Chapter 419: Busy Preparations
"This goes far beyond a simple exchange of miraculous tales among friends. It directly concerns the safety of Wise, Belle, and every single person standing in this room. As your friend, and as an officer of Public Security, I implore—no, I demand—that everyone..."
Zhu Yuan paused, her posture straightening as her sharp gaze swept across the room to emphasize the gravity of her words. "You must keep the secrets of what you have seen and heard here tonight strictly confidential! Not a single word leaves this room. Can everyone promise me this?"
Her voice echoed through the spacious hall, carrying that unwavering sense of duty and absolute responsibility she was known for.
The playful atmosphere immediately cooled into something far more solemn. Everyone present restrained their casual expressions, their postures stiffening in acknowledgment. They might have hailed from different factions with wildly clashing personalities, but at their core, they were all trusted partners who had fought side-by-side with the sibling proxies of New Eridu.
"Understood," Miyabi was the first to state her position. Her response was concise, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her katana to seal the vow.
"Oh my, there's no need to be so tense! Nicole knows the importance of business secrets better than anyone~" The pink-haired leader of the Cunning Hares blinked, maintaining her signature sweet smile, though the calculating sharpness in her eyes proved she was dead serious. "Rest assured, my lips are sealed tight."
"Belobog Heavy Industries respects the confidentiality of our partners. We don't leak." Koleda crossed her arms, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
"I swear upon the pristine reputation of Victoria Housekeeping. I shall strictly guard this secret and ensure the absolute safety and privacy of our clients." Lycaon placed a gloved hand over his chest, offering a flawlessly elegant bow.
"We folks from the Sons of Calydon are the most loyal out there! Don't you worry about a thing!" Caesar thumped her chest with a gauntleted fist, the metallic clank ringing out loudly.
Watching their friends make such solemn, unwavering promises one after another, Wise and Belle exchanged a quiet glance. The heavy burden of anxiety that had been resting on their shoulders melted away, replaced by a deep, swelling sense of relief.
Wise stepped forward, offering a deep, sincere bow to the assembled group. "Truly... thank you all so much for your understanding and your trust."
Belle's eyes were slightly red at the corners, but she flashed a brilliantly bright smile, her twin-tails bouncing as she nodded eagerly. "Thank you, everyone! Now, let's drop all these heavy, serious topics!"
The siblings shared another warm smile. The deep comfort of being trusted and protected by their friends transformed into a radiant energy that seemed to light up the room.
"Alright, alright!" Belle clapped her hands together, the crisp sound shattering the lingering silence. "The serious business ends here! Next up..."
She spun around on her heel, waving her arm expansively toward the depths of the hall where warm, golden light spilled out, accompanied by the lively hum of overlapping voices and a mouth-watering aroma that was already drifting through the corridors.
"It's celebration time! Everyone, follow us! The main venue for the banquet is right over in the rest area!"
With that, she and Wise took the lead. The large group of partners, their expressions now relaxed and filled with anticipation, trailed behind them. Their footsteps echoed against the polished floors as they transitioned from the quiet, spacious main hall into the bustling, brightly lit rest area.
The scene unfolding in the rest area could only be described as a beautifully chaotic collision of multiversal cooperation.
The absolute centerpiece of the room was the open kitchen.
Lumine stood at the counter, looking every bit like a battle-hardened head chef. She wore a plain white apron over her usual adventuring gear, her golden eyes narrowed in absolute focus. Flames roared on the industrial stove as she dual-wielded two massive woks, tossing ingredients high into the air. The rhythmic, metallic clanging of her spatula against the wok rims kept a frantic beat, the blazing orange firelight illuminating her serious profile.
A stunning array of finished dishes already lined the side counter. There was the vibrant, colorful Mondstadt-style Satisfying Salad, plates of exquisitely folded Liyue-style Jade Parcels steaming gently, and Sumeru-style Lambad Fish Rolls that radiated an intoxicating, spicy aroma that made the mouth water.
Her control over the heat and seasoning was nothing short of masterful; every flick of her wrist and toss of the pan flowed as smoothly as running water.
Right beside her stood Belle's Chat Group avatar, wearing a matching, slightly oversized apron. While her culinary technique was nowhere near as fluid or effortless as Lumine's—her movements stiff and highly cautious—she was mirroring the Traveler's steps with intense, adorable concentration.
And hovering just beside these two "head chefs" was Paimon, currently enduring a very specific brand of sweet torture.
Because the little fairy's overly "active" tasting and unsolicited commentary had severely derailed the cooking process earlier, Lumine had officially banished her to a fixed position. Paimon was now strictly on waitstaff duty, ordered to carry the finished plates to the long dining table across the room.
The little guide floated in mid-air, her boots kicking impatiently. She watched with wide, starry eyes as one glistening delicacy after another was plated, whining softly because she couldn't immediately stuff them into her mouth. She had no choice but to wait for Lumine or Belle's avatar to hand over a dish before carefully balancing it and floating away.
However, Paimon had clearly discovered a loophole in Lumine's strict rules. Whenever a dish was freshly plated and required a "final check for saltiness" or a "doneness test," she would immediately declare, "This is a necessary quality assurance step!"
