Private Trading Area

On the way back, Li Zhi was considering whether to find something for self-defense. Perhaps a dagger or a pneumatic gun?

In the end, he decided against it.

Stepping through that door, he realized he was no longer on Earth. The technology of the extraterrestrials was far more advanced than that of Earthlings. It was futile to think that a dagger, a pneumatic gun, or even an AK-47 would be of any use. It is better to be honest and peaceful.

We are civilized people, not a warlike nation. Friendship comes first when we are away from home!

Taking out the miniature "interstellar core" from the safe, Li Zhi placed it on the machine and powered up the "micro door." Five indicator lights turned completely green!

The "micro door" was intact and ready for use!

As Li Zhi walked towards the metal security door leaning against the wall, he wondered if there was a time difference between Earth and the so-called "Interstellar Trade Alliance." What if it was late at night? Would there be anyone there to receive him?

Creak!

Gripping the handle of the metal security door, Li Zhi pushed it open forcefully. Inside the security door, it was not empty, nor were there just white walls.

The water was filled with a layer of light blue seawater, with a faint electric current on the surface.

"Phew!"

Li Zhi took a deep breath and walked in with large strides!

It felt like passing through a water wall, with a slight sense of compression, but not too noticeable. After passing through, he found himself in a bright metal hall.

"Welcome to the 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance." "You are a 'weak-level' member and entitled to E3-level treatment."

The 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance?

Are there territorial divisions?

Li Zhi pondered for a moment and then walked towards the metal hall. Behind him, a flashing light blue door remained.

Through this door, he could return to the area. The "micro door" was a two-way positioning transfer, allowing only one "authenticated" person to pass through.

"Sir, do you need any assistance?"

An oval-shaped pillar, about 1.7 meters tall, approached Li Zhi with a smile and asked.

"Extraterrestrial?" Li Zhi was startled. The man was speaking Chinese, at least to his own ears.

"No, I am a service robot in the 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance trading hall." "You can ask me if you have any questions!" The pillar replied with a smile.

"A robot?" Li Zhi asked.

After a brief silence, the pillar replied, "You can understand it that way!"

It was a relief that he was not an extraterrestrial. Interacting with a robot made Li Zhi feel more relaxed. The service robot was likely similar to the automated query and payment machines in the mobile hall, but with more advanced functions and intelligence.

"Can you tell me where this is?" Li Zhi inquired.

"This is the 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance trading hall." Here, you can purchase items from other manufacturers and sell your own manufactured items," the pillar explained.

Li Zhi widened his eyes and asked, "Are there other manufacturers here?"

"Yes, the 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance has 648,756,670 members registered as manufacturers," the pillar replied.

Several hundred million manufacturers? And this was just one trade alliance sector?

"Are there Earthlings here?" Li Zhi asked nervously.

The pillar smiled in a very human-like manner and said, "Yes, aren't you an Earthling?"

Li Zhi blinked and asked, "Besides me, are there any others?"

"For now, only you," the pillar replied.

"Phew, that's a relief!"

"What about the solar system?" Are there any other manufacturers from the solar system? Li Zhi inquired.

"I will check." I'm sorry, there are no other manufacturers from the solar system. Earth is the only inhabited planet in the solar system, so there is only one "manufacturer" like you," the pillar replied.

Li Zhi was surprised. "So, there's no one on Mars?"

"No," the pillar replied firmly.

Li Zhi rubbed his chin. So, there really was no one on Mars.

The trading hall was quite large, probably over a thousand square meters. There were many metal grooves and machines around, and the walls were adorned with various texts that Li Zhi couldn't understand. It seemed quite empty, apart from himself and the service robot. He hadn't seen any other members of the Interstellar Trade Alliance.

"Why is there no one here?" Li Zhi couldn't help but ask after walking around the metal hall.

"Are you referring to manufacturers from other trade alliances?" The pillar asked.

Li Zhi nodded. "Yes, with several hundred million manufacturers, there should be many people here."

"I think you've misunderstood." This is your private trading hall, completely owned by you. Without your permission, other trade alliance members cannot enter. "The public trading hall is over there!" The pillar pointed ahead.

What a big misunderstanding.

Li Zhi had thought this was the so-called 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance trading hall, but it turned out to be his private trading hall.

It made him marvel at the wealth of the 67th trade alliance. As a small-scale manufacturer with assets of just over five million, he had no significant influence, yet he had been allocated a private area of over a thousand square meters. How much larger would the area be for advanced manufacturers?

After all, the 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance had over six hundred million members!

Impressive!

Rich!

"You can enter the public trading area and engage directly in trade negotiations with other manufacturers in the trade alliance." However, the public trading area is subject to two-way charges. In the public trading area, you can enjoy the convenience brought by the trade alliance. The public trading area is divided into low-level, high-level, and special trading areas. As a junior member of the 67th Interstellar Trade Alliance, you are limited to accessing the low-level and special trading areas. The price for the low-level trading area is per minute, and the special trading area is million per minute.

Upon hearing the pillar's words, Li Zhi withdrew his hand, which had been reaching out to open the door.

Ten thousand dollars per minute?

Damn!

This was a surefire way to bankrupt himself in minutes.

With Li Zhi's current net worth, he couldn't even afford to stay in the low-level trading area for a few minutes. The special trading area was even more outrageous, charging tens of millions per minute. Was time being sold by the second?

He couldn't handle it. At least not at the moment.

"What is the price for the high-level trading area?" Li Zhi asked.

"It is one million US dollars per minute." "With your current status, you do not meet the requirements to enter the high-level trading area, so you cannot enter it for the time being," the pillar replied.

In other words, the pillar was conveying to him that, due to his low status, he shouldn't attempt to enter the high-level trading area, regardless of his wealth.