Puppet Notes (Wearing Book) - 203

 

| PN | Unreasonable | 203

When Eliton received the message from Qi Chao, he couldn’t help but lower his head and look at the mother stone hanging at his waist.

This was the first child awakened by a superhuman.

Since obtaining the mother stone, Eliton had spent his days managing state affairs and his nights staying up late crafting the puppet shell. After nearly a week, he had only managed to complete the puppet shell's rough clay form.

Unlike Qi Chao, who could produce puppets in six months, even as a master-level puppet master, Eliton required more than a year to craft a high-grade puppet.

The painstakingly crafted puppet was something every puppet master cherished. It was precisely because of this attachment that, after being forced to lose five of his "children," Eliton could no longer bring himself to create another puppet. 

Even after one of the mother stones had been reactivated, he couldn’t bear to part with it, wearing it at his waist every day, even while handling state affairs. The joy of regaining what was lost was no less than that of a human parent who had lost and then found their child.

"You’ve arrived."

Seeing Qi Chao and his three students enter through the door, Eliton stood up and greeted them with a smile. Sitting in his current position, only when he saw Qi Chao did he feel like he was still a puppet master at heart.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Qi Chao and the three apprentices greeted Eliton before following him into the meeting room where the conference was about to begin.

This time, the meeting included not only senators and cabinet members but also several master-level puppet masters, including Qing Yu.

When they saw Qi Chao and the three apprentices walk in, Qing Yu and the others weren’t surprised. 

After seeing the video released by the Alliance, they had already guessed that the Alliance had some connection to Qi Chao.

It made sense. The only entity capable of funding the Alliance’s acquisition of so many mining veins was the Qi family, the wealthiest in the galaxy. Without supplying so many resources, how else could the Alliance afford to send Qi Chao over? 

The only mystery was why Qi Chenming would be willing to invest such an astronomical sum for his son. Wasn’t he worried about the Alliance collapsing and losing it all?

The people in the room, including Qing Yu, couldn’t help but feel both envious and jealous. If they knew that those mining veins had nothing to do with Qi Chenming at all and that Qi Chao had barely spent any credits discovering them, their reactions would have been even more incredulous.

“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.”

One of the cabinet elders nodded toward Eliton. Once Eliton had returned to his seat, the elder reiterated the agenda of the meeting.

“According to His Majesty’s proposal, the main purpose of this meeting is to refine the laws concerning puppets. Since all of you here are leading figures in the puppet-making industry, please feel free to share any suggestions during this session.”

The cabinet elder’s gaze shifted toward Qi Chao and Youzhao. While the others could be momentarily overlooked, these individuals, as representatives sent by the Alliance, warranted special attention.

From his perspective, puppets didn’t need to be treated with such high regard. Aside from the S-class puppets that could bolster military strength, other puppets could be freely sold. 

However, one point in the Alliance’s submitted proposal was undeniably valid: certifying puppets and channeling transactions through official means would reduce private dealings, thereby increasing the Empire’s tax revenue.

This was the primary reason why, after Eliton proposed the puppet certification system, the cabinet members hadn’t strongly opposed it.

“The new regulations on puppets sparked a lot of discussion online yesterday. Everyone, feel free to speak your mind,” Eliton added at the end of the cabinet elder’s statement, perfectly timed to encourage open dialogue.

The room stirred with anticipation. While the senators hoped to make an impression in front of the Emperor, the master-level puppet makers, including Qing Yu, were most concerned about one specific issue: whether the S-class puppet ability research would be continued.

This initiative, originally spearheaded by the late Emperor and the Association President, had mysteriously ceased. After the ascension of the new Emperor, the topic had become taboo, never to be mentioned again.

Master-level puppet makers, having once been honored with medals bestowed by the imperial family, prided themselves on their elevated status, often looking down on other puppet makers. Even after the dissolution of the Association, they had remained unshaken, confident that the Alliance would eventually send invitations, pleading for their membership.

However, unexpectedly, not only had the Alliance failed to invite them, but even their former superiors from the Ability Division seemed to have forgotten about them. This neglect deeply unsettled the master-level puppet masters, who had grown accustomed to their privileged status.

Now that they were finally remembered and invited here, they naturally seized the opportunity to address their most pressing concerns.

Just as the youngest among them, Qing Yu, had organized his thoughts and was about to ask his question, Qi Chao, appearing well-prepared, spoke up first:

“I have a few suggestions regarding how to handle puppet masters who conduct unauthorized, uncertified private trades.”

Qing Yu, having his chance to speak taken, felt a flicker of displeasure. But when Qi Chao turned to him with a glance, he instinctively responded with a smile.

There was no helping it. With the Alliance now replacing the former Association, the person in charge of S-class puppet ability converter in the future was highly likely to come from within the Alliance. 

Qing Yu couldn’t afford to offend the Alliance’s representative, Qi Chao.

“Apologies, Qing Yu. I didn’t notice you were preparing to speak. Why don’t you go first?” Qi Chao’s smile was so genuine that it was hard to believe he’d intentionally interrupted. 

