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Every swindle is driven by a desire for easy money; it is the one thing the swindler and the swindled have in common.
- Mitchell Zuckoff
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After more than a week of staying at Wangshu Inn, the entire caravan of the Mondstadt diplomatic delegation, now further supplemented by several additional carriages and wagons, had finally left the Bishui Region and arrived at the neighboring southern region of Qiongji or as the locals commonly called it, the Qiongji Estuary.
It took the entire convoy one day to navigate through the semi mountainous southern terrain of the Bishui Region before they finally reached the great stone bridge that served as the demarcation between the two regions.
The Qiongji Estuary is a region slightly larger in size compared to its northern neighbor, and is composed of two separate land masses commonly assigned as subregions. The first and primary subregion is the Guili Plains which is connected to the rest of Liyue. It is bordered at both sides by bodies of water, namely the mouth of the Bishui River and Sea of Clouds to the east, and the great Luhua River to the west which separates it from the neighboring mountainous region of Minlin.
The second subregion is called Yaoguang located northeast across the mouth of the Bishui River. This entire area borders Mondstadt's Dragonspine and is home to numerous geological formations.
The region's general terrain is mostly composed of a mixture of flat plains and hills covered by dense forests of pines and bamboos.
Because of its unique geographical location coupled with the vast forests that covered most of its lands, the Qiongji Region had been known for centuries as a land rich with flora and fauna, making it the second largest lumber producing region in Liyue after Chenyu Vale.
Other industries that had thrived in the region include hunting and of course the biggest industry of all, fishery especially since most of the populated towns and villages of the region are situated near the coast.
There's also a somewhat thriving mining industry within the region mostly found at Yaoguang, with its primary hub being the mining village of Mingyun. There, large concentrations of Cor Lapis and Noctilucous Jade could be found and mined.
Aside from the abundance of natural resources, the Qiongji Region is also considered by many historians as 'the cradle of Liyuen civilization'. According to the oldest surviving accounts, it was here, in the plains of Guili, where the oldest known city-state that served as the precursor to the modern nation of Liyue had originated.
The Guili Assembly.
The Guili Assembly was an ancient city-state that once existed at the heart of the Guili Plains more than 3,700 years ago. According to the surviving records, it was established through a combined effort of the then fledgling Rex Lapis and the Goddess of Dust, Guizhong. It served as a sort of 'capital' for the rapidly expanding human settlements that were scattered across the region, as well as a safe haven for many refugees who fled the destruction of their homes caused by the great war between the gods that engulfed most of Teyvat around that time.
Lastly, the region itself serves as a gateway between the interior regions of Liyue and its most prosperous region, the Yunlai-hai Region, which houses the nation's capital of Liyue Harbor.
It took the entire diplomatic caravan another half a day just to travel further into the region's first major town, the coastal city of Chengdo, located at the northeastern coast of the Guili Plains.
"Wow! Mama look! That big ocean over there, that's the Sea of Clouds right Mama?! I've seen it on the map! It's sooo big! We could ride our boat there and play on the waves right Mama?" A very excited Venti exclaimed as he tugged Artoria's sleeve while pointing at the vast body of water seen through the window of their carriage.
"I bet there's plenty of sea monsters there too!" Exclaimed Bennett who was pressing his adorable little face against the carriage's window, excited by the prospect of seeing a bunch of sea monsters.
"Benny, Venti! You two better not be planning to swim over there! You two could get hurt or worse!" Warned Jean, who was sitting in between her two younger brothers who were on each of her sides.
"Aww~ we won't Jean! We promised!" Venti retorted while giving his older sister a childish pout.
"Hehe, no worries sis, if these two ever get into trouble, Big Sis Beidou will be there to pull them out!" Beidou said with a wide grin as she gave her two younger brothers a fist bump.
"Thank you Big Sis Bel!" the duo happily exclaimed.
"Please 'Bel' stop encouraging them to do dangerous things. We don't want Mama to get worried now do we?" Little Jean replied with an exasperated tone as she glanced over towards her Mama.
Seriously it's hard being the eldest sister sometimes, especially if your little siblings are a bunch of troublemakers!
Artoria just smiled at her children's silly antics as she continued to gently pat the head of Barbara who was sleeping peacefully in her lap. Xiao, in his adorable Birb form was also asleep, being held securely by Barbara like a fluffy avian teddy bear!
Her precious family had grown even further after the addition of their newest member, her little star Beidou, and Artoria couldn't be any happier!
Although it had only been a little over a week since she had officially taken her little star as her own, the young girl had already seamlessly integrated herself into the family, growing even closer to her siblings by the day, and acting as a sort of trusty helper to Jean whenever the 'trouble duo' of Venti and Bennett does something silly and reckless.
Surprisingly, her newest daughter had also requested that she be given a new additional first name to accompany her newest surname of Pendragon Gunnhildr, and to better fit in with the rest of the family and the larger clan whom she had yet seen but had heard so much from her siblings stories.
Hence she was personally given the name 'Bellatrix' which meant 'Warrior Star'.
