NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5: Big Dog
**Chapter 5: Big Dog**
Since his notifications had been set to mute earlier, Lei Xiao couldn't help but feel a little surprised when he saw the flood of private messages waiting for him. He clicked on a few to skim through their contents.
"Mr. Xiaoshen, my brother's family is well-off. If you can help my brother, I'll make sure my family rewards you with 100 million yuan once we return! You can even become the president of our listed company! What do you think?"
"God Xiao, my younger brother is somewhat famous. You might recognize his name—he was on a variety show before we crossed over. Could you spare some food for him? I'm begging you."
"Brother Xiaoshen, could you lead the Lun family? We have 10 million followers on Douyin. For more details, please check the attachment (Love Launch)."
Lei Xiao scrolled through the messages, his face remaining impassive. Among the senders were many once-prominent social figures. However, their former status and wealth had done little to aid them in this new world.
The content of the messages was predictably monotonous—pleas for guidance, requests for mentorship, and, in some cases, attachments from young women. Out of curiosity, Lei Xiao opened a few of the attachments. After a moment of surprise, he saved them to his favorites with a solemn expression.
Of course, Lei Xiao had no intention of replying to any of these messages. It was clear that once the three-day protection period ended, a significant number of people would inevitably perish. The law of the jungle—survival of the fittest—was the harsh reality of this world. Perhaps this was the true nature of their collective crossing.
From this, it was evident that the only way to uncover the truth in this strange, alternate world was to grow stronger. Lei Xiao was no savior, nor was he naive enough to believe in selfless altruism. Having grown up in an orphanage, he had learned from a young age that in any world, begging for pity was far less effective than striving to become stronger. At this stage, he had no need for allies, let alone those who might drag him down.
With this in mind, Lei Xiao cleared all his private messages and opened the trading center. It was time for the main event: trading. Only the first lord to achieve the specified goal would receive a world broadcast and corresponding rewards. Following his earlier plan, Lei Xiao prepared to upgrade to a Level 3 Lord's Mansion anonymously. It was time for the "anonymous boss" to make another appearance and stir up some attention.
He began by relisting some of the 1,000 portions of snake meat he had initially put up for trade, adjusting the prices accordingly. To his surprise, even at the higher rates, over 20 portions had already been exchanged. It seemed there were indeed some formidable individuals among the lords.
Given that the resources required for a Level 3 mansion—6,000 units of wood, 3,000 units of thatch, and 1,500 units of stone—had tripled compared to the previous level, Lei Xiao decided to list 300 portions of snake meat, pricing them a third higher than the previous beef listings. After all, the anonymous boss was known for being a shrewd and calculating figure, and he had to maintain that reputation.
**[Trader: Anonymous]**
**[Trading Item: 300 portions of snake meat (1 portion per exchange, 0.5kg each)]**
**[Required Item 1: Stone (30 Units)]**
**[Required Item 2: Wood (60 Units)]**
**[Required Item 3: Thatch (120 Units)]**
As expected, the moment the snake meat was listed, the chat channel erupted with complaints and lamentations.
"Anonymous is selling 300 portions of snake meat? The price is so much higher than Xiaoshen's! This must be that black-hearted big dog from before!"
"Don't trade with him! It's a rip-off!"
"Has anyone tried snake meat in this world? Out of curiosity, I'll give it a try!"
"Working for a boss before the crossing, and now working for this black-hearted dog after the crossing—life is tough! Hmm... but the snake meat is actually pretty good!"
"I skipped breakfast and have been working for over two hours straight. I'm starving! Fine, I'll trade for some."
"Excuse me, Mr. Anonymous... can you lower the price a bit?"
"Is now really the time to bargain? There are only about 150 portions left. If you don't act fast, they'll be gone!"
"It's so expensive! Who would even trade for this? Oh, wait... the meat's almost gone? Fine, give me one portion!"
Despite the complaints, the 300 portions of snake meat were snapped up in less than a minute. Food was a scarce resource, especially in a world where manual labor was essential. Meat, which could quickly replenish energy, was in particularly high demand. As long as the trade was within reach, many were willing to pay the price.
"Is this what a monopoly feels like? It's exhilarating," Lei Xiao mused with a smile. In just a moment, he had effortlessly amassed a significant amount of resources. While some might argue that he was taking advantage of others' desperation, the reality was that both sides were getting what they needed. Moreover, Lei Xiao's actions had alleviated the immediate needs of many.
After transferring all the resources to his storage space, Lei Xiao calculated that he had acquired 12,000 units of wood, 7,200 units of thatch, and 1,200 units of stone. "The wood and thatch are sufficient, but I'm still short by 200 units of stone," he thought.
As he pondered his next move, Lei Xiao noticed that the chat channel had devolved into a heated debate. The lords were now divided into two factions, arguing fiercely.
"This anonymous big dog is way too greedy! The prices are so much higher than Xiaoshen's. An hour of work, gone just like that. I miss Xiaoshen's fair deals!"
"Exactly! And by trading with him, we've only fueled his arrogance. I regret it!"
"Oh, come on! You're the ones who took the meat and now you're complaining? Hypocrites!"
"That's right! Without Anonymous's food, would you even have meat to eat? Shame on you!"
"Wait, are there actually people defending the big black-hearted dog? As Xiaoshen's number one fan, I refuse to accept this!"
"What? We've got Anonymous supporters too! Have you seen how low-key and classy they are?"
"This is getting out of hand. As Xiaoshen's ace fan, I demand a fight! Let's settle this!"
Lei Xiao couldn't help but chuckle at the chaos. It seemed he had inadvertently gained a following. However, amidst the bickering, there were still plenty of messages pleading for food.
"Can we stop arguing and focus on working? Save up some resources, and maybe we'll get to eat properly!"
"I'm so hungry I'm seeing stars. How am I supposed to work like this? But the chat is so entertaining, I can't help but stay!"
"Hey, is Xiaoshen around? Can you spare some food for your brothers and sisters? I missed out on 1 unit of wood earlier, and now I've missed another! This is torture!"
"Everyone, calm down! Let's summon Xiaoshen! He'll save us!"
"Brothers and sisters, don't panic! Watch as I perform the sacred ritual to summon Xiaoshen!"
"Idiots! You think you can summon him with some silly ritual? I'll do a handstand if it works!"
Amused by the antics, Lei Xiao decided to make his first appearance in the chat. He typed a single line and hit send.
**[Xiaoshen]:** "Patience, everyone. More food will be available soon."
The chat erupted instantly. The anonymous boss had spoken, and the lords hung on his every word. Lei Xiao leaned back, a faint smile playing on his lips. This was only the beginning.