The room became somewhat silent after Liu Shu's declaration. Even Violet felt her face twitch, not having expected such bluntness.
Xakira looked at the soft, pregnant Little Beauty between her arms with a complicated look, but she didn't say anything, looking at Leafara and curious if such skills could even be sold. While she had none, it was not impossible to learn.
Meanwhile, Leafara snapped out of her daze and looked at Liu Shu with a cautious look. "Um, which skill did you want to sell?"
"
Leafara asked Liu Shu to share the system, and the following appeared in front of Leafara.
***
***
Leafara's eyes widened faintly, and she spoke with surprise in her voice. "It is the real deal!"
This reaction made both Xakira and Violet choke. 'Why is this woman looking at it as if she had found a treasure?'
Leafara spoke, her tone a bit excited. "Impressive! Truly impressive! Do you know how rare and difficult this skill is to get, Liu Shu? Forget the usual 50 B Rank Skill Shards, I will buy this skill for 300 B Rank Skill Shards!" She added, her tone serious. "Don't rush to accept this price. This skill is truly too rare. Are you sure you want to sell it to me?"
Violet was baffled by her words, and she couldn't help but blurt. "Is it really that expensive?"
Leafara, seeing the surprise in their faces, realized that without a bit of explanation, she might look like a pervert. So, she laughed for a moment and relaxed, explaining to them calmly. "Everyone who has had children, of course, has gone through the necessary steps, right? However, among them, did any of them develop any type of skill? The grand majority of times, that's not the case, regardless of how many times they exchange passionate nights."
Xakira blinked and noticed that her words were quite truthful. She added. "Even then, it is more that people choose not to learn than being unable to, right?"
Leafara answered with a question. "If you were to accept the past skills, what rank do you think they would've been?"
Thinking back, Xakira realized that most of those skills felt as if they were going to be between E and C Rank. Knowing that she had understood, Leafara spoke once more. "Plus, imagine a man has the option to learn a skill like…
Xakira shook her head.
"This skill is basically the equivalent, but for females. There are plenty of high-class entertainers who would basically kill for learning this skill. I will most likely be able to sell this skill for 1,000 or so B Rank Skill Shards."
Liu Shu blinked and frowned. "Hey, you are buying it only for 300 when you are going to sell it for 1,000? Isn't this a bit of a robbery?"
Leafara pouted. "How could that be? The total profits I will make are probably only around 100 B Rank Skill Shards. The rest will be used during the inscription and extraction process."
"Oh… I see." Liu Shu hummed, and then she smiled. "Alright then, we can sell it for 300 then."
At the side, Violet cleared her throat and then showed part of her System Page to Leafara. "Um… how about these skills?"
Leafara saw a small list of skills, and her heart leaped once more. While most of these skills were C Rank, each of them was extremely valuable as well. "You… are you a genius in bedroom arts? This array of skills would basically make anyone melt in your arms."
Violet scratched her cheek, somewhat confused. "Not at all… among my peers, I am a bit more talented, but there are many seniors who are much better than me."
Leafara was once more surprised. The average for these skills, even in high-ranking powers, was between D and C Rank. Those who learned B Rank skills could be called seductresses, while those with A Rank could start ensnaring others through physical pleasure.
Even Leafara herself had not seen anything above A Rank.
Therefore, Leafara was currently very confused. Then, a flash of inspiration crossed her mind as she quickly opened her System page and checked Liu Shu's "list" of buffs. 'Right… Ingenuity Blessing and the many other buffs in comprehension do affect such skills…'
Once she learned that, her eyes shone. "Branches above, Ceperet turned out to be a treasure trove all along!"
While they had not really said anything, the trading they had made could not be called too profitable. The skills in Ceperet, compared to any other high-level power, were a bit too low quality and common. Therefore, selling them back would be a bit difficult.
However, only now did Leafara realize that the true value of Ceperet was not in combat skills, but life skills. With Liu Shu's ridiculous boosts, the usual rare and difficult skills that appeared in one out of 10,000 people could be considered commonplace!
She pondered deeply, looking at Liu Shu for a few moments. Then, she asked. "Liu Shu, I have a question."
Liu Shu smiled. "Ask away, Leafara."
"I want to ask if you could allow us to go to your entertainment districts and check people with the System Analysis. I think your Golden Sap Empire has a lot of rare and unusual skills. These skills, once sold, can be exchanged for powerful Talents and Passive skills that will make any of them a genius worth cultivating."
