Two days later, Lumine and Paimon followed Gorou and the others to the Kujou Encampment.
It was the first time since the war began that a commander of the resistance had come to the Shogunate's main base. Many soldiers on guard couldn't help but glance at the group from Watatsumi Island.
All the attention made Paimon visibly uneasy.
"So many people are staring at us..."
Lumine glanced behind her and cleared her throat. "Don't be so timid! We're here representing the resistance—don't make us look bad!"
"Oh..."
Paimon peeked her head out again and muttered suspiciously, "Hey... do you think this might be a trap?"
"A trap?"
"Yeah! Like that Hongmen Banquet Lu Chen once mentioned—the kind where they invite the enemy's leaders to dinner and then wipe them all out!"
"What are you even thinking..." Lumine sighed. "Lu Chen's not like that. And besides, both Gorou and Kokomi agreed to the negotiations. I really believe this war is finally coming to an end..."
"But Lu Chen's regained both his strength and his memories now..." Paimon said, a little worried. "I gave him some pretty awful nicknames before. What if he's just waiting to get back at me?"
Lumine looked at her and nodded. "Yeah, maybe. He did always call you emergency food, didn't he? This time, it might actually be a banquet... and you're the main course!"
"Ah—nooo!" Paimon looked horrified.
"You two..." Gorou turned his head from the front, helpless. "Don't joke around like that. We're on someone else's turf..."
"Okay..." Paimon shrank back.
But Lumine couldn't help thinking about what Paimon had said. Lu Chen had regained his strength and memories...
She had never imagined that his true identity would be like that. His status in Inazuma was nearly on par with Raiden Shogun herself—a being revered like a god.
It made her wonder if Lu Chen still saw her as a fellow traveler and friend. After all, he now stood so high above...
As Lumine fell into thought, their group was courteously led to the highest part of the camp, stopping in front of an elegant courtyard.
Banners bearing the "Threefold Thunder Emblem" flapped in the wind, drawing everyone's gaze. This was clearly Raiden Shogun's residence.
Gorou's guards were asked to remain at the entrance, and Gorou led Lumine and Paimon through the courtyard.
When the soldiers opened the doors, the three of them saw rows of silent high-ranking officers, and seated above them were Raiden Shogun and Lu Chen.
Nahida was also there, greeting them cheerfully.
"Hello again! It's nice to see you!"
"Greetings, Lady Lesser Lord Kusanali." Lumine bowed politely.
Back then, they had all been shocked not only by Lu Chen's identity, but also by the little girl who had followed them quietly like she was invisible—turns out she was the Dendro Archon of Sumeru.
"No need to be so formal. We've already shared an adventure together," Nahida said with a smile. "As a visiting god from abroad, I'll also be attending your negotiations—if only as a witness."
"With Lady Kusanali as a neutral party, that's more than we could ask for," Gorou replied courteously.
Lu Chen waved his hand, and the waiting attendants immediately served exquisitely prepared tea and pastries.
Paimon, who had been a little nervous, instantly brightened at the sight of food and flew over enthusiastically.
"Paimon!" Lumine groaned and covered her face. "Could you not embarrass us like this...?"
"Huh?" Paimon stole a quick glance at Lu Chen, then quietly floated back behind Lumine.
Lu Chen sat calmly at the head of the table, saying nothing, his face unreadable—radiating authority.
Lumine lowered her gaze. This version of Lu Chen felt so unfamiliar.
The friend who once traveled beside her in the rain, who went fishing and pigeon hunting with her, who joined her on countless noisy adventures... that person seemed to be fading.
And in his place was a man of power—stoic and emotionally distant.
Lumine smiled bitterly to herself, a sense of quiet loss creeping in.
Maybe this was the real Lu Chen. Maybe his amnesia was the anomaly—and the man before her now was who he truly was.
"You may all step back now," Lu Chen said, waving to the assembled officers.
The officers exchanged confused looks.
This was the first formal negotiation—by all rights, they should have been present. Normally, it would've been their job to argue, to bargain for favorable terms. Yet this man was dismissing them?
"Step back," Lu Chen repeated.
His violet gaze swept over them—casual, yet chilling. The officers immediately looked away, hearts pounding.
"Yes, sir."
They filed out.
Lu Chen then turned to the servants. They, too, took their leave.
In the end, only Lu Chen, Ei, Nahida, Gorou, Lumine, and Paimon remained in the quiet hall.
"So many people, so many rules... what a headache," Lu Chen muttered, rubbing his temples. He walked casually over to the table, picked up a pastry, and took a bite.
"This chef's not as good as me—kinda tough. Want some, Ei?" he asked, glancing back.
"Is there even a chef in this world better than you?" Ei finally smiled.
"There might be... Actually, I've always wanted to have a cook-off with Xiangling." Lu Chen shrugged.
He had long wanted to enter Liyue's legendary cooking competition.
"Uh..." Gorou froze.
Lumine and Paimon froze too. This wasn't quite the serious negotiation they had imagined.
"What are you all standing around for? Sit!" Lu Chen said, looking at them.
"Oh—okay." Lumine sat down quickly. In that moment, she felt like the old Lu Chen had returned.
"Paimon, eat if you want. No one's going to stop you," Lu Chen said with a chuckle. "Why so scared?"
"Waaah, you were so scary just now... but I'm glad you're still the same!" Paimon patted her tiny chest in relief.
Once Gorou sat down, Lu Chen and Ei sat across from them.
Nahida hopped up onto the oversized table and swung her legs casually. And just like that, the two sides began their negotiation—surprisingly relaxed and tension-free.