Beidou 'Bellatrix' Pendragon Gunnhildr
A fitting name for the little girl who would one day grow up to be Mondstadt's premier naval figure!
But for now, she's nothing more than a small adorable 10 year old girl who still has so much to learn from the world.
Just like her other siblings.
The Anemo Archon watched her little ones with profound maternal fondness and love. She then gently ruffled the hairs of each one of them, all the while showing them a warm loving smile.
'You're all my most priceless treasures. And I love each and every one of you with all my heart and soul.' She thought.
Artoria then looked out of the window and saw the first buildings of the coastal city of Chengdo coming into view.
Only a few more minutes of travel and they will arrive.
"We're almost there my little angels. Now get your things ready and make sure you haven't left anything important back at the Tower okay? We'll be arriving shortly."
"YES MAMA!" the children replied in unison as they immediately began checking their things and personal belongings.
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The massive ancient gates of the coastal town of Chengdo opened for the large diplomatic convoy.
The ancient town walls and streets were all lined and decorated with colorful banners and ribbons as hundreds of people gathered around the main streets cheering and throwing flowers as the convoy began to enter their city.
The entire diplomatic delegation heralded by the 65 strong mounted cavalry of the fierce and now highly venerated Eonian Guards made a magnificent and impressive display of power as they entered the town.
News of the valiant and legendary battle that took place at the Bishui Plains more than a week ago had already reached the ears of the townsfolk of Chengdo, as well as the rest of Liyue, and the arrival of the celebrated foreign hero and her valiant knights who fought against the dark tide was a highly anticipated event!
Cheers, applause and flowers were thrown as the large mobile contingent made their way through the city, yet the loudest cheers of all were directed towards the four magnificent decked-out golden carriages at the very center of the entire procession.
Each of the four carriages were adorned with the banners of the Gunnhildr Clan and the Knights of Favonius, while its sides were decorated by numerous golden motifs of Lions, Falcons, Wolves and Dragons.
The Heraldry of the Four Winds of Mondstadt.
The largest and most decorated of the four bore the royal blue banner that portrayed three golden crowns encircled by five stars.
The personal standard of the Grand Master and unknown to most, the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt herself, Artoria Pendragon Gunnhildr.
The Great procession made its way across the joyous town until they arrived at the town square where the Mayor of Chengdo, the town officials and the representatives of the local Millelith garrison welcomed them with open arms and great hospitality!
Cheers and the overall jubilation of the town grew even louder as the entire convoy stopped and the long awaited arrival of the now celebrated Mondstadt Grand Master was announced.
As the town's bell tower rang in unison with the beat of the drums, Artoria and her children descended from their carriage in an image that was reminiscent of a fairy tale scene!
A regal queen and her young princes and princesses descending from their mobile thrones to grace the common folk.
The town's people could not help but awe at the sight, with many even shouting and calling the Grand Master and her children as 'The Royal Family born of the Wind'.
The Mayor of the Town, an elderly man Zhang Zhi walked forward and personally greeted Artoria and her family as they alighted from their respective carriages.
"Most Noble Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, and esteemed members of your honorable delegation! On behalf of the entire city of Chengdo, I welcome you all to our humble town!" The Mayor greeted with a deep and respectful bow.
"The honor is ours Mayor Zhang, thank you for personally greeting us despite your busy schedule." Artoria replied with a regal bow of her own.
"Your presence, Grand Master, is more than enough to lift the spirit of our city! The stories of your heroism had already spread far and wide across our nation. Countless are those who had been inspired by your deeds! And we, the people of Chengdo, are no exception!" The Mayor declared with an enthusiastic tone.
"In fact, we and the rest of the city had prepared an impromptu festival for you and your delegation as a small token of our gratitude!"
Artoria raised an eyebrow as she heard this, a bit taken aback by the sudden declaration.
"A festival? I'm afraid you've all done too much Mayor. I'm merely a knight doing her duty, Mayor Zhang. The same duty that the Millelith had been doing for thousands of years. Surely there's no need for such grand gestures." Artoria said with a humble tone.
The mayor as well as the rest of the people who've heard her statement were a bit taken aback by the Grand Master's humility! Here is a woman, no, a HERO! Who battled against a god hell-bent on destroying Liyue. And yet, she still has the gall to call her god-like feat as a 'mere duty'?!
Truly, the truest depths of the Grand Master's burgeoning legendary fame and humility can never be matched!
Mayor Zhang felt tears welling up from the corner of his eyes as he and the rest of the town officials looked upon Artoria in reverence.
"Please Grand Master, you're too humble! This festival is but a small way for us to repay the kindness and valor you and your knights have shown to our nation!"
"Your presence alone has uplifted our hearts, and the mere sight of you and your companions fills us with joy and hope!" The Mayor continued.
"Please accept our humble offering. The people of Chengdo would be greatly honored if you, Grand Master Gunnhildr, and your entire delegation would partake in this modest festival!"
Hearing this, the Grand Master contemplated for a moment, before giving the mayor a sincere smile and nod.
"Very well, Mayor Zhang. We humbly accept your town's generous offer, and will gladly participate in the festival."
