Looking at the Inazuma merchant before him who wanted to buy Yu-Gi-Oh! manga, Luya thought for a moment and felt this was a good thing.
Luya had originally planned to sell one volume of Yu-Gi-Oh! manga for 10,000 Mora.
But this Inazuma merchant immediately raised it to 20,000 Mora.
If the manga spread to Inazuma, it would serve as preparation for the future promotion of Yu-Gi-Oh! there.
Luya's main task was to open Yu-Gi-Oh! shops all across Teyvat.
Not only in Liyue, Mondstadt, and Inazuma among the Seven Nations, but even in Khaenri'ah… and even some remote borderlands, Luya intended to open shops!
Seeing Luya still pondering, the Inazuma merchant thought he found the price too low…
The merchant continued:
"25,000 Mora is my limit…"
When Luya stayed silent, he added again:
"27,000 Mora, I really can't go any higher…"
"29,000 Mora, I truly have nothing left."
Just as Luya was about to say the price was 10,000 Mora per book, the merchant kept on raising it…
"30,000 Mora, please…"
Luya sighed—worthy of being a merchant, truly wealthy.
Other books sold for only a few thousand Mora at most.
He thought 10,000 Mora was already expensive, yet to his surprise, someone was willing to spend 30,000 Mora per book.
Luya hadn't even planned to make money off the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga…
So he nodded and agreed:
"Alright then, 30,000 Mora each."
The Inazuma merchant beamed with joy, calling his men to carry 50 volumes of Yu-Gi-Oh! manga to the carriage outside.
Excited beyond words, he thought:
"Taking this back to Inazuma!"
"It'll definitely make me rich!"
"A pity I spent too much on card packs these days, or else I'd buy another hundred volumes to bring back!"
This trip to Liyue had thrilled him so much, he was already dreaming of great profits.
Even his steps were trembling.
Seeing Luya sell the manga at 30,000 Mora a volume, the other customers finally reacted and all shouted:
"I want one too!"
"Save one for me!!!"
"I want to buy one to collect!"
"Such a fine book, I'll take one home as a primer for my son!"
"Only 30,000 Mora, that's too cheap!!!"
Though the customers already knew the manga's story—
Still…
The printing was exquisite!
Aside from Luya's shop, it was sold nowhere else…
And it looked like…
There weren't many copies in the shop either. If they didn't buy now, it would become out of print!
Indeed, Luya himself didn't know when the system would next reward him with more Yu-Gi-Oh! manga.
As for his promise to Xingqiu, Keqing, Hu Tao, and the others about continuing the story tomorrow—
Luya planned to set up a screening room in the shop where customers could watch the Yu-Gi-Oh! story.
Like a cinema, and he could even charge a fee.
Also—
The shop's Duel Stages were limited, so customers inevitably had to wait in line.
During those boring waits, they could watch the next part of Yu-Gi-Oh! in the screening room.
And selling the manga could attract people who had never visited the shop before—not only bringing in customers, but also draining their coins!
And it solved the problem of customers being bored while queuing. Luya gave himself a thumbs-up for this idea.
Thus, the manga sale began.
With Keqing and Hu Tao's help, the customers obediently lined up.
Many bought two or three volumes at once to keep as collectibles.
Before long—
200 volumes had been sold.
Another 6 million Mora earned.
"Today really is a great harvest…"
Luya sighed. Manga and card packs truly made money fast.
After today's settlement, the shop could be upgraded again!
He was very excited, wondering what special goods the system might give to further boost sales…
With card packs and manga mostly sold out, there were few left to buy.
Keqing was now opening new card packs…
Yesterday, she had only bought 10 packs from Xingqiu.
Without a full deck, she hadn't gone on stage to duel.
Luya sat at the counter, watching the Card Furnace emit a faint green glow.
Inwardly, he counted the time, 'Looks like… Another [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] is about to be forged!'
Hu Tao was dueling Xiangling, while Xingqiu was dueling Zhongli.
Yesterday, Hu Tao had gone to Wanmin Restaurant to find Xiangling with card packs…
Using the Duel Disk, she had already taught Xiangling the rules.
And even helped Xiangling build a Food Deck.
The deck was full of food-themed cards.
With a battle damage from Hu Tao's King of the Skull Servants, Xiangling's Life Points dropped to just 500.
Seeing the outcome nearly decided, Hu Tao smiled and said to Xiangling:
"Xiangling, do you see how powerful your Hall Master is!?"
"Your life is like… what was it again?"
"Something about the wind…"
The watching customers called out:
"Hall Master! It's 'a candle in the wind!'"
Hu Tao chuckled, "Xiangling, your life is like a candle in the wind!"
"This Hall Master is about to snuff it out~"
Xiangling calmly said, "I'm not afraid… it's just Life Points…"
"I activate the Spell Card [Golden Shrimp Balls]!"
"I recover 500 Life Points and draw one card!"
As soon as Xiangling finished speaking, a plate of Golden Shrimp Balls appeared before her.
The fried shrimp dish, with golden crispy potato shreds and a rich aroma, released sweet juices with a bite, leaving a satisfying aftertaste. One bite, and the flavor lingered.
The fragrance of Golden Shrimp Balls instantly filled the Duel Stage.
"Whoa!?"
"What's that smell of Golden Shrimp Balls!?"
"Look, it's the little cook from Wanmin Restaurant's card!?"
"Amazing!"
Seeing this, Luya marveled at how powerful the Duel Stage was, even able to reproduce the aroma of food cards.
Especially Keqing… she had been opening packs, though before long, she started drooling…
She quickly lowered her head to hide it.
Then fixed her eyes on the Duel Stage.
"Huh! It's—it's my favorite…"
"Golden Shrimp Balls…"
With her love for Golden Shrimp Balls, Keqing truly lived up to the title of True Lord of Golden Shrimp Balls…
As Xiangling ate the Golden Shrimp Balls, her Life Points recovered by 500, and she continued battling Hu Tao.
Meanwhile—
Xiao had already left Pervases Temple and arrived at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…
He wanted to ask Zhongli if he knew why his karmic debt was easing.
Although when Xiao entered the parlor, he found Zhongli wasn't there.
Xiao knew Zhongli enjoyed wandering the mortal world, so not being at Wangsheng was nothing unusual.
So he prepared to search elsewhere.
Xiao guessed… perhaps Zhongli was at the old tavern "Third-Round Knockout," listening to storytellers while drinking tea…
Or perhaps at the Yun-Han Opera Troupe, watching Yun Jin perform on stage…
"Hopefully not aimlessly wandering about shopping…"
The first few pastimes left traces to follow, but wandering the streets would be far harder to track.
Just as Xiao was about to head to the Yun-Han Opera Troupe—
A sudden, inexplicable shiver struck him. He felt a force calling out to him. Though he didn't know what would happen… He simply felt he had to go.
And so, Xiao's body moved on its own, sprinting toward Luya's Duel Monsters Specialty Shop.
...
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