On the Ten Thousand Nations Continent side, the entrance to the Starship's interior was originally supposed to be a door.

The door had been dismantled, leaving behind an oval opening about 3 meters along the long axis and 2 meters along the short axis. Beyond this, there was another equally sized door that closed vertically, but it too had been violently destroyed. Passing through that door and walking forward for a dozen meters or so before turning left, you would reach the wide, straight main passage.

The Dulai Flame Spiders are naturally large creatures. An 8th Age-Period mid-level warrior could span nearly 1.3 meters in leg span.

In the field test, the Little Flame Spider named Natsumi could easily pass through.

It's estimated that up to a 7th Age-Period high-level warrior could squeeze through.

For the next ten years or so, Natsumi would be responsible for transporting trade goods between Dragon Cypress and Seven-Leaf.

"Natsumi, follow the Dragon Cypress Ant King for a run, get familiar with the Starship's internal routes."

After a simple field test, the Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord urged them to get going.

"Alright!"

Natsumi was a steady, well-behaved Little Flame Spider. She maneuvered a Spider Silk Rope and proactively tied the heavy Spider Silk Bag full of Source Stones onto her own carapace.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple glanced at each other, then looked at the Spider Silk Bag containing Origin Force Food. Embarrassed, they turned to Dragon Cypress.

Dragon Cypress: "What are you looking at? Pick it up and come along."

They're really working, huh~ Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple took the bulging bag, one in front and one behind, staggering as they started off after the others.

They were only 1st Age-Period intermediate little warriors—barely able to lift it.

Seven-Leaf: "..."

Seven-Leaf watched them leave.

After a short distance, Dragon Cypress turned around, lifted a claw to grab the Spider Silk Bag, and called out for everyone to run.

Freed from the weight, Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple instantly perked up.

"I'm four years old this year."

"Me too, four years old."

"Natsumi, how old are you?"

"Nine."

"Wow!"

"That's awesome!"

"You're already an 8th Age-Period mid-level Flame Spider Warrior at nine."

"You're not far off from the Dragon Cypress Ant King either."

"Natsumi, does the Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord pay you a lot for helping out?"

"Not much."

"The Dragon Cypress Ant King doesn't pay us much either."

"Calculated out, our base wage isn't even 1000 Source Stones."

Natsumi's eight legs flailed in confusion, wobbling: That much?!

Proud Natsumi became interested in these two weak Sky Ox Warriors and asked back, "Do you actually get Source Stones, or Origin Force Food?"

Blue Catalpa: "Of course it's Origin Force Food."

Snakebark Maple: "Source Stones are really scarce on the Cloud Trace Continent."

Blue Catalpa: "Natsumi, how many Source Stones does the Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord pay you?"

Natsumi: "I get 5% of the total transaction value. For example, this year, if the Dragon Cypress Ant King sells 5,000 Source Stones' worth of goods and buys 10,000 more, the total transaction volume is 15,000 Source Stones. I'd receive 750 as a reward."

Snakebark Maple: "That's quite a bit!"

Blue Catalpa: "Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord is really generous."

Natsumi: "He's stingy."

Snakebark Maple: "Stingy?"

Blue Catalpa: "He gave us two Six Paths Wood Seeds!"

Natsumi: "That's because you're juniors of the Dragon Cypress Ant King."

—Oh!

—So it was a beautiful misunderstanding.

Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple shared a knowing look and continued probing her.

Blue Catalpa: "Natsumi, how does the Seven-Leaf Mountain Lord settle up? Source Stones? Or Origin Force Food?"

Natsumi: "Origin Force Food."

Snakebark Maple: "Divine-Given Origin Force Food?"

Natsumi: "No way anyone's getting Divine-Given Origin Force Food..."

...

The three little ones ran and chatted along the way. Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple kept fishing for info with all sorts of questions.

Natsumi handled all their questions with ease but wouldn't reveal any key details.

After running for half the night, they arrived at the Starship's exit.

Natsumi's body was too big to fit through the crack on this side.

Dragon Cypress made two trips, carrying things to the Rednan Mountain Ant Nest, then came back to escort Natsumi back to the Ten Thousand Nations Continent side.

The Spurge Spider King's caravan would only arrive the day after tomorrow.

