Chapter 74: Items of Level 2 on the Auction House

In just a few seconds, dozens of auction items instantly appeared on the auction house. "That many?" Tang Fang was surprised. Li Ye, however, was not surprised. He had already seen this mentioned in previous intelligence—the Wasteland Zone had as many as 119 Level 1 cities. Although the number might have fluctuated during this period, increasing or decreasing, it was roughly the same overall. The presence of over a hundred Mobile Cities was terrifying. The resources and manpower they had accumulated, once pooled together, were enough to rebuild the entire Wasteland Zone. "A-Li, what are we planning to buy this time?" Old Zhou asked. Before Li Ye could respond, Lin Wu answered from the side. "First, Level 2 items. Then, Waterborne Mobile City Accessories for Level 1 cities." Li Ye nodded. For Level 1 cities, Level 2 items were extremely useful. Each one could significantly boost their strength. The reason he had been holding off on spending money was precisely to wait for Level 2 items to be listed. But then again, how many Level 1 cities would be willing to sell their own Level 2 items? As time ticked by, everyone remained motionless, staring at the screen without daring to look away even for a second. The number of listed items in the auction house continued to grow, soon surpassing 500. Iron Ore, blueprints, City Accessories, weapons... The auction house was instantly filled with all kinds of auction items. A few minutes later, the first listed Level 2 item appeared. "It’s here!" Li Ye’s heart skipped a beat. His first reaction was to immediately press his hand on the one-price button, ready to snatch it the moment bidding opened. However, upon seeing what this Level 2 item actually was, he couldn’t help but shake his head in disappointment. [ Goblin Rocket Sprint Boots ] [ Level: Level 2 ] [ Bonus Effects: 1. Increases running speed by 20%. 2. Press the button on the left side of the boot to suddenly accelerate to 100% for the next 10 seconds. ] [ Note: Each use carries a chance of damage. Repairing it requires Level 2 Iron Ore. ] The starting bid for the Goblin Rocket Sprint Boots was 18,000 Crystal Coins, with a buyout price of 22,000 Crystal Coins. Li Ye, disappointed, moved his hand away from the button. This Level 2 item wasn’t bad, but the starting price of 18,000 Crystal Coins was somewhat inflated. It offered minimal benefit to Mobile Cities; it was better suited for Bounty Hunters or lone wolves surviving in the wild. Alternatively, it could be something rich Lords kept as a collectible. If the price were cut in half, he might consider purchasing it. Lords of Mobile Cities were shrewd. Valuable and performance-enhancing Level 2 items would never be put up for sale. Those listed in the auction house were often just scraps and leftovers. It was extremely unlikely to find Level 2 Cannons, Level 2 Heavy Machine Guns, or Level 2 City Armor in the auction house—no one would ever sell such items. Even if they did appear, the price would be astronomical. What surprised Li Ye was that a second Level 2 item appeared shortly after. It was, unexpectedly, 157 units of Level 2 Iron Ore. The starting price was 38 Crystal Coins per unit, with a buyout price of 62 Crystal Coins per unit. 38, 41, 44, 47....... As soon as it appeared, the bidding price for the Level 2 Iron Ore skyrocketed. Li Ye went ahead and bought it at the buyout price. "Isn’t that price a bit too high, Brother Li?" Tang Fang asked with concern. Li Ye also showed a trace of pain in his expression. The price of this Level 2 Iron Ore per unit was 62 Crystal Coins. You had to know that the price of Level 1 Iron Ore was usually only 3–5 Crystal Coins. But ultimately, its value was undeniably solid. The Tomorrow had previously obtained a damaged City Energy Shield device, and repairing it required Level 2 Iron Ore. As long as it could enhance the strength of the Tomorrow right now, the money spent would be worth it. With Li Ye paying 9734 Crystal Coins, a pile of Level 2 Iron Ore clattered and was transmitted into the cockpit. Its appearance and color were quite similar to Level 1 Iron Ore, both showing a steel-gray hue, only it was larger and heavier in hand. "Hopefully this ore will be enough to repair the Energy Shield device," he thought silently. After handing over the Level 2 Iron Ore to Lin Wu, he continued browsing the auction house. Items listed in the auction house were still increasing, with the total already surpassing 500. A few minutes later, another new Level 2 item was listed. Li Ye focused his gaze and saw that it was a blueprint. [ Bloodtear Ripper Heavy Machine Gun – Blueprint ] [ Item Name: Bloodtear Ripper ] [ Level: Level 2 ] [ Bonus Effect: When targeting non-vehicle, non-structure targets, damage increases by 30% ] [ Crafting Requirement: 200 units of Iron Ore (Level 2) ] Judging from its description, this Level 2 Heavy Machine Gun was mediocre against vehicles and Mobile Cities, but when it came to humans, wild monsters, and Zombie Swarm, it would be like mowing grass. Even Wild BOSSes might not withstand it. What was most tempting was that the ammunition for this Level 2 Heavy Machine Gun could be crafted with Level 1 Iron Ore, making it quite cost-effective. The starting bid for this blueprint was 45,000 Crystal Coins, and the buyout price was 50,000 Crystal Coins. Although tempted, Li Ye could only sigh at this moment. The price wasn't even that high, but it was just a blueprint. Moreover, after purchasing, he’d still need 200 units of Level 2 Iron Ore to manufacture it. A Level 1 Mobile City’s Production Workshop could only craft Level 1 items. This blueprint wouldn’t be useful immediately—it would either have to be stored for after upgrading to Level 2 or flipped for profit. Besides, he was on a tight budget. The blueprint for the Heavy Machine Gun was quickly taken by another bidder. Li Ye didn’t mind much. He began browsing the Level 1 item list. For Level 1 cities, Level 1 items were the most practical and affordable. At this moment, the auction house was filled with all kinds of Level 1 items. When Li Ye filtered the category to Waterborne Navigation, 25 items quickly appeared. 15 City Accessories, and 10 City Accessory Blueprints. If there were no tempting Level 2 items, Li Ye planned to use his current funds to acquire a complete set of Level 1 Waterborne Mobile City Accessories. This was not only for current navigation but also for future seafaring preparation. Between finished products and blueprints, he leaned toward purchasing blueprints. After all, it's better to build than to buy. If the City Accessories broke in the future, he could always craft more. Additionally, Li Ye quite enjoyed collecting blueprints and expanding Production Workshop projects. It felt like playing a collection game. First, he purchased a propulsion system blueprint. [ "Tide" City Propulsion System – Blueprint ] [ Item Name: Tide City Propulsion System ] [ Level: Level 1 ] [ Bonus Effect: 1. Work efficiency increased by 5% 2. City energy consumption reduced by 10% ] [ Crafting Requirement: 300 units of Iron Ore (Level 1) ] The bid price for this blueprint was 2299 Crystal Coins, with a buyout price of 2300 Crystal Coins. The seller clearly listed it this way to refuse bargaining. "Speaking of which, A-Li, should we sell that Beast Axe we just got?" Old Zhou reminded.