Ha, what a fine student this one made! Jawad eagerly launched into the intricacies of investment—futures, wagers, leverage, shorting, longing—spilling forth a torrent of wisdom before deciding to let [xiaochou.name] try a hand at it. And so, [xiaochou.name] bought a futures contract on a shipment Jawad had dismissed outright, sealing the deal with the merchants as if born to it. Jawad fumed, arguing fiercely to prove his own judgment superior—yet days later, [xiaochou.name]’s investment doubled, while Jawad’s careful schemes barely broke even.

Nearly sick with rage, Jawad could only watch it happened. When you pressed for answers, [xiaochou.name] shrugged. "I saw it plain as day in the water’s reflection—only this one ship of olive oil would dock safely this month. Simple as that... You humans, the further you are from the truth, the more elaborate your games become."

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Jawad

Result:

• Coins: 10
• Counter (7000707): Add 1

You sent [xiaochou.name] to scour the markets with Bharat, letting [xiaochou.gender] witness his knack for appraising relics and rarities.

At first, [xiaochou.name] scoffed—what trinket could it not recognize? But as Bharat explained the subtle distinctions in value between certain wares, the Mirror grew grudgingly impressed. So many tricks of the trade! The tales, the deceptions, the haggling—all of it held [xiaochou.name] rapt.

In the end, [xiaochou.name] still relied on its mirror magic to authenticate an ancient coin, then doubled its price with Bharat’s help and split the profits. Tossing the day’s earnings onto your table, the Mirror mused, "Today, I learned much. The lengths to which humans go to assign worth to what they cherish know no bounds! And to grasp that worth is to conjure coins from thin air. Truly... fascinating!"

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Bharat

Result:

• Coins: 10
• Counter (7000706): Add 1

Alim refused at first, claiming he didn’t teach apprentices so old—but [xiaochou.name] had a way with human.

Soon enough, they formed a merry band of thieves. [xiaochou.name] didn’t dirty its hands with theft; instead, it hired a troupe of jugglers and spun tales for a free show, while Alim slipped through the crowd...

Later, they split the spoils, and [xiaochou.name] solemnly shared its newfound wisdom: “Humans are ruled by attention, and attention can be bought... Once I’ve bought their gaze, I can turn it into coins. That’s the trick a mirror should’ve learned long ago!"

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Alim

Result:

• Coins: 10
• Counter (7000707): Add 1

You sent [xiaochou.name] to work for Habib as a kitchen apprentice. So [xiaochou.name] spent your gold coins on mountains of ingredients and set off to learn his craft. Day after day, the Mirror chopped endless onions, fed the fire, shelled peas, crushed garlic and spices—until boredom turned to protest. Only then did Habib finally bring it to the front, showing how all that drudgery fueled his swift, flawless dishes.

Later, [xiaochou.name] mused: "So humans break toil into simple tasks to squeeze more coins from it... But who decides who does what? You forge order, only to sow fresh chaos."

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Card = Habib

Result:

• Coins: 10
• Counter (7000706): Add 1

You decided to explain the logic of profit to [xiaochou.name] yourself. Ah, the irresistible urge to lecture—how every middle-aged man’s curse it is. But no sooner had you described how Extravagance could be an investment, buying influence and returns, than [xiaochou.name] extrapolated further. The Mirror spoke of how you wielded Bloodshed as a blade to cut down rivals, Conquest as a banner to proclaim power, Carnality as...

You clapped a hand over [xiaochou.gender(His,Her)] mouth, warning [xiaochou.gender(Him,Her)] not to heed courtly whispers. "Why shy from the truth, dear [player.name]? Do you fear, like all humans, that each gain drags you deeper into the game?"

Conditions:

• Slot #2 Has Tag (Protagonist) = 1

Result:

• Coins: 5
• Counter (7000706): Add 1

Lately, guests have been whispering that [player.name]’s household employs the most clever servants! Of course, no such thing is true.

Later, as you lingered at home, you noticed guests speaking to thin air—while in the mirrors, a handsome footman or a sharp-witted maid kept them company, trading pleasantries and tending to every whim. You sensed [xiaochou.name]’s power had grown—now it could toy with many mortals at once. Still, it brought you coins and reputations.

Result:

• Counter (7100004): Add 1
• Counter (7100002): Add 1
• Coins: 8
• Adjust Tag (Sociability) of Slot #1: Add 1
• Adjust Tag (Wisdom) of Slot #1: Add 1

Action:

• Enable Event: The Fourth Question from a Wise Man on Starting a Small-Scale Project