Chapter 87 - 61: The King of Networking

Since Ren Zhong was fully armed when they met, Ma Dafu’s attitude was quite pleasant, only reminding him more as he finished registration.

"Mr. Ren, Starfire Town will face a census in three months. However, the number of scavengers in the town is significantly exceeding the limit, and you’re ranked last, you should understand what that means. Though you were once a citizen, hunters don’t recognize that. By then, outside might be safer for you than inside the town. I suggest you plan ahead."

Ren Zhong nodded, "Alright, thank you for the reminder. Also, Mayor Ma, there’s something I don’t know if I should say."

"Please, go ahead."

Ren Zhong glanced at Zheng Tian beside him.

Zheng Tian tactfully stepped aside.

Ren Zhong lowered his voice, "Mayor Ma, you should be waiting for the census officer to come to Starfire Town, right?"

Ma Dafu did not hide it, "Yes. I think the atmosphere in Starfire Town is still healthy and positive, and this year’s birth rate is quite good. Although other industries are severely shrinking, scavengers can still make a profit every day. The bounty from Bone Valley is also plentiful. The town can barely sustain itself. I hope a census officer can come and say some good things about the town in return. The scavengers can’t live without this town."

Ren Zhong: "But I have to tell you some unfortunate news. Before coming to Starfire Town, I found out there won’t be a census officer coming this time. You better prepare early."

"What!" Ma Dafu was shocked and stood up abruptly, shaking his head repeatedly, "No way, absolutely not. Although Starfire Town’s scale has shrunk over the years, it still has more than twenty thousand people, at least an officer should come to take a look, even if just for show. How can it be abolished just like that? What about the more than twenty thousand scavengers? Only a few thousand scavengers have the ability to fend for themselves outside, and there are many people without even temporary wrist watches! This... this is impossible!"

Ren Zhong looked at the round, chubby face of the old man, knowing the anxiety and panic on his face weren’t faked.

The old man was genuinely worried about the fate of the town’s scavengers. He was indeed a good carrot rising from a mud pit.

No wonder last time this chubby old man was implicated by my final words and died under the hunter’s butchers.

Ren Zhong found it amazing that in such a world, there could be a local official like this, indeed making one feel infinite admiration.

"If you don’t believe me, you can verify with people from the Starfire Resource Recycling Company. They should have already gotten wind of it. Just don’t reveal that I told you."

Ma Dafu regained his composure and sat back down dejectedly, "Since you said so. Why should I bother verifying? Forget it, Mr. Ren, you may leave now. I will ponder and think of a solution."

"Okay."

Just as Ren Zhong turned around, Ma Dafu stumbled stood up again, "Mr. Ren, wait a moment, let me see you out."

...

"No need to see me out, go back and rest early. Don’t be too anxious, when the boat gets to the pier-head, it will straighten itself, maybe something will turn around in a few days. I do have quite a few ideas, Mayor Ma, if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask me."

"Hmm, alright. Mr. Ren, take care."

Zheng Tian, waiting outside the door, watched Ma Dafu escort Ren Zhong out and sighed inwardly.

Truly, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, a fallen citizen is still esteemed.

Look at this old man’s warm enthusiasm, it’s just incredible.

Ma Dafu had a good reputation in the town, but usually Zheng Tian had never seen him so close to a stranger scavenger.

Though curious about what the two talked about secretly, Zheng Tian, being decent and understanding, didn’t inquire further.

"Mr. Ren, how are you planning for tonight? Would you like to stay with us in the communal sleeping pod?"

Ren Zhong thought for a moment, "Not necessarily. But we can go together and chat for a bit first."

"Hmm."

Zheng Tian sat on the back seat of Ren Zhong’s motorcycle, feeling a bit awkward, not knowing where to place her hands.

Ren Zhong didn’t suggest she hold onto his waist.

This time, when his strength accumulated to a certain level, he would not only avoid helping Zheng Tian’s team improve, but also suppress it.

Not for Zheng Tian’s sake, but for Wen Lei, Chen Hanyu, and also for himself.

Therefore, he needed to maintain a suitable distance between them and temporarily downgrade their interaction to a mere cooperative relationship.

...

They arrived at the sleeping pod.

Since riding a motorcycle was faster, the two arrived when others were still engrossed in their lively chat, with only Chen Hanyu looking at a tablet.

