After circling around for a bit,
Han Feng soon returned with the Lady.
Both of them were quite satisfied with this little trip.
For the Lady, it wasn't just about learning how to ride.
More importantly, she had gotten closer to this mysterious shopkeeper.
Ever since discovering that the manga shop could bestow miraculous rewards,
The Lady had realized its true significance.
It was something that could bring unimaginable changes—
Not only to Mondstadt,
But to the entire continent of Teyvat.
From now on, the path to power for ordinary people
Would no longer be limited to receiving a Vision.
They could also rely on this manga shop.
And this shop brimmed with infinite possibilities.
Not to mention—
The owner himself was mysterious, unfathomable, and powerful.
Thus, building a good relationship with him
Would benefit not only herself,
But even the Fatui.
After all, she knew Han Feng treated everyone equally.
As long as you didn't cause trouble and earnestly came to read manga,
He would not interfere.
Just like earlier—
When she asked him to take her for a ride,
Han Feng had agreed.
For the Lady,
This was a good start.
"You're all just… standing here?"
After getting off, Han Feng noticed Lumine and the others frozen at the doorway,
Her face in particular flushed scarlet.
Had something happened while he and the Lady were away?
"N-no, nothing! Let's hurry inside, it's cold out here!"
Lumine said, a little awkwardly,
Then promptly dragged Paimon and Mona back into the shop.
"Cold?"
Han Feng looked up at the blazing sun overhead,
Then back at the three retreating figures.
Strange.
Truly, in every world, women's thoughts were impossible to read.
Shaking his head, he stepped inside as well.
As for the Lady, after entering,
She informed her subordinates that the reward had to be reported,
Then rode off on her new motorcycle.
After all, she still had "traitors" in the Fatui to deal with.
"Boss, what manga was that woman reading just now? I want to read it too!"
The moment Han Feng came back in, Paimon dashed forward eagerly.
That sleek motorcycle had left her practically drooling.
"With those stubby legs of yours,
Even if you had a motorcycle, you couldn't ride it."
Lumine pinched Paimon's cheek,
Looking at her with undisguised disdain.
"That's not true! Maybe there's a bike in the manga made just for me!"
Paimon said with absolute confidence.
Given how bizarre and varied Han Feng's manga were,
How could there not be a vehicle suited for her?
In fact, even if one day a manga about her and Lumine appeared,
Paimon wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.
"Hmm… well, it's not impossible."
Han Feng said thoughtfully.
He had originally wanted to tell her no.
After all, with Paimon's height of barely eighty centimeters—
She was practically the size of a toddler.
No existing vehicles could possibly fit her,
Unless you counted strollers…
And Paimon certainly wouldn't like that.
But then Han Feng remembered—
Doraemon's gadgets.
There were size-changing tools in there.
With that, the riding issue could be solved instantly.
In that case, everything came down to one thing:
Whether or not Doraemon would ever show up in the shop's draws.
Thinking of this, Han Feng himself started looking forward to it.
"Hehe, see? Even Boss said there could be one! And you didn't believe me."
Paimon puffed up proudly,
Like she had just scored a major victory.
"I'm going to read right now!"
But before she could fly off, Lumine grabbed her.
"Mona's here for the first time. Let her read first!"
After some time together, Lumine already considered Mona a friend.
Naturally, she didn't want Mona to wait.
"Eh? Is that really okay?"
Mona's eyes lit up with interest.
"It's fine, you go ahead. Lumine and I are regulars anyway,
We'll wait our turn."
Paimon waved her off generously.
"In that case… thank you."
Mona said gratefully,
Then walked to the counter.
"Boss, how much is this manga?"
She picked up Detective Conan and asked.
"100,000 Mora per person.
Each day you can only read once."
Han Feng said with a smiling squint.
He knew Mona's situation.
Though she had powerful astrological abilities,
Because she refused to use them for profit—
And constantly spent on research materials—
She lived perpetually on the edge of poverty,
Struggling daily just to get by.
And sure enough—
"100… 100,000?!"
Mona froze at the price.
That was way beyond what she had expected.
Before coming to Mondstadt to fulfill her master's task,
She had done odd jobs in Liyue to earn some Mora.
But even so, she only had a few tens of thousands.
Not even enough for a single manga reading.
And that money was supposed to cover her food and lodging.
If it ran out, she'd be out on the streets.
Yet to give up like this… Mona couldn't bear it.
After seeing the manga's wonders,
And that incredible motorcycle,
How could she simply walk away?
She stood there, torn.
"Eh? Don't you want to read this manga?"
Paimon asked curiously when she saw Mona hesitate.
"If you don't like it, you can pick another later.
Boss has plenty."
Lumine comforted her kindly.
"It's not that…"
Mona sighed as both pairs of eyes turned toward her.
"I only have a few tens of thousands of Mora.
It's not nearly enough, and I still need money to live on in Mondstadt, so…"
At that, Lumine and Paimon finally understood.
"Ohhh, so you're like the bard—broke!"
Paimon suddenly realized.
But there was still something she didn't get.
"Are all astrologers this poor?"
Han Feng explained smoothly:
"No, astrologers aren't poor. It's just Mona.
She refuses to tell lies for money,
And never takes payment for divinations.
On top of that, she spends much on instruments.
That's why she's in such straits."
"Boss, you really understand me!"
Mona felt deeply moved.
"So Mona is actually someone with such noble character!"
Paimon said with admiration.
Then, with arms akimbo, she turned to Lumine:
"Lumine, why don't we lend her 100,000 Mora?"
"Huh? You wouldn't lend it to Venti,
But now you're offering it yourself?"
Lumine teased.
"Because Venti isn't a cute girl!
If he were, I'd definitely lend it!"
Paimon said with righteous conviction.
Han Feng's expression twitched.
Venti might currently appear as a boy,
But that was merely the form he chose to walk the world in.
He was, in truth, a wind spirit—
Strictly speaking, genderless.
If he heard Paimon say that,
He might very well have transformed into a girl on the spot.
What a shame.
In the end, Lumine generously lent Mona the 100,000 Mora.
"Thank you! I'll pay you back soon!"
Mona promised earnestly.
She resolved that after reading,
She would immediately go look for work.
Surely in a city as large as Mondstadt,
There would be something for her.
"No need to be so polite. You're our friend.
And you've helped us before. Now hurry and read."
Paimon waved with a grin.
Mona nodded gratefully,
Then took the manga and found a seat.
Very quickly, she was immersed.
"This world is fascinating… murders every day!"
"This little kid Conan is amazing—his kick is that powerful?!"
"Why is every case always narrowed down to three suspects? So weird!"
"Eh? There are magicians too? Kaito Kid's rival, Kuroba Kaito's classmate—Koizumi Akako, right? I'll remember her!"
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