Inazuma, Ritou.
As Inazuma's largest trading port, this artificial island had seen a wave of departures after the Sakoku Decree was lifted. Countless foreigners stranded in Inazuma had scrambled to leave Ritou, and the massive loss of population had rapidly plunged the island, which had never been particularly prosperous to begin with, into decline.
However, since Sangonomiya Kokomi, secretary to the Regent's Office, had taken over the Kanjou Commission's duties, she had issued a succession of policies to attract businesses and investment and reduce taxes. Combined with the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between Inazuma and Liyue, these had attracted numerous merchant ships to trade, and the city had gradually regained its vitality, displaying a vigorous new lease on life.
Merchants were, in essence, a group of people who chased profits. Wherever there was money to be made, they would appear.
In the eyes of these merchants, Inazuma, which had only just reopened its borders, was practically an untapped gold mine containing enormous profits.
The desire to spend among Inazuma's residents, who had lived under isolation for years, was not to be underestimated. Faced with novel goods from other countries, they had collectively plunged into a frenzy of revenge spending.
After a few bold pioneers had reaped the rewards several times, none of the merchants who heard the news could sit still any longer. In Inazuma these days, as long as they could deliver their goods, they could practically make money with their eyes closed.
Anything unavailable or scarce in Inazuma, such as jewelry, silk, cloth, toys, and rouge from Liyue, would be reserved and snapped up by Inazuma's major merchants before the shipments even arrived.
Sure enough, no matter where one went, women and children really were the easiest people to make money from.
Thanks to such favorable trading