Chapter 296: The Shops
The Auction Realm had thousands of visitors, but it was still organized thanks to the patrolling guards and the Survivors’ discipline.
Well, they didn’t want to be removed in this mysterious realm after all.
Even after more than 10 hours had passed, the place was still so active...
Bridges glowed faintly overhead, stalls lined the streets in endless rows, and survivors bargained with desperation, hoping to get better deals.
Claire, Mei, and Marissa moved through the crowd like shadows. Their full black gear conceals their faces entirely, and of course, everywhere they went, eyes followed them.
Survivors nudged each other, whispering about the trio. Their outfits looked incredible with their physiques!
Many observers liked the figures they were seeing.
Furthermore, it was uniform and intimidating... There was no skin exposed, no expressions visible, but it was quite attractive with the three of them wearing this outfit side by side...
Still, in a place where most merchants flaunted bright colors or rugged armor, their faceless presence was unsettling.
"People are staring," Mei muttered softly thought her voice muffled by the mask.
"Let them," Claire replied calmly.
"Hahaha... We’re not here to blend in. We’re here to find food." Marissa chuckled softly.
"Still, I feel like we’re scaring half the market."
They then continued, moving through the crowd until they reached their first stall.
[ Exotic Meat Vendor ]
The stall was draped in crimson cloth, with slabs of meat displayed on chilled platforms.
The vendor, a burly man with tattoos across his arms, shouted to attract customers.
"Fresh cuts! Beast meat from some safe mutated beasts... Strong flavor, high stamina boost!"
Claire wasn’t unfamiliar with the mutated beasts.
As a matter of fact, they had previously obtained Golden-Horned Bull, and of course, its meat was devoured in just a day with so many Survivors in their shelter.
It was truly a huge treat for everyone since meat was still quite rare.
Claire eyed the cuts warily. The meat was dark, almost black, with veins of red running through it.
Survivors crowded around, some already paying with Survivor Medals.
Mei leaned closer.
Obviously, this wasn’t livestock, so they had to reconsider.
"It’s harvested from mutated beasts. It would be better if they’re selling mutated beasts instead."
Marissa wrinkled her nose. "And it looks like it’ll poison us before it feeds us."
Claire shook her head. "Not what we need. Move on."
Although the food might be safe to eat, it wasn’t that appetizing with that black flesh at all.
They left quickly, ignoring the curious stares of the vendors and other Survovors.
Next, found an interesting shop...
[ Hydroponic Greens Merchant ]
This stall was brighter, filled with trays of interesting plants. Tubes pumped water and nutrients into the roots, and the merchant proudly explained the system.
"Hydroponic greens! Easy to grow, minimal space required! Perfect for shelters!"
Survivors crowded around, fascinated by the glowing lettuce and herbs. The merchant demonstrated how a small cube could sprout into edible leaves within days.
Mei’s eyes lit up.
The three of them weren’t unfamiliar with the Hydroponic Kits. As a matter of fact, Kai could produce so many of them, and each shelter under his care was sustainable.
They couldn’t help but feel curious about the price they were being sold.
In the end, they saw the signs and confirmed that Kai’s kits could be sold for about 3 Survivor Medals here... It was quite useful information as they might have to consider selling some excess starter kits. After all, the number of kits Kai could produce was simply unimaginable.
The merchant noticed their hesitation and leaned forward. "You three look like you mean business. I’ll give you a discount."
However, Claire shook her head. "Not today."
They moved on, leaving behind whispers from the crowd.
"Who are they? Why won’t they show their faces?"
"Shh... I think they’re members of the Dark Guild?"
"The Guild who were killing other Survivors?"
"What? That’s them?"
"I’m just guessing... After all, they don’t want to be seen. I can only think of the Dark Guild."
"Dark Guild... I think it’s possible. They destroyed a couple of shelters in the Grid Region already."
"Hey... Stop making assumptions. You might be wrong."
Claire and the others heard their conversation, but in the end, they didn’t stop them.
[ Fish Breeder’s Tank ]
The third stall was unusual. Large tanks filled with murky water lined the space, each containing strange fish with eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. The merchant, a wiry man with goggles strapped tightly to his head, tapped the glass proudly.
"Mutant fish! Hardy, resistant to disease, and they breed fast. Perfect for protein!"