The declaration brought a collective cheer from the entire town. The people were ecstatic that the hero whom they had heard so much for the past week had finally accepted their humble invitation!
"Mama, mama! When will the festival start? Will there be lots of yummy food?! Will we be playing with firecrackers too?!" The ever curious and gluttonous Bennett asked with an excited expression.
"Of course Benny! I heard the Liyuens make the best firecrackers!" Venti excitedly replied. "And I heard they have lots of tasty food stalls too! We'll be eating a lot tonight....well as long as we stay away from anything related to tea that is!"
Venti made an ugly face as he recalled his first and only experience drinking Liyue's local tea, which was quite frankly, too bitter for the little divine bard's taste.
"Mama? Where are we going to stay for tonight?" Timidly asked Barbara who was standing right beside her while holding a still asleep Xiao.
The little princess wondered if they'll be staying in an inn similar to the Wangshu Inn or will they go back to the cozy and homey rooms of their mother's grand magical Tower.
Hearing the little girl's question, Mayor Zhang smiled and gently approached the little magical princess and her mother.
"Fear not honored young lady, our town might not be as grand as Liyue Harbor, but we do have the best accommodation for our most esteemed guests. We have prepared the best suite in the most prestigious hotel this side of Liyue!"
Mayor Zhang then gestured towards a tall, 7 story building that was located a few blocks away from the town square. It had a very ornate design, with a rich red and gold color motif and a large stylized dragon ornament on its roof. The building itself was quite similar to the Wangshu Inn but with a more modern and elegant design.
"That over there is the Haifeng Hotel! The place where you and your entire entourage will be staying for the rest of your time here in our humble city! It is the best that our town can offer and is considered one of the finest seaside hotels in all of Liyue!"
The mayor gestured with pride as he once again bowed before Artoria.
"Your rooms are already prepared for Grand Master and your entire retinue. We hope that you'll find it to your liking."
Artoria returned the old man's bow and gave him a warm smile.
"I'm sure that we will, Mayor Zhang. Thank you for your hospitality."
"The pleasure is ours, Grand Master."
Artoria then looked at her children and saw how happy and excited most of them were with the prospect of trying out a new place.
"Hehe, I guess my little ones are getting a bit excited. Shall we proceed then?" She asked the mayor.
Mayor Zhang nodded in response and immediately instructed his men to lead the way towards the Hotel.
With a final round of cheers from the gathered crowd, the entire Mondstadt delegation began their procession towards the Hotel Haifeng, as the festival celebrating their victory and valor was about to commence.
However, Artoria silently noted something peculiar as she and her family made their way back inside their carriage. Her little Beidou seemed to be a bit reserved and quiet.
Compared to her siblings who were excitedly chatting with each other about the upcoming festival, the young girl remained silent with her eyes scanning the town around her as if she was searching for something...or rather...someone.
Artoria gently placed her hand over her daughter's head, causing the girl to look up with a slightly nervous expression on her face.
"My Little Star? Is everything alright?" Artoria gently asked.
"Y...yes Mama. Everything's fine. Sorry, I was just thinking about something." Beidou answered as she tried to smile back at her beloved mother.
The Anemo Archon was not entirely convinced with her daughter's answer but she knows that if she continues to push the matter, her daughter would just clam up even further.
So instead of continuing her inquiry, Artoria just gave her a smile and kissed her forehead.
"It's okay Beidou. Remember, no matter what happens Mama is always here for you." She whispered.
Beidou simply nodded as she embraced her mother. The rest of her family saw this and immediately joined in the group hug, further comforting their sister.
"Thanks Mama. Thanks everyone." Beidou mumbled.
It was all that the little girl needed, for little did the rest of her family know, Beidou had already been in this town before.
And it was in this town she had an unfortunate run-in with a group of bandits disguised as merchants. Bandits who, about a year ago, almost ruined her life.
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While the entire town prepares for tonight's celebration and Mondstadt's premier noble family was busy settling down in their rooms at the Haifeng Hotel, two individuals from the diplomatic contingent had excused themselves from the rest of the group and decided to do a bit of a 'sight seeing' of their own.
"Grand Master said that I'm allowed to have the entire afternoon off....SO WHY AM I STILL WITH YOU MASTER CREPUS?!"
Varka complained as he was once again being dragged against his will by one of his mentors (READ: HIS FAVORITE MATH AND BUSINESS TEACHER) across Chengdo's bustling marketplace!
"Because my dear gullible apprentice, this town offers a great opportunity for you to learn a thing or two about Liyue's local economy as well as the prices of common and rare commodities!" Crepus proudly stated.
"And you, Varka, are the Grand Master's number one apprentice and as such her Grace had bestowed upon me the important task of educating you in the ways of trade and commerce, as well as the diplomatic and economic intricacies of being a nation's leader! Something that I will not take lightly!"
Crepus explained in a rather enthusiastic tone as he dragged the annoyed young man who wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the afternoon doing something fun!
"Wha~ why me?! Didn't I just get promoted by her Holiness into a full-fledged knight days ago?! Would it hurt anyone if I get to enjoy my new status with some well deserved short vacation?!" Varka whined.
