Chapter 1253: Chapter 1253

1253: Coke’s Transformation No.

1239 1253: Coke’s Transformation No.

1239 Strolling through Garden City, the air was filled with birdsong and the scent of flowers, along with countless familiar yet unfamiliar signs.

“Burger Queen, Didi People, Mountain Water, Papsi…

What’s there to be happy about?”

The counterfeit names adorned every street and alley, giving Lu Ping’an a small jolt of cultural shock.

It might be that the “time traveler predecessors” hadn’t held back at all, truly leaving nothing for the successors,

but what Lu Ping’an found unbearable was the sight of various “hometown dishes,” “home-cooked meals,” “authentic hometown cuisine” restaurants…

it seemed that without the words “hometown” or “home,” the flavors of Eastern Country cuisine on Earth just didn’t seem legitimate.

“…I was thinking of finding a local hometown cuisine restaurant, and it’s probably just a branch of some Merchant Group.

Don’t these people care about trademark law at all?

Aren’t they afraid of being sued?”

The answer is obviously yes, everyone copies everyone else.

Not just protecting “similar names” and “highly repetitive trademarks,” even not copying directly is already giving face to you, Lu Ping’an.

If you really wanted to sue…

Even if there were truly official powers in this world that could administer justice, gathering evidence is time-consuming and labor-intensive, proving “plagiarism” with all sorts of logical closures and sophistry, and chances are the company you’re suing might have gone bankrupt by the time the lawsuit concludes.

“Is there really no way?

It’s kind of disgusting…”

“Actually, there is a way.

Since it’s not a society governed by law anyway, see one, destroy one.

Hang the shop owners, burn the shops down.

After the word spreads, naturally no one will dare to use them.”

“Yuge, I think you’re being a bit extreme…” Lu Ping’an widened his eyes, somewhat incredulous that these words had come from such a delicate mouth.

“Isn’t the world …” The woman pouted, indifferent.

Having offered her suggestion in good faith, Mei Yuge felt a bit indignant being stared at as if she were a freak by her boss.

But after a while, having thought it through, Lu Ping’an could only sigh, feeling like maybe he was indeed the one at fault.

And considering alternatives, it seemed there really were no effective methods.

Mei Yuge’s “extreme suggestion” might indeed have been the most reliable and likely to produce results…

“It’s not like I came up with it.

Many big-name Merchant Groups do it this way.

You see, there’s only one Papsi on this street, but there are over a dozen drink shops with various ‘Mountain Water,’ ‘Spring Water.’ Papsi is an exclusive enterprise of the ‘Joyful Reincarnation’ Church branch.

no, any product with the word cola in its name will be annihilated by them.”

Lu Ping’an opened his mouth, unsure of where to start complaining.

Cola isn’t even your brand, and I just went into a shop and saw that you guys only sell all types of sugary water, honey water, industrial sweetener, concentrated sweetening agent…

it’s so sweet that one sip feels like an instant blow to the pancreas.

Given the local consumer power, the prices aren’t cheap either.

“…and yet so many people are buying it.

Is the taste of the people here a bit…” Not far away, a crowd was queuing up, and the business was booming.

“You can’t compare using Earthly taste buds, which have been spoiled by various flavoring agents.

For the locals, sweet, purely sweet, ultra-sweet are their favorite flavor choices…

to drink a sip of sugary water is one of the most important things in many people’s lives.

Of course, various related diseases follow, but it seems like nobody cares since they’re not expected to live until the side effects become fatal…”

Lu Ping’an stroked his chin, finding it difficult to judge, as for the locals who never had flavoring agents, “industrial sweetness” was indeed irresistible, and besides…

telling them excessive sugar consumption is bad for health is probably akin to telling Earthlings “earning too much makes life meaningless.” Both are situations where the advice is probably correct, but anyone who heeds it without complaint is considered well-mannered.

“After all, in this world, life is the cheapest commodity, and most living people don’t think too far ahead…”

Mei Yuge sighed somewhat, feeling both resigned and frustrated, as the values of a war-torn era and an era of peace were completely different.

Lu Ping’an thought for a moment, then casually asked.

“So, if there were an entity that allowed them to trade lifespan for power, do you think there would be a market…”

“Without a doubt, it would sell like crazy,” the woman said confidently, adding a couple more sentences.

“Even if it’s just ordinary mercenary-level, second-tier combat power…

no, just the possibility of becoming a warrior and taking charge of their life, they would willingly give up most of their lifespan.”

“It’s just a simple matter of choosing interests.

You see, the lives of the city’s residents might seem okay, but most of the natives have no assurance of surviving the next five years.

Moreover, settling in such a large city is not generally easy, and many people don’t have the opportunity.”

Extreme weather, sea monsters, invaders from the Exotic Realm, rampaging divine beasts—this world had too many things that could take a life, but of course, the most deadly were always…

You see us fishing so easily, but the strength of sea beasts is quite formidable, it’s a life-risking struggle for ordinary people, and diseases are even more deadly.

Not to mention all kinds of viruses from the Exotic Realm, the most deadly is the pollution disease.

In fact, most of the sea fish nowadays are contaminated…”

As the portals to different realms opened one by one, the world’s pollution levels had also noticeably increased.

This, while increasing the ethnic groups’ pollution resistance (those not strong enough had already died), also brought about persistent, widespread abnormal diseases and chronic death.

On the road, Lu Ping’an had seen several mutated members of the Long Hand Clan, but they seemed not to care, after all, if one’s lifespan was short enough, mutations and chronic diseases couldn’t catch up with you.

In such circumstances, most of the natives typically lived by the philosophy of living for the moment.

Those consumer goods that Lu Ping’an didn’t find impressive might actually be a once-in-a-lifetime luxury for them.

“Our merchant group’s ‘hometown dishes’ business is actually mediocre, not comparable to directly adding sugar cubes to ‘home-cooked dishes’, and now many people think they are the authentic ones…”

Although it was an expected situation, it still frustrated Lu Ping’an a bit.

But thinking back to how his own shop used to be patronized by “fellow Earthlings,” it again seemed only natural.

Fortunately, those operators were also aware that Lu was genuinely formidable and did not create embarrassing impersonation jokes.

“…I’m starting to agree with you, maybe I do need some reputation, a ruthless reputation…”

Walking on these familiar yet strange streets, Lu Ping’an ruminated on the surprising and happy changes in reality.

Despite numerous setbacks and wild growth, this world and era were indeed progressing.

He saw the busy local people in various shops, saw all sorts of peculiar fishing and practical tools, saw various simply packaged local snacks…

“Light industry and cultural industry have already taken off; it seems only shipbuilding is left for heavy industry…”

Ten years ago, all shop and industry operators were Earthlings; local Free Fish People and Long Hand Clan members were either workers or slaves.

But now, those “shop owners” meant they had their own “upper-middle class” within society, a small world that was cycling internally.

Along the way, Lu Ping’an passed a photography studio, bookstore, and even a theater and cinema.

This meant that they no longer just cared about filling their stomachs, but were also pursuing their own “value” and “history.”

Thus, they were no longer primitive tribes that could be casually driven and shattered…

“Although the urban-rural gap is outrageously large, despite various wild growths and distortions, they…

have become a civilization.”