"By the way, Keqing..."
Ningguang looked curiously at the strange fruit in Keqing's hand.
"Is that a Devil Fruit?"
There were quite a few Devil Fruits in the East Blue arc of One Piece.
However...
She had never seen this particular one before.
She wondered what kind of special ability it possessed.
"I'm not sure."
Keqing examined it for a while, equally puzzled.
She then turned her gaze toward Han Feng, waiting for his explanation.
"That's the Human-Human Fruit."
Han Feng smiled as he explained.
"When eaten by an animal, it grants human-level intelligence, learning ability, the ability to walk on two legs, and other traits unique to humans."
"It also allows the animal to understand both human and animal languages."
"So it's an ability that lets animals evolve?"
Keqing fell into thought.
It sounded somewhat similar to the transformation techniques used by certain creatures in Inazuma.
If she ever encountered a suitable animal...
It might be worth trying.
If successful...
It would essentially become a living translator.
That would greatly improve communication between humans and animals.
"But..."
"If it has such amazing effects on animals..."
"What happens if a human eats it?"
A thought suddenly flashed through Keqing's mind.
If it truly had additional benefits...
She'd be willing to endure the awful taste of a Devil Fruit.
Looking at Han Feng expectantly, she asked,
"Boss Han..."
"If I eat it, what would happen?"
"Would I become smarter or something?"
"Hmm..."
Han Feng grinned.
"I can reward you with the inability to swim."
"Does that count?"
Keqing: "..."
The real weakness of Devil Fruits was the Seastone found in seawater.
Freshwater had only a minimal effect.
Still...
The Human-Human Fruit was indeed largely useless for humans.
Unfortunately...
Keqing didn't know that.
She assumed it meant she wouldn't be able to touch water at all.
She immediately shook her head.
"...Forget it."
Not being able to swim wasn't a big deal.
But if she couldn't even take a bath...
That would be a disaster.
For a young woman...
That price was far too high.
Better to keep the fruit for now.
If the right animal appeared in the future, she'd let it eat it instead.
"Ningguang."
"Let's head back."
"Mm... Wait."
Ningguang was just about to nod when she suddenly remembered something.
She quickly turned toward Han Feng.
"Boss..."
"Did... Mr. Zhongli receive some extraordinary reward from your shop yesterday?"
Although Rex Lapis was still alive...
He had already retired.
So Ningguang didn't feel it appropriate to call him "Rex Lapis" in public, instead referring to him as Mr. Zhongli.
"Oh?"
Han Feng looked slightly surprised.
"Did he come looking for you?"
Had the Northland Bank really been drained dry by Zhongli?
Was he now short of funds and asking the Liyue Qixing for assistance?
"Yes."
Ningguang nodded.
"He came yesterday afternoon."
Yesterday afternoon...
She and Keqing had been discussing the upcoming Dou Dizhu Tournament aboard the Jade Chamber.
Suddenly...
Zhongli had appeared.
He said he intended to build an enormous stone statue.
However...
The project would require tremendous resources.
He hoped the Liyue Qixing would lend their support.
Neither Ningguang nor Keqing understood exactly what was happening.
But since it was Rex Lapis's request...
There was naturally no reason to refuse.
Still...
He had been in a hurry and hadn't explained much.
Out of curiosity...
Ningguang had decided to ask Han Feng instead.
After all...
Whenever something bizarre happened...
Nine times out of ten, it was connected to this manga shop.
"So he really is short on money."
Han Feng thought for a moment before explaining the matter of the giant stone statue.
Since Zhongli had already asked the Qixing for help...
They deserved to know the truth.
"So that's what it is."
Ningguang nodded in understanding.
Although she had no idea what an Ultraman statue actually was...
She understood the general idea.
It was a safeguard Rex Lapis intended to leave behind for the people of Liyue.
If an overwhelming disaster ever struck...
The statue could be revived by the so-called "Light."
"Ningguang."
Keqing turned toward her.
"Then we should support Mr. Zhongli with everything we have."
She too understood Rex Lapis's intentions.
Although she'd always advocated that Liyue should ultimately be governed by humanity...
A necessary safeguard like this was still important.
"Yes..."
"But the expense will be enormous."
Ningguang rested her chin on one hand.
A statue capable of carrying Rex Lapis's power...
There was no way it would be cheap.
Besides...
Given Rex Lapis's habits...
He always insisted on using the finest materials.
And never bargained over prices.
It was bound to become an astronomical expense.
On top of that...
If the Jade Chamber upgrade succeeded...
She would still need to spend another fortune furnishing it.
The more she calculated...
The heavier the pressure became.
As Liyue's wealthiest woman...
This was the first time she'd ever truly felt that she didn't have enough Mora.
"...No."
"I need to organize the Dou Dizhu Tournament as soon as possible."
Ningguang silently made up her mind.
Between registration fees...
Ticket sales...
And all the related revenue...
She could finally recover some funds.
Using that money to build the statue...
Could also be considered taking from the people and giving back to the people.
With that thought, she turned to Keqing.
"Come to the Jade Chamber."
"We have things to discuss."
"Alright."
Keqing nodded.
The group bade Han Feng farewell before leaving the manga shop.
Meanwhile...
Mona had also finished reading her manga.
"That Time Machine is incredible."
Closing Ultraman Tiga, Mona looked astonished.
It could actually foresee events millions of years into the future.
When she'd reached that part...
She'd found it almost impossible to believe.
It was far more incredible than her own astrology.
After all...
How many years of history did Teyvat even possess?
"The more I learn..."
"...the smaller I realize I am."
Mona sighed softly.
Shaking her head, she put the thought aside.
She looked toward Lumine nearby.
"I'll head over to Boss Han first."
"Okay."
"We'll be here a little longer."
Lumine smiled without looking up.
Mona nodded before carrying her manga toward the counter.
Han Feng glanced at the system panel.
The reward had already refreshed.
[Customer Mona has finished reading Ultraman Tiga.]
Reward obtained — Petrification Ray.
Petrification Ray: An ability originally possessed by the monster Gakuma in Ultraman Tiga.
Releases a blue beam capable of turning anything it strikes into stone.
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