Chapter 63

"Jessica!" Ellie yelled, shoving Jessica away and wrapping herself in a blanket. "Jessica, you're way out of line. I'm still a virgin!"

Jessica, now fully awake, smirked at Ellie. "Ellie, chill. I didn't take your virginity. All I did was kiss you and touch you a bit. That can't get you pregnant, can it?"

"Alright. Enough of this conversation." Ellie pouted, ignoring Jessica as she quickly slipped into her favorite dress.

Jessica seized the moment to touch Ellie's small chest again, laughing triumphantly. "I can't believe your boobs are still so tiny at eighteen. I feel obligated to help you out. Come to my bed again tonight. They say regular breast massages help with growth," she joked.

"Let me go!" Ellie pushed Jessica's arm away once more and quickly stood up.

"Ellie, just sleep a little longer. The sun's not even up yet," Jessica mumbled, hugging the blanket and drifting back to sleep.

"What? It's already morning! I don't get how a lazy woman like you became a scientist," Ellie muttered, glancing out the window at the golden morning light. It looked like it was going to be a sunny day.

Ellie wasn't really mad about Jessica's antics. She remembered when they were on the run, Jessica had drugged everyone, and they all ended up sleeping naked together. Jessica was weird, but she wasn't mean. Since Jessica hadn't done anything too crazy, everyone just let her be.

Ellie suddenly recalled last night's events. She was exhausted after her shower, and Selena had taken her to find Jessica, who was asleep at her desk. Ellie had carried Jessica to bed, and they ended up sleeping together. She also remembered the strange smell in Jessica's lab that made her feel feverish. Ellie figured there must've been some weird drug involved.

"I was so careless," Ellie muttered. She had wanted to ask Jessica some questions last night but ended up being used as a pillow instead. Running her hand through her messy hair, she quickly adjusted her mood and tied her hair into twin ponytails.

"Where's Selena?" Ellie decided to find Selena, wondering why she didn't stop Jessica from harassing her last night. Pushing open the door, Ellie was greeted by a wave of fresh air. "So refreshing!" she exclaimed.

Ellie found the air in Tortoise City much better than outside. It was free of any unpleasant odors, and each breath felt like a refreshing cleanse for her lungs. A gentle breeze carried the scent of earth and plants, mixed with a hint of floral fragrance, creating a sense of peace and tranquility. It felt like she was in an unpolluted, pristine forest.

"Why is it so comfortable here?" Ellie quickly found the answer as she looked up at a massive tea tree nearby. "What a miracle!" she exclaimed.

Ellie hadn't noticed before that the inner city was built under this enormous tree. She loved it here. The morning sun warmed her face, surrounded by green leaves and fresh air. She stretched lazily, feeling good.

Just then, Selena walked up with a basket in her arms.

"Selena, do you know I was used as a pillow all night?" Ellie pouted, looking annoyed.

"Yeah, I know." Selena rubbed her eyes. "I just got up from Jessica's bed, so I'm not much better off than you."

Ellie glanced at the basket and saw some red fruits she had never seen before. They were plump and shiny, glistening in the morning light. Their smooth skin looked like it would burst with juice at the slightest touch.

Ellie lightly touched one with her fingertip, feeling its coolness and a faint fragrance that made her mouth water. "What are these?" she asked curiously.

"Tomatoes," Selena said, picking one up and handing it to Ellie. "You can eat it."

"For me?" Ellie took it, looking puzzled. "Are you using these for trade?"

"These were specially left by Mr. Steele," Selena explained. "But you have to report to him before eating them since they're scarce resources now."

"That's too strict! What if Mr. Steele doesn't agree? Then we can't eat them?" Ellie asked.

"Don't worry, Mr. Steele said it's fine to eat a few of these vegetables. But there are some things he might not agree to. Like a certain blonde woman who wanted to use 'Angel's Tears' for skincare," Selena replied, sounding very annoyed.

"What's 'Angel's Tears'?" Ellie asked, wide-eyed, finding the name intriguing.

"It's the essence of the Devil Fruit. That despicable blonde woman, instead of researching the antidote for the 'Super Zombie Virus,' used it for skincare!" Selena said.

Ellie stuck out her tongue, feeling like she had asked a silly question. The answer to who the blonde woman was seemed obvious to her.

"So, have you all used 'Angel's Tears'? Does it work?" Ellie quickly got to the point.

"It has some effect, at least it delays the onset of the 'Super Zombie Virus,' but that's about it," Selena shook her head.

Ellie furrowed her brow slightly, remembering that Selena was the first to be infected, so she was the most likely among their friends to get sick. 'Does Mr. Steele really not know how dangerous the 'Super Zombie Virus' is? Or does he have other plans?' Ellie thought to herself. She was very worried about Selena and Jessica's situation.

As she followed Selena to the city gate, a cute curly-haired girl suddenly ran over. To Ellie's surprise, the girl had a pair of rabbit ears, which looked very adorable.

"Here you are, Selena. Hurry up, Mr. Steele is getting impatient!" Grace said, bouncing.

"Weren't you without rabbit ears yesterday?" Ellie pointed at Grace, feeling like she had seen her before.

"I accidentally triggered the rabbit's superpower just now. Did I scare you?" Grace asked with a smile.

Ellie waved her hand and said, "No, it's fine." In her heart, Ellie was complaining. In Tortoise City, all sorts of strange things could happen. Even if someone suddenly turned into an alligator one day, she probably wouldn't be too surprised.

At this moment, the city wall of Tortoise City extended to a rocky platform where many people were standing. On the platform, there were many supplies, some wooden boxes, barrels, and crates filled with green vegetables.

