Able to manipulate Hydro, having worked in the Court of Fontaine, and clearly holding a high-ranking position—who could that possibly be?
Lora sipped her tea as she waited for the Adepti to arrive. Before long, someone hurried in from outside and reported to the Liyue Qixing and Lora, "Lady Ningguang, the Adepti have arrived!"
Ningguang gave a slight nod. "Everyone, come with me to welcome the Adepti."
The rest of the Liyue Qixing set off together. Only Lora remained behind. Ganyu had originally planned to follow, but after glancing at Lora, she hesitated and stayed. Once everyone else had left, she finally asked, "Who are you, really?"
"Me? I'm Lora Chaya." Lora looked at Ganyu and smiled as she answered.
"Ordinary people wouldn't recognize other Adepti." Ganyu shook her head and continued, "Your identity is far from simple. Both you and the one behind you carry an extremely pure, refreshing aura. That aura is like… like…"
Delicious pastries… Ganyu didn't finish the thought. The pure aura emanating from both Lora and Rhodeia was simply far too tempting.
Watching Ganyu's expression, Lora suddenly remembered that Ganyu was a half-adeptus beast. Coupled with how she described the "fresh" aura around her and Rhodeia, could it be that she was subconsciously treating them as food?
The image of Ganyu hugging her and giving her a lick made Lora's eyelid twitch. The scene might have been beautiful, but being licked by someone really didn't sound pleasant…
Lora quietly dragged her chair a little farther away from Ganyu.
"You're right—I'm not simple," she said. "As for my exact identity, you'll find out soon enough."
Before Ganyu could think further, Ningguang and the others had already returned, bringing with them three animals… no, three Adepti. It wasn't that Adepti couldn't take human form; most of them simply preferred their original bodies.
Wow… that bird really is huge!
When Lora saw Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper, she couldn't help but marvel inwardly. She knew they were large from the game, but seeing them in person made her truly understand what it meant for a bird to be taller than a human.
Ganyu had already stood up and was greeting the Adepti.
Lora remained seated. Only after their pleasantries concluded did she rise at an unhurried pace.
She cleared her throat and introduced herself, "Greetings, everyone. I am Lora Chaya, and I am the mediator for this 'Meeting on Matters Pertaining to the Assassination of Rex Lapis and the Future Development of Liyue Harbor.'"
"You are… the mediator?"
The three Adepti looked at Lora in surprise. Unlike Ganyu, Cloud Retainer and the others were pure Adepti, and they could sense Lora's aura far more clearly. It was the aura of a god—one they had once felt in Jueyun Karst.
What was more, they could also sense the power of Rex Lapis's contract. The coexistence of these two auras left the three Adepti momentarily stunned.
Seeing their reactions, Lora knew they had already seen through her identity.
To prevent them from saying the word "god" aloud, she spoke first.
"Yes, it is I. I am deeply grieved by Rex Lapis's passing as well. But as the Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment, I know that this matter cannot be judged on impulse, nor can the innocent be wronged. That is why I came to Liyue first, to speak with the Liyue Qixing and understand what truly happened."
Every word Lora spoke was earnest and heartfelt, making her explanation sound entirely convincing.
"The Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment?"
Ningguang was clearly taken aback by the title.
She looked at Lora.
"So you are an Adeptus?"
Lora turned to Ningguang. Her gentle demeanor faded, replaced by a solemn, serious expression.
"My apologies for concealing my identity from you. Rex Lapis's passing is a matter of utmost importance, and I had to act with caution."
Ningguang paused, as if deep in thought, then nodded.
"That is only proper."
Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver exchanged glances. None of them had ever heard of an Adeptus called the Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment. Yet Lora showed no sign of lying, and they had undeniably sensed the power of Rex Lapis's contract.
There was no doubt about her identity as an Adeptus.
Although they didn't understand how a god had suddenly become an Adeptus, that didn't stop them from continuing along the line Lora had set.
Cloud Retainer snorted coldly and spoke in coordination with Lora.
"Hmph! What is there left to investigate? Rex Lapis was assassinated, yet instead of devoting themselves to finding the culprit, the Liyue Qixing seized authority and gathered all power in Liyue into their own hands. Is this not a betrayal of Rex Lapis? A betrayal of Liyue? Or could it be that the Liyue Qixing planned this assassination from the very beginning?"
Hey! Right on cue!
The moment Cloud Retainer said this, Lora knew she had understood her intent. A faint smile appeared on her face.
Ningguang immediately refuted the accusation.
"The Liyue Qixing have always been Rex Lapis's most loyal followers! It is absolutely impossible for us to betray him, let alone assassinate him!"
"Loyal followers of Rex Lapis? Hmph! Absurd!" Among the three Adepti, it was clearly Cloud Retainer who had taken on the role of verbal confrontation. She swept her gaze across the Liyue Qixing before fixing it on Keqing. "As this Adeptus understands it, this Yuheng harbors considerable dissatisfaction toward Rex Lapis. Wouldn't she rather see a Liyue without Rex Lapis at all?"
"I—I don't!" Keqing immediately defended herself when Cloud Retainer turned her attention to her. "I only want Rex Lapis to stop interfering in Liyue's development!"
"And you call that loyalty to Rex Lapis?" Cloud Retainer pressed.
Ningguang raised a hand, signaling Keqing to remain silent, then addressed Cloud Retainer herself.
"It is true that Keqing holds such views, but they come from a desire for Liyue's well-being. Liyue has developed for more than three thousand seven hundred years. It is time to consider the wisdom of humanity. Rex Lapis is an archon—his perspective is naturally that of a god, and it can easily overlook human needs. On this matter, I agree with Keqing. Today's Liyue requires human wisdom to govern it, not reliance on Rex Lapis alone."
"Hmph! Rex Lapis has existed for six thousand years. The shifting of mountains and rivers, the changing of seas and lands—all have unfolded under his gaze. His wisdom towers like the highest peaks. Liyue itself was shaped by his own hands. And yet the Liyue Qixing, who have existed for mere decades, dare to speak of 'human wisdom'?"
Cloud Retainer was clearly dissatisfied with Ningguang's words.
It wasn't that she didn't know the era of the Adepti was gradually fading, but she could not accept the Liyue Qixing so casually casting Rex Lapis aside, proclaiming the arrival of an age of human governance that no longer needed divine guidance.
"We have never forgotten Rex Lapis's sacrifices," Keqing spoke up again. "It's just that his guidance is no longer suited to the present era!"