Dragon Cypress took Blue Catalpa and Snakebark Maple to wander inside the Starship, giving them a tour of all kinds of chambers, explaining the Treasury categories, room distribution, and the structure of the passages.

He satisfied their curiosity first, so that they wouldn't wander around and get lost later on.

…

…

…

The Spurge Spider King led its caravan, strolling into the Trading Plaza and arriving at its designated spot, where it spat out a Life Seed.

But before the Spurge Spider King could claim the place, a White Ivy and a Grass Dragon shot up out of the ground, each scrambling to get ahead.

"Spurge Spider King, I've got business to take care of first."

"Little Red Peach, let's go!"

White Ivy called out, but didn't actually move.

Grass Dragon hurried over, standing at White Ivy's side.

White Ivy stepped forward.

Grass Dragon followed with two more steps.

"Grass Dragon! Why are you following me?"

"I can't wait to see Dragon Cypress."

"Go. Go. Go. Get lost. Don't get in the way. Wait till I'm done trading; then you can go with Melde."

"White Ivy, don't get me wrong. I'm a legitimate Flame Spider Roving Merchant."

"Oh?"

"A qualified Flame Spider Roving Merchant always stays neutral, never gets involved in any disputes, including your spats with Melde."

"What spat do I have with Melde?"

"Doesn't matter if there's a spat or not. Lupine and I are always neutral."

"But you're with the Luoli Caravan. I'm with the White Ivy Trade Caravan. So scram—don't block me from making money."

"White Ivy, we all crawled out of the same spider nest. Don't be so heartless, okay?"

White Ivy hesitated, turning to look at Melde in the distance.

Red Peach spoke up quietly, "Grass Dragon's not really neutral! Grass Dragon was sent by Melde to dig up business secrets."

Grass Dragon faltered, then protested, "Red Peach, quit talking nonsense. I'm really close with Yellow Peach Mountain Lord—watch out or I'll have them deal with you."

Red Peach added breezily, "I'm just joking, just saying whatever comes to mind. But you're so worked up—guess I hit a nerve. Melde senses that White Ivy is making money off Origin Force Honey, but doesn't know how it's made, what it costs, what the profit is, or how much has been sold, or exactly how much you've earned. White Ivy owes Melde 175,000 Source Stones. Melde is wondering if it's possible to recover that debt. If you can, then that's just the seed capital you'll need to become an independent roving merchant in the future. That's why Grass Dragon, you're even more eager than Melde."

White Ivy: "!!!"

White Ivy glared at Grass Dragon, eyes unfriendly.

Grass Dragon: "..."

Grass Dragon looked grim.

This Little Golden Mantis has been bouncing around the whole way, acting all silly—he thought she was just like White Ivy.

Turns out you're not dumb at all.

On the contrary,

This one's got a seriously scheming mind!

With that surprisingly sharp jab, no matter what he says now there's no way to clear his name.

"White Ivy, pay your debt!"

"No money. Get lost!"

"If you don't pay, I'll keep following you."

"Keep following and I'll beat you to death."

"Spurge Spider King is watching."

"Hmph! Try me, just follow then."

White Ivy turned to glance back, finding the Spurge Spider King really was watching her, its gaze rather displeased.

White Ivy turned and walked toward the hill as if nothing had happened.

"I really am a neutral spider~"

Grass Dragon muttered, trailing after her.

They climbed the hill and reached the Starship passage's opening.

Grass Dragon eagerly asked, "Red Peach, are you helping White Ivy move goods?"

Red Peach answered, "Yup."

Grass Dragon: "But you're not a Flame Spider—your carapace is so narrow, how do you carry loads?"

Red Peach: "Just run a few extra trips, that's all."

Grass Dragon: "That's a lot of work. White Ivy Mountain Lord must be paying you a hefty fee, right?"

Red Peach: "Of course."

Grass Dragon: "Melde pays me 500 Source Stones. Red Peach, how much do you get?"

Red Peach: "A bit more than you—5,000 Source Stones."

Grass Dragon: "..."

Red Peach lifted a front leg, pointed at the roadside bushes, and suggested, "White Ivy Mountain Lord, Grass Dragon's just here to sniff around for info—ill intentions, tie him up and toss him over there."

"Wouldn't that be kinda dangerous?" White Ivy skillfully manipulated two Spider Silk Ropes toward Grass Dragon, "Let's just string him up and give him a beating…"

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