Enemies Are All Nourishment for My Fungi

All the purchased items were stored together in Ye Nai's Space.

The people in the canteen were accustomed to seeing security personnel gathered in the Academician District; it's a common sight. Regardless of gender, their appetites were enormous, easily consuming three big bowls of noodles without their bellies protruding a bit.

After buying everything, they drove straight to Ye Nai's underground garage, avoiding surveillance, parked the car, and opened the Transmission Port to go directly to the Otherworld.

As usual, they first made a stop at Beigen Military Fortress.

Today was a clear day, but it was about to get dark. Ye Nai took out an apricot-colored rain shelter, turned on the lights, and set up a long table. Everyone started working together to repack the goods bought from the wholesale market yesterday into different bags.

"Alright, let's go, let's exchange for salt first. Tighten your collars; the sea wind is strong."

After packing everything, Ye Nai opened the Transmission Port, bringing everyone to the seaside salt field.

As soon as they landed, they were met by a gust of sea wind that blew the "weak" Blue Star people around, making them stagger.

"Is the wind always this strong here?"

"Yes, that's the feature; strong wind, rapid sea water evaporation."

"What's this location?"

"The outskirts of Salt Town. We have to walk inside; that's the rule. Everyone who comes to buy salt has to do the same, even the trucks have to enter empty to show they're not here to steal or rob."

"Okay."

The female team members quickly adjusted their formation, sandwiching Ye Nai in the middle, bending over, and bracing against the strong sea wind as they walked toward the town.

They walked slowly, and several salt trading teams caught up from behind, their truck boxes empty.

Relying on their height, they mocked the oddly dressed group on the roadside as short, questioning if their families had sent a bunch of little girls to buy salt due to the lack of adults.

The security team members had spent all night cramming Otherworldly vocabulary and understood the mockery. None responded, but their formation became tighter, firmly surrounding Ye Nai.

Once they struggled into town, the buildings acted as a barrier, and the previously leg-breaking sea wind suddenly ceased.

Staggering slightly, they steadied themselves, and Ye Nai moved to the front, leading the team to exchange for salt.

Exchanging for salt was simple: either use gold and silver coins or equivalent commodities.

And the salt trading teams that entered empty naturally could only settle with gold and silver coins.

Ye Nai took out food and spices like sugar and oil.

The bulk goods purchased from the wholesale market yesterday were meant to be used here.

The town folks responsible for selling and loading salt smiled broadly upon seeing Ye Nai's goods.

"Oh, Ye, you haven't been here for a long time."

"Yes, there was a bit of trouble at home, I only went out after sorting it out. See how thoughtful I am, coming here first with ample supplies, give me more salt."

"No problem, we have plenty of salt this year."

The other party called someone to assist, bringing Ye Nai to a small room behind to haggle.

Ye Nai took out paper and pen to note the requested materials, repeatedly pressing numbers on the calculator. After nearly an hour, they finally agreed on a mutually satisfactory transaction.

Then, they moved to a large courtyard to start the formal transaction.

The accompanying security team served precisely to supervise the scene.

Ye Nai also discussed the war with the other party; this seaside salt field actually faced harassment. The number of salt trading teams had decreased considerably, and according to the salt traders, many grain-producing areas had their fields trampled by the military, losing crops yet still taxed, leaving many villages and towns deserted.

Compared to those villages and towns, Salt Town still managing to conduct business was seen by the entire town as fortunate.

"The war is ending. If you see a military unit resembling me, show them this to prove your acquaintance with me for reasonable arrangements."

Ye Nai didn't have the current military promotional material, but her security team members had internal photos on their phones.

Everyone in the courtyard weighing the goods looked at them in turn, and even the mayor was called, profoundly thanking Ye Nai for her kindness, promising to survive the war, should those noble lords come again demanding salt, they'll give it, as long as they stay alive.

Ye Nai took out her phone and snapped a group photo with the mayor and everyone present, then used a computer and printer to print it onto A3 paper as a temporary certificate, rolling it into a tube to hand to the mayor.

The mayor pinched the paper tube with two fingers, repeatedly expressing gratitude.

When settling accounts afterward, the other party even gave several extra bags of salt.

After verifying the count and weight, confirming everything was accurate, Ye Nai packed up the items, bid farewell, opened the Transmission Port, and left with her team.

The locals looked enviously at the spot where the Transmission Port closed.

"I always said Ye is definitely the Great Witch; she used to be alone, but now she brought guards, she must have upgraded at home."

"The Great Witch certainly isn't doing merchant work anymore; this trip was surely to deliver peace tokens to us."

"The Great Witch truly is a good person."

"Her endorsed military must also be excellent; I saw the formation, it's really neat."

"Surely, we must continue living well to see the military she endorses firsthand."

"Yes, live well."

Ye Nai crossed the Transmission Port with her team, arriving at the next trading location, but what she saw was a scene of a city engulfed in flames, seemingly ruins. It's clear that many delicate little houses had become dilapidated, and the original residents were gone, likely fleeing in distress.

"This doesn't seem like an accidental fire; it looks like arson from wartime," the security team quietly pointed out while Ye Nai remained silent.

"That's how things are in the Otherworld; they're fighting us on one hand and internally on the other. I've been back to Blue Star these days, and two to three years have passed here, anything could happen."

Ye Nai sighed, mourning the loss of her previous business partners.

"Let's go, to the next location."

Ye Nai opened the Transmission Port and continued running.

Fortunately, the next location remained unchanged, and her previous trading partner was happy to see Ye Nai back in the Otherworld. They took out a small box of gold coins, buying salt and grain respectively.

During weighing, the trading partner chatted endlessly with Ye Nai, saying how difficult business had become lately, with wars raging everywhere. Some months ago, they heard someone had ascended to a high position, then a few days ago news came that person was ousted, replaced by a newcomer, who was now demanding grain and tax from civilians. Those unable to pay would have their entire families taken as cannon fodder, and he was struggling to keep his assets afloat.

Ye Nai advised the partner to observe her security team's attire closely and reiterated what she had said at Salt Town.

"I don't know how long you have to wait, but when you see a military unit resembling me, don't resist, surrender directly, then report my name. Given our business dealings, there will be reasonable arrangements for you."

The partner's gaze slowly swept over the security team, for a moment feeling utterly parched.