After learning of Su Ran's plan, Ningguang once again felt immensely fortunate.
She finally understood why talent was always so important.
A transportation technology that ignored distance entirely—
allowing travel across the entire universe—
would completely overturn all existing logistics methods.
Although Asta had mentioned warp engines before, which sounded impressive and allowed ultra-high-speed travel over vast distances, no matter how fast a warp was, it still involved movement and routes.
Su Ran's concept, however, was far more astonishing.
He was attempting to replace the universe's mainstream transportation system entirely—
with teleportation.
Once completed, for any faction whatsoever, this would drastically reduce time costs and eliminate countless unpredictable expenses.
The universe was full of dangers.
Not only pirates, but also terrifying unknown forces.
If you ran into them, good luck might let you escape unharmed.
Bad luck?
You might lose your life.
"This is similar to the teleport cabins in the Jade Chamber or the space station, isn't it?"
"Exactly! Ningguang, you're experiencing cutting-edge technology that even the people of the universe haven't experienced yet."
"Then I really am fortunate."
Since entering the universe, everything had gone smoothly.
So smoothly that it felt dreamlike—almost unreal.
Was this perhaps a reward for the hardship she had endured since childhood, for struggling all the way into adulthood?
Becoming one of Liyue's Qixing had been achieved through strategy and long-term planning.
But now, she realized that to truly gain a foothold in the universe, what she needed most was Su Ran's support.
A single casual idea from him could reshape the entire structure of the universe.
Members of the Genius Society…
They truly lived up to their name.
Only geniuses among geniuses could enter such a place.
And any one of them had the power to change the world at will.
Yelan, who had accompanied Ningguang here, also gained a completely new perspective on Su Ran.
At the very least, she no longer viewed him as merely an extremely powerful Fatui Harbinger.
Having glimpsed the vastness of the universe, she was certain that someone of Su Ran's caliber was not someone an organization like the Fatui could contain.
Before, Yelan had thought that a mere Fatui Harbinger defeating the Geo Archon must have involved some underhanded method.
But now?
She only felt that Morax was impressive.
Impressive for having lost to someone like Su Ran.
Sometimes, a person's greatness wasn't defined by whom they defeated—
But by who defeated them.
Morax losing to a genius of the universe might seem like a defeat,
Yet its value only grew.
Because most people didn't even qualify to be defeated by Su Ran.
The only regret was that Su Ran's first stop in Teyvat had been Snezhnaya, not Liyue.
That alone made Yelan feel deeply uncomfortable.
If Su Ran's first stop had been Liyue instead of Snezhnaya…
Would he have joined Liyue?
But there were no "what ifs" in this world.
What was missed, was missed.
The fact that Liyue could now catch this fast-moving ship at all was already no small feat.
Looking at the Seven Nations—
Only Snezhnaya and Inazuma had truly direct ties with Su Ran.
At least Liyue still had a chance.
And Ningguang's position was far from ordinary.
Other nations didn't even understand Su Ran in the slightest.
Thinking of the Akademiya, who claimed to control all knowledge of Teyvat—
Yelan found it almost laughable.
"What're you smiling about, Sis Yelan?"
Seeing the faint smile at the corner of Yelan's lips, Su Ran couldn't help asking.
Though the Liyue agent often smiled, there was usually a reason.
Standing there and smiling for no reason?
Did she think of something amusing?
Shouldn't she share it with everyone?
"Just call me Yelan. I'm a nobody—I don't deserve a 'sis' from someone like you, Lord Su Ran."
Being addressed like that by a big shot didn't make her feel honored.
Instead, it felt… strange.
Was that a title she could really bear?
"Sigh… back then, Sis Yelan dared to hold a dagger to my throat, even tried to blackmail me into releasing Morax. So impressive. Where did all that bravery go now?"
Su Ran sighed, like someone reminiscing about a long-lost past.
Ningguang's gaze toward Yelan gained a trace of amusement.
She could tell Su Ran was teasing.
But hearing that Yelan had once threatened him with a dagger—
That was genuinely funny.
Especially after witnessing Su Ran casually kill an ancient demon god.
Hearing that story now made it even more hilarious.
Who would've thought Yelan had once been that bold?
Of course, Ningguang herself hadn't been much better back then.
Fortunately, she had known the Raiden Shogun, so she hadn't left behind any leverage during her first meeting.
Between Su Ran's sarcasm and Ningguang's barely concealed smile—
Yelan felt needles stabbing her from all directions.
Even her toes were curling inside her boots.
This was humiliating.
If Su Ran teased her in private, that'd be one thing.
But with Ningguang present?
Completely different story.
She wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and disappear.
"Su Ran! Su Ran!"
Herta's voice echoed from afar.
Her arrival saved Yelan from utter social death.
"Take me with you!"
The moment she saw Su Ran, Herta immediately applied to join his research.
"Your puppet's too small. I prefer mature ladies."
He shook his head and rejected her.
"What?! What does the puppet have to do with this?! I'm asking—can you really build that equivalent-exchange machine?"
If Su Ran needed it, Herta could absolutely customize a mature-type puppet.
That wouldn't take long at all.
"Asta really does treat you well. I barely talked to her, and you already know?"
"Of course! She's my sugar mommy, not yours!"
Herta put her hands on her hips, smugly mocking him face-to-face.
Her sponsor had money.
Su Ran's sponsor?
Still broke.
"That's fine. I still have you as my sugar mommy."
He didn't mind at all.
Ningguang had plenty of potential.
"Good that you know! Then remember to take me with you!"
Your sugar mommy might be broke, but you still have me!
I can totally be your sugar mommy!
Herta stood there, hands on her hips, looking extremely proud.
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