Chapter 61: That 2 Million Was Definitely Worth It!
Ah Jiu flipped straight to the final page of the catalog for Lin Huai. “We carry both, but they’re quite expensive…”
Lin Huai leaned in to check the listings: the Mechanical Retrieval Arm was priced at 800,000 underworld coins, while the Autonomous Driving System cost a staggering 1,200,000!
Noticing her brief hesitation, Ah Jiu quickly chimed in, “Don’t worry, Fanfan! Taking both might be a bit tight right now, but you can always buy one first. Once you save up more coins, you can come back for the other.”
He lowered his voice slightly. “If you really want both today, I’ll do everything I can to apply for a discount on your behalf.”
Lin Huai considered her options and asked, “Once I spend one million coins, how long will it take for you to be promoted to shop manager?”
Ah Jiu scratched his head, looking puzzled. “I’m not entirely sure either. When I was promoted to supervisor, the change happened right after the transaction settled. Our ranks are assigned directly by headquarters. Once you hit the required threshold, our feathers change color on the spot, and the promotion takes effect immediately.”
“Good. That makes sense.”
A shop manager naturally commanded far more authority than a mid-level supervisor.
If Lin Huai wanted to learn more about the mall’s hidden rules and unlock better long-term perks, getting Ah Jiu into the top seat was her best move.
Without another word, she purchased the Autonomous Driving System. Instantly, 1,200,000 underworld coins were deducted from her system account.
Lin Huai stood up and guided Ah Jiu toward the front desk. “Come on, let’s settle the bill first!”
The golden-winged manager stood behind the second-floor counter, grinding his teeth in frustration as he processed the payment. Reluctant as he was, he had no choice but to squeeze the official words through his clenched jaw: “Supervisor Ah Jiu has demonstrated outstanding sales performance and met the qualifications for managerial rank. He is hereby promoted to Shop Manager of the District 44, Zone 444 Repair Shop! His personal rank is simultaneously elevated to High-Tier Golden Nine-Headed Phoenix!”
The second the announcement ended, a warm golden light flared around Ah Jiu’s feet. When the glow faded, his sleek silver wing feathers had transformed into the exact radiant gold of a head manager.
The deposed manager stepped up to Ah Jiu, his face dark with bitter resentment. “Don’t look so pleased with yourself! After the next district merger, you might not be sitting in that manager’s chair for long!”
With a harsh screech, he snapped his broad wings and flew straight out the open window into the dark sky.
Curious, Lin Huai asked, “Where did he go? To another zone?”
Ah Jiu closed his eyes, as if downloading an update from headquarters. After a brief pause, he opened them and nodded. “He was summoned back to headquarters. Ousted managers have to return for reassignment. They’ll probably send him to manage a shop in a different zone.”
“Well, your management system is certainly well organized…”
Ah Jiu fluttered his brand-new golden wings, happily leading Lin Huai back to the plush sofa. “Fanfan, I have full discount authority now! How about I give you fifty percent off?”
Lin Huai smiled, holding back on an immediate choice. “Ah Jiu, if you cut the price in half right away, won’t headquarters give you a hard time?”
Ah Jiu paused, a little unsure. “Probably not… You’re a super VIP, after all. A half-price deal shouldn’t be that big of an issue…”
Seeing his uncertainty, Lin Huai shook her head firmly. “Then let’s skip the deep discount. Don’t worry—I’m not short on cash. I’ll pay full price. Instead of cutting the cost, you can just toss in a few extras. As the new manager, you definitely have the power to hand out complimentary gifts to your best VIPs, right?”
Ah Jiu nodded vigorously. “Of course I do! In that case, I’ll give you a modest ten percent off. Pick whatever else catches your eye, and I’ll run a buy-two-get-one-free deal for you. Before you leave, I’ll throw in a batch of repair cards and gift packages too!”
Stepping into the manager’s shoes had clearly made him generous, and Lin Huai was more than happy to accept. With the ten percent discount applied, the mechanical arm came to 720,000 coins. Checking her balance, she was just 30,000 short.
Still, with Jiangzhehu Inheritor managing their finances, running out of funds was never a concern.
