At Wangshu Inn in Liyue, Li Mo had been telling stories all day to complete the system's mission. Even with elemental power, he was exhausted and hungry. So after revealing the location of the next reincarnation, he announced that today's storytelling was over and would continue tomorrow.
Not only that, hearing his stomach rumble and feeling his empty pockets, he frowned. In previous days, the innkeeper had treated him to meals, so he hadn't had to pay any Mora. But he felt embarrassed to keep mooching—it wasn't his style.
So the next moment, as the audience began to file out, he glanced at the corner where the gods were still seated—and spotted the kind‑faced Tartaglia. A smile touched his lips.
"Innkeeper, please send my meal up to my room. And put it on Mr. Tartaglia's tab. You don't mind, do you, Mr. Tartaglia?"
Even Li Mo couldn't resist trying out such a convenient wallet.
Tartaglia looked pained. "This—"
Being taken advantage of by the gods was bad enough, but now even this storyteller wanted a piece of him? Was he not even being treated as a Harbinger?
He was about to refuse when he caught the gazes of all five gods fixed on him.
Zhongli spoke slowly, "Mr. Tartaglia is generous and charitable—of course he won't mind. Storyteller, feel free to put it on his tab without a second thought."
Barbatos added cheerfully, "That's right! Mr. Tartaglia is truly a good soul. Even more generous than Diluc. If I'd met him sooner, I'd never have worried about wine again."
Clutching his wine jug, Barbatos smiled at Tartaglia, inwardly overjoyed. "Mr. Tartaglia, you'll be back tomorrow, won't you? I'll be waiting here—don't disappoint me."
Tartaglia: "…"
Barbatos laughed. "Don't worry—if you forget, I'll come find you at your lodgings."
Tartaglia: "…"
He was doomed. This accursed Anemo Archon had latched onto him.
Before meeting Barbatos, Tartaglia's only impression of him had come from La Signora. According to her, Barbatos was irresponsible, lazy, cowardly, weak—a god she could push around with ease. But now, the pressure Barbatos exuded and his thick‑skinned shamelessness left Tartaglia completely defenseless. Was this the cowardly, lazy, weak god La Signora had described? He was nothing like that at all.
Tartaglia forced himself to speak. "Ahem—no need to come find me. I certainly won't forget to come listen."
After Zhongli and Barbatos had their say, even Ei gave a rare compliment. "That's right. Though Mr. Tartaglia's identity is special—a Fatui Harbinger—he is still quite likeable. If you ever visit Inazuma, please don't forget to call on me at Tenshukaku."
Under the combined assault of three gods, even Tartaglia could only retreat in defeat, forcing an awkward smile. "Of course not—it would be my honor to meet the Raiden Shogun."
Ei nodded approvingly. "Good."
After dealing with the three gods, Tartaglia finally had a moment to turn and look at Li Mo, still on stage. He said seriously, "Storyteller, it is my honor to pay for you. Order whatever you like—put it all on my tab. And don't forget to send the bills to the Northland Bank branch."
With the gods all in agreement, even if Tartaglia wanted to refuse, he couldn't. He could only swallow his losses and console himself: it was only Mora, and it wouldn't come out of his pocket anyway—the Regrator would cover it. To a banker like Pantalone, these sums were trivial.
With that thought, Tartaglia felt a little better.
On stage, Li Mo watched the farce unfold and nearly laughed out loud. Getting a free ride on Tartaglia's Mora was a nice bonus.
He smiled. "Thank you, Mr. Tartaglia."
Tartaglia: "…"
The next moment, under everyone's gaze, Li Mo glanced at Shenhe and saw that she, Keqing, and the others were also about to leave. He turned and headed upstairs.
Meanwhile, Ei said seriously, "Since we're leaving too—innkeeper, pack up these leftover sweets for me to take."
Barbatos: "Hehe, why didn't I think of that? Innkeeper, two more jugs of your finest wine to go. Put it on Mr. Tartaglia's tab."
The innkeeper beamed. "Right away, honored guests."
Tartaglia's face darkened. "Well, I'll be going now."
Barbatos called after him, "Go ahead—but don't forget to come back tomorrow. We'll be waiting for you."
Though they had only just met, Barbatos treated Tartaglia like an old friend. Tartaglia nearly stumbled. "I won't forget. I'll never forget."
Before long, once the audience had mostly left, the innkeeper delivered Ei's sweets and Barbatos's wine to their table. Ei took her sweets, Barbatos took his wine, Zhongli picked up his birdcage, and they all left together.
...
Upstairs in his room, after finishing the meal purchased with Tartaglia's Mora, Li Mo lay comfortably on his bed, reviewing the progress he had made. Over the past week, he had told eleven reincarnations and received eleven rewards. Seeing the completed tasks, he felt relieved—the day of reunion with those bound to him was drawing nearer.
The next moment, he focused his mind and produced the Serenitea Pot he had won earlier.