Chapter 191.
The chat group, it had to be said, was a truly excellent invention.
At that moment, the scholars of the Akademiya were still wracking their brains, utterly agonizing over how to procure a massive sum of Mora. Cyno, a man who typically held no personal desire for wealth, could palpably sense the collective anxiety radiating from the Akademiya's upper echelons.
The Sumeru delegation's diplomatic mission to Liyue Harbor served a dual purpose. Firstly, it was an opportunity to observe the Rite of Descension, broaden their horizons, and officially reinforce the bilateral ties between the two nations.
The second, arguably more pressing reason, was to forge a lucrative trade agreement with the Qixing to secure an enormous influx of capital.
Prior to their departure from Sumeru City, Maha Rukkhadevata and Lesser Lord Kusanali had laid down a staggering mandate: the delegation needed to return with a minimum of five hundred million Mora to give Sumeru's strained economy a moment to breathe.
This astronomical figure had given Faruzan a migraine of epic proportions. The hurdle wasn't that five hundred million Mora was an impossible sum—the sheer volume of knowledge hoarded by the Akademiya over the last five centuries, if commercialized, would easily be valued in the tens of billions.
The fundamental problem was liquidity. Knowledge had to be successfully sold to generate revenue. If they couldn't find a buyer, those brilliant theories and technological advancements were nothing more than beautiful, utterly useless dust collectors sitting in the House of Daena.
Faruzan had openly vented her frustrations to Cyno and Alhaitham, bluntly stating that even if they successfully negotiated a contract with the Qixing on this trip, returning with two or three hundred million Mora would be a miracle.
Alhaitham had concurred, offering his usual, ruthlessly calm analysis.
The Qixing had already diverted a colossal amount of manpower and financial resources into organizing this year's Rite of Descension; their fiscal budget was inevitably constrained. Furthermore, while Sumeru's knowledge was an invaluable commodity, it required gradual digestion. A nation could not simply swallow centuries of technological advancement in a single gulp without suffering massive economic hemorrhage and triggering unpredictable, systemic societal shifts.
Ningguang was a terrifyingly astute businesswoman. She would strategically acquire only the specific knowledge Liyue required for its immediate development. As for the rest—she would likely propose a vague preliminary contract and delay the actual transaction indefinitely.
Having absorbed Faruzan's complaints and Alhaitham's clinical assessment, Cyno had casually mentioned their dilemma within the chat group.
To his mild surprise, Kuki Shinobu, Keqing, and Sangonomiya Kokomi immediately provided three completely distinct, viable strategies.
Among them, the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island's proposal instantly ignited a rare spark of excitement within the General Mahamatra. The rarity of the TCG cards was entirely secondary right now!
What truly mattered was the prize pool: fifty thousand Mora for a tournament victory, and a staggering one million Mora for claiming the grand championship! That was an immediate, actionable priority!
As for the complex academic symposiums and diplomatic trade negotiations, Cyno decided to analyze them at a leisurely pace once they actually arrived in Liyue Harbor. Frankly, high-level commerce was not his area of expertise.
It was far more efficient to delegate those matters to Faruzan, Alhaitham, and the accompanying scholars. When it came to navigating academic bureaucracy and trade law, Cyno readily admitted his intellect was ill-suited for the task.
[Cyno: "Thank you. This intelligence is highly actionable. I will put it to good use."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "You're very welcome. I'm just glad I could offer some practical assistance. Besides, I acquired a significant amount of useful knowledge during my time studying in Sumeru."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Mm. Honestly, I feel a bit sheepish. I was granted access to so many restricted texts at the Akademiya that I could never have perused otherwise."]
[Keqing: "From my perspective, if you successfully execute these activities, it indirectly alleviates the administrative pressure on our end. It is a mutually beneficial outcome; a true win-win scenario."]
[Nahida: "Do your best, everyone!"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Please pace yourselves; do not overexert your health for the sake of efficiency. Furthermore, any Mora you personally acquire through these recreational activities is yours to keep. The Akademiya has no claim to your private earnings."]
[Cyno: "I have no personal interest in Mora. The Akademiya took me in; to me, it is my home. I will simply fulfill my duties to the utmost of my ability. Alhaitham and Faruzan share this sentiment. Their personal attitudes toward acquiring Mora are similarly indifferent."]
[Yae Miko: "That is a commendably noble stance, General. However, possessing Mora is objectively superior to lacking it. More often than not, Mora is the most efficient solvent for worldly problems."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Mora isn't omnipotent, but attempting to navigate Teyvat without it is an exercise in futility."]