"Ahahahaha! A knight? NO! What kind of knight would you be if you continue to act like an unschooled farm boy who knows nothing of the world?!" Crepus laughed.
"B...but Master, I already told you that I'm not interested in learning about the economy and finance! I'm more of a whack n slash type of person! So why do you keep on pushing me to learn about them?!"
"Because her divine majesty saw the great potential within you, Varka! You are a man of great charisma, courage and strength! But in order for you to reach your fullest potential, you must also possess the wisdom and patience required to lead!"
The red haired man then stopped and looked at the whinny young man with eyes that burns with overzealous passion. Eyes that somewhat creeped out Varka and gave him a bad feeling in his guts.
"From this point on, YOU. WILL. LEARN."
Varka could only gulp and nod meekly in response.
May his all knowing and all powerful Grand Master have mercy on his poor soul!
Crepus's lessons arefar worse compared to the likes of what Captains Hemlock and Yuan had put him through during his time as a squire!
Hell! He'll even take an entire afternoon smelling the rancid alchemical potions in Captain Muscovado's laboratory or arranging the books within the Mondstadt Library under the supervision of Lady Minci rather than spend a day with Master Crepus!
And that's saying something because most of the potions at the alchemical lab smell like a mixture of rotten eggs, rusty metal and spoiled milk!
Crepus upon seeing his apprentice's terrified expression could only sigh. If only Varka or even his two sons, Diluc and Kaeya, had the same passion and knack for economics as he has, then he wouldn't have to resort to these forceful methods of learning!
But then again, he couldn't deny the fact that he also enjoyed torturing the young man from time to time!
"Hehehe, let's go Varka, let's see what this town's bazaar has to offer! Come on, learning awaits!
And thus, the poor apprentice was dragged once again, kicking and screaming, into another round of his mentor's hellish training.
*****
"Hmm, the prices of rice have gone up again. So has the price of silks and salt. The amount of cor lapis being sold however remains the same. What can you make of this Varka?" Crepus asked the young man beside him while pointing at a scroll containing the various market prices of goods and commodities.
The teacher-student duo had been at it for more than an hour, scouring the marketplace and haggling with several merchants about the price of their wares.
Varka was already at his wit's end!
He had already forgotten about more than half of the economic theories and monetary concepts that Master Crepus had been spewing at him since they started!
JUST WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN ANYWAY?!
"I... I don't know Master! All I know is that things are getting expensive and we'll need to compensate by raising our own product's prices!" Varka declared with an exasperated tone.
"Hmm, a simple answer but a correct one nonetheless. The demand for certain goods such as rice, silk and salt have grown in the past month due to an increase in trade and migration from the regions surrounding the Chasm and Bishui into the heartland of Qiongji. Hence the increase in price. However, the supply of raw materials such as cor lapis and iron remains stagnant for now as most of the mines in the region have yet to fully recover from the occasional Abyssal incursions and banditry that occurred months ago. The limited supply of these materials leads to price stagnation." Crepus explained with a professorial tone.
Varka was starting to get dizzy from all the information he was receiving!
He needed to bail! He needed an escape!
Fortunately for him, his prayers were somewhat answered when he heard a commotion coming from one of the stalls near them.
"GATHER ROUND EVERYONE! GATHER ROUND! FEAST YOUR EYES UPON THESE AUTHENTIC AND ONE OF A KIND BATCHES OF DAWN WINERY'S DANDELION WINE BREWED FROM THE FINEST OF GRAPES FROM THE LAND OF FREEDOM ITSELF!" a loud voiced merchant shouted.
Upon hearing the man's words, Varka's eyes immediately sparkled with interest as he saw rows of wine bottles displayed on the stall's table!
'Mondstadt made wine?! Why didn't I heard about this before?' Varka thought.
He turned to Crepus and was about to ask the man about it, but to his surprise and horror, he saw his mentor glaring daggers at the merchant who was hawking his wares!
Varka could almost hear his teacher's teeth grinding and he could have sworn that veins on top of Crepus forehead were already starting to bulge from pure rage!
"M...master? W...what's wrong? Is....is everything alright? You look...you look kinda angry." Varka nervously asked.
The red haired patriarch of the ancient noble Ragnvindr Clan didn't immediately answer, instead he walked straight towards the wine merchant stall as the said merchant continued to promote his products.
"I'M TELLING YA FOLKS, THESE HERE WINE BOTTLES ARE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT REAL! PERFECT FOR TONIGHT'S CELEBRATION! IN FACT, I CAN A TEST TO IT'S AUTHENTICITY FOR I MYSELF AM A CERTIFIED 'DIRECT DISTRIBUTOR' CONTRACTED BY THE DAWN WINERY MANAGEMENT! NOW GET YA OWN BOTTLE HERE WHILE THEY LAST!"
'LYING BASTARD!' Crepus mentally cursed. His anger was already reaching its peak!
He couldn't remember making any sort of agreement with any merchants in this side of Liyue, and he's sure as hell won't sell his family's finest vintage to some random swindler in a place like this!
Something's off.
