[After a brief round of self-introductions, Tingyun once again expressed her gratitude for the trio's righteous actions. However, she was also curious about why Stelle and the others had come to the sealed-off Sky-Faring Commission.]
[As she spoke, the smile on her face gradually faded, and her tone shifted: "Without a proper explanation, these Cloud Knights here might have to escort you for a while."]
[The situation seemed to be taking a turn, and March 7th grew visibly nervous.]
[Fortunately, Mr. Yang remained composed and replied calmly: "We called for a port docking request, but there was no response at first. Then suddenly, someone opened the Jade Gate for us. After entering the Xianzhou, we found no one around, so we had no choice but to make our way here."]
[Though it was unclear who had opened the Jade Gate, upon learning that the group belonged to the Astral Express, a trace of melancholy flashed across the young woman's face.]
["Ah... Honored guests, your timing is unfortunate. The Xianzhou has encountered an incident and is currently unfit to receive visitors. Whether you're here for sightseeing, medical treatment, or business, I'm afraid nothing can be done for now."]
["For your safety, it would be best to head to the central hub of the Sky-Faring Commission for shelter. I'll take you to meet Lady Yukong, the master of the Sky-Faring Commission, and let her decide what to do."]
"This fox girl... she's not simple at all."
In the Survey Corps' office, Erwin, having finished a day's work, set down his documents and watched the Celestial Screen alongside Levi. Due to orders from higher-ups, Hange was also present this time, tasked with recording important details from the screen.
"What? You think there's something off about her?" Levi asked, giving him a strange look.
"Nothing concrete... but this girl is sharp-tongued and deeply calculating," Erwin said, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward the central direction. "It's a habit cultivated from long-term dealings with high-ranking figures—not something easily acquired."
"In her eyes, the Astral Express is an unknown force, and their true intentions remain unclear after just a few words. If they really meant well, sending Cloud Knights to detain them... aside from being discourteous, it would leave a terrible first impression."
"...That's why she said what she did afterward."
"So, 'leading them to shelter' is just another way of saying 'detaining them,' right?" Levi began to understand Erwin's point. "This way, the Cloud Knights can keep an eye on the three capable individuals while making the Express crew feel the Xianzhou's hospitable attitude."
"To think so thoroughly in such a short time... neither offending anyone nor failing her duty—reminds me of a few higher-ups in the Military Police, tch."
Thinking of those people from the interior, Levi's eyes flashed with displeasure.
Erwin said nothing, instead turning to Hange, who had been silently scribbling in a notebook since the meeting began.
"Hange, what are you writing?"
Hearing this, Levi also shifted his gaze to the bespectacled, somewhat androgynous figure beside him. He tilted his chair back slightly to get a better look at Hange's notebook.
Their pen was moving rapidly, sketching a rough portrait of Tingyun—especially her tail and ears, which were drawn from multiple angles.
"Hey, you—"
Hange snapped the notebook shut and pointed their pen at the girl on the screen, eyes brimming with unprecedented fervor and curiosity.
"Aren't you curious? Don't you want to know?"
"Look at her ears! She looks almost human, but she has two extra ears on her head!" Hange pinched their own ears, excitement practically overflowing. "And under her hair—do you think she has human ears too?! Don't you want to find out?!"
"And her tail, so fluffy... does it extend from her tailbone? Or somewhere else?"
"Ah... I want to examine her so badly, I need to know..."
"..." Erwin stayed silent, as if long accustomed to Hange's antics, and calmly averted his gaze.
Levi massaged his temples and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Hey, can't you focus on the Titans for once?"
"What's the point of studying some otherworldly woman's tail? Are you planning to give the Titans tails or something?"
——
["I'm aware of the incident on the Xianzhou. Miss Tingyun, we've come precisely to help seal the Stellaron," Welt keenly discerned Tingyun's intentions and elaborated further.]
["Hehe, when you all stepped in to help, this humble one knew you were truly kind-hearted souls!" Tingyun deftly shifted the topic, employing her usual noncommittal rhetoric: "But alas... there's nothing I can do! After all, you're outsiders, and without authorization from the Helm Master, Lady Yukong, who would dare make decisions on their own?"]
["Don't worry, Lady Yukong is very amiable. Come with me!"]
[For now, following Tingyun was their only option. Along the way, the group witnessed her impeccable speech—how she could assign tasks to others without leaving a trace. After dispatching a few mara-struck soldiers and traversing a narrow plank path, they finally arrived at the port of the Sky-Faring Commission.]
[When Welt mentioned the Stellaron, Tingyun revealed that, as a "ferrymaster," she had visited many planets eroded by Stellarons. Speaking of the devastation, her beautiful eyes couldn't help but dim with sorrow.]
"It seems Tingyun's role is more akin to a nation's commercial representative—much like my own position." Ningguang smiled faintly, finally understanding why Tingyun's manner of speaking felt so familiar.
The Liyue Qixing oversee Liyue's commerce, and as the "Tianquan Star," Ningguang is not only a major merchant but also a leader among countless trade organizations. Tingyun's flawless rhetoric was something she knew all too well.
That said, there were differences. Ningguang herself was part of Liyue's highest echelons and a policymaker in commerce, giving her far more confidence in negotiations.
"If only Tingyun could come to Liyue... we could use someone like her in Liyue Harbor." Ningguang sighed regretfully.
Her secretary, overhearing this, couldn't help but feel a pang of sourness. "Lady Ningguang, you're just lamenting that Miss Tingyun can't work for you, aren't you?"
"Heh, you saw right through me."
Ningguang glanced at the cunning fox girl on the screen, her smile shifting slightly as she waved a hand. "Never mind. This girl is clever by nature—a born merchant. Why would she ever willingly serve under me?"
"If she came to Liyue, I'm afraid the merchants would be groaning in despair."