The visual degradation of the buildings around her was more and more clear to Anishka until, suddenly, she was in an area with well paved streets and shiny buildings. She thought they were rely passing through until Nezihe pulled into a side lot, where there were other similar vehicles.
This is not where I was expecting to end up, Anishka said.
I imagine not, Nezihe said. Even when I started I had sowhere else in mind. But this place is important to see.
As a representation of what can be?
If you think so, Nezihe answered.
Which ant she didnt think that was the reason. So what went on here, in this district? Anishka looked around, taking it in. People in nice clothes walked around between various buildings. Their cultivations were generally greater than what she had previously sensed, and she could feel the way the enchantnts radiated off of their equipnt. A few, at least, had the cultivation of the Righteous Inscription Sect, which had put forth the main envoy for the Shining Cooperative. That was one of the few sects whose auras shed been familiarized with before arriving.
Nothing necessarily felt wrong on the surface. But then she saw sothing unusual. Or rather, soone. A young man, low in cultivation. There was nothing wrong with that, it was just that said individual stood out from the surroundings. Sothing he was carrying drew her attention. Anishka began to follow him. Though, it was not like she made it so obvious.
She simply headed for the sa building hed gone inside. What is this one, Nezihe? she asked. There was a sign, of course, but she didnt let that dissuade her from asking.
The Crystal Clear Trading Company, Nezihe said. I cant say I know too much about them in particular. However, they may be able to explain more of their business.
Splendid, Anishka said, strolling inside.
Heads turned. Even though Anishka was subduing her natural energy to seem more on the level of a Life Transformation cultivator, two of them walking in together was sothing noteworthy.
Can I help you, senior? said a woman, scurrying up to Anishka.
Yes indeed. I have many questions about your business policies.
Of course. Co, let arrange for a private room.
Anishka wondered if soone would be getting kicked out. It seed rather busy, after all. She just hoped it wouldnt be that young man, mostly because she was here to spy on what happened with him.
This was quite a fascinating place, she observed. So rooms clearly had more security than others. And upon stepping into the room she was guided to, she hadnt been able to feel much of anything inside, until the door was opened. Yet she could feel out of the room, which was good. She didnt want to waste her ti not spying.
The young man was on the opposite side of the building, about a floor above. His section was hardly secured, and even her passive senses were enough to get a vague feeling. Just a little increase in her gathering, and she felt quite a bit more- but not focused anywhere. To anyone looking, it would seem as if she was just generally alert, even though she was ignoring most information that wasnt of interest. Though she supposed others similarly situated to the young man might also be worth paying attention to.
You sell crystals here, right? Anishka said. I an, obviously you sell more than crystals. But I was wondering if you had any fire and ice crystals available.
Of course, the representative said. We have an abundance of any elent you need, in a variety of power levels.
Perhaps I was unclear, Anishka said. I was speaking of dual elent fire and ice crystals. As you may see, with my cultivation I am quite interested in such.
I see. Senior is truly interested in so rare objects. Such things are rarely in stock for long. I will have to inquire about whether or not we have any. If you will excuse . The woman bowed her head, and Anishka waved her off.
Perfect. Now she had more room for spying. Nezihe just sat behind her, silent.
... while it has a certain level of rarity, Anishka picked up the voice of a woman, Unfortunately few cultivators can make use of it. Thus, the sum we can offer you is less than what it might have been.
Technically, most of those words were true. Very few cultivators could use a fire and ice crystal. That was what made her notice the young man to begin with, carrying one only shielded by a weak insulating chest. However, that only inflated the value for them, as they desired such all the more.
Well alright the young man said. How much are you willing to offer?
The woman nad a price, and Anishkas eye twitched. Was she buying a pebble on the side of the road? Obviously it was much more than that, as even the lowest cultivator could not mistake the level of natural energy in the crystal. But it was nowhere near the value of the object.
The young man at least had the good sense to try to haggle the price higher. And the bravery to double the offer. Such things might lead to imdiate rejection if it were actually unreasonable.
Eventually, the woman settled for about one and a half tis her initial offer, which had to be still around a tenth of the actual value. Anishka was considering running over there and kicking down the door. But she restrained herself.
Nezihe, Anishka comnted. I dont have much local currency. The other woman frowned, until Anishka pulled out a pair of bracers radiating a strong air elental current. I hope you can assist with that.
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Nezihe didnt know if she was supposed to be purchasing the bracers or if she might otherwise profit from the venture, but she didnt care. They werent sothing that could simply be found on the market, and they would greatly augnt her core elent. Passing up an opportunity to have those and win favor with an Assimilation cultivator would be crazy.
Anishka observed goods and currency exchange hands across the building and soon enough her representative was coming back towards her with two small chests. She practically burst into the room.
Senior, the woman said. We did indeed have fire and ice crystals. Two, in fact. Co, take a look. She placed the containers gently on the table in the middle of the room, opening them one at a ti.
