Chapter 115: Second Enhancement

Our Apartment Complex Transmigrated… Again

After arriving, Zou Jianghe pushed Huang Tao aside and took the main position.

Noticing Zou Jianghe's sidelong glance, Huang Tao felt annoyed deep down, but on the surface, he still greeted politely, "President Zou, you arrived really quickly."

Zou Jianghe gave a faint smile, "I've been wanting to contact Mr. Qin recently, so it seems this is a coincidence."

While speaking, he kept staring intently at Qin Ziwen before him. In his eyes, this man seemed shrouded in a layer of mist.

Although their Alliance controlled two altars, these two altars were not his private property.

He also couldn't blatantly take all the cards for himself.

He could confirm that this Qin Ziwen absolutely knew the location of a hidden altar, possibly even more than one.

"Oh? He joined the Alliance too." Qin Ziwen looked at Huang Tao beside him.

Zou Jianghe said, "Of course, Mr. Huang is now a member of our alliance. He joined almost a week ago."

Before Zou Jianghe could speak, Huang Tao proactively said, "The Alliance internally purchases my Carpenter's Hut products at cost price, also provides me with premium wood materials at cost, and sent some apprentices to learn carpentry from me."

Zou Jianghe glanced at Huang Tao.

"Mr. Qin, please join our Alliance. In these critical times for the residential complex's survival, we need outstanding individuals like you to join our big family."

Qin Ziwen said calmly, "President Zou, my moral standards aren't high, so don't try moral coercion on me. If there are suitable opportunities, we can cooperate mutually. But as for joining your alliance, let's forget it."

Zou Jianghe said, "Is it because the terms seem harsh? Actually, the conditions can be negotiated."

Huang Tao was stunned. Conditions can be negotiated? That's not what you damn well told me back then!

"It's not about the conditions."

"Screech~"

The Crowned Eagle let out a cry. It flew in from an angle above, circling overhead.

Du Yu hurried over from the distance, a Monk's Knife at his waist, holding a Compound Bow with an arrow nocked, stopping fifty paces away. At this distance, he never missed.

"President Zou, are you saying that within the residential complex, there can only be one voice?"

Zou Jianghe fell silent for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head, "Mr. Qin, you jest. The Alliance is a place for everyone to have a voice. How could there be only one voice? Perhaps I'm too eager for talent, appearing too anxious, causing some misunderstanding. I hope we have a chance to cooperate."

Zou Jianghe turned to look at Du Yu not far away, and Zhao Pu behind Du Yu.

After speaking, Zou Jianghe led his people away. With things said to this point, staying was unnecessary. He couldn't lower himself further.

Regarding Zou Jianghe's departure, Huang Tao showed no expression. He just leaned his head closer, lowering his voice, "Even if the deal falls through, goodwill remains. If you have thoughts of cooperating later, you can come find me. Although Zou Jianghe is the alliance leader, the price he can offer might not be higher than mine."

After speaking, Huang Tao gave a light laugh and turned to leave.

......

After those people walked far away, Du Yu approached quickly, bow in hand.

"Sir, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Qin Ziwen shook his head, somewhat puzzled, "How did you all get here?"

Du Yu was even more surprised, "Wasn't it you, Sir, who sent the Crowned Eagle to notify us? Just now, after the eagle flew over, it bit my clothes. I thought you sent it."

Qin Ziwen turned to look at the Crowned Eagle standing proudly beside him. This guy had its wings folded, chest puffed out high, its eyes rolling around. Ever since being enhanced once, this creature's intelligence seemed to have leaped forward.

Qin Ziwen rubbed its head, chuckling, "You clever little thing."

Du Yu pondered for a moment, then suggested, "Sir, let's act together from now on."

Zhao Pu also showed concern, "Mr. Qin, having more people is indeed safer."

Qin Ziwen didn't refuse, "Alright, then let's go together. Later, we can try circling up the mountain from the other side. Although the path is longer, we should still reach the cave."

After the seven people gathered, they first headed toward the stream.

On the way, Li Yue couldn't help but complain, "Those people just now were all from the Alliance, right?"

Deng Guang said, "They were from the Alliance. The one who looked like a smiling tiger is their president, Zou Jianghe."

Li Yue immediately got angry, "That group is too domineering. Their attitude was like they were recruiting someone? If you didn't know better, you'd think they were here to rob. No wonder many people in the complex dislike them. Wherever they go, they act like crabs, wishing everyone would make way for them."

"Cough, cough, cough—" Deng Guang suddenly covered his mouth, coughing violently.

Li Yue didn't understand and even turned to ask him, "Brother Deng, don't you think I'm right?"

Deng Guang looked at this naive kid and said quietly, "Here among us, we still have a Building Head from the Alliance sitting right here."

Li Yue's expression instantly froze.

