Chapter 179.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the table, Yun Jin politely excused herself. Her schedule as the head of the troupe was relentlessly packed, and she had other patrons and business partners to attend to.
Before she left, she expressed her sincere hope to see them all again.
Venti grinned, assuring her that if Mr. Zhongli was paying, he would absolutely be in the front row.
Makoto smiled gracefully, promising to attend another performance should the consultant extend an invitation.
Nahida chimed in with an enthusiastic "metoo". Rukkhadevata simply offered a warm, enigmatic smile.
Futsu Mitama didn't say much. He didn't need an invitation; if he wanted to see a show, he would just buy a ticket. As the un-ascended inheritor of the Electro throne, he didn't need to navigate the suffocating political optics that governed the rest of the pantheon.
Ei, entirely divorced from the social exchange, was methodically clearing the table of every dessert, pastry, and sweet within her reach.
Yun Jin bowed gracefully and departed, a bright, girlish smile on her face. The interaction had clearly been a delight for her.
Futsu Mitama watched her leave, wondering how the young playwright would react if she knew she had just casually chatted with the combined divine authority of Teyvat.
With Yun Jin gone, Zhongli took a slow sip of his tea. On the main stage, a traditional Liyue storyteller stepped up to the microphone.
The storyteller engaged the crowd with a few quick jokes, snapped his folding fan open with a sharp clack, and began his narration.
"Last time, we spoke of the Lord of Geo traveling alone through the desolate mountains. Deep within a chasm, he heard a sound unlike anything he had ever encountered."
"The sound was sometimes mournful, like a weeping song, and sometimes terrifying, like the rumble of an approaching earthquake. The Lord of Geo descended into the abyss, and eventually, he found a strange, peculiar stone glowing within the ancient rock layers..."
The storyteller launched into a dramatic retelling of the origins of Azhdaha.
Futsu Mitama smirked.
Zhongli is actively setting the stage.
If Azhdaha suddenly breached the surface and attacked Liyue, the general populace would panic, completely ignorant of what they were facing. By popularizing the ancient myths right before the attack, Zhongli was ensuring the citizens understood the sheer magnitude of the threat.
More importantly, he was ensuring that the Adeptus and the Qixing remembered exactly how dangerous Azhdaha was.
Compared to Yun Jin's breathtaking vocal performance, the storyteller's narration was decidedly less engaging. The gods at the table seemed mildly bored, though the mortal patrons in the teahouse were listening with rapt attention.
"So, is there an itinerary for the rest of the day?"
Venti asked, pulling out a hidden bottle of dandelion wine and sipping it directly from the glass. He looked at Zhongli expectantly.
"If you don't have anything else planned, I'm going to go wander the harbor. Hehehehe~ I have been craving authentic Liyue street food for centuries!"
With the Rite of Descension drawing near, the commercial districts were flooded with food vendors. Venti had arrived too late last night to gorge himself, focusing entirely on bankrupting himself in Captain Beidou's drinking contest. Now, he intended to busk for Mora and eat until he exploded. Even with the festival discounts, he still needed cash to pay for the ingredients.
"There are no further operational requirements." Zhongli shook his head. "Today was merely to observe the theatrical preparations, enjoy a meal, and brief you on my intentions. That is all."
"I only ask that during the Rite of Descension, you all maintain your disguises. Do not reveal yourselves or interfere."
Zhongli added, his golden eyes sweeping over his fellow Archons. He didn't need to be harsh; they all understood the ancient protocols governing their respective domains.
"Do not worry." Makoto nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Unless a catastrophic, unpredicted variable emerges, Ei and I intend to remain sequestered at Mitama's residence for the duration of the festival."
"We may wander the markets occasionally, but we will maintain absolute cognitive cloaking."
As long as they didn't accidentally bump into a Demon God-tier combatant like Arlecchino, their disguises were impenetrable to mortals and standard Vision holders.
"Understood."
Nahida nodded seriously. She really wanted to go play with Klee, but if Mr. Zhongli demanded operational security, she would comply.
However, since they were already in Liyue, surely they could sneak out for some candied hawthorns, right?
"The majority of our time will be spent processing bureaucratic matters for Sumeru." Rukkhadevata added, her smile serene. "Under normal circumstances, we would not have the time to attend at all. Rest assured, Mr. Zhongli, we will not disrupt your plans."