SOMETHING'S DEFINITELY OFF, and he Crepus Ragnvindr, Lord of the Ragnvindr Clan, Honorary Knight and Director of the Wind Wheel Bank will get to the bottom of this!
His honor and his family's legacy was on the line here!
While Crepus was on a warpath against an unsuspecting fraudster, Varka on the other hand had used the Celestia-given opportunity to quietly slip away from the clutches of his enraged economic mentor and dove into the crowd.
"Phew! That was close!" Varka sighed in relief.
He had never seen Master Crepus that furious before and he definitely doesn't want to get caught in the crossfire when his mentor finally confronts that so called wine merchant!
Now that he was out of the old man's sight, Varka could now go about and enjoy the rest of the afternoon by himself!
No more stupid math lessons!
No more grueling soulless discourse about market shares and inflations!
IT IS TIME TO HAVE SOME FUN!
"Alright! First on the list.... Time to fill my belly with delicious street foods!" Varka cheerfully exclaimed as he began going about and perusing through the various food stalls that were lined up across the market.
Bao buns, street barbeques, seafood soups, sweet bread, and even some rice cakes, the young man had tasted them all in a matter of minutes!
"Whew! That was an excellent lunch!" Varka exclaimed after he finished his fifth serving of Jueyun Chili Chicken.
With his stomach now full, he then set his sights on looking for some trinkets and toys that he could give to his family back home in Mondstadt!
'I'm sure Mom and Dad would love some new set of kitchenwares from Liyue, and I bet my cousins, aunts and uncles would love to have a few Liyuen styled hats and scarves!'
The young knight then proceeded to wander about the market once more, buying all sorts of random stuff that would make any sane normal person question his sanity and budget!
He bought a set of gold covered chopsticks made from Liyuen bamboo, some silverware and porcelain cooking pots. He also bought a couple of hats made from silk and some scarves made from the finest cotton Liyue could offer.
He even purchased a goddamn clay oven that's almost half his size!
The poor old merchant who just sold him the clay oven cautiously asked the grinning young Knight.
"My good sir, pardon my curiosity, but are you planning on opening a Liyuen cuisine restaurant back in your homeland by any chance? Because I can tell you now that you've bought more than enough wares for that!"
"Nope! These are just gifts to my relatives! I'm sure that they'll love them!" Beamed Varka as he patted the old merchant's shoulders.
The old man could only smile back awkwardly before asking one final question.
"Pardon my rudeness young master, but is it all right for you to spend this much on gifts? Seeing that LARGE SACK behind your back, it seems that you've already spent quite a large amount of mora and..."
Varka simply laughed at the old man's concern and showed him a 'sizable' pouch filled with jiggling mora!
"Don't worry my friend! I've got more than enough to spend for the rest of my shopping spree! Here, take these as thanks for your help!" Varka said as he handed roughly 500 mora as a tip for the old perplexed merchant!
'Thank Celestia for blessing me with a kind, gorgeous and utterly LOADED mentor of a goddess!' The young man thought to himself as he waved goodbye to the merchant and moved on to the next stall.
Though Artoria was a little strict with regards to her apprentice's knightly lessons and training, she was very generous when it comes to rewards and allowances.
Varka being her one and only squire and her most favored amongst her apprentices (baring her children of course) always receive a SUBSTANTIAL amount of mora as an allowance every now and then.
The Anemo Archon had always told him that the Mora she was giving him was his to spend as he pleases, and that's exactly what Varka was doing right now!
Though sadly, Varka had seemingly forgotten the small caveat that his Grand Master would always tell him before handing down his allowances.
'Remember Varka, though I'm giving you this amount, a true leader must always be frugal when it comes to his nation's resources. You must be wise and shrewd in utilizing the funds entrusted to you.'
Unfortunately for everyone, when it comes to money, Varka is neither wise nor shrewd.
The young man is what many would call 'financially naive'. And to make things worse, when he's in the mood, Varka can be a bit of a spendthrift!
This is why Artoria, out of concern for her apprentice's financial well-being, assigned Crepus to be his mentor in order to give the poor boy a much needed lecture on the proper usage of money, hoping that it would curb his impulsive habit!
And so far, the red haired financial master had barely been successful in reining in his impulsive and naive student.
Though he did make a small but significant progress when he convinced the boy to at least buy stuff not only for himself but also for his family and relatives back in Springvale.
Speaking of shopping, Varka's eyes immediately sparkled upon seeing his next target!
A small boutique filled with a wide variety of foreign goods!
"WOAH! Check out those cute lil dolls! They look sooooo adorable!" Varka exclaimed as he saw a set of intricately crafted dolls displayed at the front of the boutique.
The dolls in question were Matryoshka Dolls, otherwise known as Snezhnayan Resting Dolls. These are a set of lacquered wooden dolls of decreasing size that can be placed inside of another. They are very popular in far off Snezhnaya and are mass produced in its capital city of Snezhnograd.
Though Varka doesn't have the slightest clue of what they are or what they're for, he was certain that his little cousins and siblings back home will definitely love to have them!
"Excuse me sir! How much for these cute little fellas?" Varka eagerly asked the merchant who owned the stall.
