Helplessly, Shenhe turned her gaze back to Ganyu; Ganyu nodded knowingly.
"Leave it to me; I'll bring the Adeptus back." Ganyu made a cheering gesture and also headed toward the Raiden family.
Ganyu's steps were heavy, feeling the weight of responsibility—one slip, and all of Inazuma would know some stories from her childhood.
Shenhe fell silent; finally, she turned her gaze to Lucian.
Lucian truly understood what Shenhe meant: wanting a head-pat, right?
Coming to Shenhe's side, Lucian raised his hand to stroke her beautiful hair; looking at the closed-eyed Shenhe, for some reason, Lucian always felt like an old father.
This isn't right—I remember I'm supposed to be the junior brother?
Only now did Xianyun, being hugged by Ganyu, understand: so that's what it meant?!
Not to mention Xianyun, Arataki Itto had also finished the story, couldn't help but lamented: "This guy is really cool—wonder if he can be pulled into the Arataki Gang."
The three little brothers: "But boss, Miitoboru loses consciousness after leaving there."
Itto: "Of course I know that, but no worries! Lucian-bro will have a way!"
Kuki Shinobu nodded inwardly: the optimistic boss is actually quite smart in these matters—having good judgment and daring to trust others is a rare smart trait.
Unfortunately, Itto's smarts were too one-sided, making him unable to help Lucian at all, so only Kuki Shinobu could assist.
No, how wasn't this Itto's smarts? As long as I know nothing, no one will trouble me!
Look, the current know-nothing Itto was just freeloading at this gathering, even bringing little brother Fukuzawa along.
He didn't need to do anything, yet enjoyed everything—great wisdom seems foolish!
If one had to say, the most composed few right now were Xiao, Zhongli, Hu Tao, Yoimiya, and Albedo.
They either had emotions that weren't obvious or were more accepting in their thoughts, able to adapt to farewells.
Hu Tao firmly believed that after reading the story Lucian wrote about her, even if Lucian died now, she wouldn't shed a single tear.
Of course, Hu Tao still hoped Lucian wouldn't die; she didn't want to verify if her idea was true or false.
One could only say, eating bitter melon—if it's bitter, it's real; if not bitter, it's fake.
Hu Tao knew that back then, she would definitely cry; but by then, there wouldn't be a cheeky person nearby taking photos.
If it came to that, Hu Tao would be even sadder, so better not to verify.
That was what she originally thought, but in the following days while working for Lucian, during the process, Hu Tao discovered something.
Not the heaven-defying matter of the boss working for the employee—Hu Tao discovered Lucian's plan: he seemed about to fight with a 'god'!
I already said not to verify! Why are you going to court death!?
You're not Wu Dalang drinking giraffe milk, reaching high to suck it!?
Hu Tao didn't know that Lucian had already fought with Ei before, a pure flesh-to-flesh brawl; otherwise, she wouldn't feel safe letting Lucian wander the world alone.
Fighting the Raiden Shogun? What kind of thinking is that? You could slap Venti twice and it wouldn't be as bad as fighting her!
Before, if Lucian hadn't left a teleport point in Liyue for quick return, Hu Tao wouldn't have agreed to him, an ordinary person, going to Fontaine alone.
Now it's good—you're not ordinary anymore, but your胆子 has gotten bigger too! Actually planning to fight a god!
What you'll want to do in the future, I don't even dare imagine! Could it be you'll fight the Heavenly Principles, the Abyss too?
Hu Tao also found it strange: Lucian clearly wasn't the adventurous type, usually preferring to stay home, the kind who wouldn't go out if not called—how does he hide an adventurous heart?
So Hu Tao warned Lucian: if you're going adventuring, you must tell her in advance.
Hu Tao put it nicely: 'So I can prepare your coffin ahead of time; this hall master will personally hold your funeral.'
Little did she know Lucian had no adventurous heart at all; without certainty, he wouldn't act.
Distributing anchor points to everyone was to make me a 'public bus'? Wrong! It was to make it convenient to call for backup!
So this time too, Lucian had no intention of telling her about his adventure; when the time came, he'd just set off directly.
The boss's requirement was to tell her during adventures, but this isn't adventuring, so no need to say, right?
Lucian was the type who, even with certainty, planned escape routes in advance—this was why he set up teleport points worldwide, global flight possible.
Now Venti, Zhongli, and Ei all carried Lucian's anchors; going to Sumeru was already prepared—what adventure was there?
Besides, if he really couldn't beat Wanderer, Lucian would just summon his mom.
Not cursing—really summon his 'mom.'
Wanderer also wanted Beelzebul to witness his ascended self, right? Perfect, fulfill that for him.
It was just 'Unit-01' going berserk; for Ei, subduing it wasn't difficult.
The Shogun, if not in the Plane of Euthymia, would also be taken down by Ei in a few moves; fighting Ei for five hundred years relied on constant 'sit-ups.'
Wanderer becoming a god via the 'remains' was true, and his strength wasn't bad, but unfortunately, the Seven Sovereigns of the Demimonde were gods who emerged victorious in the Archon War.
A note here: Demimonde aren't a race; it's more like a profession.
If your strength is sufficient and you've obtained a part of Phanes, you can be a 'Demimonde.'
So Venti is a wind spirit, the Flower God a flower spirit; over in Natlan, even humans.
Even the Hydro Dragon King wholeheartedly for humanity, willing to dedicate power to humans like the Sovereigns—how isn't that a kind of 'Demimonde,' an 'alternative Sovereign'?
Probably to the Heavenly Principles too: as long as it guards the Hydro authority, toward humanity, it's fine who holds it.
Though Wanderer had no fragment of Phanes, the Gnosis was made from the remains of the Primordial One—perhaps via the Doctor's research, enough to make one a god.
Unfortunately, becoming a god is one thing; the gap with the Sovereigns is still large.
Know that even among Demimonde, they were the top tier; how can a newly ascended god compare?
Not even mentioning Zhongli and the Red King, such Chicken Dinner King winners who defeated how many gods of Wanderer's level under them.
Just take Ei herself: look at Kanna Kapatcir who stirred up sky-filling thunderstorms, look at Orobashi as vast as the high heavens.
She one-shot them all! Even if they deliberately sought death, the gold content of being one-shot isn't low.
Switch to the ascended Wanderer—he couldn't even stand still and let her hit to achieve a one-shot.
One can only say the gap between gods sometimes is greater than between humans and gods.
Gods generally don't interfere in other nations' affairs, but if it's Lucian's request, Ei would do it.
As for diplomatic pressure afterward, if any, just leave it to Yae Miko.
Now Kitsune Saiguu was back; with such troubles, someone could accompany Miko in solving them—how nice.
You ask what Ei is responsible for?
She's responsible for asking: "How about it?"
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Lines · Hu Tao: About Lucian · Adventuring
"Sigh, he actually ran off without telling this hall master—if he dies, who'll collect his body? Right, do you want to buy? Even if dying in another country, we help with collection too."