City of Time: Falling into the kill zone at the start

Chapter 77 The Body Is Not Without Value

As soon as Lu Chen finished speaking, Yu tilted her head with interest, her gaze towards Lu Chen flashing with a strange light.

Zhao Jie then fell into a long period of deep thought.

Lu Chen, on the other hand, leisurely lit a cigarette, lay back on the sofa, and patiently waited for Zhao Jie's reply.

According to Lu Chen's understanding, Zhao Jie might not be someone with strong adaptability or receptiveness, nor someone who naturally possesses the ability to survive in the City of Time and solve problems on his own.

To put it more bluntly, it's Zhao Jie, not someone like Lu Chen.

But Lu Chen knew that Zhao Jie was definitely a self-aware person.

Zhao Jie realized that he had nothing of value to offer in exchange for the scavenger to take him out of the city.

They also realized that in the City of Time, no one would offer help to another for no reason.

Therefore, Lu Chen was absolutely certain that Zhao Jie would never use phrases like "I have done you a favor" or "I have helped you before" as a basis for persuading Lu Chen.

as predicted.

After a very long period of contemplation, Zhao Jie finally shook his head with a self-deprecating smile and a bitter expression.

"I see."

"From the day I recovered, when I learned that I had to pay for 30 seconds to use a public toilet, I understood: in the City of Time, nothing is free—nothing is free of time."

"Even the air we breathe is charging us a fee through the natural passage of time."

"So, I understand."

After saying that, Zhao Jie sighed with a hint of helplessness, looked down at his feet with a sense of desolation, and fell into a daze.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, mustered his strength, and looked up at Lu Chen again.

"If I had to say what I could offer as payment for Brother Chen taking me out of town to scavenge..."

Originally, the two-year personal debt owed to No. 3994 was perhaps the only valuable thing I could offer.

...

"If I'm not mistaken, number 3994 shouldn't have died of 'natural causes,' right?"

"It was Brother Chen who helped me get rid of this personal debt."

"If Brother Chen is willing, these two years of personal debt can be transferred to Brother Chen's hands."

Although he tried to sound calm, there wasn't a trace of confidence in Zhao Jie's tone.

Just as Zhao Jie himself knew: this suggestion had no appeal to Lu Chen at all.

As Zhao Jie had predicted.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen shook his head with a strange laugh without thinking, and casually flicked his cigarette ash.

"Just now, when you learned that No. 3994 died outside the city and that the private debt had become invalid, you didn't feel happy."

"Because for you, that personal debt is a distant future."

"—To live to the day when you can pay off your bank debts and start paying off your personal debts is a luxury for you right now."

"Your personal debts are so deep that even you see no hope of ever repaying them."

...

"An unrecoverable private debt is worthless."

"At least, you can't convince me."

The expected answer did not cause Zhao Jie to show any disappointment.

He gave a helpless smile, then, with a vacant look in his eyes, slowly said, "If that's the case..."

"Um."

"My body is not entirely without value."

These words caused Lu Chen and Yu Du to freeze in shock.

Then Zhao Jie shook his head with a wry smile and exhaled a long breath.

"Phew~"

"Brother Chen told me about it."

"The reason why No. 3994 wanted that 'Private Debt Repayment Agreement' is that if there are still debts that have not been paid off after my death, my body will be dismembered and auctioned off."

"With that Private Debt Repayment Agreement in hand, No. 3994 will be able to receive a portion of the auction proceeds."

...

Therefore, private debt is not entirely without value.

"If I really can't survive, that 'Private Debt Repayment Agreement' can bring Brother Chen at least 100 days' worth of income."

"—Indeed, not many."

"But this is probably the only value I possess now."

After saying this, Zhao Jie ignored Lu Chen and Yu's reactions and went into a daze.

A moment later, he reached for his sandwich and ate it silently.

After finishing his meal, he naturally clapped his hands and wiped his mouth.

Then she looked up at Lu Chen and said with a frank smile, "Really expensive."

"It takes 45 minutes to prepare just one serving, which is really not cost-effective."

I probably won't eat it a second time.

These casual words prompted Lu Chen, sitting opposite him, to slowly raise his hand, subconsciously bringing his thumb to his lips and gently rubbing the stubble on his chin.

Beside her, Yu rested her elbows on her legs and her chin on her hands, looking at Lu Chen with great interest.

Then Lu Chen suddenly said, "It's not expensive."

"This is the cheapest way to get protein and salt in District 18."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jie smiled calmly.

"18th District".

"It's the area we're in, isn't it?"

"I hope Brother Chen won't charge me [time] for this information?"

...

After he finished speaking, a long silence fell on both sides of the long table.

Zhao Jie looked relaxed – he had done all he could, and the outcome was up to fate.

Yu was even more interested, waiting for Lu Chen to make a decision, her face full of excitement.

Lu Chen, however, remained silent for a long time.

"Don't worry too much about me."

"Do it your way."

"I trust you."

Seeing that Lu Chen remained silent, Yu assumed that Lu Chen was hesitating, so she whispered something.

Lu Chen seemed to ignore him, his face still tense, lost in thought.

I don't know how much time passed.

After a long while, as the scavengers began to enter the store, Lu Chen finally let out a long sigh of relief, as if he had made up his mind.

He gazed intently into the depths of Zhao Jie's eyes for a long time before slowly saying, "Our next trip out of the city will be at the end of the month."

"Specific time to be determined."

"During this time, while you're working at the coal mine, try to preserve your time as much as possible."

"- It's best to keep the balance at least 70 days."

"Once we've set a specific time for leaving the city, I'll find you at our usual spot—the rope inn closest to the city gate."

...

"Before leaving the city, you need to bring your own food—four slices of dark bread per day, enough for seven days."

"And water, you'll have to find a water bottle yourself and fill it up."

"We have all the tools we might need outside the city."

"As for the profits from scavenging..."

At this point, Lu Chen turned his head slightly and looked at Yu with a hint of seeking permission.

After Yu nodded slightly, he said, "Yu and I will split the profits 40-60, with me taking 40%."

"If I take you out of the city, the profits will be split 50/30/20, with you taking 20%."

"We'll talk about the rest later."

After saying this, Lu Chen stood up first and looked down at Zhao Jie.

After Zhao Jie on the opposite side and Yu Du beside him stood up one after another, he finally added: "Squatting outside the recovery point and selling information to the recoverers is not a bad thing in itself."

"But don't go too far."

"Earn what you deserve."

"Don't forget that you were once a lonely, confused, and helpless survivor."