She sent a quick message to borrow 100,000 coins from the young heiress, settled the bill for the mechanical retrieval arm, and began browsing the display cases. She selected a set of golden floodlights and a vehicle-mounted spirit-detecting camera.
The floodlights were listed at 80,000 coins, and the camera ran for 40,000. Lin Huai fully intended to pay for the camera, but Ah Jiu waved a golden wing dismissively and added both items to her order free of charge.
Every component on the second floor was exceptional—each piece was infused with mystical energy. Lin Huai saw dozens of upgrades she would have loved to mount on her vehicle, but with her pockets emptied for the day, she had to leave them for later.
Knowing she couldn’t predict when she would run into this repair shop again, she felt reluctant to walk away. She even briefly considered borrowing more from her squad mates to buy up everything she could.
As if reading her thoughts, Ah Jiu smiled warmly. He retrieved a gleaming golden VIP card along with three pure golden feathers and handed them over. “Fanfan, take these. This is our super VIP card. The next time you find a station, you can use it to walk straight up to the second-floor showroom.”
He pointed to the plumes. “And these three feathers are a personal gift from me. Carrying specialized station tokens gives you a ninety percent chance of triggering the outpost along your route!”
Lin Huai took the items carefully and tucked them into her inventory. In return, she pulled out a large burlap sack packed with roasted melon seeds, peanuts, and dried fruit. “Ah Jiu, these are for you. If you like them, I’ll bring an even bigger haul next time!”
She smiled. “Whenever you’re craving a snack, just send me a message and I’ll send some over.”
Ah Jiu nodded eagerly. Dried fruits and roasted seeds were his absolute favorites. “Fanfan, you’re the best! Our catalog updates regularly, so before you drop by next time, send me a wishlist. I can transfer the parts from our central warehouse ahead of time so you never leave empty-handed.”
Before saying goodbye, he handed her two premium repair cards and five standard ones. On top of that, he offered a complimentary installation service, mounting the golden floodlights and the spirit camera onto her hearse. He even fine-tuned the vehicle’s front and rear balance, giving the heavy chassis incredible stability so it would stay glued to the road even during high-speed drifts.
By the time the upgrades were finished, night had fallen. Ah Jiu saw her off at the gate with endless enthusiasm.
Reviewing the incredible haul inside her inventory, Lin Huai couldn’t help but smile. Spending those two million coins had been worth every single penny!
With the autonomous driving system and the mechanical retrieval arm installed, she felt as though her hands and feet had finally been set free.
On its own, the basic autopilot was somewhat limited. In fact, it was practically brainless—moving at a crawl and completely blind to low-tier wandering spirits.
If an invisible monster blocked its path, it would plow straight into it; but if a slow-moving zombie stumbled into the headlights, it would brake to a dead halt and politely wait for the creature to cross. If the corpse didn’t budge, the car simply sat there idling.
Fortunately, Lin Huai had the Yellow Springs Road Guide on board. Linking the divine compass with the autonomous driving module solved every issue at once.
Guided by the real-time scanning of the road guide, the armored hearse ran smoothly and swiftly. It could drift around sharp mountain switchbacks without a single shudder from the frame. Its automated precision was arguably better than Lin Huai’s own driving.
Lin Huai couldn’t help but chuckle—maybe she really should have entered that circuit time trial earlier.
Meanwhile, the mechanical retrieval arm was an absolute dream. She no longer had to tap the brakes and hop into the rain every time a supply crate appeared along the shoulder. Now, she could lounge on the sofa inside her second-floor glass observation room, sipping wine and nibbling on pastries while the crane smoothly scooped up boxes and deposited them into the lower hold.
All she had to do was wait until she parked for the night to open the entire day’s haul at once.
The hearse covered two hundred kilometers in one smooth stretch. At ten o’clock sharp, the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons began.
The shadows along the highway swelled as hordes of wandering ghouls and zombies marched past in endless rows.
Lin Huai didn’t slow down. With the autopilot handling the road, there was no danger of falling asleep at the wheel, meaning she could keep gathering roadside crates deep into the night. After all, the machine never got tired.
