Chapter 27: Eavesdropping Suspicion in Blazewood
Inside the exclusive private dining room of Liuli Pavilion, warm amber light filtered through the complex wooden lattice windows, casting a soft glow over a feast fit for an emperor. Exquisite Liyue delicacies crowded the polished mahogany table, the rising steam carrying the rich, savory scents of roasted meats, delicate spices, and fresh seafood, perfectly showcasing the grandeur of the banquet and the host's careful thoughtfulness.
"Hmm—!" Paimon hummed, her voice muffled around a massive mouthful of food. Her cheeks bulged outward like a hoarding squirrel. "Zhongli, you truly understand me! Liuli Pavilion completely lives up to its reputation!"
Stelle rested her chin on her hand, her golden eyes crinkling with fond amusement as she watched the floating mascot demolish a plate of food. "Eat slowly, Paimon. No one is going to snatch it from you. You are the biggest contributor this time, after all."
Sitting perfectly upright at the head of the table, Zhongli slowly savored a cup of freshly brewed clear tea. His piercing cor-lapis eyes softened, radiating a rare sense of ease and warmth as he took in the lively scene before him.
"Indeed. For helping our old friend Azhdaha regain his clarity, Paimon has made a tremendous contribution. This banquet is merely a small token of our gratitude, and a celebration of a hard-won victory."
He looked at Paimon, who was currently locked in a fierce, greasy battle with a massive Matsutake Meat Roll. His tone remained gentle, yet carried his usual scholarly gravity.
"Paimon, your Optimization Power possesses extraordinary potential. If it can purify millennia of abyssal erosion today, perhaps one day it can touch the deeper mysteries of life... and even manipulate the underlying rules of the world themselves. How you proceed on this path will require your own deep understanding, but we will do our utmost to assist you in exploring it together."
Paimon finally managed to swallow the massive bite of meat, her small face flushed with excitement and the sheer joy of a full stomach.
"Really? My wrench can become even more powerful? Hehe, won't I, Paimon, be even more popular then!" She paused, scratching her head with a greasy little finger. "However... how exactly do I become more powerful? I still need to think about it... Hmm, maybe I just need to eat more delicious food to replenish my energy!"
As she spoke, her gaze drifted hungrily toward the enticing, sweet-and-sour aroma of the perfectly glazed Squirrel Fish resting next to her plate.
Stelle helplessly supported her forehead, letting out a long sigh. "...Paimon, the relationship between multiversal power scaling and eating isn't quite that simple."
Zhongli merely offered a slight, noncommittal smile. "Enlightenment comes from opportunity; it cannot be forced. Enjoying the present moment is also a valid form of cultivation."
While Paimon was temporarily sealed away by the allure of the delicious food, Stelle summoned the multiversal chat group interface. Together with Zhongli, they briefly reported their safety and shared the joy of their successful operation with the others.
With a mere thought, Zhongli used the chat group's shared warehouse function, synchronizing an identical spread of sumptuous Liuli Pavilion dishes directly to the Astral Express crew and the Rope Master siblings across dimensions.
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "!!! Long live Mr. Zhongli! Long live Paimon!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Wow! It's authentic Liyue cuisine! Smells amazing! Thank you, Mr. Zhongli! Thank you, Paimon! (Attached Image: Lotus Flower Crisp.jpg)"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Dan Heng]: "Thank you for the hospitality. Congratulations on Azhdaha's recovery. Paimon's ability is truly astonishing."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "It looks so delicious! Thank you, Mr. Zhongli and Paimon! Wise and I are currently chewing on dry energy bars just to keep our stamina up. Resources in the Outer Ring have been incredibly scarce lately, so we've been making do these past few days."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Wise]: "Thanks. Congratulations on your success. The food has been received, and it looks very tempting."
The chat interface immediately flooded with photos of the meals and rapid-fire words of thanks. The digital atmosphere buzzed with lively joy. Seeing everyone enjoy the meal she had earned, Paimon puffed out her small chest in reality, looking incredibly proud of herself.
The next morning, bright sunlight streamed through the inn's window, painting warm golden squares across the floorboards. While Stelle was still at the washbasin splashing cold water on her face to wake up, Paimon was already floating in mid-air, energetically scrolling through the chat group logs.
