Apocalypse King System
Chapter 208 208: Lin Mo'er

Even if the zombies happened to breach the first layer of the fence, there was a second layer made of a fortress constructed from old cars to obstruct them, providing the people inside the base with reaction time.

The design might not be sophisticated, but it was highly practical. It seemed that in any situation, human survival instincts would make them resilient.

"So, Derick, what do you think..." Meng Jiamin hesitated as he spoke to Derick.

"I understand. I won't let you go empty-handed. Should be enough, right?" Derick took out a small box of bullets from his pocket and tossed it to Meng Jiamin.

"More than enough..." Meng Jiamin nodded repeatedly. Although they didn't have guns, these bullets could be sold on the base market. Weapons, alcohol, and even bullets were popular commodities.

Derick didn't pay much attention to these items. The small box of bullets he just gave them was something he casually took out from his system space. There were plenty more where that came from, but he rarely needed them. Consider it as the entry fee Meng Jiamin had just helped him pay.

"Alright, let's part ways here..." Derick turned around, not saying much, and left directly.

The remaining four people looked at each other for a while. "Uh...Meng, forget it. Maybe he's some big shot. We better not try to establish that kind of connection," Xiao Song advised Meng Jiamin.

"Let's go, organize the supplies we brought back this time, and exchange the unused items for food at the market..." Meng Jiamin snapped back to reality and instructed the others.

On the other side, Derick followed the roads within the base, observing the situation as he walked. After a few minutes of walking, he reached the southwest corner of the base. Turning past a building, he saw an open space with many stalls set up. Numerous survivors were leisurely browsing through them, occasionally bargaining with the stall owners, creating a lively atmosphere.

After the apocalypse, this was the first time Derick had seen a market similar to those before the end of the world. Moreover, it was quite different from the markets in Order. Order's market had been established much earlier due to the highly secure living conditions. Since there was no need to worry about basic necessities, the female warriors and maids had the leisure to pursue other things, leading to the natural emergence of market-like activities.

However, the variety in this base was more diverse. In Order, all the survivors were women, so the types of traded goods were not as extensive. They mainly focused on cosmetics, beautiful clothing, toiletries, and luxury items—things highly sought after by women before the apocalypse.

Now, with Order undergoing reforms, many markets were gradually transforming into convenience stores with a wider range of products. At the same time, Lisa and her companions had initiated a unique business – Derick's photo trading store, which gained considerable popularity. Typically holding two sales events each week, the store was almost always sold out, making it a special and lucrative business.

However, both Angelica and Derick paid little attention to the store's income. It was more about giving the women who wanted to get close to the Lord an opportunity to do so.

"It seems that the most popular items here are naturally food and weapons. However, there aren't many stalls selling these two things, and the prices are quite high," Derick thought to himself.

The most popular weapons and tobacco here are not very popular in the Order base. Few women smoke, and many cigarettes brought back from resource collection are left untouched in the basement. As for weapons, they are abundant, and almost all female warriors use cold weapons that can enhance their abilities. Firearms are often used as a deterrent or for training new female warriors.

Derick walked through the market, observing that it wasn't large—it was set up in a park within this small community, with a scale of probably a hundred or so people. Various items like bedding, clothes, tobacco, firearms, ammunition, food, purified water, and more were available for sale.

"Hmm! This necklace looks nice..." Derick stopped in front of a booth with a sea-blue necklace, feeling drawn to it.

"If I buy this and give it to my sister, it should look great on her, matching her cool and elegant demeanor..." Derick squatted down with keen interest.

"How much for this item?" he asked an older booth owner.

"Sir, if you want this item, you can take it with just some food..." The booth owner quickly responded upon seeing Derick's inquiry.

"Just some food, huh..." Considering that this gathering place probably lacked the ability or inclination to issue currency, most transactions were likely conducted through bartering. Derick directly tossed a bag of bread and a few pieces of jerky to the booth owner and exchanged them for this valuable necklace. Although he wasn't well-versed in luxury items, judging by the appearance, it would have likely cost at least several hundred thousand before the apocalypse. However, now he obtained it with just a bag of bread and some jerky.

Casually stashing the necklace into the system space, Derick, after a brief observation, found that there was nothing else worth buying. He was about to leave when he noticed a commotion around a vendor not far away.

Approaching, Derick was taken aback. A slightly emaciated young girl was crouching in front of a makeshift stall, head lowered. The sign displayed a few lines, essentially pleading for someone's kindness in exchange for a bit of food. It essentially conveyed a willingness to become a servant.

If this had happened before the apocalypse, he would probably have thought it was a scam or some form of performance art. However, in a place like this, given her condition, Derick had no reason to doubt the authenticity.

"Is the food shortage in this base this severe?" Watching the girl almost reach a state of skin and bones, Derick felt a tinge of sorrow. In Order, even the lowest-ranking female slaves were guaranteed enough to eat, but now it seemed like an extravagance for ordinary people here to even survive.

"It's strange. This girl doesn't look bad. Why isn't anyone willing to step forward? Buying her as a wife would be a good option."

"Forget it. This little girl insists on bringing her younger sister along. Buying one means buying two. While it may seem cost-effective, it also means two mouths to feed. Most people can't even feed themselves now; who would bother with others?"

"Yeah, the Lin sisters were residents of this community before the apocalypse. Both were very beautiful. But when the apocalypse hit, their parents died, and the two girls, without any skills, often couldn't even have enough to eat. This is probably their last resort after three days, and yet no one has made a move..."

The men nearby were fervently discussing, their words filled with pity.

Derick observed carefully, the girl was indeed an extremely beautiful young lady, but she was just too thin, making her seem as if a gust of wind could blow her away, and her beauty had faded due to malnutrition.

Approaching the girl's stall, Derick crouched down, looking at the somewhat frail young lady. "Lift your head, let me have a look."

The girl hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted her head. Her dry, yellowed hair revealed signs of malnutrition, and her thin cheeks showed a slight fear as she met Derick's gaze.

The crowd around, previously buzzing with discussion, quieted down. Derick, easily distinguished by his clean attire and composed demeanor, appeared out of place in this post-apocalyptic world where survival was a struggle for ordinary people.

"Hmm... What's your name?" Derick observed the girl with genuine interest.

"I'm called Lin Mo'er..." Her voice was soft and weak, yet exceptionally clear and pleasant.

Derick took out a bottle of water, three bags of bread, and a large pack of compressed biscuits from his pocket, handing them over to the girl.

For a moment, Lin Mo'er hesitated to accept the items. She had been selling herself for three days, and not a single person had the means to rescue her and her sister. The high-ranking officials wouldn't bother with an ordinary girl like her. She had almost given up hope, but now she found herself receiving an unexpected surprise.