Chapter 694: Chapter 294: Your Prospects Are Great!

This is definitely an undeniable power in the Gray Rock District.

Sufficient to propel the Cyan Dragon Gang’s rank up several levels.

Fang Qingyu heard this, was silent for a few seconds, and finally shook his head slowly.

"Forget it." His voice was very calm, "They came to the City of Injustice to start a new life and escape the shadows of the past. We are here to stir things up."

"Let’s not drag them into it again."

Wei Banmeng met Fang Qingyu’s gaze, nodded slightly, and said no more.

"Then..." Old Qin spoke from the side, breaking the brief silence, "Miss Su, we now don’t have a penny. Next, we need to gather information and stretch our arms. We need some starting capital, right? Should we... use some resources to exchange for Gray Crystals?"

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Su Wanqing.

She was the only one here familiar with the operations of the City of Injustice.

Su Wanqing frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and slowly shook her head: "My advice is... better not."

"Oh? Why?" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Chu Kuanglan was puzzled.

"The risk is too great." Su Wanqing explained, "Although the City of Injustice is chaotic, the major official or semi-official exchange points are backed by major forces in the Inner City, and may even directly connect to the City Lord’s Mansion’s ears and eyes."

"For us, just arriving and with ten people, if we take out a large quantity of high-quality Qi Blood Crystal, Life Pearl, or Meditation Flower at once to exchange for Gray Crystal, we’ll immediately become targets."

Her tone became heavy: "By then, if the people at the exchange points are tempted by the wealth, a black-on-black crime could happen. Or the news could leak out, attracting other gangs to probe and covet like hyenas."

"Once the conflict escalates, it’ll be hard for us to keep low-key, and we might even be forced to expose our strength prematurely, dragging us into unnecessary trouble."

She paused, looking at Fang Qingyu: "Of course, that’s just my suggestion. If you think it’s necessary, you can still exchange. But be prepared to kill at any time, and very likely once you start, there’s no stopping, directly causing a deadly feud with one or even several gangs, unless you explode your identity."

Everyone’s gaze returned to Fang Qingyu, waiting for his decision.

Fang Qingyu’s fingers gently tapped on the shabby wooden table, making a soft thud, and he looked up at Su Wanqing.

"If we don’t exchange resources, what other ways are there to earn Gray Crystals in this City of Injustice?"

Su Wanqing seemed to have expected him to ask this question, and replied clearly: "There are ways. Firstly, having joined the Cyan Dragon Gang, the gang will provide basic accommodation and meals, but to make money, you have to take on gang tasks. For example, watching over a place, collecting protection fees, escorting goods, or fighting when conflicts between gangs happen."

"Secondly, there’s finding work yourself." She pointed out the window, "Inside the City of Injustice, there are also Life Ghosts that need Transcendents to clear."

"Many gangs or some commerce associations, if short on manpower in their territory or when encountering troublesome Life Ghosts, will issue bounty tasks to temporarily recruit Cleaners. This kind of work, as long as you have enough strength, can bring in quick money and is relatively free."

"Wait!" Old Qiao couldn’t help interrupting, looking surprised, "Miss Su, are you saying...that this Mirage inside often has Life Ghosts appearing?!"

"Of course." Su Wanqing nodded affirmatively, "Here, the plagues of Life Ghosts are a part of the city’s daily life. This is why strong gangs have value, protecting the areas where ordinary people pay protection fees."

"But..." Qi Hao also questioned, "Now that we’re people of the Cyan Dragon Gang, do other gangs or commerce associations still want to hire us as temps? Aren’t they afraid we’re undercover or here to snatch turf?"

Su Wanqing heard this, showing a slightly amused smile, "Of course they do! One might even say, they’re very welcoming!"

"Why?" Lv Chen was also curious.

"Because there’s never enough manpower!" Su Wanqing hit the nail on the head, "The threat of Life Ghosts is ongoing. Would you rather spend a little money for outsiders to clear Life Ghosts, or would you rather let those who follow you to dominate risk their lives against them?"

Fang Qingyu heard this, a flash of understanding in his eyes.

He suddenly said:

"So, the underlying operational logic here isn’t as different from outside Federation cities as imagined?"

Su Wanqing was slightly startled, then nodded with a smile: "Fundamentally, it’s actually similar."

"Ordinary people thrive here, maintaining the city’s basic operations, providing labor, paying protection fees as the cost of survival, equivalent to tax outside, while Life Ghosts, as natural disasters and resource sources, require Transcendents to resist and hunt."

"The only difference, and the most core difference." Fang Qingyu picked up the conversation, his voice calm.

"Is that between Transcendents, there’s no strong constraint of Federation laws and moral ethics. The law of the jungle, gang scheming, territory grabbing, as long as you don’t violate the few core ironclad rules set by the City Lord, you can do whatever it takes."

"Right." Su Wanqing affirmed, "That’s why it’s called the City of Injustice. The ecosystem for ordinary people may be similar to the outside, but the Transcendents’ world is a stark black forest."

"Understood."

Fang Qingyu felt a sudden clarity in his heart.

No matter how chaotic the environment, no matter how twisted the rules, the basic needs for survival and resource acquisition remain unchanged.

As long as you understand the rhythm, you can find a niche for standing and development.

"Let’s prepare both hands." Fang Qingyu quickly made a decision.

"Split into two teams, I’ll be with Jiang Wei, Haozi, Old Lv, and Old Chu in one team. Wanqing, you take Banmeng and the others in another team."