Tomoyo quickly picked up on the cue and began explaining her purpose for coming, also showing Tingyun the spices she had brought.
After understanding the situation, Tingyun's eyes sparkled.
"This is good stuff. These spices must have special properties, right? Even though I'm not a trained physician, I've picked up a lot from hanging around with Bailu."
Just a light taste, and Tingyun could tell that this wasn't an ordinary ingredient.
"Miss Tingyun, you're right. These spices do have some special effects,"
Tomoyo began explaining more about the properties of the spices. Takumi simply sat by and observed quietly.
After getting the general idea, Tingyun stood up and said,
"Benefactor, Miss Tomoyo, please follow me. This isn't the right place to talk. Let's go to my office."
With that, she gestured for the two to follow her and led them to her office. She decided to postpone her other engagementsnothing would get in the way of her spending time with Takumi today.
Work could wait. Today was personal time.
Once they arrived at her office, Tingyun got busy. She made tea and brought out some pastries for them. When everything was ready, she sat down and began discussing the spice matter with Tomoyo.
Her thoughts aligned with Takumi's.
That was to inflate the price of these spices.
Since they could only be produced in Tomoyo's country, they should be treated as rare and expensive commodities.
With so many worlds connected now, Tomoyo's tiny nation would never be able to meet global demand.
Less supply meant higher prices.
Tomoyo's country needed money, didn't it?
So why not charge more? People would still be willing to buy.
Tingyun and Tomoyo quickly reached an agreement, and Tomoyo was clearly satisfied. For now, their financial problems were resolved.
"In a while, I'll transfer your world over. I'll place the portal on the Ark so that it'll be easy for you to go back and forth."
After they finished the main discussion, Takumi brought up the plan.
Tingyun's face lit up with joy.
"Really? That's wonderful. It's been ages since I've seen Lord Yukong."
Being able to return whenever she liked was an ideal outcome. However, another concern popped into her mind.
"Takumi-sama, if it's our world, won't there be many gateways? After all, there are multiple worlds inside ours."
She was echoing what Bronya had previously brought up. The Honkai Impact world contained numerous sub-worldsmore than one gateway would definitely be required.
"Exactly. I plan to build a massive city specifically to serve as a connection hub to your world, so there's no need to worry."
Takumi had already thought this through. If he really intended to pull the Honkai Impact world into his, constructing a dedicated city was absolutely necessary.
Teyvat had already been integrated, and both Honkai: Star Rail and Honkai Impact were worlds massive enough to require individual infrastructure.
Honkai: Star Rail alone had so many peoplenone of the current connected worlds could compare.
Tingyun quickly nodded in agreement. That was reassuring.
"If the gate is placed on the Ark, the Ark will certainly prosper. That's definitely good news."
She was delighted that her homeland would benefit from this arrangement.
The three continued to chat casually.
Later that evening, after dinner with Tingyun, Takumi said goodbye.
"If you ever have free time, feel free to come visit me. If I'm free, I'll accompany you."
Tingyun beamed.
"Alright!"
She mentally noted it down. Since he offered, she wouldn't hold back.
Being able to drop in whenever she liked was great news. Her motivation for work shot through the roof.
After seeing Takumi and Tomoyo off, Tingyun hummed a tune on her way back to resume work. Since she had postponed her tasks, now was the time to catch up. After all, she wasn't planning to slack off.
Meanwhile, Takumi brought Tomoyo back to his house. She hadn't yet arranged a place to stay, so for now, she'd live with him.
Besides, the others at home were waiting for Takumi to return with her.
When they arrived, Chika Fujiwara came running up.
"Did you see my sister today?"
She looked at Takumi with a puzzled expression. Her sister had texted her, which caught her off guard.
"Yup! Saw her. Almost became your brother-in-law, too! Want to practice calling me that in advance?"
Takumi shot her a mischievous glance and teased.
"Scram!"
Chika glared at the bastard in exasperation.
Become her sister's husband? Not happening!
She'd never agree to that match.
If she agreed, then howwait, no. She just wouldn't allow her sister to be around Takumi.
This guy was way too much of a flirt.
If her sister ended up with him, it'd be like letting a wolf into the house.
Absolutely not!
Chika glared at Takumi with gritted teeth. She decided she'd need to warn her sister soon.
Keep her far away from this guy.
