Apocalypse Gachapon Chapter 2006: Distribution

Ye Zhongming inquired about the price. Cheng Liujin didn't know the exact figure and offered only a rough estimate. Upon hearing it, Ye Zhongming gave a nod. Based purely on that rate, acquiring a vast tract of land seemed entirely feasible.

He instructed Cheng Liujin and Ya Shinan to keep watch on this issue for him. Then, Ye Zhongming declared, "Jie Su and I intend to mine a resource star."

Though his tone remained soft, the words struck the Star-Eye Clan members like a deafening thunderbolt.

They understood Ye Zhongming wasn't one for jests, yet disbelief etched across their faces.

The reason was simple: extracting resources from a star promised immense riches. Provided luck held and disasters stayed rare, profits would pour in abundantly.

However, the upfront costs were staggeringly high, far beyond what typical races could shoulder.

To start, cargo ships were essential—and multiples at that.

Earlier, the vessel Cheng Liujin used to fetch Ye Zhongming served for passengers and ranked as medium-scale, already a pinnacle asset for the Star-Eye Clan. Yet, it seemed insignificant next to true cargo haulers.

Power output lagged far behind.

Greater size demanded superior hauling power. The sheer bulk and mass of loads necessitated potent energy cores, costing a fortune. Plus, with relentless usage, upkeep across every system devoured massive sums.

Next came fuel expenses: pure Moonspan Gold.

Cheng Liujin's craft burned thousands of Moonspan Gold for a short round trip. Imagine the drain for a cargo behemoth boasting tens of times the thrust and hundreds the capacity—each voyage's toll was unimaginable.

A figure the Star-Eye Clan scarcely dared contemplate.

Last but not least: specialized machinery, skilled crews, and full support infrastructure.

Each resource star yielded unique ores, demanding tailored equipment suites in bulk. No matter the type, prices soared sky-high, and the sheer volume needed chilled the blood.

Expert operators posed another hurdle for minor races like theirs, who'd long lacked such stars. Major clans hoarded these pros, tied to their own operations. Scouting talent? Impossible. Training from scratch? Time-draining, and no teachers existed—big clans guarded secrets fiercely.

This was an ironclad barrier, a vicious cycle.

Mining demanded more: dedicated spaceports, vast storage depots, smelters, fortress shuttles, trade allies, distribution webs, security squads, finance experts, liquid funds... the list endless.

Ignore it, and troubles vanished; ponder it, and nightmares swarmed.

As the group buzzed with fervent debate—especially Ya Shinan, the Chief Logistics Officer whose insights rang sharp and practical—Ye Zhongming uncovered issues the Cloud Peak King had overlooked.

"Zhongming, setting these hurdles aside, which resource star are you targeting?" the Star Lord pressed.

Resource stars were open to all in theory, but shifting safe zones limited viable ones to those gripped by powerhouse clans. Even if the Star-Eye Clan overcame prior woes, wresting one away was suicide against such giants.

Ye Zhongming recounted the tale of resource star 1157, now adrift beyond safe domains—a detail he'd shared with Jie Su. Listeners' faces spasmed; this Bronze Order Leader's audacity stunned them!

Yet admiration bloomed for his fearless vision and resolve. The Clan Leaders inwardly questioned if their caution had shackled the Star-Eye Clan's fate.

"Prior to kicking off this plan, we need to head to that star first for a thorough check. In addition to verifying the ore deposits' types, their layout, and how much is left to mine, we must see what else remains there. Machines would be a huge plus, even if they're damaged; fixing them beats buying brand new every time. At minimum, the existing mine shafts and tunnels are ready to use, which alone will cut costs significantly."

Upon hearing Ye Zhongming's words, everyone realized this Bronze Order Leader was fully committed to mining resource star 1157.

"You mentioned earlier that you talked it over with Jie Su, not the whole Su Clan?" Jikesu questioned.

Ye Zhongming gave a nod, "Correct, Jie Su and I are spearheading this, along with our clan. I believe that suffices. Bringing in the entire Su Clan would make it smoother, sure, but we'd risk losing control. That would dilute the profits considerably."

"What about the startup funds?"

Eye Lord raised his top concern while mulling over the plan's viability. Thanks to Ye Zhongming's arrival and exploits on the Novice battlefield, the Star-Eye Clan's fortunes had turned for the better lately. The shop's reopening brought steady revenue, yet they remained far from prosperous.

Embarking on this venture would demand a hefty injection of capital.

Ye Zhongming had been quietly crunching numbers in his mind from the start. He'd also quizzed the group on equipment prices and such. At last, he arrived at a ballpark figure.

"Jie Su's taking care of the ships and travel paths. Our job is the machinery and workforce. On the profits at the end, he gets forty, I take sixty." Ye Zhongming scanned the room, his eyes lingering on the two Clan Leaders.

"The clan puts up three million Moonspan Gold, and I'll cover five million. My sixty percent cut, we split down the middle."

Eight million Moonspan Gold in total investment was truly modest. Ye Zhongming knew the clan's tight spot, figuring three million was their max.

He was ponying up five million personally yet sharing profits evenly because he lacked the manpower; that had to come from the Star-Eye Clan alone.

By now, all grasped Ye Zhongming's style. Stunned as they were that he possessed five million Moonspan Gold, no one objected to the split.

No choice really; Ye Zhongming steered most decisions. He set the direction, leaving Star-Eye Clan folks to trail behind.

Silence descended on the room briefly. A conflicted sentiment stirred in many: this Bronze Order Leader could propel the Star-Eye Clan to greatness, yet he... wasn't fully theirs.

Ultimately, the two Clan Leaders clenched their jaws and consented.

Just as Ye Zhongming had astutely pointed out to Jie Su earlier, the Star-Eye Clan's dire straits left little room for hesitation over risks.