"Six million…" The number of desolate pearls was quite a shocker, something he hadn't expected from the decades of savings from the city. After all, Grandquake City was like most cities underneath large entities, forced to give taxation and tributes, limiting the amount of wealth that could be kept.
Based on his rough estimation of the City Lord's memories, this ring shouldn't have more than three hundred thousand desolate pearls collected and saved over the decades, and that was counting other objects and materials acquired, not just the desolate pearls. This included Astral Crystals! But just the number of desolate pearls, unrefined and present, was six million!
He took a deep breath, realizing the female Realmlord was likely embezzling funds or obtaining desolate pearls beneath the eyes of the financial overseers, and they might be willing to allow it to pass due to her strength. Or better yet, they might not have!
One thing I love about story-writting is starting a plot in the beginning and slowly writing up an unexpected yet highly connected storyline. Then, bam!
It makes sense, you know?