To everyone else, it seemed entirely coincidental, though Qing Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. But looking at Qi Chao’s earnest expression, he dismissed it as his own overthinking.

“No, no, it’s fine. Please, go ahead.”

Qi Chao nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to face Elliton and the cabinet members. He spoke in a calm and measured tone:

“I believe that most puppet masters deeply cherish the puppets they create.”

This statement applied equally to unscrupulous puppet masters. For them, the time and effort spent crafting a puppet were ultimately less important than the money and benefits they could gain from it.

“Certifying puppets not only ensures their safety but also protects the property rights of puppet makers. Yet, there are two main reasons why some puppet makers are reluctant to certify their puppets,” Qi Chao continued.

The puppet makers and senators in the room perked up, intrigued to hear what Qi Chao had to say.

“The first reason is that they are unable to join the Alliance themselves, which creates a natural sense of rejection toward it.”

“The second reason is that they believe certifying their puppets will reduce their profits.”

The second point struck the heart of the matter. Fundamentally, the reason unscrupulous puppet makers so brazenly sold puppets on the black market was that private transactions yielded significantly more credits.

“And do you have any solutions?” Eliton nodded in understanding and pressed further.

“Just as the theme of this meeting suggests: first, we must increase the severity of punishments for illegal selling,” Qi Chao replied confidently.

When some cabinet members expressed opposition, Qi Chao smiled faintly and said, “Don’t the elders agree that penalties should be increased? After all, private transactions reduce the Empire’s tax revenue from the puppet industry.”

The former Association had never prohibited private puppet transactions and even permitted opaque deals.

In other words, the Empire initially gained almost no tax revenue from the puppet industry. Now, the Alliance was proposing a system for certifying puppets entirely for the benefit of the Empire.

At this, the senators who had been preparing to object fell silent.

There was no way they could publicly declare in front of everyone that the Empire didn’t need this much tax revenue. That was, of course, impossible.

“So, according to you, besides severely punishing illegal puppet transactions, what comes next?” one of the cabinet ministers asked. 

After having the recorder next to him record everything, he prompted Qi Chao to continue.

Qi Chao paused for a moment, the smile in his eyes deepening.

“Besides strict punishment, there must also be benefits. If non-Alliance puppet makers are willing to certify their puppets, the Alliance will allow them to select a mother stone from within the mining veins and provide them with 3,000 intermediate energy stones as a gift.”

The implication was clear: if they didn’t certify their puppets, they could forget about selecting mother stones from the Alliance’s mines.

Wasn’t this more of a threat than a benefit?

Calling it a “benefit” felt a bit far-fetched. After all, when the Alliance absorbed the Association, they also inherited its depleted mines. 

According to insiders, the Alliance now controlled all of Bluestar’s mining veins.

If the Alliance truly refused to provide mother stones, puppet masters would have no choice but to turn to the black market. 

However, due to the Alliance’s monopoly on the mines, the prices of mother stones on the black market had skyrocketed, and the quality was wildly inconsistent. Purchasing there came with a significant risk of loss.

With this in mind, the people in the room couldn’t help but look at Qi Chao with a mixture of awe and respect. It was a masterstroke. 

Those puppet masters who still hesitated to certify their puppets would now have to seriously weigh their options and capabilities.

“If there are no objections, let’s finalize this plan. Agreed?” Elliton asked, glancing around the room after Qi Chao finished speaking.

The cabinet members recognized that the Emperor’s tone indicated his support for the proposal. 

Moreover, the policy would boost tax revenue and pose no threat to their own interests in the puppet industry. Naturally, no one voiced any opposition.

The senators, eager to curry favor with the Emperor and the Alliance, also chose to remain silent.

The master-level puppet masters, however, hesitated. They had yet to join the Alliance, and the proposed policy could potentially impact their interests. 

Nonetheless, their long-standing privileged status made them instinctively consider matters from a lofty perspective. They assumed that the Alliance’s measures were meant for lower-tier puppet masters and that, as a privileged elite, they wouldn’t be affected in the same way.

Exchanging glances, the master-level puppet masters chose not to voice any objections.

Thus, the policy was finalized without much resistance.

Afterward, You Zhao and the other two apprentices also proposed several suggestions, primarily aimed at enhancing the social status of puppets.

 After each of the three students spoke, Qi Chao discreetly gave them a thumbs-up under the table, signaling his approval.

Noticing their teacher’s encouragement, even though the three were now part of the Alliance’s management team, they couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

As more people contributed their opinions, Qing Yu, keeping an eye on the flow of the meeting, judged the time to be right. Rising once more, he subtly broached the subject:

“Your Majesty, I’d like to inquire about the matter of S-class puppets. Will it continue? If so, please know that I will always remain your most loyal subordinate.”

The mention of S-class ability conversion immediately caused a stir among the participants. 

While the master-level puppet masters, cabinet members, the Emperor, and Qi Chao understood the significance, the lower-ranking senators were left completely baffled.

What are they talking about?

The senators couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves.

Qing Yu, oblivious to the impact of his words, saw no issue with his subtle hint. After all, the senators weren’t privy to this matter and couldn’t possibly understand the implications.

