All Things Are Contracts

Zhanyue didn’t understand. Was he really that strange? Did he look so much like a stowaway? How did the first person to talk to him immediately recognize his identity?

“Why aren’t you speaking? No need to be nervous. I’m the same as you, also a stowaway. Don’t worry, this star ship doesn’t have much ill will towards stowaways,” the robed person continued in a lowered voice, as it wasn’t good to discuss these things too loudly here.

Zhanyue pointed at his mouth and shook his head, indicating he couldn’t speak.

“Mute… you’re mute?” The robed person was slightly stunned but didn’t say much more. He only valued Zhanyue’s skills; whether he was mute or not didn’t matter. Others didn’t know, but the robed person had by chance seen how Zhanyue climbed onto this massive star ship from the sea surface in the night. As they say, even the wisest can make mistakes. Zhanyue had tried hard to find an opportunity, but he couldn’t become invisible, and was ultimately seen. That’s why this robed person in front of him was so sure Zhanyue was a stowaway, and had extraordinary skills.

“By the way, have you eaten?” the robed person continued to ask.

Zhanyue shook his head. He didn’t need to eat, and this avatar didn’t have such needs, but he had to act like a normal person.

“Then come with me.” The robed person knew that newcomers like Zhanyue needed a guide the most, and he would need Zhanyue’s help later, so this was a good chance to do him a favor.

He guessed correctly; Zhanyue did need such a guide. After all, forcibly entering the tenth level seemed impossible now. He’d better gather enough information and plan carefully. He wouldn’t be at ease until he resolved this big trouble for Baizhi.

Soon after, the two arrived in front of a red house. It was already crowded with people, who knowingly formed a long queue, seeming to be waiting for something.

“You can get free food here. Many of these people are also stowaways, or have legal status but lack money for various reasons,” the robed person explained.

Zhanyue nodded, surprised that the welfare on this star ship was so good, even offering free food.

“Don’t think this is some great act of charity. This is just what slips through the fingers of those above. As long as people have food to eat, they’re happy to do it. Those high and mighty bigwigs all know about the existence of stowaways, but they don’t plan to drive them away. After all, there are hundreds of thousands of people on the star ship, and someone has to wash dishes, clean, do physical labor. We stowaways are the cheapest labor force, much more cost-effective than the legal residents of the Star Sea. Understand? There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world,” the robed person explained.

Zhanyue nodded, understanding why so many stowaways could live openly on the star ship. Because they all had value in existing. But Zhanyue was also curious how the stowaways managed to sneak on board. After all, Zhanyue had seen the smuggling boats, and those people couldn’t find a way onto the Star Sea.

Zhanyue thought for a moment and realized one possibility – inside and outside collaboration. It seemed to be the only possibility. As for the stowaways on the smuggling boats outside, they probably didn’t have the right connections or directions.

Soon, the door of the red house opened, and a person came out, shouting at everyone: “Stand properly, line up well, and don’t you dare push! Today’s food is quite good, probably stuff you’ve never eaten in your lives. It’s all thanks to the kindness of the big shots up there.”

After speaking, the big man had his subordinates bring out the food. There was grape wine, sweets and desserts, and things like roast chicken and goose.

“Wine? Sweets, and roast chicken? Am I dreaming? We’re eating so well today?” The crowd burst into an uproar. Because this world was mainly composed of oceans with scarce land, resources were also scarce. Wine, sugar, and poultry meat were all much more luxurious than in ordinary worlds.

“I’ve come to the right place. This star ship really is heaven. It wasn’t in vain that I spent all my family’s wealth to sneak here,” someone in the crowd said with a face full of joy. He had never eaten desserts before; this was his first time in life.

“Well, looks like our luck is good today,” the white-robed person was also a bit excited. That was wine, after all. “The people up there must be holding some grand banquet again. Seems like they have a lot left over, and we’re benefiting from it.”

Soon after, the queue started moving.

The three people responsible for distributing food had eyes full of reluctance and disdain – reluctant that such good things were wasted on these lowly people, and disdainful that these lowly people had no experience, unlike them who came from above.

“Um… could I not have wine and have an extra dessert instead?” an old woman asked.

The man glared at her, “Are you trying to negotiate with me? Take what you’re given and get lost. You should be grateful I’m in a good mood today. Eating free food and still being picky.”

The old woman took what she was given and quickly left, frightened.

“Heh~ Ptui!” Everyone saw one of the three men spit into the wine jar before taking a long breath. “That feels better. What status do you have to eat the same food and drink the same wine as us? You only deserve to drink what we leave, the unclean stuff.”

Zhanyue frowned. This person was indeed somewhat perverse. The people above let him distribute these things for free, yet it made him so resentful that he was only willing to give it to everyone after contaminating the wine.

However, the people queuing behind still happily took their share of food, not caring whether the wine was clean or not. It was wine, after all. Many even complained about getting too little.

“I say, life on the star ship is still comfortable. With wine in hand, what more could one ask for?” a young man said happily after taking a sip of wine.

Listening to Baizhi’s translation, Zhanyue found it hard to understand.

“What? Can’t stand it? But we’re used to it already. As stowaways, we have no dignity. If you want dignity, you shouldn’t have come to the star ship. Oh right, I forgot to remind you of the most important thing about living on the star ship: don’t, absolutely don’t try to go upwards. They allow us to live on the first level, but absolutely do not allow us to go up. Those who dare to sneak upwards end up feeding the fish. I know how you got here, and I know you might have the ability to run to the upper levels, but without permission from those above, don’t ever try to go up,” the robed person warned.

Seeing Zhanyue’s shocked expression, he continued, “If you really want to go up, come with me.”

The two got their food. The robed person hurriedly ate the dessert and gave his share of wine to others. Zhanyue didn’t dare eat anything, not knowing if other foods had been tampered with like the wine. Seeing Zhanyue not eating, the robed person didn’t say anything, then led Zhanyue to a shop.

“You can’t speak, which makes communication quite troublesome,” the robed person continued.

“Oh? It’s Old Bug. Where did you find this newcomer? Looks like he can fight, with such a tall stature,” the shop owner knew this white-robed person. Looking at Zhanyue beside him, he was both curious and somewhat pitying. People targeted by Old Bug didn’t live for many days; they were just tools for Old Bug to make money.

“Give me a consciousness crystal, a one-day temporary one, the cheapest,” the robed person said.

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