Otherwise, she'd be completely devoured without even realizing it.
She'd probably help him count the money after being sold off.
Chika knew all too well what kind of player this man was.
Lilia, Miori Shiba, Bronya, Gabriel, Kaguya...
Thinking of this, Chika let out a cold laugh.
Chapter 507: shiroyasha is Awesome
Takumi and Chika Fujiwara goofed around for a while before he finally left her alone. A lot of people had returned today. Ram and Rem also came back. Previously, they had been borrowed by that elysia girl, and who knows what she was up to.
Tomoyo's arrival was warmly welcomed by everyone. However, just as the group was chatting, a figure suddenly appeared outside Takumi's house.
Sensing that person's aura, Takumi immediately wore a puzzled expression.
"shiroyasha?"
That's rightthe person was none other than shiroyasha.
Takumi walked out curiously and found her releasing several individuals he had previously sent to the Little Garden.
Aha, the God of War, Algol...
"Hahaha!! Finally made it here, huh? What an incredible world this is!"
Aha was immediately hyped. Previously, Takumi had refused to let him enter this world. Now that he was finally here, he couldn't contain his excitement.
"Al-chan is back! Come welcome her!!"
Algol, on the other hand, already seemed quite familiar with this place. When she spotted Takumi, she immediately shouted out.
Takumi gave her an annoyed glance and promptly knocked her on the head.
"Gone back once and now you think you're tough, huh? Getting cocky, Al-chan?"
Algol, now deflated, didn't dare retort.
"What are you doing here? Did you just bail?"
Takumi ignored Algol and turned his gaze toward shiroyasha, giving a nod to the God of War as a form of greeting.
"Yup! Just bailed. I reclaimed the Sun Authority and then ran."
shiroyasha nodded with a totally justified look on her face.
She had indeed escaped from the Little Gardenand brought back a whole bunch of people. Everything that was hers, she took with her.
The situation there was already chaotic, and thanks to shiroyasha, it was probably worse now.
She didn't feel even a little bad about running away. In fact, she brought everyone she could back with her.
God of War and the rest had been under her command anyway, so it made sense to bring them back in one go.
The Little Garden was no longer livable. If she stayed any longer, it would be a disaster.
They'd rebuild the Little Garden latermaybe.
"Oh right! I brought you a local specialty."
shiroyasha said mysteriously to Takumi.
Takumi blinked. Specialty? What nonsense was she up to now?
While he was still puzzled, shiroyasha handed him a glowing orb.
As soon as Takumi took it, his eyes widened in shock.
Was this... the core of the Little Garden?
He was dumbfounded.
"You tore out the core of the Little Garden?!"
Takumi was floored.
What the hell did she do?!
She actually dismantled the central system of the Little Garden?!
Incredible. Truly incredible.
You're insane!
And this is what she's calling a 'specialty'? You gotta be kidding me!
He stared at the orb. This was indeed the heart of the Little Garden. Because of it, blessings and gifts could be freely exchanged.
With it, Takumi's world could instantly become a new Little Garden. He could reshape the entire world however he wanted. He could modify rules at will.
That's how valuable this core was.
And now shiroyasha just handed it to him?!
Without it, the Little Garden would lose all legitimacy.
"With this, you don't even need to steal worlds from the Little Garden anymore. Just use your power to tweak things and attract them here. Most of those worlds are already marked by the core's imprint. That should be easy for you, right?
"Let them come to you. It's better than stealing them yourself."
Since she was going to run away, she made sure to loot everything she could.
The core was just one of the things she took. There were other items toolike the Sun Authority and her own divine retinue.
She brought over everything she could.
Even snagged the core on her way out.
So satisfying.
Takumi looked at the orb in his hand and felt the entire world stir restlessly.
He was speechless.
"Well... no problem. Alright then, I'll take it. I was planning to grab it myself, but... never expected this."
Takumi smacked his lips.
shiroyasha really didn't hold back.
She even had the nerve to smirk.
"Hehe! Saved you the trip. It was a simple task anyway. With my power, nobody could stop me!"
shiroyasha said confidently.
Then she suddenly turned serious.
"If you use this, those Little Garden folks might come knocking. Be prepared. Once the other worlds start migrating over, some of those guys might tag along."
She laid out the likely consequences.
Takumi just waved it off.
