Although the land reclamation project had been completed, the ground had yet to settle. Building houses and markets on it was still out of the question.
Besides, establishing the Stone Gate trade zone was a major undertaking for both nations, one that concerned the welfare of their people.
Its impact would be far-reaching.
Ningguang and the others could already envision a thriving commercial city gradually taking shape around Stone Gate.
Thus, whether for their present needs or future plans, the reclaimed land was still insufficient. They had to acquire the land around Stone Gate.
The merchants who had bought up the land around Stone Gate were gambling too, betting that Liyue and Mondstadt needed the land in their hands.
By all rights, these Snezhnayan merchants had originally held the upper hand. After all, this was the only stretch of land connecting the two nations at their border.
But who could have foreseen the arrival of Ellin, someone who never played by the rules? She had smashed through the barrier and opened a new route between Liyue and Mondstadt, stripping the Snezhnayan merchants of their advantage.
Although the Snezhnayan merchants knew that Liyue and Mondstadt needed the land at Stone Gate, they had no idea what the two nations actually intended to use it for.
Previously, Stone Gate had been the only route connecting Liyue and Mondstadt. But Ellin had cleaved through the barrier with a single stroke, giving Ningguang and the others another option.
And once news of the military exercises was released, the Snezhnayan merchants immediately panicked.
Compared with those few Snezhnayan merchants, Ningguang was much more composed.
"Now it's a contest of patience."
Inside the Serenitea Pot, Ningguang smiled faintly.
"But as things stand, patience is the one thing we have in abundance."
"They're merely a few