Astral Purification

Zijin glanced at Su Ming and saw that he was still reading through the list, writing down what they needed on a sheet of paper.

"Pick whatever you like from that list. I'll help you keep it within bounds and make sure the Federation has to swallow the loss," Charles said.

"Vice President Charles, we only agreed to investigate first," Zijin stressed again. "And the supplies we need must be provided in advance."

"I can work on that!" Charles completely ignored the possibility that they intended to take the supplies for nothing.

Su Ming handed the sheet he had written on to Zijin. She added some alchemical materials and magic crystals, then passed it to Charles.

The vice president did some calculations. "The Federation should agree to this amount, but they'll definitely ask to send an observer along."

"No." Zijin refused. "We have to ensure our own safety, and this ship holds a great many technical secrets."

"Understood." Charles noted it down in his little notebook. "That concludes our discussion of the main business. Next, there are two minor matters."

"First, the prisoners." He drew two sheets of paper from his bag. "The Kalo Magic Guild is willing to ransom their captured Captain Harding for the going rate of 1,000 gold coins, and-"

"I want to keep him," Su Ming suddenly interrupted.

[Zijin, we need someone who knows the sea.] He sent the scholar a message. [You have a way to control him, right?]

[I do. We could seal his magic power and strap a remote-controlled alchemical bomb around his neck, for example,] Zijin said. [Harding is also very timid and afraid of dying.]

Charles could tell the two were communicating privately and tactfully kept quiet.

[That's exactly what I was thinking-]

[But no, we can't trust Harding.] The scholar