"Ice-cold Cola! Fresh from the Pope's factory! Only two Mora a cup!"
"Come and see! Lemon soda! Banana milk!"
The streets of Mondstadt were alive with shouting vendors. The price had increased slightly due to transportation and the salaries of the escorts, but to the citizens, it was still a steal.
The people of Mondstadt, natural lovers of alcohol, had found their new obsession.
"Wow! It's so cheap! Only two Mora... give me a barrel!"
"I want ten barrels!"
"This stuff really wakes you up! Perfect for a hot day!"
In the scorching summer heat, eating hot pot with an ice-cold Cola was the ultimate pleasure.
Diluc watched the bustling crowd from the balcony of the Angel's Share, a faint smile on his face.
"Hey," Kaeya leaned against the railing, swirling his wine. "If everyone buys this new drink, your wine sales are going to tank."
Diluc snorted. "I'd rather see them drinking this than stumbling around drunk at noon. It's disgraceful."
Mondstadt's alcohol culture was deep-rooted, but daytime drunkenness affected productivity and morale. This new beverage, which was refreshing but non-alcoholic, was the perfect substitute.
"Besides," Diluc added, "I have taverns in other nations. I'm not worried about a little competition."
High above in the Knights' headquarters, Jean watched the scene with a relieved smile. The revenue from these sales, funneled through Su Han's "Pope" title, was funding the new railway construction in Dadaupa Gorge. Mondstadt's tight finances were finally loosening up.
Click.
The door opened, and Lisa sauntered in.
"Your man has contributed so much this time. Aren't you going to thank him?"
Jean blushed but retorted, "I've already given him... everything. What more thanks does he need? Besides, don't think I haven't noticed Barbara's feelings."
Since Su Han left, her sister had been acting like a lost soul. She wandered around his old room, cleaning it daily, wanting to speak but not daring to. Even a fool could see her heart.
Lisa covered her mouth and laughed. "So, what are you going to do?"
"What can I do? Just take it one step at a time. I tried to talk to her yesterday, but she got scared and ran away. I really am a failure as a sister."
"Don't rush it. Love is a catalyst. Only through experiencing it can people truly grow."
Jean walked to her desk, looking at a photo of her and Su Han. "I hope so."
...
Near Starsnatch Cliff.
A squad of knights was on patrol.
"I heard the new drink in the city is amazing. It's the Lord Pope's creation."
"Yeah, and it's cheap! Two Mora! The cheapest wine is five! The Pope is practically giving it away!"
"We definitely have to support him when we get back!"
The captain sighed. "It's a pity Lord Su Han is busy with Liyue's affairs. Not seeing him around makes me feel... unmotivated."
"Captain, you'd better not let Lady Eula or Lady Rosaria hear you say that."
"Hehe, just a little complaint."
Suddenly, a blinding beam of light erupted from the beach below.
The captain's expression instantly hardened. "Alert! Possible enemy attack! Contact the Knights!"
He pulled out a Transponder Snail.
"Reporting to Knight Ellin! This is the Starsnatch Cliff patrol. An anomaly has appeared!"
"Understood. I'm on my way."
Fifteen minutes later, Ellin arrived on horseback. After her training, her face had lost its childishness, replaced by a steady, reliable calm.
She looked at the pillar of light on the beach and frowned. She tried to approach, using her Haki to probe it.
Clang.
Her Haki was repelled. A powerful force prevented her from entering.
"My lady... this..."
"It's fine. I'll report it up the chain."
She picked up her snail and contacted Lisa.
...
Inside the Knights' headquarters.
"I'll go take a look," Lisa said to Jean. "It might be some kind of treasure."
"Be careful."
"Don't worry. Thanks to Su Han, the side effects of my power are suppressed. A little anomaly won't hurt me."
Lisa opened the window and dissolved into a bolt of purple lightning, shooting towards the coast.
Even Haki can't touch it? This might be interesting.
Ten minutes later, Lisa landed on the beach.
But the place was empty. The light pillar Ellin had described was gone.
"Where is it?"
"Reporting to Lady Lisa! It was just here! But a few minutes ago, it dimmed and vanished! We don't know what happened."
Lisa frowned. "Is there something underground?"
She activated her Elemental Sight. Nothing. No elemental traces, no mechanism, nothing.
"Strange. Could it be an illusion?"
But Ellin wouldn't lie.
Lisa tried excavating the area with magic, but found nothing. Helpless, she opened the Multiverse Mission Group.
Lisa:@Su Han, I've encountered a strange situation here.
Ganyu:Hm? Is Mondstadt under attack again?
Hu Tao:Fatui? Abyss?
Rosalyne:Don't tell me it's Stormterror again...
Eula:...
Do you guys want us to have a disaster that badly?
Su Han:What happened? Speak.
Lisa:A strange pillar of light erupted on the beach near Starsnatch Cliff. Ellin and her squad saw it, but they couldn't penetrate it, even with Haki. By the time I arrived, it was gone. Elemental Sight shows nothing. My Observation Haki senses nothing. It's like it never existed.
Reading Lisa's description, Su Han frowned.
Starsnatch Cliff.
What was there? The Thousand Winds Temple... Starfell Lake...
No.
Su Han suddenly remembered something.
Su Han:@Lisa... are you near the sea? Can you see the Nameless Island to the northeast?
Lisa looked out at the ocean. In the distance, she could indeed see the faint outline of ruins.
Lisa:Yes... I can see it.
Su Han:Wait there. I'm coming right now.
Ningguang:What's wrong? You sound nervous.
Su Han's tone was rarely this serious. With so many things happening in Liyue, for him to run to Mondstadt meant this was huge.
Su Han:If I'm not mistaken, another otherworldly traveler has descended. And this one has been here for five hundred years.
Yes.
That location. The nature of the light.
It could only be one thing.
Lumine.
The Abyss Prince's blood relative. The other twin.
But the timeline is wrong, Su Han thought, his mind racing as he flew on his sword towards Mondstadt. In the game, she wakes up two months before fishing Paimon out of the sea. That should be at least three months from now! Why has she awakened early?
What changed the timeline?
Su Han stared at the horizon, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
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