Survivors crowded around, pointing at the fish as they darted aggressively through the water. The creatures were muscular, their movements sharp and predatory, yet undeniably healthy.
Marissa tilted her head, intrigued. "Fish farming... now that’s interesting." Mei leaned closer to the tank. "They look strong. If they really breed this quickly, they could be a renewable food source."
Claire crossed her arms, considering. "It’s practical. We could build tanks back at the shelter. Protein from fish would be valuable."
For a moment, all three were tempted. The idea of a steady food supply was exactly what Kai had asked them to find.
But then the merchant revealed his price.
"Two hundred Survivor Medals for a starter batch. And if you want breeding pairs, that’ll be three hundred."
The crowd murmured uneasily.
Even the survivors who had been eyeing the fish hesitated. The price was steep, far higher than most could afford for food.
Marissa frowned. "That’s... excessive."
Mei sighed. "We can’t justify spending that much right now."
Claire nodded firmly. "It’s too risky. We’ll consider this place later, but for now, we move on."
The merchant scowled as they turned away. "Bah! You don’t know quality when you see it!"
The crowd murmured again, eyes following the faceless trio as they slipped back into the flow of the market...
Soon, they found another shop...
[ Insect Protein Vendor ]
The fourth stall was perhaps the strangest. Trays of roasted insects, jars of wriggling larvae, and packets of powdered protein lined the shelves. The merchant, a cheerful woman, waved enthusiastically.
"High protein! Sustainable! Easy to breed! Insects are the future of food!"
Survivors laughed nervously, some daring to taste samples.
Marissa grimaced. "No way. I’m not eating bugs."
Mei raised an eyebrow. "It’s practical, though. They breed fast."
Claire shook her head firmly. "We’re not feeding the shelter insects. Morale matters. People need real food, not something that makes them gag."
The merchant shrugged. "Suit yourselves. But don’t come crying when you starve."
The trio walked away, ignoring the laughter of survivors who whispered, "Those three... they’re too serious. Not even curious enough to taste."
By now, the crowd’s attention on them had grown.
Their black gear made them stand out in the chaos of colors and noise.
Survivors speculated about their identity. Some thought they were assassins.
Others guessed they were mercenaries from another realm.
But Claire kept her focus.
"We’ve seen meat, plants, fish, and insects. None of it works. We need something sustainable, something familiar." Mei nodded.
"We’ll keep searching. There has to be someone selling livestock." Marissa sighed.
"I just hope it’s not another bug farm."
They pressed deeper into the market, past glowing bridges and shouting merchants.
As they continued the search, they slowly felt tired. The noise was deafening, the crowd was too much, and it was making them uncomfortable.
Yet amidst the chaos, they spotted something different.
A small stall tucked between two larger shops.
There was no shouting, no glowing signs. Just a man sitting calmly, sculpting a palm‑sized figure from wood.
His movements were slow but precise... It was almost peaceful compared to the frenzy around him.
Claire slowed her pace.
"That’s unusual." Mei tilted her head.
"He doesn’t look like a food vendor." Marissa’s eyes narrowed.
"But look closer. Behind him... cages."
Indeed, behind the sculptor were cages filled with chickens.
Real chickens, clucking softly, feathers ruffling. And baskets of eggs stacked neatly beside them.
The trio exchanged glances. After hours of searching through bizarre stalls, they had finally found what they needed.
They couldn’t help but feel curious why this store wasn’t emptied yet! After all, the resources here were precious!
Mei’s voice trembled with excitement. "Eggs... real eggs."
Claire’s lips curved into a rare smile. "This is it. This is what Kai wanted."
Marissa grinned. "Finally. Let’s talk to him... It must be expensive but we can still try!"
They approached the stall as they noticed that the man sculpting was quite handsome. He had a rough feature but his aura was quite impressive.
It was as if he were a knight and not a merchant at all.
Soon, the man looked up calmly, but his eyes were like those of a warrior despite his relaxed demeanor.
He set the wooden figure aside and gestured toward the cages.
"Looking for food?" he asked simply.
The trio nodded.
And so began the conversation that would eventually lead them to Harper, the farmer from the Eclipse Revenant Clan... a mysterious figure who had come from a different realm.
