"Strategist, you don't need to look so depressed. Maybe the god just wants you to learn more from Mister Zhongli?"
The longer Kokomi remained imprisoned, the deeper her panic grew.
At first, she thought she was simply being "detained for academic purposes."
But she had truly been imprisoned.
Th-This…
How could a god do such a thing?
Not even a shred of divine integrity?!
And she was the fool who believed it.
She thought, He's a god—so of course he keeps his word… right?
Who could've guessed that "a short detention" would turn into dozens of days?
She had already learned everything she could possibly learn.
Now she wanted to leave but there was no chance.
Worse yet, when Beidou tried to console her, the captain was… smiling.
Was she laughing at her for being too naive?
After being locked up so long, Kokomi was close to despair.
She was even starting to adapt to life behind bars.
Who knew how long this would continue?
But today, something unusual happened.
Someone entered the once-quiet dungeon.
Not a prisoner.
A visitor.
A very familiar visitor with that very familiar, annoying smile.
Su Ran strolled into the prison as if he were visiting a friend for tea, and even waved cheerfully at the dazed Kokomi.
"Good morning, Miss Strategist"
Kokomi blinked. "Is… is it morning already?"
Time no longer existed in this place.
The only hint of day or night was when meals were delivered.
Beidou stared expressionlessly.
This was the man who had framed her and tossed her in here.
But the person behind him her, Beidou didn't expect.
For that woman, as she stepped inside, casually flicked her foot and kicked a thin strip of metal
straight into Beidou's cell.
Beidou's reflexes were instant.
She caught the wire and hid it without hesitation.
Su Ran pretended not to notice and walked straight to Zhongli's cell.
"Long time no see, Mister Morax"
He greeted warm and loud.
Instantly, the women in the neighboring cells froze.
What?
WHAT??
Morax… Mr. Morax??
Wasn't that the real name of the Geo Archon?
The God of Liyue?
So Zhongli… was actually the Geo Archon?
Beidou and Kokomi looked like their souls nearly left their bodies.
They had spent days sitting beside the Archon of Liyue without realizing it?!
Wasn't this too surreal?!
Even Yelan, who followed Su Ran in, felt a chill of awe.
She had suspected it but hearing Su Ran say it aloud confirmed everything.
"This gentleman used to think I was impersonating him."
Zhongli sighed.
"And now he admits I'm genuine?"
Even he found Su Ran's behavior bafflingly inconsistent.
"I just visited Liyue," Su Ran lied shamelessly, "and didn't see you appear during the Rite of Descension.
So I thought… maybe I'd misunderstood you.
So I came back to check."
Not a flicker of guilt on his face.
"…Liyue is well, I hope?"
Despite everything, Zhongli worried for his nation.
What would a Rite of Descension look like without its Archon?
He assumed it would simply be a difficult time.
But Su Ran's expression grew strange.
"Which Liyue are you talking about?"
"…"
What do you mean which Liyue?
There's only one Liyue in all of Teyvat!
"Oh, because you didn't appear at the ceremony, Liyue split into three factions."
Su Ran said this as if it were an afternoon gossip topic.
"The conservative faction led by Ningguang.
The reformist faction led by Keqing.
And the adepti faction with the illuminated beasts."
He shrugged.
"Liyue's been split into three nations."
"…"
Zhongli went blank.
That was far worse than he had imagined.
He expected temporary instability, followed by unity and a new direction.
But actual fragmentation?
His millennia-old, painstakingly built nation shattered?
And how could the adepti possibly allow this?
Something must have gone terribly wrong.
Meanwhile, Yelan felt a cold sweat down her back.
If word got out that the Geo Archon was still alive…
Liyue might never heal.
If she wanted out of this dream, she needed to do something.
She glanced at Su Ran.
This man clearly held high status in Inazuma everyone on the road treated him with fear and respect.
If she could kidnap him and use him to bargain for their release maybe it would work?
After all no one could truly die in this dream.
So why hold back?
"But the adepti would never allow something like that,"
Zhongli insisted.
He still trusted in his comrades of a thousand years.
Liyue was built together.
No way the adepti would watch it split.
"So the Fatui helped it along a little."
Su Ran shrugged casually.
Bad deeds?
Let the Fatui take the blame.
He was an Executive, after all.
And compared to raising an Emanator of Propagation, what was this level of infamy?
"One can hardly fault the Fatui," Su Ran added, "after all, you broke the contract first."
Zhongli fell silent.
But—
A cold blade suddenly touched Su Ran's neck.
Yelan had moved like a shadow.
Beidou, Kokomi, and Zhongli stared is this woman insane?!
"Sir," Yelan said coolly, "you speak as though you're a Fatui."
Su Ran leaned back lazily.
He didn't resist.
Didn't even blink.
"Because I am."
Yelan's brows tightened.
"Don't move! You're in my hands now!"
If not for Su Ran having a decent face and a suspiciously important identity, she would've kicked him to the floor already.
But the three prisoners stared at her like she was a suicidal heroine.
This woman…
did ZERO investigation…
And she dared to put a knife to his throat?
—------------------------------
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