Hu Tao was thoroughly convinced now. With her head hung low and a look of complete dejection, she said, "You bastard Graves... No, Mr. Graves, you win. I don't want today's wages."
Seeing this, Elias Graves nodded in satisfaction. Then, as if tossing away something insignificant, he casually threw aside the "Xiao Qiang" in his hand.
"Benefactor Zhang's case is closed. I plan to handle his funeral tomorrow. If you help me, the pay will be the same as before—ten thousand Mora a day."
Hu Tao's eyes darted around. After a moment's thought, she readily agreed. It just so happened that she also wanted to see what was so special about this Elias Graves that allowed him to always steal her business.
Afterward, Elias Graves explained the details of the funeral arrangements to Hu Tao and paid her the fee for guarding the corpse over the past few days as agreed.
Of course, he didn't forget to dock Hu Tao's pay for one day. How else could he justify that brilliant performance he had just put on?
With that done, Elias Graves left the residence with a leisurely stride, heading towards the somewhat dilapidated southern part of the city.
Liyue was the most prosperous commercial center in the entire mortal world, yet this prosperity was not evenly distributed.
To the east was the bustling harbor, to the north stood the majestic Yuehai Pavilion, and floating high in the sky to the west was the magnificent Jade Chamber.
Only the south remained—this was where the bottom rung of society, those who lived by manual labor, resided.
A persistent, sweaty odor lingered in the narrow streets all year round, and the houses on both sides were simple and dilapidated.
Elias Graves walked towards a very modest house. Before he even got close, he could hear the enthusiastic and uplifting sound of a guitar from afar.
He went to the door, knocked gently, and called out, "Xin Sanhuo, it's me."
Shortly after, the passionate guitar music came to an abrupt halt, followed by a rustling sound from inside, as if someone was hastily tidying up.
Soon, the door opened, and a dark-skinned, energetic young woman appeared before Elias Graves.
Her hair was tied in unique, chili-shaped pigtails. With her hands on her hips, she said with a hint of annoyance in her eyes, "Elias Graves, how many times have I told you! Don't call me Xin Sanhuo, that character is pronounced 'yàn'!"
Elias Graves threw up his hands and said with a smile, "Alright, Xinyan. I'm here on official business today. I've come to invite you to perform."
"A performance?" A trace of confusion flickered in Xinyan's eyes as she tilted her head slightly. "What kind of performance?"
Elias Graves said slowly, "Benefactor Zhang Rong of the city has unfortunately passed away. I am in charge of his funeral arrangements. I've come to invite you to perform at the funeral."
Upon hearing this, Xinyan's anger flared up. "I'm a musician!" she shouted. "You want me to perform at a funeral? If word of this gets out, what will my fans think of me?"
Elias Graves, however, remained unfazed. He unhurriedly took out a heavy coin purse, dangled it in front of Xinyan, and said, "This is the fee for the performance. One hundred thousand Mora."
She snatched the coin purse and clutched it tightly in her hand. "Hmph! Let me tell you! This much money is only enough for me to sing for one night at most! I'll show you what it means to get more than your money's worth!"
With that, she quickly put the coin purse away.
Seeing this, Elias Graves couldn't help but smile faintly.
Xinyan's rock music wasn't popular with most of Liyue's citizens; everyone found her music too noisy. As a result, she lived a very frugal life, and her performance fees were naturally not high.
If one were to take this hundred thousand Mora to hire Yun Jin, you wouldn't even get in the door, let alone have her sing a single song.
Next, Elias Graves instructed Xinyan, "The songs you perform this time should be as sorrowful as possible in style, to enhance the solemn and mournful atmosphere of the funeral. Also, it would be best to add scathing condemnations of the adulterous couple to the lyrics."
Xinyan replied decisively without any hesitation, "Don't you worry! I've heard about Benefactor Zhang Rong's case, and I utterly despise that wicked pair for what they did."
