If Qin Yu had told her past self that Rex Lapis would die in broad daylight before the eyes of the world, her former self would have dismissed it as utter nonsense.
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
But today's events proved that such a thing was completely possible. It had even become reality.
Under Ningguang's command, the Millelith were interrogating the onlookers. She had announced "the Geo Archon's assassination," but who could possibly assassinate Rex Lapis?
Qin Yu immediately surmised that this was merely a stopgap measure.
As the esteemed Tianquan, she couldn't just stand there dumbfounded during this sudden emergency, doing nothing. Hence the order.
The Millelith approached Qin Yu as well, asking her questions. After she answered truthfully, a shout rang out:
"Hey! A suspicious individual is escaping!"
"Huh? Really? It's true?" Qin Yu was even more bewildered and confused. Just then, Baishi rushed over.
"Lady Ningguang wants us to return to the Jade Chamber immediately," she said.
"Ah, okay..."
Qin Yu's gaze fell on Shenhe's face. Baishi added, "Miss Shenhe can come with us too."
"Alright."
Back at the Jade Chamber, Baishi informed Baiwen and Baixiao—who were completely absorbed in organizing intelligence, oblivious to the world outside—about the matter.
"Is this for real?!"
"Rex Lapis... he's dead?"
As expected, both of them reacted with disbelief.
"Regrettably, it's true," Ningguang's voice came from behind.
"Lady Ningguang, if what you say is true, then what happens next...?" Qin Yu asked anxiously.
Ningguang seemed to feel a headache coming on. She pressed a hand to her forehead and said, "I've already made arrangements for the Geo Archon's Adeptus form. The most critical task now is to maintain order and control the situation."
"What about the assassin?" Baiwen asked.
"How likely do you think it is that the Geo Archon was assassinated? The reason I said what I did at the scene was merely to contain the situation... While the circumstances are certainly suspicious, investigating the cause of the Geo Archon's demise remains a crucial task."
Ningguang paused, then continued, "However, even more important is the safety of Liyue."
"Whether the Geo Archon's death is genuine or not, there will always be those who seize the opportunity to disrupt the current order and profit from the chaos. Rumors, covert operations... sigh, it seems we'll be busy for days to come."
Ningguang sighed, yet her expression remained remarkably calm.
Seeing Ningguang so composed, Qin Yu felt a measure of relief. Indeed, maintaining order was paramount. With Rex Lapis gone, the Qixing would have to bear the burden of leadership.
Qin Yu had a hunch about the "opportunists" Ningguang mentioned.
"Lady Ningguang, are you referring to the Fatui?" she ventured. "Their recent actions have been highly suspicious. In Mondstadt, they even attempted to seize control of the city's defenses."
Who else could it be? she thought.
Ningguang nodded approvingly. "You're correct. They're the ones we need to watch most closely. That's why I need you all to compile and analyze intelligence."
The three Secretaries nodded in unison, acknowledging their understanding.
Despite having experienced this several times already, Qin Yu couldn't help but wonder: Isn't this beyond the duties of a personal maid? Is Lady Ningguang grooming me to be her Secretary?
Well, I'd rather be busy than bored anyway.
"Understood," Qin Yu replied. "May I ask what your next course of action will be, Lady Ningguang?"
"I need to meet with the other Qixing for a council meeting," Ningguang replied with a faint smile. "It's precisely during these critical times that we must reach a consensus."
Ningguang turned to Shenhe.
"Could you lend them your assistance? We can discuss compensation later," she asked.
Shenhe shook her head. "I don't care about compensation. No need to make any offers. Qin Yu needs help, and I can't stand by idly, especially since Rex Lapis and the Adepti were such close friends... As a disciple of the Adepti, I must help."
"However, I have a question," Shenhe added.
Ningguang asked curiously, "Speak freely. What is it?"
Qin Yu was equally puzzled.
"Since we're certain the Fatui will disrupt order, why not eliminate them entirely? If we eradicate them, wouldn't that prevent any chaos?" Shenhe asked.
If anyone else had asked such a question, Qin Yu would have considered them thoughtless. But with Shenhe... well, she was still her old self. She grasped the basics but still gravitated toward the simplest, most direct solutions.
Qin Yu explained, "That would trigger a diplomatic incident, leading to even greater chaos. It's not an option."
"Is that so?"
Shenhe seemed somewhat unconvinced.
Fortunately, once explained, she would listen and attempt to understand.
Qin Yu had always admired this quality in Shenhe, but she would never voice such thoughts aloud.
"As Qin Yu said, these are mere suspicions for now," Ningguang added. "Acting rashly without solid evidence would only give them grounds to retaliate."
"If we move against them, we must do so according to proper procedure—provided, of course, they truly begin to act recklessly. Though... heh, the odds of that happening aren't low."
Having given her instructions, Ningguang prepared to leave.
Speaking of which, there's something I haven't mentioned yet.
