At that point, Lora suddenly paused.
She realized she didn't actually have a fixed "account" in Liyue yet. Sending the bill to the Knights of Favonius? That didn't seem appropriate.
And making a street vendor chase payment across nations over a single stick of candied hawthorn sounded even worse…
For a moment, she found herself hesitating.
But the hesitation lasted only briefly before she came up with a solution. Turning to the vendor, she said, "Send the bill to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—look for someone named Zhongli."
"Got it!" the vendor replied readily, nodding without the slightest suspicion.
The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's reputation was thunderous throughout Liyue, and its Guest Consultant, Zhongli, was even more widely admired—an elegant gentleman, well-read, well-traveled, and refined in speech. In a nation that worshipped the God of Contracts, most people didn't doubt their counterparts when doing business.
With Zhongli's name backing her, Lora continued wandering the streets.
She ate her candied hawthorn as she browsed various trinkets and small accessories, even picking out a lantern so her cell wouldn't be too dark to see in.
Only after glancing up at the sky and confirming it was getting late did she finally head toward the prison, arms full of purchases.
However, the moment she saw Ningguang standing outside her cell, clearly waiting for her return, Lora's mood instantly soured.
Wait—why was Ningguang here?
She frowned slightly as she looked at Ningguang, her mind racing to come up with an excuse. According to her plan, she should have been able to slip back in unnoticed, pretending to be a visitor and returning to her solitary cell without anyone realizing.
Besides, Ningguang should have been swamped with matters today. How could she possibly have time to come see her?
"Back already?" Ningguang's gaze landed on the half-eaten candied hawthorn in Lora's hand, then shifted to the palace lantern she was carrying.
Heaven knew how furious Ningguang had been when she arrived and discovered Lora was gone. She had first harshly reprimanded the Millelith for their negligence, then dispatched everyone to search for Lora's whereabouts—only for Lora to stroll back in like this.
"What a coincidence, Lady Ningguang," Lora said after standing there for a moment, ultimately deciding that smiling and greeting her was the safest option. She waved lightly. After all, one didn't strike someone who smiled.
"You… went out shopping?" Ningguang looked at her current state and felt an indescribable sense of absurdity.
Wasn't Lora… more or less a suspect? Shouldn't she still be in prison? How had she gotten out?
Lora chuckled. She quickly walked over, slipped past Ningguang, and returned to her cell. After setting her things down, she turned back with a grin.
"Come in and have a seat, Lady Ningguang!"
"…" Ningguang stared at her smiling face, brows drawn tight. She stepped inside the cell and fixed her gaze on the sea-blue-haired girl.
"I truly wonder who you are," she said coolly. "To still be this relaxed at a time like this."
"That's called finding joy in adversity," Lora replied cheerfully.
Ningguang glanced back at the cell door. "If I recall correctly, the cell door should have been locked, and the Millelith would not have opened it for you. So tell me—how exactly did you get out?"
"Uh…" Lora scratched her head awkwardly. She finished off the last of her candied hawthorn, then gestured vaguely. "I just… messed with it a bit, and then it opened. Yeah. I pushed it and it opened. No idea why!"
The more she spoke, the more confident she sounded, as though everything she said were perfectly true.
"Pushed it open?" Ningguang looked at the lock, which had clearly snapped clean through, her expression turning grave. She then looked back at Lora's innocent face.
"One lock costs one thousand Mora. You broke it, so you should compensate for it. However, given that today's incident was our mistake, we'll waive the payment."
"Mistake?" Lora froze. "You've already investigated it?"
"Of course," Ningguang replied. "Rex Lapis was a Martial God. An attempt on his life succeeding with your level of strength is highly unlikely. I had people look into your background—we know you only arrived in Liyue Harbor today and had no prior connection to it."
"As expected of Lady Ningguang. That was fast," Lora said, clapping in praise.
She knew full well that Yelan had likely contributed significantly to that efficiency.
Ningguang continued, "Before entering Liyue Harbor this morning, you also had contact with the Demon-Subduing Great Sage. Do you know him?"
"We met today," Lora replied.
Internally, her assessment of Ningguang's intelligence network rose yet another level. Even events from that very morning hadn't escaped her notice. Truly worthy of the title—Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.
Ningguang studied her closely. "So—are you an adeptus?"
"An adeptus?" Lora blinked, then laughed and shook her head. "How could you think that, Lady Ningguang? Of course I'm not. If I were, do you think I'd have been captured so easily?"
Ningguang let out a quiet laugh. "Even if you aren't an adeptus, being able to befriend the Demon-Subduing Great Sage means you're no ordinary person. Now that the Rex Lapis has passed, Liyue Harbor stands on unsteady ground. Everyone in Liyue is a piece on this chessboard."
She paused slightly.
"So I wish to ask you for a favor. I wonder if you'd be willing to accept."
As she spoke, Ningguang took out Lora's Vision—the glass orb—and returned it to her.
"Let's hear what it is first," Lora said, looking at the Vision placed before her without immediately agreeing.
Ningguang's words finally made everything click. No wonder she had waited here—she'd come with a purpose.
After organizing her thoughts, Ningguang said, "With the Rex Lapis gone, the golden-haired Traveler who arrived with you, along with the floating companion at her side, have already gone to seek out the adepti who dwell in the mountains and forests. The Qixing and the adepti have not interacted much for a long time. With the Emperor's passing, misunderstandings are likely to arise."
"So you want me to act as a bridge between the adepti and the Liyue Qixing?" Lora said, understanding dawning on her.
Ningguang nodded slightly. "Essentially. You aren't from Liyue, and that distance allows you to see through the fog and approach the matter from a different angle. Miss Ganyu could also do it, but she ultimately leans more toward the adepti—and she isn't particularly skilled in conversation or social dealings."
"Does it pay Mora?" Lora asked immediately, clearly most concerned about this point. "If I agree, does that mean I'm being hired? Do I get a salary?"