"But that won't do. You need to stay here and make sure the Cor Lapis ends up in your hands. Otherwise, Gentry Maocai might raise the price and snatch it away."
Victor Wang stroked his chin, thinking. "That does make sense."
"Mm, but we still have to go to the Chasm and Qingce Village to buy the remaining Cor Lapis. Maybe by then, the shipment here will already be salvaged. If you make it in time, you can just wait for us at the Feiyun Commerce Guild's warehouse."
"That's the only way, then."
Not long after Lumine and Paimon left, two salvage ships loaded to the brim sailed toward the docks.
At the same time, Gentry Maocai galloped toward Ivanovich's shop on a spirited, majestic steed.
"Faster! Everyone hurry up!"
"Master, since that batch of Cor Lapis isn't due for delivery until tomorrow, give me more men and more time. Tonight… I'll definitely make Lord Chang open his mouth!" Changhu followed behind on horseback with a group of servants.
"You useless fool! Good-for-nothing! I ought to cut you to pieces! This isn't about Lord Chang anymore. There are two groups buying up Cor Lapis on a massive scale—this is clearly aimed at me! You want time? Who the hell is going to give me time!!"
"T-this…" Changhu was too frightened to answer.
From ten meters away, Gentry Maocai bellowed, "Ivanovich! You still have Cor Lapis here, don't you?"
Ivanovich didn't answer right away. Waiting until the group drew closer, he first glanced at the guest standing not far away by the sea, then cautiously replied, "I'm terribly sorry. Someone just bought them."
"Again…"
"Would anyone really dare go against you, Master?"
Gentry Maocai raised a hand to silence his men. He circled his horse restlessly in place, his gaze lingering on Victor Wang's back, then asked coldly from above, "So you've already delivered the Cor Lapis?"
Ivanovich gave a subtle hint: "The contract's been signed. The goods… should be arriving at the dock right about now."
The guest who had bought the goods might have the strength, but in this world, strength alone wasn't enough—you needed background, too. If the contract was with the Feiyun Commerce Guild, Ivanovich would never dare breach it. But with an unknown youth? Backed by Gentry Maocai, there was room to maneuver.
Relieved, Gentry Maocai dismounted, and his men hurried to follow.
"I'll pay five percent more. Since the goods haven't been delivered yet, hand them over to me instead."
"Five percent?" Ivanovich's expression stiffened. That wasn't enough to cover breach-of-contract penalties.
"You don't want to?"
Ivanovich shook his head slowly, firmly.
"Hmph! Ten percent then! Rip up the contract right now!"
The fact that Ivanovich had kept his business afloat even after Snezhnaya's purge showed his dealings were fairly clean. Still, he was an outsider. If foreign trade caused trouble, the Liyue Qixing would take notice. Though Gentry Maocai was displeased, he grudgingly raised his offer.
"Fine, fine. I'll draft a new contract."
For ten percent more profit, Ivanovich sold Victor Wang out without hesitation.
As he waited to sign, Gentry Maocai barked at his men, "The ships are here! You useless dogs, get moving and guard them!"
"Yes, Master!"
But less than a minute later, they came running back.
"Master! Th-the Cor Lapis—some adeptus took it!"
"What did you say?"
"Both ships' worth of Cor Lapis vanished in the blink of an eye—taken by an adeptus!"
"Adeptus? Why would an adeptus steal my goods?" Ivanovich's hand trembled, accidentally tearing the fresh contract.
Gentry Maocai's face darkened as he scanned the docks. Seeing no adeptus-like beast, he turned with a venomous glare to Changhu. "Where is he?"
"No need to search. I'm right here."
"It's him! It's him!"
As Victor Wang approached, Changhu instinctively stepped back, nearly bumping into Gentry Maocai, who kicked him away in fury.
Still not satisfied, Gentry Maocai jabbed a finger into Changhu's forehead. "An adeptus, my ass! That's the author of The Butterfly Lovers! Where's the cargo?!"
Victor Wang sighed helplessly. "Didn't he say it clearly? Those two ships' worth of Cor Lapis are mine now."
"You think this is funny? A hack writer like you—don't tell me you think you're clever."
"You're too arrogant." Victor Wang couldn't be bothered with more words. He waved at Ivanovich. "The contract is signed, the Mora paid, and naturally, the goods are mine."
"Sir… did you truly take them all?"
"The contract states it in black and white. The Cor Lapis belongs to me. Why shouldn't I take it? Or do you think I'm joking, too? Anyway, goodbye."
With a cold snort, Gentry Maocai stormed toward the docks a few dozen meters away.
