---
Handing over 1 million mana crystals this time felt oddly blissful. It wasn't just the act itself—it was the realization that I could finally use my wealth to make an impact. Yin Xie stood by in her usual aloof manner, her expression unreadable. Honestly, could you imagine a Grade 5 gossiping about such things? Maybe Hansel might, but Yin Xie? Not a chance. She's a mighty dragon after all.
Meanwhile, the coliseum back in Silver City had finally been completed. Its shimmering mana-crystal structure gleamed like a beacon of progress, and I'd instructed Rem to procure the finest materials for the central statue. If she couldn't find what she needed, she had full access to more mana crystals—our stockpile could afford it.
On another note, I had ceased the mass duplication of dragon hearts, capping the count at 108 for now. Instead, I shifted my focus to crafting mana cores. Their numbers were only four so far, but their rarity made them all the more valuable.
I decided to stir the waters a bit, posting four dragon hearts at the Chamber of Commerce for the outrageous price of just one gold apiece, limited to one per person.
It didn't take long before my communication crystal lit up with an incoming video call. Kirin's face appeared, her expression somewhere between disbelief and fury.
"WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HELL ARE YOU DOING, ACE?!" she roared, her fiery temper on full display.
Laughing heartily, I leaned back and teased, "Call me dad, and I might just slide a dragon heart your way."
Her eyes narrowed in exasperation. "I... Do you even realize what you've done? I've been embroiled in a grueling war for months against a rival lord—all for a single dragon heart! And here you are, just giving them away?"
"Oh? You want some?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
Her face contorted as she let out a scream of frustration. "Do you know how many troops I've lost? How many Grade 4 warriors are injured? And you're just tossing dragon hearts around like breadcrumbs? Urgh! This world isn't fair!"
I couldn't help but laugh at her despair, though part of me did feel a little bad. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry, Kirin. Next time, I'll make sure to ask before I go overboard."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Wait... Next time? Don't tell me you have more?"
I tried to play it cool, but her horrified expression made me smirk. "Uh, fine. I'll send four dragon hearts your way. Cease the war, prepare your troops, and—oh—let me throw in a million mana crystals while I'm at it. You're welcome!"
"Wait! Wait, what—"
I cut her off before she could finish, sending over the resources as promised. My territory didn't need nearly as much as it used to, and from the looks of it, Kirin had a kingdom to manage. She could put them to good use.
---
Meanwhile, Hansel observed his master—clearly on the verge of tears and looking utterly dumbfounded.
"I told you," Hansel said smugly. "Those 600k mana crystals? Just pocket change for him. Don't feel bad for the loss—just use them to develop your city properly."
Hansel's words hung in the air, leaving Kirin with a mix of astonishment and newfound resolve.
---
"My dear daughter has grown so much—enough to start yelling at me," I mused aloud, watching the crystal communicator dim after Kirin's fiery outburst.
Yin Xie, as ever, appeared out of nowhere, her voice calm and unimpressed. "That's just your delusion. She was really angry at you."
I sighed dramatically. "Is there no sense of privacy left in this place anymore?"
Ever since my rant, she had been far too curious about my previous world. I shot her a look, but she remained unbothered.
Well, no matter. All I had were fragments of old light novels I used to read. Maybe I could weave her tales of multiple worlds to pass the time.
Instead, I turned my focus to the new goal forming in my mind. "A phoenix blood and a phoenix feather… 1 dragon heart for the blood, and the feather for two days. I'll sign an official contract!"
A sly grin spread across my face. Lucia, you're getting the phoenix blood treatment. No more excuses.
Yin Xie tilted her head, her golden eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Why don't you eat that heart? Even as a clone, it's still a dragon heart."
I recoiled in mock horror. "Eat a heart? Do you know how disgusting that sounds?"
She shrugged, her expression unchanging. "Feed me one a week instead of the daily mana crystals, and I'll show you how disgusting it isn't."
"Wait. It's that delicious? You'd give up 70,000 mana crystals a week for one heart?"
Yin Xie gave me the most serious look I'd ever seen on her face. "Human, while you look weak and useless most of the time, I must admit your treasure-gathering ability is impressive. The hearts you create, despite being duplicates, are nearly identical to the original—except for lacking a spark of life. For that reason, they're even better as an ingredient. You should eat one, too. It will smooth your journey to Grade 4."
Her unusually long explanation left me stunned. She wasn't one for small talk, so this must be serious. Against my better judgment, I followed her advice. I reached for two hearts, handed her one , swallowed my apprehension, and took a bite.
The moment it touched my tongue, my mind exploded in wonder. The taste was indescribable—sweet, savory, and bursting with energy. It melted in my mouth like liquid gold, each bite an overwhelming symphony of flavor. Before I knew it, the heart was gone.
As I reached for another, Yin Xie swiftly grabbed my hand. "Human! Even I dare not eat a dragon heart every day, and you think you can handle two in a row?"
I froze, mid-reach, and awkwardly set it aside. "Ah... Noted."
Just then, the crystal communicator buzzed, and I saw the notification. The trade was successful. I wasted no time retrieving the mana core and added the phoenix blood into slot two.
"Duplicate it once, add the phoenix feather tomorrow, and return it the day after. That's the plan," I muttered to myself, a wide, slightly unsettling grin creeping onto my face. The road to mass-manufacturing mythical goods as casually as bread was finally within reach.
Yin Xie, ever the observer, noticed my smile and wordlessly sat down beside me.
As I tried to rest my head on her lap, she deadpanned, "That'll be 1 million mana crystals."
My head instantly snapped upright as I cleared my throat, feigning composure. "Ahem. Time to work."
She snorted softly, clearly amused, but said nothing more as I refocused on the task at hand.