"I wanted to buy them all, but the shopkeeper refused. His shop has strict rules."
Ningguang frowned. "One person is limited to ten jars a week. The price for a Common Jar is one hundred thousand Mora. Even when I offered him one million a jar, he wouldn't sell. That's why I couldn't clear his stock."
"He wouldn't sell for a million?"
Keqing was stunned. "Then he's definitely not in it for the money. If he's not after profit, and he enforces arbitrary rules... what is he getting out of this?"
Everyone bought and sold for profit. That was the fundamental law of commerce.
But Felix didn't care about Mora. So why sell the jars at all?
"I don't know either."
Ningguang shook her head. "But rules are rules, and we must respect them. That's why I came back immediately. Our priority now is to implement the knowledge in this book. We need to stay ahead of everyone else. Even if someone else pulls this book later, they won't be able to catch up. We cannot allow Liyue's economic order to be disrupted—and the Northland Bank is becoming too much of a nuisance."
She took a deep breath.
The Northland Bank was a thorn in Liyue's golden heart—painful and obstructive.
No local of Liyue had a kind word to say about them.
"Wait."
Suddenly, Keqing realized something. "You said a 'Common Jar' costs one hundred thousand. Does that mean there are 'Uncommon' jars?"
Keqing's curiosity about Felix was growing by the second.
Who was this shopkeeper? How could he possess such things?
She desperately wanted to meet him.
"Yes."
Ningguang nodded. "According to him, above the Common Jars are 'Exquisite Jars.' But to buy one, you must first purchase a certain number of Common Jars. Without meeting that quota, you're locked out. And with the limit of ten Common Jars a week..."
"If a Common Jar can yield items like these... imagine what an Exquisite Jar could produce."
Keqing inhaled sharply. "Is he a god?"
"I don't think so. I've interacted with Adepti; they all have an indescribable aura. This shopkeeper feels like an ordinary human. But I know he can't be one."
Ningguang's voice was firm. "Let's plan our strategy with the book first. We aim to roll out the new policies tomorrow. For today, we'll test the Devil Fruit."
She turned her gaze to the Wash-Wash Fruit on the table. "I haven't decided who should eat this yet. If I give it to someone and they betray us, it would be disastrous. The power is too dangerous to trust to an outsider. It has to be one of our own."
"Do you want it?"
Ningguang looked at Keqing.
"My favorite pastime is soaking in a hot bath. Being a landlubber who can't touch water? I can't accept that."
Keqing shook her head. "But you're right. We need to choose carefully. Wait."
A thought struck her, and she looked toward the entrance where Baishi and the others were waiting. "Aren't your three secretaries the perfect candidates? Why not let one of them eat it?"
Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao.
They were Ningguang's trusted aides, loyal to Liyue and to her absolutely.
Their loyalty had been proven over years of service.
Aside from the Yuheng, only these three were allowed to reside in the Jade Chamber. That alone spoke volumes of Ningguang's trust in them.
"Yes, I thought of that too."
Ningguang nodded. "But there is only one fruit. Giving it to one of them might cause... imbalance. I've always treated them equally. But I suppose there's no other way. I'll give the next fruit to the others."
"It's settled then. We'll test the fruit's ability, and then we'll pay a visit to the man who caused the fire with his Vision. We'll go together."
"Agreed."
Keqing nodded, picking up the Economics book again.
Even though she had read it once, she couldn't put it down.
The knowledge inside was epoch-making. It was a key to a new world.
While Keqing studied, Ningguang called for her secretaries.
"Lady Ningguang. Lady Yuheng."
The three sisters—Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao—walked in, bowing respectfully.
They held both women in the highest regard.
"I called you here because I have something for you. Which of you is willing to eat this?"
Ningguang picked up the Devil Fruit, looking at her three trusted aides.