The merchant, a man in his mid 40s with a thick set of Fu manchu and a pair of beady eyes, grinned when he saw the young customer.
He could almost smell the money from this one!
"Ah, you've got a fine taste my young friend! These are high quality imported dolls straight from Snezhnaya! Each one was carved by the finest wood artisans from the land of the Tsaritsa! These aren't your regular run of the mill dolls I'll tell you that! They are the very definition of a fine Snezhnayan work of art!" the merchant boastfully said.
"Really?! So how much?" Varka excitedly asked.
"Well, my young friend, these dolls here are of high quality so each set would cost you around..."
The merchant paused as he pretended to calculate the prices in his mind.
'This kid is obviously a 'rich' kid from Mondstadt. I can probably milk him dry!' The merchant thought.
"...10,000 mora per set!" He finally declared.
"W...what?! 10,000 mora?! That's a bit too expensive don't you think?" Varka nervously said.
"Hahaha! Of course it's expensive! These are premium imported goods from Snezhnaya! You can't find these anywhere in Liyue! Only here! So how about it kid? I'll even throw in a discount for you if you buy more than one!" The merchant countered.
Varka, though a bit hesitant with the price, was still very interested in the dolls. He knew that his family would definitely love them!
Little did he know, the merchant, a man who goes by the name Pian Zi, is a notorious swindler and a member of a large underground network of fraudsters! His usual modus operandi is to buy cheap foreign goods and sell them at exorbitant prices to unwary customers, particularly the rich and the naive!
And Varka is exactly the type of target he's looking for.
A seemingly stupid, naive, and rich (?) kid!
Seeing the gullible boy hesitating, Pian decided to sweeten the deal a bit.
"Tell you what kid. I'll give you a discount! Two sets for 21,000 mora! What do you say? A good deal isn't it?"
"Hmmmm....okay! Deal!" Varka foolishly replied as he took out the money from his pouch and handed it to Pian.
The swindling merchant could barely hold himself from squealing in delight as he took the money. This kid is a walking moneybag and is unbelievably stupid! He can't believe his luck today!
"Good choice! Now, just give me a moment while I pack these fine dolls for you!" He said as he began wrapping the Matryoshka sets into a large box.
Pian was about to hand over the package to Varka when all of a sudden they both heard a young boy shout from the side.
"STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU CRIMINAL SCUM!"
The boy's voice caused both Pian and Varka to stop and look at the source of the noise.
Both men saw a boy who looked to be around 13 or 14 years old. He had a very distinct set of brown eyes and an equally distinct purple shirt. His pants on the other hand, were a mismatched baggy white trouser that's full of patches and stitches.
But the most distinctive feature that the boy possessed was his hairstyle, a very 'unique' and immaculate pompadour hair style that Varka had never seen before!
Gives off a bit of 'gangsta vibe' if Varka's is to be honest.
Varka was confused at the sudden intrusion, but Pian on the other hand was starting to panic!
'Oh no! Not that damned brat again! Why is he here?!' Pian cursed internally.
The pompadour sporting boy walked straight towards them with an angry expression on his face and immediately began pointing fingers at the now sweating merchant!
"You! I've told you last time that your business practice is ILLEGAL! You're still selling goods at an overinflated price!" The boy angrily declared.
"AND YOU!" He then pointed his finger at the now stunned Varka.
"What in the name of basic business and economics are you doing?! Are you seriously planning on buying from this conman?! THINK BOY! USE YOUR HEAD! If the so-called price of each set is about 10,000 mora, how can you consider it a discount if two sets are sold at 21,000 mora?! A discount would have been at least around 19,000 mora! This man is obviously a FRAUD!" The boy angrily explained.
Varka looked at the boy with a bewildered expression before looking at Pian who was now sweating bullets.
'I...is this kid a merchant too?' Varka thought as he realized the flawed logic of the deal that he was about to make.
But the mysterious kid wasn't done yet! He then began pacing around the stall like a hard-line professor and began spouting an impromptu lecture on economy and finance!
"Listen here pal! If you wanna avoid being swindled by people like this sleazy guy over here, you need to learn the value of a mora! Every mora counts! Don't be lured by the flowery words of some merchants! They'll try their best to coax you into buying things that are overly expensive! And those overpriced dolls?! I've seen those being sold at Liyue Harbor at less than half their supposed price! So be careful with your mora okay?!"
Varka was completely dumbfounded by the kid's explanation as a sense of dread began to slowly crawl up towards his very soul!
'It's... it's like seeing a miniature Master Crepus lecturing me about economics and mora all over again!' Varka thought as a shiver ran down his spine!
And just like his HELLISH mentor, this kid also had that piercing gaze of an eagle that felt like it was trying to rip his soul apart!
The young pompadour sporting lad's extemporaneous lecture garnered the attention of a crowd and soon enough a group of people started to gather to see what was going on.
Pian Zi seeing the opportunity, immediately tried to save his skin by throwing dirt at the kid.
"LIES! ALL LIES! This kid is lying! He's a nobody! A street urchin that no one in this market would listen to!" The fraud merchant shouted as he tried to shoo away the crowd.
