Chapter 181.
Fate possesses a wondrously cruel sense of irony. The more you dread a specific outcome, the faster it materializes.
Judging by the way Klee cheerfully chirped "Sister Yoimiya." the young Spark Knight had already cataloged the fireworks maker as a kindred spirit. Barring a catastrophe, the two were destined to become an unstoppable duo.
Thank the Archons that Hu Tao was tied up with work. If the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's eccentric director had joined Klee at this critical juncture, they would have formed an apocalyptic trinity: Klee, Hu Tao, and Yoimiya. Naturally, the only one forced to endure the resulting migraine would be Zhongli.
"Did you tell Yae Miko?"
Futsu Mitama glanced between Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei as the pink-haired Guuji made a beeline for them.
The presence of foreign Archons in Liyue was a tightly kept secret. Even their respective delegations in the Chat Group—hailing from Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Sumeru—were completely oblivious to the fact that their gods were wandering the harbor.
Yae Miko, however, was an anomaly. Hiding anything from the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine was a fool's errand, and beneath her teasing exterior, her lips were completely sealed.
"Yes, we told her."
Raiden Makoto replied mildly, watching the kitsune's approach.
"We had no intention of keeping her in the dark. She already understands the shifting tides in Liyue." Makoto's lips curled into a subtle, anticipatory smile. "But she doesn't know exactly how many Archons are present, nor is she aware that Zhongli is actually Rex Lapis."
Zhongli's mastery over his mortal disguise was terrifyingly seamless. Only his oldest peers—relying on centuries of familiarity and the minute, deliberate flaws he allowed them to see—could pierce the veil.
Logically, Azhdaha should have been the first to notice. Whether blinded by preconceived notions or simply too proud to accept that Liyue had produced a mortal as brilliant as 'Mr. Zhongli', the ancient dragon remained blissfully ignorant.
Makoto wasn't the only one eager to witness the fallout. The few who knew the truth were eagerly awaiting the spectacle. How would the proud Azhdaha react when he finally realized the mortal consultant he admired was actually his oldest comrade?
"Miko doesn't need to know the details yet. We will inform her when the truth is public."
Raiden Ei stated plainly. Since Morax had requested discretion, they would naturally honor the Geo Archon's wishes. Assisting a fellow member of The Seven was only polite, especially over such a trivial matter.
"She's here."
Makoto noted softly.
Accompanied by the sharp crackle of electricity, Yae Miko materialized within the barrier.
"Hello~" she purred, though a flash of genuine regret crossed her sharp eyes. She dropped into a seat with a dramatic sigh. "It seems I am still a step too late. And here I thought I was rushing at absolute top speed."
Futsu Mitama gave her a deadpan stare.
Less than thirty seconds had passed since he dropped their coordinates into the group. For a normal person, navigating from the Snezhnayan Delegation's quarters to this secluded spot would take an hour.
Yae Miko had crossed Liyue Harbor in the time it took to pour a cup of tea. Her raw combat power might not match the Archons, but her evasion and movement techniques were absolutely maxed out. She had clearly sensed the lingering aura of the other Archons and hurried over, only to miss the main event.
"Still, seeing three generations of Inazuma Shogun sharing the same frame brings me immense comfort."
Miko smiled, leaning her chin on her hand.
"A rare sight indeed. Oh my, to think Inazuma's three reigning Electro Archons abandoned their posts to play Acting Dendro Archon in Sumeru, only to treat Liyue like a tourist resort. How utterly enviable."
Futsu Mitama actively ignored the jab. His travels were strictly approved by Makoto and Ei. No, vacation was the wrong word—this was mandatory training to solidify his standing as an Archon. It wasn't a vacation.
"Enough fooling around, Miko."
Makoto chided gently. Even the sly kitsune knew better than to push Makoto's boundaries; angering the supposedly gentle Archon would end poorly for everyone involved.
"Yes, yes." Miko conceded, coughing lightly to clear the air. "Let us return to business. I recently met with Ningguang. She asked for my assistance."
"Assistance?" Futsu Mitama asked. "Trouble with the Fatui? Keeping tabs on the Snezhnayan diplomats?"
"Nothing so mundane." Miko replied. "She wants me to counsel Ganyu."
Futsu Mitama blinked in surprise.
