Ningguang lifted the cup and took a measured sip. "I've heard these music players hold over two hundred excellent tracks—and they come with earphones that still work outside Sumeru's borders."
She smiled. "Even in Fontaine or Snezhnaya, we haven't seen anything quite like it. Compact, yet useful for every household. When they finally go on sale, I expect the first batches will be snapped up instantly."
"They will," Idris said. "The factory's stood up and the workers are trained. Give it about half a month and we can start formal sales."
"Wonderful," Ganyu said, her poise all diplomat's grace.
"We in Liyue will look forward to it," Ningguang added. "You said Sumeru is entering a new era. Perhaps this player will be its emblem."
"Maybe," Idris answered.
Truth be told, the hardware wasn't the gem in his eyes—the songs were. Of the two hundred plus tracks, at least a quarter were re-arrangements and fan compositions. You could roast Teyvat's stories all you liked, but slander the fan musicians? Unthinkable.
Of course, that meant some songs… carried spoilers. Once those "spoilers" spread, who knew how many system rewards he might chain. That was the other play: partner with Liyue to sell the device and, more importantly, spread the music across nations. That was when things would get fun.
They chatted lightly as they ate, occasionally glancing toward the stage where Nilou's dance had begun.
Bathed in soft light, Nilou moved like a lotus in bloom—weightless, alive to the rhythm. Every motion blended elegance and strength, as if she and the melody were one flowing shape. Her eyes shone with passion; with each swell of the music she shifted—tender as water, then bright as flame—until beauty itself felt like it had taken a body and stepped onto the boards.
Ganyu watched a moment, then asked, curious, "She looks even more radiant than I expected. Is that because she wields Hydro?"
Beidou shook her head. "Doubt it. Yelan's Hydro too, and—no offense—she's not exactly baby-smooth compared to Feiyun Commerce's second young master."
Ningguang laughed. "Careful, Captain. Say that back home and Yelan will hunt you down for sport. But if it isn't the Vision, what is it?"
Idris smiled. "Alchemy. While I was working on it these last few days, I developed a new pill—Beauty-Preserving Pill. One dose keeps a person's looks fixed at their freshest and most youthful—no aging in the face."
He nodded at the stage. "Miss Nilou took one I refined myself. Hence she looks a touch more stunning tonight."
The words traveled like a spark in dry grass. Not only the three women from Liyue, but anyone within earshot swung their gaze to Idris, eyes widening. Then came the ripple of envy—subtle in some, blatant in others—toward the dancer onstage, fortunate enough to have received a pill from the Grand Sage's own hands.
Idris hid his satisfaction. Whether pills or players, you needed the right face to carry the message. Nilou was his chosen banner. Everything that glimmered on her tonight could become a channel for his campaigns.
He'd given her the Beauty-Preserving Pill right before the show—told her to dance and let the results speak. The only oddity was her look afterward: warmer, more intense, until he half-wondered if she'd been possessed by Nahida—the way her eyes stuck to him even mid-step, glittering with a feeling that had only one simple name.
Love.
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