Northland Bank.
It was already late at night, but the lights were still bright.
Ekaterina looked at the reports submitted by her subordinates, her face grim.
Ekaterina was outwardly the Northland Bank's receptionist but secretly used the bank as cover to assist Tartaglia.
But when not on missions, she still monitored banking operations.
After all, the Northland Bank's monopoly in Liyue was due not only to the Fatui's tactics but also their top-notch reputation, earning the trust of Liyue's people to deposit Mora there.
But today's report showed a shortfall of 750,000 Mora.
This amount was negligible for the Northland Bank, but the concept was different. Mysterious losses in the bank were no small matter.
It meant their fund security had issues.
If word spread to the public, and people felt their Mora was unsafe, they'd rush to withdraw, devastating the Northland Bank.
"Could it be Lord Tartaglia who transferred it?"
A female attendant whispered a reminder. Lately, Lord Tartaglia's expenditures were high, with various bills arriving daily.
Ekaterina shook her head. "No, every Mora Lord Tartaglia uses is clearly recorded in the accounts. The Northland Bank exists for Fatui; he has no need to secretly transfer funds. Our bank has likely been infiltrated."
Tartaglia was handsome, young, dashing, with exceptional martial prowess and a friendly personality, popular among fatui girls.
So when the attendant suggested this, Ekaterina rejected it without thought.
The Northland Bank was Tartaglia's backing.
He had no reason to secretly transfer.
The only possibility... an insider trying to stir public opinion, making people distrust the Northland Bank and crumbling their years of planning.
"Should we report to Lord Tartaglia?"
"Not yet. Lately, Lord Tartaglia is busy with important matters; we can't disturb him with bank issues. Pretend we don't know and watch secretly to catch the culprit." Ekaterina quickly decided.
The attendant nodded. "Understood."
After the attendant left, Ekaterina took the vault key and went alone to the Mora storage chamber.
The chamber's mechanisms were intact, showing no signs of tampering.
"This must be investigated quickly."
Ekaterina exhaled slowly, feeling pressured.
At this critical juncture in Lord Tartaglia's plan, the outlying factories were raided, and now even the foolproof Northland Bank had a leak.
A bad premonition rose in her heart.
...
Yuehai Pavilion.
As night deepened, other parts of Liyue Harbor fell dark, but Yuehai Pavilion remained brightly lit.
"Is Ganyu still working overtime..."
Ningguang, leaving Feiyun Slope, looked at the lit Yuehai Pavilion, her red eyes thoughtful.
As the secretary to generations of Liyue Qixing, Ganyu had worked diligently for thousands of years, almost every day.
But in this Archon assassination incident, Ningguang couldn't easily determine Ganyu's allegiance.
With Adeptus blood, was Ganyu on the Liyue Qixing' side or the adepti of Jueyun Karst... This thought made Ningguang uncertain.
But she clearly saw Ganyu's work and contributions.
Liyue Harbor's Liyue Qixing changed over the ages, but its affairs were inseparable from Ganyu.
"Hmm... I should go in and persuade her to clock out."
Thinking of Ganyu's importance and work style, Ningguang stepped toward Yuehai Pavilion.
Since she was passing by tonight, chatting with Ganyu was inevitable.
"Keqing?"
But as Ningguang entered Yuehai Pavilion's long steps, she saw the familiar cat-eared figure exiting, followed by Ganyu and a little girl.
Seeing Ganyu and the girl, Ningguang's face softened into a smile. "Yaoyao is here again?"
"Mm-hmm! I have something to discuss with Sister Ganyu!" The girl called Yaoyao nodded with a cute, bright smile.
Ningguang smiled. "Ganyu, take Yaoyao home first. Remember not to eat only veggies and seafood; pay attention to fruits for nutrition too."
"Thank you for the reminder, Lady Ningguang. We'll be going." Ganyu held Yaoyao's hand and left gently.
Until their figures vanished in the alley, Ningguang's smile faded slightly.
In front of children, she was always the kind, gentle big sister.
"You went... to the Liyue Specialty Shop?"
Keqing's pale pink eyes stared at Ningguang, detecting the faint scent of wine and plum blossoms on her.
In bustling Liyue Harbor, plum trees were rare. Besides noble estates, the most were near Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, planted by Director Hu herself.
Ningguang came from Feiyun Slope, so she couldn't have gone to Wangsheng.
That left...
Ken's specialty shop.
Keqing had been there; the inner courtyard had several red plum trees, nourished by elemental energy, blooming beautifully.
"Yes, I went to see that Mr. Ken."
Ningguang didn't hide it at all, stepping into Yuehai Pavilion with a casual tone.
Keqing frowned. "You really went."
"Hehe..." Ningguang chuckled. "Paying some chips for a chance to resolve this major issue—of course I'd go discuss the business."
"Did it go as you wished?" Keqing followed closely, her expression serious.
Though she had asked Ken during the day, she wasn't sure if he'd resist Ningguang's chips.
After all.
As Liyue's top female merchant, Ningguang's offers were hugely tempting to most.
Ningguang adjusted her qipao, elegantly sitting in a chair, raising an eyebrow. "If the Yuheng Qixing agrees to marry Ken, this deal would be a win-win."
"What are you saying?" Keqing's frown deepened.
Ningguang chuckled. "That Mr. Ken said for the deal to happen, there's one condition... that the Yuheng Qixing marries him. All the chips I offered—immense wealth rivaling nations—pale in his eyes compared to you, Lady Yuheng."
