Chapter 373

Episode 373. This is the Mercenary’s Mecca. (1)

Anyway, after concluding that we needed to seriously start gathering resources…

I realized at this point that there was nothing I could do immediately.

‘Ugh, what should I do now?’

The construction of auxiliary buildings was already underway with the <Special Defense Facility>.

—————————————-

<Special Defense Facility under construction...>

<Time remaining until completion: 13 days, 4 hours, 12 minutes, 25 seconds>

—————————————-

Even if this construction were to be completed, it would still take at least another two weeks.

But two weeks? That’s practically the same amount of time I figured I’d need to start gathering resources seriously.

‘Hmm, there’s nothing more I can do here.’

Well, if I were to run the shipyard like crazy, I could at least watch the super-sized ships take shape in real-time and go, “Wow, awesome!”

Unfortunately, there was a reason I hadn’t built anything in the shipyard since the ‘Dreadnought.’

And that reason was…

“Oh, right, Commander.”

“Yeah?”

“As you mentioned, the Bayern-Class is still in its packaging, moved next to the Tanhoizer’s external defense turrets.”

“Good job. Oh, by the way, you didn’t accidentally send it drifting into outer space due to shock or something, did you?”

“It’s wedged between the surrounding turrets, and the rope work is properly done too.”

“Alright… Wait, rope work?”

“Yep, I tied the Kashima-Class next to it too.”

‘So that’s how it’s secured with something like ropes.’

The ships Jessica mentioned, the ‘Bayern-Class’ and ‘Kashima-Class,’ were still in their packaged state.

The reason I hadn’t ‘received’ them yet was the same as before.

So, what’s the reason?

Well, it’s none other than…

“Anyway, excluding the Habarovsk-Class, we have exactly 90 Fleet Points left, so the Dreadnought’s construction should proceed normally.”

“Of course, that’s why we’re doing all this crazy stuff in the first place.”

Just like when I got the Kraken No. 2, it was all about creating a fleet that exceeded the sweet, sweet Fleet Points limit.

Of course, as I mentioned before, to exceed the Fleet Points, you need at least 2 extra points.

After excluding the Dreadnought’s required 90 points, I scrapped two patrol ships to gain 2 more points.

Once the Dreadnought’s construction is complete, I planned to sell the Kashima-Class on the market for ‘gold supply purposes’ and then receive the Bayern-Class…

But the problem was, as mentioned earlier, if I ‘received’ those ships now, the Fleet Points would decrease, directly affecting the points needed for the Dreadnought.

If that happened, the ongoing construction of the Dreadnought would come to a complete halt…

So, here’s the trick I and other users often use:

‘If receiving them causes a shortage of Fleet Points, then just don’t receive them and hold out, right?’

Based on this miraculous logic, to avoid the automatic ‘receiving’ that happens when ships are brought into the base,

I just left them packaged and tossed them between the defense turrets on the outer walls.

However, this method is nothing more than a trick.

Since I hadn’t received them, those ships left outside were in a neutralized state.

If another user approached those ships left outside?

They could take my unclaimed gacha ships and make them their own…

“Just to be sure, the surrounding defense systems are set to maximum, right?”

“Yep, and I’ve also deployed part of the guard fleet nearby to prevent other commanders’ fleets from approaching.”

“Good.”

Jessica and I, as discussed earlier, prepared thoroughly to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

==========

However, despite my meticulous(?) planning, the harsh reality was ruthlessly trying to break my ankles.

I planned to sell the Kashima-Class on the market as planned, but…

—————————————-

<Kashima-Class Anti-Air Destroyer, Starting Price: 500 Gold>

<Current Price: Trade Canceled>

<Cancel Reason: No trades within the period>

—————————————-

<Selling Kasima-Class Anti-Air Destroyer>

<Price: 300 Gold>

<It's a brand-new model, fresh out of the gacha!>

<Comes with decent equipment!>

<Anti-air performance fully upgraded!>

<Current Trade Inquiry: Trade Canceled>

—————————————-

<Selling Kasima-Class Anti-Air Destroyer>

<Price: 150 Gold>

<It's a brand-new model, fresh out of the gacha!>

<Comes with decent equipment!>

<Anti-air performance fully upgraded!>

<Current Trade Inquiry: None>

—————————————-

“Ugh, it’s not selling at all.”

“Right, Commander?”

Despite selling it at a discount with equipment included.

Unfortunately, maybe because it’s just an A-tier, the trades aren’t coming through as expected.

Even though I started at 500 gold and now dropped it all the way to 150 gold.

‘Is this why they say not to even bother with anything below A-tier in the trade market?’

The only silver lining is that after even the 150 gold deal fell through,

while I was sulking and zoning out, a user docked at Tanhoizer sent me a chat…

—————————————-

<Chao has requested a chat with the Commander!>

<Chat accepted!>

-[Hey hey hey]

-[I saw you listed an anti-air destroyer in the trade market, mind selling it to me?] (Chao)

-[Huh?] (Icarus)

-[I’m going as a mercenary for another clan, and they said the opponent has a carrier]

-[Most users docked at Tanhoizer are mercenaries anyway]

-[So I need something with decent anti-air capabilities, cool?]

-[I’m a bit short on gold, so I’d like to pay with resources if possible] (Chao)

—————————————-

It wasn’t whining but a reasonable negotiation offer, so

after some thought, I decided to go along with it.

—————————————-

-[How much in resources?] (Icarus)

-[At least a gacha ship, and will you include the anti-air equipment like in the trade market?] (Chao)

-[Yeah, that’s on the house]

-[But just a heads up, the ship is brand new, so no leveling done] (Icarus)

-[No worries, I’ll handle the leveling]

-[How about 4,000 minerals and 1,200 rare resources?] (Chao)

-[Sounds fair enough] (Icarus)

-[Deal, congrats!] (Chao)

<Chao has requested a trade with the Commander!>

–<Chao (4,000 Minerals, 1,200 Rare Resources, 50 Gold) ⇒ Icarus>

–<Icarus (1 Kasima-Class Anti-Air Destroyer) ⇒ Chao>

<Accept? (Y)/N>

-[Cool trade, thanks!] (Chao)

-[Good times, thanks!] (Icarus)

—————————————-

After witnessing our Kasima-Class finally being sold through such a chill trade,

‘Farewell, Kasima. Stay strong out there in the mountains.’

I wrapped up the cool trade and, as the Dreadnought’s construction finished,

I also completed the receipt of the Bayern-Class, feeling all giddy about fully restoring my fleet.

But that was short-lived.

Suddenly, I realized something new from the chat with the user ‘Chao’…

‘Wait, mercenary? What does that even mean?’

Curious, I quietly opened the ‘Triangle Zone Chatroom’ to gather more info.