A whole nation's worth of wine.
Just imagining it made Venti excited.
And that "Anywhere Door" convenience from Inazuma—
Sure, he could ride the winds across Teyvat himself.
But if there was an easier way, why not use it?
Besides, wasn't novelty half the fun?
So he decided.
He would trade with Inazuma.
But not all of it.
Only one-third.
Another third would be sent back to Mondstadt.
And the remaining third?
For himself, of course.
It was alcohol from another world, after all.
As for the other nations—
Well.
Apologies.
Venti: @Kamisato Ayato We can trade! But only one-third~!
Venti: @Kaeya I'll send one-third back to the Knights of Favonius later.
Venti: Eh-he~ The rest is mine~ Sorry everyone else~ (doge)
The Kamisato siblings were delighted.
Even one-third of such a peculiar wine was a huge win.
Kaeya, naturally, was overjoyed.
No matter how unserious Barbatos acted—
He still loved Mondstadt.
The other nations sighed.
One side was his homeland.
The other offered the best deal.
It was understandable.
But they weren't too disappointed.
Opportunities would come again.
Then attention shifted.
If Venti got Gin…
What did Neuvillette get?
Neuvillette: …It is a dark-colored liquid from another world. It is called "Fat Otaku Happy Water."
Neuvillette: It tastes somewhat sweet.
Silence.
Then—
Explosion.
Lumine: Wait, isn't that soda?!
Hu Tao: Hey, does it have "water" in the name or not?
Yae Miko: Nuclear wastewater is still "water." Why can't Happy Water be water? (doge)
Zhongli: By universal reason… that is correct.
Nahida: Why is it called that? Is it very delicious? (curious.jpg)
Furina: I just tried some—it's actually quite good!
Then—
Alice dropped the bomb.
"Drink it cold, it tastes better."
"And it's called 'Fat Otaku Happy Water' because drinking too much makes you gain weight~"
Furina: ???
There is no girl who doesn't care about beauty.
Furina panicked and ran to the restroom.
Neuvillette remained standing in dignified confusion.
Unexpectedly—
Trade requests flooded in.
Diluc.
Ningguang.
Miko.
Dori.
Even the Fatui.
Neuvillette followed Venti's example.
One-third for Fontaine research.
The rest for trade.
The so-called "Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix"—
Still bizarre.
Still lucky.
Then Nahida Spoke
Nahida: @Lumine The matter you asked me about… I have some clues now.
Lumine: ???
Lumine: Did I ask something? (confused.jpg)
Collective facepalm.
Amber: Your brother!
Keqing: You asked the Archons about him. Nahida said she would check Irminsul.
Furina: Seems like someone's been having too much fun in Liyue and Inazuma~
Yoimiya chimed in cheerfully.
Looks like Inazuma was so fun that Lumine almost forgot why she started her journey.
At Kamisato Estate—
Lumine blinked innocently.
Oh.
Right.
That.
She coughed.
Lumine: I've just been… busy.
Everyone rolled their eyes.
Busy?
More like partying.
Somewhere deep in the Abyss—
Aether stared at the chat.
"…She wouldn't forget me."
Would she?
He felt strangely unsettled.
Nahida explained gently.
She could not find Lumine in Irminsul.
But her brother—
Was recorded.
Which meant—
He was recognized as belonging to this world.
Lumine's heart skipped.
How?
They had traveled the stars together.
How could he be Teyvat-born?
Nahida continued.
He appeared in Khaenri'ah.
After its fall, he traveled across Teyvat.
But near the end of that journey—
His records blurred.
As if someone deliberately concealed his fate.
Someone powerful enough to interfere with Irminsul.
Silence fell across the chat.
Sky Island?
The Abyss?
Something immense was involved.
At Kamisato Estate—
Lumine forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
But her eyes softened.
Lumine: Thank you, Nahida. Really.
Paimon: Yeah! You're amazing! Unlike certain riddle-speakers! (pointed glance)
Venti: Eh-he~
Zhongli: A contract binds me…
Ei: I genuinely don't know…
The atmosphere turned heavy.
Until—
The Light Screen illuminated.
Perfect timing.
Blue Planet — Ninth Evaluation Begins
The stream opened.
Millions poured in instantly.
"Finally, today's main course!"
"Yesterday's Raiden story hurt so much!"
"Today's Sumeru, right?"
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata…"
Shadow and Makoto immediately moved.
One after another—
System notifications flooded the screen.
Ei.
Yae Miko.
Makoto.
Saiguu.
Hanachirusato.
Eight massive support banners at once.
The chat exploded.
Then Ei typed:
Thank you for reviving my loved ones.
I have issued a confession decree and abdicated.
Also, I am not a shut-in idiot!
But for Miko's unserious evaluation—
Please increase the intensity.
Miko immediately countered.
I was not bullied as a child!
And I am definitely not "Yae Caizi"!
But regarding Ei—
You were absolutely correct.
She is a shut-in and a bit slow.
Ei: …
And thus—
With laughter, tension, unresolved truths, and the weight of Irminsul—
The Ninth Evaluation officially began.
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