[Keqing: "Indeed. While I do not possess Ningguang's fanatical devotion to wealth generation, I must admit that her absolute efficiency in weaponizing Mora is a skill far beyond my own."]
[Albedo: "It is a simple matter of socioeconomics. Unlike us, the general populace operates under a constant, high demand for Mora, as it dictates their daily survival and expenditure."]
[Paimon: "Exactly! Mora can buy so many delicious things to eat!"]
[Azhdaha: "In matters of commerce, I truly cannot help but admire Morax. He must be, by definition, the wealthiest singular entity on the continent of Teyvat."]
[Guizhong: "From a purely theoretical standpoint, that assessment appears logically sound."]
[Bosacius: "Rex Lapis has never displayed any personal attachment to wealth. But I suppose that is easily explained; when you possess the intrinsic ability to mint the currency yourself, its value becomes entirely abstract."]
[Eula: "Mora. The very currency of the world is named after Morax. The cultural impact is staggering."]
[Paimon: "Hehe!! If I ever meet Rex Lapis, do you think I could just ask him to materialize a giant pile of Mora for me? I'd be one of the richest people in Teyvat instantly!"]
[Lumine: "..."]
[Klee: "Klee wants to be rich too!!! Even though Klee always gets to use Mom's Mora, Klee wants to go on an adventure and earn her very own Mora too!!"]
[Azhdaha: "Go for it, Klee! Sigh~ this conversation is only making me anticipate tomorrow's Rite of Descension even more."]
[Azhdaha: "Futsu Mitama, when you finally meet Morax, you are absolutely mandated to invite him into the chat group~ Futsu Mitama, and do not forget to livestream the event!!!"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Rest assured, I will initiate the livestream the exact moment it begins."]
Having offered his guarantee, Futsu Mitama closed the chat interface. He turned his attention back to the gathered Archons.
"Alright then. How should we proceed in the meantime?"
It was a valid question. Based on the intelligence gathered from the chat group, it was highly probable that Zhongli wouldn't physically arrive in Liyue Harbor until late tonight, or perhaps even tomorrow morning.
Which meant, with their esteemed host currently absent, how should they optimize their time?
"Why don't we go participate in those festival activities?"
Venti suggested, his eyes sparkling with genuine enthusiasm for the events Kuki Shinobu had just detailed.
This year's Rite of Descension was unprecedented in scale, and the sheer variety of entertainment organized by the merchant guilds was incredibly enticing. As visiting Archons—even if Liyue was not their domain—they were perfectly entitled to enjoy the festivities.
"I have no objections to that proposal."
Raiden Ei stated, her tone calm and agreeable.
Raiden Makoto offered a soft, elegant nod of agreement. She too felt that partaking in the mortal celebrations would be a pleasant experience.
Liyue Harbor was massive; finding amusement and blending into the festival crowd wouldn't be difficult. The only tactical consideration was avoiding detection by anyone who might 'recognize' their divine visages.
An unprecedented number of merchants and diplomats had flooded the city for the Rite; one could easily argue that representatives from every corner of Teyvat were currently walking the streets of Liyue Harbor.
Venti's situation was simple.
As Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, he had spent centuries wandering the streets of Mondstadt as a humble bard; his divine identity was perfectly shielded by his carefree persona. No one would look twice at a drunken musician.
Raiden Ei and Raiden Makoto faced a slightly more complex challenge. Any merchant or traveler who had ever set foot in Inazuma City would instantly recognize the unmistakable, sovereign features of the Electro Archon.
Nahida's situation was even more precarious. Her unique, diminutive appearance and the title of Lesser Lord Kusanali were intimately known to every single merchant hailing from Sumeru.
"Simply apply an illusion before we step outside."
Maha Rukkhadevata chuckled softly. As she was currently existing as a projected consciousness, she possessed the luxury of perfect invisibility; if she so desired, not even the Fatui Harbingers could perceive her presence.
Therefore, altering her appearance was irrelevant. However, Raiden Ei, Raiden Makoto, and Nahida would absolutely require a localized perception filter.
"Can I really?"
Nahida blinked, looking up at Rukkhadevata with wide, disbelieving eyes. She asked the question with heartbreaking caution.
"My administrative duties for the day aren't fully completed yet—am I truly allowed to rest?"
When she had agreed to this trip, Nahida had fully intended to only briefly socialize with Futsu Mitama and the others, share a single meal, and immediately return to the Sanctuary of Surasthana to resume processing Sumeru's governance.
But now... she was being told she could play? Was such an indulgence truly permissible?
"Of course it is. There is absolutely no problem."
Rukkhadevata looked down at Nahida, her eyes overflowing with a profound, gentle sorrow. Internally, she let out a heavy sigh, feeling an immense wave of guilt. She felt like a truly terrible predecessor.