Over the past month, he hadn't noticed a single crack in the secretary's composure. She ate normally, conversed politely, and her crushing workload had even noticeably decreased. He had recently spotted her lingering around Liyue's food stalls at night. When he generously offered to treat her, she had bolted in a sheer panic, frantically claiming she absolutely couldn't eat after dark. He had laughed it off as a half-qilin's dietary paranoia.
Why did Ningguang think Ganyu needed counseling?
"How should I put this~"
Miko hummed. She poured herself a cup of tea and casually swiped a delicate pastry right from under Raiden Ei's nose.
Ei blinked at the empty plate, utterly bewildered.
The table was covered in sweets; why did Miko have to steal hers?
Miko took an elegant bite before continuing.
"The reason is quite simple. Ganyu is spiraling into a uniquely personal crisis. Her workload has decreased because Liyue is aggressively transitioning into the era of humans. As the Qixing take on more responsibilities, the overarching duties of the adeptus are shrinking. She isn't just a secretary; she acts as an adeptal deterrent in crises. Now, she feels that necessity slipping away."
Miko finished the pastry and smiled sharply at Futsu Mitama.
"Tell me, doesn't that sound wonderful? Less work, fewer emergencies, more time to rest. If it were me, I would be celebrating with fried tofu and a good light novel."
Makoto and Ei nodded slightly. To them, shedding responsibilities sounded like a blessing. Ei notoriously loathed bureaucratic headaches, happily dumping them onto the Tri-Commission or Miko so she could solve actual problems with the tip of her blade.
But Futsu Mitama frowned, understanding Ganyu's fragile psychology perfectly.
To her, being stripped of her duties didn't mean a well-deserved vacation; it meant her entire reason for existing in Liyue Harbor was slowly being erased. The human era was progressing at a breakneck pace. From managing the encroaching darkness in The Chasm to suppressing the Abyss Order and monitoring ancient seals, the Qixing were rapidly mobilizing mortal forces to fill the gaps, inadvertently absorbing responsibilities that had belonged to the adeptus for millennia.
For someone with Ganyu's inherently sensitive nature, watching her duties vanish didn't feel like a relief—it made her feel utterly alienated. She was losing her anchor to the mortal world. If left unchecked, the moment a true catalyst occurred—such as the sudden 'death' of Rex Lapis—this quiet crisis would violently detonate. It would drive her to abandon human society entirely, retreating into the isolated peaks of Jueyun Karst.
"For an ordinary person, it is a blessing. For Ganyu, it is a psychological exile." Miko said, her tone sobering slightly. "Ningguang realized that no one in Liyue—human or adeptus—could properly counsel her right now. So, she sought out the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Technically speaking, I am an adeptus of Inazuma."
Miko looked rather pleased with the comparison. While she hadn't fought in the Archon War like Ganyu, they shared a similar echelon of mythical status.
"So, how exactly do you plan to counsel her?"
Futsu Mitama asked, genuine concern threading his voice. Outside of Keqing, Ganyu had been his greatest ally when he first arrived in Liyue.
"Oh? Do you care?" Miko's large, beautiful eyes curved into wicked crescents. "Are you smitten? If so, I can easily pivot my strategy and abduct her back to Inazuma. Having her bless you with a litter of little qilin doesn't sound like a bad political move."
Futsu Mitama's face darkened.
Was she fundamentally incapable of holding a serious conversation without weaponizing a tangent? She didn't dare tease Ei or Makoto, so she made him her primary target.
Without a word, Futsu Mitama clenched his fist.
The space beside him violently fractured, the crackling, lethal purple edge of Seven Thunder of Retribution: Narukami sliding ominously out of the rift.
Makoto and Ei gracefully averted their eyes, pretending to be deeply fascinated by their tea.
"Ahem! I was joking! It was just a joke! Don't take it seriously!"
Miko immediately threw her hands up in theatrical surrender. She loved to poke the bear, but she had zero interest in being cleaved in half.
Futsu Mitama had lost his sense of humor entirely when it came to her matchmaking.
In Miko's calculating eyes, it was a tragic waste of premium genetics to see him surrounded by exceptional women and not make a single move. She was merely trying to cultivate the Fourth Electro Archon.
Seeing the kitsune concede, Futsu Mitama dismissed the blade. The rift sealed shut.
So physical threats are the only language she understands, he realized.
No wonder Ei casually drew the Musou Isshin whenever Miko pushed her luck. Dealing with a glib-tongued fox demanded a very sharp blade.