With practiced precision, she would whip out a tiny silver fork she had hidden behind her back, spear a juicy piece of meat, and pop it into her mouth.
"Mmhmm! The heat is just right!" she would announce, nodding with a deeply serious expression. "The seasoning is absolutely perfect! You may serve it!"
Watching Paimon try so desperately to act like a professional food critic while completely failing to hide her smug, cheek-stretching grin made everyone in the vicinity burst into laughter.
Outside the immediate blast zone of the kitchen, the rest of the group had formed a makeshift "atmosphere team" to decorate the venue.
Stelle and March 7th were currently engaged in a heated debate, while Dan Heng stood nearby, rubbing his temples with a quiet sigh. They were arguing over the exact angle a string of glowing ribbons needed to be hung to achieve "maximum visual impact." As usual, March 7th eventually huffed and compromised, allowing Stelle to triumphantly scale a nearby pillar and secure the ribbon exactly where she wanted it.
Venti leaned casually against a different pillar, cradling his wooden lyre in his arms. His fingers danced across the strings, weaving a light, breezy, improvised melody that floated through the room. It served as the perfect background music, making it feel as though the Anemo Archon was physically weaving the festive atmosphere together with his notes.
Not far away, Hu Tao was fully using her chaotic, spontaneous creativity. She was enthusiastically directing a squad of automatically floating Bangboos, having them string up the red silk and Liyue lanterns she had brought along. Despite her bizarre instructions, the decorations ended up looking surprisingly harmonious. She hummed a cheerful, slightly eerie little tune as she worked.
Right in the middle of this noisy, vibrant slice of life, Wise and the real Belle arrived with their New Eridu companions in tow.
"Everyone! We're back! And we brought backup!" Belle shouted happily, waving her arms.
Hearing her voice, the Chat Group members temporarily paused their tasks, turning to cast warm, welcoming smiles toward the newcomers.
Lumine peeked out from behind a towering stack of bamboo steamers and waved. Paimon, currently balancing a massive platter of roasted meat, spun around in the air and cheered, "You're finally here! Hurry up and help! We're running out of clean plates!"
Venti's gentle lyre music smoothly transitioned into a lively, upbeat welcoming tavern tune. Zhongli, sitting quietly at the edge of the room with a cup of tea, offered a polite nod, which Welt mirrored from the opposite couch.
The New Eridu crew was instantly swept up in the infectious energy.
"Whoa... it smells so good! It looks so tasty!" Soukaku's eyes sparkled like stars. Her nose twitched wildly as she practically gravitated toward the kitchen area, her stomach giving a loud, demanding growl.
Caesar's booming laugh echoed over the music. "Haha! Setting up a venue? I'm an expert at this! I lead the charge for every single festival back in Blazewood! Hey, you two with the ribbons! Need a hand moving that heavy stuff over there?" she called out to Stelle and March 7th, already rolling up her sleeves.
As everyone naturally dissolved into the preparation work—either actively hunting for chores or striking up conversations with their multiversal counterparts—one particular figure quietly detached herself from the group and drifted toward the kitchen.
Rina.
The elegant maid watched Lumine and Belle's avatar effortlessly managing the stoves. Her eyes locked onto the mouth-watering, semi-finished ingredients resting on the cutting boards. A spark of culinary inspiration ignited within her. Smiling softly, she began to roll up the frilly sleeves of her uniform, reaching out to touch a basket of fresh vegetables.
However, the very millisecond she made her move, Lycaon—who had been tracking her movements like a highly trained shadow—stepped smoothly into her path.
"Rina," Lycaon said. His voice was perfectly steady, though a microscopic bead of sweat had formed at his temple, betraying a trace of absolute, hidden terror. "I believe those high-altitude decorations are in dire need of assistance. Miss Hu Tao over there appears to be lacking a capable helper."
As he spoke, the wolf butler subtly shifted his broad shoulders, forming an impenetrable, polite wall between Rina and the kitchen counter. Simultaneously, he shot a desperate, pleading look over his shoulder toward Hu Tao, who was currently dangling from the ceiling while tinkering with a lantern.
Hu Tao, being the sharp and perceptive trickster she was, instantly caught his frantic gaze. Though she had no idea why the wolf-man looked like he was trying to defuse a bomb, she happily played along.
Leaning down from her high perch, she waved a long strip of red silk frantically. "Yes, yes, yes! Over here, over here! Miss Rina, was it? Come help this Hall Master! I need someone with good taste!"
Rina blinked, her hand hovering in the air. She looked at Lycaon's unquestionable, gentle smile, and then up at the enthusiastically waving Hu Tao.
Though she still felt a deep, lingering yearning to contribute to the cooking, she reasoned that venue aesthetics were just as vital to a successful banquet. She offered a graceful nod. "Very well. I suppose I shall assist her then."
She turned on her heel, floating gracefully toward the eccentric funeral director.
Lycaon let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his tail giving a single, relieved twitch. He knew all too well about Rina's legendary status as a "kitchen killer." For the sake of multiversal diplomacy, and everyone's digestive tracts, it was best to ensure the guests actually got to eat something edible tonight.
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