Liu Shu chuckled. "Leafara, you seemed to be mistaken about something."
"Hm?"
Seeing the puzzlement in her eyes, Liu Shu smiled gently. "I never stop people from doing as they please. Your business, as long as it never breaches my laws, can do as it pleases. Monopolies, powerful economic forces… if you have the ability, then do it."
Here, she paused and then turned serious. "The only thing is this: do not think that because of your influence, you can skip my laws. I know you are strong, and I know that Flamar alone can probably suppress us with a single palm. However, if you breach my rules, our cooperation will not be as smooth."
Liu Shu knew that, at that moment, she was abusing a bit of Leafara's tolerance toward her. The woman in front of her was a bona fide Level 290. Her strength was such that Liu Shu would most likely be helpless against it.
However, Liu Shu knew that this woman was very fond of her. Therefore, she faintly took advantage so that Leafara could help her keep the Skill Merchants in check as much as possible.
Leafara, as intelligent as she was, naturally caught Liu Shu's thoughts. Still, she was not dissatisfied. This World Tree had been welcoming, even if by force, and trusted them with much more than she needed to.
Even if Liu Shu never shared her buffs with them, they never would have felt slighted. However, her forwardness at that time clearly showed Liu Shu's intent to become their ally.
Therefore, Leafara used her control over essence to gently shift Liu Shu from Xakira's lap to hers. After hugging the soft little girl and nuzzling against her cheek, she laughed. "I understand. Don't worry, Liu Shu. What we told you the day of your arrival about not offending others was not a lie. We have, and we will, follow the rules. I just wanted to confirm with you."
"Great!" Liu Shu smiled, turning back to her soft, usual self. Then, with a cheerful smile, she asked. "So, how does the ritual work for World Trees? You can't fit me in that small room, right?"
"You are right." Leafara nodded, playing with Liu Shu's slender fingers. "For World Trees, we need to use our ship. It has an ingrained Array and Runic Field to make transactions with World Trees."
She smiled playfully. "I just didn't expect there to be so many World Trees living in your domain. It's truly… exceptional."
Liu Shu showed a proud little face. "They are my big and little sisters. While some of them are not very talented, they help nurture Ceperet and Nualis together with me!"
This was not a lie. Each World Tree's aura was different, and its passive influence helped nature become varied and flourish. As she said that, she blinked and her gaze shifted to Vorathen. "It should be time to move some World Trees to the Moon and Vorathen. The weather there has calmed down quite a bit."
Leafara and Xakira both looked at Liu Shu, their hearts squeezing strangely. Xakira asked, confused. "U-Um, Liu Shu dear, what do you mean by moving?"
"Hm?" Liu Shu blinked. "Moving is moving. Changing locations? I don't know how you want me to explain it."
Leafara laughed again, while Xakira reached to take another deep sip of the half-drunken teacup. "Anyway, since you've decided, we can start."
She looked at Xakira and Violet and smiled. "I will go help Liu Shu, and once I am done, I will attend to you two. Please wait here."
Both of them nodded and saw Leafara walk away while grabbing Liu Shu's little hand.
Once they left, Xakira looked at Violet, making the girl stiffen. Violet knew that this woman was the Hornet Queen, someone with authority similar to that of Ignatia in their species.
"Haha~, don't be nervous, little one. You are Liu Shu's friend, so I won't do anything to you. Come, come, let Aunty Xakira give you a few presents. Tell me, what do you do?"
So, under Violet's stupefied gaze, Xakira learned about her and even gave her a few makeup-related treasures that she had lying around in her storage device.
Spatial storage devices were rare and complicated to make, but not impossible. Each of them was quite expensive, but for someone of Xakira's caliber, they were common treasures. She even gifted one to Violet, making the girl extremely grateful.
Meanwhile, Leafara had already informed Flamar and had 10 people come to assist her. These 10 people quickly helped start the Level 325 starship, and it flew in front of Liu Shu's chest area.
Liu Shu then manifested herself, and the ship fired a gentle beam at her. Liu Shu was a bit wary, using her understanding of runes to confirm that there was nothing strange.
Thankfully, Liu Shu found nothing wrong, and soon, the System Message popped up before her.
[You've lost
[You've learned
[You've learned
[You've learned
[You've learned
[You have residual 286 and 400
Other than this, Leafara shared her discoveries with the other Skill Merchants, and they quickly paid Liu Shu to help her open a branch in the entertainment sector of the city. This small shop would silently become the birthplace of many future geniuses in the Golden Sap Empire.