Read Novel Full Chapter 413: Trade
Chapter 413: Chapter 413: Trade
As she spoke, Lina turned toward Martha, her voice trembling.
"I was forced to do this," she cried desperately. "I didn’t want to. I really didn’t."
For a brief moment, sympathy flickered across the faces of a few onlookers. But before it could settle, someone scoffed aloud.
"What kind of force can even be applied to a base citizen?"
That single sentence shattered the fragile pity.
Another voice followed immediately, "We haven’t seen thugs or mafias since the base was established. The rules here don’t allow that."
People nodded one after another. They had all felt it. The base was strict, orderly, and safe. Coercion of that kind simply didn’t exist here.
Martha, meanwhile, stared at Lina with eyes colder than ice. "You’ll spend your time in the base jail," she declared calmly.
Several people nodded in agreement. It was the right decision.
Lina panicked. She pointed a shaking finger at Martha. "You’re being ungrateful!"
Martha frowned deeply. She genuinely didn’t understand where Lina’s sense of superiority came from.
"Ungrateful?" she repeated. "What exactly have I done that makes me owe you anything?"
Lina’s eyes flashed. "I’m associated with Ivy! I’ve known Ivy for a long time!" she snapped. "So why are you closer to her than me?"
That caught Martha off guard. She stared at Lina, disbelief clear on her face. "If that’s the case," she countered calmly, "why didn’t you go to Ivy directly?"
Her voice sharpened. "Why did you think you could undermine my authority and half-heartedly handle every task I gave you?"
Lina gritted her teeth. "You should’ve reported everything to Ivy! If Ivy heard my name, she would’ve come out herself and settled everything. But you didn’t. You didn’t follow the logic at all!"
And in that instant, everything clicked.
Martha finally understood. That was why Lina, despite being capable, kept making those blunders. She wanted attention. Ivy’s attention.
Martha’s frown deepened. "Then why didn’t you just go to Ivy directly?"
Lina glared at her. "If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to appear natural like everyone else."
Martha looked at her as though she were staring at someone unhinged. ’One screw loose,’ she thought grimly. ’She’s not thinking straight at all.’
At that moment, Lina struggled against Arnold’s grip. "I didn’t want to kidnap anyone!" she cried frantically. "Someone threatened me! They said they knew where my younger sister was!"
Her voice cracked. "That’s why I did it. I never intended to harm Martha!"
Martha didn’t even look at her. She raised her hand slightly.
Arnold nodded once and dragged Lina away toward the base prison without another word.
As the tension settled, murmurs spread through the crowd. Someone voiced the question everyone was thinking.
"Why didn’t the base rules activate?"
Martha turned toward them, already understanding the reason. She could see a few familiar faces, people who were quietly testing the limits of the law.
Through clenched teeth, she replied, "Because I remained conscious."
Silence fell instantly.
"The base rules only trigger under specific conditions," Martha continued evenly. "If you try to raise a false alarm just to test the system, the punishment will be far more severe than you expect."
Her warning sent a ripple of fear through the group. Those harboring dangerous curiosity immediately abandoned the idea.
Some laughed awkwardly. "We never planned to try it," they muttered.
Once the crowd dispersed, Martha finally released a long breath. Exhaustion settled into her bones. ’I need to inform Ivy about this,’ she thought. ’The kidnapping laws might need clearer wording.’
With that in mind, she returned to her office, her steps heavy.
Not long after, Arnold entered. The moment he saw the fatigue etched into her face, he picked up a bottle from the table, poured a glass of water, and handed it to her.
"You look exhausted," he said softly.
Martha waved it off lightly and looked at him. "Did you want to say something?"
Arnold nodded. "I was contacted by the Black Vultures. They want a food deal."
Martha’s gaze sharpened. "What are they offering?"
"Twenty estates, ten gold bars, and ten silver bars."
Her brows lifted slightly. "And what do they want in return?"
"Ten thousand kilograms of rice and one thousand kilograms of flour."
Martha nodded thoughtfully. "Have you verified the estates?"
Arnold nodded immediately.
Still, Martha shook her head. "I’ll verify them myself once."
Arnold showed no fear, only agreement.
Later, after completing the verification on her own, Martha realized Arnold hadn’t lied at all.
She looked up at him. "What about the military?"
Arnold answered smoothly, "General Frank has reached a settlement as well. He’s willing to pay ten estates and twenty gold bars for ten thousand kilograms of rice."
Martha nodded. She did some quick calculations before speaking.
"Respond to them. We’ll provide nine thousand kilograms of rice in exchange for twenty gold bars, twenty estates, and ten silver bars."
Arnold blinked, confusion flashing across his face. "That’s... very low. They might refuse."
Martha chuckled softly. "In the apocalypse, no one can buy food even with dozens of estates."
Her eyes turned sharp. "If Frank and the Black Vultures truly want food, they’ll show sincerity."
Arnold nodded and turned to leave. Then he paused, hesitation flickering across his face.
"I still think the price should be lowered," he admitted. "What if they walk away?"
Martha looked at him deeply. "I’ve already received reports," she replied calmly, "of people willing to exchange estates, gold bars, and silver bars for just one kilogram of rice."
Her words hung heavy in the air, leaving no room for doubt.
Hearing her words, Arnold nodded slowly, as if something fundamental had clicked into place. ’So that’s how she sees it,’ he thought, a quiet sense of realization settling in his chest.
He lifted his gaze toward Martha, admiration clear in his eyes, and a smooth, almost effortless smile curved his lips. "Are you done with your work?"
Martha didn’t even look up at first.
She shook her head lightly. "Not yet. I’ll probably be here until eleven."