Chapter 244: 244 Shared Copyright?_1
Yan Moling held a special position within the Imperial City, so she definitely knew about any disturbances that occurred.
To be honest, she wanted to help, but she was powerless.
Her collaboration was with Wen Jiang, but the intricate entanglements among the nobility meant that even if she wished to intervene, there wasn’t any excuse for her to do so in such matters.
After all, this was a struggle between Wen Jiang and other nobles.
But things were different once Wen Jiang actively sought cooperation.
Yan Moling was genuinely baffled. "You’re really willing to— but that’s..."
An inconceivable, astonishing amount of wealth.
The concept was easy to grasp. It was as if Wen Jiang could make all the money herself; her partnership with the military’s Card Factory was essentially like giving money to the military.
Some nobles certainly harbored similar ideas, hoping Wen Jiang would bow her head to them.
They had considered the possibility of prompting cooperation between Wen Jiang and the military, but they believed it was impossible.
Cooperation with the military came with prerequisites. This was due to the military’s unique nature as the core of the nation. Partnering with the state meant laying all Spirit Card secrets bare. Any new Spirit Cards by Wen Jiang, like the Four Heavenly Kings card she had created, had to be shared with the military immediately. If she were to collaborate with the military, copyright would have to be shared as well.
After all, as a Spirit Card Master, if you’re going to work with the military’s Card Factory, you can’t keep your copyright under wraps and still expect the military to cover for you—who would agree to such a one-sided deal?
The military’s actions were merely meant to enhance the capabilities of their Spirit Card Masters, but not everyone possessed that spirit of ’sacrifice.’
After all, the military enjoyed a unique position. Enjoying cooperation with them meant paying a price.
And it wasn’t just about peripheral issues—what regular person would agree to such stringent terms?
That’s why Yan Moling had never brought up the idea of collaborating on cards with Wen Jiang, not even for the previous Moon Palace Card Set. That set was special because it was banned by the state. However, the military had paid a large sum to purchase exclusive rights. They had not broached the subject with Wen Jiang for subsequent cards, simply asking her not to continue releasing them publicly.
Wen Jiang was easy to talk to and agreed, but Yan Moling and the others couldn’t possibly push their luck further.
Now that Wen Jiang was actively approaching them, she was indeed simply offering money to the military. Even Yan Moling felt it was somewhat inappropriate. "It hasn’t gotten to that point yet. Otherwise, shall I help you ask around if there are any suitable factories in other cities?"
She knew Mount Flower must be struggling with an overload of Spirit Card orders and now faced a sudden crisis, unable to meet the peripheral merchandise quantities.
Yan Moling considered Wen Jiang a straightforward person, so she was willing to offer more solutions. "How about this? I’ll apply to my superiors to help you process this particular order. You just pay the processing fee, and we’ll get through this crisis first, alright?"
Yan Moling going to such lengths also meant that she saw Wen Jiang as a friend worth making.
She felt that Wen Jiang was meticulous with submitting documentation, and those above likely wouldn’t mind lending Wen Jiang a hand with such a minor issue.
With some time bought, Wen Jiang should be able to find other ways to overcome this crisis.
"There’s no need." Listening to Yan Moling’s response, Wen Jiang knew she hadn’t approached the wrong person. "If I’m coming to you for collaboration, it’s because I’ve considered all this. Besides, even if we get through this time, what if there’s a next time? Do you do good deeds without expecting anything in return?"
Wen Jiang spoke lightly, but Yan Moling felt a bit embarrassed. "Not at all. Your contributions to our nation are unprecedented. The information on mythological civilization... I think it’s possible to persuade the higher-ups to devise a solution."
"Bringing in the higher-ups when you can’t win the fight yourself?"
The Empire indeed could intervene, but if they took care of these issues, it would make her a thorn in the side of the nobility. Their people might step in this time, but those nobles also had their networks within the Imperial City. What about next time? This analogy was somewhat crude, but quite direct.
Yan Moling sighed. "...With your contributions, you shouldn’t have to endure this kind of grievance."
If the authorship of the mythological civilization materials were made known, the Empire would certainly help. Instead of just having to watch, unable to reprimand those nobles. After all, the grudge Wen Jiang had with them was too deep; a simple reprimand wouldn’t make them yield. To make them back off, there needed to be a reasonable cause. As a neutral party, if the Empire took sides with any noble, it would be making its stance clear.
That’s why Wen Jiang had never thought about getting the Empire involved in this high-stakes game.
"You think any normal person wouldn’t just give up such benefits?" With such huge profits, if one could handle it alone, why would they let others get involved?
Even Yan Moling couldn’t believe it.
Yan Moling said dryly, "That’s not what I meant."
She just found it unbelievable; besides, Wen Jiang didn’t need to do this.
Wen Jiang chuckled lightly. "I never said I was a normal person. Money is certainly important, but it’s not important to me."
Having the military handle it would completely prevent future troubles. The nobility wouldn’t dare to go against the military, as that would mean opposing the entirety of Yunxia.
Yan Moling was speechless. Her family was also unimaginably wealthy, and she was used to seeing people desperately cling to their own interests, refusing to let go. Hearing Wen Jiang say this still felt shocking. Are there really people who think they have too much money?
"I know the military’s requirements regarding copyright sharing. I only have two small requests: Mount Flower Factory will work jointly with the military factory for processing, and Mount Flower will handle all peripheral processes for the cards. Professional players from Mount Flower will have priority in using the cards I make. However, I will not allow the military to give them to any Spirit Card Master who is not military personnel. If there’s a need for an exception, it must be with my consent."
Yan Moling took a sharp breath. "Those requests aren’t unreasonable; they will agree. But are you really okay with it? The profits from military card peripheral partnerships are split fifty-fifty. Are you willing?"
Wen Jiang replied, "It’s fine, as long as the normal procedure doesn’t put me at a disadvantage."
Whether the amount of money was more or less didn’t really matter to her, but she couldn’t concede too much, lest people think she was a pushover. As long as the military conducted its affairs normally, she wouldn’t have any demands. Her trust in Yunxia’s military was high, which was why she was willing to collaborate so readily. And with Yan Moling overseeing things, it wouldn’t be difficult.
"Then I will as soon as possible—" Yan Moling’s tone became excited. "No, I’ll have someone bring the contract to you this afternoon."
This was like a pie falling from the sky. Frankly, if anyone in the military disagreed, one would have to wonder if they had ulterior motives. Wen Jiang’s intentions didn’t need to be questioned. She only needed the military for card processing and wasn’t asking for anything else; all of this would be stipulated in the contract. The military’s factories could clear all difficulties, which was also their biggest advantage.
But the problem was the military’s stringent demands. Consequently, few Spirit Card Masters were willing to cooperate. Even within the Empire, scarce were the Card Makers who sought to collaborate with the military. People preferred to keep the copyright of their cards clutched tightly in their own hands; how could they possibly share it with others?