"Whatever. If they come, they better stay."
Takumi wasn't afraid.
If they dared to show up, they wouldn't be allowed to leave.
Given the power levels of those in the Little Garden, Takumi wasn't worried in the slightest.
If they managed to beat him, he'd consider it his loss.
"Exactly! If they come, they stay. That's that. Now, I need to find a place for my people. By the way, what's this new thing you've created? The space here feels pretty nice."
When she arrived, shiroyasha sensed a new domain crafted by Takumi.
It felt impressive.
"Xiaoju's in there. She wants to create a dragon paradise. You can house your people there too. Any future battles can take place inside."
Takumi was preoccupied with the core. He gave a brief explanation, then slipped away.
Business concluded. Pants up, time to go.
shiroyasha could do whatever she wanted.
She felt a bit annoyed.
Really? He just left her like that?
Takes the item and runs?
She was dumbstruck.
But whatever. She understood.
Takumi had a lot on his plate now. Modifying the core would be a massive undertaking.
With that, shiroyasha headed into Tomoyo's villa.
Everyone there instantly began ribbing her.
"Damn, awesome, shiroyasha!"
"You really dismantled the Little Garden core and ran off?!"
"shiroyasha is a legend!!"
"I freakin' worship you!"
Hearing all the praise, shiroyasha grinned like a queen.
Thisthis was exactly the kind of admiration she was going for.
Chapter 508: Can We Use Smurfs in the Group?
Let's ignore whatever nonsense Shiroyasha was bragging about for now. Takumi had a headache. The Little Garden core floating before him wasn't exactly simple to deal with.
If he didn't modify it, releasing it into his world would just turn things into another version of the Little Garden. Nothing would change. What was the point of that?
But if he did want to change it, Takumi had no idea how or where to start.
Back in his room, Takumi stared at the core suspended in front of him. It was just a conceptual object that Shiroyasha had shaped into an orb. It could even change form if needed. Its internal structure was a dense network of interlinked rulesalready remarkably refined.
Modifying that? A nightmare.
"Ugh, this is a pain."
After a while of fruitless staring, he gave up and stored it away. Then he popped into the group chat to ask for ideas.
Takumi:
@Shiroyasha, you've really dumped a problem on me. How the hell do I modify this thing?
Shiroyasha promptly replied:
Shiroyasha:
Doesn't it remind you of your Cocoon of End? It's also tied to a civilization, just like the Little Garden. The Little Garden is basically a civilization formed from the fusion of many worlds. But your cocoon evolves as your civilization does. The Little Garden has a capped limit. That's why powerful beings are so rare there. But your cocoon? It has no visible limit. So... what if you fused the two? Or hell, just absorb it outright. You've already merged with the Cocoon of End. Take in the Little Garden's rules and use them to strengthen yourself. Then you are the core. The core is you.
Turns out Shiroyasha had been thinking about this for a while.
Takumi's eyes lit up. That sounded promising.
No one else in the group said anythingit was outside their expertise, so they just quietly watched.
Before Takumi could respond, Shiroyasha continued.
Shiroyasha:
And another perkyou won't have to worry about anyone stealing it!
Takumi laughed at that. It hit a little too close to home.
Takumi:
So this is what they call poetic justice?
Sagiri:
That's literally the thief yelling "Thief!"
Chika Fujiwara:
My mom doesn't have to worry about Shiroyasha robbing me anymore.
Ruiko Saten:
Shiroyasha even dug up the foundation of the old house when she ran off!
Zhongli:
What in the world happened?
Even those not in Takumi's world were baffled.
Takumi:
Shiroyasha grabbed a bucket and ran. Oh, and she took the Little Garden core with her.
Zhongli:
That's... absurd.
Suoh Mikoto:
Absolutely absurd.
Herta:
Let me take a look!
Himeko:
Ridiculous!
Lala:
Can I study it? I'm really curious!!
Herta:
Same! I've never studied something this powerfulplease let me see it!!
Akeno Himejima:
Ara~ I suggest studying Takumi himself.
Izayoi Sakamaki:
Brilliant, Shiroyasha!!
You Kasukabe:
Well done, Shiroyasha!!
Asuka Kudou:
Beautifully done!!
Nyaruko:
Hmm... should I go back and steal the cosmic core of my world too?
Black Rabbit:
o(())o
Takumi:
