As for the exchange rate between Mora and Xianzhou credits, there wasn't much debate.
During Tingyun's previous stay in Liyue, she had already gained a thorough understanding of Mora's purchasing power.
Unfortunately, the technological gap between the two civilizations was simply too vast.
As a result, their currencies differed enormously in value as well.
However, Tingyun had come this time with the intention of aiding Teyvat, not chasing profits.
Besides, compared to the Xianzhou Luofu, Teyvat's population was tiny.
Even if every nation on the continent were combined, their total population still wouldn't amount to one percent of a single Xianzhou ship.
"The only remaining question is..."
"How does Miss Tingyun intend to handle Inazuma and Snezhnaya?"
After signing the trade agreement, Ningguang carefully placed the document into an ornate case, treating it like a priceless treasure.
This represented the next step toward expanding Liyue's influence into the wider universe.
It was also the key to whether Liyue could grow into a true powerhouse.
Although the agreement was technically signed with Liyue,
Teyvat's current products didn't come close to meeting the standards of the Xianzhou Alliance.
So for now, the arrangement was essentially one-sided aid.
As Liyue's representative, Ningguang naturally had full authority over the matter.
More importantly, she was the person personally chosen by Su Ran.
That meant Teyvat's external trade would naturally pass through her hands.
Of course, out of personal interest, she had chosen to prioritize Liyue first.
As for the remaining nations, if they failed to negotiate directly with Tingyun,
their future dealings would all fall under Ningguang's supervision.
So, it wasn't only Tingyun who had been promoted.
Ningguang had effectively gained control over all of Teyvat's foreign trade.
"...Now that's a difficult question."
"Although I know both Snezhnaya and Inazuma have close ties with Benefactor..."
"...I've yet to establish contact with either nation."
"So I'm afraid I'll have to leave those trade negotiations to Miss Ningguang."
Tingyun generously handed that authority over.
Snezhnaya and Inazuma were still unfamiliar territory to her.
Most of Ningguang's business originated from Liyue, but she was also the only person Su Ran had personally selected.
She was perfectly qualified to allocate trade however she saw fit.
How she distributed it
was entirely her own decision.
Tingyun had no intention of interfering.
"That's all I needed to hear."
Ningguang had absolutely no plans
to divide everything equally.
However, the shares allocated to Snezhnaya and Inazuma couldn't be too small.
In fact, they couldn't receive less than Liyue—provided they could actually absorb that much trade.
After all, to Su Ran, both Snezhnaya and Inazuma were far closer than Liyue.
One could only blame Inazuma's twin Electro Archons for being far too captivating.
And Snezhnaya had been Su Ran's very first stop in Teyvat.
As for Liyue...aside from Ningguang herself, it hadn't really offered Su Ran much.
Being a little less favored was understandable.
The other four nations?
They could wait.
If anything remained afterward, they could have the leftovers.
"Miss Ningguang, you'd better seize this opportunity."
"I've already become the Luofu's head of commerce."
"Don't tell me you can't even take control of all of Teyvat."
Having already given Ningguang enormous advantages, Tingyun naturally hoped she would dominate Teyvat's trade.
After all,
Teyvat was only Ningguang's first stop.
Her future would extend far beyond a single little planet.
"Naturally."
"With this position..."
"I'll have no rivals in all of Teyvat's commercial world."
Even Pantalone...
Neither Rex Lapis had chosen him, nor had Su Ran.
How truly pitiful.
That very night,
Ningguang wrote two letters and dispatched them to the divine residences of Snezhnaya and Inazuma.
"Has this intelligence been confirmed?"
Within the Tsaritsa's palace,
Pantalone wore a grim expression
as he listened to a Fatui agent's report.
Several of the Harbingers were also present.
"It has."
"We even obtained photographs using a Camera."
Liyue's trade with visitors from beyond the stars had already come to the Fatui's attention.
The outsiders' technology was simply astonishing.
Even a single transport vessel was unimaginably enormous.
It hardly looked like something humanity could have built.
And there wasn't just one of them.
No wonder Pantalone felt like his world was collapsing.
Why was it that every time Ningguang did business, it was as though she'd activated some kind of cheat?
Everything went perfectly for her.
Meanwhile, no matter how hard he worked, he always ended up one step behind.
It had been bad enough that Morax hadn't chosen him.
Now, even people from beyond the stars had chosen Ningguang instead.
Was she the universe's chosen child or something?
"The visitors come from a place called the Luofu."
"They've brought an enormous quantity of goods."
"Unfortunately, security is extremely tight."
"We've been unable to gather further intelligence."
The Cloud Knights were vastly stronger than ordinary Fatui soldiers.
Even one of the higher-ranked Harbingers might not be able to leave safely if they infiltrated.
Ordinary agents stood no chance.
"There's no need to investigate further."
The Tsaritsa finally spoke from her throne.
She had personally visited the Luofu.
That place was terrifyingly powerful.
Not to mention...
there wasn't just one Xianzhou ship.
"Ningguang has already sent me a letter."
"Snezhnaya is eligible to receive aid from these visitors."
"However..."
"All goods will first pass through Ningguang."
"Your Majesty!"
"Wouldn't that allow Ningguang to manipulate everything?"
Pantalone was on the verge of exploding.
If Snezhnaya wanted to trade with these extraterrestrials, they would first have to rely on Ningguang.
Wouldn't that mean they'd only receive whatever she left behind?
"No."
"This time..."
"Liyue, Inazuma, and Snezhnaya stand on equal footing."
The Tsaritsa understood very well that Ningguang was merely a representative.
She wasn't irreplaceable.
"She's a subordinate of the Genius first."
"And only afterward one of the Liyue Qixing."
"...What?"
The Harbingers all looked bewildered.
The Tsaritsa had no choice but to explain everything she knew.
After listening, Pantalone only looked even more devastated.
"...Why?"
"Why would a Genius choose Ningguang instead of choosing such a wonderful colleague as me?"
Back then, he had approved funding for the Genius's workshop without any hesitation.
"...Perhaps..."
"...because you're a man."
The Tsaritsa offered her best guess.
At that moment, Pantalone nearly fainted.
...Just because of that?
"Your Majesty."
"If this concerns the Genius..."
"Would it be possible for us to obtain the technology behind those transport ships?"
Unlike Pantalone, Sandrone cared only about technology.
The engineering behind those vessels...
and the countless strange machines aboard them.
"...That would only require a single sentence from him."
"But compared to those technologies..."
"...the Genius himself is far more valuable."
Having seen the wider universe, the Tsaritsa understood perfectly just how important Su Ran truly was.
Transport ships?
Those were insignificant.
If Su Ran wanted them, he could produce as many as he pleased.
His talent was the truly priceless resource.
"...Then should we recall the Genius?"
"Someone with that much value..."
"...shouldn't continue letting his talents benefit outsiders."
Pulcinella seemed rather dissatisfied with Su Ran wandering everywhere, sharing his abilities.
The Tsaritsa rolled her eyes.
"...Once you're capable of casually killing the Heavenly Principles..."
"...then you may try ordering the Genius around."
Pulcinella's suggestion was almost laughable.
At the same time, her words served as a reminder to every Harbinger present.
The Genius...stood above even the Heavenly Principles.
The Harbingers fell silent in thought.
So...how exactly had Her Majesty managed to recruit the Genius in the first place?
Surely it couldn't have been...using her own charms?
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