At Ningguang's command, countless Millelith soldiers rushed into the plaza, surrounding everyone present.
"Let's go."
Pulling along the still-dumbfounded Shenhe, Valerius quietly slipped away from Yujing Terrace and hid nearby to watch the show.
Next should have been Tartaglia's heroic moment of saving Lumine.
However, after scanning the area, Valerius found no sign of Tartaglia.
Instead, he spotted Xianyun standing nearby in a daze.
"Oh… your master is over there."
He couldn't help but smile inwardly.
Zhongli had put on a live performance right in front of Xianyun.
That was far more shocking than simply hearing Lumine recount the story afterward.
Walking over to her, Valerius waved a hand.
"So… aren't you going to check on things?"
Only after standing there blankly for quite a while did Xianyun regain her senses.
"You… what exactly are you all trying to do?"
"Hm? Didn't you see? Your Rex Lapis was assassinated."
Rolling her eyes, Xianyun replied helplessly,
"Do you take me for a fool? What exactly are you and Rex Lapis planning?"
"Uh…"
Now it was Valerius's turn to be speechless.
So Xianyun was actually this perceptive?
Even Ningguang had almost been scared out of her wits, yet Xianyun had already seen through the act.
"This really has nothing to do with me," Valerius said with a shrug. "You'd better not interfere either. Just cooperate with the plan."
"I understand."
Xianyun nodded.
She still didn't know what Rex Lapis was trying to accomplish, but since Valerius had told her to cooperate, she more or less understood that everything was intentional.
Meanwhile, Yujing Terrace had been completely sealed off.
Unexpectedly, however, Lumine and Paimon didn't flee.
Instead, they walked directly over to Ningguang.
Thinking about it, it made sense.
They were all acquaintances now, so there was no reason to run.
"Miss Ningguang, do you have any suspects yet?" Lumine asked.
"No."
Ningguang shook her head.
Something about all this simply felt wrong.
Of all times, why did this have to happen while she was presiding over the Rite of Descension?
With no better option, she had the Exuvia concealed for the time being.
Everything else would have to wait until she'd thought the matter through.
One by one, the attendees were investigated.
As more and more civilians were cleared and allowed to leave, no suspicious individuals were found.
Night soon fell.
News of the incident at Yujing Terrace spread throughout Liyue Harbor.
Every household shut its doors, and the streets became eerily deserted.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon set off for Jueyun Karst.
"Interesting."
Valerius watched in amazement.
So without Tartaglia, Signora had simply taken over his role.
What surprised him most was that Lumine had actually listened to Signora's suggestion and gone to notify the Adepti.
"They're looking for you now," Valerius said, glancing at Xianyun. "Aren't you going back to wait?"
"No need."
Xianyun shook her head.
"If they can't find me, they'll naturally return to Liyue Harbor."
She had no intention of going back.
Among everyone, she currently knew the most.
Since everyone would eventually end up in Liyue Harbor anyway, why bother returning?
"You two find somewhere to rest. This One is going to visit A-Ping."
She waved casually before heading toward Madam Ping's residence.
Such an interesting spectacle deserved to be shared with an old friend.
"Then let's find somewhere to stay as well."
After Xianyun left, only Valerius and Shenhe remained.
Neither of them really knew what to talk about.
So they decided to settle down somewhere first.
Three days later…
Lumine returned to Liyue.
Everything proceeded according to plan.
Signora had completely replaced Tartaglia's role, bringing Lumine to Liuli Pavilion.
"This is Zhongli, consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
She introduced him with a gesture.
Tartaglia had previously warned her not to provoke Lumine too much.
Otherwise, she might end up getting punished herself.
Though she didn't entirely believe it, her contract with Zhongli meant she dutifully fulfilled her part.
"You don't need to introduce him."
Lumine folded her arms.
"We're already well acquainted."
Although she had followed Signora's advice and informed the Adepti, Lumine still hadn't forgotten being attacked by her in Mondstadt.
She had absolutely no goodwill toward the Fatui Harbinger.
"…Acquainted?"
Signora blinked.
Since when?
Then why am I introducing you at all?
"A pleasure."
Zhongli nodded politely.
After a brief exchange of greetings, they moved directly to the main topic—
The Rite of Parting.
Following some discussion, Lumine agreed to accompany Zhongli in making the necessary preparations.
As for the funding…
The Northland Bank would cover everything.
This time, the three of them shopped without the slightest restraint.
If it was expensive, they bought it.
After all, they weren't paying.
Watching from nearby, Valerius couldn't help but marvel.
These three were ruthless.
Lumine had even bought herself an entirely new outfit.
Truly…
It was easy to spend when it wasn't your own money.
Had Tartaglia been footing the bill personally, things would have been very different.
He would simply have handed them a fixed amount of Mora.
Once it ran out, that was it.
Signora, however, was different.
Just charge everything to the Northland Bank.
No matter how much they spent, she'd pay.
"Excuse me… this one… this one… and that one too. Wrap them all up…"
Since Signora was being so generous, Valerius naturally took the opportunity to do a little shopping himself.
After a spending spree, he waved his hand casually.
"Charge it to the Northland Bank."
Wonderful.
As for the purchaser's name…
Naturally, Zhongli.
After another busy round of preparations, the final day finally arrived.
Signora skipped the Golden House entirely.
Instead, she directly used the talisman to unseal Osial.
"MORAX!"
A roar from ancient times echoed across all of Liyue Harbor.
Standing atop the Jade Chamber, Ningguang wore an expression of utter resignation.
Ever since Zhongli had begun preparing the Rite of Parting, she had already learned the truth.
The Geo Archon was perfectly fine.
So…
Why go through all this?
In her eyes, the answer was simple.
He was handing authority over to humanity.
Though grateful to Zhongli, she couldn't help lamenting inwardly.
Your Excellency…
If you're going to pull something like this, could you at least give me a little warning?
Or better yet…
Wait until another member of the Qixing is presiding before doing something like this!
"Ningguang."
Keqing stepped beside her.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
She gestured toward the Adepti gathered nearby.
Ningguang sighed.
"Let's deal with Osial first."
"How? With the Guizhong Ballista?"
"No."
She shook her head.
Keqing watched as countless large crates were carried onto the Jade Chamber by the Millelith.
"I'm going to use… Cash Cannon."
Ever since obtaining that ability, Ningguang had never had an opportunity to test it.
This was the perfect chance.
"Will that really work?"
Keqing remained skeptical.
That was an ancient god.
Would throwing a bit of Mora at it actually accomplish anything?
"It doesn't matter."
Ningguang smiled faintly.
"We have backup plans."
Staring at Osial, who was flaunting his enormous form upon the sea, her eyes narrowed.
She couldn't exactly vent her frustration at Zhongli.
No matter what, she couldn't expose the Geo Archon's secret herself.
But Osial…
Osial was a perfectly acceptable outlet.
As the Jade Chamber drew closer to the sea, Osial's colossal body came fully into view.
His overwhelming aura alone caused many Millelith soldiers to tremble.
And this was merely his presence.
He hadn't even begun to unleash his true power.
Standing by a nearby window, Signora quietly observed everything.
"Heh… Liyue."
"Show me whether humans truly possess the strength to challenge a god."
Though she had a contract with Zhongli, this was also an excellent opportunity to gauge Liyue's military power.
Looking out at the ancient god rising from the sea, even she believed that Liyue's human forces alone had little chance of surviving this catastrophe.
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