Nahida's expression instantly shattered.
Wait... we're still working?! I thought this was a vacation!
"Bureaucratic matters? Is Sumeru really in that dire of a state?"
Futsu Mitama asked, genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected Rukkhadevata to travel all the way to Liyue just to work remotely. Even though Nahida possessed the Teleportation Scepter, she was the active Archon; she should be afforded at least a few hours of downtime.
"Yes. It is exceptionally dire."
Rukkhadevata nodded, her expression sobering.
The situation in the Akademiya was a logistical nightmare. Following the purge of Azar and his loyalists, the upper echelons of Sumeru's government had been completely gutted. With Mitama's group absent, and the newly appointed Great Sage Faruzan leading a diplomatic envoy to Liyue with Cyno, the capital was functionally leaderless.
Nahida and Rukkhadevata had come to Liyue to witness history, but they couldn't afford to actually stop working.
It was a testament to the sheer scale of the disaster Azar had caused that Rukkhadevata—who theoretically didn't need to work at all—had been forced to manifest a psychic projection just to help Nahida process paperwork.
According to Rukkhadevata's projections, if no further catastrophes occurred, Sumeru's infrastructure would finally stabilize in approximately six months. A new class of scholars was scheduled to graduate, injecting desperately needed talent into the Akademiya. Until then, the two Dendro Archons were trapped in an endless cycle of damage control.
"How exhausting."
Ei sighed, entirely unable to relate. She picked up another pastry and took a bite. Liyue's culinary arts were exceptional.
Makoto smiled helplessly at her sister. She gently slid a plate of lotus seed treats in front of Ei.
"Pace yourself. When we return to Mitama's house, I will ask Aila and Kuki Shinobu to prepare a proper feast."
"Mm."
Ei nodded, her eyes shining.
She had already planned out her entire itinerary for her stay in Liyue. She would gift the legendary, indestructible Inazuman kitchenware to Aila, Shinobu, and Kokomi.
Aila and Shinobu could cook literally anything, and Kokomi was a master of traditional desserts.
Ei had already envisioned a paradise: her sister was alive, the political administration of Inazuma was entirely outsourced, her designated successor was secured, and she had an unlimited supply of high-end cuisine. All she had to do was meditate and swing her sword occasionally.
Ei's personal happiness index had officially peaked.
Nahida watched the Electro sisters with profound, agonizing envy. She desperately wanted that lifestyle. Unfortunately, the socioeconomic collapse of Sumeru demanded she remain chained to a desk.
Venti chuckled, utterly unbothered by the administrative woes of his peers. Mondstadt was practically running itself at this point. As the Anemo Archon, his only pressing responsibilities were playing the lyre, busking for wine money, and avoiding hangovers.
Zhongli remained perfectly calm. Once the Rite of Descension concluded and his fake death was finalized, he wouldn't have to worry about Liyue's administrative trivialities for a thousand years.
"Oh, one final detail."
Zhongli said, suddenly remembering a critical variable. He looked at the assembled gods.
"If you encounter the Fatui Harbinger known as Tartaglia, do not interact with him. That particular Harbinger is aggressively straightforward, but he is not a fool. If he registers your presence in Liyue, I fear he will realize the operation is compromised and abort his mission entirely."
Having manipulated Tartaglia for months, Zhongli understood the Eleventh Harbinger's psychology perfectly. Childe was a battle-crazed fanatic, but he wasn't suicidal. If he sensed that multiple Archons were currently loitering in Liyue Harbor, his combat instincts would warn him that the board was rigged, and he would likely abandon the Gnosis extraction plan to wait for a better opportunity.
"Tartaglia?"
Makoto mused, recalling the name from the Chat Group logs.
The general consensus among the group was that Tartaglia was a borderline-feral combat addict who solved all his problems with extreme violence. She hadn't expected Zhongli to assign him a modicum of tactical intelligence.
"Ehe~ I don't have to worry about that!" Venti grinned cheerfully. "I'm already incredibly weak!"
Venti wasn't entirely lying. His baseline aura was intentionally suppressed to abysmal levels. To an observer like Tartaglia, Venti wouldn't register as a threat. The Anemo Archon wandering the streets wouldn't trigger any alarms.
However, if Tartaglia spotted Baal or Beelzebub casually strolling through the harbor, he would immediately realize the operational environment was fatally compromised.
