Shao Yun took the cargo list and skimmed it absentmindedly, only to find it filled with all manner of torture devices.
The common ones—spiked whips, tiger benches, and the like—barely held his interest, hardly worth mentioning.
But the crueler instruments, like a cranial splitter or an iron chair bristling with spikes, stirred just a flicker of curiosity in him.
What truly caught his attention, however, was the electric chair powered by an Electro Slime.
After all, he had seen such a thing before… just never as refined as Alice's design.
Notably, the electric chair even came with tools for capturing Electro Slimes: an insulated glove and a special insulated net.
Shao Yun then opened Alice's handwritten book.
Its pristine pages were densely packed with notes—precious knowledge and execution techniques she had either tested herself or compiled from others.
Alice had gone to great lengths, detailing every method of punishment, from step-by-step procedures to the resulting consequences.
As he read, Shao Yun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. 'Wow… to keep me from killing and destabilizing the boundaries of Teyvat, Alice really has racked her brains.'
When he reached the final page, a thin envelope slipped into view.
Shao Yun's heart stirred. Just as he reached for it, intending to see its contents, a lively, crisp voice interrupted him.
"Now that business is settled, it's shopping time!" Dori winked, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Shao Yun blinked, distracted, and shifted his gaze from the envelope to her. "What?"
Dori cleared her throat, a confident grin on her face, and launched into her well-practiced pitch.
"Welcome to Dori's All-Purpose Shop! We've got everything under the sun—from rare treasures to handy everyday goods, guaranteed fair to young and old alike!"
"As long as you've got enough Mora, there's nothing you can't buy here. Whatever you need, whatever problem you face, come to me—I'll definitely solve it for you!"
Even before finishing, she was already pulling out a variety of bizarre trinkets from her pockets.
Beaming, she added, "I heard you're traveling with companions. Well, I've got tons of handy travel gear! Care to take a look? Special discounts today only!"
She shook a water flask before him, then displayed a fine little compass.
Shao Yun watched curiously as she pulled out one odd gadget after another—an ingeniously designed travel pack, a compact but powerful field dryer, and even a peculiar umbrella that collected rainwater. The collection dazzled the eyes.
But Shao Yun only gave them a cursory glance before waving his hand dismissively. "These things don't seem very useful. I don't need them."
Dori, of course, refused to let a potential deal slip away. With bright, insistent eyes, she pressed on. "Oh, don't decide so quickly!"
"Sumeru has a unique transport—pack beasts! Much better than boring cargo balloons. Don't you want to buy one? I promise the price is fair!"
At that, Shao Yun couldn't help laughing aloud.
To him, no pack beast could outshine the agility and strength of his horse.
"I already have a horse. It's far better than any pack beast."
Dori's eyes flew wide, as though she'd uncovered a new world.
"A horse? From Mondstadt? Are they becoming common again? I must visit Mondstadt and investigate!"
Though Shao Yun had no interest in her pack beasts, something else she'd said piqued his curiosity.
Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Oh? Earlier, you said that no matter what someone needs or what tricky problems they face, they can come to you. Is that right?"
Dori's heart leapt. In her sharp little mind, the sound of Mora already clinked like coins in a till.
'Heheh… looks like this customer's in serious trouble. I'm about to strike it rich!'
Smiling slyly, she asked, "Could it be you want something specially custom-made?"
"Or maybe you've got a thorny problem you can't solve? Though I must say, services like that don't come cheap…"
Shao Yun smiled faintly, his expression unreadable, and replied with studied carelessness. "Don't worry, I've got more money than I can count. As long as you solve my problem, I'll spend as much Mora as it takes—without blinking."
Dori's eyes lit up, her excitement barely containable.
Grinning ear to ear, she urged, "Oh my, you're wonderfully generous! I love straightforward customers like you! Quick, tell me—what do you need?"
She was convinced she'd just hooked the biggest fish of her life.
Little did she know… she was the fish, and Shao Yun the fisherman.
With calm finality, Shao Yun said, "I want to see the Dendro Archon."
The words struck Dori like thunder, her jaw dropping so wide her eyes nearly popped from their sockets.
It took her a long moment to recover before stammering, "Wha—what?! I… I didn't mishear, did I?"
Shao Yun repeated clearly, "I want to meet the Lesser Lord Kusanali. Can you arrange it?"
At this, Dori's heart clenched. If she had such power, she'd already be Teyvat's wealthiest merchant!
Hurriedly, she scrambled for excuses, putting on a humble face. "Oh dear, I'm so sorry. I'm just an ordinary merchant, with shallow connections. I don't know the big shots in the Akademiya at all."
She shook her hands repeatedly. "Something like that requires powerful favors. Even if you piled me with Mora, I couldn't do it. You don't know how rigid those Akademiya fossils are."
Shao Yun chuckled at her words.
'Shallow connections? Coming from Dori? Not buying it.'
With a playful smile, he asked, "Oh? Shallow connections, you say? Then how did you get this grand Palace of Alcazarzaray? Did the wind just blow it here for you?"
He gestured casually around at the opulent palace.
Dori gave a bitter smile and sighed. "You don't understand. Money can push ghosts, but compared to power, it's nothing."
"Even I, a 'small merchant,' must bow and scrape when crossing paths with a Matra Officer."
"And to meet the exalted Lesser Lord Kusanali? That's absolutely impossible with money alone. Please, don't make things difficult for a boastful little merchant like me!"
Shao Yun watched her feigned distress. He knew it was an act, but didn't press further.
If meeting the Archon locked away for five hundred years were that easy, either Dori was omnipotent… or the Akademiya were complete fools.
Smiling with disarming ease, he said, "I understand. Since ancient times, money doesn't beat power. I was only joking."
Relieved, Dori exhaled and quickly said, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. Safe travels, no need to see me off!"
She turned to flee, lest he spring another impossible demand.
Shao Yun paid her no mind, focusing instead on opening the envelope Alice had left him. He began to read carefully.
…
"When you see this letter, you should already have the torture devices I sent you. Enjoy the joy of not killing… I beg you! Those border-chewing doggies are really annoying!"
"Oh, and remember that extra reward I promised you? Show this letter to Dori, and she'll provide you with free, high-quality lodging in Sumeru! If she dares refuse, hehe, I'll cut off her supply lines!"