Chapter 1766: Chapter 1766
1766: Chapter 1762: Waves 1766: Chapter 1762: Waves “The little boss yawned.
He’s getting impatient…
No way, it’s so rare to come across a fat sheep…
Seeing Lu Ping’an let out a yawn with a sluggish spirit, the newly appointed tour guide, Wang Sisi, became anxious.
During the war, all prices soared, while job opportunities and wages plummeted.
The tourism industry wasn’t just facing a cold winter—the situation was practically Arctic-level frozen.
This boss generously booked her as a guide for three days and even paid upfront.
But if he simply returned to the hotel to sleep, her earnings would shrink significantly…
Considering this master’s indulgent spending spree all the way here, she might even lose as much as eighty percent!
Although the tourism industry has been cracking down on guides earning commissions by leading customers to stores, the persistence of these crackdowns speaks for itself.
Little boss, are you looking for something interesting to see?”
Grinding her teeth, the top student—forced by her dwindling living expenses—decided to bend the rules a little.
“Uh, something interesting?”
Hearing this, Lu Ping’an showed some interest.
The reason he chose this tour guide was due to a recommendation from a colleague at a meeting.
According to that person, she’s a “promising gem in the rough,” “a seedling ready for harvest in a few years.”
After meeting her, he confirmed that she wasn’t a professional but rather an ordinary person.
However, for those exceptional quasi-gods, ordinary humans and low-level extraordinaries are fundamentally the same—they value other things more highly.
From her openly admiring attitude, Lu Ping’an guessed she might be the descendant of bloodline inheritance, or perhaps a designated future disciple or protégé.
Being introduced to him wasn’t likely for the tour guide fee; the primary goal was probably to expand her network.
As long as the moral baseline and behavioral norms weren’t touched, Lu Ping’an had a relatively easygoing nature (though, truthfully, he didn’t care about many things).
He was willing to extend a little face in this regard.
At the very least, when she eventually entered the courtyard and became a professional, she’d receive a series of “fortuitous encounters” and “lucky gift packs.”
But now, this girl’s unsolicited offering of some gray activities might not be helpful for her, though it did pique Lu Ping’an’s interest.
“In the alleys of the Southwest District, there are some intense performances—a fight club of Exotic Realm people.
Don’t worry, no lives are lost.
They use the guise of circus acts and wear protective gear.
But rumor has it there’s a faction that doesn’t use protective equipment…”
“Beneath the mall we just visited, there are actually two underground levels, selling extraordinary substances.
They aren’t all that dangerous, but they’re absurdly expensive…”
Then maybe the little boss wants something a little thrilling?
Uh, I’ve heard of a place famous for Exotic Realm dancers’ singing and performances.
However, I wouldn’t dare go there; if you’re going solo…
I do have a contact method for a security company.
They’re quite trustworthy.”
Indeed, for certain tourists, the greatest value of a local guide often lies in those under-the-table entertainments.
I truly don’t know what’s there.”
Lu Ping’an teased this girl further, but seeing her face blush crimson while insisting she hadn’t stepped into those clubs, he could tell it was genuine.
Yet, it intrigued him more.
Not because of those chaotic things—he still had his “wife” watching over him—but since he’d be staying here for at least a week, perhaps he needed to find some acceptable places to unwind.
Regarding those black markets and such…
Lu Ping’an himself was likely the largest black market owner in the Eastern Country.
Having grown tired of Wanjing suburb’s black market back in the day, these so-called mysterious spots spoken of by outsiders did nothing to captivate him now.
This little girl’s attempt at secrecy and exaggeration seemed impressive at first, but with just a bit of thought, Lu Ping’an figured the areas she had access to were merely the shallow intersections between the extraordinary world and ordinary human society.
The so-called Exotic Realm fight zones were likely just survival arenas for interstellar refugees who weren’t even extraordinaries.
As for the so-called extraordinary black market beneath the central neighborhood’s big mall, it very likely consisted of products from the Proper God Church’s associated vendors.
After all, it’s hard for Lu Ping’an to imagine genuinely contaminated, radiation-heavy artifacts easily appearing in the city center, especially the city center of Wanjing.
Because of his extensive dealings in gray industries, Lu Ping’an felt increasingly certain these were just consumer traps targeting outsiders—a peripheral operation at best.
Genuine extraordinary gray industries wouldn’t unfold in the cities; they’d naturally be found in various Secret Realms and small Exotic Realms.
Activities taking place in urban areas were likely cover-ups or diversions.
At this moment, Lu Ping’an experienced a moment of realization—not a mere nostalgia for his youthful days but recollection of another issue raised during that prior meeting.
“…the tax reform system for black markets, martial fights, and extraordinary pharmaceutical industries…”
It seemed this time, both “gray” and “black” industries were truly going to be taxed.
This likely wasn’t a joke from the other side of the ocean, but rather a preparatory step toward legalization and transparency.
Once money and taxes are collected, recognition naturally follows.
Formerly illegal ventures might progress to being tolerated, and gray industries—such as unconventional evil god advancement methods or interstellar mercenary usage—might even be directly cleaned up…
The era of universal extraordinaries, following the Plane War, was unstoppable.
The Eastern Country didn’t intend to halt it either.
Triggered by this insight, Lu Ping’an’s thoughts traveled far.
It was likely that those who had been invited to attend meetings, along with the new slots for proper deity titles, were part of a larger agenda.
For reforms to proceed smoothly, the key lay in introducing a batch of new beneficiaries.
It was better to elevate new power players with resource and policy advantages than to have old forces grudgingly accept the new system.
This could lead to a “survival of the fittest.”
As for his stance, should he align with the grand trend, or continue with past plans of focusing mainly on Outside the Domain regions…
The little tour guide saw Lu Ping’an suddenly fall silent and distracted.
Having experienced so much, it’s easy to overthink.
I accidentally zoned out there—perhaps early dementia?”
The teenager spoke with a worldly-wise tone, eliciting laughter from Wang Sisi, who covered her mouth.
This little guy had quite the sense of humor.
Honestly, after thinking it through, Lu Ping’an was intrigued by the post-war quasi-extraordinary world.
Perhaps it was the future that was about to transform.
Perhaps its brewing changes were a precursor to the Eastern Country’s ongoing reform trials.
“…The closest fascinating area is over there.”
Seeing her customer take an interest, Wang Sisi immediately brightened.
“Alright, little boss, follow me.
The tickets are a bit pricey—will that be okay?”