Date: Unspecified
Ti: Unspecified
Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Central Region, Central Academic City, Morningstar University District, Morningstar University Campus, Garden of Beginning, Ti Vestige, Morningstar University 2nd Campus
"How can you help with this?" Lucine asked, frowning. A mont later, her eyes lit up as she leaned forward hopefully. "Are you going to change what you want as compensation for curing my ti-rule dentia and helping grow my strength?"
"Yes," I said. "I’ll change it—if you agree to announce my appointnt as City Lord of the Southern Academic City to all five regions, and give the ti-rule runes I choose as diplomatic gifts."
I laid out my condition and her solution at the sa ti. If she did what I asked, no one would see her as ungrateful, and her university wouldn’t suffer the embarrassnt she had nearly dragged it into.
And as a bonus, I would accomplish every reason I ca to Morningstar University in the first place. I had planned to make the announcent by using Morningstar University as a stepping stone, but now that I knew about the top ten universities’ inheritances, I couldn’t afford to appear too aggressive. The smarter move was to have Lucine make the announcent for and present with a couple—or even several—ti-rule runes as diplomatic gifts. Once the other top ten universities saw how close I’d grown to Morningstar University, they would likely rush to approach on their own. I wouldn’t even need to seek them out. That way, I can negotiate with them on my terms.
If Lucine and Morningstar University chose to work with , both sides would profit imnsely. After all, they only stood to gain by being on my good side. Nothing brings forr rivals together faster than shared benefit and mutual growth.
"Diplomatic gifts?" Lucine repeated, confused, trying to figure out how her dilemma had anything to do with diplomacy.
"I’m your guest, aren’t I? And as luck would have it, I’m also the soon-to-be City Lord of the Southern Academic City. In a way, my visit can be treated as a diplomatic eting between Morningstar University and the Southern Academic City. Call a press conference, make a big show of our friendship and alliance, we make our announcents, and you hand a few ti-rule runes as diplomatic gifts. That is—if you don’t consider using the runes as diplomatic gifts as disgracing the mories of your loyal and brave teachers and students," I said, laying out the plan and couldn’t help teasing Lucine a little.
Lucine quickly cut in, "I get it now. But since the ti-rule runes will be diplomatic gifts, we will choose them for you—"
"You’re pushing it again," I warned, stopping her mid-sentence, wondering if she had so kind of itch that made it impossible for her to quit while she was ahead.
"I was kidding," Lucine said, tossing her hands in the air. "When it cos to things like this, your mind works wonders. Are you sure you don’t want to beco a lawyer?"
"For what? So you people can make a fortune while paying in scraps?" I shot back, rolling my eyes. Since I dared to unravel and master the mysteries of the universe, the rules of man were hardly a challenge.
"Great, then let’s head to the vault. I can’t wait to get my hands on those babies," I said, urging her forward as an unconscious grin stretched across my face. How could I not smile? Knowing that soon I’d command ti itself—threads of it dancing at my fingertips, bending to my will—was enough to make anyone grin.
"I can take you to the vault, but I can’t open it right now. Only two of the three key bearers are currently inside the ti vestige, including . And to unlock the vault, we need all three keys—the last one is with the remaining key bearer in our present," Lucine explained, dousing my excitent.
"Don’t look at like that. We have a rule that no more than two key bearers can travel through the ti vestige at once. It’s to protect the runes in the vault. Since very few people even know it exists, if the key bearers ever abused their authority, we might not find out until it was too late. To stay extra safe, we usually send only one key bearer at a ti. But this situation is unexpected. Don’t worry—you won’t be missing out. You can still pick your runes once we return to our present."
Lucine went on to explain the entire procedure required to open the vault. It was an exhausting process, and the more she talked, the more deeper my excitent slumbered. Still, considering the value and danger of the ti-rule runes, I understood why such strict asures were necessary. Once soone stole them, it would already be too late for regrets.
"Fine. Take to a chamber where I can comprehend space rules. I don’t want to waste any more of my precious ti on this," I said, letting my disappointnt show. Only I knew how torturous the wait would be—knowing those ti-rule runes were so close yet still out of reach.
"Wait, what’s the rush? I just ca out of a long seclusion. Keep company," Lucine called out as I started to leave the ti-expansion chamber, stopping in my tracks. For a mont, I wondered if I’d misheard her. But then, keeping my expression firm, I said, "Just spit it out. What do you want? Beating around the bush will only irritate further."
"Can you share the recipe you used to fertilize the Virgin Clay of Giya (red)?" Lucine finally dropped the act and asked directly.
"Didn’t I already give you the list? Can’t you figure it out yourself?" I said, unwilling to hand over the recipe for free. Even if she knew the ingredients I used, she had no idea about the ratios. And trying to work those out through trial and error would take them centuries—even with the ti expansion inside the Ti Vestige.
At this pace, Lucine will never get an upper hand on .
User Comments
0 comments from readers