Reincarnated as a bamboo rat, it begins its extreme survival struggle.

However, in addition to resource production, the four cities also have unique urban characteristics that cannot be imitated by outsiders. This is their city's calling card. Even if other cities try to cultivate it, they cannot achieve the same effect.

What makes Chishui City unique is its diverse array of intelligent races. Among the many cities in the entire southwestern inland region, none possess such a strong sense of inclusiveness as Chishui City.

After paying the entry fee and entering Redwater City, Bell immediately saw at least three different intelligent races.

The first thing that catches the eye is a group of demi-humans with tiger heads. As the martial class of their race, these tiger-headed demi-humans work in Chishui City in a way similar to hired security guards, escorting goods for merchant guilds like bodyguards.

Selling one's labor is the most common way for various races in Chishui City to make a profit, since it is a business with no initial investment.

Like the cannibalistic alien race, they are born with lower intelligence than humans, but their physical strength can easily reach the level of a level twelve or thirteen human after adulthood. With a little training, they can easily defeat a level fifteen or sixteen human, and they can sell their brute force.

Some races, however, sell their intellect.

For example, there are races that are naturally inclined to magic and skilled in various intricate tasks, and they will cooperate with mages to conduct research projects.

There are also many clever goblins who choose to cooperate with big, dumb ogres and other such creatures, offering them advice and preventing these big, dumb ogres from being cheated when trading with humans.

After all, humans are synonymous with cunning in Redwater City. Even the shrewd and stingy goblins have been deceived by humans in numerous cases, not to mention other races.

Among the diverse and strange races, the acorn, completely covered in its own clothing, didn't stand out at all; instead, it easily blended into the crowd of passersby.

Chapter 213 Goblin Guides and the Black Gold Merchant Guild

"Sir, you look unfamiliar. This must be your first time visiting Chishui City."

A few minutes after entering Redwater City, a dark-skinned goblin appeared in front of Bell, running and hopping.

He pitched himself to Bell, offering to show Bell around the area and find him a suitable place to stay.

These goblins are somewhat similar to taxi drivers soliciting passengers at the entrance of train stations in big cities, or hotel owners calling out to people looking for accommodation; they will run up and strike up a conversation when they see someone they don't recognize.

Their main job is to act as guides for outsiders, introducing them to various aspects of Chishui City.

Despite their dark appearance and tattered clothes, goblins practically dominate the guiding business in Redwater City. Even the scantily clad, sexy girls can't steal their business.

There are many reasons for this situation. One is that the goblins established and standardized the basic rules for their profession as guides, which enabled them to successfully accumulate a reputation far exceeding that of other races.

Secondly, the goblins have powerful backers, with an organization guaranteeing their guide careers. Even when they rarely receive clients, the goblins can still receive a basic salary, so they don't have to worry about transitioning to a different career path. This naturally eliminates other competitors who are in competition with the goblins.

This is the true value of guaranteed income regardless of drought or flood; compared to other individual businesses, the goblins have truly made it ashore.

The large organization behind them wasn't losing money by supporting these goblins; on the contrary, these goblins brought them considerable profits.

"Sir, this is a chain hotel under our Black Gold Chamber of Commerce. You can see its signboard in all seventeen cities in the southwest. In Chishui City, one of the top four cities, we have the qualification to register for membership. As long as you register as a member here, you can enjoy a 20% discount at other chain hotels under the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce."

"This is a dance hall under the Black Gold Merchant Guild. If you need to relax, you can come here to have fun in the afternoon and evening. We have professional bard ladies to accompany you and keep you entertained. In the evening, there are also charming senior bards holding song and dance parties."

"Our Black Gold Chamber of Commerce attaches great importance to the liquor business. We have launched a new spirit called 'Roar of Flames' in the taverns under our jurisdiction. It is said that you can tell whether you are a real man just by taking a sip."

……

Bell hired the goblin that jumped in front of him for three silver coins.

