"Is that so?"
Keqing's expression softened considerably; in that case, he could accept it.
"Do you have anything else? If not, I'll take you to see Ningguang."
"No, that was just a sudden situation," Shiki said.
"Hmm, urgent needs are understandable."
Keqing nodded gently at the remark, then led the two into Yuehai Pavilion.
If it had been before, meeting Ningguang would have been truly difficult, as the Jade Chamber floated in the sky and required using a wind current to ascend.
However, the Jade Chamber has now transformed into the "Celestial Sphere," so Ningguang can only work at Yuehai Pavilion for the time being, and Liyue Harbor also no longer has the "Crushing Snow" that countless merchants coveted.
The interior of Yuehai Pavilion features a very typical Chinese architectural style. As an office space, the decorations here are not overly luxurious, but rather give a sense of understated elegance.
In contrast, the Jade Chamber was like a palace where ancient emperors resided, magnificent and opulent.
After walking for a while in Yuehai Pavilion, Shiki saw Keqing stop a girl dressed in a jujube-red Liyue attire.
"Baishi, what is Ningguang doing right now? Is it convenient to meet him?"
"Lord Keqing! Lord Ningguang currently has no urgent matters, but only fifteen minutes, as Lord Ningguang has other arrangements afterward," Baishi said.
Ningguang's daily schedule was planned by him, and this task was relatively easy, allowing him to firmly remember it.
"Good, I understand. You can continue with your work."
Keqing nodded, then headed to Ningguang's temporary office.
Knock knock knock
"Come in!"
"Ningguang, I heard from Baishi that you have time now?"
"After watching the competition, one always needs to rest, don't they?"
Ningguang said, slowly putting down his pipe, then turned to look at the three.
"Keqing, do you have something for me? And, we meet again, Traveler from Inazuma."
"Mainly, they have something to find you for. I'm just a guide," Keqing said.
"You two talk. I still need to go back and organize documents, so I'll be leaving first."
"Hmm, see you tonight, Miss Keqing."
"En, see you tonight."
Ayaka greeted Keqing and watched the purple-haired girl leave, then Ningguang slowly said:
"May I ask, what do the two of you seek from me?"
"Since you are the Traveler's friends, as long as it's nothing too excessive, I can agree."
Ningguang currently had great doubts about Shiki's identity, but he was very clear about Ayaka's identity.
After all, Inazuma had only been in lockdown for two years. The Young Miss of the Kamisato Clan, one of the Shogunate's Three Commissions, if not known to everyone, was certainly a household name.
The Three Commissions and the Seven Stars are equal in rank when there are no Archons present.
The Young Miss of Inazuma's Three Commissions—such a person was worth his time to establish a relationship with.
"Actually… we would like to learn some business knowledge, and also, which industries have higher profits? We hope Miss Ningguang will not hesitate to teach us," Shiki said softly.
"Business knowledge? This is not something that can be learned overnight; it requires a lot of time, both for me and for you."
"As for industries? That depends on the market."
"Now that Inazuma is locked down, the most profitable industry is definitely maritime trade, but it's also very risky. One wrong move and you could lose everything."
"Plus, with the lockdown, maritime trade is considered smuggling, and I don't recommend you do that."
"So, compared to trade, I think you could develop the entertainment industry."
"Especially in a lockdown situation where people can't go anywhere, interesting entertainment projects can make people pull out large sums of Mora from their pockets."
Ningguang truly lived up to her reputation as the richest person in Teyvat; in just a few minutes, she had analyzed the industries in Inazuma that would be profitable without incurring losses.
Shiki was also very interested to hear this. Inazuma's entertainment options were indeed scarce, with only the light novels published by Yae Publishing House.
And as someone not from this world, she didn't know what fun things could exist given the technological development of this world.
"May I ask Young Miss Ningguang for an example?"
"Certainly, for instance, the Pearly Jade Pavilion..."
"No, that won't do!"
Shiki stood up from her chair with a sudden clap upon hearing that, very quickly!
"I will not operate such a grey industry, even if it's very profitable!"
What were the most common entertainment venues in ancient societies? Weren't they places of ill repute and gambling dens?
Due to their divine being a female, Inazuma didn't have such places, but Liyue had many.
The most typical was the Pearly Jade Pavilion on the sea; it was a restaurant by day and a brothel by night.
Furthermore, the Pearly Jade Pavilion was secretly supported by the Qixing, not only for profit but also for gathering intelligence.
Shiki would not allow such grey industries to appear in Inazuma, for no other reason than that such things would greatly increase cases of human trafficking.