The other master-level puppet masters, however, waited eagerly for a response. 

But as they observed the Emperor and the cabinet members’ faces darken, and even the ever-calm Qi Chao’s smile fade, they suddenly realized something was amiss.

For the cabinet members, Qing Yu’s words brought back bitter memories of stolen converter machines and lost resources.

For Elliton, they reopened the emotional wound of losing his five cherished children.

Qi Chao’s reaction, however, was even more intense. He clenched his fists, struggling to contain his emotions. Internally, he reminded himself to stay composed.

Calm down. 

You already knew these puppet masters care more about their own interests than anything else. 

Don’t let this anger you. Everything is progressing according to plan. 

One day, the status of puppets will change, and their worth will be recognized. There’s no need to lose your temper over this.

Despite his attempt to stay composed, Qi Chao couldn’t help but jab, “You should be more mindful of the occasion. Why are you speaking so carelessly in front of so many people? Do you want to ask His Majesty questions in front of all the people of Blue Star next time?"

Qing Yu froze. He had originally thought his subtle hint was harmless, but seeing the Emperor and the cabinet members' expressions, it was clear something was wrong. A cold sweat broke out on him. 

Could it be, as Qi Chao had pointed out, that he really shouldn’t have made such a suggestion in this setting?

“Apologies, Your Majesty. I misspoke,” Qing Yu quickly apologized, his tone sincere.

Elliton glanced at him, but without responding, stood up and left the room.

A shocked murmur spread across the meeting room.

Elliton was known for his solitary nature, but he was generally a mild and benevolent ruler. This was the first time anyone had witnessed him storm out of a meeting in anger.

In fact, Elliton had initially intended to let Qing Yu off the hook, considering it a minor slip-up in the context of the meeting. 

However, after receiving Qi Chao’s subtle hint, he simply couldn’t hold back. His emotions flared, and he allowed himself to walk out in frustration.

To be honest, it felt strangely satisfying.

As Elliton walked away, his distaste for Qing Yu and those like him only deepened. Puppet masters who treated puppets so carelessly didn’t deserve to call themselves true puppet masters.

On the other side, noticing Qing Yu’s pale face, Qi Chao couldn’t even muster a smile. He simply left the palace with his three students.

 After parking the aircraft in front of the Alliance headquarters, he picked up Qiu Qiu and, after reminding the three students to rest early, returned home.

Barely a few minutes after sitting down on the sofa, Shen Yuxi and several of the children returned.

Qi Chao looked at the smile on Shen Yuxi’s face and instinctively asked, “Did it succeed?”

Shen Yuxi nodded affirmatively.

Qi Chao proceeded to check the condition of the children in the house, not sparing even Shen Yuxi. Once he confirmed they were all unharmed, he couldn’t help but gently rub Shen Yuxi’s long golden hair. “As long as you're not hurt, welcome back.”

The puppets had become quite independent by now. Although they still clung to Qi Chao, after greeting their dad, they immediately ran off to the living room to rest and watch a projection, enjoying their freedom.

Qi Chao didn’t interfere with them. After briefly telling Shen Yuxi about the events of the day, he asked, “How are things over there? Negotiating with the black market wasn’t easy, was it?”

"Of course not, it was easy to negotiate," Shen Yuxi replied with a gentle look in his eyes, countering. "They were all very easy to communicate with. I barely spent a few minutes there, and the head of the black market immediately agreed to never trade mother stones, energy stones, or puppets again."

Qi Chao wanted to ask Shen Yuxi how exactly he had negotiated with them, but as his thoughts wandered, he decided it was best not to pry. 

From what he could guess, Shen Yuxi likely wouldn’t want to share the details.

Noticing that Qi Chao had shifted the topic after asking a few questions, Shen Yuxi’s smile deepened. He gently squeezed Qi Chao’s hand. 

He felt that Qi Chao loved him more than he had realized.

The cabinet moved quickly. That same night, they drafted the meeting proposal and posted it online. Non-Allied puppet makers, upon seeing the various clauses, exploded in outrage.

[What the hell! What are they trying to do? Forcing us to certify puppet identities now?]

Most of the non-Allied puppet masters were those whom the Alliance deemed less devoted to their puppets. Seeing such underhanded tactics from the Alliance, they were left with no choice but to begrudgingly accept and prepare to certify their puppets.

What else could they do? 

Certifying their puppet’s identity was at least something that allowed them to keep going. But if they refused to certify, the Alliance wouldn’t even give them any mother stones. 

For these puppet masters, it would essentially mean their livelihoods were over.

Of course, there were still a few unscrupulous puppet masters with connections, and as soon as the official draft was released, they immediately sought out their black market connections.

“Tch, so what if the Alliance won’t give us mother stones? So what if it’s illegal? I’ve got connections! I can still get mother stones from the black market!”

However, these puppet masters soon learned that the head of the black market had been beaten up again. 

Not just him—many of the other key figures in the black market had been caught and were severely punished. Now, no one dared to touch anything related to mother stones.

The unscrupulous puppet masters were left speechless. …Damn!

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TL: Yeah it was an easy conversation haha