Inside the little Western-style villa.
Klee ran back and forth through the corridor with her schoolbag on her back.
"Wahh——! What a big, spacious house!"
She was being mischievous all on her own, while Amber, Collei, and Paimon trailed behind her, terrified that Klee might cause some disaster.
As a result, the whole house, upstairs and down, echoed with a steady "thump thump thump" of footsteps.
Dehya, Alusha, and the others had gone off to release that captured game back into the wild.
When they'd gone hunting today, they had deliberately caught many male-and-female pairs.
That way these animals could keep breeding endlessly within the Serenitea Pot's domain, generation after generation.
When the time came, they could head into the woods anytime to catch Fungi boars to eat.
Aside from wild boars, Dehya had also caught plenty of fowl.
There were pigeons, Dusk Birds, and quite a few ducks.
And of course, there were fish as well.
Lisa, meanwhile, was in the living room conversing with Ningguang.
This time, Lisa had come precisely to discuss the matters of business.
She first wanted to hear Ningguang's plans for Liyue, and then, following that line of thinking, link them up with Mondstadt.
Of course, Mondstadt's route map was actually very simple.
One only had to connect to the Dawn Winery, then follow that road by Stone Gate and walk straight on over.
This road by Stone Gate was the main route for trade.
As for the internal route planning within Mondstadt, that would have to be decided according to the people of Mondstadt's own internal arrangements.
Although Lisa had her own views on this matter, she was still somewhat in a fog.
If she went back like this, she and Grand Master Jean wouldn't be able to reach any conclusion in their discussions.
So, when it all came down to it, she still had to ask Ye Xi.
At this moment, Ye Xi was in his own study.
Before him stood Enjou and Nabelin, who had come to report on the situation.
"My Lord, this subordinate has already found the minister who, back in the day, drafted the design blueprints for the palace of the Kingdom of Khaenri'ah!"
"Using the blueprints made by him and his apprentices to design our... ah, the company's headquarters building, will surely be very much to your taste."
Ye Xi's face was covered in question marks.
The minister who drafted the design blueprints for the kingdom's palace?
Wait... the kingdom's palace?
He didn't recall ever ordering Enjou to do such a thing.
What was going on?
He furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Enjou, what was the order I gave you?"
"Eh——!?"
Enjou instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He always felt that Ye Xi seemed not quite satisfied with the way he'd handled things.
This filled his heart with extreme dread.
He hastily knelt on the ground and reported, "My King, you said you wanted this subordinate to build up the Khaenri'ah Economic Development Zone, and within the development zone, to construct the headquarters building of a transport company!"
"Mm."
That's right.
Ye Xi hadn't misremembered—this was exactly the order he'd given Enjou.
Just think about it: once the highways and the Railway were both open to traffic, commerce and trade would surely become extremely frequent.
And yet, these merchants, even with the means of transport available, wouldn't know how to use them.
The best outcome would be to pay to hire them.
To hire trucks and drivers to transport goods on their behalf.
The purpose of a transport company was to collect commissions, provide drivers and trucks, and help merchants complete their transactions.
This was Ye Xi's original intention in wanting to establish the company.
But the problem was, why was it that when these words reached Enjou's ears, they turned into designing the palace of the Kingdom of Khaenri'ah!?
How on earth were these two things even related!?
Seeing Ye Xi's grave expression and his long silence, Enjou grew even more uneasy.
He hurriedly prostrated himself flat on the ground and asked for instruction, "My King, it is this subordinate who is foolish!"
"This subordinate grasped only a small part of the meaning in My King's words. I beg My King to resolve this subordinate's confusion!"
"Eh? Ahem..."
Ye Xi was a bit taken aback, but he quickly feigned composure.
A small part of the meaning?
The words he'd spoken had only their very simple literal meaning—where did any other meaning come from?
This feeling—why did it seem a bit like a reading-comprehension question on an exam?
Even he, the author himself, didn't know the deeper significance, and yet the test paper had already started asking about the "central theme."
It was simply absurd.
He asked in a low voice, "First tell me—what exactly did you grasp?"
"Yes, yes!"
Enjou hurriedly said, "My Lord said we are to establish a transport company, and the drivers in charge of transport will all be agents of our Khaenri'ah intelligence department!"
"This company will naturally gather these elite agents together, and they can then exchange intelligence within it."
"This subordinate has understood that, while My Lord outwardly speaks of establishing a company, it is in fact to create a venue for exchanging intelligence."