"Do not worry. We will operate with extreme caution."
Makoto assured Zhongli, promising not to accidentally derail his apocalyptic stage play.
Hearing Makoto's guarantee, Zhongli offered a rare, genuine smile. He possessed immense respect for the First Electro Archon's political acumen.
"Very well. This concludes our summit. Should the situation destabilize, I will contact you."
Zhongli prepared to stand, raising a hand to summon their server.
The waiter materialized instantly, his face glowing with a brilliant, commission-fueled smile.
"Mr. Zhongli! Are you prepared to settle the tab? Or shall we process this as usual?"
"Mm." Zhongli nodded smoothly. "As usual. Forward today's expenditures to the Northland Bank."
"Understood!"
The waiter bowed deeply, asking no questions.
As long as Mr. Zhongli authorized the charge, the Northland Bank paid out immediately in pristine, high-denomination Mora. It was a flawless, highly lucrative system. The staff loved Mr. Zhongli; his generosity was legendary.
Of course, attempting to defraud the Northland Bank by artificially inflating Mr. Zhongli's tab was a spectacularly bad idea. If the Fatui auditors caught a discrepancy, the offending waiter would find themselves blacklisted, hunted by debt collectors in the dead of night, and simultaneously investigated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs for fraud.
It had happened a few times in the past. In every instance, Mr. Zhongli had personally intervened. His memory was terrifyingly flawless; he could recall the exact price of a cup of tea he ordered a month prior, completely dismantling any attempt at extortion.
Conversely, honest servers who accommodated his eccentricities—like the man currently bowing to him—always walked away with a massive, entirely legal profit.
"Well then..."
Zhongli stood up, preparing to lead the Archons out of the teahouse.
"AHA! I KNEW YOU WERE HERE!"
A loud, piercingly energetic voice shattered the dignified atmosphere, causing Zhongli's stoic expression to crack.
"Ah?"
Futsu Mitama blinked, immediately recognizing the voice. It was impossible to forget.
A blur of dark brown hair and crimson silk sprinted across the teahouse, moving with the chaotic, relentless energy of a wildfire. Hu Tao skidded to a halt in front of their table, the Staff of Homa strapped casually to her back.
"I finally found you!" Hu Tao cheered, pointing an accusatory finger at Zhongli. "I knew you were hiding in here drinking tea! Come on! We have work to do! It's an absolute miracle! We actually secured a commission during the Rite of Descension!"
Hu Tao was practically vibrating with excitement.
Historically, the business at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor flatlined during the weeks surrounding the Rite of Descension. The elderly and terminally ill citizens of Liyue stubbornly refused to pass away until they had seen Rex Lapis descend one final time. Only after witnessing the Geo Archon's grace would they allow themselves to pass on peacefully.
It was a beautiful sentiment, but it infuriated Hu Tao.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death were the natural order of the universe! Defying the cosmic cycle of Yin and Yang just to watch a dragon fall out of the sky was utterly ridiculous!
Didn't Rex Lapis himself explicitly state that excessive mortal obsession violated the natural order? Furthermore, who said you couldn't watch the Rite as a ghost?!
But against all odds, a commission had just come in! Even though the client was located far outside the city limits, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor always delivered!
"Director Hu..."
Zhongli muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose as a migraine began to form.
"Yo! Mitama! You're here too!" Hu Tao beamed, noticing him sitting at the table. She then blinked, her plum-blossom eyes scanning the rest of the group. "Who are these people?"
She stared at Venti, Makoto, Ei, Rukkhadevata, and Nahida. She had never seen them before. Were they Mitama's friends? Or the consultant's?
"These are my associates."
Zhongli interjected swiftly, desperately trying to prevent Hu Tao from engaging the pantheon. He stepped forward, putting himself between his boss and the other gods.
"You mentioned a commission? We should depart immediately."
He practically shoved past her, intentionally dismissing his acoustic barrier as he moved.
"Oh! Right, right, right! The client is the priority! The deceased must be respected!"
Hu Tao instantly shifted into professional mode.
She offered a cheerful wave to the confused table of gods.
"It was nice meeting you all! Let's grab dinner after the Rite of Descension is over! The consultant and I have to go bury someone! Bye!"
Without waiting for a response, Hu Tao spun on her heel and sprinted out of the teahouse, dragging a profoundly exhausted Geo Archon in her wake.