"DO NOT QUESTION THE PRICE OF MY PREMIUM GOODS BOY! I AM A HONEST MERCHANT! IF YOU CONTINUE TO HARASS ME, I WILL CALL FOR THE MILLELITH TO ARREST YOU!" Pian threatened.
The pompadour kid on the other hand, was not deterred at all and instead let out a boisterous laugh!
"Hahahaha! Premium goods? Old man, I've seen those Matryoshka Dolls being sold at the docks of Liyue Harbor by the shipload! They aren't as expensive as you're making them out to be! In fact, each set of them onlycost around 4000 mora!" He declared.
"What?! 4000 mora?!" Exclaimed Varka who now turned and began glaring daggers at the fraudster.
Pian felt his heart drop as he tried to silence the kid by pushing him away.
"THAT'S A LIE! YOU FILTHY LITTLE ROTTEN BRAT! DON'T YOU DARE RUIN MY BUSINESS LIKE THI..."
The swindler was suddenly cut off when he heard the sound of clapping from behind him. He turned and saw a red haired noble looking man wearing a very elegant suit and group of four Millelith guards behind him with a slightly pissed off expression!
"Master Crepus!" Varka shouted, surprised in seeing one of his mentors seemingly appearing out of thin air.
"My word, I've never seen anyone as bold as you when it comes to swindling people." The red haired man said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Pian upon seeing the Millelith guards, suddenly felt his entire body turn cold.
"N...no! T...this is a mistake! I...I'm no swindler! I'm an honest merchant selling honest goods!" Pian defended himself while profusely sweating.
Crepus Ragnvindr then gestured for one of his Millelith companions to come forward.
The guard then unrolled a scroll and read its contents in a loud and authoritative voice.
"Pian Zi of Liyue Harbor. After receiving multiple complaints from various customers and fellow merchants, you are hereby charged with fraud and embezzlement by the Chengdo City Government!"
"By authority granted by the Qixing and the Millelith, you are to be placed under arrest and brought to the nearest prison to await trial."
Pian's eyes widened upon hearing the charges. He was completely caught red handed and there's no way out of it. He's doomed! He's going to spend years in jail!
The poor fraudster was then grabbed and dragged away by the Millelith guards, wailing and crying like a baby all the while.
The crowd began to disperse after the commotion died down. Varka on the other hand approached Master Crepus with a pitiful and guilty expression on his face.
"Hehehehe, I guess I almost got swindled back there eh Master? Sorry for the trouble." Varka apologized.
Crepus could only look at his young apprentice with a disappointed expression before letting out a defeated sigh.
"Honestly, Varka. I thought I've taught you well enough on the basics of financial management and the proper use of mora. But it seems that you still have a lot of things to learn!"
Varka sheepishly scratched the back of his head and was about to apologize once more when a sudden voice interrupted him.
"It's not entirely his fault, Mister." The pompadour kid said as he approached the two men.
"Being good with money is a skill that's quite hard to master. So please don't be too hard on your friend."
Crepus then turned his attention towards the kid who had somehow miraculously saved Varka from becoming a victim of fraud. A genuine proud smile then appeared on his face as he looked at the boy in front of him.
"Say young man, I've been listening to your financial discourse a while ago and I must say, I'm very much impressed! I've never seen someone so young possess a shrewd and wise mind when it comes to the inner workings of the market!"
"Oh, it's nothing really sir. Truly! I was just applying some of the basic economic theories concerning supply and demand. Nothing special about it." The kid humbly replied.
"Oh? Supply and demand you say? Well then, please answer this question for me young man. Suppose a merchant decides to increase the price of his goods due to a sudden influx of customers. What do you think is the most likely outcome of such an action?" Crepus asked.
"Hmm, well the price of the goods will increase right? And if the merchant continues to increase the price without increasing the supply, he will eventually lose his customers due to them no longer being able to afford the goods he's selling." The boy answered.
"A very correct observation! Now if you were the merchant, how would you solve this issue in order to retain your customers while at the same time increasing your profits?" Crepus followed up.
"Well, I would probably first determine if the sudden influx of customers is permanent or temporary. If it's permanent, then I'll try to increase my supply by either increasing my production or importing more goods to meet the demand. If it's temporary, then I would try to maintain the current prices while maybe providing discounts to loyal customers. This way, I can keep my customers happy and still make a profit!" The boy confidently answered.
The joyful academic discourse went back and forth for several more minutes, with Crepus asking more hypothetical and theoretical economic questions which the boy easily answered with a level of understanding and confidence that was unbecoming of his age!
Varka on the other hand could only watch in sheer terror as the kid in front of him started spouting economic theories and concepts that he could barely comprehend!
It's like watching Master Crepus talking to a tiny mirror image of himself! IT WAS PURE NIGHTMARE FUEL FOR HIM!
"AMAZING! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!" Crepus exclaimed after the young boy perfectly answered his last question about monetary policy.
"I'm thoroughly impressed! Never before had I seen someone so young possessed such a keen eye for the finer details of economics and the merchantile arts!" The red haired director praised.
