Chapter 417: Zhongli's Age
"As for the other attractions..." Natsume took a sip of her drink, her eyes brightening with the memory. "Since our main goal was to watch the competition and cheer for Nilou and Barbara, we didn't do too much sightseeing. But we did make a trip to the Grand Narukami Shrine to admire the cherry blossoms and draw fortune slips."
When mentioning the Grand Narukami Shrine, it was impossible to overlook the dreamlike cascade of pink petals. Natsume spared no effort in painting a vivid picture, her hands gesturing enthusiastically as she described the romantic, sweeping vistas of the sacred mountain. She leaned across the table, highly recommending that if Toru Amuro ever found himself in Osaka, he absolutely had to experience the enchanting scenery for himself.
"Just be careful, though," Natsume added, her tone shifting to a thoughtful warning. "The shrine is perched right near the mountain's peak. Reaching those cherry blossoms is no walk in the park. The stone steps are endless, and the climb is seriously demanding. You'd better prepare yourself mentally before attempting it."
Amuro offered a polite, effortless smile. "From the sound of it, the view is more than worth the effort." He waved off her concern with a casual flick of his wrist. "I exercise quite regularly. It's just a mountain trail; the physical exertion shouldn't be too much of a problem."
For a man of his background, an activity meant for ordinary tourists hardly registered as a challenge.
Sitting beside them, Conan shot the blond man a deadpan look from behind his oversized glasses. Yeah, right, the boy thought, his lips twitching slightly. You're a lethal operative for the Black Organization. How could a scenic hike possibly trouble you?
"So, did you encounter any other interesting things—or people—in Osaka?" Amuro asked. The corners of his mouth curled upward, smoothly shifting the conversation toward his true objective. He leaned forward, resting his crossed forearms on the table. A glint of focused curiosity flickered in his grayish-blue eyes, projecting the image of a friendly cafe worker eager for a good story. "By the way, I recall you mentioning a lady named Raiden Ei earlier. I heard a rumor that despite her youthful appearance, she is actually an esteemed elder of the Kamisato Clan. Is that true?"
Conan's gaze sharpened instantly. He had been quietly observing the exchange, wondering what Bourbon's real motive was for suddenly cozying up to Ran and the others today. That single, calculated question confirmed it. Bourbon was fishing for intelligence on Ei. More accurately, he was trying to extract it directly from Natsume.
A new web of doubts spun in the young detective's mind. Is there something uniquely dangerous about Raiden Ei? Why is the Black Organization suddenly putting her in their crosshairs? Aren't they supposed to be cooperating with the Teyvat Organization? Do the Teyvat executives even realize their 'partners' are secretly harboring ill intentions?
"Mhm, it's the absolute truth!" Sonoko chimed in, completely oblivious to the underlying tension. She leaned in, her bobbed hair bouncing with her vigorous nod. It was incredibly rare to see someone so young holding such immense seniority, and she couldn't wait to gossip about it.
"And get this—she isn't the only one! Take Miss Raiden's two good friends, for example. There's a very refined gentleman named Mr. Zhongli, and an adorable little girl named Nahida. Both of them also hold ridiculously high seniority in their respective circles!"
A mischievous spark suddenly lit up Sonoko's eyes. The corners of her mouth stretched into a playful grin as an entertaining idea crossed her mind. She turned her gaze squarely on the blond man, resting her chin on her hands.
"Actually, Mr. Amuro, let me test you," she challenged, her tone teasing. "Can you guess whose elder Mr. Zhongli is? Hehe, I'll even give you a hint: it's someone we all saw very recently! Well? Any guesses?"
"It would be Miss Ningguang, wouldn't it?" Amuro replied smoothly, barely taking a second to think.
"Eh?!" Sonoko's eyes widened comically. The smug excitement that had plastered her face vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by pure, unadulterated shock. "How did you know that? You guessed it instantly! Was my hint really that obvious?"
"Yeah, how did you figure out it was Miss Ningguang so fast, Amuro?" Ran asked, leaning closer with genuine intrigue.
Natsume and Conan remained quiet, though both watched the undercover agent closely, equally curious to hear how he would spin his deductive reasoning.
Amuro chuckled, not keeping them in suspense. "It's quite simple, really. Sonoko, you used a feminine pronoun when you set up the question, which immediately narrowed the field to a woman. You were also very confident that I had seen her recently. That means you had to be present when I met this mysterious woman. Aside from my shifts here at Café Poirot, the only place you and I have crossed paths recently was at the Jade Chamber."
He tapped a finger lightly against his chin, his smile remaining perfectly pleasant. "Therefore, the person in question had to be a female staff member of the Jade Chamber. When I think of a prominent woman there, Miss Ningguang is the first name that comes to mind. It was a bold guess, but I certainly didn't expect to hit the mark on the first try."
He offered a self-deprecating shrug. "Honestly, if I had been wrong, my next guess was going to be Miss Keqing."
Outwardly, Amuro maintained his friendly demeanor, but his mind was racing at a breakneck pace. If this gentleman named Zhongli is Ningguang's elder... He cross-referenced the casual cafe chatter with the highly classified intelligence Vermouth had recently secured. She had mentioned an elderly, retired head of the Liyue Department pulling strings from the shadows.
Could it be? Is this 'Zhongli' actually the retired head of Teyvat's Liyue Department?
The more the undercover agent analyzed the connections, the more the pieces clicked into place. The probability was staggering.
But that realization only birthed a far more perplexing question. If he was Ningguang's elder and a retired department head... just how old was this Zhongli?
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