"The General Affairs Bureau possesses a divine item known as the Ten-Thousand-Li Divine Travel Talisman. It was crafted after Tianquan Star Ningguang embarked on the path of cultivation."
"With it, no matter the distance, messages can be sent instantly.
Ningguang and the others rely on these talismans to govern Liyue remotely."
The Debt Collector finished his excited explanation.
But the Tsaritsa and her Harbingers only stared at him in silence.
Their gazes grew complicated—was everyone under that muscle-brained Tartaglia equally brainless?
So, the Liyue Harbor General Affairs Bureau had Voice Transmission Talismans. And then what?
Those were Liyue's, not theirs.
What, were they supposed to storm the Bureau and snatch them?
Tartaglia had only just been accepted into Mount Shu—
and now the Fatui were supposed to stir up trouble with Liyue immediately after?
How could that be appropriate?
Arlecchino exhaled softly, her expression conflicted.
"Her Majesty means—do we have a way to contact Tartaglia directly? Perhaps through Jueyun Karst?"
"Jueyun Karst… is rather dangerous."
The Debt Collector scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
"Within it are dozens of late-stage Foundation Establishment beasts.
If Her Majesty went personally, it would pose no problem…"
His words immediately soured the air.
Rosalyne and Arlecchino both bristled.
So if the Tsaritsa went, all would be fine, but if they went, they'd die?
Admittedly, dozens of peak Foundation beasts could kill them—
but did he have to say it so plainly?
Clearly, Tartaglia's men inherited not just his reckless brawn, but his tactless tongue as well.
"Ideally, Lord Childe should make contact himself.
Since he has only just joined Mount Shu, he must be preoccupied with cultivation."
Sensing danger, the Debt Collector hastily patched his words.
Rosalyne shot him a withering glare before leaning close to the Tsaritsa, whispering:
"Your Majesty, Liyue's Tianquan Star's three secretaries and the rest of the Qixing did not return.
The city is leaderless.
It seems once accepted into Mount Shu, one cannot leave easily."
In the past, Rosalyne would already be urging subtle moves.
With Morax, the Adepti, and the Qixing absent, wasn't this a heaven-sent chance?
But now… the thought didn't even dare form.
Yes, Liyue's defenses were hollow. But so what?
Everyone knew—
with Mount Shu's towering shadow and a master at the peak of Return to Void rooted in Liyue's soil,
no one would dare touch it.
Not the Abyss Order.
Not Celestia itself.
Even the Xuanyuan Mirror from the preliminary trial was said to be a gift from Mount Shu's Sect Master—
sealing within it a single one of his strikes.
If Liyue unleashed it, the blow of a Return to Void cultivator might well shatter the entire continent of Teyvat.
Besides, Liyue still had its own grandmasters, Innate and Postnatal cultivators without number.
Its martial might alone could hold the line.
Only a lunatic would think of striking Liyue now.
"Since that's the case, there is no need to rush contact. Let Tartaglia cultivate in peace."
The Tsaritsa sighed, tinged with regret.
Arlecchino spoke softly:
"Your Majesty, since Lord Tartaglia passed the Heart-Testing Array, he cannot be a mere brute.
He will surely recognize the importance of martial cultivation and reach out himself in time.
All we need do is wait.
But… there is one matter more pressing."
She produced a formal document.
"A Liyue decree: Jueyun Karst is forbidden ground.
Any who trespass do so at their own peril."
"Your Majesty, martial cultivation and the flesh of spirit beasts are inseparable.
I suggest we begin stockpiling beast meat where possible."
At this, Rosalyne's eyes lit up. She had been waiting for this opening.
Puffing her chest slightly, she declared with pride:
"Your Majesty, I foresaw this early. These past weeks, I have increased procurement efforts.
We now hold a considerable supply.
Though all are early-stage Foundation beasts—any higher-grade are simply too deadly.
To hunt mid or late-stage beasts requires venturing deeper into Jueyun Karst,
where peak Foundation beasts lurk.
Once, one such beast nearly devastated Liyue itself.
It took the intervention of Yuheng Star to slay it.
Since then, Liyue strictly forbids all forces from entering too deep.
Thus, early and mid-stage beasts are the best available to us."