Keqing's grip on her sword loosened slightly. "Wh-what? He said that?"
"So... would Lady Yuheng like to close this deal for me?" Ningguang teased.
"Ningguang!!" Keqing, already flustered by the words, now flushed with shame and anger, her pink eyes furious. "Don't joke about such things!"
Compared to Keqing's fury, Ningguang was unruffled.
She slowly stood, approaching Keqing, her smile fading into something meaningful. "The Yuheng Qixing is still too young. Actually, this is a sure-win deal, isn't it?"
A deal? Could such things be treated as business? Keqing grew more furious, angered by Ningguang's casual attitude—everything seemed like that to her.
But before Keqing could erupt, Ningguang left Yuehai Pavilion.
Leaving Keqing gripping her sword in helpless rage, her little cat face puffed up.
Damn Ken... How could he say that to Ningguang?
Letting Ningguang tease her like this!
But thinking that Ken hadn't cooperated with Ningguang, Keqing's furious mood calmed a bit. At least in keeping promises, Ken was reliable.
He had given up Ningguang's chips for her one meow.
From that angle, he was indeed a gentleman.
...
The next morning.
As the brilliant dawn just rose from the sea, Ken opened his eyes, got up, dressed neatly, and pushed open the door.
Under the graceful plum tree, Zhongli was seated, drinking tea.
After handling the Geo Archon's funeral rite, he still had to wait for Traveler's progress to complete the Rite of Descension as planned, giving him some leisure time.
"Join me for breakfast, then we'll head to the Sal Terrae."
Zhongli's steady, calm voice rang out. He remembered Ken's purification ability.
If the purification was truly that powerful, perhaps it was time to deal with the one in the sea.
Instead of sealing it and leaving a hidden danger, better to resolve it once and for all.
"I'm not used to pastries and tea for breakfast."
Ken washed up and approached, seeing the exquisite pastries and tea on the stone table. He took out roasted chicken buns and a steaming bowl of savory tofu pudding from his system space.
"Your backpack is quite interesting."
Seeing the hot food, Zhongli raised an eyebrow in praise, then frowned slightly. "In general rationality, sweet tofu pudding perfectly brings out its flavor."
Ken sipped his savory soy milk, leisurely saying, "Sweet tofu pudding is heresy."
Zhongli: "..."
Watching Ken enjoy it, Zhongli suddenly found his pastries bland.
Picking up a soft, fluffy bun, Zhongli took a bite, his eyebrows raising. "Your skills rival Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk; even little Xiangling from Wanmin Hall isn't your match. If you opened a restaurant in Liyue..."
"Not interested." Ken smiled. "What about Barbatos?"
Though Keqing had met the Traveler, the Liyue Qixing hadn't released Barbatos, clearly using him to restrain the Traveler, preventing biased words to the adepti.
Zhongli smiled. "He loves freeloading wine in Liyue, so let him stay as long as he wants."
Seeing Zhongli's expression, Ken suddenly realized. "You didn't tamper with Venti's holding place, did you?"
"Hmm... Nothing much, just a barrier he can't leave temporarily." Zhongli said lightly.
Ken: "..."
Indeed, love-hate relationships are best exemplified by Barbatos and Morax.
...
After breakfast, Ken and Zhongli set off for Sal Terrae.
Ken was quite interested in the Salt God's treasures—not for money, but his odd collecting habit.
Liyue's territory was vast; Sal Terrae, in the endless ocean, seemed tiny, hard to believe it was once a god's domain.
Compared to Mondstadt's pastoral freedom or Liyue's vast lands, the Salt God's territory was pitifully small, downright shabby.
"Strictly speaking, Havria was a benevolent, kind, and weak deity, but her mercy led to her death."
Zhongli stood above Sal Terrae, looking at the land below, his tone with a tinge of emotion.
In the brutal Archon War, blindly avoiding and yielding wasn't wise.
That weak, merciful god kept retreating until there was nowhere left, settling here to escape war and provide safety for her people.
She even searched all of Liyue for this land.
But the people she protected ultimately killed their own god.
"Running away is never the solution."
Ken stood with hands behind his back, somewhat sentimental.
Even in peaceful Blue Star eras, people competed fiercely at work—let alone the brutal Archon War.
Archons love people, but without great power and courage, they can't protect those they care for.
Havria was the biggest saint Ken knew of.
But for those protected yet who betrayed and slew their god, Ken felt disgust.
Kindness and weakness aren't excuses for betrayal and deicide.
Though it seemed like helping her escape.
"Returning here, I feel the ruthlessness of time. Indeed, lingering in the world too long, even archons develop extra sentiments."
Zhongli landed below Sal Terrae, his gaze distant. "Before entering, anything you want to ask? About Havria."
Ken smiled brightly. "What did the Salt God look like? Was she beautiful?"
Zhongli pondered slightly. "Like frost-covered forests, cold yet gentle like sweet spring water—that's how many described her appearance."
"That's a pity." Ken laughed, suddenly lightening the previously somber atmosphere.
Zhongli chuckled, suddenly enjoying Ken's company.
He always broke sentimental moods with unexpected words.
Much better than a certain drunkard who only drank.
The suddenly mentioned wind god sneezed, feeling the rock barrier around the room, grumbling, "Morax, old man... You got me good. It was just borrowing your name 500 years ago. Fine if you're getting revenge, but at least give me a bottle of wine!"
...