Elias Graves nodded in satisfaction after hearing Xinyan's reply. "In that case, I won't say any more. If this collaboration goes smoothly, we can work together long-term. And, if the opportunity arises, I'll help you release a music album."
When Xinyan heard the words "music album," her eyes immediately lit up. She said with sincere gratitude, "Mr. Graves, you're too kind! From now on, as long as you ask, I'll definitely take any job you offer!"
A slight smile played on Elias Graves's lips. "Good, it's settled then. I still have some matters to attend to, so I'll be on my way."
"Goodbye!" Xinyan waved enthusiastically.
After Elias Graves left, Xinyan closed the door and eagerly opened the coin purse.
The Mora inside glittered brightly in the dimly lit room. It was exactly one hundred thousand, no more, no less.
This was the first time she had ever received a proper performance fee. In the past, she rarely even got tips when she performed.
Being financially strained, she had to work odd jobs most of the time just to make ends meet.
Even though it was a performance for a funeral, she was still very grateful to Elias Graves.
She then sat down at her old desk, took out a notebook, and began writing lyrics according to Elias Graves's requirements.
....................
After settling things with Xinyan, Elias Graves immediately headed for a pier at the western harbor.
Before long, he found Uncle Tian fishing leisurely in a corner of the pier.
Upon seeing Uncle Tian, Elias Graves got straight to the point. "Uncle Tian, I've got a job for you. Tomorrow, bring about ten men to Benefactor Zhang's house to perform the rites."
Hearing this, Uncle Tian slowly put down his fishing rod. A look of crossed his face as he said softly, "A long time ago, I warned Benefactor Zhang that a marriage between an old man and a young wife would lead to disaster one day, but he just wouldn't listen."
Elias Graves pursed his lips dismissively. "Uncle Tian, listen to yourself. The man had so much money, if he wasn't going to find someone young and beautiful, should he have looked for some old crone covered in wrinkles? Besides, you shouldn't just talk about others. Don't you spend all day staring at the beauties on the Pearl Galley yourself?"
At this, a look of embarrassment appeared on Uncle Tian's face. He cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject. "Right, what form will tomorrow's rites take?"
Elias Graves replied, "Originally, I wanted to give Benefactor Zhang a grand procession with an all-black escort for eighteen miles, but now that the budget has been cut by more than half, we'll have to keep things simple. Let's just go with a Yin-Yang Daoist ritual combined with a countryside stage show."
He sighed helplessly and continued, "Also, Benefactor Zhang doesn't have many relatives. Bring your three apprentices over to wail and add to the atmosphere. I'll give you a red envelope with ten thousand Mora in it afterward."
Uncle Tian pondered for a moment, then frowned and said, "Ten thousand Mora is too little. It has to be at least fifty thousand."
Elias Graves's eyes widened at his words, and he couldn't help but retort, "Uncle Tian, aren't you being a bit too greedy! Fifty thousand Mora? For this little bit of work, I'd be better off howling a couple of times myself!"
Uncle Tian's face was serious, his tone firm. "My three apprentices are dragons among men. Fifty thousand Mora, not a single coin less."
"Tch!" A look of undisguised contempt flashed in Elias Graves's eyes. "Dragons among men? To me, they're clearly just scallions, ginger, and garlic—unfit for the main stage. If you weren't there to support them, a bunch of ambitious but incompetent guys like them wouldn't even be able to find a meal in this city of Liyue."
When Uncle Tian heard him speak so disparagingly of his apprentices, anger surged within him. "You don't know them at all. What right do you have to comment so freely?"
Seeing that he was genuinely angry, Elias Graves quickly said, "I was wrong, I apologize. Let's drop the matter. I'll find someone else."
Uncle Tian snorted coldly, the anger in his eyes still not dissipated. "I'll let it slide this time, but you'd better remember this. If something like this happens again, there will be no more talk of cooperation between us. I won't tolerate you slandering my apprentices like this."
Elias Graves could only nod repeatedly in agreement.