Moreover, looking back, which of those courtesans or fallen women didn't meet a tragic end?
As a Sobayonin of Inazuma, and also as a person from China on Earth, Shiki had a bottom line completely different from that of the people of Teyvat!
"My apologies, I lost my composure."
"It's alright, having a bottom line is a good thing." Ningguang chuckled lightly, not bothered by Shiki's reaction.
"However, if that's the case, then we'll have to lower the profit conditions a bit."
"Speaking of which, which industry is profitable ultimately depends on the current situation's development. What I tell you might not be applicable after some time."
"I understand all these principles, which is why I want to learn business knowledge," Shiki said.
"That's a good idea, but why should I teach you?" Ningguang retorted.
"As I said before, this is something that will take a lot of time for both you and me. As the Tianquan of the Qixing, I have countless matters to attend to every day."
"Why should I waste my precious little rest time to teach you business knowledge?"
Although Ningguang outwardly expressed refusal, Shiki understood that her true meaning was, what can I gain?
You can gain business knowledge, but what about me?
Given the Young Miss of the Kamisato Clan's status, she could answer some questions about Inazuma.
But if you want her to reduce her precious rest time every day to teach others, then just the Young Miss of the Kamisato Clan's status isn't enough!
"Heh heh, we certainly won't let Young Miss Ningguang teach for free."
"For a fair transaction, both parties must have equal bargaining chips, and I happen to have many such chips."
As Shiki spoke, she reached into her sleeve, then pulled out a basalt pillar.
"Does Young Miss Ningguang recognize this?"
"This is... a basalt pillar?"
Ningguang put away her pipe, and at the same time, shed her lazy demeanor from her rest.
"This kind of item only drops after a high-level element creature, the Geo Hypostasis, dies. And Guyun Stone Forest's Gimel hasn't been defeated by anyone for hundreds of years. Where did you find it?"
If a Vision wielder wants to ascend beyond their limits, they need to use various creations imbued with high concentrations of elements.
Unlike the Cryo Regisvine and Pyro Regisvine, which are at best mutated plants, their difficulty in subjugation is much easier than the Hypostasis series.
Because they have very obvious weaknesses.
As for the Hypostasis series, the first thing one must face is their hard outer shell.
Other elements can be consumed through elemental reactions, but the Geo element does not react with any other element.
This was why Ningguang was serious, because in her opinion, the Geo Hypostasis could not possibly be subjugated by a Vision wielder.
And the fact that the other party could find a basalt pillar indicated that they had connections unknown to her.
Although she initially considered selling her Vision, this did not prevent her from seeking ways to become stronger.
After all, great strength is also very helpful for doing business.
However, in the next second, the girl's answer left her utterly stunned.
"It's simple, I went to Guyun Stone Forest and then slaughtered it."
Shiki tossed the basalt pillar up and down, then gently placed it on the table, causing the wooden table to let out a mournful creak.
Undoubtedly, this was genuine; whether from its quality or the concentration of Geo element, it proved to be a real, authentic item.
Ningguang's brain glitched for a moment. What did she hear? The other party said she went to Guyun Stone Forest and subjugated the Geo Hypostasis?
"Young Miss Ryougi, if you're telling a joke, then I can only say it's not funny."
"Rather than you running off to Guyun Stone Forest to subjugate the Geo Hypostasis, I'd lean more towards you having purchased it from a channel I'm unaware of."
"But has Young Miss Ningguang considered that since we're here to learn business knowledge, it means we don't have that much Mora ourselves?" Shiki said.
"If it truly is a basalt pillar from hundreds of years ago, how much Mora would it cost to buy?"
Ningguang shook her head upon hearing this: "Mora is naturally currency, but currency is not naturally Mora. Sometimes, buying things doesn't necessarily require Mora."
"Don't worry, I won't investigate who the buyer is. I just feel that lies would damage our relationship."
"Furthermore, our transaction is established. Come find me at Yuehai Pavilion every day from three to four in the afternoon, and I will teach you my business philosophies and experiences from these years."
"Alright." Shiki nodded. She hadn't expected that one basalt pillar would be enough.
"However, Young Miss Ningguang still doesn't seem to believe me. I think you can send someone to Guyun Stone Forest to check."
"High-level element creatures like the Hypostasis series won't respawn for several weeks."
"If nothing unexpected happens, the Geo Hypostasis's territory should be empty right now."
"..."
Ningguang looked at the girl's calm face, frowning slightly, feeling somewhat unsure.
'Could it be that the other party really subjugated the Geo Hypostasis?'
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