She handed the Tsaritsa a ledger of beast meat, casting a provocative glance at Arlecchino.
But the Tsaritsa paid it no mind. She reviewed the list, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Well done, Rosalyne. With this meat, and proper martial methods, we can raise a fighting force quickly.
Though… the quantity is still lacking."
Arlecchino immediately offered:
"This subordinate is willing to enter Jueyun Karst and collect more."
But before the Tsaritsa could respond, Rosalyne sneered faintly.
"Did you not listen? Liyue forbids anyone from entering deep.
You've never seen what those beasts are like.
When a peak Foundation beast emerged, even Tartaglia and I together lasted barely minutes.
It took the combined might of Liyue's strongest to finally drive it as far as Tianheng Mountain.
Alone, you'd be lucky to escape, let alone return with meat.
And the outer regions are already being hunted by Liyue's armies.
There's nothing left to seize.
The best course is to trade with the lucky few who succeed."
Though she said it to slight Arlecchino, her words rang true.
Arlecchino only gave her a long, silent look.
The Debt Collector, meanwhile, muttered carefully:
"Your Majesty, perhaps there's no need to rush.
The ones who should be anxious are those without any disciples in Mount Shu."
The Tsaritsa's eyes turned toward him, curious.
He continued:
"I've said before—Mount Shu teems with countless spirit beasts and demons.
What we call a peak Foundation beast is there no more than prey.
Most are at least at the early stage of Refining Essence into Qi.
And our Lord Tartaglia is cultivating there.
Disciples are required to slay demons and clear beasts regularly.
Knowing his nature, he will surely seek them out himself.
Moreover, Mount Shu contains the Nine Nether Secret Realm—a domain swarming with such beasts.
Even Morax was gravely wounded within.
Lord Tartaglia will undoubtedly venture inside.
He may even find higher-grade beasts to send back to Snezhnaya,
along with martial techniques.
So truly, Your Majesty need only wait."
These words eased the Tsaritsa's mood.
Rosalyne and Arlecchino also breathed easier.
They had quarreled so long they had nearly forgotten—
they did have someone inside Mount Shu already.
For other nations, lacking disciples within, martial cultivation and beast meat were thorns in the heart.
But for them—
they needed only wait.
Tartaglia might be reckless, but his loyalty to Snezhnaya and his family was unshakable.
That was enough.
Just as the Tsaritsa settled into this thought, Arlecchino suddenly stiffened.
"Wait—you just said… Tartaglia had his eye on this Nine Nether Secret Realm?"
The Debt Collector blinked, then nodded.
"When Baiwen mentioned it, Lord Tartaglia asked many questions.
He clearly took note."
"The Nine Nether Secret Realm… it injured Morax?"
The Tsaritsa's gaze grew tense.
"To be precise, it wounded Morax, Barbatos, and Alice alike," the man answered gravely.
"It is said the realm holds seven sovereigns, known as the Seven Kings of the Nine Nether Secret Realm.
Morax and the others encountered merely two of their lieutenants—
and were beaten bloody, fleeing in disgrace."
The three women exchanged heavy looks.
The Seven Kings of the Nine Nether Secret Realm…
Such beings—who knew what they truly were?
If they strode into Teyvat, even Celestia itself might find its judgment shattered.
And Tartaglia… merely a Refining Essence into Qi novice—
what business had he eyeing such a place?
Was he so eager to die?
In the past, they would have scoffed—let the fool perish if he wished.
But now—no.
Tartaglia was their lone disciple within Mount Shu.
Their only thread of hope.
He could not be allowed to throw his life away.
What if, in time, he grew strong enough to realize the Tsaritsa's dream with his own strength?
"Your Majesty—we must contact Tartaglia at once.
If that madman learns of the Nine Nether Secret Realm, he will charge in without hesitation!"
Rosalyne's voice was grave.
"His death alone is small.
But he now represents our bond to Mount Shu.
His life is crucial.
It cannot be wasted in such a place!"
The Tsaritsa nodded solemnly.
They knew Tartaglia too well.
An extreme battle-maniac.
Where others saw dread and despair, he would see only the thrill of combat.
The Nine Nether Secret Realm—
to him, it would not be a nightmare.
It would be an irresistible lure.
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