Chapter 486

Chapter 486: Wang Liang’s Residue?
430 gold leaves far exceeded the 300 required to be promoted to Senior Era Sub-merchant.
Zhang Mu looked at the stack of gold leaves quietly accumulating in the Era Merchant Ring, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
The goal he had not achieved in his later years was finally about to be completed!
During one Era Merchant mission, achieving twenty times the normal quota – that is, 300 gold leaves – under such fortuitous circumstances, was truly accomplished by Zhang Mu.
At first, No. 14 didn’t know the specific purchase price of the goods in Zhang Mu’s hands. When he heard the number, his expression changed and he looked at Zhang Mu and asked, “001, for your task at Era Merchant this time, are you required to directly open advanced permissions?”
Zhang Mu nodded and said, “Yes, No. 14. I was aiming for this goal from the start.”
“Do you know if there are Senior Era Sub-merchants around as far as you know?”
Zhang Mu achieving this goal now is already remarkable, but he mentioned he had this plan two and a half years ago, showing his great ambition.
No. 14 sighed and remarked, “If you hadn’t had that accident back then, it’s uncertain if you could have completed this task. Life is unpredictable, and up to now, no one has successfully advanced to the level of Senior Era Sub-merchant.”
It was the best opportunity for promotion during that difficult period.
You might not know, but Era Sub-merchants were basically not allowed to incur losses during that time. However, once they stabilized, they were responsible for their own profits and losses.
So now many Era Sub-merchants are striving to complete tasks. Even meeting the target of fifteen gold leaves is not guaranteed for them.
Zhang Mu silently agreed. Normally, it takes about five years for a Junior Sub-merchant to advance along the usual trajectory, so achieving it this fast, with an average completion of a task every two months, is considered quite rapid.
Because most people take about six months to barely finish it, those unlucky ones will face being sucked dry if they pass the deadline of six months.
Zhang Mu was just trying his luck at that time. He didn’t have confidence that he would definitely complete the task. But now, because the goods in his hands are scarce, one trade equals the hard work of others for five years.
“001, please select some goods from the Era Region here.”
No. 14 suddenly spoke up, breaking Zhang Mu’s contemplation. What surprised No. 14 was that Zhang Mu decisively refused!
“I did consider purchasing goods from Suzhou City Era Region before, but not anymore. If I buy them and end up losing money, it would be my own fault.”
Zhang Mu’s mind was as clear as a mirror. He had no reason to take risks now. Earlier, he had this idea because he thought it was impossible to achieve his goal at once. The journey from Suzhou City to Luo Yang City must still be taken.
But now, in this situation, why buy anything? He’s not familiar with the current market prices or changes. For safety’s sake, he had made a decision about purchasing goods from Suzhou City’s Era Region.
That is, not buying anything at all!
No. 14 saw Zhang Mu’s expression and understood his thoughts, then smiled knowingly.
“I didn’t expect you to understand the Era trading so well. If I can’t determine the prices of Era Region goods, I would have helped you create a historical record.”
Zhang Mu smiled lightly and said, “I don’t need the highest, just enough is fine.”
His eyes were very certain.
“Because I can’t afford to lose, I won’t waste even a single gold leaf.”
After leaving the Era Store in Suzhou City, Zhang Mu used a stealth item in the store and quickly left the city without anyone noticing.
As the human race’s dispute has yet to be settled, the roads between Era Cities worldwide are open to ensure smooth passage, which is a consensus reached by Era Merchants.
Everything serves the Era trade!
Zhang Mu calculated the time and realized that he didn’t have much time left before his six-month deadline. The most crucial part was that he needed to quickly enter the Era Battlefield. If humans lost, history would repeat itself, and all his efforts would be in vain.
But for him to reach the peak of third rank now was like an impossible dream. The only way was to apply as a Junior Sub-merchant within his affiliated Era Merchant to enter the Era Battlefield.
But probably only Zhang Mu is the only strange one among the merchants who enter Era Battlefield using this method.
Being able to survive until now, even if the business is not doing well, the resources that can be obtained are much more than what ordinary people can get.
All are Era Sub-merchants, who doesn’t have a third-rank peak?
Even the hard-working and struggling Zhang Mu from later generations, at this moment, has the strength of a third-rank peak, but after advancing to the fourth-rank, his strength remains unchanged.
Wealth is a kind of strength!
However, Zhang Mu not only needs to enter Era Battlefield through No. 37, but he also needs to open advanced permissions before entering, the items that can be exchanged are enough to make him feel at ease in Era Battlefield.
The connection between the two Era Cities has been opened, only humans can pass through, nearby there are stations established, using second-rank mutated horses or other tameable mutated beasts.
Although the main purpose of opening this dedicated road was for Era Sub-merchants, ordinary people who use it daily do indeed have the greatest convenience.
When Zhang Mu sees ordinary people living and working near the passage during his journey, the sense of urgency in his heart becomes even stronger.
According to what No. 14 said, the current situation of humans is very bad.
So Zhang Mu could only move forward quickly, attracting the attention of passersby with surprise.
Suzhou City and Luo Yang City are very far apart. Even though Zhang Mu is rushing all the way, it still took him ten full days. This is because Zhang Mu traveled during the day and paid some elemental crystals at night to catch a ride with others.
The elemental crystal is not Zhang Mu’s; his own has already been shattered along with the Era Merchant Ring.
All sponsored by No. 14 out of friendship, in order to connect with No. 37, since Zhang Mu doesn’t even have an elemental crystal in his hand, he accepted without hesitation.
Zhang Mu, arriving at Luo Yang City, dusty and unkempt, rejected several innkeepers trying to solicit him for accommodation at the crossroads and proceeded towards the city.
I wonder if Wang Liang is still the current ruler now?
Thinking of this, Zhang Mu didn’t rush into the city, but stopped and looked at the assistant who had been following him, who suddenly brightened.
Finally, he succeeded in persuading him!
The assistant at this second-class inn quickly said, “Sir, are you just passing by or staying here? No exaggeration, our inn at Era Channel is the best place to stay with the most delicious meals.”
Zhang Mu held a second-class elemental crystal in his hand, waved it in front of the assistant, and said, “Answer me a question, and this elemental crystal will be yours.”
After saying that, he threw it to the assistant, who quickly caught it, with a big smile on his face, as this meant a commission for ten people staying at the inn.
“Sir, ask me anything, I will tell you everything I know.”
Zhang Mu leaned in and whispered, “I have a question for you.”
“In Luo Yang City, I know everyone from the top military leader to the lowest hunter, I have connections with people from all walks of life!”
Zhang Mu nodded silently, knowing that with his background, he had dealings with people from all social classes; even if Wang Liang had fallen from grace, this person would surely have some information.
“Alright then, do you know Wang Liang?”
To Zhang Mu’s surprise, the assistant trembled all over as soon as he heard the name Wang Liang, struggled to force a smile, and asked, “Sir, did I hear you correctly? Who are you asking about?”
Zhang Mu felt a bit strange, so he repeated himself.
“Wang Liang, the original City Master of Luo Yang City, Wang Liang.”
After realizing that Zhang Mu was looking for the right Wang Liang, the innkeeper shivered and gave back the elemental crystal to Zhang Mu in a hurry.
The innkeeper quickly moved away from Zhang Mu the next second, shouting loudly.
“There is a remnant of Wang Liang Demon Human here, help!”