Zhao Pu waved his hand with a smile, "I joined the Alliance with Mr. Qin's approval. Whenever Mr. Qin wants, I can quit anytime."

"S-sorry, Brother Zhao, I really didn't know..." Li Yue hurriedly apologized.

Zhao Pu didn't mind, "Actually, what you said isn't wrong either. Within the Alliance, there is a portion of people whose conduct isn't great. This isn't any secret."

Hearing this, Qin Ziwen and the others cast curious glances.

Zhao Pu continued, "It's just that after some people join the alliance, relying on this identity, they engage in forced buying and selling during transactions with others. Also, some good resource points have been occupied by teams flying the Alliance banner. I've heard several conflicts have happened recently. And I've heard two altars have almost become the Alliance's private property, not allowing anyone else to approach at all."

Qin Ziwu frowned, "That domineering?"

Zhao Pu sighed, "Ultimately, what's bad is never the organization itself, but some people within it. The Alliance is, after all, gathered by people. Having a mixed bag is unavoidable."

Qin Ziwen then asked Zhao Pu, "Doctor Zhao, you've been in the complex a lot recently. If our team wants to expand our personnel, do you have any suitable candidates to recommend?"

Zhao Pu thought for a while, then suddenly clapped his hands, "There really is one. Didn't I just say some teams had conflicts with Alliance people?

At first, the Alliance side actually suffered a big loss. Trying to steal others' prey, they ended up getting several people shot dead instead. Reportedly, that opposing team had a recruited hunter who set all kinds of traps in the forest and had excellent archery skills."

Qin Ziwu wanted to hear the rest, "And then?"

"Then the Alliance side refused to accept the loss, so they ambushed them at the complex entrance. Both sides lost quite a few people. After the news spread, Zou Jianghe personally went to handle it, as it getting out of hand would harm the Alliance's reputation."

Deng Guang was curious, "How was it handled?"

"Just ended it, that's all." Zhao Pu smiled bitterly, "After all, he's the Alliance president. He can't side with the others, can he? That team suffered heavy casualties. The team leader is still alive, though. The hunter, I heard, was recruited by that leader."

The more Qin Ziwen listened, the more familiar it sounded.

"What's that person's name?"

"I don't know, only that they live in Building 1."

Building 1, and recruited a hunter.

Qin Ziwen roughly guessed who it was.

No wonder he hadn't seen Wang Yun recently.

......

While talking, the six arrived near the stream.

Li Yue kept looking left and right, tensing up at the slightest rustle or movement.

The wild boar incident last time really gave him psychological trauma.

Qin Ziwu patted Li Yue's shoulder, signaling him not to worry, "Don't worry. If that wild boar comes again, we'll just hunt it and eat it."

Li Yue stubbornly said, "I'm not scared at all. I'm excited... Ah, damn!"

Li Yue almost jumped. Right before his foot, a viper hidden in a pile of dry leaves was raising its head, poised to strike.

A blade light slashed diagonally.

The viper's head fell to the ground with a crack.

Du Yu sheathed his knife.

Li Yue turned his head sharply. Dude, you're showing off so coolly.

"Found the fish trap." Qin Ziwu passed by his side, quickly walking to the stream bank and lifting the Fish Trap placed in the water.

The flood caused by the heavy rain had already receded, the stream returning to its usual calm.

Gurgling stream water covered half the trap.

With a shake of his arm, he lifted the cage.

Numerous transparent stream shrimp jumped inside, and a few stream crabs hid in the cage corners.

Taking out the shrimp and crabs inside, he poured them into a bucket.

To avoid conflicts, the four Fish Traps placed in the stream were spaced a distance apart from each other.

"I remember placing one downstream too." Qin Ziwen walked along the stream bank for over forty meters, rounding a bend. He saw the Fish Trap originally placed in the stream had tipped over, with signs of beating and gnawing on the edges. A gap was torn open at the trap's connection point.

Seeing the trap damaged, Qin Ziwen frowned tightly, feeling somewhat distressed, "It's been damaged."

Du Yu came over upon hearing, observing it, "Looks like a bear did it."

Qin Ziwen immediately warned the others, "There might be a bear nearby. Everyone be careful."

Li Tieshan walked over, looking at the damaged trap, picking it up to examine, "Sir, this can be repaired. I'll fix it when we get back."

"Alright, take it back for now."

Fortunately, apart from this one trap being damaged, the other three traps were completely intact.

The remaining two traps contained one eel, one seven-star fish, over a dozen crabs, and two loaches.

Putting everything into buckets, folding and storing the traps, everyone walked upstream along the small stream.

With the Crowned Eagle leading the way, everyone detoured, this time ascending the mountain from another direction.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, they finally reached the mountain cave located on the mountainside.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp~"

Inside the cave, the giant toad hadn't returned yet. The bats at the cave ceiling kept chirping incessantly.

