business opportunity for her.

"This... Well, no one said it's not allowed," Buma, who still had a grin on his face from hearing Tail, paused and quickly tried to dissuade her. “Exchange these coins for Lion Coins? What do you need Lion Coins for?"

Sisi raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Can't I?"

Buma chuckled. "This isn't about whether you can or not... But the Lion Kingdom is nearly extinct. Their currency will soon be worthless."

Although he emotionally doubted that Petra Fortress could ever fall, it was hard to say for the neighboring Lion Kingdom. Once the City of Abundance fell...

It was only a matter of time before the Lion Kingdom was doomed.

Sisi nodded. She thought for a moment before mumbling, "Then... Let's make the trade at a rate of 6:1."

Six Lion Coins for one Camel Coin.

Although it wouldn't allow those poor people to live as worry-free here as in their homeland, at least it would prevent them from starving to death.

Hearing her exchange rate, Buma gave a wry smile.

6:1...

Even 600:1 would be getting her junk...

Tail tilted her head, looking at Sisi. "But aren't we supposed to buy cows and bring them back?"

"Hmm, that's true, but as long as we win this war and drive the Army out of the Sunset Province, we'll be able to bring even more cows back..."

Excitement sparkled in her eyes, but mid-sentence, Sisi suddenly thought of something and stopped. "Ah, right, maybe we should split our profits first!"

"Splitting our profits now?" Roshan tilted her head. "Why here?"

Sisi thought for a moment before speaking in a calm voice, "Well... It's just a precaution. Investment carries risks, and I can't guarantee my judgments will always be correct.”

Even the most thorough plans could encounter unexpected risks.

If successful, the returns were indeed pleasing, but if it failed... The money they lost wouldn’t be all that was at stake. Even their friendship might be lost...

Those few crates of Camel Coins were almost all the savings the Order of the White Bear accumulated since the game started, including most of the earnings from the last expedition.

The moment they lost it, it would mean half a year of hard work had been wasted.

She doubted her companions were the type to place profits above everything else, which was one of the reasons she loved hanging out with them, but she was ultimately clear-headed.

It was difficult for someone as wise as her to convince herself to doubt human nature.

Moreover, even if her companions could forgive her mistakes, she would find it hard to forgive herself for letting everyone's efforts go to waste.

She had to admit she wasn’t as strong as all of them thought she was.

She wasn't afraid of many things, but she was afraid of being blamed...

"If that nuclear bomb really blows up the Levee, even if we win, we might lose money! If you're worried about losing what we already have...”

"Come on, there’s no need to act this way!"

Suddenly, she was surrounded by a warm feeling on her shoulders.

Sisi, who was thinking about the various possibilities, felt her cheeks turning hot as the words she was about to say were stuck in her throat.

Sesame Paste, who had hugged her from behind and was shaking her cat ears, leaned close to Sisi and spoke with a cheerful voice, "All of us know that you think the most among us! You’re super reliable when thinking calmly about problems. Although I'm just an ordinary public school teacher in real life and not as good at games as you guys, we are partners here! Please place more trust in us!”

"If you have any plans, just tell us. Don't carry such a heavy psychological burden by yourself. Anyway, if you want to do something, go ahead! Do it with no worries!”

"Yeah, yeah!”

Roshan, who had been glowing with excitement since a moment ago, raised her paw and growled in excitement, "Although I don't really understand, it sounds so impressive!"

She wasn't one of those strong high-level players either. She chose to play support in games, hiding behind ADCs. There was no need to mention her cowardice. She wouldn’t be angry even when she lost! She would always encourage her friends to play by themselves. After all... It was better to lose with a stranger than to sabotage her friend’s win rate.

It was good luck that she met a group of companions who never despised her clumsiness and were willing to grow with her.

Even if she ran away as the tank of the group and caused some people to die, they wouldn't blame her for being bad but would patiently encourage her, help her adjust her equipment, and study new tactics...

It was really fortunate she met them!

Tail also raised her hand enthusiastically. "Oh! Everyone agrees, Tail agrees too! But we have to set aside some funds for treasure hunting! We agreed to go on an expedition to the ruins... Let's not spend all the living expenses..."

Roshan gave her a sideways glance and retorted, "Who else would spend all the money but you?!"

"GIAO! HEY!" Tail squished her face together, forming a cute yet hilarious expression while glaring at Roshan.

Obviously... Everything was a joke.

Watching her supportive companions, Sisi's eyes turned a little moist. The explanations that came to her lips ultimately condensed into two simple words.

"Thank you."

"There’s no need for such formality!" Letting go of Sisi's shoulders, Sesame Paste picked up the cat she had placed on the ground again and said with an embarrassed smile, "By the way, do we have a plan for dealing with the ruins of Lost Valley?"

Regaining her confident smile, Sisi spoke seriously, "I was just about to mention that."