Atem rolled his eyes. "Should I be surprised?"
If not for his urgent need for informations he would have already spit on this evil old man face, this old man Yi is actually one of the most greedy and ruthless people in the city, he is practically involved in every shady trade
Yi did not react to the sarcasm.
"The new handler working under the Star-Eye Tower's External Affairs Department has taken an interest in your Cold Restoration Pill formula."
Atem felt his thoughts pause for a moment.
"That makes very little sense. The pill is only a mortal-grade medicine."
Yi looked at him with contempt. "That is its present state. The handler believes he can push it toward spirit-grade if he obtains the formula."
Atem considered the possibility, then refocused. "And what about the spears? Who is copying them?"
"That situation is connected. They intend to pressure you from several angles until you become desperate enough to accept whatever offer they present afterward. It is an old tactic—and more common than you think."
"So they plan to corner me completely before pretending to offer help. Charming," Atem muttered under his breath.
Yi continued without sympathy.
"The Harbor Authority's involvement comes from the same connection. The new handler is a friend of the man in the Star-Eye Tower. They intend to take the formula, then spread the pill through other harbor cities and claim credit for it."
Atem's eyes turned cold.
"Two of the largest influences on the coast working together against a shopkeeper who barely earns enough to stay afloat."
Yi shook his head.
"You should not imagine yourself special. This happens to anyone who creates something useful. Merchants, potion makers, craftsmen… once you have a product worth stealing, someone will attempt to take it."
Atem leaned back slightly. "So, in short, they intend to turn me into their obedient errand boy while they profit from my work."
Yi shrugged. "That is an accurate description."
"If you were in my position, what would you do?"
Yi looked at him for a moment before answering. "I would find backing. Every merchant eventually needs someone to stand behind them. That is how this city works."
He paused before adding carefully, "The trick is choosing a backer whose bite is not lethal. All of them will take something from you. You simply choose the one who takes the least."
Atem looked at him for a moment, then added, "You did not follow that strategy. Instead, you bribed the Harbor Authority and, according to rumor, even won favor with the City Lord's office along the way."
Yi gave him a thin smile. "Exactly. I learned long ago that relying on a single backer only means you get swallowed whole sooner. Sometimes bribery costs less than loyalty."
Atem took a deep breath. It seemed inevitable.
"I think there is information missing."
Hearing this, Old Man Yi's lips curved upward.
"Since you paid, I will not dance around it any longer. The spear copies are coming from the Sinking Warehouse District."
"More precisely, from a workshop that appeared only three months ago. They are operating under the protection of the Harbor Authority's junior overseer."
Atem's eyes flickered with anger.
"So the Authority is shielding counterfeiters now?"
Yi looked at him with a strange smile.
"You say it as if this is new. The overseer receives a portion of the profit, the workshop receives a roof to hide under, and the Authority pretends the spears flooding the market are merely competition. It is the same cycle, over and over again."
Atem crossed his arms, absorbing the information quietly.
Yi added, "The quality is poor for now, but they only need to be convincing enough to sell a batch and undercut your prices. Once buyers get used to the cheaper stock, your reputation loses value and they gain leverage. When you finally protest, they will offer you a contract that binds your hands and pockets in equal measure."
Atem's voice turned cold. "A tidy little trap."
"Quite tidy," Yi agreed. "And they improved it after each merchant they devoured."
"Do you know who runs this workshop?"
Yi nodded. "A man named Varrin. He used to be part of the Smiths' Cooperative until he was expelled for stealing designs. He has no cultivation talent to speak of, but he is tenacious and stubborn—a perfect puppet for those above him."
Atem considered the name, though it meant nothing to him.
"Does he know the spears are mine?"
Yi smirked slightly. "Even if he did not know at first, he certainly knows now. You should assume he understands exactly whose toes he is stepping on."
Atem leaned forward slightly. "Why tell me this so easily? I thought you enjoyed watching me struggle."
Yi chuckled softly.
"Do not misunderstand. I do enjoy seeing fools flail when they enter waters deeper than they expect. However, you are not a fool. More importantly, I now own a portion of your markets. If someone intends to squeeze you, that means they are squeezing a portion of my income as well. I find that unacceptable."
Atem nodded slowly. "So this is practicality, not generosity."
"Precisely."
The room fell quiet for a moment before Atem broke the silence.
"What do you suggest I do next?"
Yi gave him a thoughtful look.
"If you go charging into that workshop, you will achieve nothing except getting dragged into a legal mess the Authority will use against you. If you try negotiating with the handler directly, he will take it as a sign of desperation. And if you continue trying to solve matters alone, you will simply bleed until someone else claims what remains."
Atem folded his hands on the table. "Then what is the correct path?"
Yi lowered his voice slightly.
"You need a sponsor—one strong enough that even the Harbor Authority thinks twice before touching you. Once you have someone behind you, everything will become a nuisance rather than a threat."
Atem remained quiet for a while. "Backing comes with a price."
Yi's expression deepened. "Everything in this city comes with a price. The only difference is whether you choose the price yourself or let someone else choose it for you."
"Old Yi, Which backing would you choose if you were me?"