"VARKA! You should learn a thing or two from this lad! He could probably give you a run for your money when it comes to finances!"
Varka simply smiled nervously and nodded in response, not wanting to anger his mentor further.
Crepus then turned his attention back at the pompadour boy with an expression filled with pride.
"By the way, I haven't caught your name young man. We've been so busy talking about finance that I forgot to ask. I am Crepus Ragnvindr, a humble businessman from Mondstadt. And this buffoon over here is my gullible apprentice, Varka. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"
The boy smiled back and gave Crepus a bow.
"My name is Liben sir, just Liben."
"Liben? Hmmm, a rather peculiar name for a Liyuen lad. Is it perhaps a nickname given by your parents? And oh, by the way, where are they? I would love to meet them and personally thank them for raising such a fine and intelligent boy." Crepus asked.
Liben's expression suddenly turned a bit sad after being asked about his parents, so much so that Crepus immediately regretted bringing up the subject.
"Oh, it's alright Sir, I don't mind you asking. Truth is, I don't remember my mother that much since she died when I was born. And my father...he passed away about three years ago." Liben answered with a sad smile.
"My late mother was a native of Liyue but my old man was a merchant from the far off village of Millhaven near Dorman Port in Mondstadt. He was the one who gave me my name, hence it's not really a Liyuen one." He finished his explanation with a nostalgic chuckle.
Crepus' expression softened after hearing the boy's life story.
"I see... I'm terribly sorry for bringing up such a sensitive subject." He said apologetically.
Liben shook his head.
"No worries Mr. Crepus. You don't need to apologize. Besides, my old man always tells me to look forward and never look back at the past!"
The boy then turned towards Varka and gave him a toothy grin and a matching thumbs up. The light from the mid afternoon sun slightly reflecting off Liben's outstanding pompadour which in turn caused Varka to break into a smile of his own.
'Huh, this kid is not so bad after all. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from him.' Varka mused.
"Oh, by the way, before I forget, how did you arrive in the nick of time Master Crepus? Weren't you at the wine stall a while ago?" Varka asked.
"Aah yes! That too!" Crepus exclaimed.
"I originally went to that stall to investigate the merchant selling what he claimed to be our family's product! I don't remember ever entering into a contract with any direct distributor from this side of Liyue, which made me suspicious."
"Turns out, I was right! The wine he was selling was nothing more than cheap wine from the Chengyu Vale! So I immediately reported him to the local Millelith garrison and had him arrested! The bastard then began blabbering about his partnership with another fraudster, a man who goes by the name Pian Zi! Which thankfully led us here." Crepus finished his explanation.
"Huh? What do you know. Things really turned out well for us today eh?" Varka said with a grin.
"Indeed it did." Agreed Crepus.
The red haired man then turned to Liben and gently placed his hand on the young lad's shoulder.
"By the way, since you saved this knucklehead of an apprentice of mine from being swindled, I would like to invite you to a late afternoon lunch as a way of thanks. My treat! I'm sure there's plenty of fine restaurants here in Chengdo that would gladly serve us some sumptuous meals. What do you say?"
Varka's eyes suddenly sparkled from the mention of food, though he tried his best to hide it since he already had lunch an hour ago.
Liben on the other hand was a bit hesitant. He doesn't really want to burden his new found friends with his presence, but the tantalizing prospect of a FREE LUNCH was just too good to pass up on! Especially since he hasn't had a proper meal since yesterday!
"I... I don't want to impose Mr. Crepus. But if you insist...then I'll gladly accept your invitation." The boy finally replied.
"Excellent! Then let's head off, there's still a citywide celebration later tonight so it would be best if we eat before the streets become crowded with people." Crepus said.
"Am I included in the lunch, Master?" Varka asked hopefully.
Crepus stared at him for a moment before giving him a smirk.
"That depends on how well you answer this next question. Tell me Varka, if a certain merchant is selling a certain product at the price of 1000 mora per unit and you know for a fact that the production cost of each unit is only around 500 mora, how much would be the maximum selling price to maximize profit without losing any potential customer?"
Varka's face went pale. Oh no! Not another economic question!
Seeing the apparent despair on Varka's face made both Crepus and Liben burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! It was a joke Varka! Hahaha! Of course you're invited Varka! Now let's go! We're losing precious lunch time! Hahaha!"
And thus the group went on their way towards the nearest restaurant unaware that they had just fished out another promising young mind from the streets of Chengdo!
A young mind that would one day take the world of commerce and economy by storm!
(End of Chapter)
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(The Eight Trades)
- The Eight Trades are eight commerce sectors under the jurisdiction of the Liyue Qixing. There function is vital for the continued stability of Liyue's economic machinery.
Among the Eight, four are most well known, these are the:
- Communications Office: deals with the transport industry.
- Huishan Hall: manages mining operations across Liyue
- Shenglu Hall: dabbles with glazed ceramics
- Yinyuan Hall: controls Liyue's salt industry.
- Members of the Yinyuan Hall are peculiar because they still worship the now deceased goddess of Salt Havria along side Rex Lapis. Their ancestors were said to be refugees coming from the salt goddess's domain of Sal Terrae.
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