Exchanging Intelligence

Exchanging Intelligence is a quest in .
==Steps==
# Go to Mingxing Jewelry to collect the item
# Meet the informants
# Go to the south wharf to meet the person behind the scenes
# Go see the children
# Play with the children at the north wharf
==Dialogue==
===Greeting Gift===
;(Go to Mingxing Jewelery to collect the item)
: Ningguang: Hello, I'm here to collect the item I handed in for repair.
: Xingxi: Ah, Lady Ningguang. One moment please, I'll fetch it immediately.
: Ningguang: Very good. Don't rush, now. Please handle it with care.
: Is it something very valuable?
: Ningguang: Hmm... Yes and no.
: Ningguang: You probably imagine that Mingxing Jewelry deals exclusively in expensive luxury goods.
: True, that's my impression.
: Actually, not exclusively.
: Ningguang: The workers here are very skilled, so I like to come to them when I need something custom-made.
: Ningguang: This time, though, I just had them do a simple repair. The item is quite ordinary. In fact, the cost of the repair was more than the item was ever worth.
: Xingxi: Lady Ningguang. Your comb has been fixed. Please inspect it and see whether you're satisfied with our work.
: Xingxi: We did everything we could to restore it to its original condition. You'll still see a few marks on there, though. This was unavoidable because of how badly damaged the item was.
: Ningguang: That's fine. Thank you for your hard work.
: You were right about it being a little ordinary.
: Ningguang: Yes, though it is something very precious to one of my informants. It reminds her of her mother.
: Ningguang: My informants often provide me with extremely important information. It's only fair that I endeavor to meet any requests they have in return.
: Ningguang: Trust is of far greater importance than profit in the relationship between me and my informants.
: I thought useful intel could only be bought with Mora.
: Ningguang: It's understandable to think that way. And in the vast majority of cases, you'd be completely right.
: Ningguang: But things are a little different with these particular informants. Mora doesn't get you very far with this crowd...
: Ningguang: And this only makes me all the more excited to meet with them.
: Ningguang: Thank you for the repair, Xingxi. This is a great help.
: Xingxi: Oh, don't mention it. It's always a pleasure, Lady Ningguang.
: Ningguang: Let's go and meet them.
;(Obtain )
;(Talk to Xingxi again)
: Xingxi: Take care, both of you. Please come again!
===Exchanging Intelligence===
;(Meet the informants)
: Zhizhi: Aunty Ningguang!
: Little Long: Hi, Aunty Ningguang!
: Ningguang: Hello my dears! It's been a long time, hasn't it?
: The informants are... children?
: Ningguang: Yes indeed. And they are some of my most reliable helpers and friends.
: Ningguang: I didn't want to involve them in intelligence gathering for me at first, but they, on the other hand, were so enthusiastic about the idea that I thought it couldn't hurt to try. I treated it as a little game between us.
: Ningguang: It turned out that they delivered the goods and thoroughly enjoyed themselves while they were at it. So, it was a win-win.
: Ningguang: So! Fill me in, how have you all been doing?
: Little Long: Great! Mom and Dad have taken me on loads of cool trips recently. It's been loadsa fun!
: Zhizhi: But... you didn't do your homework, did you...
: Little Long: Yeah, but... it's not my fault.
: Zhizhi: You still gotta try. Like teacher says, Liyue Harbor is in a new age now, and we've got a really important part to play.
: Ningguang: This new age started after that great battle, you know.
: I didn't know it would have such a profound impact.
: Ningguang: Well, this is a dramatic change, unique in all of the millennia of Liyue's history. Everyone is eager to do their part and make their mark in the age of humanity.
: Ningguang: What about you, Nannan? You haven't said anything yet, and you're looking a little unhappy.
: Nannan: I... I'm fine... Um... Just dunno what to say.
: Little Long: Oh yeah, I just remembered! A load of really big boats came into the harbor the day before yesterday!
