"Hehe."
Hu Tao looked at the Restoration Fluid and snickered mischievously.
Xiangling: "???"
Xiangling, who was examining the bottle, paused. "Hu Tao, what are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, hehe."
Hu Tao grinned. "Just thinking that the things you pull are really interesting."
"Mmh."
Xiangling nodded in agreement. The items she had obtained this time were indeed fascinating.
Overall, opening these ten jars had been profitable. The Popcorn Recipe alone made it a massive win.
"I wonder when Dad will get here," Xiangling said, packing away her items. "He said he'd come open jars later. Shopkeeper, you'll be able to sell another ten soon."
"Mmh."
Felix nodded.
Meanwhile, in the distance, a black ship approached Liyue Harbor.
"Lady Kujou, we've arrived at Liyue Harbor."
Beside Kujou Sara, a woman pointed respectfully toward the bustling docks. "Once we dock, we'll need to register. Just answer truthfully, and it should be fine."
"Understood."
Kujou Sara nodded, subconsciously touching the letter tucked safely in her robes.
It was written by Guuji Yae, intended for someone named Ganyu in Liyue.
She didn't know who Ganyu was, but she could ask during registration.
Moments later, the black ship docked at the pier.
"Holy cow, another Inazuman ship?"
"Isn't Inazuma under lockdown? And that ship... I recognize it. That's an official ocean-going vessel from the Shogunate. It's completely different from yesterday's boat."
"Right. That blonde girl's boat yesterday had Inazuman markings, but it wasn't flying any official flags. She said she came here because she couldn't return due to the lockdown."
"Yeah. But this ship looks like it's operated by the Kanjou Commission. It represents the nation itself."
A Millelith guard stationed at the dock stared in surprise as the black ship pulled in.
Isn't Inazuma closed off?
Why is another ocean-going vessel here?
The ship was impressive, though perhaps not equal to Liyue's finest. But the key detail was the Inazuman crest emblazoned on its hull.
That was the source of their shock.
Just yesterday, a blonde girl had arrived claiming she was stranded because she couldn't return home.
Now, an official Inazuman ship had arrived.
Surely this ship hadn't also turned back halfway?
Suppresing his curiosity, the guard waved them over. "Please come here for registration."
Kujou Sara ordered the ship to dock and disembarked with a few others.
"Ah, familiar air."
Beside Kujou Sara, a Fontaine man dressed in somewhat tattered clothes looked at Liyue with tears in his eyes.
Finally out.
Although he was from Fontaine and this was Liyue, just being here filled him with emotion.
Liyue was a place for living, for enjoyment.
Inazuma? That place was hell. Living there was suffocating.
Getting out was nearly impossible. The seas were locked down, the Sakoku Decree was in full effect, and the Vision Hunt Decree made inspections terrifyingly strict.
Leaving Inazuma, let alone returning to Fontaine, was a pipe dream for most. Foreigners like him were subjected to intense scrutiny.
On top of that, the waters around Narukami Island were infested with pirates and vagrants. As a foreigner, he lived in constant fear.
Life in Inazuma City was walking on eggshells. He was destitute. The food didn't suit him, and he was miserable.
When he heard Kujou Sara was leaving and needed guides familiar with Liyue, he had immediately volunteered, leveraging his status as a Fontaine traveler.
Without Kujou Sara, he never would have escaped.
Standing on Liyue's soil, he wanted to cry.
Finally back to civilization.
In Liyue, one lived. In Inazuma, one merely survived.
He planned to stay in Liyue for a while before leisurely returning to Fontaine.
Thinking this, tears of joy streamed down his face. If not for this mission, he might have been trapped in Inazuma forever.
Looking at the prosperous harbor, he wanted to howl with relief.
Meanwhile, Kujou Sara stood frozen on the deck, staring at the scene before her.
It was her first time leaving Inazuma, her first time in Liyue. She never imagined Liyue Harbor would be this prosperous.
Countless ocean-going vessels were docked. The sheer number of people bustling about far exceeded anything at Ritou.
Gazing at the magnificent, ancient architecture stretching into the distance, she felt a profound sense of awe.
This is Liyue?
No wonder so many yearned for it.
Back in Inazuma City, she had heard rumors of Liyue, but she assumed it was roughly comparable to Narukami Island.
She couldn't have been more wrong.
Comparable? This was like comparing a firefly to the moon.
After taking a moment to compose herself, Kujou Sara took a deep breath and walked off the ship.
She approached the Millelith registration desk.
"By the way, isn't Inazuma under lockdown?"
Seeing Kujou Sara's registration as an official representative of Inazuma City, the Millelith guard looked surprised. "How did you get here? I heard the outer seas were sealed. Did Inazuma lift the lockdown?"
Kujou Sara's registration indicated a diplomatic mission. This required notifying the higher-ups.
Unlike the blonde girl yesterday who came as a private individual stranded by the decree, this was an official delegation.
It seemed contradictory. Had the girl lied?
Unlikely. The news of Inazuma's isolation had spread across Teyvat.
So, did the arrival of this delegation mean the Sakoku Decree was over?
"No."
Kujou Sara shook her head. "Inazuma is still under lockdown. But that doesn't prevent us officials from leaving. It simply means outsiders cannot enter. I am here to discuss matters with Liyue."
Just because she came out didn't mean the lockdown was lifted. The Vision Hunt Decree was still in force.
"I see."
The Millelith guard nodded, understanding the situation. "Then please wait a moment. I need to notify my superiors. Did you send notice of your arrival beforehand? Who are you meeting? If there's no appointment, I'll contact the Ministry of Civil Affairs."
Diplomatic delegations usually required protocols and reception. At the very least, Lady Ganyu needed to be informed.
Typically, official visits were preceded by letters and scheduled approvals. They didn't just show up unannounced.
If notice had been sent, the Millelith would have been alerted to expect them. But they had received no such orders.
"I have a letter from Guuji Yae for Ganyu of Liyue," Kujou Sara stated.
"Ah, for Lady Ganyu."
The guard nodded.
He immediately picked up a Paper Crane, scribbled a quick message, and sent it flying toward Yujing Terrace.
"Done."
The guard smiled as he released the crane. "Message sent. Lady Ganyu will receive it and come shortly. Please wait here."
"Uh."
Kujou Sara stared, dumbfounded. "You notified her just like that?"
Shouldn't you send a runner?
Why did you just release a paper crane?
She watched as the folded paper flapped its wings and flew away into the sky.
It can fly?
She understood throwing a paper airplane, but this thing was flapping its wings like a living bird and navigating on its own!
"Yes," the guard grinned at her shock. "This is our Liyue Message Crane. It's incredibly convenient and saves time. The crane automatically finds the recipient. Think of it as an alchemy tool."
"Such magic exists?"
Kujou Sara was astounded.
Has Liyue prospered to this extent?
She had never even heard of a Message Crane.
To send a message, one simply released a paper bird?
He called it an alchemy tool, but she saw him write on ordinary paper and fold it. Where was the alchemy mechanism?
"Hehe."
The guard chuckled but didn't elaborate.
They had been just as shocked when they first used it. But after experiencing the convenience, they realized just how indispensable it was.
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