Chapter 21: The Barter Boom
The moment Ryan’s trade offer for "Roasted Rations [Stamina Boost: Minor]" went live on the new Outpost Barter System, the CommNet for Genesis Outpost #7 went from "excited chatter about cooking" to "absolute, unadulterated frenzy."
It was like he’d just announced free pizza in a town that hadn’t eaten in a week.
BigTony77: Roasted Rations! For Trade! Ryan Stone You are a Lifesaver! I have... uh... a slightly bent spork? Is that a Precursor Artifact? It’s pretty old!
PrincessFluffybutt: Oh, my! I found a shiny button! It’s not a Genesis Shard, but it’s very pretty! Would that work for a tiny piece of ration?
ConfusedCarl: I have a collection of interesting pebbles! Some of them are almost round! Artifacts, maybe? My elbows are crossed for luck!
Ace_Striker_001: He wants Genesis Shards for burnt toast? That’s outrageous! Highway robbery! [Though, privately, Ace was wondering if the half-melted plastic toy soldier in his pocket counted as an ’artifact fragment.’]
Ryan watched the flood of messages with a smile.
He knew he had them. Stamina was a huge deal when every day was a fight for survival, and his roasted rations were currently the only five-star dining option available that offered a boost.
Then, a serious offer pinged on his Barter interface. It was from Scarlett "Red" Viper, the A-Tier, Level 3 powerhouse.
Trade Offer Received:
From: Scarlett "Red" Viper