Chapter 081: Chat Group Material Exchange!

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As Novak had mentioned before, the most valuable item in the apocalypse was blueprints. And this time, he had obtained one of the most precious kinds.

Equipment crafting scrolls were useful, but the real treasure was production blueprints for items that could be used repeatedly, like the one he had just secured. This was why Novak had given Daphne a crafting scroll for the zombie virus serum blueprint. With it, as long as she stayed alive, she could establish a solid foothold in De M-anila during the apocalypse, forming the foundation for a gathering place—a precursor to a city.

But the blueprint Novak had just obtained was on another level—it wasn't just for survival; it was a money-printing machine!

That was why he chose it without hesitation.

The City Portal Scroll—just the name itself was telling. Once a gathering place was marked, you could use the scroll to teleport back to that location within ten seconds, as long as there were no special restrictions.

This was a game-changer.

Although it couldn't be used within secret realms or dungeons, for any evolutionary, it was a priceless tool—a life-saving asset. With the blueprint, Novak could manufacture an unlimited number of these scrolls, provided he had enough raw materials. 

The blueprint was a gold mine!

Here's a summary of the blueprint's details:

[City Portal Scroll Production Blueprint]

- Item Type: Scroll

- Effect: Marks the location of a gathering place. After use, the scroll teleports the user back to the marked location. The teleportation distance depends on the grade of the scroll.

- Crafting Requirements: Blank scroll paper, 100ml of blood from a creature of level 5 or higher (the scroll's quality will depend on the level of the blood and the quality of the paper).

Definitely good stuff.

While blood from creatures above level 5 wasn't easy to obtain at this stage, in the future, this blueprint would be a real cash cow.

If it had been under normal circumstances, there was no way Novak could have gotten this blueprint from Zogwort. But the god of trade had been distracted, eager to head toward De M-anila University, so he didn't pay much attention to the trade.

As for that mysterious '??' face, Novak didn't even dare to test what it was for. If a god was so interested in it, the consequences of revealing even a single clue could be catastrophic.

Moreover, Novak still hoped to obtain the dual-class scrolls from Zogwort. But the thought of how difficult it would be to acquire an SSS-level profession left Novak feeling a bit dizzy.

But he couldn't blame Zogwort. After all, getting an SSS-level profession was always going to be a challenge. Even if he succeeded, it would only benefit him directly, and the god of trade would not gain anything equivalent. This deal wasn't entirely unfair—it hinged on future returns.

Nonetheless, Novak had no regrets about taking the mysterious '??' face. It more than made up for the trouble the goblin had caused earlier. This mission, while challenging, was a rare opportunity for Novak to grow. If he wanted to achieve something great in the future, these kinds of challenges were essential.

Shaking off his thoughts, Novak finally relaxed in the late hours of the night. He logged into Chat Group No. 001, where the members were still unusually active, even at midnight.

The reason? Much of it had to do with Novak.

Scanning through the chat log, Novak smiled. The lively conversation helped lift his mood, but he still had business to attend to.

Earlier, he had auctioned off some muscle-enhancing items, and the financial power displayed by these group members made Novak realize that he shouldn't underestimate anyone who had survived the apocalypse in his previous life.

With that thought, he decided to upload two items to the group's shared space:

- [Living Cells (Grade D)]

- [Biochemical Demon Job Transfer Scroll (A-Level)]

The moment these notifications appeared, the previously quiet chat group exploded with activity.

[Dahen]: Husband!

[Anouk]: @Everyone, Dad's here!

[Whiplash of the Skies]: @White Emperor, boss! Same offer as always—can I trade these for some "flowers"!?

[Overlord]: !!! An A-level job transfer scroll?!

[Crow]: This is insane! Did you get these from a dungeon drop? It's just like every game—only dungeons give the best loot! 

[The Only Trash in the Group]: Boss, name your price...

Seeing the group's excited reactions, Novak couldn't help but feel a little amused. But he stayed focused and clarified his intentions.

[White Emperor]: I've uploaded these two items for trade! This time, I'm not interested in gold coins. Let me know if you have something to offer in exchange!