Ellie saw Lucy, the maid who loved cooking, running over to grab the tomatoes from Selena's arms and asking everyone to stand steady.

Soon, the platform began to descend with a rumbling sound. The man operating the platform, Mr. Steele, was the one Ellie was most curious about.

As I controlled the platform to descend, I looked at the thieves hanging on the city wall, nearly fifty of them. They had spent the night here enjoying the night breeze. Maybe they had learned their lesson.

As the platform passed by Clarke and Amelia, I could see their bodies wriggling, as if they wanted to say something. However, these two couldn't speak at all because Taylor's spider silk had sealed their mouths, leaving them only able to make incomprehensible noises.

"How about executing them today?" Margaret asked me with a smirk, deliberately trying to scare the thieves.

I looked at Margaret, knowing she was just messing with them.

Indeed, Margaret's words startled the thieves, and none of them dared to move.

I shook my head and replied, "It's not the time yet. We'll see if they could come into use."

As the platform passed by these people, they should have heard my words. They looked at me with wide eyes full of attempt to prove themselves.

I was satisfied with this scene. I wanted this kind of self-awareness so I could squeeze out the value of these foolish thieves.

Ellie looked at me, then glanced at Selena beside her, seeming conflicted.

I was thinking to myself, 'Could it be that Ellie is impressed by my intelligence and wit?'

Actually, Ellie was worried about her friend. At this moment, she thought to herself, 'Dear Selena, take a good look at this man. He's too complicated. Aren't you afraid he might be a threat to you?'

Below Tortoise City, the huge wooden gates of Wasteland City slowly opened. A large group of people walked out from the gates, with the leaders of the Wasteland City council at the forefront.

Benjamin looked up at the city wall of Tortoise City, where a row of eerie 'spider silk cocoons' hung, resembling white insect eggs, giving people goosebumps.

"All caught? It seems our probing last night was discovered." Benjamin muttered to himself. "Tortoise City is indeed more formidable than I imagined." He put away his previous disdain.

Catherine also arrived and noticed the 'spider silk cocoons'. She showed a smile. "Let's go, Mr. White. I've said it before, don't play tricks, or you'll lose out." Catherine glanced at Benjamin and walked ahead.

I greeted this group of people with a smile and overheard Catherine and Benjamin's conversation, seeing that they got along quite well. "Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning. Today, I've come with sincerity..." Benjamin smiled politely, but his eyes kept glancing at the wooden boxes and barrels behind us. I could see a hint of greed in his gaze.

I knew what Benjamin was thinking. These goods required something of greater value for exchange, and his scheming wouldn't work.

"Margaret, you can start now," I ordered calmly.

Margaret elegantly opened a notebook and said, "Everyone, line up, one by one, no pushing."

The trading officially began."These are twenty small snakes," Benjamin said, handing over a large sack and directing his men to bring some cloth. He personally inspected our cabbage seedlings. "Good, they look fresh. You didn't deceive us..." Benjamin seemed quite satisfied with the vegetable seedlings.

Selena took the sack and checked the goods, giving me an 'OK' gesture. One transaction ended, and soon more people crowded in.

"Sir, these are my sheep. Please treat them well." This was the man who wanted to trade a gazelle yesterday. He was indeed holding a sheep in his hands, looking quite upset.

I was curious, 'What are you so upset about? Does a sheep deserve this much sorrow? It's as if you've sold your own son.' I couldn't help but think. "Don't worry, I'm not picky," I reassured the man.

At the same time, I was pondering a question, 'Can Tortoise City engage in animal husbandry?' I wondered what this sheep had been eating and how it managed to survive until now. If we could raise livestock in large quantities, we wouldn't have to send out hunting teams risking their lives every day. I aimed to achieve meat self-sufficiency as soon as possible!

Beside me, Ellie probably had similar thoughts. I saw her drooling involuntarily.

"Ellie, pull yourself together," Selena nudged Ellie with her elbow.

"Selena, don't you think the sheep's fur is particularly smooth?" Ellie replied with a smile.

'Is Ellie craving meat?' Once again, I admired Ellie's figure. She was so adorable and so cuddly. It would be nice to have her in my arms as a pillow while sleeping.

After a few seconds, I dismissed the evil thoughts and called for Grace, "Grace, it's your turn. Get to work!"

Grace came with her assistant Lucy and, after hearing my command, began to arrange the goods she had prepared on a huge table one by one. These surplus goods were the focus of today, as I would use them to exchange for more beast crystals.

When the wooden boxes containing vegetables, plants, and the barrels of pure water were opened and piled up like small mountains, more people were drawn.

Benjamin carefully inspected the goods on the side to see what could be traded.

At this moment, Michael's role became prominent. He was naturally strong and his roar was as intimidating as that of a beast. "Come and trade our water, vegetables, plants, and pottery here with your beast crystals. The pottery is very rare. You don't want to miss out."

Hearing the calls, people came one after another to inquire about the prices.

"The water is very cheap, only one junior beast crystal per barrel."

"Be gentle. The pottery bowls are artistic pieces that took a lot of effort to make, and one junior beast crystal can only exchange for one."

"This gentleman has a good eye. A cabbage seedling, twelve junior beast crystals..."

"This is called a tomato, one junior beast crystal each."

"Sir, be careful. You don't want to end up with the thieves hanging on the wall."

As more people gathered, indeed, some foolish thieves tried to steal things while the chaos ensued. As soon as one reached out, Michael caught his hand. After a round of intimidation, the thief obediently took out a crystal.

Of course, these were just minor incidents. Most residents of Wasteland City were willing to trade because it was too profitable.

"Give me ten barrels of water!"

"I've hardly eaten any vegetables, give me a cabbage!"