"Char! Char!"
In the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Charmander ate quickly. In no time at all, it had devoured every single Plum Blossom Pastry Hu Tao offered.
After finishing, it looked up at Hu Tao with big, expectant eyes.
"Still not full?"
Hu Tao frowned. It had eaten so much already.
"Forget it. I'll take you to Wanmin Restaurant."
Checking the sky outside, Hu Tao stood up with a grin. "I'll let Xiangling make you something delicious. I bet she'll be surprised to see you. You're way cuter than that roast suckling pig she keeps."
Seeing Hu Tao leave, Charmander scrambled to follow her.
"Lao Meng, Ferrylady, I'm taking the little fire dragon out for a walk. You guys handle the Soul Out-of-Body orders for tonight!"
Hu Tao skipped out of the parlor with her hands behind her back, shouting instructions without looking back.
Charmander trotted closely at her heels.
"Holy crap, what is that thing?"
As Hu Tao and Charmander emerged, the crowd that had gathered to laugh at Lao Meng's misfortune suddenly froze, eyes wide with shock.
What was that goofy-looking thing following Director Hu? And why was its tail on fire?
"Whoa, what is that? I've never seen a creature like that before."
"It looks like a pet. Director Hu's pet? But I've never seen this species."
"Me neither. It's bizarre. The tail is literally burning. Where did she get it?"
"Did Lao Meng's screaming have something to do with this?"
...
The onlookers buzzed with speculation.
"Director Hu, what is that thing following you?"
Someone shouted out, "Is it a new kind of pet?"
"It's a child hatched from a Fire Dragon Egg!"
Hu Tao grinned mischievously. "It was just born. From now on, it's the newest employee of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! Everyone, meet the little guy. If you see him around, know that he's one of ours!"
Charmander was her pet now. She would be taking it everywhere.
Introducing it early was a good idea. Even if it caused a stir.
"What? Fire Dragon???"
"There's a creature called a Fire Dragon?"
"Where the heck did a Fire Dragon come from? I've never heard of such a thing in Liyue."
"Forget Liyue, I haven't heard of it in Mondstadt either! Though Mondstadt does have a Wind Dragon."
"Director Hu must be joking, right? If that egg hatched into a Fire Dragon... how is that possible?"
"Liyue has weird creatures, but the only dragon-related thing I know is the Geovishap."
"But Director Hu wouldn't lie to us about something like this. Still... it doesn't look like a dragon."
"Strange items... could it be from that Jar Shop?"
"Impossible. That's a living creature!"
"Director Hu... raising a Fire Dragon..."
...
Hearing Hu Tao's claim, the passersby looked at her as if she were crazy.
They stared at the little orange lizard in disbelief.
That is a Fire Dragon?
Who has a Fire Dragon that looks this cute?
Aren't dragons supposed to be ferocious and terrifying?
"The sun comes out and I bask in the sun~ The moon comes out and I bask in the moon~"
Ignoring the confusion, Hu Tao skipped happily toward Wanmin Restaurant, humming her signature tune.
She had forgotten all about her milk-related worries. Her mind was entirely occupied by the joy of having Charmander.
Charmander followed her steps, its round head swiveling to look at the surroundings, seemingly trying to memorize the environment.
Meanwhile, at Liyue Harbor:
At the Ship Bureau, a group of experts was frantically packing their gear.
"Quick! Lady Ningguang ordered us to investigate Captain Beidou's new ship!"
"Don't waste time! We need to understand this... what was it called again?"
"Steam Battleship."
"Right, Steam Battleship. We need to analyze it. Our next job is to study its design and upgrade our existing fleet. Even if we can't replicate it perfectly, we must build something better than what we have now."
"Exactly. Liyue's fleet needs a complete overhaul. This battleship is the blueprint we've been waiting for."
"Stop packing useless stuff! Just bring the essentials! Captain Beidou has granted us access to the interior—something the public won't get to see!"
...
The Ship Bureau's naval architects and engineers rushed out of their offices in white coats, clutching notebooks and measuring tools.
They sprinted toward the harbor.
The docks were still packed with people staring longingly at the glowing white battleship. Many had left, realizing they wouldn't get a tour tonight, but the crowd remained dense.
"Make way! Make way!"
The Millelith opened a dedicated channel, allowing the Ship Bureau experts to pass through quickly.
Soon, they stood before the steel leviathan.
"Holy crap... seeing it up close... it really is magnificent."
"It's spectacular. This is true high technology. Our wooden junks can't even compare."
"Look at the hull! It's completely steel! How does it float? It's incredible."
"I can't wait to see the inside."
...
Upon closer inspection, the experts were floored.
They had heard the reports, but seeing the streamlined steel hull floating effortlessly on the water shattered their preconceived notions of shipbuilding.
The visual impact was immense.
On the deck of the Steam Battleship, the crew of The Alcor was having a similar reaction.
"My Archons... is this our new ship? I can't believe it. Captain, where did you get this?"
"It's too advanced. I feel like I'm dreaming."
"I didn't believe Furong at first, but she was telling the truth."
"I'm speechless."
...
Seeing her crew's shock, Beidou laughed heartily. "Alright, save the shock for later! I need you to station yourselves at key points on the ship. We're opening for public tours soon. Once the tours are over tonight, you can explore and geek out all you want."
"From now on, this is our flagship. You'll have plenty of time to learn its secrets. For now, suppress your excitement and do your jobs!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Beidou walked to the gangway.
She saw the group of experts from the Ship Bureau waiting below.
She had promised Ningguang access for these people. Their research would benefit all of Liyue's maritime industry.
"Captain Beidou!"
The head of the Ship Bureau bowed respectfully. "We are the shipbuilding team from the Bureau, here on Lady Ningguang's orders to study the Steam Battleship."
It was his first time speaking to the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean this closely.
Usually, he only dealt with her accountant, Qianyan, regarding fines.
"Mhm, I know."
Beidou nodded. "Come aboard. You have access to the interior. If you have questions, ask my navigator, Huixing. She doesn't know everything yet, but she knows enough."
"Yes! Thank you!"
The experts nodded eagerly and followed Huixing into the ship.
"Hey! Why do they get to go up early? I thought tours weren't open yet!"
"Are you stupid? Those are the Ship Bureau experts. Of course they get priority."
"Yeah, you must not be from around here."
"Are you blind? Didn't you see the Millelith open a path for them?"
...
The crowd buzzed with envy as they watched the white-coated experts board the ship.
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