Chapter 170: Renting a Few Old Rivals

[During business hours, the barbershop must pay 20% of its profits as tax to the village chief, and another 20% as an operating fee to the system. The remaining profits are to be used for shop operations and purchasing materials. The village chief is not allowed to interfere in the shop’s internal affairs, but may offer suggestions related to the barbershop. Whether to adopt these suggestions is up to the villagers, and if a suggestion is approved by vote, a separate fee will be paid for its adoption. Village chief, please take note.]

Damn, this is a publicly owned shop!

That stingy mainframe is really squeezing her profits.

Yun Qimu narrowed her eyes. Looks like this little mainframe is getting smarter, learning to strike first.

The rewards have been handed out, the rules have been set, and she’s still getting a 20% tax—right at her bottom line. What else can she do? Overturn it on the spot? She’s sure if she tried, that stingy mainframe would broadcast it to the whole village. Hmph.

In the end, she could only swallow this minor loss.

With a stern and dignified expression, Yun Qimu addressed the villagers, “Bring these prisoners into Earth Village and search them for anything they’re carrying. We’ll divide things up later.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The villagers happily herded the prisoners toward Earth Village. As for those who had passed out, they just grabbed a leg and dragged them along.

The scene was lively and bustling.

Some villagers, now with a bit of money at home, were already calculating when to rent a few old rivals to serve them. Heh, the thought made them feel delighted.

Especially Chief Masa, who’d been having a streak of good luck lately and had won quite a few spirit coins. He was secretly plotting to rent all eight of Blackbeard’s chiefs, one by one, to help him farm, clear land, shovel snow, and mine—and maybe give him a shoulder massage and pour him some water.

Ah, just thinking about their disgruntled faces made Masa feel refreshed and invigorated.

Huan Linyuan and the others, who’d joined in on this operation, were also feeling excited.

Ever since Molan City was built and became one of the top three cities on Exile Star, it had been a long time since they’d captured so many prisoners and looted so much spoils.

Pei Yu happily came back to collect the weapons. “Everyone, the battle’s over. Please return your weapons.”

Kunsang, face cold, snorted and handed over a bloodstained longsword. “This thing’s useless. Not as good as the metal swords I can conjure myself.”

Now that the combat bots were no longer needed, Pei Yu just rolled his eyes at him. “If it’s no good, don’t use it. Look at all the blood on it—I’ll have to scrub it in the snow. What a waste of my goodwill.”

“You—” Kunsang was so angry his chest heaved, his eyes bulging like a goldfish.

Ming Xiao walked over, coughing, and with a smile interrupted their childish standoff. He reached out his pale, thin hand and returned the crossbow. “Pei Yu, here’s your crossbow back.”

“Oh, thanks!” Pei Yu immediately forgot about Kunsang, cheerfully taking the crossbow and inspecting it. “Hey, not a single arrow missing!”

Ming Xiao’s handsome, pale face managed a weak smile. “Yeah, you guys were so fast—I didn’t even have time to aim before the fight was over.”

Pei Yu beamed. “You know how to talk! That’s just how efficient Earth Village is.”

He looked quite proud, completely forgetting that he was also from Molan City. But when he saw the Molan City lord walking out from Earth Village, he couldn’t help but feel resigned.

Well, if even the city lord has joined the village, a little guy like Pei Yu is nothing.

“City Lord.” Ming Xiao nodded with a gentle smile at Mo Xie.

“Mm, you’re here.”

Looking at them, Mo Xie’s usually stern face softened a little, his sharp black eyes finally settling on Ming Xiao’s almost translucent pale face. His thick brows furrowed. “How’s your health?”

Before Ming Xiao could answer, his companion Ming Mu jumped in impatiently, “My brother’s dark matter levels are about to reach the critical point—he can’t suppress it anymore. City Lord, you said there’s a cure here. Where is it? Please take us there quickly.”

“Mm, we’ll need to go through some procedures first. Village Chief Yun—” Mo Xie looked over at Yun Qimu, who was reuniting with Yun Xiaoyu and Yun Dad at the edge of the crowd.

“Coming.” Yun Qimu patted Yun Xiaoyu’s little head, took his hand, and walked over with a smile. “If you want to enter, you have two choices. One: join Earth Village and become a villager. Two: I can issue you a temporary visitor’s pass, like the ones in Chaos City. Since I invited you, I won’t charge you the entry fee. Choose whichever you like.”

“We’ll choose option one.”

The ten people from Molan City didn’t hesitate. Their city lord had already joined Earth Village—what was there to be shy about?

Besides, with the city lord’s friendship with Village Chief Yun, and considering the two places’ locations, there was no way Molan City and Earth Village would ever fight. What’s wrong with having dual citizenship?

As for Ying Hua and Kui Hai, they chose option two.

They didn’t know Earth Village as well as the Molan City group, and they were just here to scout things out. Becoming villagers right away didn’t make sense.

Yun Qimu smiled at them. “Alright, since you’ve made your choices, just go on in. When the system asks you questions, just answer truthfully.”

Those who’d long been curious about Earth Village eagerly headed inside.

The Molan City folks were prepared and put on their winter jackets.

Kui Hai and Ying Hua, on the other hand, hadn’t brought any extra clothes or space rings, so they didn’t have any warm clothes.

The two of them exchanged glances, about to ask for help, when Wu Xingyu walked over holding a bright red cotton-padded jacket embroidered with big yellow flowers. With a deadpan face, he blandly pitched, “Want a jacket? Only 12 spirit coins, that’s 1,200 energy coins.”

Kui Hai stared blankly at the red-and-yellow, tacky-looking jacket, then at Wu Xingyu, his eyes full of sympathy.

Such a good-looking young man—how could his taste be so bad? Who would buy a jacket like that?

And for 1,200 energy coins, no less.

Kui Hai, who barely had any coins left, wore his refusal on his face: No way, too ugly!

Wu Xingyu narrowed his eyes, black energy swirling in their depths.

But Kui Hai still refused.

Ying Hua, however, cheerfully grabbed the jacket, quickly helped Kui Hai put it on, and gently fastened the collar and buttons. “I’ll take it. We found plenty of energy coins on those assassins earlier—buying a jacket is no problem.”

He turned to Kui Hai. “You’re not strong, and there’s so much snow inside—you’ll never stand it. Just wear it.”"