After returning to Liyue Harbor, Zhongli said to Xiao, "I still have matters to attend to at Northland Bank. You should inform the other adepti of the situation first. After discussing the next steps with the Liyue Qixing, you may return."
"Emperor Rex Lapis, will you not meet with the others?"
Xiao asked.
Zhongli shook his head. "It is enough that they know I am still here. There is no need to meet them just yet. At this moment, the other adepti and the Liyue Qixing should still be gathered together. If I were to appear now, what purpose would this play serve?"
"I understand. Xiao will take his leave." Xiao nodded, clasped his hands toward Zhongli, and departed.
Watching Xiao leave, Zhongyue withdrew her gaze and looked at Zhongli. "Has your 'erosion' already progressed to this extent? Is stepping down from the position of the Geo Archon the only way to avoid it?"
"I am simply… tired," Zhongli sighed as he headed toward Northland Bank.
Lora and Zhongyue quickly followed after him.
"You've got long legs—slow down a bit!" Lora said helplessly.
"My apologies," Zhongli replied.
Partway along the road, they ran into Rhodeia. The moment she saw Lora, she rushed over, instinctively wanting to throw herself into her arms.
Only then did she realize she couldn't collide with a god like that, and she forcibly stopped short in front of Lora, staring at her with excitement.
"My lady, you're finally back! When I sensed the disturbance in the northwest earlier, I thought something had happened to you!"
Rhodeia looked as though she had been crying. After all, that had been a battle on the level of gods—her worry was only natural.
Especially since Lora was a Hydro Archon with a history. She had only died once five hundred years ago.
"Easy, easy! I'm fine…"
Lora said helplessly as she comforted Rhodeia.
Zhongyue looked at Rhodeia, then tugged on Zhongli's sleeve, motioning for him to lower his head. She whispered, "Is this the Hydro Archon's attendant?"
"That is correct. A pure water spirit," Zhongli nodded.
"Ah… this era really is remarkable. All kinds of gods, and all kinds of attendants as well," Zhongyue said with emotion.
Zhongli nodded.
"Yes. This era is no longer the same. The age of adepti and gods is gradually fading into the past."
After calming Rhodeia down, Lora continued, "I have a task for you."
"Please give the order, My lady! In the name of pure water, Rhodeia will carry it out—even at the cost of my life!" Hearing Lora's words, Rhodeia immediately straightened, utterly different from her tearful state just moments ago.
"It's not that serious!" Lora waved her hand. "I need you to notify all the pure water spirits who left Fontaine back then. Have them search across Teyvat for traces of the Abyss Order, and report back to me."
"Yes, My lady!" Rhodeia didn't ask for an explanation and accepted the order at once.
After arranging matters with Rhodeia, the group continued on toward Northland Bank.
Originally, only Zhongli needed to come, but Lora wanted to join in the fun—to see Tartaglia and Rosalyne.
After all, they could be considered "friends," right?
However, the moment Lora and Zhongli entered Northland Bank, they heard Tartaglia and Rosalyne arguing loudly inside. It sounded quite intense.
"Well now, isn't this 'Childe' and 'the Lady'? It hasn't been that long since we last met—how did you two already end up fighting?" Lora said as she walked over, smiling at the pair.
When Rosalyne saw Lora, her pupils visibly shrank and she took a step back. But she quickly adjusted herself, arrogance radiating from her once more as she looked down on the two gods before her.
"So it's you."
Hearing the faint contempt in her tone, Lora chuckled softly. "What, still want to fight me again?"
"Forgive my bluntness, 'Lady,' but you probably wouldn't be able to beat this one. She's an adeptus of Liyue," Tartaglia said from the side.
"Adeptus?" Rosalyne snorted coldly. "You underestimate your friend. She is no adeptus of Liyue. Am I right, Hydro Archon—Egeria?"
Lora's smile did not change. "Did your Cryo Archon teach you to be this arrogant?"
"Hydro… Archon?"
Tartaglia's expression became even more animated. He stared at Lora for a long moment before finally reacting.
"No wonder I couldn't use my Vision's power when we fought! Now that I think about it, using Hydro to fight the Hydro Archon really was bold. But if I remember correctly, as the Hydro Archon, you should have died five hundred years ago."
"In light of that last remark," Lora said with a gentle smile, "when we reach Fontaine, I'll make sure you're 'properly housed—and properly restrained.'"
Tartaglia didn't understand what she meant, but judging from her expression, it clearly wasn't anything good. He hurriedly said, "Hey, don't do that! Aren't we friends? Besides, I promised you could send your bills to Northland Bank under my name!"
"Don't worry. I'll get your sentence reduced," Lora replied cheerfully.
"Using the Regrator's money while pulling your own strings?"
Rosalyne said, genuinely surprised.
"What's wrong with that?" Tartaglia shot back.
"Enough. I can't be bothered with your nonsense. Stop wasting time—let's handle the real business," Rosalyne said, cutting the conversation short. She turned to Zhongli. "According to the contract, I've come to claim your 'Gnosis,' Morax."
Hearing the arrogance in her voice, Zhongli gave a soft chuckle. He raised his hand, and the Geo Archon's Gnosis slowly appeared.
"The contract has been fulfilled," he said calmly. "As requested, I grant you the promised item."
"Hmph. Such a condescending tone," Rosalyne snorted. In truth, even now, in her eyes, the so-called Seven Archons were all empty titles—except for the Cryo Archon to whom she pledged her loyalty.
She believed the Cryo Archon alone was the strongest of all gods.
After taking Zhongli's Gnosis, Rosalyne even glanced toward Lora, as if to say: Even if you stopped me from taking the Anemo Archon's Gnosis, I still obtained the Geo Archon's Gnosis right in front of you.
Understanding the provocation in her look, Lora raised an eyebrow. "If not for Zhongli's contract, I'd already have you pinned to the ground and beaten senseless. Do you really think you obtained that Gnosis through your own strength—or through your Empress's?"
"Enough talk. The Geo Archon's Gnosis is mine," Rosalyne said curtly.
She put the Gnosis away, paying no heed to Lora's words.