Chapter Sixty-five: Disappointment

During their casual conversation, Fan Bei learned that Lin Zhongshi hailed from the northern territories and was born into the family of a major financial conglomerate’s controller. However, he was not favored by his family. After receiving some basic support, he was sent out to make his own way in the world.

A textbook example of a wealthy family's overlooked son, yet Fan Bei did not find this too coincidental.

In this wasteland world, every faction, to prevent the dispersion of resources, would certainly allocate them to those deemed most valuable. Much like in medieval Europe, noble children without inheritance rights still received some foundational support and education, along with a small startup fund, before being sent out to make their own fortunes. Few ever had a chance to divide the family estate with the heir.

Lin Zhongshi clearly understood this as well, for in his words there was little resentment about his fate, though occasionally a trace of unwillingness slipped through.

Fan Bei also spoke of his own experiences: an ordinary background, his parents divorced when he was young and disappeared, and at the age of eight, he was brought alone to this refuge, growing up among its people. Yet five years ago, the last of his companions left as well.

"Mr. Fan, that's truly unfortunate," Lin Xiaolu, the girl with twin ponytails, said, her eyes reflecting a motherly compassion.

"Mr. Fan, you are indeed quite fortunate. According to my records, there have been more than a dozen similar cases, but during rescue, only one or two insane survivors were ever found," Lin Xiaohong stated earnestly.

"Perhaps it’s because I still had a dog with me..." Fan Bei replied with a gentle smile, stroking Dabai’s head beside him.

Dabai immediately raised his head, puffing up with pride and glancing around with confidence.

"Yes, that should be the main reason," Lin Xiaohong nodded, analyzing seriously. "Many solitary elderly people rely on pets to get through years, even decades, of living alone."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room.

Fan Bei smiled, "Well, now that we’re all acquainted, let’s get down to business. I’m curious as to how your side wishes to cooperate with us?"

Lin Zhongshi remained silent, instead glancing at Lin Xiaohong.

Lin Xiaolu’s attention had shifted to Dabai, though she dared not try to play with him, only stealing glances in his direction.

Lin Xiaohong opened the briefcase she had brought, took out a document, rose to her feet, and handed it to Fan Bei with both hands.

Fan Bei stood, accepted it in both hands, sat down, and looked over the document as Lin Xiaohong began to explain:

"Mr. Fan, we wish to lease a plot of land on the northern side of your refuge’s valley, at the highway bend, to establish a base for our merchant caravan..."

Hearing this, Fan Bei felt a faint sense of goodwill and asked directly, "That place is unoccupied. Why do you need to lease it from me?"

"Oh, it seems you’ve truly been isolated for too long," Lin Xiaohong explained patiently. "Ten years ago, a great war broke out in the spiritual world. The parties involved are unknown, only that they were mysterious beings beyond our understanding. After the war, an agreement was reached: these entities recognized human settlements completed before that time, and where humans have continued to survive, as having the right to their land."

"Land within fifty kilometers of a settlement belongs to its controller, who may freely develop it. If two settlements overlap, the parties must negotiate the boundary themselves. Within a hundred kilometers of your location there are no other settlements, so you have the maximum—fifty kilometers’ worth of free territory."

"If you try to build anything outside your territory without their approval, you’ll be attacked by high-level evil spirits. Trust me, those are beings humans cannot possibly withstand."

So this was the order—however flawed, it was still better than utter chaos. No wonder there hadn’t been any truly powerful evil spirits encountered; this was the reason.

Of course, those unknown beings would not interfere with human struggles over the settlements themselves, just as they hadn't with the earlier attempts to seize his refuge.

"So that’s how it is. I never thought that, once a solitary soul, constantly fearing for tomorrow, I’d become the lord of 7,850 square kilometers," Fan Bei said with a self-deprecating laugh. "In medieval Europe, that would’ve made me a count."

"Mr. Fan, you are truly knowledgeable," Lin Xiaohong’s eyes flashed with admiration. "We hope to lease the land for fifty years, paying annual rent at the prevailing market price for settlements nearby."

"Very reasonable and fair. I accept these terms," Fan Bei nodded.

"Mr. Fan, you are such a generous and kind person!" Lin Xiaolu, who had been eyeing Dabai until the dog became nervous, exclaimed happily. "Earlier, Brother Stone even said he’d have to make you unable to—"

Before she could finish, Lin Xiaohong stuffed a tomato from the table into her mouth.

Ah, being alone for too long really does make one unfit for negotiations, Fan Bei thought, patting his forehead. He’d need a professional’s assistance next time.

"Since Mr. Fan has agreed, the rest will be straightforward. All the details are in the document. Please take your time," Lin Xiaohong said, her posture upright and composed, as though nothing had happened.

Fan Bei continued reading the document—it was a contract.

The terms were simple: lease a plot of land, and the renter, as the second party, promised not to violate the interests of the landlord, using the land solely for the purposes specified in the contract—

To build warehouses, housing, a power station, a communications point, and other reasonable facilities.

After reading, he reached the end of the contract.

"Wait, why is there no guarantor listed here? Contracts from the Silver Chamber of Commerce always have a guarantor," he asked again.

This time Lin Zhongshi replied, his tone slow and measured. "If we use their contracts, it means we acknowledge the guarantor's authority and the rules they set, subjecting ourselves to their potential influence..."

So that’s it—just as he thought, signing one of those mystical contracts would come with hidden dangers.

Fan Bei realized this and felt fortunate for his earlier caution; at that time, he had not yet bound the System’s Father, and his soul hadn’t gained resistance against these mysterious entities.

At this, Lin Xiaohong shot Lin Xiaolu a fierce glare, while the latter seemed bewildered and innocent.

Fan Bei understood why—she was worried he might take this chance to demand better contractual guarantees, such as forcing them to state certain terms...

But he only smiled and made no further demands, instead saying seriously, "I’ve worked with the Silver Chamber of Commerce twice before; their public reputation is solid. I hope both our sides can sign that kind of contract."

He had his reasons. He wasn’t worried about small tricks, only about being seen as an outsider—should they march an army to his door, he’d be left with nothing but himself, his dog, and a ball to take on the world...

Is there really anywhere outside where you don’t have to follow someone else’s rules? Until you’re strong enough to make your own, it’s all the same.

But now he no longer feared the so-called potential influence of those unknown beings.

Lin Xiaohong looked at Fan Bei, disappointment clear in her eyes, but then she nodded.

Fan Bei rolled his eyes at this—what was she disappointed about? He had a vast domain, unlike these drifters who could leave at will.

Lin Xiaohong switched to another contract and handed it to Fan Bei.

The content was identical to the previous one, except this version included a guarantor column: there was the familiar symbol, composed of black straight lines intersecting with green or red curves.

"This symbol seems so familiar... Could you explain it to me?" Fan Bei asked.

"Mr. Fan, since you entered the refuge young, you might not know—this is a miniature version of a stock market price chart," Lin Xiaohong replied blandly.

Fan Bei was momentarily speechless—the Silver Chamber’s patron truly had earthy roots, after all...