Ivanovich followed nervously. The salvage ships were indeed the ones he had contacted, but the holds were empty, as though they had fished up nothing but air. He demanded, "Where's the cargo you salvaged?"
The captain looked confused. "Your client took it. He showed the contract you signed, then used adeptal magic to collect everything. Saved us the trouble of unloading."
Adepti weren't supposed to be… humans?
Ivanovich swallowed hard. Best not to press further—after all, the profit was already pocketed, and luckily he hadn't signed the new contract with Gentry Maocai. Otherwise, he'd be the one unable to deliver.
"Gentry Maocai, you heard it yourself. The goods are gone. Nothing I can do."
"Damn it! Damn it all! After him, all of you!"
His men hesitated, faces pale. "Master, but that's an adeptus…"
"If you don't chase him, I'll bury you in Jueyun Karst tomorrow to spend eternity with real adepti!"
At once they mounted their steeds and galloped after Victor Wang. The timing was tight, and they quickly caught up, surrounding him.
Gentry Maocai rode into the circle, teeth gritted. "Brat! This batch of Cor Lapis isn't for someone of your level! Pretending to be an adeptus—whatever trick you used, hand it over if you know what's good for you!"
"I've long heard Gentry Maocai is skilled at forced buying and selling. To think you'd dare do it in broad daylight at Liyue Harbor. Do you mean to trample the law and disgrace the Liyue Qixing?"
Enraged, Gentry Maocai raised his whip. "Enough talk! Will you hand it over or not?!"
"Heh… hehehe… hahahahahaha! If you want it so badly, then I'll grant you one piece!"
Victor Wang tapped his Wentian Sword, and a chunk of Cor Lapis appeared in his hand, which he hurled straight at Gentry Maocai's face.
"You—!"
"Master!"
The servants cried out in alarm, but none dared intercept.
Just before it struck Gentry Maocai, the Cor Lapis halted midair, wrapped in wind, neither falling nor advancing.
"You wanted Cor Lapis, didn't you? Then catch."
The stone floated into Gentry Maocai's arms as Victor Wang soared upward on his Wentian Sword, towering above him.
"…You—you really are an adeptus?"
"No. I'm not an adeptus. Remember this well: my name is Victor Wang."
"You—you're Ningguang's partner! You really intend to side with the Feiyun Commerce Guild against me?!"
"Think whatever you want. I truly do need the Cor Lapis."
The Wentian Sword carried him skyward, shrinking to a speck before vanishing from Liyue Harbor.
"So cool…" Changhu muttered, quickly covering his mouth. To his surprise, Gentry Maocai didn't hit him, only brooded darkly, calculating.
"Two forces buying up Cor Lapis—this man, and the Feiyun Commerce Guild. No choice… bring the Fatui executives to the Guild's warehouse."
"Master, do you really mean to—?"
"Who do you think is easier to provoke, the Fatui or the Feiyun Guild? The Guild cut me off for no reason—cutting off a man's fortune is like killing his parents!"
…
High in the sky, Victor Wang was relieved no one came to check his flying sword license. Heading toward the Feiyun Commerce Guild's warehouse, he prayed that Gentry Maocai would stay strong and not ruin the coming show by collapsing too soon.
When he arrived, Xingqiu was at the warehouse door reading, the other guards seemingly dismissed.
"Divine halberd, cursed blade, endless strife and silence… I can't think of a proper word for this sixth volume…"
Reluctantly, Xingqiu closed the Legend of the Shattered Halberd in his hands.
"Eh, Victor? What brings you here?"
"I've been here nearly five minutes… I'm collecting Cor Lapis to treat my strange illness. Ran into Lumine, heard you were planning to teach Gentry Maocai a lesson, so I came to join. At The Butterfly Lovers premiere, didn't you say you had grudges with him?"
"That's right.
"I once trained under the First Apprentice of Guhua. All my sword skills and elemental techniques came from there. Plus, I've always had a taste for chivalry—that's the background.
A few days ago I got word. One of my senior brothers, an honest and good man, was working as a guard at Gentry Maocai's estate. His younger son drove him nonstop for three days and nights, crippling his legs forever."
At this, Xingqiu's rare fury surfaced. He asked Victor Wang, "Tell me—what kind of man raises a son so inhuman? If even his own child is spoiled rotten, what does that say of Gentry Maocai's own character?"
"There was such a thing?" Victor Wang truly hadn't heard before.
"But don't worry. I've already taken care of what needed to be taken care of. All that's left is punishing Gentry Maocai himself."