"And this venue is perfectly legitimate and aboveground—one could say it is our Khaenri'ah's first important surface stronghold!"
"On top of that, since this company is the only one of its kind, this subordinate understood it to be the first aboveground headquarters of our Kingdom of Khaenri'ah!"
"I am terribly sorry—this subordinate comprehended only this much!"
Hearing this, Ye Xi couldn't help but twitch his brow.
Good grief—although there was a sense of over-interpretation to it, Enjou's suggestions and ideas were, in fact, all quite excellent!
He genuinely hadn't thought of treating the company's headquarters as an intelligence exchange.
This way, not only could they run transport out in the open, but they could also develop Khaenri'ah's power in secret!
This line of thinking was truly not bad at all.
He couldn't help but nod, "Enjou, your idea is very good."
Hearing the praise, Enjou hurriedly lowered his head, "This subordinate is without talent and could only comprehend this small part."
"I know that Lord Ye Xi must surely have other schemes and arrangements in mind!"
"I beg Lord Ye Xi to make it clear to this subordinate!"
At this, Ye Xi instead found himself rather at a loss as to what to make clear.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke up, "Before anything else—regarding the idea you just had, there is one flaw."
"I never told you that there would be only one such company."
"What!?"
Enjou's pupils contracted slightly, and a stormy sea of shock instantly surged in his heart.
In an instant, countless possibilities sprang up in his mind!
"I summoned you here this time precisely to speak of the achievements I have recently attained in Liyue."
Ye Xi spoke slowly, "I have already set up a comprehensive arrangement throughout Liyue, and tomorrow at noon all the construction works will commence."
"At that time, Liyue will begin devoting its full strength to building Liyue's second-largest metropolis—Liyue City."
"The preliminary plan for Liyue City will have three major districts, one of which I have named the Khaenri'ah New Economic Construction Zone."
"This district is an important transport hub, connecting Liyue, Mondstadt, and Sumeru."
"I intend to build a branch of the transport company in the newly constructed district as well."
"When that happens, once our drivers and trucks from the Sumeru region have gone over to Liyue, they will have a place to rest and stop over."
"By the same logic, Mondstadt will also open a branch in the future, and so will Inazuma."
Hearing this, Enjou couldn't help but exclaim aloud, "My Lord, your wisdom is simply beyond this subordinate's reach!"
"This subordinate understands My Lord's deeper intent!"
Ye Xi nodded.
Though he himself didn't know what it was Enjou had understood, still, treating each branch company as a stronghold was indeed a rather clever stroke of ingenuity.
Just as they were speaking, a knock suddenly came from outside the door.
Knock knock knock——
"Master Ye Xi, I'd like to chat with you about the plans for Mondstadt."
"Lisa? Hold on a moment."
Ye Xi gave Nabelin and Enjou a meaningful glance, and the two of them at once returned to Khaenri'ah through the study's teleportation portal.
The moment he left the Serenitea Pot, Enjou burst into excited laughter.
This left Nabelin utterly baffled.
"You understood again?"
Enjou gave a snort and laughed, "But of course!"
"I cannot help but admire that great Lord's brilliance and wisdom!"
"At the time, what made me admire him even more was that great Lord's benevolence!"
"Heavens, how could there be such a benevolent king!"
"If our great undertaking truly succeeds, when the day comes to bestow a title upon My Lord, just what name and title should we give him!?"
"The Benevolent King? The Wise King!? Or the Pioneering King!"
Watching Enjou move himself to emotion all on his own, Nabelin felt a wave of curiosity.
She couldn't help but urge, "Enjou, hurry and explain—what exactly did Lord Ye Xi tell you!"
Enjou's face was full of haughtiness as he explained smugly, "You saw it just now too—I did not grasp My Lord's deeper intentions!"
"The Lord could clearly have simply told me the answer outright, and then punished me for my foolishness!"
"But that great Lord was so benevolent that he did not say it plainly, and instead enlightened me through subtle, indirect means!"
"This was so that he would not punish me—he deliberately let me come to understand it on my own!"
"Tell me, just how benevolent must that great Lord be!"
Hearing Enjou's analysis, Nabelin hurriedly nodded, "So that's how it is! The old kings of the past would only nitpick, seizing the chance to severely punish their subordinates!"
"But Lord Ye Xi is finding ways to help us out of our predicament! What a benevolent king!"
"What truly makes me admire him is still My King's speed!"
Enjou gazed upon the homeland of Khaenri'ah, his thoughts turning to Aether, far away in Fontaine.