Might as well mention it now, though it doesn't seem particularly relevant.
Qin Yu called out to stop Ningguang. "Oh, Lady Ningguang, we encountered the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius earlier. They were also attending the Rite of Descension."
"Ah, them... I'm already aware."
"I-is that so?" Qin Yu said, a little awkwardly.
Ugh, I shouldn't have brought it up.
Ningguang seemed amused, a faint smile playing on her lips. "They're currently being pursued by the Millelith."
Ha? Pursued?
"Why?" Qin Yu asked, utterly bewildered.
"Because they fled when we decided to question them."
Ningguang continued, "They must have had their reasons for running. But regardless, their flight has only made them look even more suspicious in the eyes of the Millelith."
Why would they run? It's just a few questions! Qin Yu couldn't understand it.
Ningguang's smile faded. "Just moments ago, my sources spotted them entering the Northern Bank with the Fatui Harbinger known as 'Childe'."
"A Harbinger..."
Qin Yu had heard that Fatui Harbingers were all ruthless figures.
"Based on my correspondence with the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, this Traveler seems to have good character. But caught in this chaos and now under suspicion... perhaps 'Childe' intends to exploit this by offering them a deal."
"Then what is Lady Ningguang's decision?"
Ningguang smiled. "Let's observe and see how things unfold."
So, we'll just wait and watch?
Since Ningguang had spoken, Qin Yu didn't press further. After watching Ningguang leave the hall, she took a deep breath and turned to face the three secretaries.
"Shall we begin now?" she asked.
"Of course," they replied in unison.
Qin Yu sighed inwardly, never expecting things to turn out this way.
She glanced at Shenhe.
Ningguang had likely sought Shenhe's assistance because of her Adeptus knowledge. With Shenhe's help, they might uncover insights into previously incomprehensible situations.
"Then let's rely on you, Shenhe," Qin Yu said with a smile.
"Understood."
At the intelligence wall in Ningguang's office, Qin Yu pulled out her Machine Companion.
Brain-Machine Connection activated.
Instantly, her mind sharpened to a razor's edge. With the added computational power, Qin Yu began organizing the accumulated intelligence alongside her three seniors.
Diplomatic intelligence, rumors gathered by informants, the state of various shops, recent movements of the Millelith—every piece of information, large and small, had to be sorted, reviewed, and summarized. Key points were extracted and pinned to the wall as summaries.
Ningguang often said, "Never overlook the details."
Every event was a complex tapestry woven from countless minor incidents, each contributing to the overall transformation.
By seizing a single thread, tracing it to its source, and understanding its full context, one could predict the future and formulate appropriate solutions.
Ningguang placed the greatest emphasis on cultivating their information gathering, analysis, and organization skills.
The threads of intelligence were truly the threads of fate—a truth Qin Yu had come to understand deeply.
In this crucial process, Qin Yu's efficiency consistently left the three seniors in awe, prompting them to remark: "Truly invaluable."
Her records were flawless.
By now, she had digitized every document in the Jade Chamber's archives, making her practically a "walking archive." Aside from the final verification stage, they rarely needed to consult physical documents.
Her information retrieval was lightning-fast.
Simply uttering a keyword, Qin Yu could retrieve the relevant document content in the next instant. Using that magical device, she could even project it as a holographic image.
It was like giving wings to a tiger.
Rumor had it that Sumeru possessed a tool called the "Akasha Terminal." By wearing it, one could connect to the Akasha and access its vast repository of knowledge.
Given this, calling Qin Yu a "humanoid terminal" seemed hardly an exaggeration.
"That should be enough for now," Baishi sighed.
"Yes..."
The only drawback was that these sessions invariably left Qin Yu utterly exhausted.
Baiwen spoke with the warmth of a mentor: "You've worked hard. Now we just need to wait for Lady Ningguang to return and organize all these clues."
"Ahaha, you seniors have worked hard too!"
Qin Yu felt a throbbing headache and dizziness.
"Humanoid Modification 3" was supposed to reduce the energy consumption of all her skills and lighten her burden. But no matter what, organizing intelligence still required prolonged brain-machine connections.
Exhausting! Qin Yu thought, rubbing her temples as she slumped in her chair. Utterly exhausting.
Seeing this, Shenhe remarked, "You look exhausted."
"I'm fine! I'm full of energy!" Qin Yu insisted.
No matter how sleepy she felt, she couldn't possibly doze off right then and there. Shenhe didn't matter—after all, her own sleeping face had already been thoroughly exposed, and they had even... slept together—in the purely platonic sense!
The main reason was that others were present.
Noticing Qin Yu rubbing her forehead again, Shenhe slowly approached her from behind.
What's she going to do? Qin Yu suddenly felt uneasy.
"I'll help you relax," Shenhe said.
Ha? How exactly? Just as the thought crossed Qin Yu's mind, Shenhe reached out, placing her fingers on Qin Yu's temples and gently massaging them.
