Tartaglia laughed awkwardly to ease the tension, teasing Zhongli in the process.
"Mr. Zhongli is just the same as ever."
"When paying... or calling someone else to pay, he never looks at the price or checks his wallet."
Then, he said something rather puzzling.
"He actually understands the value of money and is well aware of the hardships of the mortal world."
"But it seems he just can't comprehend that 'being poor' is a situation that could ever apply to him..."
"Or, to put it another way, he simply can't imagine a version of himself without money."
When Paimon heard Tartaglia's assessment of Zhongli, she chimed in as well.
"That's absolutely insane. How has someone like him not starved to death yet?"
[Paimon, the designated roast master]
[Zhongli: ???]
[I have a feeling—quick, let's screenshot this legendary line]
[LMAO, this is definitely gonna become a new meme]
[Hahaha, that's insane, how has this Paimon not been smacked yet?]
Hearing Tartaglia say so much, Zhongli grew slightly displeased—because he was talking too much.
"'Childe' still enjoys his jokes, I see."
"Well then, since buying the kite went smoothly, there's no need to rest before moving on to the next preparation."
Zhongli turned to Lumine to discuss the next steps of the arrangements.
The Rite of Parting required supplies.
And manpower.
Near the docks, they could hire some decent help.
Zhongli's words carried a clear hint of dismissal.
Tartaglia didn't take offense.
Instead, he pulled out another pouch of Mora and handed it to Lumine.
"No need for me to spell it out, right? Handle the haggling yourself—whatever you do, don't let Zhongli get involved."
——————
Guinaifen's Livestream
Seeing the human ATM Tartaglia hand the player another bag of money:
"Folks, is it really right for us to keep doubting him like this?"
"He keeps giving us money, y'know?"
[LMAO, is Little Gui feeling guilty now that she's taken his bribes?]
[Streamer, remember your own words—this is a pig-butchering scam]
[This Mora is burning my hands]
[Put it in my pocket, my pockets are nice and cool]
[Wait, do the Fatui just have infinite money? They just hand it out like this?]
[He gave me money AND said my name—he must care about me!]
——————
However, Guinaifen's guilt vanished the very next second.
Tartaglia smiled as he watched the trio walk away—then instantly performed a masterful face-switch.
One second, a warm and friendly smile.
The next, a cold, expressionless stare.
"Hmm... I arrived a step too late. Seems I missed something interesting."
Tartaglia gazed in the direction the three had disappeared, his expression dark.
"...Next time, I'll have to find a better opportunity to show up."
——————
Though Lumine wasn't present for this scene,
the players could still see it.
It gave Guinaifen a full-body shudder.
"Holy crap, that face-switch was insane. He was definitely up to no good."
"This money? Totally deserved!"
[Streamer's moral compass is flexible]
[No way, it really WAS a pig-butchering scam!]
[Childe doesn't know where the Exuvia is either, right? Trying to eavesdrop?]
[I know where it is—it's in the Golden House. Pay me.]
"He's probably trying to trade money for intel. Either way, he might profit."
"But we definitely won't lose out."
[Paimon the walking spoiler almost spilled everything earlier]
[Wait, did anyone else see the Millelith behind Childe bowing in Zhongli's direction?]
[Does the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor have that kind of status?]
[You're overthinking it—probably just an idle animation]
——————
Lumine and Zhongli haggled their way through their errands,
and soon, everything was settled.
Returning to their earlier spot,
they found Tartaglia still waiting for news.
"Oh? All done?"
When Tartaglia saw Lumine about to return the money pouch,
he quickly waved his hands in refusal.
"Keep the extra for yourself. Those who work with the Fatui never lose out."
Paimon crossed her arms.
"Hmph! You think you can buy me with this kind of handout—when's the next payment coming?"
Lumine facepalmed.
——————
Guinaifen immediately launched into an impression of the infamous "Add More Money" meme.
"Does His Excellency not know that the Traveler is my beloved friend, my sworn sibling?"
(Then, pinching her voice)
"Since when does this emergency food care about such things?"
(Back to the impression)
"His Excellency misunderstands—you must add more money!"
[LMAO "His Excellency," I'm dead]
[Teyvat has its own Ding Xiu]
[Paimon, you good? You running or what?]
[Folks, I think I wanna join the Fatui now]
[His Excellency's got power]
Guinaifen couldn't take the chat's shamelessness.
"You're all getting bought off by just this much money?"
"Mu Yang gave us a bag of Mora too, y'know?"
[Streamer, stop coping—Mu Yang isn't a real rich guy]
[I just want to be a rich guy's dog. Who the rich guy is doesn't matter to me.]
[The Fatui's a huge organization with an operational budget—how can Mu Yang compare?]
——————
Meanwhile, Mu Yang himself
hadn't expected Paimon to be this much of a genius.
He nearly burst out laughing.
Teyvat's very own "Add More Money" bro.
As for Paimon's demand for more cash,
Tartaglia was exceedingly generous.
"Haha, there's one piece of information—if you can tell me, I'll grant you access to the Northland Bank's vault for half an hour."
Paimon's eyes turned into Mora symbols.
"What information?!"
Lumine immediately pinched her cheeks.
"Disgraceful!"
Paimon shook her head free of Lumine's grip.
"Huh? Do you know what he wants?"
Lumine put her hands on her hips.
What else would the Fatui want?
In Mondstadt, La Signora had already made it clear.
In an instant, Tartaglia released his killing intent.
Hidden in the shadows, Mu Yang countered with his Sword Intent,
casting Untraceable over Lumine and Paimon.
Tartaglia was visibly shaken.
His gaze flicked toward Mu Yang's direction—
but he saw nothing.
Suppressing his killing intent, Tartaglia forced a smile.
"Alright, alright, geez, what's Lumine talking about?"
"What's wrong with us? The atmosphere just now was so weird..."
Zhongli chose this moment to step in.
"Next, for the Everlasting Incense, we must visit Bubu Pharmacy."
"That is Liyue Harbor's most renowned pharmacy."
He noticed the strange tension between Lumine and Tartaglia.
"Hm? What's the matter with you two?"
Tartaglia grinned playfully.
"Heh... Nothing. I was just telling them they could keep the leftover Mora."
"Well then, I'll take my leave here."
Only after Tartaglia left did Paimon whisper to Lumine.
"Ugh... Just now, Paimon definitely felt it—that was terrifying killing intent..."
Lumine had sensed it too.
She looked in Mu Yang's direction.
Though it seemed no one else was aware of his presence,
she could clearly sense where he was.
"Besides the killing intent... there was something else. Mu Yang helped us."
Paimon nodded.
"The moment that killing intent hit, it was like something wrapped around us—it felt really safe..."
[Wait, Mu Yang just made a move?]
[Uh, if Lumine hadn't mentioned it, I would've completely forgotten he was there]
[How could you forget??]
[Mu Yang's hiding skills are insane—even Zhongli and Childe still haven't noticed]
Mu Yang followed the trio to Bubu Pharmacy.
They'd meet soon enough.
"I wonder... how much do you remember about me now?"