Chapter Ninety-Five: A Beautiful Woman with a Fine Hand for Brewing Tea

The annual continental trade fair is held once a year, and during that time every capital city sends delegates to attend.

The exhibits they bring represent the finest, the most practical, or even the most technologically advanced products of their respective cities.

Yet on the way, You Ya quietly told Ye Chen:

"Not necessarily. Who says you have to sell the best things to other capitals? Why not put up products that are about to be phased out?"

The uncultured Ye Chen, who knew nothing about business, was instantly dumbstruck as he stared at that peerless beauty so close at hand, thinking to himself, Damn, are the hearts of rich people really this dark?

Inside the venue, the inexperienced Ye Chen looked around, his eyes almost unable to keep up.

Since Energy Capital was the host, its exhibition area was also the largest, and the theme was simple enough: wealth and splendor on full display.

Why? Because among the four great capitals, Energy Capital was the richest.

With its energy cores output far surpassing that of any other capital, it made a fortune beyond measure.

There were lavish decorations, free food, upscale lounges, and guides whose looks alone could outshine every kind of beauty.

Ye Chen already regretted why he had eaten dinner before coming, but it was obvious that You Ya's purpose was not to let him come here and eat free food.

She led Ye Chen from booth to booth, offering brief explanations as they went.

"This is the newest model of vehicle energy core. With the same volume, its energy capacity has increased by thirty percent. Mm... a fine thing indeed!"

Even You Ya could not help but praise such a product.

Just imagine: for long-haul cargo trucks that run across the wasteland, this extra energy was an important guarantee that they would not break down out there in the wild.

At first Ye Chen did not understand why You Ya had chosen to visit Energy Capital's exhibition area first.

Then it occurred to him: she had come from Iron Capital, so perhaps she already knew her own city’s products by heart.

The two of them stopped before a booth displaying food ingredients.

It was a piece of meat with a golden sheen. Ye Chen thought for a long while, but still could not remember which mutant beast produced meat of such a color.

It looked as though it had been cast from gold, reflecting the color of money under the lights.

But just because Ye Chen lacked experience did not mean the gathered merchants had never seen the like.

"Whoa!" Several knowledgeable people in the crowd exclaimed in admiration.

At that moment, the guide's crisp, pleasant voice rang out:

"Allow me to give you a brief introduction. This is Golden Beef, produced by the Golden Cattle.

"This breed is rare in number, extremely difficult to breed and raise, and has strict requirements for food, water, temperature, and more.

"But its meat is tender, highly nutritious, and even said to improve physical condition!"

When Ye Chen, standing off to the side, heard the name Golden Cattle, he froze.

What in the world?

...Was this cattle made of gold, or did it grow by eating gold?

At the very least, he considered himself an old hunter who had dealt with countless mutant beasts over many years, yet he had never heard of such a bizarre species.

He turned to look at You Ya beside him.

Her answer was more grounded, without the slightest embellishment:

"This Golden Cattle was bred by your capital's research institute. The beef really does taste quite good, but as for improving physical condition, hehe.

"Just take it as a bit of marketing.

"But judging by this color, it's closer to gold, which means it has made some progress compared with previous strains.

"This kind of beef is priced according to its color.

"Looking at the grain, this piece should be tenderloin. It's firm and springy, with a fairly delicate texture, and is one of the tastiest parts of the cow.

"Among the upper class, it's usually used to entertain important guests."

Ye Chen nodded in agreement, though in his heart he remained curious: did the inner-city research institute also raise cattle?

Some men dressed like wealthy businessmen were already swallowing their saliva.

On one hand, they were craving the beef's taste; on the other, they were thinking that if they were the first to buy and take it back, the profits would be considerable indeed.

Seeing Ye Chen reach out as if to touch the beef on display, You Ya shot him a glare and snapped:

"Mind yourself. Don't embarrass the Transcendent Bureau."

Ye Chen muttered under his breath:

"You're not even letting me touch it. When people buy vegetables or meat, don't they always turn it over to have a look?"

He was treating this place as nothing more than an upscale market, never realizing these were only samples.

Different cuts of Golden Cattle had different serial numbers and different prices.

Just then, a cool, half-warm voice sounded from behind them:

"Oh? Isn't this our beauty, You Ya?

"So full of energy tonight, taking a stroll through the trade fair. I remember when it was your capital's turn to host last year, you were too disdainful to even show up.

"I heard you've been lingering in Energy Capital for quite some time. What is it, is the Transcendent Bureau of Iron Capital so idle?"

The speaker was a bewitching woman, about thirty by appearance.

Her dress was extravagantly alluring, adorned head to toe with jewels, the very picture of a wealthy matron's aura.

Her figure was excellent, and her clothing even bolder, daring to actively display her impressive bosom, which gave her a distinctly aggressive allure.

Yet the eyes lined with pale purple shadow still held a coy, artificially pathetic tenderness.

Truly a seductive creature!

But no matter how she painted herself, how she dressed, or how carefully she carried herself, Ye Chen still felt she fell a little short of You Ya.

One was naturally cold and aloof, with an inherent charm and the aura of a domineering queen.

The other...

For a moment, Ye Chen could not even bring himself to evaluate her. It was not that she was not beautiful, but rather that something about her simply felt off.

He discovered that it was especially unwise to stare into her eyes; it seemed that looking too long would cause any normal man to sink into ruin in an instant.

You Ya was far calmer than Ye Chen. She replied in the same indifferent tone:

"Good evening, Director Wen Yu. You're as glamorous as ever!"

This woman was none other than Wen Yu, the chief director of the Inner City Personnel Bureau. Proudly styling herself a celestial beauty, she bore endless hostility toward any woman whose looks came close to her own.

You Ya continued:

"Last year, when you came to Iron Capital, our research project had just reached a breakthrough point, so I didn't get the chance to admire your grace at the venue. What a pity, what a pity.

"I could only see how you had aged by another year.

"Tonight my brother is busy with research, so I came in his place to oversee the forthcoming auction of inner essence stones."

Aside from safeguarding and extracting inner essence stones, the Transcendent Bureau of any capital also bore witness to the entire auction process.

And people were willing to entrust this task to the Transcendent Bureau, which they believed would be fair and impartial.

At the same time, You Ya's words were also telling the other side that even though she had come to the venue, she was still on duty.

Everything today would be handled strictly as official business.

Compared with Director Wen Yu's sly, insinuating tone, You Ya's voice was much steadier.

As an onlooker, Ye Chen felt this was a silent contest of feminine skill between beauties.

It was wonderfully entertaining. Such gossip... ah, so satisfying!