Chapter 341

The meeting with Pantaruonie went very smoothly.

This Snezhnayan banker.

He readily accepted Duoli's invitation and agreed to meet at Jingshan Gong three days later.

During this time.

Duoli obtained a small batch of backlogged inventory from other merchants for Luo De and Leidianzhen.

The price was roughly forty percent lower than market rates.

This was already her limit.

If it weren't because these goods really couldn't be sold, those merchants who only cared about Mora wouldn't have agreed so readily.

Leidianzhen also began researching.

Using a laboratory set up by the Academy.

She spent three days and successfully created the first false Vision.

"This and the real one, indeed there's no noticeable difference."

Naturally, the first test sample ended up in Luo De's hands.

He, who once possessed a Vision.

After a careful comparison.

The conclusion drawn was exactly this.

The elemental energy inside this false Vision crafted by Leidianzhen was supplied by the branches of the Oasis Source.

These branches have the effect of autonomously absorbing elemental energy.

Thus it can truly achieve the level of deceiving the real thing.

Through this research.

Leidianzhen also summarized the differences between the several kinds of evil eyes currently prevalent on the Tiwatedalu continent.

"The Vision used by the Executors should also have a core of this material that can autonomously replenish elemental energy, which is the false Vision."

"That kind of evil eye that can torment a person to death uses Archon residue inside; Archon residue is not elemental energy but pure Archon power, which cannot replenish itself, so once its own Archon power is exhausted, it starts consuming the user's flesh and bones, and with frequent use, the lifespan naturally diminishes greatly."

"As for the matter you mentioned about Diluc using an evil eye without showing any abnormality,"

"I guess it's because his father, before dying, poured his own blood into that evil eye, so when he later used it, he never depleted the stored power within, and thus never showed any backlash symptoms."

"Also, the false Vision currently being made in Sumeru to create puppets has Archon resentment as its main ingredient, but its operation differs from that of evil eyes; a genuine evil eye is akin to an external Vision-like elemental organ, whereas this false Vision aims to turn the human body into an elemental organ, with the elemental energy presenting a counterflow state, and its danger is the greatest among the three kinds of evil eyes."

"What you have in your hand right now."

"It's something I made imitating a Vision, with branches of the Oasis Source; compared to a genuine Vision, the only difference is that its elemental energy storage capacity is fixed, unlike a true Vision, which can store more elemental energy as its development deepens."

After explaining the differences among several false Visions, Leidianzhen said with a slightly solemn expression: "The success rate for crafting this false Vision is low; with the materials you gave me, I managed to produce just this one—let alone mass production, even the twenty you mentioned, our current materials are far from enough."

"Hiss—"

Hearing such a huge cost, Luo De couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

The first batch of materials given to Leidianzhen.

Even with a sixty percent discount out of consideration for Duoli's face, he still spent nearly nine figures of Mora.

Although he didn't know exactly how much wealth he had.

But Luo De also knew that such expenses would likely be unsustainable for him soon.

Therefore, breaking the monopoly deliberately created by Pantaruonie has become all the more imperative.

"I need you to come with me."

Just as Luo De was secretly marveling at the money‑burning endeavor of crafting false Visions, Leidianzhen suddenly came out with this.

"Didn't you say before that you didn't need me and could handle it yourself?"

Luo De frowned slightly, asking doubtfully: "How did you change your mind?"

"We can't beat him."

Leidianzhen said this sincerely.

"Huh?"

"Are you still preparing to fight him?"

Luo De blinked, bewildered: "Weren't we just talking about negotiating business? How could we end up fighting?"

"It's not that we're afraid the talks might fall through."

Leidianzhen spread her hands frankly: "I previously didn't know that person, so I applied the mindset we used back when we dealt with unlawful merchants in Inazuma, but after hearing what you said the past two days, I realized I might not be a match for that person."

"So you're preparing to use force."

Luo De slightly opened his mouth and asked.

"It's just kidnapping; don't put it so harshly."

