"All right.
I've screened out everyone around us.
Now it's just you and me here.
Whatever you want to say, go ahead."
Xiluo's booming voice echoed through the strange space.
The merchant looked around for a while before coughing twice and speaking, both frightened and excited:
"Your Highness Xiluo, I've come to your territory this time on behalf of the Rhodes Trading Company.
My main purpose is to develop the Continent Hero Legend cards you've introduced on World Tree Island together with you.
I went to World Tree Island a few years ago and saw this card game for myself.
It was simply a stroke of genius.
It makes use of the local subjects' admiration and affection for heroic figures.
That creates desire, leading them to collect, buy, and battle.
I believe this model could absolutely be promoted throughout the world. Restricting it to World Tree Island is such a waste."
The merchant had initially been somewhat afraid of Xiluo, but as he spoke, he grew increasingly animated, gesturing constantly with both hands, his excitement plain to see.
Xiluo watched him silently.
He spread his jaws in something that resembled a smile.
"You're right, so you're perfectly free to do it yourself."
"!"
At those words, the merchant froze.
His whole body stiffened as he said:
"Ahem... you invented it, after all, Your Highness Xiluo. I wouldn't dare do it without your permission."
"Heh heh heh... don't try any clever tricks, human.
You've already tried, haven't you?
You only came to me because you failed in the end?
Let me guess. The Continent Hero Legend cards you made probably earned you a decent profit at first.
But those heroic figures soon came knocking, and you ended up getting beaten up? And paying a large sum of gold coins in compensation?"