"The next what? Cloud Retainer, why can I not understand a word you are saying?"
Overcome by sheer curiosity, Moon Carver did not wait for Rex Lapis to answer before asking this himself.
Wait a moment...
That girl?
Is it the girl from that place?
And "the next one"...
Suddenly realizing who the girl Cloud Retainer spoke of was, Moon Carver felt that something was amiss, though he could not quite say why.
The next one?
The girl from that place?
These two things...
How are they connected?
Ponder as he might, Moon Carver could not grasp the point.
Even so, he had a vague feeling that the situation might be far more complex than he had previously imagined.
It seems Miss Kiana intends to reveal it early...
Upon hearing Cloud Retainer's question, Zhongli's expression remained unchanged.
Originally, he had been debating whether to mention it beforehand, but now, he no longer needed to struggle with that decision.
However, even so, he still had to play his part well.
Why has everyone gone silent?
Looking at Rex Lapis, then at the newly arrived Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver was practically anxious to death.
Of the three present, he was the only one completely in the dark, having no clue what was going on.
"Cloud Retainer, what on earth has happened? There are no outsiders here."
Unable to endure it any longer, Moon Carver asked Cloud Retainer once more.
He could not easily question Rex Lapis, but he could certainly ask Cloud Retainer.
"Rex Lapis, is that girl truly here to..."
Still ignoring Moon Carver at her side, Cloud Retainer looked at Rex Lapis, who seemed deep in thought, and spoke slowly, leaving her sentence unfinished.
"This Cloud Retainer is going to be the death of me..."
Seeing that Cloud Retainer was still ignoring him, Moon Carver was furious.
But he was helpless; with Rex Lapis remaining silent, he could not keep pressing, so he could only wait for Rex Lapis's answer.
The next one?
The next what exactly?
The next Adeptus?
While waiting for Rex Lapis's response, Moon Carver could not help but speculate on what "the next one" meant.
Just like Cloud Retainer before him, his mind immediately went to "Adeptus."
Although, even as an Adeptus himself, he had never heard of an Adeptus having a "successor," it was the only thing he could think of.
It couldn't possibly mean that Rex Lapis was being replaced, right? That was simply impossible.
"The Liyue of today has weathered thousands of years. The past millennia and the present day are vastly different. Surely, as Adepti, you have sensed this as well?"
Without answering Cloud Retainer's question, Zhongli silently walked to the edge of the summit, gazing down at the myriad lights of Liyue below as he spoke.
"Rex Lapis..."
Following behind, Moon Carver didn't quite react initially to why Rex Lapis would say such things.
Then, realizing he hadn't answered Rex Lapis's question, he hurriedly replied: "It is indeed so, Rex Lapis. Compared to a thousand years ago, we Adepti rarely appear directly before the common folk of Liyue anymore, nor do we often intervene in Liyue's affairs."
"Then... Moon Carver, how do you believe the Liyue of today differs from the Liyue of the past?"
Continuing to gaze at Liyue below, Zhongli asked Moon Carver a question.
"This..."
Suddenly hearing Rex Lapis ask him this, Moon Carver hurriedly began to think.
"Rex Lapis, so you are truly preparing to abdicate?"
Just as Moon Carver was thinking, Cloud Retainer, who had also walked over, asked this question with blunt directness.
"What?!"
It had to be said, Cloud Retainer's question shocked the pondering Moon Carver so much that he abandoned all thought of answering Rex Lapis's query.
"What are you saying, Cloud Retainer?"
Rex Lapis is going to... abdicate?
This...
What in the world is going on?
At this moment, Moon Carver's face was filled with shock; he never imagined such a thing could happen.
However, seeing that Rex Lapis remained as calm and breezy as ever, he tried to restrain his shock out of respect.
"Well then, Cloud Retainer, do you have any thoughts on the question I just asked?"
Still not answering Cloud Retainer's question, Rex Lapis tossed the previous question to her.
"It is simply that the times are not as dangerous as before, and there is no longer a need for us Adepti." Cloud Retainer's answer was very direct, and her words carried a trace of mockery.
"Cloud Retainer!"
Though he knew this was indeed the reality, Moon Carver felt that such an answer was a bit too blunt.
By now, he understood what "the next one" meant, but since Rex Lapis clearly didn't want to answer yet, he felt he couldn't ask.
"Cloud Retainer is not wrong. We live in an era of peace and prosperity, and even I may..."
"Rex Lapis, that statement is incorrect. If they rely solely on themselves, how can mortals possibly continue to survive?"
Knowing what Rex Lapis was about to say, Cloud Retainer hurriedly interjected.
Truth be told, she did not believe for a moment that mortals were capable of surviving on their own.
___
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