The genius actually brought the Raiden Shogun along with him?
Tartaglia was stunned.
He didn't even know what to say anymore.
Beating Capitano, killing Dottore— that already put the genius at a terrifying level.
But now?
Now he'd even managed to steal the Raiden Shogun herself?
"Aren't you a battle maniac? Want to spar with her?"
Knowing how much Childe loved a fight, Su Ran couldn't resist the thought of letting Ei smack him around a little.
If he didn't learn the pain of a proper beating, he'd charge headfirst into everything in the future.
"Uh… maybe another time. You know I've got more important things right now."
As tempting as it sounded, Tartaglia was no fool—he was not the Raiden Shogun's match.
A spar might toughen him up, but an injury now could jeopardize his mission to seize a Gnosis.
So, another day, maybe.
"You sure know how to prioritize.
But if you're so aware, why did you call out to me in the middle of a crowded street?"
Su Ran crossed his arms, glaring in disbelief.
"Do you realize that before you came, my identity was perfectly hidden?
One of us in the light, one in the shadows—perfect for moving around.
But now? Thanks to you, everyone knows I'm not ordinary.
By tonight, my profile will probably be sitting on the Qixing's desk!"
All because of Childe's little stunt.
Now Su Ran couldn't even keep a low profile as a spectator.
He might be forced right onto the stage.
"Uh?"
Childe glanced around.
Sure enough, he caught lingering gazes aimed at them.
Crap. I just turned myself into the pig teammate, didn't I?
He had thought with the genius here, their odds at the Rite of Descension would skyrocket.
Now it looked like he might not even get into the Jade Chamber to watch.
"So… what do we do now?"
Realizing how serious it was, Childe regretted his impulsiveness.
"What else? We play it by ear."
The Geo Archon's Gnosis was already in Su Ran's possession.
Another idea even crossed his mind: if he wasn't allowed into the Jade Chamber… that could be interesting.
"Did I just ruin your plan?"
"You knew and still asked?"
Su Ran sighed.
Originally, his plan was just to watch the show.
Now, thanks to Childe, he'd be dragged right into the performance.
But it wasn't hopeless.
With Zhongli's Gnosis in hand, if everything collapsed, he could always stage a deus ex machina.
"Da-da Duck, go reserve a table at Liuli Pavilion.
Tonight, we'll have a feast to welcome me."
Childe's eyes lit up.
"This is part of the plan too?"
"Of course."
Su Ran nodded casually.
"Then I'll get right on it!"
To think the genius could even steal away the Raiden Shogun— Tartaglia's admiration hit new heights.
He'd thought corrupting young maidens was already outrageous enough, but clearly the genius could still go even further.
With him here, the Geo Gnosis was basically in the bag!
Without hesitation, he rushed off to make arrangements.
"You're scheming something in Liyue again?
What's this Liuli Pavilion?"
Ei frowned.
After bringing such upheaval to Inazuma, was he now planning to stir up Liyue as well?
"It's just one of the two most famous restaurants here.
I simply want to try it."
What ulterior motive could he have?
Eating at Liuli Pavilion was part of his original sightseeing plan.
So technically, it was part of the plan.
Not exactly lying to Childe.
And with a Gnosis already in hand, was it really so unreasonable to want a good meal?
"Oh."
Honestly, even if Su Ran did cause trouble in Liyue, Ei wouldn't care.
The only reason she came was to make sure he didn't run away.
As long as he didn't endanger Inazuma's Eternity or Makoto, she could turn a blind eye.
"Su Ran, tell me…
could Inazuma ever become as prosperous as Liyue?"
Though her ideals differed from Morax's, seeing Liyue's flourishing wealth and bustle starkly contrasted with Inazuma's stagnation.
The gap left her unsettled.
She had promised Makoto she would protect and govern Inazuma well.
The protection she managed.
But the governance… not even close.
If Inazuma could ever shine like this, Makoto would be overjoyed.
"No."
"Why not?"
Ei couldn't understand.
Could it really be so difficult?
"Because you're not capable enough."
The fact that under her rule, Inazuma hadn't regressed to the chaos of the Archon War— that was already a miracle.
To catch up with Liyue?
That was a pipe dream.
"But Makoto's here too!"
Even in this dream, wasn't it possible?
With her strength and Makoto's wisdom combined, surely they wouldn't fall short of Morax, who only showed up once a year?
"Makoto wasn't capable either.
Even during her reign, Inazuma never came close to Liyue."
If Ei and Makoto were truly united as one— gentleness with resolve, wisdom with might— maybe then Inazuma could thrive.
Ei fell silent, weighed down by his blunt words.
"…But now you're here too, aren't you?"
"Me? I don't count as Inazuma's side."
Fair was fair.
Childe had invited him first.
Besides, Ei's first impression had been to greet him with blades, while Tartaglia had come asking sincerely.
"But didn't I already promise to give myself to you?"
She had even agreed to marry him.
Was she, the Raiden Shogun herself, really worth less than some Winter general?
What was so great about the Tsaritsa anyway?
"…Why don't you write her a letter, tell her you're stealing me away?"
"That would work?"
Ei pondered, and found it oddly reasonable.
Send the Ice Queen a letter saying she was poaching talent— that way it was giving notice in advance, not acting without honor.
In Snezhnaya, Su Ran would only ever be a subordinate.
In Inazuma, he could be the Raiden Shogun's husband.
Which future looked brighter was obvious.
And compared to that frozen wasteland, what could beat the blossom-filled beauty of Inazuma?
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