The Northland Bank's very existence in Liyue was a provocation.
A Snezhnayan institution, issuing its own currency, sitting like a thorn in the golden heart of Liyue Harbor.
Now that Ningguang had the means to strike, she moved with ruthless efficiency.
The number of merchants loyal to the Northland Bank paled in comparison to the vast population of Liyue's citizens.
Once the people poured their savings into the Liyue Bank, the Northland Bank would take a massive hit.
Worse, the favorable terms would attract big merchants, encouraging them to shift their primary capital to the Liyue Bank, leaving only a token amount in the Northland Bank for Snezhnayan operations.
At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the Liyue Bank completely supplanted its rival.
The Northland Bank was already unpopular. With a local, superior alternative, it would soon be universally shunned.
And all of this stemmed from a single book pulled from Felix's jar shop.
Ningguang's speed was terrifying.
Felix had expected her to take a few days to prepare. He didn't expect her to launch the offensive the very same day.
Tomorrow, the bank would open.
The Northland Bank was about to have a very bad time.
While Felix mused on the situation, panic had already set in at the Northland Bank.
Ekaterina, the bank's receptionist, looked anxiously at the manager. "Have you found Lord Harbinger yet?"
She had heard the news of Ningguang's "paper snow" immediately.
Recognizing the threat, she had tried to contact Childe, the Eleventh Harbinger, but he was nowhere to be found.
"No."
Andrei, the bank manager, smiled bitterly. "Lord Childe loves to wander. He's always running off into the wilderness."
"You know we can't keep our main base in the city. Every so often, recruits from Snezhnaya arrive for training. I've searched all of Liyue Harbor, but he's gone. He's likely at the secret training grounds with the new recruits. I've sent a runner, but we won't hear back until tomorrow at the earliest."
"This is bad."
Ekaterina's face was pale. "We can't just let this happen. The Tianquan is targeting us directly."
"Sigh. I don't know what triggered this."
Andrei sighed heavily. "I've sent spies to gather information. Don't panic. Just keep handling the customers. I'll try to find out why Ningguang made such a sudden move. I also need to check on the situation in the city."
"Understood."
Ekaterina nodded.
Andrei hurried out, leaving a tense atmosphere behind him.
Meanwhile, high above in the Jade Chamber, Ningguang and Keqing stood on the balcony, overlooking the lights of Liyue.
"Tomorrow, you should pay a visit to the jar shop as well."
Ningguang held the Economics book, her gaze soft but serious. "Ten jars cost only one million Mora. But if you pull another book like this... the impact on Liyue would be immeasurable."
"I was planning to go even without you asking."
Keqing nodded. "Whether it's the strange items or the shopkeeper himself, I want to see them with my own eyes. By the way, did you really find nothing on him?"
As the Tianquan, Ningguang's intelligence network was second to none. If anyone could find a person's background, it was her.
"Virtually nothing."
Ningguang shook her head. "Just the shop registration. No birth records, no travel history. He's not a local. He's an outsider who just appeared."
Since learning about the Vision incident yesterday, she had run a full background check.
It came up blank.
He was too mysterious.
"I'll go make contact tomorrow."
Keqing said thoughtfully. "I'll buy my ten jars and see if I can get lucky. If I can pull a book like this, all the better. Once the bank launch is handled, we can go together. You only bought five jars, right?"
"Yes."
Ningguang nodded. "The policies are set. Tomorrow, the notices go up at the bank. We'll absorb a massive amount of capital. I also need to contact Mondstadt. I want to see if we can cooperate with the Knights of Favonius to open a branch there."
"That shouldn't be a problem. Mondstadt is our closest ally. A branch there makes perfect sense."
Keqing agreed. "But one step at a time. Secure Liyue first, then expand. We can't eat a fat man in one bite."
...
Time passed as the two Qixing strategized late into the night.
Meanwhile, at the jar shop, Felix sat leisurely in the doorway.
Although the customers had dried up, he didn't mind waiting.
The Millelith guards were still there, standing silent watch.
Around ten o'clock, Felix finally closed the shop and went upstairs to sleep.
Sales today had been better than the last two days combined. He fell asleep dreaming of the Exclusive Jar he would earn tomorrow or the day after.