Evaluation: B+
Qin Yu was slightly startled.
"N-no need to do that..." she stammered.
"Do you dislike it?"
"No, it's not that at all. It's just that you don't need to worry about me."
As if I need your concern, Qin Yu thought to herself. You just need to obediently accept my goodwill... that's all... that's all... Her internal murmurs gradually faded.
Shenhe's gentle massage brought a wave of comfort.
This isn't half bad...
Just as Qin Yu was about to drift off naturally, rationality kicked her thoughts awake.
[ Rationality: ]Do you want your sleeping face to be publicly displayed?
[ Emotion: ]Absolutely not!
With her consciousness still hazy, Qin Yu pressed her hand against the back of Shenhe's hand.
"Thank you," she said, tilting her head to look up at Shenhe. "That's enough. Thanks to you, I feel much lighter now."
Shenhe lowered her gaze and replied softly, "That's good."
Evaluation: A
After a brief moment of eye contact with Shenhe, Qin Yu suddenly felt the urge to brush Shenhe's bangs aside. But just as her hand moved slightly, Baishi's voice broke the silence from beside them.
"Aiya, you two are really close," Baishi exclaimed.
Qin Yu jumped up as if startled, stammering, "This is..."
She couldn't find the right words.
"Yes, we're very close," Shenhe said matter-of-factly.
Uwah, is she not embarrassed at all? Then again, Shenhe has no experience with such feelings... The thought left Qin Yu feeling strangely unsettled, as always.
To change the subject and divert attention, Qin Yu turned to the intelligence wall.
"Hmm... this location keeps repeating," she noted.
"Ah, you're right."
Qin Yu continued, "And then there's this... Sigil of Permission."
"The Sigil of Permission is a talisman Rex Lapis once used to aid mortals in their battles," Shenhe explained. "It seals Adeptus Power within an easy-to-use form. Authentic versions are now rare, and even if found, the Adeptus Power within them has likely diminished significantly. While they might still be useful for driving away monsters, they wouldn't be capable of truly vanquishing evil."
"I see! As expected of you, Shenhe!" Qin Yu praised.
A talisman sealing Adeptus Power... The Fatui must be planning to use it for something.
But if authentic versions are so rare, would they resort to counterfeiting them?
"Could these talismans be counterfeited?"
Shenhe pondered for a moment before replying, "Counterfeited... or rather, replicated. If you choose the right materials, draw the talisman pattern, and infuse it with power, it should be possible to replicate them. Naturally, the replicas won't be as potent as the originals."
So they really can be replicated?
"If they can be replicated, even a large quantity would be problematic, wouldn't it?" Baishi asked anxiously.
"Indeed," Shenhe nodded.
True enough, if the quality is lacking, quantity becomes crucial. With enough volume, even inferior copies could exert considerable force. As for what the Fatui might use them for, that remained unclear.
Whatever it is, it can't be good.
After relaying their findings to Ningguang upon her return, she studied the intelligence wall for a long moment before smiling with satisfaction.
"Excellent. You've exceeded my expectations. I'm truly impressed. To compile such crucial intelligence in such a short time... You've all worked hard."
Ningguang then turned her gaze to Qin Yu, her eyes softening. "Especially you, Qin Yu. Your performance has been truly exceptional."
Evaluation: D (Ningguang)
"Oh, it's nothing~"
"Don't be modest. You deserve the praise. You seem tired; go rest for now. We can talk more when you wake up."
Ningguang's words instantly brought Qin Yu's exhaustion to the surface.
Ugh... I guess I really need to rest now... Qin Yu was eager to hear the outcome of Ningguang's meeting, but she knew she'd have to wait until she woke up.
She turned to Shenhe.
"Shenhe, what are you planning to do next?" Qin Yu asked.
"I'm going back to Jueyun Karst to speak with Master," Shenhe replied.
Ningguang added, "The Adepti haven't yet learned of this matter. Please inform them of everything you've seen and heard, exactly as it happened. As one of their disciples, they'll trust your word implicitly."
"Understood."
Qin Yu knew the outside world would likely be more dangerous than usual. She wanted to accompany Shenhe, but simply staying awake was already a struggle.
Left with no other choice, Qin Yu said, "Be careful, okay?"
"I will. Get some rest and don't push yourself too hard."
"Ahahaha, I won't push myself."
After walking with Shenhe to the platform outside the pavilion, Qin Yu bid her farewell and returned to her room, immediately collapsing onto the bed.
"Ugh, I'm so tired... Rex Lapis is actually dead..."
Though the truth remained uncertain, Rex Lapis's disappearance was undeniable.
What are we supposed to do now?
And are Ningguang and Keqing alright?
I'll check on them after I wake up.
Burdened by worry, Qin Yu succumbed to the encroaching drowsiness and soon fell asleep.