How Am I Still Alive?
Chapter 37 - 37 29 Revisiting

37: Chapter 29: Revisiting 37: Chapter 29: Revisiting Familiar streets, early in the morning, packed with crowds coming and going.

Or from another perspective, this is the time most professionals enter the Secret Realm.

Previously, Lu Ping’an and Meow were just rushing to a late gathering.

Lu Ping’an stood alone in front of the store from earlier, feeling somewhat lonely.

It’s not that he didn’t invite Meow, she actually came early in the morning to add the BUFF and bring breakfast, but she refused.

The reason?

As a student, she didn’t need any reason not to go out.

She had her own review plan for the last week and a hell week of intensification arranged by her brother.

“…This grudge, I will remember it（laugh）.”

Lu Ping’an didn’t care, but as a result, Meow might lose her BUFF, which was a bit hurtful because they had an agreement before.

“It’s okay, Meow.

My main goal was to rush for the 1-tier Runner, which I already achieved.

But if possible…”

The agreement with Meow was to meet at the entrance of the Forest Secret Realm store at nine o’clock every day if they had time, to exchange buffs and supplies and add some freshly made breakfast by Little Shuiyun…

Surprisingly, her cooking was quite good.

The two candidates, each started their own last-minute sprint before the exam.

As for Lu Ping’an’s plan, it was the suggestion given by Chris….

“There is no 3-tier intelligence potion such as Andrew’s Beard Tea, Strong Magic Potion, or Yulong Egg Mixture.

White Mandheling Liquid is in stock, though it is a 4-tier potion, a bit too strong….”

Gardeners are considered logistics professionals because they are good at cultivating various magical plants, which are raw materials for all kinds of alchemy potions and magic potions.

The first suggestion Chris gave to Lu Ping’an was to take potions.

While they were still in the Mortal stage, a little magic potion could bring a significant improvement.

“Do you have any lower-tier intelligence potions?”

“Permanent gain potions are at least third-tier.

There are a few 2-tier potions, but they have severe side effects.

Our regular company doesn’t sell them; if there’s an accident, we’d be sued.”

So, not-so-regular companies sell them?

“If you really need it, you can go to other areas…”

Lu Ping’an was lucky that after a full circle, today, four days later, Senior Zhao Ying was still on duty.

It’s easy to talk to acquaintances or, better yet, those with whom one has had previous transactions.”

Now, this senior, after confirming that Lu Ping’an indeed needed it, secretly introduced him to some black-market potions and handed him a note.

Lu Ping’an thanked her, accepted it directly, and exchanged contact information with her.

Her reward of “Scholar” and “Gardener” experience points on the first day was quite impressive.

If it weren’t too far, Lu Ping’an would like to sign a long-term deal with her.

“…So, now you only have 4-tier potions here?

Well, there’s nothing we can do.”

A 4-tier potion, with “pollution” far beyond Lu Ping’an’s current tier, would undoubtedly cause mutations if taken by ordinary low-level professionals.

But what made Lu Ping’an give up was the six-digit price.

But it did not depress Lu Ping’an at all; instead, it made him excited and eager.

“At least, being a gardener does have bright prospects.

As long as we make progress, repaying the debt should not be a big problem.”

Distant water can’t quench immediate thirst.

Lu Ping’an’s time is limited.

He originally didn’t have high expectations for magic potions, just asking the price with a “just in case it works” attitude…

Meow was too high-end, so she didn’t know the market price of low-level magic potions.

Lu Ping’an quietly inquired about the average price of 2-tier intelligence potions (with severe side effects) and got a subtle answer of thirty to fifty thousand.

“…

It’s not worth it.”

“Indeed, it’s not a good deal, it’s expensive, and the side effects are severe.

If you’re not in a hurry, take it slow.”

Taking potions was just the easiest path Chris pointed out.

Since it couldn’t be taken, they had to change course.

“…

I still need to enter the Secret Realm after all.”

After thanking Senior Zhao and giving her a buff, Lu Ping’an left the drug store and did not rush into the Secret Realm.

He would probably spend more time this time around, so he needed to make more preparations.

He went around and arrived at the store where they had collected the stolen goods…

next door.

“Excuse me, do you offer guide services here?”

In the small shop, three to five people were busy with their own tasks.

When they saw someone enter, they didn’t even raise their heads, waiting for him to negotiate with the store manager.

Many shops like this exist outside the Secret Realm, specializing in mercenary agencies and providing paid services for clients.

“First-tier mercenaries cost 500 per day, 2-tier ones cost 1,000 per day, and we charge a 15% intermediary fee.

Generally, you give 20% of your income to mercenaries as a dividend, but it doesn’t matter if your daily income is less than 1,000.

Third-tier mercenaries are available as well, but you need to book in advance, costing at least 3,000 per day.”

This price range was surprisingly reasonable.

Lu Ping’an was amazed to find out that the reward Xia Qin had given him for his practice on the day might have been originally intended for a third-tier mercenary.

“This is just the base price; each person is different.

You can tell us your requirements and the total budget to see who’s available.”

Lu Ping’an immediately understood; a 2-tier close combat system and a 2-tier logistics system were definitely not the same strength or price.

Even within the combat series, there was no comparison between a hard-tempered 2-tier Secret Keeper from the Special Service Team and a wild 2-tier professional.

“I need to collect Magic Plants and train for about three days inside.

I need a first-tier close combat professional, costing no more than 700-800 per day.

I might be going quite far, and I will carry my own supplies and medicine.”

It was a standard student training commission, and the mercenaries in the shop looked at each other, but no one moved.

The time was a bit long, the student had no money, and the reward was low.

The client looked like a high school student, so his Gardener professional skill was probably quite low.

As a result, the bounty from the Secret Realm, which was the main source of income, could not be anticipated.

Students were notoriously difficult and troublesome.

With such a small reward, no one wanted to do it.

The middle-aged man who owned the store sighed helplessly as he had no choice but to name names.

“Aik?”

“I have an appointment, someone else is coming in two hours.”

“Li Wei?”

“Tired, I’m taking a day off today.”

A young man slouched in a recliner, yawning lazily.

Well, he didn’t even bother making up a reason.

The store owner scanned the room and saw that no one wanted to move, so he could only sigh helplessly.

“…I have a newcomer here.

He’s a first-tier boxer, he doesn’t pick jobs, and he’s pretty good.

His price is also at the base, but…”

“I’ll take him.”

Lu Ping’an agreed without hesitation, cutting off the store owner’s words.

“Alright, hold on, I’ll contact him right now.”

However, the mercenaries in the shop looked at Lu Ping’an strangely, as if they were…pitying him?

While waiting, Lu Ping’an saw a strange poster.

It was a crude bounty poster with a faceless man laughing maniacally, holding a lit bomb in each hand.

“Bounty for the nameless Bomb-demon?

5,000 for clues, 10,000 for the person, bounty issued by Dragon Snake Gang?”

Lu Ping’an was surprised, not because he was being hunted but because the poster was still here, implying that trouble hadn’t come knocking, which meant…

“Those four guys, they actually didn’t let my info leak.

Seems like they really got scared?”

Lu Ping’an did not expect them to keep the secret, and since he dared to do it, he wasn’t afraid of trouble.

“Heh, putting a bounty on me?

Maybe there’s a new fun game to play.”

The Dragon Snake Gang’s dominance was expected since they relied on their reputation to collect tolls.

However, the “credibility” of those little wolves was somewhat unexpected.

“I heard…

there’s a job?”

At this point, the mercenary hired by Lu Ping’an finally arrived, and he now understood why the other mercenaries had looked at him with pity.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.