"You rich kids really have no concept, do you? Transporting goods here might be dangerous, but that's no excuse to jack up the prices this much."
"Human life? Compensation for a human life under Federation law is just 500,000 Federation Coins. You could offer 200,000 in the outskirts, and you'd have plenty of young and strong folks willing to risk their lives for you."
"So you're saying, he's deliberately ripping us off because we look new and young?" Ximu stroked his wine-red spiky hair.
"Definitely. I think we need to teach him a lesson, drag his boss out, and beat some sense into him to keep him in line." Guluo cracked his knuckles, sounding a tad eager.
"Hold off on that, let's go back and discuss it with the others. Tilan should be waking up by now," Yalian restrained his companion ready to resort to violence.
"Come on Yalian boss, why are you being such a nag? For something this trivial, do we even need to involve Tilan? Let's just make a decision quickly. Even if Tilan comes over, they'll still scam us. Who knows, they might even start harassing Tilan if they find her attractive," Guluo proposed again, slightly indignant.
On the first day, Yalian faced a disagreement between himself and his subordinates. As someone who had spent years in the lab, he hesitated. Indeed, even if they went back to discuss it, the options were limited: either quietly accept the rip-off or break through with violence.
After closing his eyes and being silent for a few seconds, Yalian still shook his head. Resolving to violence was too contrary to his habits and principles, and despite losing face, he decided to go back and discuss with everyone else.
"We're going back, that's my call," he stated more firmly, and seeing this, Guluo reluctantly lowered his clenched fists.
The three of them returned to their large vehicle, where N was sitting in the driver's seat with his legs up, listening to music, seeming unsurprised by their fruitless return. He didn't ask any questions and continued to be immersed in his own little world, as if to say don't bother me.
After explaining the situation to their companions in the vehicle, they asked about Tilan.
"Tilan and Deloris are still resting," Efnie climbed up from the lower level, wrapped in a thin blanket, and sat by the window tinted red by the setting sun, her face still showing traces of sleepiness.
"They haven't gotten up yet? We've run into some trouble," Yalian rubbed his nose bridge.
After hearing Yalian's description, Efnie shook her head, "There's no use reasoning with these people, I've seen many of these petty characters, slick talkers. It's hard to get anything genuine out of them unless you completely overpower them, then they start to behave."
Her father was a high official in the Federation Star Domain government, and she grew up learning quite a bit from dealing with various people with demands.
"So we have to fight, huh?" Yalian uttered dismayed, being a peace-lover himself.
"I told you, being gentle and calm with these people does no good," Guluo proposed once more, and now some of the other boys in the group seemed eager to join in, particularly Kinsenke who loved a good show. He took off his sunglasses, placing one foot on the seat beside him.
"This is when yours truly steps in, hahaha~"
"Come on, guys, let's show them what we're made of. Without teaching these cunning folks a lesson, how can we embark on our grand voyage?" With a wave of his hand, cards glittered from his fingertips before a large white 'bad boy' appeared in his hand.
This 'Electric Serpent-C2 model' electromagnetic assault rifle was loved by many DIY enthusiasts for its rapid firing rate and the ability to attach various modules and special bullets.
A large box magazine was slammed into the body of the gun, clicking into place. Then, the gun's body illuminated with swimming blue circuitry as it completed self-check, and a green laser dot appeared in front of the barrel.
"I knew something would happen, hmph, Big Guy, get those two blue boxes out of the storage locker for me. They're filled with armaments; today's the day to put them to use."
"Coming to the Northern Second District, how could we not fire a shot?" He ensured that every member of the club got their hands on a brand-new firearm and, leading the group with a swagger, descended from the vehicle and kicked open the rusty old door.
"Who's the blind one trying to make a dirty buck—"
About a dozen members, equipped with lethal weapons, protective gear, and tactical goggles, nearly fully armed, re-entered the supply station. The brand-new guns in their hands glowed blue, and the auxiliary aiming lasers on the barrels pointed at the only two clerks in the store.
In the face of this terrifying spectacle, one clerk raised his hands, trembling, terrified that any wrong move would provoke the people before him.