"Master Diviner speaks with reason. The Interastral Peace Corporation's tricks may be useless on the battlefield, but at this moment, they are a perfect fit. And since we returned early, the outside world is yet to be aware—this is the best time to act against Sylvester," Jing Yuan agreed with Fu Xuan's assessment.
"Then… what do you think the Interastral Peace Corporation will do?" Feixiao understood the stakes, but when it came to business schemes and underhanded dealings, she was completely clueless.
At that moment, she regretted not bringing her two aides with her. Old fox Jiaoqiu, for instance, was surely a master at crooked plots.
Far away, Jiaoqiu remained blissfully unaware of her superior's unflattering thoughts, but right there, Fu Xuan already had an idea.
Her Third Eye flickered again and again, weighing possibilities before reaching a conclusion. "Before the Strategic Investment Department's agents arrive, confronting Sylvester head-on would be foolish. The Interastral Peace Corporation knows this. Building from that, I believe their immediate strategy will be to mass-purchase his trash cans, thereby restraining the Xianzhou and seizing the initiative."
At this thought, Fu Xuan felt a pang of regret. She regretted not using her entire quota to buy up every golden-purple trash can Sylvester had. If she had, they would now be free of this looming worry.
But life was full of unforeseen twists—what once seemed a cautious move had now become a hidden danger.
"Shouldn't we be safe? Didn't that shopkeeper put a purchase limit in place? The Interastral Peace Corporation can't just buy them all, right?" Feixiao asked.
"No." Fu Xuan narrowed her eyes, considering another possibility. "At the very least, they have one method. They could distribute funds to their employees, have each buy the trash cans under personal names, and then turn them over to the company. In that way, no matter if Sylvester has dozens of cans—or ten times that—the Interastral Peace Corporation could still purchase them all with ease."
"Then what do we do?" Feixiao immediately grasped the severity of the problem. She could not allow top-tier Curios like [Imagine Breaker] to fall into the Interastral Peace Corporation's hands.
If such items went to the Xianzhou, countless Denizens of Abundance could be slain, and many more brothers and sisters spared. This wasn't just about a few Curios—it was directly tied to the war itself. On such matters, Feixiao's stance had always been clear: not one inch of ground given. Smash the enemy flat.
"What if we use their own methods against them?" Feixiao suggested.
If the Interastral Peace Corporation could do it, so could they!
But Fu Xuan immediately struck down the idea.
"Impossible. The Ambrosial Arbor's turmoil has only just ended. The hearts of the Luofu's people remain unsettled. The remnants of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are yet unsuppressed. Lord Imbibitor Lunae's brief return has already stirred discontent among the Long's Scions of the Vidyadhara. If the Luofu government were to buy up every trash can, the Interastral Peace Corporation could exploit the media and stir outrage. Soon, the whole universe would condemn us."
Feixiao looked frustrated. "And the Interastral Peace Corporation doesn't fear condemnation?"
Fu Xuan answered, "Their reputation is already in tatters. For them, such things mean nothing."
"Truly, nothing is more dangerous than shamelessness," Feixiao muttered, speechless.
But she thought of the mission granted to her by the Marshal, and she understood the Luofu's plight. Not only within the Luofu, but the other five Xianzhou also gossiped endlessly about Jing Yuan and his leadership of the Six Charioteers.
Otherwise, she and General Huaiyan wouldn't have come to the Luofu at such a time.
Eh, problems that can't be solved by force are never good problems.
Feixiao decided this wasn't her area of expertise. Better to leave it to these two famed for their wit, and she'd just carry out the orders.
"Then what other options do we have? Normal business transactions like this are difficult for us to interfere in, aren't they?"
"When soldiers come, we block them; when floods rise, we dam them. The Luofu will not suffer humiliation on its own ground." Fu Xuan closed her eyes for a long while, then a smile tugged at her lips.
"General, do you recall Luofu's criminal law, the statute on fraud prevention? It states that in any corporate acquisition, the purchasing party must use their own assets. If borrowed capital is used, the transaction is invalid. Now, trash cans are expensive. The Interastral Peace Corporation can't possibly expect employees to buy them and get reimbursed later. They will have to distribute funds beforehand. Why not apply that law to trash cans?"
"Master Diviner, while this law has indeed saved us from countless financial frauds, to stretch it to cover trash cans—wouldn't that invite ridicule?" Jing Yuan hesitated. He knew Fu Xuan would never add a law so recklessly.