This price is actually quite expensive, but for most people who come to Chishui City from other places, it is still within an acceptable range.

The goblin who gave the explanation was also worth the silver coins Bell paid. He first took Bell to an inn to stay at, and after parking the ironwood cart, he led Bell to explore the city of Redwater.

His explanations were incredibly detailed, and aside from inserting a soft advertisement for the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce almost every ten sentences, Bell couldn't find any fault with him.

This goblin would occasionally blurt out some information that high-level professionals cared about, making Bell somewhat eager to learn more.

But under Bell's persistent questioning, the goblin table

He indicated that he himself did not know the meaning of that information, and recommended that Bell go to the tavern under the Black Gold Merchant Guild to gather information.

This is also where goblins are better than other guides; they can obtain fragments of high-level intelligence from the Black Gold Merchant Guild behind them. Even if they don't understand it, the fact that they can say these things is something that high-level adventurers pay special attention to.

Other self-employed tour guides don't have anyone specifically teaching them these phrases.

Following the goblins took Bell most of the day. He arrived in Redwater City in the morning and didn't finish exploring the city until evening.

This is just one district within Chishui City specifically designed to serve adventurers.

For a city like Chishui, which is among the top four cities, its land area is extremely large, and the city has a special functional area plan.

The area where Bell is currently located is a district serving adventurers, primarily consisting of service industries. Across from this district is an area specifically for professional guilds, where new recruits are trained and skills are acquired. Further along, there's an area housing municipal institutions such as the city council…

Chishui City is divided into five functional areas, and each functional area is about the same size as Cangxing City.

According to the goblins, within the area where the professional guilds are located, there is also a large library built by Chishui City, which houses a vast collection of books, covering everything from professional traditions to local customs and stories. Residents of Chishui City can enter and study there at a relatively low price. Outsiders can also enter, but the fee is twice that of locals.

Such unreasonable charges are actually a good way to strengthen the cohesion of Chishui City.

The residents of Chishui City derive a subtle sense of superiority from this preferential treatment, making them proud of their city. Meanwhile, outsiders, drawn by the generous benefits Chishui City offers its residents, actively seek to join the city and gain local residency.

Over time, Chishui City attracted many outstanding talents through this method, and these talents multiplied and thrived here, eventually creating a unique culture.

Within the seventeen cities of Southwest China, those who frequently travel between cities for work consider it an honor to join the Upper Four Cities.

"Sir, that's a general overview of the Chishui City area. If you plan to venture into the Raging Waves Canyon later, there are guides from our Black Gold Merchant Guild there. They are highly skilled, and we hope you can give them a chance, just as we gave me this opportunity."

After completing his guiding duties, the goblin bowed deeply, expressing his appreciation for the hard-won nature of this job, which is a mandatory part of the goblin guide's professional code.

But as he was saying goodbye to Bell, the goblin took two steps, then abruptly turned back and said to Bell:

"Sir, you have an extraordinary demeanor, unlike those who have never seen the world. I think you may have come for the Crimson Essence of Crimson Water City. This specialty will be auctioned at the Black Gold Merchant Guild's auction in five days."

After saying this, the goblin quickly left and disappeared into the twilight sunlight in just a few steps.

Bell was no stranger to the name Crimson Essence. He had heard of this treasure back in Azure Star City. There were many descriptions of it in the notes of bards and in the chatter of the high-class market.

However, none of those descriptions explicitly stated what this substance was used for; Bell only knew that it was a substance whose effects varied from person to person.

Chapter 214 No Pain in Chishui City

"The Black Gold Chamber of Commerce is a behemoth."

Sitting on the soft bed in the chain hotel, Bell marveled at the Black Gold Merchant Guild's extravagance. The soft mattress beneath him would take at least seven or eight months to make if crafted by a single weaver, making it quite expensive.

In chain hotels, this is just a standard feature in guest rooms. Bell could see the signs of mass production on this mattress, knowing that the Black Gold Merchant Guild had kept the cost of related items very low.

