After listening to Cynthia's whimsical remarks, Volo paused for a moment and then couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha, if something like that existed, I'd also want Arceus to directly tell me where all the Plates are."
After he finished laughing, Volo's expression turned serious again.
"Regarding the Plates, I've seen another record inside the ruins."
"There are a total of eighteen Plates belonging to Arceus, and once all eighteen Plates are reassembled, mystical writing will appear on the backs of the Plates."
"And after gathering all eighteen Plates, simply playing the Azure Flute will allow one to meet the true Arceus, and possibly even have the opportunity to make Venerable Sinnoh an ally!"
As he said the last sentence, an entirely different fervor appeared in Volo's eyes.
There was no change in Cynthia's expression, but inwardly she had quietly raised her guard a little.
Volo and she indeed shared many similarities.
Both had a fondness for ruins and a strong desire to explore things that had already faded into the long river of history, willing to spend considerable time figuring out an ancient legend.
Yet there was a clear difference between the two.
Cynthia's true interest lay in history itself; she wanted to know what had happened behind the ruins and aimed to unearth stories buried by time.
In contrast, Volo displayed an emotion far beyond mere historical interest when he mentioned meeting Arceus and even having the opportunity to capture Arceus.
He genuinely desired that opportunity.
If Volo were also searching for the Plates, then a conflict between them might ensue.
There was even another possibility.
Volo wouldn't necessarily need to search piece by piece himself; he could simply wait until they collected most of the Plates and then find a way to take them directly.
Provided, of course, that he was confident enough in his own strength.
Volo seemed to realize his previous display was rather overt and soon reverted to his usual cheerful demeanor, his fervor receding accordingly.
"That about wraps up the explanation regarding the Plates and Arceus, and you can consider it a free reward for what you just told me."
"As for anything else you want to know from the Ginkgo Guild, that will definitely require payment~"
Cynthia too laughed.
"No problem, as long as Mr. Volo can provide the whereabouts of the Plates, the price can be discussed."
"So, how many Plate locations does the Ginkgo Guild currently have control over?"
Volo squinted slightly, his face now returned to his usual business-like demeanour.
"That statement seems to overestimate the Ginkgo Guild a bit."
"There are only eighteen plates in total; you already have seven, and four others involve the Kings and their mounts from other regions, leaving only seven genuinely unaccounted for."
"The Ginkgo Guild can only determine the whereabouts of two of them at present."
As he spoke, Volo held up two fingers.
Cynthia's eyes gleamed slightly.
"How much for the information on two plates?"
"A bargain."
Volo grinned broadly as he named his price.
"Fifty taels of gold~"
Ash: "..."
Pikachu: "..."
Cynthia's smile didn't change much.
The next second, Ash finally couldn't hold back.
"Fifty taels of gold?!"
"Are you selling information or robbing us!"
Fifty taels of gold is not fifty taels of ordinary silver coin.
Previously, when the Diamond Clan and the Pearl Clan each offered a hundred taels of gold as a reward, even Adaman and Irida themselves knew how exorbitant that number was.
Now Volo hasn't even produced the Plates themselves.
Just two locations. Starting at fifty taels!
Is this the exclusive way to grab money in the old times?!
"Don't be so agitated, Ash-kun."
Volo showed no embarrassment over the price.
"These Plates belong to Venerable Sinnoh, and currently in all of Hisui, you probably can't find a second person who can tell you the locations of two Plates at once."
"So fifty taels is really very cost-effective."
"Ten taels."
Cynthia's calm voice suddenly sounded.
Volo: "..."
Ash: "..."
This is even tougher than Volo!
Volo's smile visibly froze for a moment.
"Miss Cynthia, isn't ten taels a bit..."
"Eleven taels."
Volo: "..."
"No, I mean ten taels is too low, not just adding one tael more."
"Fifteen taels."
Cynthia gave a new price quite calmly.
"Can't go any higher."
"Fifteen is really too little; these are two Plates belonging to Arceus, and you yourself know how important these items are."
"What matters is the Plates, not the two sentences you hold."
Cynthia showed no sign of being led astray by him.
"You can only provide approximate locations; you can't guarantee we'll be able to obtain the Plates immediately upon arrival, nor can you guarantee the two Plates will still remain at the locations you have intelligence on."
"Trying to sell information of such a degree for fifty taels, isn't Mr. Volo a little overestimating the reputation of the Ginkgo Guild?"
Volo opened his mouth but didn't immediately find appropriate words to refute.
Cynthia did not stop because of this, directly pulling into the transaction all the supplies they bought today and the Ground Attribute Items they would continue purchasing afterward.
The two sides haggled over the price for quite a while, with Ash standing beside them several times wanting to chime in, only to find no suitable spot to interject, ultimately retreating with Pikachu in his arms.