198 gold coins, 1 captain.

What does this amount mean?

To put it this way, from the first issue of the "Unrivaled List," the Qin Family only earned 150 gold coins. This was due to the exorbitant profits of the "Unrivaled List," Yanjing's highly developed paper industry, and Yan Tong removing most obstacles for them, along with the presence of the powerful Huiyao Four Guards, allowing the Qin Family to earn such a sum.

Seeing it this way, 198 gold coins don't seem like much. The "Unrivaled List" is published twelve times a year and will definitely reprint in the future. On average, doesn't the Qin Family earn the equivalent of a captain a month?

However, it is worth mentioning that the "Unrivaled List" is a monopoly industry, and it's a degenerate product that introduces advanced microtransaction thinking. It's the first disaster Pandora released in Le Yu's era, equivalent to an Internet-driven epochal blow to feudal commerce, a super profitable Newmoney venture. For this, data from the Jing Family were also introduced—when Le Yu took over the Jing Family businesses, excluding various incidental expenses, their net profit for a whole year was around 800 gold coins.

You must know that the Jing Family is one of the top five merchant associations within the Silver Blood. They own countless estates and mines throughout Dongyang. Even though they need to spend vast sums to maintain their industries, they also push operational costs to the limit—the great slave-master Jing Family is not famous for nothing. In Xuanzhu County, there's a widely known saying about the Jing Family: "The Jing Family's slaves won't stay young forever, but the Jing Family will always have young slaves."

The moguls in Yanjing may not be a match for the Silver Blood Association. After all, if Yanjing's wealthy get too rich, they face slaughter, but the Silver Blood Association has no such concerns. Gaining wealth over a century, not to mention Dongyang is already the largest trading hub in Huiyao. If the Jing Family moved to Yanjing, they'd be among the top three richest families there.

198 gold coins represent the annual income of a mid-sized merchant's association in Yanjing. The esteemed families rooted there often don't have many such amounts in their circulating capital!

Many students in the classroom felt like they were dreaming.

Initially, the starting point of 10 gold coins was already outrageous—students who were a bit frugal might not even spend all 10 gold coins throughout their four years at the Imperial Academy.

However, Shuiyun Palace proposed a very outrageous loyalty 'captain' threshold.

The most incredible part was that someone immediately responded, heavily investing to become the first captain of Shuiyun Palace!

However, many quickly realized—Qin Le Yin is the biggest follower of Shuiyun Palace; the Qin Family is akin to being wholly bound to Shuiyun Palace. Although 198 gold coins is a lot, if Shuiyun Palace were to fall, wouldn't the Qin Family's loss be more than 198? Qin Yueshi's clear support for Shuiyun Palace is only expected.

Before anyone could stand up and criticize Qin Yueshi's loyalty as a forced investment, people around Qin Yueshi also stood up one after another.

"Lin Xue, willing to journey with Shuiyun Palace to the stars and seas, invests 198 gold coins to help Shuiyun Palace expand its business."

"Qian Yuya, willing to brave fire and water for Shuiyun Palace, invests 198 gold coins to help Shuiyun Palace expand its business."

"Kui Nianruo, willing to... willing to lend 198 gold coins to Shuiyun Palace."

"Li Ying, willing... never mind, I'm with them."

The former best friend group of Ming Shuiyun each issued a 'captain declaration,' and in an instant, Ming Shuiyun gained five captains and nearly a thousand gold coins in liquid assets—an amount most merchant associations in Yanjing don't even possess!

"Wait a minute!" someone shouted, "Where did they get so much money!?"

"They have each signed a betting contract with the Qin Family," Qin Yueshi looked around and said loudly: "During their time at the Imperial Academy, all costs, including the loan to Shuiyun Palace, will be borne by our Qin Family; but upon graduation, if they cannot repay the Qin Family for these four years of support, then they will serve the Qin Family for the rest of their lives!"

Hearing this, Kui Nianruo's legs went soft, nearly sitting down as she leaned against Li Ying, asking in a low voice, "R-Really?"

"Indeed!" Li Ying frightened her, "If you can't repay the 198 gold coins after graduation, Qin Le Yin will catch you to warm his bed!"

Kui Nianruo was slightly startled, widening her eyes, "R-Really?"

The classroom stirred slightly; someone sneeringly remarked, "If Shuiyun Palace wanted money, why put on such a ridiculous act? If we wanted to lend you money, we wouldn't be thinking about getting it back, why bother letting them act as stooges?"

