Chapter 247: Chapter 165: These NPCs Are Really Wild (First Update)_1

The game “Space Navigator” adhered to the usual characteristics of Fang Cheng Studio, which is the absurdly high degree of freedom.

Although trade is the primary element, there were no restrictions in the early stages on players earning money through trade, so other means should also be possible.

Liuzi tapped his glasses, and Delta said in a voice he could hear, “You’re right in your conjecture, we don’t limit players’ initial ways to make money. You can sell your own paintings, help out with jobs, or even wash glasses for the bartender.”

Glancing at the glasses on the bartender’s counter, Liuzi felt that one glass was like a small cubicle for him; physical labor was not quite suitable for a squirrel’s small physique.

Thus, selling paintings appeared to be a suitable method for players to accumulate wealth in the early stages.

Hence, Liuzi, with only a thousand faiths in hand, started to procure the related items.

Due to a lack of artistic cells, the art industry here was not entirely nonexistent, but it could be described as disastrously poor. After searching the local network through Delta, Liuzi found that there were no brushes that he wanted, and in the end, he could only purchase charcoal pencils and white paper.

These items weren’t expensive, only costing 3.5 faiths, but they were not easy to use, and he figured it would take some time to get used to them.

The logistics of the Star Age were exceptionally developed; as soon as Liuzi placed his order, the items he wanted were quickly delivered to him by a force field orbiting the planet.

The force field was one of the most incredible inventions of this era, which could affect the four fundamental forces through high-dimensional interference; it was the most widely used technological product.

Balancing the charcoal pencils and paper, he returned to the bar only to find the place in shambles.

“Hey, what’s going on!” exclaimed Liuzi in surprise.

The countertop was overturned, chairs were knocked over and askew, and there were holes and scorch marks on the floor; it looked like the aftermath of a fierce battle.

A group of wild wolves were lying scattered on the ground, some animals were catching their breath nearby, tending to each other’s wounds; the bartender elephant’s ear was missing a piece, with milky-white blood rolling down to the floor from its wound.

Seeing Liuzi walk in, the eyes of the elephant became exceptionally fierce, and it casually picked up the mixer next to it, ready to head towards the door to give Liuzi a beating.

However, after realizing it was Liuzi, its eyes softened again.

Touching affectionately towards its chest, the elephant took out the napkin that Liuzi had used and handed it to him.

The water on it hadn’t dried yet, and one could faintly see the brushstrokes from Liuzi’s earlier painting.

“You forgot this when you left, little guy. These wild wolves heard there was precious cargo here and planned to take it after seeing your painting, but we kept it safe. I don’t know how you created this picture, but it’s very good.”

Liuzi wanted to say that it was just something he had casually drawn, not worth mentioning, and there was no need for them to do that.

But seeing the bartender elephant’s affectionate actions and the gaze of the other animals, he felt that these NPCs’ actions had imbued the napkin with additional value.

He carefully stored the napkin and said to the bartender elephant, “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“To thank everyone, may I draw a portrait for each of you? It will be quick, just a few minutes.”

The expression on the bartender elephant’s face became especially lively at that moment.

It widened its eyes, involuntarily opened its mouth, and then covered its face with a large hand, asking in disbelief, “Really, I can have one?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“We get one too?” A bat swooped over and asked excitedly.

“Everyone gets one.”

Under the expectant eyes of a group of small animals, Liuzi hopped onto a chair, and the nearby bartender immediately obligingly brought over the paper, then let Liuzi start painting.

The body-sensing gloves of the VR all-in-one machine had gone through an upgrade; now, their precision had increased by thirty percent, making it easier to perform some originally intricate movements.

After a few strokes with the charcoal pencil to get the feel, Liuzi began.

The key to portrait painting was not the likeness, but the accurate form and spirit.

Besides, if it was just about likeness, cameras could achieve that, but he wanted to incorporate some of his own understanding and thoughts.

In minutes, the elephant’s portrait took shape on the paper, with just a few strokes delineating an elephant wandering through the forest, and a few swipes brought out beautiful effects of light and shadow.

Carefully rolling up the drawing with its trunk, the elephant bartender pressed the painting close to its eyes and said excitedly, “Oh my, this is me!”

“You can see yourself in the mirror on a regular basis,” a leopard added unimpressed, picking up a broken bottle from the floor and drinking the leftover liquor.

“You know nothing!”

“Damn it!”

Liuzi, meanwhile, looked at the leopard and in a few minutes had drawn an image of the leopard running across the grass.

Despite the simple lines, the leopard’s movement conveyed a strong sense of power and speed, which left the leopard that saw the picture speechless for a long time.

Although it had never been to the place depicted in the painting, it felt oddly nostalgic.

It felt a bit shy for being naked but also felt a sense of liberation, thinking that being unclothed wasn’t so bad after all.

About a dozen animals received paintings as a token of gratitude; each one marveled at their own image on the canvas, feeling that it was not them, yet it had to be them.

Seeing the small animals’ reactions, Liuzi felt confident that his first pot of gold shouldn’t be a problem.