When they arrived at the entrance of Liyue Harbor, they found many Millelith soldiers stationed there.
They were stopping various Snezhnayan diplomatic envoys—members of the Fatui.
A man dressed in Fatui attire, wearing a half-mask that covered part of his face, greeted the four of them when he saw them.
"Oh, consultants of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
"Mr. Zhongli and Mr. Qiu Nian, correct?"
The Fatui agent waved casually.
"The Fatui's intelligence network is quite impressive."
"I've been a consultant at the funeral parlor for less than two days, yet you already know about it."
Qiu Nian looked at him with mild surprise.
"Haha…"
"That's nothing unusual for the Fatui."
"Oh right—I forgot to introduce myself."
"My name is Felix."
Felix smiled and introduced himself.
"I should remind the two of you that the Millelith are watching us very closely right now."
"These are tense times. Don't act rashly."
He warned.
After that, Felix began explaining the situation in Liyue Harbor—how the adepti had arrived with hostile intentions.
"Hmm…"
Zhongli rested his hand on his chin, appearing to think deeply.
This was precisely the scene he had hoped to see.
Once the power of the Talismans of Permission temporarily lifted the seal on the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, he would be able to observe the choices that both humans and adepti would make.
"The adepti do not recognize the authority of the Qixing. They only recognize their contracts with the Geo Archon."
"If they decide to attack by force, Liyue Harbor may not be able to withstand them."
Felix shook his head.
"But the Liyue Qixing are not the type to sit idly by."
Zhongli replied calmly.
"Hmph. Everyone knows how stubborn they are."
"And that's exactly why the conflict between humans and adepti is about to explode!"
Felix snorted.
After all, the Qixing were not only tough toward the adepti.
They were equally uncompromising toward the Fatui.
"And yet somehow the Fatui have become the common enemy."
Zhongli glanced at the Fatui agents currently being blocked by the Millelith.
"That's because Ningguang wants the Millelith to fully control our movements."
"But now they suddenly remember to restrict us?"
"The Qixing are nothing special!"
Felix scoffed.
"In the end, the conflict between the Qixing and the adepti is merely internal strife."
"But since the Fatui are outsiders, Ningguang naturally has reason to be wary of you."
Qiu Nian said calmly.
After all, the conflict between humans and adepti had been stirred up by the Fatui in the first place.
"That's true enough."
"Anyway, Mr. Zhongli—you are a collaborator of Childe."
"Half of your stance reflects ours, so don't let anyone catch you making a mistake."
Felix nodded to Qiu Nian before emphasizing his warning to Zhongli.
"It seems that the tensions within Liyue Harbor…"
"…have finally reached their limit."
Paimon said with a troubled expression.
"We can't just stand by and do nothing…"
Lumine murmured.
"So you intend to intervene using your neutral status?"
"Or do you plan to change the balance through force?"
"Neither path will be easy."
Zhongli said thoughtfully.
"Oh right!"
"Mr. Qiu Nian, Mr. Zhongli."
"I heard that your Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has also been dragged into the conflict."
"The Millelith have already arrived there and are confronting them."
Felix suddenly remembered something.
"…That's not good."
"I must return to the funeral parlor immediately."
"I hope Director Hu can hold things together for now."
"We can't let this escalate."
"Mr. Qiu Nian, will you come with me?"
Zhongli asked.
"Hmm…"
"With Mr. Zhongli there, the funeral parlor should be fine."
"As for me, I have something else to deal with."
Qiu Nian replied after a brief moment of thought.
"Traveler, you should think carefully as well."
"In my opinion, if you want to stop an explosion that's about to happen…"
"…you should first find the fuse."
Zhongli nodded toward Lumine.
After leaving those words behind, he walked into Liyue Harbor.
"What did Zhongli mean by 'the fuse' just now?"
Paimon sighed and asked Lumine.
So many things had happened recently that her small brain couldn't keep up.
"The rich guy who's been paying for everything along the way."
"That must be him."
Lumine frowned slightly.
She immediately thought of Childe.
"I see!"
"I think I get it now."
"If there's anyone who would benefit most from the city falling into chaos…"
"My first guess would be him too."
Paimon said as realization dawned on her.
"That guy…"
"He must be taking advantage of the chaos while no one is watching him to do something shady!"
She put her hands on her hips.
"But where would we even find him now?"
"When everything becomes this chaotic… where would he go?"
Paimon scratched her head again.
"It should be the Golden House."
"That's where the Exuvia of Rex Lapis is being kept."
"With the Qixing and the adepti confronting each other right now, the defenses there will likely be weak."
Qiu Nian guessed.
"And even if Childe isn't there…"
"…we could still take the opportunity to see the Geo Archon."
Paimon nodded.
"So… Qiu Nian."
"Will you come with us to the Golden House?"
Lumine asked.
"Let's go take a look together."
Qiu Nian nodded.
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