Ren Zhong joined the chat, then feigned curiosity and asked Wen Lei for his pocket watch to have a look, sighing, "Your childhood sweetheart relationship is truly enviable."

Wen Lei blushed and scratched his head sheepishly.

Ou Youning beside them, however, poured cold water, "What childhood sweetheart. Now she’s a citizen, that’s different. We losers in this mud pit won’t know when we’ll cool off. Wen Lei, I advise you not to dream, better follow us, get some action, don’t wait till you die with regret, not worthwhile at all."

"Ou Youning, close your crow’s mouth! We’re a team, if Wen Lei dies, can you still run?"

Zheng Tian intervened to stop him.

She seemed to have noticed that among the five people, Ren Zhong seemed to have the best impression of Wen Lei, after all, he was a half-acquaintance.

Ren Zhong was not only a close friend of Sun Miao but also treated courteously by Mayor Ma.

Naturally, Zheng Tian had a strong desire to draw him in.

She had already started analyzing.

For a person like Ren Zhong, his demands on his companions would definitely be high.

Although her team was decent in town, it was actually only middle level, with no particular attraction.

Fortunately, he seemed to like Wen Lei quite a bit, so Wen Lei must put more effort.

Then Zheng Tian seemingly unintentionally asked, "Mr. Ren, you don’t seem to have any training signs, how did you manage to wear a First Level Exoskeleton?"

Ren Zhong smiled and said, "I asked Manager Ju of the Military Weapon Store to help add an amplifier used in Enhanced Training Armor. Before other parameters meet the standards, I can temporarily wear it this way."

Sss!

The other members of the team widened their eyes suddenly.

You just arrived in the town, haven’t even stayed a night, and you managed to have Ju Qingmeng, known for her cold demeanor, personally modify equipment for you?

What kind of social skills is that?

Even if you were a former citizen, it shouldn’t be the case!

Could you be the legendary network king?

After a while, recalling his experience when shopping, Ou Youning said somewhat sourly, "Indeed, the joys and sorrows of people are different."

Zheng Tian also felt a bit disillusioned with life.

Why is your level so high? How do we even match you? She almost couldn’t even say the inviting words.

After a while, she faintly said, "Mr. Ren, when you go for training later, you can bring Wen Lei along. Don’t be fooled by his honest look, he’s actually quite smart and has solid theoretical knowledge."

Ren Zhong nodded, "Hmm. Then, thank you in advance."

Wen Lei quickly waved his hands, "No need to thank, no need to thank."

Zheng Tian seeing this, silently breathed a sigh of relief, and secretly clenched her fist.

Wen Lei, you go for it!

The bright future of our team depends on you!

Then suddenly, Ren Zhong shifted the topic to Chen Hanyu, saying, "By the way, I’m quite interested in the profession of Demolition Master as well. Chen Hanyu, do you have any used gloves that you can sell to me? Sigh, I wanted to buy new ones, but the money Sun Miao lent me is all spent. I can’t afford new ones for now."

What!

The crowd was shocked again.

No wonder this brother was still penniless in the evening, but now he’s fully equipped with gear, along with a motorcycle.

Turns out it’s money borrowed from Sun Miao!

At first, when everyone heard Ren Zhong say he was a close friend of Sun Miao, they were somewhat skeptical, thinking it might just be an ordinary acquaintance and that he was exaggerating.

Now it’s clear.

These days, someone who can lend you money is definitely a life-and-death friendship.

Only now did everyone understand that "close friend" was modesty, not an exaggeration.

Here, Chen Hanyu, suddenly called out, was not yet responsive.

She put down the tablet, "Huh? Used gloves?"

But Zheng Tian had already answered for her eagerly.

"There’s a pair! But how can we charge Mr. Ren any money for them? Please, use them as you wish!"

Ren Zhong ultimately insisted, transferring 5 points to Chen Hanyu despite Zheng Tian’s disappointed eye contact.

"I won’t be sleeping here tonight. So, see you tomorrow evening?"

Zheng Tian: "Alright Mr. Ren, take care."

...

At 9:50 p.m., Ren Zhong drove out through the gates of Starfire Town.

This time, until he got a Fourth Level wrist watch, Ren Zhong had no intention of giving himself a full eight hours of sleep, unless necessary.

A Fourth Level wrist watch provides fifty nights of sleep in one night compared to a First Level wrist watch.

The difference in value between the two is like night and day.

Ren Zhong wanted to squeeze every second dry.

Make money, make money, charge!