To force Nahida, a god who had only existed for a mere five hundred years, to shoulder the crushing, absolute burden of a nation's destiny... it was a cruel necessity.
But there was no alternative path. This was a mandatory stage of development. Nahida had to endure the bitter crucible now so she could secure the sweetness of a stable future.
Just endure it for a few more years, Rukkhadevata thought fiercely. Once the socio-political situation in Sumeru achieves absolute stability, then she will have an eternity to enjoy herself.
However, even in the midst of this critical transition, it was paramount that Nahida was granted time to simply be. If she was not allowed to play and release the suffocating pressure of her duties, Rukkhadevata was genuinely terrified the young Archon's psyche would simply fracture and collapse.
If Nahida collapsed, the administrative burden would immediately fall back onto Rukkhadevata's projected consciousness—a scenario she was desperate to avoid. Therefore, enforcing mandated rest periods was a tactical necessity.
If their current political reality wasn't so incredibly restrictive, Rukkhadevata would have loved nothing more than to let Nahida spend an entire day running wild with Klee. The explosive, unbridled chaos of the Spark Knight would do wonders to unravel the suffocating tension coiled inside the young Dendro Archon.
"Yay!!!!!"
Nahida cheered, her face lighting up with an expression of pure, unadulterated joy.
Seeing that radiant, genuine smile, Futsu Mitama, Venti, Raiden Makoto, and Raiden Ei all felt a corresponding warmth bloom in their own chests.
Regardless of her divine status, Nahida was fundamentally still a child. Her projection of stoic maturity was merely a forced adaptation, a mask worn to bear the staggering weight of the title 'Archon.'
A true, veteran Archon knew how to balance their divine duties with a healthy dose of slacking off.
"Alright then, let's head out and enjoy the festival."
Futsu Mitama declared, ready to take point and lead the assembled gods on a tour of the mortal realm's amusements.
"Let's go, let's go! I happen to know the locations of a few absolutely brilliant taverns—I mean, activities!!!"
Venti practically vibrated with eagerness, ready to sprint out the door.
Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei seamlessly applied localized illusion magecraft, subtly altering their hair color and facial structures. Nahida, utilizing a touch of Dendro energy, shifted her attire into something remarkably similar to Klee's adventuring gear, transforming herself into a perfectly ordinary, if incredibly adorable, little girl.
The incognito pantheon enthusiastically rushed out into the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor, heading straight for the festival district.
As the hours ticked by, the chaotic energy of Liyue Harbor continued to escalate. Because tomorrow marked the official Rite of Descension, a flurry of intense, high-level diplomatic maneuvers were unfolding across the city.
Case in point: The Snezhnayan delegation had arrived at the city gates a full hour ahead of the Sumeru delegation. Upon their arrival, their processing was immediately intercepted and overseen by Yelan herself.
In a surprising deviation from protocol, the head of this specific Snezhnayan delegation was not a Fatui Harbinger, but rather a high-ranking, direct subordinate of Il Dottore.
This trusted confidant had arrived in Liyue with a dual mandate: officially present diplomatic gifts to the Qixing, and unofficially secure a face-to-face meeting with The Doctor, who was currently languishing in a Ministry of Civil Affairs black site.
Yelan, naturally, rejected the visitation request with a flawless, bureaucratic smile. She cited a highly convenient, unassailable regulation: during the sacred period surrounding the Rite of Descension, all high-security prison visitations were strictly suspended to ensure absolute civic order.
If the diplomat wished to see his master, he would simply have to wait until the Rite had officially concluded.
Dottore's confidant expressed his deep, calculated regret, but wisely chose not to press the issue. He merely requested that, given the circumstances, the Snezhnayan delegation be permitted to bypass the assigned diplomatic housing and take up residence within the Northland Bank.
His rationale was simple: it was sovereign Snezhnayan territory, and the delegation would be far more comfortable operating from within their own operational hub.
Yelan let out a sharp, genuine chuckle and instantly vetoed the request. She stated clearly that the delegations from every other nation had graciously accepted the Qixing's mandated housing arrangements, residing together in the designated diplomatic sector.
"Are you suggesting that Snezhnaya requires... special treatment?"
She asked, her voice dangerously smooth.
Realizing the political trap, Dottore's confidant quickly backpedaled, assuring her he meant no disrespect. He stated clearly that since the Qixing had mandated the arrangement, Snezhnaya would, of course, fully comply.
Having established absolute dominance, Yelan seamlessly transitioned back to protocol. She escorted the Snezhnayan delegation to Xinyue Kiosk for a lavish, politically tense welcoming banquet, before personally guiding them to the designated diplomatic residential compound.