"Kidnap him, then demand ransom from the Ice God—it's the quickest method; anyway, if you make a move, the blame will all fall on you."

Leidianzhen chuckled and offered the idea: "Anyway, she values you greatly, even to the point of not hesitating to discard her own Second Seat Executor, so even if you kidnap their Ninth Seat Executor, she won't say anything."

"I"

If it weren't for the bad timing, Luo De would really want to pry open Leidianzhen's skull to see what's going on in her head.

Could it be that my own thought pattern is influencing her thinking?

Just thinking about when Leidianzhen's consciousness recovered, having once been infected by my otherworldly aura, causing her personality to become extremely flighty, Luo De couldn't help but get a headache.

But upon second thought.

Leidianzhen's seemingly unreliable idea isn't actually what I myself have been thinking, just never voiced it? Upon thinking this.

Luo De then nodded, laughing and crying at the same time: "Alright, I get it."

Soon.

After Leidian Zhen's first fake Vision was fabricated and Lin Ye had submitted the cost sheet, word came that Pantalone had arrived in Hope City.

As the current highest executive official of Hope City.

Luo De immediately brought Leidian Zhen to Pure Virtue Palace and personally met the executive who had caused him much trouble.

Just as he had imagined.

Upon first meeting, Pantalone gave Luo De an extremely dangerous aura; although he narrowed his eyes, he was not as arrogant and overbearing as Duotuolei, yet the calmer he was, the more uneasy Luo De felt.

「Hello, Mr. Luo De, I am Pantalone, the Ninth Seat Executive under Her Majesty the Empress, founder of the Northland Bank, and current honorary chairman of the Snezhnaya Commerce Association, Snezhnaya. 」

As soon as Pantalone spoke, he introduced his identity in full.

From the executive of the Ice Empress to the boss of the Snezhnaya United Sugar Company, he listed everything without omission, taking several minutes to finish.

Luo De, who had listened from start to finish, curled his lips and said: 「Luo De, follower of the Dendro Archon Buer. 」

He said.

Luo De pointed to the renewed Leidian Zhen and said: 「This is my assistant; you can call her Azhen. 」

「Oh, this assistant lady looks quite capable. 」

「I wonder if you would be willing to serve under me and contribute to Her Majesty the Empress's great undertaking. 」

As soon as he spoke, Pantalone almost made Luo De lose his composure. What the hell.

Right off the bat, instead of discussing business, he started poaching people.

Moreover, who is he poaching?

That's the former Electro Archon of Inazuma!

Luo De doubted whether Pantalone had noticed that Leidian Zhen was different, which was why he said that.

But he knew.

Pantalone would certainly not get his way this round.

「Sorry, I've worked with Mr. Luo De for a long time and currently have no intention of changing supervisors. 」

Although I don't understand why he would say that, Leidian Zhen naturally would not agree, and politely refused Pantalone.

「Oh, is that so? 」

「That's really a shame. 」

「Mr. Luo De, you don't look like a good person at all. 」

Although Luo De found Pantalone's earlier remarks tolerable, he then launched straight into a personal attack.

Luo De felt more and more that something was off.

He immediately retorted: 「What do you mean, Mr. Pantalone? Are people who constantly stir up economic wars, cause industries to collapse at the drop of a hat, and leave countless families ruined and homeless considered good? 」

「I am certainly not a good person. 」

Pantalone chuckled, showing no offense: 「But aren't the corrupt, greedy high officials of nations even worse? 」

How did the conversation drift so far off? Luo De, bewildered by Pantalone's scattershot approach, frowned and asked: 「What do you mean, Mr. Pantalone? 」

「What do you mean? 」

「It's simple. 」

「Mr. Luo De, since you know what I have done in the past, you must also know that whenever those factories encounter a crisis, if their nation and their god extend a helping hand, they will surely overcome the difficulty, thwarting my plans completely. 」

Pantalone openly admitted his past misdeeds, then continued with a smile: 「But how many actually lend a hand? Mondstadt counts as one, Sumeru as half, and Inazuma has completely given up, so how can I be blamed? If every nation were like Her Majesty the Empress, how many times could my scheme succeed? 」

When mentioning Inazuma and Natlan.

