Just like how Ruan Mei had suddenly appeared at the space station—
She also left just as suddenly.
The Herta Space Station didn't even have a record of her arrival or departure.
This made the staff in charge of access control deeply distressed.
Every meeting between geniuses should be properly archived.
If a groundbreaking invention were to emerge in the future, at least there would be a complete historical record.
But neither Ruan Mei nor Su Ran were the obedient type.
They treated the Herta Space Station like a place they could enter and leave whenever they pleased.
"Stay a couple more days," Herta suggested.
"The materials you ordered are arriving soon anyway. You can sign for them in person—saves you another trip."
She still wanted Su Ran to stay.
Two days wasn't long, but it was enough time to discuss plenty of things.
Besides, compared to Su Ran's empty, barebones space station, hers was far more suitable for academic discussions.
"Alright then."
After thinking it over, Su Ran agreed—he wasn't in a rush to leave anyway.
However, Ningguang couldn't stay much longer.
She was still the Tianquan of Liyue.
She hadn't severed ties with Liyue, was still a public official, and still bore responsibility for the nation.
She had been away for many days already.
She'd learned most of what she needed to learn.
Anything she hadn't fully grasped yet would need time to digest back home.
"How do you feel?"
Back on her own space station, Ningguang felt an immediate sense of quiet and emptiness.
She turned to Yelan beside her.
The two of them had followed Su Ran around the Herta Space Station for days, broadening their horizons—
Only to realize that Su Ran's value kept rising.
At first, he was just a dangerous Fatui Harbinger.
Then, someone favored by the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma.
Then, a mysterious visitor from beyond the stars.
And now—one of the smartest geniuses in the entire universe.
The more they learned, the more terrifyingly high Su Ran's status appeared.
They hadn't even met the most powerful figures in the universe yet.
Just Asta alone was already someone unreachable to more than 99% of all beings.
And yet—
Such a person treated them like friends.
That was something Ningguang would never have dared to imagine.
And all of it—
Was because of Su Ran.
His status was so high that even someone as wealthy as Asta had to treat him with utmost respect.
"I've truly broadened my horizons," Yelan said.
"With a boss this powerful, even if I wanted to quit now, I probably couldn't."
After this trip to the Herta Space Station, Yelan felt like she had completely missed the chance to get off the ship.
At this point, she was no longer in control of her own fate.
If she tried to run, there probably wouldn't be anywhere left for her to hide within the Seven Nations.
After all—
That man was still a Fatui Harbinger.
And the Fatui were everywhere in Teyvat.
At this point, even Rex Lapis might not be able to protect her.
"This is an opportunity, Yelan," Ningguang said calmly.
"He's still in his early stages. Early employees usually reap the greatest rewards later."
Ningguang didn't see Su Ran as a risky investment.
What he'd shown so far was no longer just "potential."
"Not worried he'll dump you once he becomes successful?"
Yelan found Ningguang's loyalty… strange.
She was used to seeing subordinates loyal to Ningguang.
Now Ningguang herself seemed loyal to someone else.
"That's overthinking it," Ningguang replied.
"If he abandons me, it'll only mean I failed to live up to expectations."
From the way Su Ran had already planned her future growth,
Ningguang wasn't worried about being discarded.
If there was any chance of that—
It would only be because she hadn't met his expectations.
Besides, judging by Su Ran's current setup, She didn't need to worry about making money in the future.
"Ningguang-sama? You're finally back!"
The three secretaries, buried in paperwork, were overjoyed to finally see her.
"With high-tech office tools available, is the workload still too much?"
Ningguang frowned.
Before leaving, she had already delegated all her work.
Liyue Harbor wasn't that big, and with duties divided among the Qixing, there shouldn't have been much left that required her direct attention.
"Work isn't the issue, but…"
One secretary hesitated.
"Lady Keqing has been demanding to see you. She even tried to board the space station."
After learning that Ningguang had gained access to a far more efficient working environment,
Keqing naturally wanted to see it for herself.
But the secretaries had no authority to make that decision.
They could only stall.
Yet they couldn't withstand Keqing's pressure forever.
Even if Yuheng wasn't as famous as Tianquan,
She was still one of the Qixing.
Their authority was equal.
And they were merely subordinates.
The pressure was immense.
"Keqing?"
"Then let's go see her."
With the tablet Asta had gifted her, Ningguang took the three secretaries and Yelan back to the Jade Chamber.
Keqing had already been waiting there for quite some time.
She'd planned to leave and return to work if there was still no response—
But then, the unfamiliar machine she didn't recognize suddenly activated.
Before she could understand what was happening,
Five people walked out of it.
"..."
Keqing instinctively rubbed her eyes.
"No need to doubt it," Ningguang said as she stepped out of the teleport pod.
"This is a teleportation device. It can send people beyond the skies."
Seeing Keqing's stunned expression,
Ningguang felt both amused and faintly embarrassed.
She wondered—
Had Asta felt the same way when introducing them to the Herta Space Station?
"So… what place is that?"
A device this miraculous had appeared right in front of her.
The Jade Chamber was already far above the ground—
Yet this thing could reach beyond the heavens?
"That is…" Ningguang paused, then said, "…the territory of a genius—one who also happens to be a Fatui Harbinger."
She felt it necessary to push Keqing to take a stance.
Liyue's old ways no longer worked.
It was time to move with the times.
Keqing was a good candidate.
She already desired reform and change in Liyue.
But she was also rebellious.
"Colluding with Fatui really makes you that proud?"
Keqing had long known Ningguang was working with Su Ran.
What she couldn't understand—
How Ningguang could sound so proud of it.
"Ningguang, why don't you explain it to her?"
Ningguang gestured toward Yelan.
Yelan rolled her eyes at her superior.
Sighing, she stepped forward.
"Lady Keqing, there's an old saying in Liyue," Yelan said calmly.
"Those who know the times are heroes. You understand that, right?"
Ningguang: "..."
Why did that sound… off?
This wasn't asking Keqing to betray Liyue, was it?
—------------------------------
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