Chapter 66: 66, A businessman

Ren Xiaosu did not believe in ghosts or monsters, so after finding nothing there, he scrutinized the area even more carefully. Wait, Ren Xiaosu realized what it was.

Above the cave, water droplets seeped down little by little, dripping with a sound and falling onto the ground.

It was probably due to the rain; water had seeped through the rock layers above. The man earlier had panicked, but it was just his nerves being too taut, making him mistake the water droplets for some imagined enemy, like a monster's saliva...

But when Ren Xiaosu saw this thing, he exclaimed to the others as if he had found a treasure: "You can collect water directly here. The rock layers act like a natural filter, purifying the water even cleaner than well water. Of course, if you're worried, you can boil it before drinking."

Xu Xianchu asked seriously: "Really? Is this water drinkable?"

"Mhm," Ren Xiaosu said: "This is probably one of the cleanest water sources in the wilderness. Sometimes, even spring water isn't as safe as this."

Upon hearing Ren Xiaosu's words, Xu Xianchu picked up his canteen to collect water. Pine needles could supplement some body moisture, but the quantity was still too little.

That thing could only ensure no one would die of thirst.

Xu Xianchu did not monopolize the water source for long. He hung his canteen by the bonfire and told the others: "You should collect some too."

The others were not like Xu Xianchu, who had brought a canteen to boil water. They could only drink with their mouths, let alone whether to boil it or not.

A group of people jostled below the water source, drinking in turns. The private soldiers were better off, taking turns, but Liu Bu was in a bad state; no one would yield to him.

Before long, a private soldier snapped: "How can this drip-drip water satisfy anyone? That Ren Xiaosu still has two bottles of water hidden in his pocket, letting us lick the stone wall and pine needles while he drinks bottled water. Who knows if this water is safe?"

Several private soldiers looked grim, but Ren Xiaosu and Yang Xiaojin had guns, so they dared not speak up.

Ren Xiaosu watched this scene and thought, if only his palace could store things, he could secretly put the bottled water inside tomorrow, then tell the others he accidentally lost it. That way, no one would bother him again.

Otherwise, with everyone going mad over water, someone might take risks to plot against him.

At this moment, the two bottles of water were tucked into the pockets of his coat on either side. He reached into his pocket, gripping the water bottle, trying again to store it in the palace.

The palace immediately responded: "Storage permission not obtained."

Ren Xiaosu was furious. Why not explain how to get the permission? Why could the black medicine be stored freely, but not this water bottle?

What, does the water bottle not agree?

Ren Xiaosu stepped back. Luo Xinyu glanced at him: "Why aren't you drinking?"

Ren Xiaosu met Luo Xinyu's skeptical gaze; it was clear she didn't believe he would be so generous...

Ren Xiaosu smiled: "I drink bottled water."

Luo Xinyu: "..."

At this moment, Luo Xinyu realized Ren Xiaosu truly had a talent for irritating people.

But she didn't know Ren Xiaosu was being very cautious. First, everyone was thirsty, and this drip-by-drip water source was definitely insufficient. Xu Xianchu, as an extraordinary being, could monopolize the water collection, and no one dared to object, but Ren Xiaosu was not an extraordinary being.

He already had two bottles of water on him, which made some people envious. There was no need for him to be greedy.

One of the survival rules in the wilderness was not to be too greedy. Moreover, Ren Xiaosu needed to let Xu Xianchu understand that in the wilderness, the one person this team couldn't lack was himself, Ren Xiaosu.

Since there was an extraordinary being like Xu Xianchu to rely on, why wouldn't he take advantage?

Also, the smell in the cave was too strong...

In this tense atmosphere, Luo Xinyu was originally afraid, so talking to Ren Xiaosu was to ease her inner fear. After all, having someone to talk to was better.

In fact, this method was very effective. When Ren Xiaosu mentioned the words "late-born child," Luo Xinyu felt she was no longer afraid at all, her mind filled with ellipses...

Ren Xiaosu asked curiously: "Do you know where the tobacco these armies smoke comes from? I don't think there's a place to grow such things near the 113th Bastion, is there?"

"Don't you know?" Luo Xinyu puzzled: "Wang Fugui said you were under Luo Lan's care. How could you not know about this?"

"What does it have to do with Luo Lan?" Ren Xiaosu was stunned. Although he had received Luo Lan's banner, the problem was that he and that old boss had no other connection.

"Luo Boss is the representative of the Qingshi Consortium in the 113th Bastion," Luo Xinyu explained.

"What position does he hold in the Bastion?" Ren Xiaosu asked curiously. He had heard Wang Fugui mention Luo Boss every day, but he realized he knew nothing about this Luo Boss.

"Luo Boss has no position," Luo Xinyu stared at him in amazement: "Okay, you really don't know. He only controls the metallurgy, water sources, and chemical factories in the 113th Bastion. If you must ask his identity... he is strictly a businessman."

"Can a businessman command the winds and rains in the Bastion?" Ren Xiaosu thought and said, he had previously thought Luo Boss was the administrator of this Bastion.

"They no longer need to hold any positions," Luo Xinyu said helplessly: "They are like the heavens above the administrators. When nothing happens, everyone lives in peace, but when something occurs, the decision-makers in the Bastion will be this businessman."

"Does he have an army?" Ren Xiaosu asked after thinking.

Luo Xinyu looked at him and said: "Yes, an army, far stronger than these private soldiers. The combat regiment stationed in the 113th Bastion is beyond your imagination. It's definitely not like the private soldiers you see now."

This meant two forces were stationed in the Bastion. Although there was a nominal administrator, his power was probably already nominal. If you don't resist, you can only be a puppet enjoying wealth and honor.

"But there's one thing I don't understand," Ren Xiaosu asked curiously: "Why don't they directly control the Bastion as administrators? Isn't supporting a puppet just taking off pants to fart?"

"Because there's more than one consortium in this world," Luo Xinyu said.

At this point, Ren Xiaosu understood. Several consortiums were operating among the hundred or so refuge Bastions. They jointly controlled the Bastions but also restrained each other, then extracted resources in a strange cooperative mode.

"So the tobacco is provided by the Qingshi Consortium to the 113th Bastion?" Ren Xiaosu asked.

...

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