Pantalone's face showed a starkly contrasting attitude.

When speaking of Inazuma.

He clearly held them in contempt, treating Inazuma's high officials and its god with equal disdain.

But toward Natlan,

Although his business had been ruined by the Pyro God, he felt no anger, instead speaking with great admiration: 「It's a shame that not every nation's god possesses the same resolve as Lady Maweika. 」

After saying those irrelevant remarks.

Pantalone shifted his gaze, fixed on Luo De, and chuckled: 「As for you, Mr. Luo De, you who spend all your time thinking how to kidnap me without angering Her Majesty the Empress—are you really a good person? 」

「. 」

「Is my expression really that obvious? 」

Luo De, stunned for a moment, touched his own face.

Pantalone certainly didn't have any mind-reading ability; he simply inferred Luo De's kidnapping plan from his facial changes.

Luo De and Leidian Zhen exchanged a glance, then both shook their heads helplessly.

By this point.

The kidnapping plan naturally fell through.

It was clear that Pantalone had come prepared; if they still tried to forcibly abduct him, it would surely provoke a backlash from Snezhnaya, ending up losing more than they gained.

However, just as Luo De abandoned the kidnapping idea and prepared to negotiate from another angle, hoping to get him to agree to sell materials cheaply,

Then Pantalone laughed again: 「Mr. Luo De, if you want to kidnap me, go ahead—I won't resist. As for Snezhnaya, I've already arranged things before coming; any request you make will be carried out exactly, with no nonsense. All you need to deal with is Her Majesty the Empress's reproach. 」

「. ？」

What the hell is this?

Luo De, once again caught off guard by Pantalone, stared with his mouth wide open, eyes full of confusion.

What kind of person is this? This kind of negotiation that doesn't follow the usual playbook.

Not only was Luo De bewildered, but even the experienced Leidian Zhen didn't know how to respond.

After they remained silent for a while,

Seeing Leidian Zhen also looking at him helplessly, Luo De burst out laughing and asked: 「What do you mean by that? 」

Nothing.

It's just because I think you're a decent person, bearing some resemblance to Lady Maweika.

If we put it in Liyue terms.

That is, I appreciate you, so to become friends, I'm willing to lend you a hand.

After saying that, Pantaruonie thought for a moment, then added: "Oh, by the way, please don't tell me what you intend to do after kidnapping me; I don't want to have to keep a secret even in my sleep."

Just

Such a simple reason?

Luo De's lips twitched slightly, then he said: "Aren't you afraid I'll make some demand to persecute you?"

What's there to be afraid of?

I am the most trusted executive officer of Her Majesty the Empress and all my colleagues; no matter what happens, Her Majesty will unconditionally trust me.

On the contrary, it's you.

I've been observing you for a long time.

You conduct yourself with a style somewhat like Lady Maweika's, just not as direct as she is.

But that's understandable.

After all, you're not a god, so you can't have the kind of overwhelming presence that Lady Maweika possesses.

Knowing your own weakness, you still strive.

That makes me appreciate you.

So, I'll only give you one chance; seize it. From today onward, our meetings might still be as enemies, and if necessary, I will launch an economic offensive against you and Sumeru, using any means, until I obtain a satisfactory result.

After Pantaruonie finished speaking, he himself reached out his hand, waiting for Luo De to tie him up.

After a brief hesitation.

Luo De asked his final question: "Are you afraid I'll kill you?"

And this question.

It also elicited Pantaruonie's most disdainful snort: "Go ahead and try to kill me; we'll see whose death is uglier—mine or Sumeru's. You're a smart person; you shouldn't do something stupid."

Understood.

Upon hearing that answer, Luo De nodded, then bluntly tied Pantaruonie up, and had Leidian Zhenqi draft a blackmail letter, preparing to send it straight to the Snezhnaya Chamber of Commerce.

(End of chapter)