After dinner, Lumine and Paimon spent the night resting in the manga shop.
But the next morning, right after breakfast, they were already preparing to leave.
"Leaving without reading a manga?"
Han Feng teased as he watched the two finish packing up.
"We'll come back after the Rite of Descension. It only happens once a year—we can't miss it."
Lumine smiled.
A once-a-year festival was something you had to experience.
"You two definitely won't forget it."
Han Feng showed a mysterious grin.
A Rite of Descension… plus the assassination of the Geo Archon…
How could that not be unforgettable?
"Hehe, I hope so! Bye, Boss Han!"
Paimon waved enthusiastically, and Lumine stepped through the Anywhere Door.
With yesterday's travel speed, they'd reach Liyue in an hour or two.
"Time to begin today's business."
Han Feng looked at Noelle.
"Okay, Boss!"
Noelle stood up, took the "Open" sign outside, and the day's operations officially began.
Not long after—
The first customers arrived.
"You two are early today."
Seeing Ningguang and Keqing enter, Han Feng blinked in mild surprise.
Not bad.
The Tianquan Star and Tianheng Star were not only diligent at work— even when it came to reading manga, they were more proactive than everyone else.
"All because of that Childe causing trouble! He couldn't even hold onto his reward…"
At Han Feng's question, Keqing immediately complained.
When Ningguang told her the situation last night, Keqing was completely stunned.
The Vortex God might revive?!
And it was caused by Childe?!
Understanding the whole situation made her even more speechless.
This Childe was too useless.
This was her first time seeing someone whose reward literally flew away from him.
But scolding him now wouldn't help.
Whether or not the Fake Peace Star really went to Guyun Stone Forest— they had to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
And besides making preparations, the most important thing was to strengthen themselves.
That was why the two arrived so early.
Since Boss Han's manga shop could produce something capable of reviving a god—
there must also be something capable of fighting one.
"I have to preside over the Rite of Descension later, so I have to move fast."
Ningguang sighed softly.
"The books are on the shelf. You know the rules."
Han Feng nodded.
They weren't first-time visitors—they knew how things worked.
After leaving a pouch of Mora each, they walked toward the shelves.
"By the way, Boss Han, which manga was Childe reading yesterday?"
Ningguang was extremely curious about the Fake Peace Star.
"Iron Kid. It's the one in the very back."
Han Feng pointed.
"This one?"
Ningguang looked at the red robot on the cover with thoughtful eyes.
"Thank you, Boss Han."
She bowed slightly and headed deeper into the store.
"I'll pick one too!
Should I read Journey to the West? Or Doraemon?"
The moment Ningguang left, Keqing perked up and began browsing.
"Huh? A new manga?"
She spotted A Certain Scientific Railgun and her eyes lit up.
"There are a lot of interesting abilities in that one. You can give it a try."
Han Feng said with a grin.
"Interesting abilities…"
Keqing was tempted.
She needed to get stronger—and this manga seemed perfect.
Journey to the West and Doraemon would have to wait.
"Just like I guessed yesterday…"
Keqing sighed.
The shop kept expanding faster than she could read.
She could never finish them all.
Shaking her head, she took the manga and sat down in the silent reading area.
"I wonder what kind of abilities Boss Han meant?"
She murmured while opening the book—
—and froze.
"There's a whole city dedicated to developing superpowers?!"
The description of Academy City left Keqing stunned.
In Teyvat, abilities like that could only be gained through a Vision or by using the Fatui's Delusions.
She had never imagined a place like this— a school where every student underwent superpower development.
It was unbelievable.
"Let's see what kind of powers they have."
Keqing continued reading with growing interest.
"This Shirai Kuroko is impressive. Teleportation?"
Her eyes widened.
And she's so enthusiastic about catching thieves… quite admirable.
Then she reached the scene where Misaka Mikoto and the others encountered a bank robber.
When the robber kicked Saten to the ground—
Keqing immediately frowned.
"People like that should be locked up. They need proper punishment."
Keqing had always despised criminals.
Then came Misaka's iconic moment:
"Blacky, the next part is my personal fight.
Sorry, but I'm going in."
Misaka Mikoto walked through the smoke, lightning crackling around her.
Clearly furious.
"So she's a strong esper too?"
Keqing was curious.
After all, Misaka Mikoto hadn't fought yet in the earlier chapters.
But seeing the electricity around her, she definitely wasn't weak.
Keqing continued reading intently.
The action reached its peak.
The robber panicked and sprinted toward Misaka Mikoto in his vehicle.
"Move! Get out of the way!"
Keqing didn't know what that machine was, but comparing it to Liyue's carriages, she could guess—
If it hit someone, it'd be extremely dangerous.
Then—
Right before her eyes—
Misaka Mikoto pulled out a coin.
With a flick of her thumb, the coin spun upward.
As it began to fall, the robber's vehicle charged forward.
Misaka Mikoto narrowed her eyes.
A powerful aura exploded from her body.
Amidst crackling lightning, a blast of electromagnetic force shot from the coin.
The beam tore across the street, struck the vehicle, and sent it flying into the air.
Keqing shot to her feet.
"This… this is way too cool!!!"
Seeing Railgun's classic coin attack, her purple eyes practically sparkled.
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