"Since I've agreed to your request, that makes us partners now, doesn't it, Mr. Su Ran?
In that case… could you clear up a few doubts of mine?"
After accepting Su Ran's ring, Ningguang was ready to move on to bigger business.
Deals of cosmic scale, to be precise— business with visitors from beyond the stars.
"What do you want to know?"
Compared to the cautious Raiden Ei, Ningguang was much more forward-thinking.
So Su Ran didn't mind giving her a glimpse into the vastness of the universe.
"I want to understand what's out there.
What sort of place is 'the world beyond the heavens'?"
To make good deals, she needed good information.
The last thing she wanted was to walk blindly into a trap, picked apart by some cosmic predator.
Choosing the wrong partner could be fatal.
And Ningguang, shrewd as she was, never gambled without understanding the stakes.
She might be bold, but she wasn't reckless.
"You can think of the universe," Su Ran began, "as countless nations—like Teyvat's Seven, but spread across the stars.
Worlds upon worlds, all led by different civilizations.
Most are human-dominated, but with wildly different cultures, creations, even moral codes you wouldn't begin to recognize."
He leaned back, his voice calm, matter-of-fact.
"As for factions… there are more than you could ever imagine.
Even the weakest ones I know of could easily destroy Teyvat if they wanted to."
The Seven Archons might seem powerful— stronger even than most Pathstriders below the rank of Envoy— but in the face of nuclear fire, even gods were fragile.
And nuclear fire, by cosmic standards… was ancient technology.
Hardly impressive at all.
That was why Teyvat remained untouched.
A small, hidden backwater world, with nothing worth conquering.
Even if otherworldly travelers had landed here before, none had ever bothered to bring their "wolves" along.
"The outside world… is it really that dangerous?"
Ningguang's composure wavered.
To think there were countless powers capable of erasing Teyvat with ease— it was more terrifying than she'd imagined.
"Don't panic," Su Ran said with a faint smile.
"Most factions aren't interested in destruction.
But if anyone from Teyvat tries to step into the wider cosmos, the first entity they'll encounter won't be a god or empire…"
"It'll be a company."
At that word, Ningguang's eyes lit up.
A company?
Now that was a language she understood.
"The Interastral Peace Corporation," Su Ran said, "a true intergalactic conglomerate.
You can find their presence in almost every corner of the universe."
Ningguang's fingers twitched slightly.
The way he described it— a single company that spanned the stars— was both thrilling and horrifying.
To her, it sounded like both a potential business ally… and the most terrifying competitor imaginable.
"But as for their methods…"
Su Ran sighed.
"Let's just say, next to them, even that 'Regrator' you've heard of— that rich merchant among the Fatui—looks like a saint.
However dark you imagine the Interastral Peace Company to be, the reality is darker still.
I don't recommend getting involved with them."
Ningguang fell silent.
Even without seeing them, the picture he painted was enough to make her chest tighten.
Risk and reward usually went hand in hand— but some risks simply weren't worth taking.
"Of course," Su Ran continued, "the company only preys on the weak.
If you had a trump card strong enough to threaten them, they'd back down.
But sadly, as far as I know, nothing in Teyvat can."
That settled it.
The Interastral Peace Company was off the table.
If she dared to deal with them, they'd probably strip her bare and swallow the bones.
Lumine and Paimon had been listening quietly this whole time.
But neither could add much—
Lumine wasn't a Pathstrider, and Paimon was far too busy… eating.
Two bottomless food machines, utterly useless in cosmic politics.
"Then what about your faction, Mr. Su Ran?" Ningguang asked.
"The Genius Club?"
If that company was a no-go, then surely his own organization was the safest—and most valuable—option.
In her eyes, Su Ran's backers were the perfect business partners.
"I'm afraid not," Su Ran said, shaking his head.
"The Genius Club is even further beyond your reach.
I wouldn't recommend trying to deal with us either."
Even he knew Ningguang couldn't offer anything of value to his peers.
And as for the others in the Club— they'd laugh her proposal out the door.
Money?
If that's all she offered, the Interastral Peace Company would look positively charitable by comparison.
At least they occasionally invested in friendship.
"How so?"
She'd heard of people exaggerating to sound important, but this tone—so casual, so absolute—
was different.
"Because," Su Ran said evenly, "members of the Genius Club are never short on money.
As for cooperation—well, as the richest woman in Teyvat, you still wouldn't even qualify to meet most of them.
I'm the exception, only because I enjoy wandering."
He wasn't wrong.
Teyvat was, in every sense, a backwater.
Its technology and culture were primitive.
At best, a few of his peers might take an interest in its "elemental power"— but once they dissected a god or two, they'd lose interest and move on.
"Then doesn't that mean…"
"We have no chance of ever standing on equal footing with the universe?"
All the color drained from Ningguang's face.
Her earlier excitement had long faded.
What Su Ran gave her wasn't knowledge to exploit— but the realization of just how small they were.
The universe was a banquet,and Teyvat wasn't even an appetizer.
"But," Su Ran said suddenly, a glint of mischief in his eyes, "it's not completely hopeless."
Ningguang looked up, startled.
"For someone like you, reaching out to any major faction would be laughable.
None of them would take you seriously.
But right now, in front of you…"
He leaned closer with a teasing smile.
"You have one unique benefactor."
"Pffft!"
At that, Lumine—mid-bite—couldn't hold it in.
She choked, spraying rice all over the table.
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