After all, corporate mergers and trash can sales were hardly comparable. Worlds apart, in fact.
Fu Xuan replied, "Of course, it isn't about adding trash cans to the statute. But luxury goods. Luxury goods are expensive, scarce, and their price equals the livelihood of entire families. To ensure fairness for both buyer and seller, requiring purchases to be made only with personal assets is perfectly reasonable, is it not?"
"And with Curio Trash Cans costing in the millions, far beyond the means of common folk, classifying them as luxury goods makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"
"Brilliant!" Feixiao clapped her hands, the elegant fox-woman general utterly unreserved in her praise. "Not only is your reasoning airtight, leaving no room for criticism, it perfectly resolves the problem. To extract such a countermeasure from the labyrinth of Xianzhou law in a flash—your reputation as the Master Diviner with an all-seeing Third Eye is truly well-earned."
"Just imagine—the Interastral Peace Corporation's people rushing over, only to find their funds useless. Their faces will be priceless. The so-called genius schemes of the Strategic Investment Department, undone by a single posted notice by tomorrow. Ha! That's quite the delightful thought."
She pressed her hands against her chest, beaming like sunlight. "Ah, I almost want to bring little sister Fu Xuan over to the Yaoqing. Then I'd never need to worry about strategy or formations again!"
Jing Yuan relaxed as well. "General Feixiao jests. The Yaoqing's diviners are second to none. But as for the Interastral Peace Corporation—their plans have been shattered. Qingzu."
"Present," answered the tactician at his side, stepping forward.
"Immediately draft a document as Master Diviner described, and deliver it at once. Then send personnel to closely monitor the Interastral Peace Corporation's movements in Aurum Alley."
"Yes." The tactician bowed and departed.
At the same time, a guard delivering a message brushed past him. "Report: Lady Yukong and the Astral Express' Trailblazer request an audience."
"Oh? More visitors? Invite them in," Jing Yuan said with a nod. Yet he also felt a twinge of unease. While the Astral Express was indeed an ally of the Luofu, [Imagine Breaker] remained a secret for now. Their presence here was somewhat… inconvenient.
Well, I'll think of some way to send them off.
A chorus of footsteps followed.
Qingque led Stelle, Yukong, and Qingni into the Seat of Divine Foresight.
Jing Yuan, Feixiao, and Fu Xuan first turned their attention to Qingni. As the candidate they had all agreed upon, she did not disappoint. Her posture and bearing were marked by a pilot's discipline. Despite her youth, her years of service on the frontlines shone through, proof of her fervent devotion to the Xianzhou.
"Sky-Faring Commission Yukong, greetings to both Generals."
"Pilot Qingni, greetings to both Generals."
The fox-woman mother and daughter offered a proper military salute.
Feixiao was first to speak. "No need for such formality. Though I am a general of the Yaoqing, here I am but a guest of the Luofu. Yukong, it's been far too long. Once we're done here, shall we go out together?"
Yukong showed no restraint with her old comrade. Back in their Yaoqing days, they had endured hardship together. As a fiery street racer in her youth, she had spent many nights tearing through the streets with Feixiao. She replied bluntly, "If not for you dragging me here, I'd already be off work."
"Haha!" Feixiao laughed heartily, utterly unfazed by her friend's teasing.
Well, now you're working overtime with me.
"Hey, General Jing Yuan, we meet again," Stelle said casually, unfazed by their chatter, waving at him without a shred of awkwardness.
"Greetings, Nameless of the Astral Express. Since the Ambrosial Arbor calamity, indeed it has been some time. I had intended to invite the Express to next month's martial ceremony, but to meet you here and now spares me the trouble. Allow me, on behalf of the Luofu, to extend a formal invitation—"
"General, wait!" Fu Xuan raised a hand, halting Jing Yuan mid-sentence.
All eyes turned to her. It was rare indeed for Fu Xuan to interrupt with such impropriety.
Her Third Eye flashed. "General, see for yourself."
Though puzzled, Jing Yuan activated the power of his Path. What he saw startled him greatly. "The power of Elation?!"
"What?!" Everyone was shocked. How could the Astral Express, who walked the Path of Trailblaze, be carrying the power of Elation?
Could she be a disguised Masked Fool?
A barrage of sharp gazes locked onto Stelle, startling her.
Those looks—as though they were ready to drag her off to The Shackling Prison—made her stammer nervously. "W-w-w-w-what? Never seen a pretty girl before?"