0017.

Mayor Yi Nang looked at Commander Fang, understanding his suggestion, and turned to look at Su Jin for an answer. "Do you have such a stock ready? Respected Su Jin?" 

Su Jin lifted up his chin in confidence. "Yes, I have the stock."

Mayor Yi Nang's eyes lit up with hope, but a shadow of worry quickly darkened them. "But, we have nothing to pay you right now, Su Jin. The city's coffers are bare. We've been preparing for this beast tide for months, and the cost has been enormous. We have nothing to spare."

Su Jin, expecting this, replied smoothly, "Do not worry about the price for now. We can settle that later. In the meantime, you can write me an IOU as a formality, and as collateral…" He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, "how about leaving something valuable as collateral?"

"Yes, that will work," the Mayor's eyes lit up again, but then darkened once more. "What valuable collateral can we offer, though? Our most valuable artifacts are already promised to other creditors." The Mayor's voice dropped to a whisper. "Perhaps a rare mineral deposit outside the city walls? But that would require sending miners out there, and with the beasts…"

"I need something tangible, rare mineral deposits mines will be a burden and not my expertise of business. Please think carefully and then let me know." Su Jin detached himself from the conversation, giving the Mayor space to think about.

However, it didn't take much time at all.

"Respected Su Jin, we have nothing that I can think of that will be valuable collateral for you," Mayor Yi Nang's voice turned pleading. "Is there… is there anything else we can offer?"

Su Jin didn't address Mayor Yi Nang as if he didn't hear him at all.

Commander Fang was gritting his jaw, he wanted to punch this extortionist bastard. Why would you raise the hope up and then trample over it for a few trinkets? 

"I…I can only…I can only." Mayor Yi Nang suddenly dropped to his knees. "I can only offer myself to you, please save the city, please save the innocent people of my city." Mayor Yi Nang pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Why would you degrade yourself this low, Mayor?" Wu Yan, who had stayed mute so far, suddenly spoke. "You still have a very valuable object with you which is useless to you anyway."

The Mayor blinked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Valuable object? What in the world are you talking about, Wu Yan?"

"NO! NEVER!!" Commander Fang interrupted with fury.

Mayot Yi Nang, still confused, looked at the commander and suddenly understood. "The Earthly Mandate?"

"Yes." Wu Yan answered.

"I said NO!" Commander Fang roared again, his bloodied face contorted with a mixture of anger and fear. "The Earthly Mandate is not for bartering! It's a sacred responsibility, not a trinket to be tossed around!"

"It's a useless junk, only a Nascent Soul cultivator can call upon its abilities and that too was never tested, just stories," Wu Yan argued. "What's the point of keeping such useless junk when you can get actual and practical weapons to protect the city? And it's not being sold, it's collateral. Pay it and take it back."

Commander Fang's jaw clenched tight. "It may not be a weapon, Wu Yan, but The Earthly Mandate isn't just a simple object, it symbolizes our city's spirit, our resilience, our bond with the land itself. If it falls into the wrong hands..." He trailed off, his gaze fixing on Wu Yan, the last known wielder of the Earthly Mandate. Though nothing significant had occurred during Wu Yan's possession, Commander Fang couldn't shake the feeling that Su Jin had his sights set on the artifact, and he was determined not to let it fall into his grasp.

The Mayor's shoulders slumped. He understood Fang's reservations. But these were desperate times. Can they truly afford to cling to tradition while the city burns? The Mayor looked torn. He understood Fang's concerns – the Earthly Mandate was more than just a valuable object. It was a symbol of their city.

"Look around you, Commander!" the Mayor pleaded. "We have no other choice!"

Mayor Yi Nang stood up and looked at Su Jin with a sincere question. "Promise me, Respected Su Jin, you would not treat the Earthly Mandate with anything less than the respect it deserves. It is a symbol of our city, and its power…" the Mayor hesitated, "its power is not to be taken lightly."

"Mayor Yi Nang, you are pleading it like I am tearing it from your fingers," Su Jin countered. "I didn't even say a word, I am not asking, you are offering. If you do not want to use the Earthly Mandate as collateral, then don't. But if you are going to do it, then please do it sincerely and with honesty. You are making me present like I am the villain here."

The Mayor sighed. "Respected Su Jin, please forgive my tone. Desperation drives me to forget my propriety. The Earthly Mandate is not just a trinket. It represents the very soul of this city, its connection to the land. But these are desperate times. We have no other choice. We offer you the Earthly Mandante, please help us."

Mayor Yi Nang then pulled out a small pouch and carefully retrieved a light green crystal-like stone with a golden symbol etched on it, saying "Serene" as he presented it.

Su Jin's lips curved into a thin smile, devoid of any excitement. He took the crystal from the Mayor's hand with a practiced reverence, examining it for a mere moment before placing it back in the pouch. "The Earthly Mandate of Serene Jade City, eh? A curious trinket indeed. However, it is not the object itself that holds my interest, Mayor Yi Nang."

"What compels me is the faith it represents. Your unwillingness to part with such a symbol speaks volumes about your city's resolve to fulfill the terms of our agreement. It is that faith, that determination, that secures your city's future, not this… stone."