Morning, Ginkgo Alley.
Saina set a basin of pork rib noodles heavily onto the stone table.
"Eat more." Saina used her chopsticks to place the fattest piece of meat into Su Li's bowl. "We're going to those long-ears' territory today. Don't let them think we can't afford meat."
Elena, wearing that burgundy silk nightgown, yawned and sat down.
"The Elven Merchant Association has money to burn. Do you think they care about one pork rib?" Elena picked up a fork and twirled some noodles around it. "Su Li, be sharp when you get there. Bring back more high-grade materials. My big bathtub still needs an Aether-gathering array."
Su Li wolfed down the noodles in a few bites.
"Got it. I'm only going to learn some runes, not to stock up on supplies."
Full and satisfied, Su Li strolled out the door.
The Elven Merchant Association headquarters stood in the busiest central district of Silver Crown City. It was a grand three-story building constructed entirely from massive white stone and ancient tree vines.
Two fully armed half-elf guards stood at the entrance to the association.
Su Li walked over and had barely given his name before the two guards became exceedingly polite and led the way ahead of him.
They went all the way to a private workshop at the very back of the third floor.
He pushed open the heavy brass doors.
The workshop was spacious, with magic ores of every color and blueprints piled everywhere.
Talia had not arrived yet.
There were only two people in the room: a young female elf, Talia's younger sister Violet.
The other was a silver-haired elven girl, standing obediently beside the workbench.
Hearing the door open, Violet looked up.
She had been about to start cursing, annoyed that the guards had entered without