"Thank you five for your support, and thank you fellow student for your question." Ming Shuiyun had gradually grasped the pace, especially since the question posed was on the list laid out by Qin Yueyang, allowing her to answer effortlessly: "Let me reiterate—I am merely borrowing money, not taking it outright; this money will be repaid."

"Because this money is not for my entertainment or enjoyment, but for undertaking my first business venture."

Ming Shuiyun wrote three bold characters on the blackboard:

"Unrivaled Kill"

"I am preparing to research and launch a new battle card game: 'Unrivaled Kill.'" Ming Shuiyun continued without pausing, writing on the blackboard, "Unlike the current Combat Technique cards, which can only be played two-player, 'Unrivaled Kill' will support games involving five to eight people simultaneously. The game will be divided into four factions: Monarch, Loyalist, Warlord, Rebel."

"At the onset of the game, all identities are unknown. The Monarch must eliminate the Rebel and Warlord to win; the Loyalist wins by ensuring the Monarch survives; the Rebel wins by defeating the Monarch; the Warlord wins by first removing the Rebel and Loyalist, then beating the Monarch, achieving ultimate victory."

When Ming Shuiyun wrote the victory conditions for the four factions, everyone in the classroom couldn't help but mentally simulate the game, finding this battle card game increasingly interesting, with a hint of satire on reality, a true flourish of both art and literature...

"Besides the Monarch, Loyalist, Warlord, and Rebel, the larger selling point of this battle card game is: Hero. Hero cards represent the illustrious ministers, formidable generals, capable officials, and wise rulers throughout Huiyao's history. Each participant will draw a Hero card and an Identity card. The Identity card represents their faction, while the Hero card represents the role they temporarily assume as a hero, for example..."

"Grand Ancestor."

When Ming Shuiyun mentioned this person, the atmosphere of the entire classroom slightly shifted. It's not that the Imperial Academy's patriotic education was particularly outstanding, but all the Imperial Academy students had learned in history classes about the environment humans faced two thousand years ago. Some people dimmed and faded with history, but some became increasingly luminous over time—the one who led humanity to establish a peaceful era, Huiyao's Grand Ancestor, is precisely the latter.

"Heaven did not birth the Grand Ancestor, all ages would be eternal night." Ming Shuiyun said, "To the people, the Grand Ancestor is like the first ray of dawn breaking through the night. Therefore, I intend to name the Grand Ancestor's first ability 'Dawn'.

"Every Hero card will come with abilities corresponding to their historical image, such as the Grand Ancestor, Emperor Taizong, Lie Sect leader, another like the divine general Long Wan'ge, Wan Guiliu, Bai Chou, another like the famous minister Nie Xiao'gu, Wen Zhan'dao, Wen Yan, and another like the legendary assassin Liaoyuan Xinglie, the Bone King Si Wenzhong who once contested the empire with the Lie Sect, and the Demon Queen Xiang Yu who wreaked havoc on the palace and controlled the court..."

"What kind of abilities should they possess? What effects should they bring in Unrivaled Kill? Can we recreate classic historical scenes through Unrivaled Kill?"

"The variety of battle cards, the abilities of Hero cards, the balance of factions." Ming Shuiyun clapped her hands gently, "All of this absolutely cannot be achieved by me alone. And this is the reason why I'm raising funds."

"I've already applied to establish the 'Unrivaled Kill Research Society.' All the funds I borrow will be managed and allocated by the society, I won't touch a single coin. The society will use this fund entirely to recruit talented individuals, research the game, produce battle cards, and promote this project."

"And not only will I seize this opportunity to develop my industry, but I also hope to find my ministers, my divine generals, my... companions through this 'from scratch' entrepreneurial effort."

Ming Shuiyun put down the chalk and looked at everyone, saying loudly, "Do you think I'm just borrowing money? No, that's not it."

"One cannot easily obtain what they lack. Those without money cannot borrow money, those poor with women cannot find women, and those who are self-deprecating can only garner contempt and malice. Your goal isn't purely to borrow money, but to regain freedom, you must showcase confidence—this way, others will respect you." A quote from Qin Yueyang's writings.

Ming Shuiyun took a deep breath and said loudly, "What I want is far beyond what I have!"

"I want your money, your loyalty, your talents, I want it all!"

"Lend me your money, bestow your loyalty upon me, give your allegiance to me!"

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