He shook his head and said, "His Highness the Prince's speed is, in the end, still far too slow!"
"In just two days' time—that great Lord, in such a brief span, has already completely taken control of Liyue!"
"Making the people of Liyue willingly build a stronghold for us!"
"This is simply unbelievable!"
"And what's more, if things go according to the Lord's vision, with a stronghold of our Khaenri'ah in every nation, then we Khaenri'ah will grasp the movements of every single country!"
"This plan is simply too brilliant!"
"Truly worthy of My King!"
Hearing this, Nabelin's face instantly filled with adoration.
....
Inside the study of the Serenitea Pot.
Lisa voiced her own doubts.
She didn't know what Mondstadt would need to do if the trade route were to be opened.
Hearing this, Ye Xi directly used the Abyss Core to conjure a topographical sand-table model of Mondstadt right on the desk.
Seeing this skill of his, Lisa was truly rather astonished.
She thought about it for ages but still couldn't figure out just what substance this sand-table was made of.
"As for the plans for Mondstadt, I will only plan out the trade route between Liyue and Mondstadt."
"As for Fontaine and Snezhnaya, I don't have any acquaintances there, so I won't consider them for now."
"The route I've planned is...."
Listening to Ye Xi's patient explanation, Lisa already understood the reason behind it all.
According to Jean's account, it had been Barbatos who went to Sumeru and met Ye Xi—that was what earned Mondstadt a place in Ye Xi's plans.
The reason he hadn't considered Snezhnaya and Fontaine was, no doubt, that the Gods of those two nations had never met Ye Xi.
If Mondstadt only had to consider trade with Liyue, then planning it out would be much simpler.
In no time at all, she had finished listening to Ye Xi's conception.
"I understand, Master Ye Xi."
"As for all this, once I return to Mondstadt, I will explain it to the Acting Grand Master."
"Rest assured, Mondstadt's side will surely cooperate with you actively."
Having said that, she couldn't help but let out a yawn.
She gave off the impression of someone who, the instant her work was done, immediately turned languid.
Ye Xi spoke up, "The business is all settled. Lisa, let's go rest outside."
"Mm~ a fine suggestion."
A glimmer of appreciation flashed in Lisa's eyes.
She felt that Ye Xi understood her very well, that he knew she liked to be at leisure.
Back in Mondstadt, she would never work overtime; the moment she got off work, she would prepare herself a cup of coffee and then take a nap.
Ye Xi said with a smile, "There's coffee in the living room—freshly ground. Care to give it a try?"
Hearing this, Lisa's eyes grew even more satisfied.
She sighed in leisurely admiration, "I think I'm beginning to understand why you're so popular with the girls."
"Master Ye Xi, you wouldn't happen to have mind-reading powers, would you?"
"How could that be?"
Ye Xi didn't have mind-reading powers, but with this many girls, he understood them all very well.
It wasn't much different from being able to read minds.
"Freshly ground coffee must be quite a hassle, surely? Still, I'm looking forward to it~"
"It's no hassle."
Ye Xi pulled open the study door and invited her, "Come rest in the living room. I have a coffee machine—it'll be ready in a moment."
"A coffee machine?"
Lisa felt quite curious about this novel term, but she didn't inquire further and instead followed Ye Xi out of the study.
The moment she came into the living room, she saw Nahida and Klee playing together.
Of course, it was Nahida keeping Klee company.
With her around, Klee stopped making a ruckus.
The two of them seemed to be getting along very happily.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata couldn't help but remark, "Ye Xi, Buer says she always feels Klee is so endearing—she likes this child very much."
"Why is that?"
"And what's more, I have this same feeling too—I always feel that the way I looked as a child is especially like Klee."
Ye Xi pondered for a moment, "Doesn't Nahida often say she's the moon? Klee, in Mondstadt, is known as the runaway little sun."
"One's a moon and one's a sun—how harmonious is that?"
To be honest, if you put Nahida and Klee together and then swapped their clothes, you really couldn't tell which was which.
Both had little elf ears, and both were little lolis.
"The runaway sun?"
Hearing this title, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata seemed lost in thought.
"Lisa, go have a seat on the sofa. I'll go have Dunyarzad find out where the coffee beans are kept."
"All right."
Ye Xi surveyed the living room. The sight of all these girls gathered together truly carried a certain flavor of happiness.
It was just that he always felt something was still missing.
Just as he was thinking this, footsteps came from outside the door.
Looking through the floor-to-ceiling window, he caught sight of the figure of a pink-haired fox.
.....
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