[The Wano Aftermath]
As the Jade Chamber ascended back into the rift, the seas around Wano erupted in cannon fire. The Whitebeard Pirates had finally arrived.
"Dammit! How did Whitebeard's crew get here so fast?" a Marine captain screamed as his battleship was split by a shockwave.
Ace stood on the prow of the Moby Dick, looking at the retreating Marine fleet. "Wano is home to many of my friends... If we hadn't received the news so late, we would have been here sooner. I just hope Luffy is alright."
"Don't worry, Ace," Marco chuckled, looking at the scorched, flattened landscape left behind by Guoba. "Judging by the state of the terrain, whoever helped Luffy was far more terrifying than Kaido."
[The Jade Chamber – The New Arrivals]
Back in Teyvat, the heroes of the mission gathered in the central plaza. The crates of Sea Prism Stone were being stacked like mountains, a sight that made Ningguang's eyes glow with the light of future profits.
"A successful harvest," Ningguang noted. "Now, let's release our guests."
The Serenitea Pot opened, and the three Charlotte siblings stepped out: Katakuri, Pudding, and Brûlée. They stared at the floating palace, the golden architecture of Liyue, and the high-density elemental air with pure shock.
"Is this the 'World of Gods'?" Katakuri rumbled, his Haki sensing the immense pressure of the Jade Chamber's arrays.
Diluc stepped forward. "You are in Liyue. You are free to open shops, live as citizens, or join the military. If you choose the latter, Lord Su Han will ensure you are trained in our ways of combat."
"I wish to fight," Katakuri said, his gaze firm. "But who is this Su Han?"
"He is the Sovereign," Eula explained. "The husband of the Electro Archon and the brother-in-arms to the Anemo Archon. You saw how Admiral Ryokugyu was erased? That was a god whose power hasn't even fully returned. Our gods... they can split islands with a single stroke."
Katakuri nodded, his respect for power overriding his caution. Meanwhile, Pudding expressed her desire to open a cafe in Mondstadt, finding its "freedom" reminiscent of her dreams, while Brûlée offered her Mirror-Mirror powers to the state.
[The Witch's Transformation]
Jean looked at Brûlée—her hunched back, her scarred face, and her tattered clothes. "You don't need to look like a nightmare anymore, Brûlée. In this world, you are a designer, not a monster."
Jean and Lisa took Brûlée away, and thirty minutes later, the "Witch" was gone. In her place stood a woman in a soft primrose-yellow dress, her wild hair tamed into a gentle ponytail, and her sharp, blackened nails trimmed and polished.
Katakuri stared at his sister, his stoic mask almost cracking. "Brûlée... you look... beautiful."
"Jean and Lisa helped me," Brûlée smiled, her eyes tearing up. "I want to start linking the mirrors of the three nations immediately. It's the least I can do for this 'Sovereign' who gave me a life."
[The Logistics of the Forge]
While the siblings settled in, Ningguang directed the transfer of resources. Totosai, the legendary smith, ran his hands over the Sea Prism Stone and the rare Ghost Ore from Wano.
"Incredible!" the old man shouted. "This Sea Prism Stone contains the literal essence of the ocean. If I forge a blade with this, the Hydro-infusion would be permanent! And this Ghost Ore... it reeks of 'Oni-spirit.' It's perfect for a warrior with demonic blood."
"Forge what is needed," Ningguang commanded. "Liyue may be 'poor' in spirit, but we will never be poor in weaponry."
[Sal Terrae – The Tragedy of Salt]
While the Jade Chamber was bustling, Su Han, Raiden Shogun, and Shenhe had arrived at a desolate ruin north of Liyue: Sal Terrae (The Salt in the Ground).
The air was thick with the scent of brine and ancient sorrow. The ground was littered with salt-covered statues of people frozen in poses of terror.
"So this is the site of a fallen god?" the Shogun asked, her purple eyes scanning the ruins.
"Yes," Su Han replied, walking toward the sealed entrance. "The Salt Goddess, Havria. The legends say the Geo Archon killed her out of coldness, but the truth is much more pathetic... and much sadder. She was a god who was too kind for her own good, a god who abandoned the struggle for power only to be betrayed by her own people."
Su Han looked at the salt-crusted pillars. He wasn't here just for lore; he was here for the Salt Chalice and the Salt Ruler—artifacts of a god who, though weak in combat, possessed the power of infinite creation.
"Let's open the seal," Su Han said. "It's time the world learned that 'kindness without strength' is just another form of tragedy."
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