Instantly, the group fell into a stunned silence.

No one was surprised. After experiencing the gold-absorbing power of the video guides, everyone understood one simple truth: the truly strong didn't need to actively chase after currency.

The previous skill book was something that the rich could casually acquire. But times had changed—things weren't as simple anymore.

[White Emperor]: The skill book is up for exchange, and I'm looking for appraisal skills. It's fine if the level is a bit lower. As for the job transfer scroll, I'm willing to exchange it for information. If any of you have clues about an SSS-level job transfer, tell me. Whether I can complete it or not, I'll still take the information.

These conditions left the group in stunned silence.

Trading for skills was already remarkable, especially since it was only the first day after the official apocalypse outbreak. An evolutionary who could possess skills at this stage was truly formidable. But an SSS-level job transfer?

It sounded absurd. To exchange an SSS-level job for an A-level job? Anyone would think that was a bad deal. Yet, this offer quickly revealed the disparity between the two.

What Novak sought were clues for an SSS-level job transfer. Even if someone found one, there was no guarantee they'd have the ability or confidence to pursue it. On the other hand, the A-level job scroll allowed the user to change professions immediately once they reached the required level—no tasks, no complicated preparations.

The gap between the two was stark.

But even with this realization, finding clues for an SSS-level profession was no easy feat. The group members quickly became like withered plants, their energy drained by the challenge.

Novak, however, remained unfazed. After a few more exchanges in the chat, he closed the group. The night was still long, and he had plenty to do—much-needed rest to unwind from the tension of the all-day battle.

——

Early Morning.

Standing by the hotel window, Novak was already dressed and ready. He had secured the dual-profession scroll mission, and De M-anila University no longer required much of his attention.

In three days, the cooldown period for re-entering the secret realm, "Cooled Incinerator," would end. He planned to farm the dungeon a few more times, gaining experience and resources. But for now, preparations were his priority.

Though he hadn't found another SSS-level profession yet, he needed to begin gathering everything for his planned profession.

With this in mind, he decided to return to the Ocean Blue Villa District first.

Lifting Emaly onto his shoulder, he prepared to leave. Though he felt nothing for her—she was merely a plaything, and he wasn't interested in collecting pretty vases—he couldn't simply leave her behind.

Cloaked in a dark red aura, Novak scaled the walls with ease, quickly crossing the road, nearing the De-M-anila Ocean Blue Villa Area.

As he approached, he noticed figures coming toward him.

They weren't zombies—they were evolutionaries.

Novak's sudden appearance startled the two ragged evolutionaries, but their tension quickly melted into relief.

He glanced at the road behind them. This was the path leading to the Ocean Blue Villa Area. Were these two from the villa district?

Before he could speak, one of the evolutionaries addressed him.

"Brother, did you hear the broadcast too? Heading to Ocean Blue Villa? I wouldn't recommend it—the place is overrun with rats. Their people can barely protect themselves, let alone have room for the likes of us."

Broadcast?

Novak remembered telling Daphne earlier that, in the early days of the apocalypse, the remaining broadcasts could still be used to rally evolutionaries to the Ocean Blue Villa Area.

But... infested with rats?

Hadn't those mutated sewer rats been cleared out?

A cold glint flickered in Novak's eyes. He smiled at the two evolutionaries, asking casually, "What exactly is going on in Ocean Blue Villa?"

The two men shrugged.

"Same old story—the place is turning into a rat's nest. We can't even protect ourselves anymore. Those mutated rats are the size of wolf dogs! It's terrifying!"

Novak nodded. The situation didn't seem too dire yet, but it was clear that a proper cleanup was necessary.

He couldn't allow the land where he planned to build his city—his future base and haven—to be overrun by rats.

Smiling, Novak added, "If you trust me, turn around and head back to the villa area. Believe me, the city is much more dangerous than the Ocean Blue area."

"Huh?!"

Before the two could react, Novak, still carrying Emaly, surged forward with a burst of dark red energy. His figure vanished in an instant, leaving the two evolutionaries standing in stunned silence, unable to process what had just happened.