Next, Navia brought Clorinde to Lin Qiu and introduced them to each other.
There was no need to introduce the others; Clorinde naturally knew the Gardes members.
And who didn't know Charlotte?
Clorinde was also surprised by Lin Qiu's insight and ability.
He even knew about her secret agreement with Callas, a near-omniscient and omnipotent precognitive ability.
Lin Qiu, on the other hand, was surprised by Charlotte's social connections. Good heavens, she knew everyone!
You're the social butterfly of Fontaine.
Is there anyone in Fontaine you don't know? Now it's truly a case of 'who in the world doesn't know you'.
"Alright, Clorinde, no need to queue. I'll just give you one," Navia said cheerfully.
She had bought many copies anyway and had planned to distribute them to everyone in the Spina di Rosula.
By taking the initiative to speak with Clorinde, she had taken the first step.
At this moment, the resentment in her heart had mostly disappeared.
Clorinde, expressionless, silently held up two fingers in a 'V' sign.
Just as Lin Qiu was thinking, 'This cuteness doesn't fit your persona,' Clorinde spoke.
"Can I have two?"
Her expression remained aloof, and her tone was still cool.
Originally, Clorinde had come to buy books for Furina; she wasn't particularly interested in this novel.
But after meeting Lin Qiu himself, she started to become interested in the novel.
"Of course."
Navia naturally didn't care about one or two copies, and she even refused the money Clorinde offered.
"Thank you."
Clorinde stored the two books in her Vision.
(Setting of this book: A Vision has a small space where weapons are usually stored.)
(The protagonist's Vision does not provide elemental power, but it also has a small space, which is why it requires 100 points to exchange.)
The group of people walked to the restaurant, chatting and laughing.
This restaurant had been reserved by Navia and was already fully booked.
So, no matter how wild they got, they wouldn't disturb anyone else.
Upon arriving at their destination, the first thing that caught their eye was a banner that read, 'Mr. Lin Qiu's Celebration Party'.
Lin Qiu's old face flushed. How was this like a little Bocchi?
Melus and Silver stood at the entrance, one on each side.
They held party poppers in their hands; they had actually brought them.
Under the gaze of passersby, Lin Qiu walked into the restaurant bathed in confetti from the party poppers.
"Phew, I'm free." Lin Qiu sat on the chair like a salted fish.
Was this some kind of public humiliation?
Meanwhile.
While Lin Qiu and the others were celebrating, Marcel (Vacher) on the other side was looking at the bill in his hand, lost in thought.
Besides party expenses, the bill also included money for books, fortune-telling, and Lin Qiu's salary, all mixed in.
A few days ago, Navia came to chat with him, and as usual, she talked about her investigation into the Serial Disappearance Case of Young Girls.
Then, she subtly mentioned that her friend was having a birthday and wanted to throw a party.
Marcel immediately said that he, as her uncle, would pay for such things.
He had only said it casually.
According to Navia's usual character, she rarely asked him for money for her own expenses.
He didn't expect Navia to agree so readily this time.
"How strange." Marcel was a bit puzzled.
He didn't think much of it, as Navia acted very well, still appearing completely unaware of the Serial Disappearance Case of Young Girls.
He would never have thought that Lin Qiu knew so much and had spoiled everything.
On the other side, sales in Mondstadt were also coming to an end.
Thanks to Charlotte's advertising, Lin Qiu's book had gained some recognition even in Mondstadt, and the initial sales were quite good.
At this moment, Mondstadt's Outrider, the 'Ignition and Puzzle Solving Master'—Amber, was reading Lin Qiu's masterpiece.
As an Outrider, she was often outside Mondstadt City.
When bored, novels and storybooks became the best tools for entertainment.
"There's even me?" Amber was a bit surprised.
She wasn't a very famous person, nor was she a high-ranking member of the Knights of Favonius, nor did she know the author of the novel.
So it was truly surprising that she would appear in this novel.
Looking at herself in the novel, meeting the Traveler and apologizing for her rudeness, she said:
["I apologize to you... uh... stranger and respectable Traveler."]
Amber's pretty face flushed slightly; this was indeed something she would do.
Now, who knows how many people would see this.
But the author of this novel understood her too well, didn't they? Could it be written by someone she knew?
Who could it be? Kaeya? No, if that guy wrote it, it would definitely be even more mischievous.
Further on, there were even more things that surprised Amber.
The book even detailed Amber's current mission and the intelligence that Hilichurls were getting closer and closer to Mondstadt City.
Later, even Lynn outside the city, Timmie on the bridge, and the gatekeeper Lawrence made appearances.
Although it was just a brief mention, this was no longer simply a matter of familiarity, was it?
"This book?"
Amber began to feel that this book was somewhat unusual.
Her mindset while reading changed from casual relaxation to much more serious.
As Amber read, the story progressed.
Amber brought the Traveler to Mondstadt City and presented a Wind Glider as a gift.
Just as the two were chatting, the sky suddenly darkened.
Dragon roars echoed, and several tornadoes began to rage through Mondstadt City.
"What!? Stormterror will attack Mondstadt City!?"
Amber was startled. As an Outrider, she had discovered Hilichurls approaching Mondstadt City.
But she hadn't detected any inclination for Stormterror to attack Mondstadt City.
Mondstadt's Dragon Disaster had raged for a long time, but the destruction had always been outside Mondstadt City.
Usually, trade routes and farmlands were destroyed, with almost no casualties.
This was one of the reasons why the Knights of Favonius had not been able to make up their minds to kill Stormterror.
But if Stormterror were allowed to rampage through Mondstadt City, it would be different.
Given the population density of Mondstadt City, it would definitely cause casualties.
Seeing this, Amber wanted to immediately go and report to Acting Grand Master Jean, but then she thought better of it.
Could relying solely on a scene from a book really make people believe it? The story in the book hadn't even happened yet.
However, even if the content of the book was true, it was a future event, and they still had time to prepare.
Amber temporarily put aside the idea of immediately returning to report and continued reading.
She wanted to first see if the book contained a solution to this disaster.
Meanwhile, within Mondstadt City, Lisa was also reading the book.
"Interesting, the author truly knows that child Amber very well."
Lisa read slower than Amber.
Because after she bought it, she first filled out the library's form to catalog the book.
However, it didn't take long, and she also read to the part where Stormterror attacked Mondstadt City.
"...This is also an opportunity." Lisa pondered.
She had been searching for the source of power for the East Wind Guardian, but due to the disturbed Ley Lines, she hadn't found it.
If Dvalin really came to Mondstadt City, by feeling Dvalin's power at such close range, she could find the source of the power.
Lisa was actually more inclined to believe the story in the book.
Because as a librarian, she knew that much of Teyvat's history was passed down in the form of storybooks.
So, it wasn't impossible for a remarkable person to write the future of Teyvat as a novel.
After all, the destiny of Teyvat's people is predetermined, all inscribed on the stars, but ordinary people cannot interpret it.
"It looks like I need to have a good discussion with Jean."
——————
Character Voice Line · Lin Qiu: About Charlotte
"I really envy Charlotte's social skills. I'm not like her; I'm so introverted.
What? You said I'm not introverted at all?
To borrow the words of a certain large bird, I'm 'cheerfully introverted'."