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Fortunately, we had Mr. Zhongli's meal last night. Otherwise, my brother and I would definitely have been too exhausted to drag ourselves out of bed today."
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "What happened, Belle? It sounds like you two pulled off another secret operation last night?"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Yes. Recently, the Sons of Calydon have been targeted by some rival factions. Lucy and the others strongly suspect there's an insider. Especially after they found out that Cassa, the mayor of Blazewood, had secret dealings with The Triumphs. That made Lucy's suspicions seem completely justified."
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "No way! Didn't you say before that their relationship was really good? Otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed the Sons of Calydon to station themselves there. Could this just be a big misunderstanding?"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "March guessed it perfectly! The reason Cassa and the others were dealing with The Triumphs is because there have been major problems with the oil lines recently, leading to a severe shortage of basic survival supplies."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "But they didn't want to distract the Sons of Calydon from their own issues, so they secretly traded Yangsui handicrafts with The Triumphs in exchange for food and medicine."
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "I feel like they're being a bit too stubborn. What is it that they can't just say directly? Friends are supposed to help each other. Acting tough and hiding things will only lead to more trouble."
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Oh, Stelle, don't judge them so quickly."
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "It's a good thing if it's just a misunderstanding. If it is, there's a chance to reconcile. But, Belle, does that mean you still have no leads on the actual insider incident?"
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Well, the misunderstanding has been resolved for now. However, the insider incident also reached a conclusion. Let me show you someone."
[Photo: A tall, heavily built middle-aged man wearing a refined leather jacket. He has graying hair, but his sharp, eagle-like eyes pierce through the lens. He is standing tall, speaking to Cassa, Lucy, and a crowd gathered around him.]
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Here. This is Pompey, the current Overlord of the Outer Ring and the leader of The Triumphs! He personally came down to handle this matter last night. My goodness, just standing there, his aura made him feel like an incredibly formidable person! He commanded absolute respect without even needing to raise his voice!"
[Genshin Impact · Paimon]: "Wow! Just looking at the photo, he looks so intimidating! Like… like a big final-level BOSS!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · Stelle]: "Paimon is right! This aura, those eyes, that stance… he totally has the vibe of an endgame BOSS! Belle, you two need to be careful around him!"
[Honkai: Star Rail · March 7th]: "Stelle! What BOSS or no BOSS, don't scare Belle! But… this Mr. Pompey does look very majestic."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "He found a hidden wiretap inside the Yangsui handicrafts that Blazewood was manufacturing. He immediately realized that Mors, the captain responsible for the transaction, was the actual problem."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "And his methods are truly ruthless! With just a few words, he completely characterized the wiretapping incident and took all the responsibility onto his own faction."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "Then he immediately presented a flawless compensation plan. He not only compensated the Sons of Calydon for their operational losses but also promised to strengthen his support for Blazewood. His attitude was so sincere that it left absolutely no room for criticism or retaliation."
[Zenless Zone Zero · Belle]: "His efficiency was ridiculously high! The whole mess was settled in minutes. Honestly, this leader gives off a feeling of… unfathomable depth! His management skills, his negotiation tactics, and his sheer presence all feel overwhelmingly powerful! For Sister Cassa and the others to face such an opponent and try to win the Tour de Inferno... it feels like an impossible mountain to climb…"
At this moment, Zhongli also began to analyze the situation for everyone.
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "I observe this person to possess a calm demeanor and remarkably keen eyes. He handled this delicate matter with swift decisiveness, perfectly balancing both grace and absolute authority. He truly demonstrates extraordinary leadership qualities. His management ability and negotiation skills are top-notch."
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "However, the matter of the wiretap may not be as superficial as it appears. For Mors, merely a subordinate captain, to be able to connect multiple opposing parties and precisely execute such a complex scheme—causing such targeted trouble for the Sons of Calydon—the sheer amount of information, resources, and hidden connections required behind the scenes are certainly not something a mere captain could mobilize on his own."
[Genshin Impact · Zhongli]: "This is but the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the calm surface of this resolution, there are undoubtedly still hidden currents and turbulent flows."
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