After leaving the Northland Bank, Lumine looked at Jiang Chen in confusion.
"Why didn't you deposit the money? Isn't it safer to keep it in a bank?"
She really couldn't understand. Even if they had storage space, a bank was still… a bank.
Jiang Chen shrugged.
"Well… how should I put it?
The Northland Bank is run by the Fatui."
Lumine froze.
"…The Fatui?"
Then Jiang Chen added slowly:
"Using the terms from my home world—
They're basically a terrorist organization."
Lumine: "???"
"A… terrorist organization opened a bank?
Amazing! Mondstadt really broadens my horizons."
Hearing Jiang Chen's explanation, she instantly understood why he refused to store money there.
Makes sense.
Absolutely not depositing anything there again.
But Paimon still didn't understand.
"Wait wait wait—
If they're THAT dangerous, then why do the rich people store money there?
Even Diluc and the Knights use their checks!"
"Because they don't dare touch their money," Jiang Chen said matter-of-factly.
"Those people have power. If the Fatui mess with them, even the Tsaritsa won't be able to explain it away.
"But us?
Ordinary folks? If we ever piss them off, they can freeze our accounts, swallow our savings whole, and pretend nothing happened."
Paimon fell silent.
It… sort of made sense?
But also didn't?
But she decided not to strain her brain.
"Okay… if you say so."
Leaving the bank, the three of them headed straight to Cat's Tail.
The moment they stepped inside—
The entire tavern was full of unconscious drunks lying everywhere.
Jiang Chen's expression stiffened.
…Yep.
Diona had actually followed his advice.
Maybe too well.
Even the tavern's owner was slumped over the counter.
Good grief.
She even knocked out her own boss?!
Truly worthy of the Anti-Alcohol Cat Princess.
"Huh?"
Diona looked up and saw them.
"You guys again? Why'd you come back?"
"Help me mix more of yesterday's wine," Jiang Chen said seriously.
"I've got some idiot friends who don't believe such a drink exists.
So I need a few bottles.
Feel free to… add extra effects."
Diona instantly puffed up, annoyed.
"There are actually fools who challenge me?
Fine! I'll make them regret existing!"
Then she grinned proudly and pointed at the drunkards all over the floor.
"See? They all had ONE glass and passed out.
Isn't it great?
The tavern's finally peaceful!"
"It definitely works," Jiang Chen nodded.
"Just keep this up. After a few rounds, they'll basically develop alcohol PTSD.
Oh—and if you can get your hands on a Kamera, record their drunk faces.
Paste the pictures all over Mondstadt.
Let them experience social death on top of hangovers."
Diona's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Great idea! I'm writing it down!"
She scribbled vigorously in her notebook.
Then she went back to mixing the "weapons" Jiang Chen asked for.
This time, he ordered ten bottles.
Even if they didn't all go to Venti, he had plenty of future uses planned.
After receiving the bottles, he said goodbye to Diona.
Lumine then asked, "Where to next?"
"Have fun for the rest of today," Jiang Chen replied.
"Tomorrow morning, we leave for Liyue.
If you have things to handle, go do them.
I'm heading back to the hotel."
Lumine nodded.
She still needed to ask the Knights to post missing-person notices about her brother.
So they split up—Paimon and Lumine went one way, and Jiang Chen wandered on his own.
While he strolled through Mondstadt, a familiar tanned man approached with a playful smile.
"Oh? Hello there."
Jiang Chen raised a brow.
"Captain Kaeya."
Kaeya blinked in surprise.
"You know me?"
"Of course," Jiang Chen replied lightly.
"Captain of the Knights of Favonius Cavalry Unit.
Though… rumor says the cavalry doesn't actually have any horses?"
He didn't dare say "Kaeya has no horse," just in case he got stabbed.
Kaeya's mouth twitched.
"Nonsense! The cavalry does have horses!
Someone's spreading lies!"
"…Ah, so the Abyss Order is slandering you," Jiang Chen said with a solemn nod.
"…You really don't look like someone who fought Stormterror," Kaeya muttered inwardly.
But he moved on to the real topic.
"Last night, I saw you and your friends returning from outside the city.
Were you… doing something out there?"
"Oh, that."
Jiang Chen nodded calmly.
"Lord Barbatos paid us a visit.
He gave us a reward—a bottle of his wine.
I don't drink, so I sold it to Diluc."
Kaeya blinked.
Barbatos… appeared again?
And gave them a gift?
Jiang Chen continued seriously:
"That's all.
If you don't believe me—
go ask Diluc yourself."
Kaeya's suspicion faded.
"Barbatos appeared…?
I see.
Then I'll check with him later."
And with that, Jiang Chen smiled innocently, as if he hadn't just sold stolen divine wine for 50 million Mora.
"Not lying.
Don't believe me?
Go ask."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/ZoroTL442