"So in the end, just two weeks before the trade fair was about to be announced, you also got one."
"And since then, there's been no news about their trade fair."
Qin Siyang was puzzled: "The three major commerce associations obtained the Vine Core, but what does that have to do with me? They can sell theirs, and I'm not interfering."
"Besides, I didn't sell the Vine Core. It doesn't affect their pricing, so why would they want to kill me?"
Zhao Longfei glanced at Qin Siyang and said: "You've never done business before, so it's only natural that you don't think like a businessman."
"Before this, the Vine Core in the hands of the three major commerce associations was the only one publicly available for trade."
"They were definitely planning to work together at the trade fair and expected to make a significant profit."
"But after all their preparations, just when they were about to hold the trade fair, suddenly, you also obtained a Vine Core."
"And what's even worse for them is that your Vine Core is bigger than theirs."
Qin Siyang frowned: "But I'm not selling my Vine Core. Whether it's big or small, what difference does it make?"
"Of course it makes a difference."
Zhao Longfei looked at Qin Siyang and said slowly: "When you arrive at South Glory, you're not going to hand over all your Vine Core immediately, right? I only heard you say you'd give me a quarter of it, but I haven't seen the actual thing yet."
"Well, school hasn't started yet. I'll give it to you once it starts."
"That's too late. I want it within the next two days. But we'll discuss that later."
"What I mean is, everyone knows that you'll give some of your Vine Core to Li Tianming, some to me, and keep some for yourself."
"However, neither you, nor I, nor Li Tianming could possibly use up all of the Vine Core or dedicate it entirely to research."
"Logically, we would exchange part of it for other rare materials we need."
"In the Safe Zone, many rare materials can't be measured by price."
"For example, a single inner leaf of Titan Foxtail Grass officially costs about twenty gold coins, but no one would actually sell it for just twenty gold coins."
"Money is just a tool. For those who can obtain rare materials, a little more or less money doesn't matter. Having an extra house or one less car doesn't make a difference. So, to get rare materials, you usually have to trade them for other rare materials—just like a barter system from ancient times."
"Hold on."
Qin Siyang was slightly confused: "Principal Zhao, you just said money doesn't matter, but why do I feel like you're always short on cash?"
"I was talking about individuals. For an individual, having more or less money doesn't change much. But am I just an individual?"
"You're not."
"…Who are you calling out?"
"I was just agreeing with you."
"You really need a beating, kid."
"Principal Zhao, calm down, calm down. Don't take it to heart."
Zhao Longfei shot a cold glance at Qin Siyang.
"I need money, not because I'm poor, but because I have a lot of responsibilities. There are expenses everywhere, the school professors, the personnel of the underground network, the operational costs, all of it needs money. Since I have a big hole to fill, of course, I have to find ways to make money."
"But even though I need money, I would never sell something as valuable as the Vine Core unless absolutely necessary."
Qin Siyang nodded and asked, "If money isn't a viable trade unit, then what about Sequence Potions? Aren't they something everyone needs?"
"Sequence Potions?"
Zhao Longfei scoffed: "That stuff is more complicated than you think. If you have time, ask Li Tianming about it. Today, let's just focus on why the three major commerce associations want you dead."
"Oh, okay."
"Because of your Vine Core, their Vine Core has lost significant value."
"Rarity increases value. Your presence has caused them substantial losses."
"For example, if they originally expected to leverage their Vine Core to acquire ten units of resources, now they can only get two or three."
Hearing this, Qin Siyang sighed, "Blocking someone's wealth is like killing their parents. So, that's why they want to kill me?"
"Not necessarily. The three major commerce associations aren't short on money. They could wait until you and I have traded away most of our Vine Core before they bring theirs back to the market."
"You just started school, Li Tianming just set up his research team, and I have a whole group of professors to support. Within half a year, our Vine Core will be mostly used up. The three major commerce associations can simply hold their trade fair at the end of the year."
"It affects their short-term plans, but it's manageable."
Zhao Longfei's analysis left Qin Siyang even more confused: "If that's the case, why do they still want to kill me?"
"Because our Zhao family just announced that we're forming the Zhao Commerce Association."
Zhao Longfei's tone was indifferent.
"Your Zhao family is forming a commerce association too?"
"We're not the only ones. The six major legions, the church, even university professors have all considered it. The three major commerce associations monopolize the market, and many have been envious for a long time."
"Only by forming commerce associations can we negotiate large-scale trades and openly transport resources."
"But before this, any attempts by other forces to form commerce associations were suppressed by the three major commerce associations, preventing them from gaining traction."
Qin Siyang asked, "So, is your Zhao family's attempt going to succeed this time?"
"Are you looking down on me, kid?"
"No, no, I'm just asking. I'm young and might not phrase things properly, please forgive me!"
Zhao Longfei glanced at Qin Siyang again.
"This time, we're well prepared. We have an underground trade network as our foundation, the Gu family's support, a good reputation from running the university in recent years, and we also have the Vine Core, Crimson Crystal, and Titan Foxtail Grass as our signature treasures…"
"Wait a minute."
Qin Siyang scratched his head: "Principal Zhao, why do these treasures sound so familiar? Wait, you have all of them?"
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"Recently."
"Recently? Isn't that the stuff I gave you?"
"You could say that."
"What do you mean 'you could say that'? I gave them to you, and now they're your signature treasures?"
Zhao Longfei pulled out a cigar: "What, you gave them away, so how we use them isn't up to us? Can you put back what you've already defecated?"
"But… just a small piece of Vine Core, an even smaller Crimson Crystal, and a fragment of a Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf, those count as signature treasures?"
"Your commerce association sounds pretty cheap."
"Cheap? You really don't get it."
"Who in the entire Safe Zone can have a complete Vine Core, a complete Crimson Crystal, or a whole Titan Foxtail Grass inner leaf at the same time?"
"Even a single fragment of any of them is incredibly rare."
Zhao Longfei took a drag from his cigar, crossed his legs, and waved his hand nonchalantly: "Go ask around the entire Safe Zone. How many forces have all three of these materials at once?"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y