Chapter 189.
Just then, Yae Miko and Ganyu strolled over.
"It's getting late. We should be heading back." Miko smiled, glancing between the sparring partners. "Unless there is somewhere else you wish to see?"
Secretly, Miko desperately wanted to spend the night at the estate. But doing so violated Liyue's diplomatic protocols.
If she, a foreign dignitary, bypassed the rules to stay in a private residence, the Snezhnayan Delegation would instantly weaponize the loophole, demanding the right to quarter at the Northland Bank. Miko wasn't foolish enough to hand the Fatui a political victory. By strictly adhering to the rules, Liyue, Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Sumeru could unite to sanction the Fatui if they stepped out of line.
"I'm ready to rest."
Yoimiya yawned widely, her boundless energy finally depleted by the boat ride and the sheer sensory overload of Liyue Harbor.
Gorou nodded in agreement. Having finally reunited with his Divine Priestess, his soul was at peace.
Sara, ever the professional, naturally followed the Guuji's lead.
Ayaka looked deeply reluctant to leave, but diplomacy dictated her actions.
Noticing Ayaka's hesitation, Ganyu offered a gentle smile.
"Do not worry. Once the Rite of Descension concludes, the movement restrictions on foreign delegations will be completely lifted. I apologize for the inconvenience during this sensitive period."
Without the massive security demands of the Rite, foreign dignitaries were usually granted free rein over the harbor. But until Rex Lapis descended, even an Archon's familiar like Miko had to obey the Qixing's curfew.
"You can move freely tomorrow morning, however~" Miko chuckled, noticing Ayaka's drooping spirits. "If you wake up early, you could always visit Futsu Mitama's estate for breakfast. I doubt he would mind, would you?"
"Not at all."
Futsu Mitama replied instantly. He would never turn Kamisato Ayaka away. He still vividly remembered how the Kamisato Clan had supported him when he first arrived in Inazuma. Though his current status vastly eclipsed theirs, neither he nor Aila would ever forget a debt of gratitude.
"Mm."
Aila nodded firmly. She held a deep respect for Ayaka. If the young lady of the Kamisato Clan was coming for breakfast, she would ensure the menu was exceptionally lavish.
"Welcome! Welcome!! You absolutely must come, Ayaka! Shinobu and Aila are master chefs!"
Paimon cheered wildly. As a professional foodie, she knew Ayaka's presence guaranteed a premium breakfast spread.
"I would be honored."
Ayaka smiled, her exhaustion melting into radiant joy.
"And what about me?" Miko interrupted, crossing her arms. "Can you prepare fried tofu for breakfast?"
"Absolutely not." Futsu Mitama shot her a deadpan glare. "Eating something that heavily fried first thing in the morning is a guaranteed path to obesity."
"How incredibly rude!" Miko gasped, puffing out her chest in mock outrage. "How could I possibly get fat? My figure has remained absolute perfection for five hundred years!"
Futsu Mitama didn't bother arguing. He strongly suspected Miko secretly used her Electro abilities to metabolize her excessive caloric intake.
Kuki Shinobu, for instance, had to aggressively intensify her training regime if she overate, and even then, she occasionally developed a slight softness around her stomach.
Of course, the one time Futsu Mitama casually mentioned Shinobu's 'little belly', it vanished overnight. Paimon had interrogated her on the secret, but Shinobu claimed she had spent three days consulting Yanfei on legal matters. Futsu Mitama knew better; Shinobu had spent the night violently burning calories with raw elemental power. Women were terrifyingly dedicated to their aesthetics.
After a final round of bickering, Ganyu departed with the Inazuman delegation.
Before leaving, Yoimiya handed Futsu Mitama the massive crate of Naganohara fireworks, insisting they be ignited to bless his new home. Little did she know, he also owned a sprawling villa in Mondstadt and an estate in Sumeru gifted by Nahida. If he survived the impending political nightmare, he fully intended to purchase property in Fontaine.
It was a matter of principle: a house in every nation.
"Young Master, shall we ignite them now?"
Aila asked calmly, inspecting the crate.
"Can I light the fuse?"
Black Aila asked, her eyes gleaming with rare excitement. She remembered setting off fireworks with him during the festivals of their past, and she longed to recreate the comforting glow that illuminated his profile.
"Not tonight." Futsu Mitama shook his head, tossing the crate to Black Aila for safekeeping. "The Rite of Descension is imminent. Triggering massive explosions in the harbor right now would send the Millelith into a panic. We will celebrate after the Rite concludes."
Black Aila nodded obediently, trusting his judgment completely.
"Speaking of the Rite... it's only days away." Paimon sighed dramatically, slumping her shoulders. "And Lumine and I still have to work overtime tonight tracking those Fatui creeps. It's so exhausting. But once tomorrow passes, Ningguang will finally pay us, and we are treating everyone to a massive feast!"
Lumine, however, remained quietly tense. The entire atmosphere in Liyue felt fundamentally wrong.
The Archons in the Chat Group had gone disturbingly quiet. Futsu Mitama looked constantly preoccupied. The sudden arrival of The Knave, coupled with Tartaglia's hyperactive maneuvering, screamed that the Fatui were positioning themselves for a massive strike.
"Have you genuinely found nothing?"
Shinobu asked, her brow furrowing.
Given Lumine's tracking skills, if the Fatui were moving assets, she should have caught a thread.
Furthermore, Eula and Albedo had reported that the Fatui in Mondstadt were acting perfectly normal—clearing monsters, collecting debts, and causing zero trouble. Acting Grand Master Jean was completely baffled by their sudden obedience.
"Nothing."
Lumine shook her head, frustrated. She understood why Ningguang was utilizing them, but fighting a shadow war with zero leads was agonizing.
"Is it possible our investigative parameters are flawed?" Kokomi mused. "If we are looking in the wrong direction, we will remain blind."
Shinobu agreed.
Between the Qixing's intelligence network, the Mondstadt Delegation, and Lumine, they possessed a terrifying surveillance apparatus. The only confirmed anomaly was that the Fatui operatives at the Northland Bank were holding unusually frequent meetings.
"Actually." Paimon chimed in, floating upside down, "what if we're just investigating the wrong people? Grunts are just grunts. No matter how hard you shake them, you won't find the master plan."
"Why don't we just investigate the Harbingers directly? We should just go squeeze the information out of Tartaglia and The Knave!"
Shinobu rolled her eyes, sighing helplessly.
"Paimon, to interrogate Tartaglia and Arlecchino, you need overwhelming, absolute martial supremacy. Unless Futsu Mitama personally intervenes, do you honestly believe those two are going to sit down and politely answer your questions?"
Lumine was powerful, but she lacked the raw authority to force two Harbingers into submission. Even if Jean and Ningguang confronted them directly, the Harbingers would simply claim diplomatic immunity and refuse to comment. Coercion was impossible.
"Sigh~" Paimon groaned, righting herself. "Eh? Wait. Where did Futsu Mitama go?"
The group suddenly looked around. Futsu Mitama, Aila, and Black Aila had vanished entirely.
Clearly, he had zero intention of participating in their strategic planning session.