Hawson Wer wasn't idle. He posted a message in the group chat:

"To get through these tough times together, I suggest we establish a free trading market for bartering supplies. The purple mist only reaches the 21st floor, so I propose we meet daily at 2 PM in the hallways above the 21st floor to trade."

Responses came quickly:

"Yes, yes! I have three bottles of Lafite. One bottle for 10 packs of instant noodles!"

"Two packs of instant noodles, deal or not?"

"You're insane! A bottle of Lafite is worth so much, and instant noodles are dirt cheap!"

"Money? What's the point of money? Go drink your Lafite."

"I have a pack of Oreos. Anyone got sausages? I'm craving meat so bad."

"Lucky you. I've been eating boiled eggs for three days straight."

"I've got American cigarettes. I'll trade them for a box of Norfloxacin. I ate spoiled food yesterday and have diarrhea—help!"

"I have Norfloxacin but need food, not cigarettes."

"Please, help me."

"I've got some Norfloxacin, but we're in different buildings. I'm not stepping outside. You'll have to come here."

"I got bitten by a giant ant yesterday. The wound's festering. Help!"

...

Hawson Wer smirked as he read the messages.

This was perfect. Now he could see who still had food.

When the time came for robbery, he'd know exactly who to target.

Some people might be hiding supplies, but that didn't matter. As long as he stole enough to survive, it'd be fine.

The government couldn't ignore the situation forever, right?

Once they saved the important people, it'd be their turn eventually.

And if Slave Collector showed up at the market, he'd have the chance to capture him!

James Lone saw Hawson Wer's message too and thought to himself,

"A trading market? Maybe I should grab some new supplies."

While his slaves could generate resources, they only replenished existing types.

Without more variety, the same food would eventually get boring.

Suddenly, he noticed the faint yellow glow around Hawson Wer shift to a glaring red.

"Hm?" James Lon sneered.

"Looks like you're after my ability fruit.

Others might not know, but Hawson Wer definitely understands the value of the black Nephelium.

If that's the case, then you can go to hell."

21st Floor. Apartment 2104.

Lily hadn't eaten all day.

She lay weakly on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The purple mist had risen to half a meter above the floor, just level with her bed.

Her entire apartment looked like a surreal stage, enveloped in red smoke.

"What's going on?" Lily muttered, on the verge of tears.

She was a beauty streamer, earning 20,000–30,000 yuan a month. For a college student, it was a satisfying and comfortable income.

But now, it was all gone.

Her stomach cramped painfully, forcing her to curl up until the sensation subsided.

"I have to do something."

She thought of Slave Collector.

Lily didn't want to trade her body for food, but she had no other options.

"I'm still young. I can't starve to death here."

She opened the group chat and saw someone organizing a trade market.

"A trading market? But I don't have anything to trade!"

Scrolling up, she noticed Slave Collector's recent post.

"Black Nephelium?"

Curious, Lily looked out her window.

The climbing ivy covering her wall had a black Nephelium growing beneath one of its leaves, hanging right outside.

"Why does Slave Collector want this?"

The fruit had been growing there for two days, but she hadn't paid much attention to it. Now, Slave Collector's interest piqued her curiosity.

She opened the window and plucked the black Nephelium.

The fruit smelled sweet and tempting, almost irresistible.

But Lily didn't dare eat it. In these times, with plants mutating so rapidly, who knew if it was poisonous?

"What is this thing for?"

She searched online but found no useful information.

If she weren't so hungry, she might have investigated further.

But her empty stomach left her desperate for food.

Lily snapped a photo and sent it to Slave Collector, her heart racing with anticipation.

"How much food can I get for this?" she wondered.

C Building #2104: I'm Not a Fox:

"I have a black Nephelium. [Image attached]"

James Lone's eyes lit up.

So, there really is one—and it's Little Fox!

Should I just go and take it?

After some thought, James Lon decided against it.

If she got upset and ate it or threw it away, it'd be a huge loss. There was no need to take that risk.

Better to secure the fruit first, then make other plans.

Slave Collector:

"Three packs of instant noodles."

Lily was pleasantly surprised.

"Three packs?!"

C Building #2104: I'm Not a Fox:

"Can I ask what this fruit does?"

Slave Collector:

"That's none of your business. Do you want to trade or not?"

Lily looked at the black Nephelium in her hand, hesitating.

C Building #2104: I'm Not a Fox:

"Then I won't trade."

James Lon chuckled.

Trying to bluff me?

Fine, I'll play along.

Slave Collector:

"Okay, think it over. Just know, I'm only accepting trades today. No exceptions."

Lily was confused.

He didn't seem that eager to have it.

C Building #2104: I'm Not a Fox:

"Why?"

James Lone decided to scare her a little.

"Once picked, it rots quickly. If it goes bad, I won't want it."

Lily panicked.

"Ah?"

She realized he wasn't joking.

New fruits spoiled rapidly these days, becoming inedible within hours.

Lily still wanted to know what the fruit was for, but her hunger left her no choice.

C Building #2104: I'm Not a Fox:

"Ten packs of instant noodles."

James Lone smirked.

Haggling with me?

It doesn't matter how much you bargain. Once I have the fruit, you'll be mine too.

Slave Collector:

"Five packs, take it or leave it."

Reluctantly, Lily agreed.

"Fine."

James Lone smiled.

The third Enlightenment Fruit was finally within his grasp!

Slave Collector:

"I'll come to your place to trade."

"No way!" Lily immediately rejected the idea.

Based on Slave Collector's previous comments, he was clearly a creep.

In these chaotic times, she couldn't risk a one-on-one meeting.

C Building #2104: I'm Not a Fox:

"Let's meet at the trading market instead."

With so many people around, she figured he wouldn't try anything.

Most survivors were still clinging to the laws of civilization out of habit.

James Lone didn't mind. He wanted to check out the trading market anyway.

If it came to it, having a crowd wouldn't stop him from taking what he wanted.

Slave Collector:

"Fine. Let's meet there."

James Lon returned to Shirley lnr's apartment and took a hot shower, washing off the dust from breaking walls.

The two women had woken up by then.

They had been uneasy while he was gone, feeling vulnerable without him around.

When James Lone returned, they visibly relaxed.

He pulled out the newly acquired steaks and pork.

"Who knows how to cook steak and braised pork?"

Shirley lnr Won looked worried. She was a pampered daughter of an official, still in university—cooking wasn't her skillset.

Monroe Anne, on the other hand, gave Shirley lnr a smug glance and said softly,

"I can cook. I'm pretty good at it."

"Oh?" James Lon was pleasantly surprised.

After obtaining the spatial backpack, he'd stored all his food inside, including rice, flour, and seasonings, as well as some vegetables, cauliflower, tomatoes, and eggs.

These were originally stocked by his former roommate, Snown.

James Lone wasn't much of a cook, so he hadn't used them.

Since Monroe Anne could cook, he handed her the ingredients to prepare.

[Ding! Monroe Anne consumed 1 tomato, returning 300 tomatoes. Added to the spatial backpack.]

[Ding! Monroe Anne consumed 2 eggs, returning 600 eggs. Added to the spatial backpack.]

[Ding! Monroe Anne consumed 1 pound of M9 sirloin steak, returning 300 pounds of M9 sirloin steak. Added to the spatial backpack.]

...