It is worth noting that the exact moment the Snezhnayan delegation arrived at their assigned quarters—
The Sumeru delegation arrived as well. They hadn't even bothered to complete their own welcoming banquet protocols. They marched directly into the residential compound, supposedly intending to 'rest' before their meal.
However, upon receiving intelligence that the Snezhnayan delegation had been quartered in the same facility, the Acting Great Sage, Faruzan, alongside Cyno and Alhaitham, instantly abandoned any pretense of resting.
Without a single word of hesitation, they chose to pay their new neighbors a 'visit.'
The Snezhnayan Delegation? You are exactly the people we were looking for!
Mondstadt, having also caught wind of the Fatui's arrival, immediately mobilized. Acting Grand Master Jean, Eula, and Kaeya arrived at the compound to pay their own 'respects.'
Inazuma, naturally, was not about to be left out. Yae Miko, accompanied by Kujou Sara and Gorou, arrived to formally greet the Snezhnayans.
Why the sudden, overwhelming display of diplomatic hospitality?
Because Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Sumeru all harbored a profound, blood-deep grudge against Snezhnaya—or more specifically, against the Fatui.
It was an open secret. The geopolitical stage was acutely aware of the atrocities and manipulations the Fatui had orchestrated across all three nations.
Compounding the tension was the fact that this was Liyue territory. Historically, Liyue and Snezhnaya had maintained a fragile but functional alliance. However, following Dottore's disastrous, megalomaniacal operations within the city, that alliance had been spectacularly and permanently severed.
Consequently, the members of the Snezhnayan delegation were currently trembling in abject terror. It was the equivalent of being locked inside a rabid wolf's den!
Every single entity surrounding them was a hostile combatant!
Fortunately, Tartaglia and Arlecchino possessed enough tactical foresight to predict this exact diplomatic nightmare. Knowing their delegation would be aggressively targeted, the two Harbingers immediately mobilized a detachment of elite operatives and rushed to the compound to provide reinforcement.
It was a necessary escalation.
If they hadn't intervened, the Snezhnayan diplomats would have been systematically and mercilessly bullied by the combined might of four sovereign nations.
This, of course, was entirely according to Ningguang's grand design. Why else would the Tianquan mandate that all national delegations be quartered in the exact same, highly confined residential sector this year? Was it not precisely to orchestrate a localized pressure cooker and isolate the Fatui?
The atmosphere within the diplomatic compound had reached a state of critical, explosive tension.
On the opposite side of the city, Futsu Mitama was leading the disguised Archons on a leisurely, joyous stroll through the mortal realm, diving headfirst into the festival activities.
It had to be acknowledged: the events organized by the Liyue Harbor merchants this year were exceptionally creative and highly engaging.
Just from a brief reconnaissance of the festival plaza, Futsu Mitama identified three primary attractions: a "Martial Arts Exhibition." a "Culinary Showdown." and a bizarre event titled "Guess Who I Am."
The first event was pure, controlled combat: the objective was to incapacitate opponents without inflicting lethal damage!
The tournament was structured across ten grueling rounds. The organizers had spared no expense, contracting a terrifying roster of combatants! The gauntlet included not only renowned folk martial artists but also elite disciples from Liyue's most prestigious martial sects, and even fully fledged Vision bearers.
After successfully defeating the contracted fighters, the champion faced a choice: they could claim the grand prize of 400,000 Mora and an exclusive commission for a custom-forged, high-tier weapon—
Or, they could choose to hold the arena, acting as the final boss and waiting for stronger, independent challengers to emerge from the crowd.
If they chose the latter, the payout structure escalated dramatically. Regardless of the challengers they faced, as long as the champion successfully defended the arena for a full hour, they would be awarded a staggering 500,000 Mora. The prize pool capped out at an absurd 5,000,000 Mora for absolute dominance.
The second activity was far more straightforward: a pure, unadulterated display of culinary mastery!
The victor would receive a massive Mora payout, supplemented by an exclusive grand prize sponsored by the legendary Wanmin Restaurant. Yes, this specific culinary bloodbath was organized directly by Chef Mao and Xiangling.
The final event was highly unorthodox. The objective was purely analytical: participants had to successfully deduce their opponent's nation of origin, their recent activities, and their true identity and societal status.
Participants were authorized to utilize any means necessary—including astrology, divination, and elemental resonance—to extract the information. The only strict prohibition was the use of physical coercion or torture.
Because the analytical difficulty of this event was considered astronomically high, the final championship prize had been set at a mind-boggling 20,000,000 Mora!