Chapter 12. That Person?
Returning once more to Liyue Harbor, Futsu Mitama looked at the familiar scenery before him, and a subtle light flickered in his eyes.
"How long have they been waiting?" Beidou asked casually, her gaze landing on the figures at the port with a hint of curiosity.
She had already sent word two hours ago that the Alcor was approaching. Exactly when Ningguang and the others had arrived—she found that interesting.
"About half an hour," Futsu Mitama replied.
"Half an hour?" Beidou raised a brow before chuckling. "I'd say closer to an hour. Ningguang values you highly. Knowing her, she would arrive early. After all, the sea is unpredictable. Even near Liyue Harbor, who knows what might happen?"
She added the last sentence lightly, yet it carried a faint implication.
The seas…hadn't been peaceful recently.
Futsu Mitama glanced at her, slightly puzzled. Coming from someone like Beidou, such a statement was not casual. Storms meant nothing to her—only something more serious would make her say that.
"Hahaha." Beidou only laughed and said nothing further.
Since she chose not to elaborate, Futsu Mitama did not press the matter. Liyue's strength was more than sufficient. With Guizhong's revival, the adeptus's protection, and Azhdaha beneath the mountains, even a major disturbance would not easily spiral out of control.
Unless someone specifically sought his help—there was no need for him to interfere.
Beside him, Sangonomiya Kokomi watched the harbor with undisguised curiosity. It was her first time seeing Liyue Harbor in person, and her eyes carried a faint, bright anticipation.
At the same time, she was also curious about one person—
The Geo Archon.
From what she had heard through Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, Venti, and Azhdaha, the Geo Archon was an existence of extraordinary wisdom. Even those renowned for intellect spoke highly of him.
'If I could see Rex Lapis during this trip—'
The thought lingered quietly in her mind.
Soon, the Alcor docked.
A hundred elite Millelith immediately moved into position, securing the surroundings with practiced efficiency. Behind them, three figures stepped forward.
Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu.
"Long time no see. I've missed you dearly," Ningguang said with a gentle smile as she looked at Futsu Mitama. "After half a year… you've changed quite a bit."
Ganyu's gaze lingered on him, her lips parting slightly as if she wished to speak, yet in the end, she said nothing.
The reason was simple.
Futsu Mitama's current appearance was no longer the same as before. The Electro triple tomoe on his back and the armor bestowed by Raiden Ei clearly signified his identity.
He was no longer merely a retainer.
He was the successor of the Raiden Shogun.
Seeing this, Ganyu could not help but feel a trace of regret. She had once thought he might become the successor of Rex Lapis, yet things had taken a different path.
It was reasonable.
Yet still—
A pity.
"Indeed," Futsu Mitama said with a faint smile. "A lot has changed."
When he had left Liyue Harbor, he had only just stepped into the adeptus realm. Now, he had reached its peak and stood at the threshold of divinity.
Keqing, however, showed no such sentiment. Having observed everything through the Chat Group, she was already well aware of his growth.
As Futsu Mitama stepped off the ship, Aila and Shenhe followed, with Shinobu and Kokomi behind them.
"Eh?" Ganyu's eyes flickered with surprise as she looked at Aila and Shenhe.
Even without engaging them, she could feel it.
They had become far stronger.
A faint sense of pressure emanated from Aila, while Shenhe's presence carried something even sharper. If they were to fight, Ganyu felt she might not have the advantage.
The improvement over just half a year was astonishing.
She held back her questions for now.
"There's no need to stand here any longer," Ningguang said, her tone warm. "It's almost noon. I've already prepared a banquet at Xinyue Kiosk."
"Would you care to join me?"
Naturally, no one refused. Even Beidou asked shamelessly if she could join, to which Ningguang simply nodded.
And so, under the escort of a hundred Millelith, the group made their way through the streets.
The scene drew immediate attention.
Two Qixing, one secretary, and a full escort—such a lineup was rare.
Whispers spread quickly among the people.
Who could warrant such treatment?
Soon, those with sharper ears began to spread the answer.
