It was afternoon.
The autumn sunlight, not too hot, shone on the clear lake, evaporating a few Hydro molecules invisible to the naked eye.
Wisps of breeze swept over the lake, carrying the moisture through the pavilion and lending a little coolness to the surroundings.
Li Qiuzhi took a sip of an unfamiliar tea that tasted slightly astringent and mild yet left a lingering aftertaste. Since Ningguang served it to her guests, though, it was probably quite precious.
As the tea slipped down his throat, questions rose in his mind. After hearing Ningguang out, he felt rather puzzled:
"Form a merchant guild? Uh... why form a merchant guild?"
At first, Li Qiuzhi did not quite understand, but then he ventured a guess.
Could Ningguang feel that buying the bicycle technology outright for five hundred million Mora might leave them at a disadvantage, so she wanted to form a merchant guild, run it together, and split the profits instead?
But in that case, earning five hundred million Mora would not happen anytime soon.
Besides, managing a merchant guild was probably much like running a company on Earth. It would likely be troublesome, with a great deal to handle.
"I imagine you may have guessed already. The purpose of forming a new merchant guild is indeed to use it as the business entity for selling bicycles."
Watching Li Qiuzhi ponder, Ningguang spoke with a smile.
"But I don't want to manage a merchant guild or anything..." Li Qiuzhi explained his difficulty.
"I can tell you aren't someone who enjoys such trivial matters. Nor do I want to form a merchant guild with you merely for bicycles. Rather, I see business opportunities in you and Lumine."
Ningguang elegantly lifted her teacup with a hand clad in a long black glove and took a