Chapter 237: Different Visions
In the presence of Mr. Zhongli, Sonoko's casual demeanor evaporated.
She found herself quietly sizing him up, sighing inwardly. You really have to hand it to him. He has the presence of a true elder. He didn't look particularly old, nor was his expression stern—in fact, it was quite gentle—but he carried an air of deep dignity, a quiet maturity that seemed to settle in the space around him.
Even Okiya Subaru's attention was now almost entirely fixed on the man.
According to Conan Edogawa, every member of the Teyvat organization wore a Vision.
He had already taken a careful look. Kaveh's Vision was easy to spot, hanging from his waist—a clear confirmation of his affiliation. As for Mr. Zhongli, Okiya hadn't seen his at first. It wasn't until the man turned to take a seat that Okiya caught a glimpse of the Vision hanging from the back of his coat.
Though the moment was brief, Okiya Subaru committed the designs of both Visions to memory.
To his surprise, not only were the colors of Kaveh's and Mr. Zhongli's Visions different, but their frames were also completely distinct.
According to his working hypothesis, Visions with the same border design signified membership in the same department within Teyvat. If that held true, then Kaveh and Mr. Zhongli belonged to two separate divisions.
'Then how did they end up together?' Okiya mused. Their temperaments were polar opposites—one exuded the flair of an artist, the other a deep, solemn gravity. They looked entirely out of place with one another, certainly not like a pair of close friends.
, the name "Mr. Zhongli" kept nagging at him, a familiar echo from a past conversation.
Okiya Subaru cast his mind back, recalling the day Kaeya and Tartaglia had paid him an unexpected visit. It was then that he remembered. They had mentioned a Mr. Zhongli.
Kaeya had remarked offhandedly that this Mr. Zhongli had played a clever trick on Tartaglia. Judging by the tone they'd used when discussing him, both men held him in a certain degree of high regard.
This was intriguing.
If two members from different departments could simultaneously show such respect for a young man from yet another department, then this man was anything but ordinary. He might possess a special background, outstanding abilities, or perhaps both.
All signs pointed to one conclusion: Mr. Zhongli was a significant figure, holding a special position within the Teyvat organization.
"By the way, I heard from Natsume that Mr. Okiya is a graduate student in engineering," Kaveh said, his voice drawing Okiya from his thoughts. "I wonder what your specialization is? If you happen to be studying architecture or mechanics, I might be able to offer some help. You can feel free to ask me if you run into any questions with your studies later on."
Ran and Sonoko had been chatting happily with Natsume's new friends. They had felt a bit reserved at first, intimidated by Mr. Zhongli's dignified aura, but as the conversation flowed, they discovered he was incredibly knowledgeable. No matter the topic, he could contribute some fascinating insight. His gentle demeanor and patience in explaining things they didn't understand quickly put them at ease, and Sonoko and Ran grew more and more relaxed. When the subject turned to Okiya Subaru's studies, Kaveh had seized the opportunity to extend his offer.
Hearing the question, Okiya shifted his gaze from Mr. Zhongli to Kaveh, offering a polite smile as he declined. "Thank you, but there's no need. My current coursework is relatively relaxed, and I can handle it on my own."
He then smoothly changed the subject. "It sounds like Mr. Kaveh had excellent grades in school. Did you have any like-minded friends during your studies?"
'Based on what we know about Kaveh living with Alhaitham, their relationship should have been very good,'Okiya thought.'So, does he know that Alhaitham has now joined the Black Organization?'
That was right—Okiya Subaru was also aware of the connection between Alhaitham, Kaveh, and Lisa. If Heiji Hattori could uncover that information, it was only natural that the FBI could as well.
"I have quite a few friends, but three I would call good friends—no," Kaveh began, but a flicker of something unpleasant crossed his features. His brow furrowed for a moment before he immediately corrected himself. "Now there are only two."
"What's wrong?" Okiya raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with feigned concern. "Did I ask something I shouldn't have?"
Sonoko and Ran also turned to Kaveh, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and worry.
"It's nothing. It's just that Alhaitham—oh, that's my former friend…" Kaveh waved a hand dismissively, his tone nonchalant. "We had a huge fight a while back. We've cut ties now."
"Ah—?!" Sonoko and Ran exclaimed in unison.
"You had a fight? Why?" Sonoko asked, her face a mask of surprise.
Kaveh shrugged, a hint of helplessness touching his expression. "I suppose our attitudes toward life are just too different. He thinks I'm too indulgent and lack self-restraint, while I think he doesn't know how to enjoy life and is far too serious and rigid. We argued endlessly about it, which led to some serious disagreements. Eventually, we just decided to stop associating with each other."
"Oh my, what a pity!" Sonoko sighed regretfully.
Ran also looked worried and opened her mouth, as if she wanted to offer to mediate.
Sensing their concern, Natsume leaned in close and whispered into their ears, "Don't worry too much about it. Kaveh is just being stubborn. They do have their disagreements, but it hasn't reached the point of actually cutting ties. They really care quite a bit about each other."
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