Looking from afar, a point of green light floated above the altar.

It was actually an Enhancement Card?

Qin Ziwen was somewhat surprised.

It seems Doctor Zhao's luck is pretty good this time. The card he chose is relatively high in value.

Entering the cave, he took out the card.

Coming out of the cave, Zhao Pu turned the card in his hand over and over, "This... is too miraculous. There are actually cards that enhance animals. I wonder if there are ones that enhance humans."

Hearing this, Qin Ziwen coughed repeatedly, his expression subtle.

He didn't know whether to say Zhao Pu had good luck or bad luck.

The rarity of Enhancement Cards is indeed higher than ordinary building cards.

If this were a Human Constitution Enhancement Card, it could be used directly. But it was precisely an animal enhancement card.

So this card can only be held onto, waiting until he recruits an animal someday, because only recruited animals can guarantee loyalty, ensuring it won't be wasted.

"Mr. Qin, can I exchange this card with you?" Zhao Pu looked at the Crowned Eagle. The eagle's size had changed once before, so he could infer that Mr. Qin must have obtained this type of card before. Only Mr. Qin could maximize this card's value.

"It can be done." Qin Ziwen told him honestly, "Your card isn't low in value. It's rarer than ordinary building cards. But I don't have a card of equivalent value in my hand to trade with you."

Zhao Pu said, "It's fine. What's suitable is what's best."

Level 1 Stable1, Level 1 Field1, Recruitment Card·Tame Mongolian Horse1, Level 1 Tailor Shop1, Level 1 Blacksmith1, (Advanced) Lava Fortress1, Expansion Card·Underground Cave (Small)1, Level 1 Coal Mine Card1, Level 1 Waterwheel*1

Qin Ziwen began considering which of his extra cards could be traded with Zhao Pu.

The Field and Lava Fortress definitely weren't suitable.

Because even if Zhao Pu dug up his entire land, he couldn't gather that much area.

The Stable and Mongolian Horse are a set, and horses have big appetites. Even if given to Zhao Pu, he might not be able to afford to raise them.

Then the Waterwheel pairs with the Field. A bare waterwheel is useless.

That left only the Expansion Card·Underground Cave, the Tailor Shop, and the Blacksmith.

He planned to keep the Blacksmith building card for his own use. One more card could upgrade the Level 2 Blacksmith to Level 3.

Qin Ziwen asked, "I have two. One is the Expansion Card Underground Cave, the other is a building card, Tailor Shop. Which one do you want?"

Zhao Pu pondered for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Mr. Qin, may I have that Tailor Shop?"

Qin Ziwen said, "You can. For these kinds of buildings, although they have some special bonus effects, they only serve as the icing on the cake. The real core is still the person using the building. Are you sure about the Tailor Shop?"

Zhao Pu nodded, "I'm sure. The Tailor Shop it is. Skills can be practiced. Also, it can be like Huang Tao's Carpenter's Hut, hiring people to work."

Qin Ziwen didn't feel particularly reluctant. Like the Blacksmith, he already obtained three cards. Trading away this Tailor Shop, he'd definitely get more later. And currently, there isn't even a tailor in sight within Home.

But he kept feeling he was taking advantage of Zhao Pu. With outsiders, fine, but Zhao Pu is part of the team after all.

After thinking for a moment, Qin Ziwen decided: if he obtains more Tailor Shop building cards later, he'll give Zhao Pu another one, helping him upgrade to Level 2.

The effect of Level 2 buildings is noticeably improved compared to Level 1 buildings.

After the two exchanged cards, Qin Ziwen suddenly remembered: after his Insight upgraded, he could apparently view recruited units and humans.

He immediately cast an Insight on the Crowned Eagle.

【Common·Crowned Eagle: ☆☆☆】

Only three stars?!

And this was after being enhanced once. So that means the freshly summoned eagle was two stars?

Qin Ziwen and the Crowned Eagle looked at each other, "You silly eagle, so lame."

Silently thinking "use card."

The others were seeing an Enhancement Card being used for the first time, curiously gathering around.

As the card shattered, turning into green light points that merged into the Crowned Eagle's body.

The Crowned Eagle instantly turned into light.

Its body size expanded continuously with the light.

Everyone's necks kept tilting upward.

Finally, when the light dispersed, standing there was a Crowned Eagle with a height of a full two meters.

Its height now surpassed everyone present.

As its wings spread, Qin Ziwen, standing closest, felt a strong gust of wind.

Flapping its wings, the Crowned Eagle flew overhead. Its wingspan had long exceeded five meters. In terms of size, although still not reaching the monkey-eating eagle that came to prey in the complex before, it was already not far off, enough to bring a powerful sense of oppression.

Most eye-catching were its claws. Originally long and sharp talons became even more exaggerated, like eight curved blades hanging beneath its body.

......