: Zhizhi: Yeah, that's right! All the merchants were there and it was really noisy, and then the people on the boat started unloading all these crates. There was a salty, kinda fishy smell in the air.
: Ningguang: Oh, I see. That'll be the fishing boats coming back from the open ocean. How much cargo were they carrying? Remember, I taught you how you can tell.
: Little Long: Yep! I made sure to look at the waterline, just like you said. They looked really full this time!
: Ningguang: My goodness! Well, it sounds like they made quite a big catch.
: How can you tell?
: Ningguang: The heavier the boat, the lower the hull sits in the water. So you can tell how heavily loaded a vessel is from the height of the waterline.
: Ningguang: How deep a fully loaded vessel will sit in the water varies from ship to ship. But it's something you can tell from experience, at least for the kinds of vessels you see regularly.
: Little Long: Hee-hee, since Aunty Ningguang taught me how to do it, I can tell with just one look!
: Very clever!
: Nannan: Um, a few days ago, I heard some people saying that a big merchant from Fontaine is coming soon to buy Luminescent Spines.
: Nannan: They said that when they get here... the price will go up a lot.
: Ningguang: Oh, really?
: (That's the opposite of what Ningguang's analysis found out...)
: Ningguang: Who did you hear this from? Do you remember what they looked like?
: Nannan: Um... no, I don't remember...
: Ningguang: Alright, never mind. So how about what they said — do you remember their exact words?
: Nannan: Um... um, I don't remember that either. Sorry...
: Little Long: Are you okay? You're usually the one that talks the most. What's gotten into you today?
: Ningguang: It's okay, don't be upset. Actually, I brought you a little something to cheer you up. How about that, hmm?
: Nannan: It's... my comb! You remembered!
: Ningguang: Of course I did. If I make you a promise, I will always keep it.
: Nannan: Thank you, Aunty Ningguang. Thank you so much...
: Ningguang: It was just a small favor, really. Nothing to get overexcited about.
: Nannan: But... but they said you'd be too busy to remember about a boring old comb.
: Ningguang: "They"?
: Nannan: Uh oh...
: (It looks like there's a story here.)
: (No wonder she was fumbling her words.)
: Ningguang: It's alright, don't worry. There just seems to be some kind of misunderstanding here. Why don't you take this opportunity to clear it up? Don't you think that'd be best?
: Zhizhi: Yeah! Aunty Ningguang's not gonna blame you.
: Nannan: I'm sorry, I—I... I told you a lie...
: Nannan: That thing about the Luminescent Spines wasn't something I heard. Um, two people came and told me to say it to you.
: Nannan: I told them I didn't wanna lie to Aunty Ningguang, but, um, they told me you'd forgotten all about the comb, and I didn't know how to argue with them...
: Nannan: Then they bought me a new comb, and, and I...
: Nannan: I'm sorry! I'll give them the comb back right away! No comb is better than the one you helped get fixed for me!
: Ningguang: I know how much it means to you. It was a gift from your mom before she left Liyue Harbor, wasn't it?
: Nannan: Yep, it was! I'll be extra careful with it from now on. When mom gets back, she'll be so sad if she finds out I broke it...
: Ningguang: I must say, this is most intriguing...
: It looks like someone is trying to scam you.
: Ningguang: How about this: You tell me where those two people are, and I'll take the comb back to them for you. Sound good?
: Nannan: Okay... um, they're over at the docks. They said I should go and meet them when I've finished the mission...
: Ningguang: Alright then. Don't worry, it'll all be fine. I'll be right back.
: Little Long: Are you gonna go punish the bad guys?
: Ningguang: Now now, this is a grown-up situation, okay? It's not fun and games anymore. And don't try and follow me.
: Ningguang: I'm just going to have a polite discussion with those two grown-ups about what they're allowed to do and what they're not allowed to do.
;(Talk to Little Long again)
: Little Long: If you'd told us sooner, we would've figured out that it's a lie.
;(Talk to Zhizhi again)
: Zhizhi: Yeah. All three of us together makes a pretty smart group!
