After Kaeya finished asking what he wanted, he didn't linger.
He chatted with Jiang Chen for a moment, then left.
He'd confirm the details with Diluc.
If Diluc said nothing was wrong, then Jiang Chen's story was genuine.
And Jiang Chen heading out of the city just to see Barbatos wasn't suspicious.
Kaeya decided to report this to Acting Grand Master Jean.
As he left, Jiang Chen chuckled.
This guy really couldn't help poking his nose into everything.
Dedicated, yes—maybe too dedicated.
He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
Meanwhile, Kaeya really did go to Angel's Share.
He asked, got his confirmation, got glared at by Diluc, and quickly retreated.
He'd come back later to freeload some wine.
For now, Jean needed to hear that the Anemo Archon had appeared again.
Deep in the Abyss—
"Prince, the matter has been investigated," an Abyss Mage reported.
"It was your blood relative and another outsider who defeated Stormterror.
Barbatos himself appeared to restore it."
Aether—currently the Abyss Prince—sat in silence.
So the Stormterror plan failed… before it even started.
Stormterror wasn't corrupted yet, and suddenly it was healed?
Aether's brows lowered slightly.
"Lumine… huh."
At the mention of his sister's name, his expression softened.
But he was also puzzled.
So Lumine met another outlander…
And it was a man?
His little sister—the emotionally cold, anti-social, iceberg-type—actually got close to someone?
Was he… going to become an uncle?
…What.
Aether rubbed his forehead.
Well, thinking about it, that wasn't so bad.
He knew Lumine better than anyone.
Her memories were still incomplete right now—so she was softer, more approachable.
But once her memories returned, she'd definitely regress into her mischievous, chaotic self.
Most older brothers had trouble dealing with their younger sisters.
Aether wasn't a sis-con.
After thousands of years together, who would still be a sis-con?
If anything, he wished Lumine would quickly find someone else to terrorize, so she'd stop ruining his flirting in other worlds.
He still remembered losing dates because Lumine pulled pranks on him…
Teeth-grinding fury.
"Find out everything about that man," Aether ordered.
"His identity, his origin—everything.
Do not alert them."
He had to see which hero managed to tame his sister's steel heart.
Maybe a future brother-in-law?
Investigate first—judge later.
"Yes, Prince."
The Abyss Mage vanished.
Aether sat alone in the dark, thinking quietly.
"Lumine…
We will meet again.
Just not yet."
There were things he had to accomplish.
Even if Lumine stood before him, he couldn't stop—no matter what.
Back in Mondstadt—
Lumine still had no idea what her dear brother was plotting.
She had just finished negotiating with Jean.
The Knights of Favonius would issue both a missing-person notice and a bounty notice.
The reward: 10 million Mora.
She refused to believe that no one would bring back information on her brother for that price.
And if no one came… well, maybe he was hiding from her on purpose.
Fine.
Then she'd stop searching and go retire somewhere with Jiang Chen.
"Wait—Lumine, TEN MILLION?!"
Paimon nearly screamed.
"That's so much food money! You're actually spending that much?"
"It's fine," Lumine said calmly.
"We have plenty now.
If we earn more later, I'll increase the bounty."
Paimon clutched her little chest, heartbroken.
Ten million…
So much delicious food…
Gone in a blink…
Well, at least Lumine still had a lot left.
Paimon could survive.
Probably.
After finishing the arrangement, Lumine felt relieved.
She grabbed Paimon and went sightseeing—today was their last chance to play around Mondstadt.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen—
He returned to the hotel and checked on Venti.
The bard was still dead asleep on the bed.
Face flushed, breathing steady, probably dreaming about wine.
Truly a carefree fool.
Jiang Chen smirked.
If he sold this guy to the Fatui right now, Venti might not even know who did it.
Actually…
How much would the Fatui pay for the Anemo Archon?
They were desperately searching for him.
Jiang Chen placed several more bottles of Diona's nuclear-grade wine beside the bed.
From now on, call him:
The Wine Immortal — Patron Saint of Drunk Archons.
He was practically doing Venti a favor.
The next thing he did?
Pay for Venti's room for an entire week.
Yep.
Let him drink → pass out → wake up → drink → pass out again.
By the time the bard regained full consciousness, Jiang Chen and Lumine would be long gone.
He'd barely remember anything.
Perfect.
Night came.
Lumine invited Jiang Chen down for dinner, and during the meal she suddenly lit up with an idea.
"Hey, Jiang Chen—what if we take some Mondstadt goods to Liyue and sell them?"
Her eyes shone.
"Dragon disaster stalled trade.
So Mondstadt exports haven't arrived in Liyue for a long time.
I heard prices skyrocket because of that!
With our storage space, we could move a ton of goods and make a fortune!"
She sounded extremely proud of herself.
Jiang Chen stared at her, expression flat.
"…Why waste time earning pocket change?"
"Huh?"
"If we're going to make money," Jiang Chen said calmly,
"why not just rob the Fatui instead?"
Lumine: "…"
Paimon: "…"
Jiang Chen continued:
"Transport goods? Negotiate prices? Risk inventory? Too much trouble.
Fatui are loaded.
Snatch from them and you earn more in one day than ten trading trips.
And once we reach Liyue, there's even an even bigger sucker waiting for us."
The billion-Mora rich lady of Liyue.
A.k.a. Ningguang.
Why earn pennies when you could target whales?
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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