In Teyvat, it all begins with rescuing the grass god.

As for whether this deity is the Great Tree King or the Lesser Auspicious Grass King...

This is a matter of opinion.

Those who believe in the Great Tree King will refer to the deity on the seven-day statue as the Great Tree King.

Those who worship the Little Lucky Grass King will refer to that deity as the Little Lucky Grass King.

This statue was not sculpted by Rod himself.

It was bought by him.

He doesn't yet have the ability to make such lifelike figurines.

Dolly sold it.

She lived up to her reputation.

No matter what you ask for, even if it's something made on the spot, she can get it for you.

Just like the wooden carving in Rod's hand.

Although it is beautifully designed and made of high-quality materials, making it a work of art, it is clearly a brand new product, obviously made to order by Rhodes.

Upon seeing the gifts brought by Desia and Rod, Dina Zede, who was lying on her sickbed, immediately perked up.

After examining each of the gifts, Dina Zede lovingly stroked the wooden carving that resembled the Little Lucky Grass King.

"The puppet of Lord Little Lucky Grass is very hard to buy."

As she spoke, her expression suddenly turned somewhat sad: "The Little Lucky Grass King has never shown herself in public. No one knows what she looks like, so no one dares to make her dolls. Even during the Flower Goddess's birthday festival, none of the merchants in the Grand Bazaar sell dolls of the Little Lucky Grass King."

"It's not just dolls, is it?"

Dixia pouted and said, "Anything related to the Little Lucky Grass King is very hard to buy."

"Yes."

Dina Zede raised her head, a smile appearing on her pale face: "Thank you, I really like these gifts."

"nice! You love it."

Rhodes and Desia responded in unison.

For a devoted admirer of the Little Lucky Grass King, the Little Lucky Grass King figurine is naturally the most popular item.

It would be better if there were more details.

But that's impossible.

Because only a handful of rebellious individuals know Nasita's true face, it would be a huge loss if they discovered that a meticulously detailed Little Auspicious Grass King doll had appeared in Sumeru City.

Not to mention Rhodes, who provided the image, even a powerful businesswoman like Dolly had to go into exile abroad.

So there is no way.

Rhodes could only commission the doll based on the blurry face on the Statue of the Seven.

Think of this.

Rod couldn't help but curse under his breath: "That damned profiteer."

That bastard Dolly, she really won't let go of any opportunity to rob someone.

Imported wood from Inazuma, the best doll craftsmen in all of Sumeru, and a whole bunch of other random things.

If Rod hadn't insisted that she not paint the wood carving, she would have been planning to get some imported Fontainebleau dye.

After a series of repeated steps involving adding more money.

This tiny wooden carving, no bigger than the palm of your hand, jumped to a price of 100,000 Mora.

She could have easily taken it, but instead she gave herself a wooden carving!

But Rod wouldn't give her any money.

Keeping track of expenses is as simple as saying a sentence.

Anyway, he now has ways to make money, and the money he gets from the breeding method of the new mushroom chicken is enough to pay off his debts. It's just a matter of waiting a year or two.

Dolly knew this too.

So she tacitly approved of Rod's practice of giving her IOUs.

Or.

Dolly deliberately inflated the price of the wood carvings to such a high level.

He's tricked so many people but never managed to trick Rhodes once; in fact, Rhodes has taken advantage of him twice. He'd feel uneasy if he didn't trick him at least once.

After giving the gift.

Dixia sat on the edge of the bed and told Dina Zede about some recent events that had happened in the Grand Bazaar.

Rhodes couldn't get a word in edgewise.

So I decided to take a walk in the yard by myself.

Like Dolly, the Dina Zede family were also well-known wealthy merchants in Sumeru.

Unlike Dolly, their family runs a legitimate business and has many collaborations with the Order of the Church.

Such a wealthy family.

Their mansions were naturally far beyond what ordinary people could afford.

Take, for example, the small courtyard where Rhodes is currently staying.

Although it's called a small courtyard, it's actually quite large.

In the incredibly expensive city of Sumeru, Dina Zede's private garden takes more than ten minutes to walk from one end to the other.

It was right in this courtyard.

Rod met someone he had been looking for but had never been able to meet.

Shazaman Humayi.

When the middle-aged man with a stern face saw Rhodes appear in Dina Zede's small garden, he first looked puzzled, but then he remembered where he had seen Rhodes before.

"You are... Dixia's friend, right?"

Just like when the two first met, Shazaman still had a hint of wariness in his eyes. Even knowing that Rhodes was Dixia's friend, he still couldn't get much of a friendly look from Rhodes.

This is actually quite understandable.

Who is Dixia?

Desert mercenaries.

So Rhodes, this guy dressed in desert folk clothes, might also be a member of the mercenary world.

The reputation of desert mercenaries is not good.

In particular, Shazaman had been robbed by desert mercenaries years ago. If it weren't for Kusela who happened to be passing by and saved his life, who knows what would have happened to him if he had fallen into the hands of those ruthless mercenaries.

Therefore, Shazaman has never had a good impression of desert mercenaries, except for Kusela and his daughter Disia.

Anyone who knows these past events.

It becomes clear why he was so cold towards Rhodes.

Good morning, Mr. Shazaman.

Just like last time, Rod followed the same standard greeting procedure.

only.

As Shazaman was about to go in to see Dina Zede, Rhodes said quietly behind him, "Demonscale Disease, at most four or five years left."

"."

Shazaman stopped, his face twitched a few times, then he turned to look at Rhodes, frowning as he said, "Dishia told you, didn't she?"

“I also have a family member who has scaly disease.”

Rhodes' concise and to-the-point remarks piqued Shazaman's interest in just one sentence.

"Does someone in your family also have Megascale disease?"

"how old is she?"

What are the symptoms?

How are you feeling?

How much can you eat for three meals a day?

Shazaman had asked this question countless times before, and he blurted it all out the moment he opened his mouth.

Rhodes answered one by one.

When Shazaman heard that Kolai, who was born with Devil Scales, could eat two bowls of rice and a full plate of vegetables in one meal, and could also carry 30 to 40 kilograms of feed by himself, his first reaction was disbelief.

It is true that scaly disease worsens with age.

But generally speaking...

If someone is born with Devil Scales, they will become as frail as Dina Zede when they reach their teens. They will be unable to lift heavy objects, and when the disease flares up, they will not even be able to walk.

How come Cole's symptoms are so mild?

"If you don't believe me, you can ask Dixia."

"You know her personality better than I do, she wouldn't lie to you."

Rhodes immediately saw what Shazaman was thinking and confidently told him to go find Dixia to testify.

As Rod said.

Shazaman may not believe Rhodes, but he will definitely believe Dixia.

However, Shazaman did not go to Dixia to verify this matter, but pointed to the pavilion next to him and said, "Let's sit over there for a while."

"it is good."

I knew that as long as the topic of the Demon Scale Disease came up, this old man, who viewed the desert people with prejudice, would patiently listen to what I had to say.

Rhodes maintained a smile throughout, and after sitting down, without waiting for Shazaman to ask, he took the initiative to explain Cole's situation.