Futsu Mitama. The successor to the Raiden Shogun. The one who had fought alongside the adeptus, slain a Primo Geovishap, and even drawn the attention of the Geo Archon himself.
And just like that—this kind of news spread with astonishing speed, quickly reaching every corner of Liyue Harbor.
At first, it was simple—Futsu Mitama was the next Raiden Shogun. But as the rumors circulated, they became embellished. Some claimed his roots were tied to Liyue, that he was half Liyuean, and that he had once been personally acknowledged by the Geo Archon. If nothing unexpected occurred, he might even become the next Geo Archon.
Whether true or false, the effect was immediate.
Almost overnight, Futsu Mitama's name became known to the majority of people in the harbor, and the many "halos" surrounding him became the subject of discussion. Beneath the surface, an invisible struggle for influence quietly began to unfold among various factions.
Meanwhile, at Xinyue Kiosk, the banquet had already begun.
Dishes were served one after another, and everyone took their seats. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the conversation naturally revolved around familiar topics—recent experiences, interesting events, future plans, and whether any assistance was needed.
Futsu Mitama answered each question calmly.
However, he did have one matter to entrust.
"I'd like to inquire about the recent movements of the Fatui."
His tone was straightforward.
"Oh?" Ningguang's smile deepened slightly as she looked at him. "What kind of information do you need?"
At the side, Beidou rolled her eyes silently.
She understood Ningguang too well.
When someone of Futsu Mitama's status asked for help, it meant a favor would be owed. And for someone like Ningguang, favors were far more valuable than anything else.
Futsu Mitama did not avoid the question. "I'm not planning to deal with them," he said calmly. "I just want to know their recent activities. For example, whether they've left Liyue recently, whether elite units have been dispatched somewhere—or if Tartaglia has been absent for a period of time."
Hearing this, Ningguang's expression did not change, but her eyes flickered slightly.
Information regarding the Fatui was not something to be casually disclosed. Even though relations had outwardly stabilized, their actions in Inazuma had already proven that they were not to be trusted lightly.
Still, she only paused for a brief moment.
"This is not difficult," she said, placing her teacup down. "However, the scope is rather broad. If I were to explain everything in detail, it would take days."
"Why don't you specify a time frame? I can have the relevant information compiled for you."
Futsu Mitama nodded.
"Three months ago. To be precise—ninety-five days ago, in the evening. What were the Fatui doing at that time? And was there anything unusual about Tartaglia?"
That was the moment Black Aila's presence had become unclear.
At the time, he had not paid it much attention. Given her strength, unless she encountered an Archon-level existence, there should have been no real danger.
But now—
Three months had passed, and nothing had changed.
Something was clearly wrong.
Ningguang frowned slightly, recalling the information.
"At that time… the Fatui were unusually quiet," she said slowly. "There were no major movements. Tartaglia was also acting normally. He even intended to invite Mr. Zhongli to dinner that evening."
"But there was one incident."
Futsu Mitama's gaze sharpened slightly. "What incident?"
Ningguang hesitated briefly, then glanced at Ganyu.
Ganyu sighed softly and spoke, "It's related to Master."
"Master?" Shenhe raised her head slightly.
"Cloud Retainer and… another individual created something in Guyun Stone Forest," Ganyu said carefully. "The disturbance it caused was quite large."
"At the time, Lady Ningguang even mobilized the Jade Chamber, thinking an ancient god had broken free. As for what exactly it was… you should ask Master directly."
The moment those words fell, the expressions of those present turned somewhat subtle.
They already knew.
The so-called disturbance was most likely the creation of the Azhdaha Mech.
But—if it wasn't yet complete, why had it caused such a commotion three months ago?
Even Beidou showed interest. After all, Guyun Stone Forest was closely tied to her operations. She had only heard that the area had suddenly been sealed off by the Millelith, and that it involved a figure of extremely high status.
Ningguang coughed lightly.
"That topic… is better left aside for now," she said calmly, shifting the conversation back. "Let's return to the matter of the Fatui."
Her tone carried a subtle firmness.
Some matters—were not suitable for further discussion.
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