Indeed.
Chu Yuan had only just raised a doubt before Lan Qingyou shared her opinion, and then old Nemo jumped in to start the tally, giving Chu Yuan no time to explain himself at all.
Hierophant: “Hahaha, looks like this old man was a bit too hasty.”
The Hierophant gave an awkward but polite laugh.
Justice: “Since it passed unanimously, let the Wheel of Fortune divine their locations. The Tower can inform them first so they can be mentally prepared. The Fool will go find them tomorrow.”
The Tower: “Can't I just deal with them directly? Why the hassle?”
Lan Qingyou really didn't understand Justice's logic here.
The Fool: “Hey, hey, don't go stealing my job. You're going to make me unemployed at this rate.”
Wheel of Fortune: “Exactly. We didn't contribute anything to the newbie pack, so we have to handle these small matters.”
So that was it.
With their explanations, Lan Qingyou understood.
The reason there were so few things in the pack was that everyone had their own specific duties.
She had simply misunderstood.
The Tower: “My apologies. I'll go contact them then.”
I, Lan Qingyou, admit when I'm wrong.
Relieved that her suggestion had passed, Lan Qingyou immediately contacted Gu Xiaobei and the other two.
Gu Xiaobei: “Huh! You mean you want me to join this organization, Boss?”
Lan Qingyou: “Yes. It's an invitation-only system, so I recommended you. Besides, your cooking is quite good, and there's someone in Tarot Villa who grows vegetables.”
Lan Qingyou: “You were complaining about the lack of vegetables before, weren't you? This is perfect for you.”
Because she lacked fertile land, Gu Xiaobei's meals lately had mostly consisted of wild greens, wild fruits, or herbs she had gathered herself.
So, hearing Lan Qingyou invite her to Tarot Villa made her very excited.
This was especially true after hearing that the rice and cabbage had been grown by someone from the Villa.
However...
Gu Xiaobei was a bit worried: “Is it really okay for me to go?”
Lan Qingyou: “Of course. After all, you are someone whose contributions have been recognized by the world consciousness.”
Gu Xiaobei: “Alright then. They're coming tomorrow, right?”
Lan Qingyou: “Yes, tomorrow. I'm just not sure about the exact time.”
Gu Xiaobei: “That's fine. I just won't go out to pick wild greens tomorrow. Oh, the food is ready! Hold on, Boss.”
With that, Gu Xiaobei sent the prepared food over to Lan Qingyou.
Lan Qingyou took a look—wow, food made with proper ingredients really was different.
So, to show off Gu Xiaobei's skills, Lan Qingyou posted the food in the group.
The Tower: “【Claypot-baked Red Ur-Eel Rice Bowl (D)】”
High Priestess: “W-W-What is this?!”
Chariot: “Why would you post that? Are you humblebragging?”
Hierophant: “Haha, it must be from that chef you mentioned. It looks good. It wasn't a waste of this old man's time sitting at the bay all day.”
Justice: “Eel, monster meat, wild garlic, cabbage, and a layer of rice underneath. It's indeed well-made, looks and smells delicious, and it even amplifies the fire resistance effect of the Red Ur-Eel.”
Empress: “It's great. Finally, someone can put my vegetables to good use.”
Magician: “...Empress, it sounds like you're calling someone out, but I won't say who.”
The Fool: “The roasted eel in my hand suddenly doesn't taste so good. But thinking about how I'll get to eat that tomorrow makes me a little excited.”
Wheel of Fortune: “Why not now? @The Tower, ask if there's any more. I'll buy one! I'll give her a free divination slot!”
High Priestess: “I want one too! One mana crystal!”
Chariot: “Give me one as well! Since she's a chef, she must need kitchen utensils, right? Let her pick one! I'll make it for her!”
Lan Qingyou's post was like a stone causing a thousand ripples.
People who had been enduring 'darkness' had finally seen the 'light,' and they were now like a brood of hungry chicks, chirping with their mouths wide open.
Lan Qingyou was startled by their replies.
Especially the High Priestess.
Wait, how did you get a mana crystal? And you're using it to pay for a meal? Are mana crystals actually not that valuable?
The Tower: “Alright, I'll ask for you. By the way, High Priestess, where did you get your mana crystals? Do you have any spares? Sell me ten.”
High Priestess: “Mana crystals? I make them myself. If you want some, just give me whatever you think is fair. They're not worth much anyway, just consider it an internal trade.”
...
She makes them herself?
Mana crystals?
She remembered that the monthly rankings rewarded mana crystals.
Because so few were given, Lan Qingyou had assumed they were precious. Yet this person didn't even negotiate a price and just told her to name one?
No!
They were probably valuable, but since the other party could make them, they seemed cheap to her.
Or perhaps it was because everyone in the group was a researcher; things that might be expensive outside were viewed differently here.
It was just like her talent ascension potions.
She didn't really think they were that valuable since they were just something she did in passing.
The Tower: “It's hard for me to set a price if you put it that way. How much mana does it take to make one of those mana crystals?”
High Priestess: “About eighty or ninety points of mana. I just whip them up whenever I'm free.”
The Tower: “How about this: one crystal for ten Basic Mana Potions, or one for five Basic Healing Potions.”
The reason she offered ten times the mana cost was because Lan Qingyou knew these things definitely weren't cheap. After all, the world consciousness only gave them out one by one.
High Priestess: “Deal! But can you bring out the rice bowl first? I'm starving.”
...
So all that is worth less than a bowl of rice in your eyes?
Well, that made sense. Food is the first necessity of the people.
Lan Qingyou clicked her tongue and obtained eight portions of food from Gu Xiaobei while they chatted.
After all, the eel meat the Hierophant had traded was so massive that making fifty portions would have been easy, let alone eight.
The Tower: “Here they are. One rice bowl each. Consider it her gift in advance for tomorrow.”
【Ding! The Tower sent a red envelope 8/8】
High Priestess: “It's here, it's here!”
Hierophant: “This old man will finally get a taste of Dragon Country cuisine. I've only heard of it before, but this is the first time I'll actually eat it.”
Empress: “The Hierophant has never been to Dragon Country?”
Hierophant: “No. When I was young, I thought we were all part of the Federation anyway, so there was no need to run around. Once I got older, I just didn't want to move.”
High Priestess: “So you ended up becoming an angler?”
Hierophant: “Hahahaha, exactly.”
Perhaps because they had delicious food in hand, everyone seemed exceptionally excited.
They chatted while they ate, looking very much at ease.
Of course, Lan Qingyou was the same.
Except she was observing in secret, not participating in their conversation.
Chariot: “By the way, old man Hierophant, is that night fishing shelter you mentioned finished yet? Let us have a look.”
Rate on N.U.