This further illustrates the terror of the Black Gold Chamber of Commerce, because it is not simply a chamber of commerce that resells goods, but a powerful organization that covers various fields and has its own production facilities.

A chamber of commerce that can expand its business to all seventeen cities in the southwest and has entangled interests in even more distant areas should not be underestimated. In a sense, a chamber of commerce of this caliber can already engage in equal dialogue with a top-four city like Chishui City.

"I really want to experience what it's like to see all those things today."

Compared to Bell, who was thinking about the structure and power distribution of the Black Gold Merchant Guild, Acorn's thinking was much simpler. He followed the goblins all day. Bell listened to the goblins introduce Redwater City, but Acorn couldn't understand the language. Besides following along, all he did was use his mental power to observe what the people around him were doing.

He discovered that the most successful roadside vendors were those selling food, whether it was fruit or snacks; these stalls always had a good flow of people.

Everyone showed a joyful expression after eating, which aroused the acorn's strong curiosity.

After all, this kind of skeleton race doesn't have the concept of eating in the conventional sense. Although they can devour other people's souls through attacks, the stimulation brought by this behavior is very singular.

"Why do people have different expressions when they are doing the same thing?"

"Because the food is different, the feedback is also different."

Acorn was puzzled, but Bell found it difficult to explain to him. After all, even if he used his mental power to simulate this feeling for Acorn, he could only give him a vague impression.

But the acorn's curiosity was positive, at least it was a good start for his life in the human world.

“Acorn, let’s explore Redwater City these next few days and find out what this Crimson Essence is. I remember reading in the bard’s notes that Crimson Essence can be used by almost all races, but the specific effects vary from person to person.”

"Such a vague expression."

"It is indeed very blurry, but the Crimson Light Essence is a very interesting thing. It is said that as long as you use it, you can obtain unimaginable pleasure."

Bell had seen a rather absurd comment in the bard's notes: "There is no pain in Redwater City." It is said that no matter how bitter or resentful a person is, as long as they drink the essence of Redlight, they can gain inner peace.

This unique assessment naturally piqued Bell's curiosity.

Moreover, Crimson Light Essence is a unique product of Crimson Water City; it exists only in Crimson Water City throughout the entire world.

Finished Crimson Light Essence purchased in Crimson Water City has an extremely limited shelf life. Unless placed in a time-stopped realm, the Crimson Light Essence will remain for a limited time.

After a period of stability, they all decay and become ineffective at an alarming rate.

This unique resource, during its production season, even attracts powerful figures from the coast who travel great distances to Chishui City to enjoy the essence of the Crimson Light.

Inside Redwater City, no matter how much information Bell gathered, he couldn't get a clear answer. After all, the production of Red Light Essence was low and the price was expensive, and most high-level adventurers had never used it.

Of all the people Bell asked, only one was a melancholy middle-aged man in the tavern who had once drunk the Crimson Essence.

"What? You ask what the essence of crimson light tastes like? It's the most wonderful thing in the world."

After taking a swig of beer, the dejected middle-aged man tirelessly described the scene to Bell.

"Drinking the Crimson Light Essence is like drinking the finest beer. You see your favorite person, your body feels lighter, your soul feels clearer, and you can even see my Melissa... hiccup..."

After burping, the melancholy man who had been drinking suddenly slumped over the counter and began to sob.

"Dude, who's Melissa? Is she your wife?"

Bell wanted to know more from the melancholy man, so she casually asked him a question. But this question made the man cry even harder, and she couldn't comfort him.

Bell didn't know where this change in his mood came from, nor did he know how to comfort this weeping, melancholy man.

However, his behavior was clearly far removed from the line in the bard's notes that "there is no pain in Redwater City".

"This guy was just lucky. He drank the Crimson Light Essence a few more times, and then he turned out like this. He wasn't destined to enjoy this blessing."

The bartender said to Bell that the melancholy man was a regular at the bar, and everyone else in the bar knew about his situation.