Item Exchange

Bai Bo dragged a burlap sack along as he led Kyle deeper into Central City of Sakkar Main City.

The various aliens on the streets merely glanced at them as though they were used to the sight, then quickly immersed themselves in their night of revelry.

After approaching the inner city near the Central Building, the strange architecture grew increasingly prosperous, and the number of Grandmaster Guard Ships became denser. They constantly swept their lights down from the sky, creating an inexplicable sense of safety and intimidation.

"Bai Bo, is your home in the inner city? Looks like you’re doing pretty well on this planet," Kyle said in surprise as he looked around.

"Not at all." Bai Bo’s expression turned a little awkward, and he sighed. "You have no idea how outrageous housing prices are in the inner city. Even the cheapest single room starts at over a million Sakaar Coins, and the ownership period only lasts twenty years. As for a standard hotel room, a week’s rent is usually around ten thousand Sakaar Coins."

"Sakaar Coins?" Kyle paused slightly. Bai Bo seemed to understand his confusion and explained, "That standard High-Pressure Laser Gun in your backpack can be exchanged for roughly ten thousand Sakaar Coins."

Hearing that price ratio, Kyle did some quick calculations, and his heart trembled slightly.

A high-tech Laser Gun could only be traded for ten thousand Sakaar Coins, barely enough to pay for a week in a standard inner-city hotel room! That was truly outrageous!

Those who could establish themselves in the inner city were probably elite aliens from other planets in the universe, Kyle thought.

"The reason High-Pressure Laser Guns are cheap is that they need energy for recharging after use. Energy and food are considered luxury goods on this planet."

At this point, Bai Bo sighed emotionally. "My dream now is to work hard scavenging and save enough money to buy a single room in the inner city of Sakaar, becoming an inner-city resident with guaranteed safety. But it’s just too difficult."

Bai Bo’s dream was also the pursuit of most creatures who had fallen into confusion and been lost on this planet.

Kyle secretly shook his head. He had no intention of living on Sakaar long-term. He needed to gain a foothold on this planet as soon as possible and investigate whether any high-dimensional lifeforms existed here.

After all, he only had around six months left to live. He could not delay any longer.

"Alright, we’re finally here." Panting heavily, Bai Bo stopped in front of a disc-shaped building on the main road.

Kyle looked up. The building before him seemed to have been converted from half of a medium-sized warship. It looked luxurious and highly technological, with stone men holding Laser Guns standing guard on either side of the entrance.

"This is a banking business under the Grandmaster’s name. Inside, you can exchange anything valuable for Sakaar’s currency." As Bai Bo spoke, he hoisted the sack that nearly crushed him onto his shoulder again and entered. After showing his Scavenger ID Card, the guards stepped aside.

Kyle followed Bai Bo inside. The first-floor hall was spacious, with multiple private reception rooms separated by partitions.

"Mr. Kyle, money is needed for everyday life on Sakaar. I suggest exchanging some Laser Guns for Sakaar currency." After offering his advice, Bai Bo carried his filthy sack toward a reception room under the strange looks of many aliens.

"True enough. You need money everywhere." Kyle shrugged. After thinking for a moment, he walked into another room.

"Scavenger Number 266, welcome to the Sakaar Exchange. I’m the receptionist, Anli. It’s a pleasure to serve you." The receptionist named Anli was a female alien who closely resembled a human, except all the skin exposed by her uniform was pink. Behind a layer of energy shielding over the reception window, she greeted Kyle as he approached.

"I want to exchange for Sakaar currency." Kyle spoke bluntly, taking two Laser Guns from his backpack. Anli’s expression changed slightly, and only relaxed after Kyle decisively placed the guns on the counter.

"You’re a new scavenger, aren’t you? Offensive thermal weapons like these usually need to be appraised at a designated counter, but it happens to be quiet tonight, so I’ll make an exception and exchange them for you." Anli pressed a button, and the two Laser Guns dropped through the window. She picked up an instrument and conducted a professional inspection, quickly finishing her analysis.

"High-Pressure Laser Rifle, eighty percent intact, with one energy bar remaining. Exchange value: ten thousand."

"The other is the same model, eighty-five percent intact, with two energy bars remaining. Exchange value: twelve thousand."

Anli summarized, "The two items together can be exchanged for twenty-two thousand Sakaar Coins. Would you like to proceed with the transaction?"

"Proceed." Kyle nodded decisively, feeling a slight headache.

Twenty-two thousand was not enough to stay in an inner-city hotel for even a month. Did he have to scavenge like Bai Bo, or rob and kill to survive?

"Cash, or a card? If you haven’t gotten one before, you can spend one thousand to apply for a new transaction card." Anli put away the two Laser Guns and did not forget to make a sales pitch.

"Then… I’ll get one." Kyle frowned deeply. Expenses on Sakaar were so high; this could not continue.

"I’ll process it for you right away." Anli stood up, but Kyle quickly stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Wait."

As if remembering something, Kyle reached into his military backpack and pretended to search through it. In reality, he drew from Card Space, materializing an item and taking it out.

A round steel ring clasp secured a pale-blue energy block within it. Specks of white-blue light radiated from it, filling the entire reception room.

"This is…" Anli’s eyes widened in surprise, the glow of the energy block reflected in her pupils.

Kyle handed the energy item over. "This is a product from my home planet, an energy substance called ‘kryptonite.’ Test it and see how many Sakaar Coins it’s worth."

Anli carefully held the kryptonite and used the equipment to examine it. Her brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "I’m sorry, but information related to this energy item has not been entered into our database. Please wait a moment."

With that, Anli took the kryptonite and hurried into the back room behind the window.

Kyle waited for around five minutes before Anli returned, followed by an alien with a swollen head the size of a brain and glasses.

"Dear customer, hello. This is our chief appraiser, as well as the manager of the Sakaar Exchange." Even Anli’s form of address and tone had changed from her previous perfunctory manner, becoming far more respectful.

The brain-like alien held the kryptonite in both hands and looked at Kyle with slight excitement. "Sir, may I ask where your home planet is?"

"A planet of a low-level civilization, not worth mentioning," Kyle said calmly, unwilling to reveal any information about Earth.

"You must be joking. This is a new type of artificially synthesized element, refined into an exceptionally pure energy crystal. Such a small piece could power a starship for interstellar travel. It has practically transcended the definition of energy—it can be called a work of art in technology." The alien manager lovingly stroked the kryptonite and said excitedly, "Without a high-level civilization possessing top-tier technology, along with an enormous stroke of luck, it would be impossible to create."

"I don’t understand that knowledge. I only want to ask one thing: what is it worth?" Kyle asked coldly.

The alien manager pondered for a moment and raised one finger. "If you are willing to sell it, I can offer ten million."