"Only a one-minute work stoppage?" Rosalyne asked with a faintly mocking smile. "Mr. Mayor, you are truly harsh. But for a fool like him, a minute is indeed all he's worth."
But then, her tone suddenly shifted. "So, if it were the Mayor's sacrifice, how much shutdown time would that be worth in remembrance?"
Hearing this, Pulcinella's brow furrowed slightly before he responded calmly, "If I were to meet with misfortune, I would not require Snezhnaya to halt work in mourning for me."
"Mr. Mayor, you are not only stingy but also quite the hypocrite," Rosalyne's sarcasm did not cease.
Even with his good temper, Pulcinella was starting to get angry. "That's enough, Rosalyne. Why are you targeting me like this? I don't believe for a second that you and Tartaglia share any sort of friendship."
Rosalyne said coldly, "A warrior who fought fearlessly for the supreme ideals of Her Majesty the Tsaritsa ends up as desolate as a stray dog abandoned on the roadside. Meanwhile, you nobles and wealthy merchants, devoid of empathy and cowering in the capital, can comfortably enjoy your power and riches."
Just as Pulcinella was about to rebut Rosalyne's accusations, he was interrupted by Pierro.
"Tartaglia is Snezhnaya's most outstanding combat genius," Pierro said sternly. "Although he can be impulsive at times, abandoning him has never been a consideration for us."
This statement made Pierro's position clear: they would not give up on Tartaglia.
After he spoke, no one else raised any objections.
The next topic of discussion, then, was how to get Tartaglia out of Liyue.
Just then, Columbina, who had been silent all along, spoke up. "Let me handle the matter of retrieving Tartaglia."
Pantalone immediately objected. "It would be better to leave it to me. I excel at negotiations and can certainly secure the most favorable outcome."
However, Columbina was unwilling to back down. She had recently received news that the official Furina merchandise store was releasing a "Hall of Legends" ultimate edition Furina figure, limited to one hundred pieces, each with Lady Furina's personal signature.
She was very insistent. "Let me negotiate. I will provide a detailed bill, and I can even bring back a receipt..."
But this time, Pantalone showed unprecedented resolve, refusing to yield an inch.
Seated at the head of the table, Pierro had a bit of a headache. Columbina's status was special, and he was reluctant to deny her proactive request. On the other hand, Pantalone controlled the entire economy of Snezhnaya and couldn't be overly suppressed.
Just as Pierro was caught in a dilemma, a clear, cold voice came from the throne behind him. "Let Columbina go this time."
The Tsaritsa's words held an authority that could not be questioned. "Wealth is important, of course. However, it holds no real meaning until we have triumphed over the Heavenly Principles."
A tremor went through everyone's heart; they understood the Tsaritsa's meaning. If they lost to the Heavenly Principles, Snezhnaya would become the next Khaenri'ah, and at that point, wealth would be meaningless.
Faced with the Tsaritsa's decision, Pantalone, though reluctant, could only accept it helplessly. He casually tossed a black bank card to Columbina. "There are five hundred million Mora in here. That is the extent of Tartaglia's value."
Columbina accepted the bank card with a beaming smile, feeling very happy.
With that, the meeting came to a close.
...
Liyue Harbor, city center.
Amidst the festive sounds of gongs and drums, the official Rex Lapis Merchandise Store grandly opened for business.
By now, a massive crowd had gathered before the store's entrance, forming two winding queues that stretched as far as the eye could see.
At the very front of the line was the first-ever Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing. She had arrived early the previous night to queue, waiting until this very moment.
When the store doors slowly opened, Keqing walked in with light steps. She glanced around and was immediately drawn to a contract personally written by Rex Lapis displayed at the entrance.
She moved closer to examine it. The contract roughly stated that the official Rex Lapis Merchandise Store was the only shop personally authorized by him, and all profits from the merchandise sales would be used to provide relief for the poor and improve their lives.
After reading it, Keqing's reverence for Rex Lapis grew even deeper.
Continuing further inside, her eyes lit up.
The store was filled with a dazzling array of merchandise, including cute dolls, exquisite standees, unique pendants, and lifelike figurines. It was as if all these products were beckoning to her, making her feel as though she had stepped into a fantastical paradise.
For the next while, Keqing began her shopping spree. She moved between the shelves, carefully selecting every item she desired. Whenever she found a piece of merchandise she liked, a joyful smile would appear on her face. She kept placing items into her shopping cart until she had spent all of her life's savings.
Finally, Keqing left the store laden with two large bags of carefully chosen merchandise, her face beaming with a smile of satisfaction and happiness, as if the entire world had become more beautiful.
And this official Rex Lapis Merchandise Store became a sacred place in her heart forever.
Keqing's actions were not an isolated case. In fact, many citizens held a near-fanatical reverence and love for Rex Lapis. Of course, some people bought the merchandise for its collection value, especially the limited-edition figurines.
Due to the customers' overwhelming enthusiasm, all the merchandise was sold out just two hours after the store opened, forcing the owners to close early. To appease the customers still waiting in line, the store decided to give them a free Rex Lapis commemorative badge and solemnly promised to restock as soon as possible to meet the vast demand.
In a nearby teahouse, Zhongli witnessed this scene and couldn't help but feel astonished. He had never expected that his official merchandise would sell so incredibly well.
Sitting across from him, Yide observed the scene and remarked with a sigh, "As expected, the fanbase is the primary consumer force."
Zhongli nodded in agreement.
Then, he suggested, "Let's play cards. I studied a new strategy yesterday. I'm sure I can break your 'God Card' deck."
Yide couldn't help but laugh at this, replying confidently, "Since you're asking for a beating, I won't hold back."
The two immediately set up the game and began a fierce match. However, not long after the game started, Yide was no longer smiling. He discovered that Zhongli's playstyle was completely different from before. He had adopted an ultimate defensive strategy, almost completely abandoning offense to focus all his units on defense.
Yide's God Card was powerful, but against such a defense, it couldn't deliver a fatal blow. Meanwhile, Zhongli, relying on two rare cards—"Streetward Rambler" and "Fujin"—could quickly return to full health.
Theoretically, Zhongli's "turtle" strategy wasn't invincible. If Yide was willing to drag the game out for two hours, he could activate the divine equipment skill of his God Card, Rex Lapis—"Dominus Lapidis"—to turn the tide and claim victory. But how could he endure such torture? He conceded directly.
Yide said, exasperated, "Zhongli, don't you find this torturous?"
A smug smile appeared on Zhongli's face. "Torturing the opponent is also a strategy for winning."
Yide secretly decided that in the next version update, he would heavily nerf this turtle strategy and make the rare card "Streetward Rambler" a discontinued item. It was time for Zhongli to feel the malice of the game designer.