Anishka looked at them, even picking them up with her hands to study carefully. And while shed already made her decision, she took so ti to show it. These are not high enough quality. How much are they? I might still consider purchasing them. The woman quoted her a number about one and a half tis what they were worth.
They werent each equivalent. The one they seed to have already had in stock was a few tiers higher in practical usefulness and thus value. The young man wasnt so lucky that he could find sothing suitable for Life Transformation while rely in Spirit Building.
Anishka got up and began to walk out. The woman imdiately lowered the price to sothing in the ballpark of reasonable. rchants did have to make a profit, and they had so value in facilitating the movent of goods between individuals who might never et in ti or space.
I am no longer interested. Though perhaps at a lower price I might be interested in giving the smaller one to my disciple.
Of course, the woman said. As a special deal, though it will destroy our profits, I can cut off an additional twenty percent and no more.
Interesting. She actually seed to believe that. Was the one who made the purchase lying about the sale price? Clipping coins at both ends? That was quite possible, but it wasnt any of Anishkas business. Okay, it was a little bit her business since shed been brought here.
Very well. I suppose I will accept that. Nearly half of the initial asking cost- but hardly a discount or any actual dent to their profits.
Nezihe pulled out money to pay, like a proper attendant, then followed Anishka outside. I did not know you had a disciple, she said. It would have been appropriate for you to bring them, if you wished to.
Oh, Anishka said. I dont have one.
Then why?
To make a point to soone, Anishka said. Unfortunately, I couldnt legally make this point to all involved. And Id rather not cause too much trouble on my first day here.
Indeed. Please dont.
Anishka removed the crystal from its protection, tossing the small chest into her storage bag simply because she didnt want to litter. It had so value, but she would have left it at the rchants building in most cases.
Her steps brought her after the young man whose na she had never learned. The rchants hadnt even asked. That was also the case with her, but she might have intimidated them into forgetting accidentally. What could she do about it? She was confident for a reason. And maybe they should be afraid.
She was playing with the crystal as she passed the young man. Then she turned. You are staring.
He instantly bowed his head. Im sorry, senior. It is just I just sold a crystal of the sa type as that. It was a great boon for .
Indeed? Anishka said. I just purchased this, in fact. I found it pretty. It was not terribly expensive, so I bought it for the sake of my disciple. I just paid sothing along the lines of what was it, Nezihe? Anishka rembered, even if she wasnt familiar with the local currency exchange values. She just wanted soone else to say it.
Nezihe played along, and the young mans eyes widened.
What is it?
He shook his head. I suppose mine was smaller or sothing. I didnt get nearly so much.
It most certainly was not different in any area, Anishka said. Because this is the sa one. She took a step towards him.
Oh. Then I he hung his head. I really lost out, didnt I? Did senior follow just to rub it in?
To make the point. It is easy to be blinded by shiny things and money, Anishka said. And in so ways they are necessary and cannot be done away with. Thus, we must be cautious with them. Otherwise she took the crystal between her thumb and index finger, squeezing. They can disappear like nothing. The crystal shattered, the condensed energy within it scattering to the winds in re monts.
The young man just watched, trembling. W-wasnt that for your disciple?
It served its purpose best as an object lesson, Anishka said. Besides, you neither cultivate fire nor ice currently.
He seed to want to leave, but was afraid to turn away or otherwise insult her. That is true, senior, was all he could manage.
Youll have to be more cautious with your gains, Anishka said. Think well how you spend that money. She pulled out a scroll from her storage bag. And study this.
The young man read the first line aloud. Fire and Ice Palace basic forms. He looked up at her. Is this?
The sa style I use. We shall see how you do by the end of the week. I may co to retrieve it after that ti. Anishka turned as if to walk away.
Wait, senior! How will you find ?
She looked over her shoulder. Are you planning to leave the city?
... Not imdiately, he admitted.
Then I will find you.
Anishka took Nezihe away from the scene. The other woman comnted when they were out of earshot. Was that all necessary?
No. But I wanted to do that, so I did. Its not too late for him to restart his cultivation, and his thod is terrible so even if he has little affinity he can hardly do worse with this one. Anishka looked towards Nezihe. But what did you expect to do?
Nothing. Not in particular, at least.
Soone else would be more suited for this. I have neither the knowledge of the finances or laws required. However, I would suggest more closely keeping track of exchanges of a certain magnitude.
That is quite a difficult task, Nezihe admitted. We have so many people.
Oh right. They didnt even have computers. Anishka wondered if it would be quicker to wait for the okay to introduce technology to them, or to influence them to make sothing similar fully formation based. Formations tended to go large, while technology related to computers relied on very small scales so it might not make sense. Either way, relying on people to keep accurate records would still be necessary to catch grievous harms, but it was sowhere to start.
She wondered if this was what Nezihe wanted her to get out of coming here, or sothing entirely unrelated.
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