"She looks so imposing! She must be someone important, right?"
Seeing the elegant, noble woman, Paimon couldn't help but speak up.
"Miss Fashui, who is that lady?" Paimon pointed at the woman, her tone curious.
"That's Ningguang, one of the Liyue Qixing. The Tianquan. She's incredibly wealthy—few in this land can match her fortune."
"Do you know her?" Lumine asked, curious. This was another powerful figure.
"Mm... sort of. But our relationship with the Qixing is complicated." Bonanus shook her head.
That was true. The Qixing and the adepti had never seen eye to eye.
Hearing that, Paimon raised her hand and said knowingly, "Oh, I get it! It's normal for rich people and other rich people to not get along!"
"Is money all you think about?" Lumine said, half laughing, half exasperated. Her best friend always had Mora on her mind. It was a little embarrassing.
"Paimon also thinks about food!" Paimon said proudly.
Bonanus was a little speechless. "That's nothing to be proud of, you know."
Hearing that, Paimon shook her head and said seriously, "I've heard stories about the old days, when there were terrible famines. A lot of people went hungry. Couldn't even get a full meal."
"So to survive, I have to eat a lot."
Lumine and Bonanus both had question marks above their heads. That explanation felt... off.
Bonanus: She just made that up on the spot, didn't she?
Lumine: Oh, my wallet...
"You're really something..." Bonanus muttered, her gaze filled with pity as she looked at Lumine.
Lumine just shrugged. She was getting used to it.
As long as she took enough commissions, she could earn the Mora back. She kept telling herself that.
"Hey, what's with those looks? Never mind that—look over there! The Rite of Descension has started!"
Paimon changed the subject, waving her hand in front of their faces to get their attention.
Hearing that, they fell silent. They had been making quite a scene and drawing a lot of stares. It was a little embarrassing.
Bonanus wasn't really interested in the ceremony. She already knew how it went. Even though being in this world so long had made her forget some details, it didn't matter. Even if there were butterfly effects, she wouldn't be surprised. She was that butterfly.
...
The Rite of Descension dragged on.
Ningguang, the host, stood at the center and droned on with a long speech that Bonanus couldn't be bothered to listen to.
It was like a principal reading a script at an assembly—boring enough to put anyone to sleep.
Bonanus felt herself getting drowsy. She couldn't stop yawning.
Seeing this, Lumine grew concerned. She steadied Bonanus and asked, "Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no. It's just a boring speech. Making me tired." Bonanus snapped out of it, patting her head with a casual tone.
She didn't remember Ningguang having so much to say in the game. Maybe miHoYo had cut it for brevity.
Shaking her head, she tried to stay awake.
Lumine didn't say much. She had already pieced together Bonanus's personality from her words and actions.
In summary:
Miss Fashui wore her heart on her sleeve.
She wasn't a bad person. She was warmhearted and a bit lazy. Someone worth befriending. But she carried a lot of secrets.
Either way, Lumine decided to spend more time with her.
...
Soon enough...
The speech ended, and the original plot continued.
The familiar dragon fell from the sky. The familiar words echoed: "Rex Lapis has been assassinated! Seal the area!"
Chaos erupted. People panicked. There was even a stampede. But the Millelith quickly restored order.
They calmed the crowd and searched for the assassin, questioning suspicious foreigners and locals alike.
They would find nothing, of course. There was no assassin. If there was one, it was Rex Lapis himself.
After all, it was all part of his plan.
"Ah! Why did this happen?! Traveler, we need to run!" Paimon said urgently.
As foreigners, they would definitely be arrested. If they didn't leave now, it would be too late.
Lumine rubbed her forehead, annoyed. Why was finding her brother so hard? Why did trouble keep finding her?
Just as Lumine and Paimon were about to leave, the Millelith surrounded them.
"Stay where you are! Cooperate!" A Millelith captain shouted.
Lumine drew her sword, ready to fight her way out.
The soldiers tightened their grips on their weapons, not daring to relax.
Just as the tension peaked, a voice from behind the soldiers spoke, slightly annoyed.
"Hey, hey, what's going on here?"
"Don't just draw your weapons like that. Let's be civil. No need for violence." Bonanus crossed her arms, her tone brooking no argument.
The soldiers turned and recognized her as an adeptus. The captain rushed over apologetically.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. With Rex Lapis's assassination, we're on edge..."
"Then you should get your facts straight before acting hostile. Our soldiers shouldn't be so impulsive. If she's innocent, it damages our image."
Bonanus said sternly. If they hadn't shown hostility, Lumine wouldn't have drawn her sword.
"Yes, ma'am." The captain nodded. They had been too hasty. It wouldn't happen again.
Seeing his good attitude, Bonanus stopped her lecture and sighed.
"These two are my friends. They were with me the whole time. There's no way they're involved. And I have something I need to ask them."
"I'll vouch for them. On my name." Bonanus said firmly.
Hearing that, the captain nodded. He looked at the two, then took his squad to question others.
Once they were gone, Bonanus turned and smiled at the stunned pair.
"It's fine now. Also, I have something I'd like to ask of you."