Chapter 398: The Bottomless Pit
After processing the parasitic materials, Lin Ye returned to his hotel room. He had found some research materials about the parasite in that researcher's room. While there was no definitive evidence, the person was likely connected to Bio-Tech.
Bio-Tech seemed to be secretly advancing certain plans, which would definitely impact Lin Ye's money-making plan to some degree.
'Forget it, rest first. I'll think about it after completing my advancement tomorrow.'
Lin Ye wasn't sure about the progress of Bio-Tech's plans. He was only staying here for three months, so their schemes might not affect him much.
'However, this is an event selected by the system. Anything could happen, so I still need to make some necessary preparations in advance...'
Lying on the bed, Lin Ye began revising his money-making plan.
Early the next morning, Lin Ye got up and injected himself with the fourth-tier enhancement injection.
The main point to pay attention to when advancing from the third to the fourth tier was constructing a spiritual energy core. Lin Ye didn't intend to build a perfect spiritual energy core. He had only one requirement for it: it must be able to store a sufficient amount of spiritual energy.
Apart from that, he could use his mental energy to supplement all other functions.
Lin Ye completed his advancement quickly, and then spent an entire day adjusting his body. If it were just advancement, it wouldn't take so much time, but he needed to alienate all the internal components into mid-tier mutation organs.
If these components hadn't originally been alienated by him, this process would have taken even longer.
With his main business handled, Lin Ye went to the restaurant for dinner. On the way, he checked the messages on his Communication Device. His money-making plan was progressing steadily. Under the influence of the Parasite Detection Cards, the sales of spiritual energy cards were going very smoothly. News of the parasite had already spread among the upper echelons of Free City.
Many well-informed factions had come to them to pre-order Parasite Detection Cards.
Actually, there wasn't much technical difficulty in making spiritual energy cards. Other factions could probably produce similar things, but the production cost would definitely exceed one hundred Free Coins. The main cost was labor, as experts capable of inscribing runes weren't cheap.
Moreover, output was also a problem. An average expert, working themselves to the bone all day, might only produce a hundred spiritual energy cards, worth ten thousand Free Coins. That wasn't even enough to cover the fees for those experts to take action.
Finally, there was the issue of strength. Lin Ye's Severing runes and Protection runes were the results of research and real combat. It was difficult for ordinary people to practice basic runes to this level. Even if someone had that skill, they wouldn't come work as assembly line workers.
Some even tried to study the rune structure on the spiritual energy cards. Making mental contact was a very dangerous act, but the cheap rune cards gave some people the mistaken impression that it was no big deal. In the end, these people paid the corresponding price. The one with the best outcome had half their brain melted.
Lin Ye's mental energy was tainted with too many things. Recklessly making mental contact with the runes he inscribed led to such consequences.
As a result, the major factions realized that after all that fuss, it was more cost-effective to simply buy them. This money was meant for the other party to earn. Buying them was gaining.
Some factions even had the idea of reselling the spiritual energy cards. They could sell the purchased cards to other cities. Even if they only sold them for 200 Free Coins each, they could reap substantial profits.
After finishing dinner, Lin Ye drove his sports car to the warehouse. Inside, he replenished a large number of templates and helped some capable young people inject enhancement injections.
"Boss, this warehouse is no longer safe," Little Ke said to Lin Ye.
"I know. Originally, I planned to sell the spiritual energy cards slowly, but the parasite incident has put us in the sights of many people. I can't stay at the warehouse all the time, and you all are still too weak. If someone raids the warehouse, you might get captured."
Lin Ye had already considered this problem. He needed a stable card-printing base.
But finding a stable place in Free City wasn't easy. Lin Ye could only turn to his new friend for help.
"If you can prioritize providing me with a large quantity of Parasite Detection Cards, I can lend you an abandoned clubhouse. That place can block mental perception. I originally wanted to enter the club industry, but failed. The place is still empty now."
"Deal. Can I make some modifications to that place?"
If suitable, Lin Ye planned to set it up as a spiritual energy base.
"Go ahead. If it weren't the association's property, I'd give it to you."
Raymond said indifferently.
"Thanks."
Lin Ye called a truck and quickly transported those young people and various materials to the abandoned clubhouse.
The abandoned clubhouse was very luxuriously decorated, with all kinds of facilities available and still functional.
As long as they could hold out until Lin Ye arrived, he could handle the remaining problems.
Transforming a base couldn't be completed in one day. After setting up the rune traps, Lin Ye rested for a while before driving his sports car back to the Free Hotel.
Just as he arrived at the hotel entrance, Lin Ye received a new commission.
Ms. Carnot asked him to go to the Bottomless Pit and bring back a researcher belonging to Carnot Heavy Industries. The commission fee was five million Free Coins.
Lin Ye agreed to the commission, on the condition that Carnot Heavy Industries would be responsible for the security of the abandoned clubhouse during his absence from Free City.
Lin Ye drove his sports car out of Free City. Before leaving the communication range, he received a message from Raymond.
"I heard you accepted Ms. Carnot's commission. This involves internal issues within Carnot Heavy Industries. You'd better be careful."
"Thanks, I'll be careful."
Lin Ye replied with a message.
The reason he accepted the commission this time, apart from the considerable fee, was that he originally intended to visit the Bottomless Pit anyway.
After all, the Bottomless Pit was near Free City, and he needed to have some understanding of the place.
Based on the terrain information provided by Ms. Carnot, Lin Ye quickly found the jungle path leading to the Bottomless Pit.
Parking his sports car outside the jungle, Lin Ye followed the small path towards the Bottomless Pit.
Not long after, Lin Ye reached the edge of the Bottomless Pit.
The Bottomless Pit was somewhat similar to the Great Hollow, but there was no mist drifting above the pit. The pit mouth had a diameter of over a thousand meters. Looking down, one could see a pitch-black, bottomless abyss.
There were many paths on the pit's circular walls leading into the pit's interior, spiraling downward. These paths had gentle slopes, allowing for normal walking.
Some adventurers were descending into the Bottomless Pit along these spiral paths. The Bottomless Pit had been developed for many years. As long as it wasn't spewing out Pit Products, one wouldn't encounter anything too dangerous in the peripheral areas.