The next stop was Sumeru.
When the Traveler and the others found Tighnari, they discovered he was currently sitting and chatting with Cyno and the others.
"What a coincidence, seeing you all together again." Paimon said very happily upon seeing the people she wanted to find all gathered in one place.
"This isn't a coincidence at all," Alhaitham said. "This is already the third time this month I've sat with them."
"No one's begging you to come; if you don't want to, you don't have to," Kaveh retorted to Alhaitham.
"Paimon, Traveler, do you two have some business?" Tighnari asked.
As soon as the Traveler mentioned the matter of writing books, the expressions of the Sumeru group varied.
"Who would've thought that novel was written by Natlan's god," Tighnari sighed helplessly.
"Worth of the Pyro Archon; he easily accomplished something I couldn't," Cyno's tone carried envy.
"What's wrong? From Tighnari's look, it seems like he has some opinions about the book the Pyro Archon wrote in Sumeru."
"He has tons of opinions," Kaveh said. "You don't know, but ever since Cyno read that book, the jokes he tells have gotten even more... that thing."
Kaveh racked his brains for half a day and could only describe Cyno's current joke-telling level this way.
"The book the Pyro Archon published is called "One Million Cold Jokes". I benefited greatly from reading it," Cyno said.
"So the essence of cold jokes is that after telling them, others will chuckle in hindsight later, not laugh out loud right after hearing them."
"Since learning this essence, I won't explain cold jokes to Tighnari and them on the spot anymore—the effect has indeed improved a lot."
"Yeah," Tighnari said with a helpless expression. "Before, I'd feel helpless right after hearing your explanations on the spot. Now, after hearing it, some time passes, I suddenly remember the matter, and then feel helpless."
"That's good," Cyno said with a smile. "This means you've already understood my cold jokes and don't need my personal explanations."
"It's precisely because I understand that I find it terrifying," Tighnari said. "I have a premonition that if this continues, I'll suddenly start telling cold jokes too."
"It's that terrifying?" Paimon placed her two fists in front of her chest, saying somewhat fearfully.
The Pyro Archon's cold joke collection could actually influence someone like Tighnari—it was truly too frightening.
"Speaking of which, I can tell you all a joke," Kaveh said, grinning. "Actually, Alhaitham also bought that "One Million Cold Jokes", and he reads it every day."
"Really or not?" Paimon looked at Alhaitham in surprise.
She hadn't expected this stoic Acting Grand Sage to have the mind to read such books.
"That "One Million Cold Jokes" mainly discusses Natlan matters, helping readers understand Natlan's customs and habits from different angles," Alhaitham said.
"In my view, it's one of the few books that even idiots can learn knowledge from. I read this book not only to understand Natlan's knowledge but also to learn this writing style, striving to create textbooks that even idiots can understand."
After saying that, Alhaitham even glanced at Kaveh.
"Alhaitham, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm an idiot?" Kaveh said through gritted teeth.
"You misunderstood; I didn't say you're an idiot."
He was just looking at an idiot.
"So as readers, how do you hope this book develops next?"
"Of course, continue with new cold jokes. If Natlan's material runs out, you can use Sumeru's material too—I'm willing to provide references," Cyno answered.
"I haven't read this book, so I won't make suggestions," Tighnari shook his head.
"My opinion is the same as Cyno's; I hope this novel continues in its current style," Alhaitham said.
"Although I haven't read it, I want to make a suggestion too: I hope the jokes in the next parts are more profound, best to the point where even some smart people don't know what it's saying," Kaveh said.
After saying that, Kaveh glared viciously at Alhaitham.
"Don't you know that what you just said is praising me?" Alhaitham said.
"Who's praising you!" Kaveh angrily pounded the table.
After collecting the Sumeru group's suggestions, Paimon said to the Traveler, "We've only gotten two suggestions so far; let's find a few more people."
"Then next, let's go find Nahida," the Traveler said.
"Sure," Paimon also thought this was a good idea. "If the God of Wisdom Nahida knows about this, she might give good suggestions."
However, before they found Nahida, they ran into Dori first.
"Oh my, aren't these my most important big clients? You all look hurried—is something wrong? If you need help, feel free to tell me," Dori said, rubbing her hands with a tone that was slightly punchable.
"Dori, do you know about the story of "One Million Cold Jokes"?"
"Of course—this is Natlan's bestseller, and it's quite popular in Sumeru too. I made a ton of Mora from it," Dori said. "What's up?"
"Actually, the author of this novel isn't writing anymore."
"How can that be!" Dori said in surprise. "Who is that novel's author? Can you tell me? I'm willing to offer more commission fees to get him to keep writing."
"Uh..." Paimon and the Traveler said somewhat awkwardly, "The author of that novel is Natlan's Pyro Archon."
"Never mind." Dori instantly shut her mouth, thinking that no matter how good she was at making money, she couldn't compare wealth to a nation's god.
As long as that god willed it, the entire nation's Mora was his. Trying to get a nation's god to write a book with Mora—wasn't that as ridiculous as competing with Morax over who had more Mora?
"Dori, then how do you hope this book develops next?" Paimon asked.
"Well," Dori said, "Of course, publicize that this book was written by the Pyro Archon, then make a huge profit. As for the book's quality, it doesn't matter."
"Many people will definitely spend some Mora to buy it just because it's created by a god."
"That hardly counts as a suggestion," Paimon said somewhat helplessly.
For Dori, who had stars in her eyes for money, the Traveler and the others held no expectations anymore.
And after they found Nahida, Nahida's response was similar to Cyno and the others.
"I also hope this novel continues to be created. If Natlan's stories run out, we can use this method to write about other nations' matters too," Nahida said with a smile.
"Natlan's Pyro Archon used this book to let the world understand Natlan. Perhaps we can use the same way to let other nations better understand Sumeru."
"So Nahida wants to write books too?" the Traveler asked.
Nahida placed a finger on her lips and tapped, pondering for a moment before smiling slightly: "Sure, I want to try writing too."
Thus, three options appeared again.
The first was to follow Kaveh's words: directly increase the difficulty of the cold jokes, to the point where even smart people might not understand what it's saying.
The second was to follow Dori's idea: ignore the book's quality and just say it's written by the Pyro Archon, cashing in big time.
The third was to start from the next book, using the same style to write about Sumeru knowledge, with Nahida participating in the creation.
When choosing the first, the editor would directly shake his head, saying this world already has few smart people—if the book is written so that even smart people can't understand it, then no one will buy it.
As for the second, the editor thought it could be tried; he heard Sumeru reveres godly knowledge a lot, so if it's said to be written by the Pyro Archon, it might earn even more than in other nations.
For the last one, the editor's reaction was one of great shock: "After the Pyro Archon, the Dendro Archon is creating too? My god, is the charm of writing novels that great?"