**Chapter 25: Return to Snezhnaya**
Rosalyne's brow furrowed with disdain as she glared contemptuously at Tartaglia.
"I refuse to return to Snezhnaya with this muscle-bound, brainless, bottom-ranked Harbinger! I can handle this alone!"
Tartaglia returned her glare with equal loathing.
"I really can't stand that two-bit idiot."
"What did you say?!"
Rosalyne summoned terrifying ice energy in her left hand, while Tartaglia drew his longbow, imbuing it with hydro power.
Columbine calmly waved her hand, extinguishing their elemental energy.
Jingchen cleared his throat dramatically.
"Gentlemen, this is the urban district of Liyue Harbor, not a place for your petty squabbles. Save your grudges for the journey back to Snezhnaya."
Tartaglia and Rosalyne exchanged venomous glares before reluctantly backing down.
"You two shouldn't have any trouble escorting the God's Hearts, right?" Jingchen asked.
Tartaglia waved dismissively. "Jingchen, do you still not trust me?"
Rosalyne, holding the two God's Hearts, snorted coldly.
"As if anyone would trust you."
"Rosalyne, I've truly had enough of you."
"Whatever. Just don't let me anger you to death."
"You—!"
Jingchen couldn't help but rub his forehead. Their relationship really was just like his own with that Sandrone fellow.
Except, it was clear that Sandrone's skills at cutting remarks far surpassed Rosalyne's.
Among the Fatui Harbingers, apart from himself and Columbine, the others were either backstabbing each other, arguing incessantly, or driven by self-interest.
Every single one of them harbored ulterior motives. How on earth had Pierro managed to gather such a group of schemers and form this Harbinger organization?!
Rosalyne retrieved the two God's Hearts, turned, and left without another word.
Just as Tartaglia was about to leave, Jingchen called out to him.
"Tartaglia, you're returning to Snezhnaya, right?"
"Yeah."
"Hand over the All-Prohibiting Talisman first."
"Huh? Jingchen, how did you know I had the All-Prohibiting Talisman?!"
Jingchen sighed helplessly. *How can this guy be so naive? He doesn't even try to hide it, just blurts out a counter-question?!*
If Tartaglia were a girl, he'd be truly absurd—probably even rivaling the legendary Nilou in cluelessness.
"You want to release Osel?!"
Tartaglia paused, a rare moment of contemplation.
"Well... releasing Osel was just my trump card. Yes, that's right, my trump card."
"The Geo Archon's Heart is already secured. Your trump card is useless now."
Tartaglia immediately produced the All-Prohibiting Talisman and handed it to Jingchen.
Jingchen accepted the talisman, his gaze still fixed on Tartaglia.
Tartaglia, feeling uneasy, asked, "Jingchen, is there anything else?"
"What about the copied All-Prohibiting Talisman?"
"Ah?! You knew about that too?!"
"Give it to me."
Tartaglia chuckled sheepishly as he retrieved the copied talisman, grumbling, "I was going to keep this one as a souvenir for Teucer. *Sigh*."
"With all the treasures in Liyue—the Rock Archon, clay sculptures of One-Eyed Little Treasures—why would you give Teucer something like this? Last time I saw him, he even asked me for an ice sculpture of a One-Eyed Little Treasure."
"Ah, really? Maybe I should consider buying some clay sculptures of One-Eyed Little Treasures for him."
Tartaglia handed over all the remaining All-Prohibiting Talismans to Jingchen.
"Jingchen, are you about to depart for Inazuma?"
"Don't ask so many questions. Just focus on your own duties."
"Sigh, fine."
Tartaglia turned and left.
Jingchen pulled Columbine back into the Serenitea Pot.
***
The next morning, Columbine woke early to dress and prepare.
She planned to spend one last day exploring Liyue with Jingchen before heading to Inazuma.
To her surprise, Keqing, Ningguang, and Ganyu were waiting outside Northland Bank.
Tear tracks stained Keqing and Ningguang's faces, their complexions pale and strained.
Even their sorrowful expressions couldn't conceal their breathtaking beauty.
Columbine instantly shifted into her protective "Guardian of Dust" mode, her senses on high alert.
Jingchen pulled Ganyu aside.
"Senior Sister Ganyu, what's wrong with Ningguang and Keqing?!"
"They want to speak with Columbine alone one last time."
"Ah?! What?!"
Columbine's voice suddenly cut through the air from behind them.
"Achen, let's visit Yuehai Pavilion for some tea."
Ningguang and Keqing froze, startled.
"Columbine, didn't we agree to talk privately?!"
"Oh, dear, this is official business between Liyue and Snezhnaya, not a personal matter. Since it concerns matters of state, it's perfectly appropriate for Jingchen, my trusted companion, to join us."
Ningguang and Keqing gritted their teeth, forcing strained smiles.
As Snezhnaya's diplomats and the Third-Ranked Twin Stars, they technically met the requirements.
But Jingchen's presence would undoubtedly disrupt their composure and throw their carefully planned conversation off course.
Columbine was almost certain to provoke them.
Jingchen walked over to Columbine and gently flicked her forehead.
He whispered softly in her ear, "Aya, don't provoke them too much. After all, even a mighty dragon can't suppress a local serpent."
"What's the harm?" Columbine replied, deliberately raising her voice. "They're so gentle, generous, understanding, and charming. They'd never cause trouble."
As Columbine loudly praised them, Ningguang and Keqing's expressions gradually darkened.
"If this is how Snezhnaya's Harbingers treat Liyue's Qixing, then we have nothing to discuss," Ningguang declared coldly.
Ganyu tugged at Jingchen's white robe, whispering a reminder, "Jingchen, this meeting concerns trade between Liyue and Snezhnaya, as well as Fatui support in the Chasm."
Jingchen paused, momentarily surprised.
The Ninth Company was still trapped in the Chasm. Although he had sent other Fatui to reinforce them, the chances of their survival would greatly increase if local Liyue forces also provided assistance.
Jingchen stepped protectively in front of Columbine.
"Tianquan Star, Yuheng Star, I understand. We will focus solely on cooperation between Liyue and Snezhnaya, and nothing else."
Ningguang and Keqing's expressions softened slightly.
***
Half a day of fierce negotiations at the Yuehai Pavilion, filled with verbal sparring and relentless haggling between Ningguang, Keqing, and Jingchen, left him utterly drained. He even suspected Ningguang and Keqing were deliberately settling personal scores under the guise of business.
Columbine and Jingchen felt their heads spinning. It was too difficult, far too difficult.
Trying to squeeze even a single Mora or any advantage from Ningguang felt like scaling the heavens.
Especially with Keqing constantly backing her up at crucial moments.
Ganyu maintained her polite smile and remained silent throughout.
Jingchen knew that if Senior Sister Ganyu had joined the negotiations, he and Columbine would have been even more thoroughly crushed.
After the general contract was finalized, Columbine and Jingchen walked out of Yuehai Pavilion, leaning on each other for support.
Columbine sighed.
"Achen, I really know nothing about trade. In Snezhnaya, Mora transactions and such are entirely managed by those two."
Jingchen wanted to comfort Columbine, but his situation was exactly the same.
"Ah... Though it's said that everyone has their talents, when it comes to trade and Mora, we're truly talentless."
.....
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(End of Chapter)