[Heavenly Martial Arts Kirin Tower Yellow Tier Area · Starry Sky Train Exit]
"Sir! Our shop offers a ten percent markup! We can settle up for the Quicksand Star Grass you just brought back immediately!"
"What's ten percent! We'll offer a twenty percent markup! And we'll throw in a bottle of Intermediate Star Energy Potion!"
The noise at the train exit rose and fell. Merchants wearing grey uniforms, who were of various alien races, crowded the platform, eyes fixed on the explorers descending from the train, holding up their price lists.
However, most of the explorers just shook their heads indifferently in response to the merchants' enthusiasm, clearly long accustomed to the sight.
Only a few dust-covered explorers paused to briefly communicate with the alien merchants around them.
Chen Kong watched as an explorer took out the Quicksand Star Grass—and was immediately targeted by three merchants simultaneously—and couldn't help but ask, "Lena, why are they so eager to buy things from the explorers?"
Lena's wolf ears twitched slightly. She pointed to a sign on a distant shop and began to explain.
"Mr. Chen Kong, that's because the items brought back by explorers are unique products of the Fallen Zones. They can't be found anywhere else, making them extremely valuable."
"For instance, Quicksand Star Grass can be used to refine potions, and the ore from the Red Stone Zone can be used to forge Star Tools..."
Chen Kong suddenly understood, immediately grasping that the relationship between the explorers and the alien merchants was similar to that between prospectors and merchants during the gold rush era.
Although the behavior of these alien merchants seemed frantic, considering the dangerous and complex environment of the 'Fallen Zone', Chen Kong felt their situation was quite reasonable.
Unlike ordinary 'Hazard Zones', the reason why a region is called a 'Fallen Zone' is due to two key factors.
One: Calamity-level Star Beasts have appeared there.
Two: Due to the presence of Calamity-level Star Beasts, the environment is extremely unique and governed by certain specific rules.
For example, Chen Kong once heard someone talk about a Fallen Zone named 'Crimson Hair's Omen'.
Once the time spent operating in this area reaches a certain limit, one will encounter an 'Omen,' and 'crimson hair' will slowly grow on their body.
Furthermore, aside from certain specific methods of suppression, there is currently no way to 'completely eradicate' this 'crimson hair.'
Therefore, everyone who has entered the 'Crimson Hair's Omen' is strictly recorded, and once they reach a 'safe limit,' they are completely refused entry.
In this regard, even Calamity-level Star Envoys are no exception.
Because even a Calamity-level Star Envoy will exhibit the same 'crimson hair symptoms' once the 'Omen' accumulated in their body reaches a certain level.
Yet, this incredibly bizarre 'Fallen Zone' is recognized by most Star Envoys as one of the safest Fallen Zones.
Compared to other Fallen Zones with even more mysterious rules, the 'Crimson Hair's Omen,' which only requires strict control over entry time, is practically nothing.
Just as Chen Kong was about to ask something else, Lena suddenly grabbed his sleeve, instinctively hiding behind him.
Not only was her body trembling slightly, but her originally bright, amber eyes were clouded with fear, clearly frightened of something.
Before Chen Kong could figure out what was happening, an imposing figure blocked his path.
Chen Kong looked up, and his eyes met a tall alien male.
Although he had wolf ears and a wolf tail like Lena, his fur was a dazzling silver-white, gleaming with a unique luster in the sunlight.
Coupled with his well-tailored black tight suit and a distinctive, crescent-shaped, light-gold mark on his forehead, he exuded an indescribable sense of nobility.
He coldly glanced at Lena and said in an icy tone, "Lena, didn't I tell you that this is not where you should be?"
Looking at this unfamiliar alien male who was treating Lena like a dog the moment they met, Chen Kong was about to speak up to help her.
But Lena's next words froze Chen Kong on the spot.
"Brother..."
Ah?
Chen Kong looked at Lena beside him in surprise. He genuinely couldn't connect the noble-looking man exuding a Level Three Star Envoy aura with the shabby and timid Lena beside him.
Before Lena could speak again, her brother, Saul, interrupted her.
"Lena, I hope that the next time I come to the Yellow Tier Area, I won't see you here."
"Because if you remain so stubborn, you will not only fail to achieve your goal, but your willfulness will also harm many innocent people."
Saying this, Saul turned to Chen Kong.
He spoke in a tone that seemed polite but was actually highly dismissive, "Newcomer, you must have just arrived in the Yellow Tier Area today, right? Terminate your employment contract with her. I will pay you ten times the Heavenly Martial Coins."
"Sorry, I refuse."
Chen Kong rejected him without a second thought.
First, Saul's tone of 'charity' made him very uncomfortable.
Second, Lena had clearly done nothing wrong and shouldn't be treated this way.
"Is that so? Then you have made a truly incorrect decision."
Upon hearing this, Saul immediately raised an eyebrow.
At the same time, his companions following him immediately looked at Chen Kong with eyes full of pity, as if they were looking at someone about to suffer misfortune.
A moment later, Saul gave Chen Kong a deep look, then turned and left.
Seeing this, his companions quickly followed suit.
However, one of these people, a seemingly gentle female senior, couldn't help but stop as she passed Chen Kong and whispered a warning.
"Junior, take my advice. Terminate the contract with little sister Lena as soon as possible."
"Lord Saul has great influence in the base. If you insist on opposing him, your one-month adaptation period... will likely be very difficult."
After speaking, afraid of being discovered by Saul, she hurriedly caught up with her group.
After they had walked away, Lena lowered her head and said in a tone filled with guilt, "I'm sorry, Mr. Chen Kong. I've caused you trouble."
"I just thought about it. Maybe my brother is right. I really shouldn't bring trouble to the people around me..."
Lena's voice was tearful. She reached out to touch her wrist-mounted device.
"...I'll terminate the contract right now. You don't need to offend my brother for me."
Before Lena could do so, Chen Kong smiled and said, "It's fine."
Lena looked at Chen Kong in surprise, assuming he was only acting kindly because he didn't know how formidable her brother was.
She immediately wanted to warn him.
But Chen Kong's next words utterly surprised her.
"You don't need to overthink it. I merely saw a familiar shadow in you and your brother."
Lena looked at Chen Kong in confusion, clearly not understanding the meaning of his words.
However, the dimensional viewers, who knew the situation between Chen Kong and Chen Xing, instantly understood why Chen Kong had said that