;(Talk to Nannan again)
: Nannan: I got it, thanks...
----
;(Go to the south wharf to meet the person behind the scenes)
: Big Xu: Don't you think that kid's gonna fluff her lines? Also... let's be honest, this is, uh, a new low for us...
: Lao Ke: Ugh, yes, I know... but we didn't have any other options. Just try not to overthink it, okay? Nannan's one of Ningguang's most trusted informants.
: Lao Ke: Ningguang adores that kid. She's not gonna get all suspicious just because her story doesn't quite add up.
: Ningguang: It sounds like you underestimated me. And the children, as well.
: Lao Ke: L—Lady Ningguang!
: Ningguang: You knew how important that comb was to Nannan, and you exploited that fact to emotionally manipulate her.
: Ningguang: You coached a child to lie, made her betray her own innocence and confuse her conscience. Do you not realize how contemptible that is?
: Lao Ke: I... Uh...
: Big Xu: Sorry, Lady Ningguang! We... we never should have crossed you like this!
: Ningguang: That's not the point. Business is business, and at some point we're all trying to get the better of one another. So if all you'd done is fool me by feeding me false information, I'd make a loss and that would be the end of it.
: Ningguang: But you cannot put Mora above all else. You cannot go exploiting children for profit. Do you have any idea just how much damage that will cause?
: Lao Ke: It was hardly our first choice either... We were only acting out of necessity.
: Lao Ke: We've been business partners for years now. We've gotten by, I guess, but never had any opportunities to expand.
: Lao Ke: When we heard about the movement in the Luminescent Spine market, we thought to heck with it. Let's go all in on this one, see if we don't get lucky for once.
: Lao Ke: So we stocked up a huge stash of Luminescent Spines and watched as the price went up and up. We thought, this was gonna be it. We were gonna make our fortune.
: Big Xu: But we waited and waited and this mystery merchant from Fontaine never came. More and more people started to suspect it was all a huge scam.
: Big Xu: Suddenly, everyone with Luminescent Spines was running for the exit, selling as fast as they could. But we had so much inventory that no one was willing to buy it...
: And that's when you thought of Ningguang?
: Lao Ke: Well, yeah. As soon as Lady Ningguang makes a move, everyone follows her lead, and the price takes a steep hike...
: Lao Ke: If we don't sell the goods, we're both bankrupt. We're in debt up to our eyeballs! We just didn't have any other choices...
: Ningguang: To be brutally honest, "We took out a loan and made a speculative investment" is not a sob story.
: Your business analysis was correct.
: This supports your conclusion about the Luminescent Spine hype.
: Ningguang: But not everyone has the capability to make rational decisions.
: Ningguang: Greed, a lust for wealth, and impatience can all cloud your judgment.
: Ningguang: Do you now realize how dire the consequences of wild speculation can be?
: Lao Ke: A hundred percent. We've both barely slept in days.
: Lao Ke: We begged people to take our stock off our hands... They laughed at us, called us idiots, thought it was all hilarious...
: Big Xu: We messed up. Completely and catastrophically messed up...
: Big Xu: The savings we worked so hard our whole lives to build up, decimated just like that. All we want now is a chance to start over.
: Ningguang: Hmm... Well, I can take your Luminescent Spines off your hands. But we will need a detailed contract.
: Ningguang: The portion of what I pay that exceeds the average price of Luminescent Spines in the past, you will need to pay back to me by some means in our future business dealings.
: Lao Ke: Huh? But... but that means our profit is zero...
: Ningguang: Then you're free to find another willing buyer.
: Ningguang: But if you're seriously still insisting on turning a profit under these circumstances, I'm afraid you're beyond redemption.
: Big Xu: Lady Ningguang is right. Let's swap the goods for cash and use it to pay off our debts, and be done with it. This is a lifeline, and we should be grateful for it. Forget about making money.
: Lao Ke: Yes, yes, you're right...
: Ningguang: I have no particular need for Luminescent Spines, but I'm quite sure I can uncover a market for it with a little research.
: Lao Ke: Okay, so, uh... shall we get this deal done now, or...?
: Ningguang: No need to hurry. Our deal is hardly the urgent matter here. Atoning for your transgressions is the main order of business.
: Ningguang: You took advantage of a child, and you are coming with me to make a full and unreserved apology.
: Ningguang: This is an opportunity for you to show remorse.
: Lao Ke: O—Okay...
: Ningguang: Come on, let's go back and see the children.
===Principles===
;(Go see the children)
: Ningguang: We're back. Everything's all sorted.
: Nannan: Huh? Oh, it's those two...
: Lao Ke: ...I'm sorry, Nannan. I was lying to you when I told you that Lady Ningguang wouldn't fix your comb.
: Lao Ke: I was completely in the wrong, and I promise I'll never do anything like this again. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?
: Nannan: Hmmmm... What do you think, Aunty Ningguang?
: Ningguang: I think it should be your choice, and yours alone.
: No matter what your decision is, we support you.
: Nannan: Well...
: Zhizhi: Since it's all sorted now, and nothing super bad happened, I guess it's okay.
: Little Long: But we can't just let them off. We gotta show them you don't mess with us!
: Ningguang: That's true. I'd certainly hate to see anyone else try to con you.
: Nannan: I've made up my mind.
: Lao Ke: ...
: Nannan: I want them to come play with us.
: Lao Ke: ...Uh, what?
: Little Long: Yay! Now we have someone to play hide-and-seek with!
: Zhizhi: Great idea! Let's go play hide-and-seek at the North Wharf!
: Lao Ke: W—Wait a second...
: Little Long: Nope, no waiting! C'mon!
: Ningguang: Hehe, so full of energy.
: We should go with them.
: Ningguang: Yes, of course. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them alone with those two buffoons.
----
;(Play with the children at the north wharf)
: Ningguang: Let me guess what you're thinking.
: Ningguang: You're thinking that there's not a huge difference between me turning these children into my informants and the actions of those two businessmen. Am I right?
: You got me.
: I mean, it's not AS bad, but...
: Ningguang: They were completely different when I first met them.
: Ningguang: They'd run away as soon as they saw me, or they'd be shaking with nerves and unable to speak.
: You are Lady Ningguang, after all.
: I'd be nervous, too.
: Ningguang: But gradually, they stopped seeing me as someone to be afraid of, and started seeing me as someone they can trust.
: Ningguang: For my part, I did my utmost to fulfill the duties of a responsible adult.
: Ningguang: I played games with them, but I also taught them observation skills, analytical skills, how to think critically. I never taught business, though.
: Ningguang: Now, they're much further ahead in their studies and far more mature than their peers. This has given them confidence in themselves.
: Ningguang: I think that this is beneficial to them.
: You are a lot like a teacher to them.
: Ningguang: Yes, perhaps I am.
: Ningguang: I never had the chance to receive a good education as a child. That's why I hope to teach these children myself. Hopefully I can pass on some of what I have learned.
: Ningguang: Someday, they may realize that not everything is a win-win deal, that deception and one-upmanship are facts of life. But there's nothing wrong with that.
: Ningguang: When that happens, they will be ready to face the world head-on and become exceptional businessmen and women. But until then, I am here to protect them.
: Are you raising them to be your heirs?
: Are you raising them to be your competitors?
: Ningguang: I will one day die, new Qixing will replace the old, and Liyue will continue to prosper.
: Ningguang: I hope the name, Ningguang, will live on, but not as a person. As more of a symbol.
: Ningguang: If I can pass on everything I have learned, I can create a legacy that will live on long after I am gone.
: Little Long: Come on, Aunty Ningguang! Hurry up!
: Nannan: We're not gonna wait forever~!
: Ningguang: Coming!
: Ningguang: Come on, let's enjoy this while we can.
===Ending: While the View Remains Good===
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