In truth, all of this prosperity had to be credited to that miraculous little shop. And, of course, its enigmatic Shopkeeper.
If Felix hadn't opened his doors to sell those wondrous jars, the people of Liyue would never have had access to such marvels. They certainly wouldn't be enjoying this newfound convenience. Consequently, the citizens held an immense, almost reverent gratitude toward the owner of the Jar Shop.
Kujou Sara, observing the faint smile of the Millelith guard who offered no further explanation, decided not to press the issue. It was clear he had no intention of divulging state secrets, and she had no right to demand them.
Instead, Sara turned her gaze back to the bustling Liyue Harbor. She watched the sailors and dockworkers, a ceaseless tide of activity. Whether they were hauling heavy crates or tallying inventory, there was something striking about them: not a single face showed reluctance.
On the contrary, they looked... happy. Their bodies radiated a vibrant, energetic aura.
The sight silenced her.
Her people back in Inazuma were not like this.
When the people of Inazuma performed manual labor, they moved with a heavy, deathly lethargy. Compared to these Liyue citizens, the contrast was night and day. Sara had once tried to assign lighter workloads to her people, hoping to boost morale. But even then, the result was the same—they moved like the elderly, devoid of spirit, their eyes dull and lifeless.
Young men should be brimming with vitality, not shuffling about like corpses.
Why is it like this? Sara wondered, unable to find an answer.
The workers at the Narukami Island shipping bureau, even those doing the heavy lifting, had objectively easier jobs than these Liyue dockhands. She hadn't thought much of it before, but seeing the sheer temperament of the Liyue workforce changed everything.
She watched a man in his fifties or sixties laugh heartily while shouldering a massive crate, chatting effortlessly with the younger men around him. No complaints, no groaning.
In contrast, the stevedores of Narukami Island—lads in their late teens or early twenties—looked numb and wooden. They had less life in them than this Liyue grandfather.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Sara noticed a detail she had missed. The ships docked in the harbor—dozens of them—were all constructed from wood. While they were certainly grander, sturdier, and more luxurious than the vessels of Inazuma, not a single one was made of steel.
Yet, in the waters surrounding Inazuma, she had distinctly seen the flagship of the Crux Fleet, captained by Beidou. That ship, a terrifying steam-powered battleship, was clad entirely in iron and steel.
Was that ship not of Liyue origin?
Impossible.
Sara frowned, turning back to the Millelith guard. "Excuse me, I have a question. Why are the ships in your harbor made of wood? I have seen your Captain Beidou piloting a vessel constructed entirely of steel."
If a privateer like Beidou operated a steel battleship, it made no sense for the official Liyue shipping bureau to lack them. Unless... they were being hidden?
"Oh, you mean Captain Beidou's Steam Battleship?"
The Millelith guard paused, surprised. Even the isolationist Inazumans knew about the Steam Battleship? It seemed Captain Beidou had been making waves during her voyages, showing off the might of Liyue to the world.
A proud grin spread across the guard's face. Captain Beidou represented Liyue's maritime strength. The bigger the commotion she caused abroad, the more face it gave their nation. To think even the locked-down nation of Inazuma had witnessed the ironclad...
"Yes," Sara nodded.
So, the Millelith knew of it.
"Well, Captain Beidou leads the Crux Fleet and spends most of her time on the open ocean, so a Steam Battleship is necessary for her operations," the guard explained with a knowing smile. " The Liyue Shipbuilding Bureau does possess steel vessels now, but they haven't been deployed for public use yet."
"There's simply no need," he added casually. "Captain Beidou's single battleship is more than enough of a deterrent."
He wasn't about to tell her everything, of course. She was from Inazuma. The truth was that the Shipbuilding Bureau was currently reverse-engineering Beidou's ship. They had made progress—Lady Ningguang had poured massive funding into the project and mobilized alchemists to work alongside the shipwrights—but a mass-production model wasn't quite ready.
"I see. Thank you." Sara nodded respectfully.
It didn't matter if he was holding back details. Since she was staying in Liyue for a while, she could gather intelligence slowly.
Compared to the ship's hull, what truly concerned her were the terrifying cannons that vessel carried. She was certain those weapons were Liyue's true trump cards. She didn't bother asking about them; that would undoubtedly be classified military information.
While Sara contemplated the military might of her neighbor, a scene was unfolding at Yuehai Pavilion.
Buried behind a mountain of paperwork, Gan Yu suddenly sensed a disturbance. A paper crane, glowing with faint elemental energy, fluttered in through the window.
"Hm?"
The single, curved lock of hair atop Gan Yu's head—her signature ahoge—twitched slightly as she looked up. She caught the Message Crane gently in her hand and unfolded it.
"An envoy delegation from Inazuma?"
Gan Yu's long, lovely eyelashes fluttered as she read the message.
Isn't Inazuma under strict lockdown?
Despite the Sakoku Decree, her correspondence with Yae Miko had never truly ceased. But usually, Yae would send a warning before dispatching an official delegation. There had been no heads-up this time.
A trace of confusion clouded Gan Yu's gentle eyes, but duty called. She stood up and headed for the door. Confused or not, she had to investigate.
"Lady Gan Yu."
As she stepped out of Yuehai Pavilion, the Millelith guards on duty immediately snapped to attention, their voices filled with reverence. "Do you have any orders for us?"
It was a rare sight for Gan Yu to leave her office during the day. Usually, she emerged only late at night, if at all. For her to step out now meant something significant was happening.
"No need, I must go to the harbor personally," Gan Yu said softly, shaking her head. "Continue your watch."
If an Inazuma delegation had arrived, protocol dictated she receive them personally. She recalled hearing that a young girl with a Pyro Vision had arrived from Inazuma just yesterday—stranded because of the lockdown. And now, a delegation arrives the very next day?
Has the lockdown been lifted?
"Greetings, Lady Gan Yu!"
"Good afternoon, Lady Gan Yu."
As she walked through the streets toward the harbor, every Liyue citizen she passed stopped to bow or greet her with deep respect. Her tireless work for the city was known to all.
Gan Yu's cheeks flushed a faint pink, and she nodded shyly in return, not trusting herself to speak. Dealing with a few people was fine, but this wave of public attention always made her want to retreat. It was exactly why she preferred staying buried in Yuehai Pavilion; she much preferred working silently in the background to being in the spotlight.
Before long, she arrived at the harbor and immediately spotted Kujou Sara.
Sara, sensing the gaze, snapped her head up. She felt a profound, overwhelming elemental presence emanating from the woman approaching her. Even though the power was suppressed, the pressure was undeniable.
This must be the 'Sister Gan Yu' that Guuji Yae spoke of.
To be called "sister" by Yae Miko... this woman must be ancient, perhaps even older than the Guuji herself.
"Lady Gan Yu," the Millelith guard at the scene saluted.
Gan Yu nodded to him, then turned her soft gaze to the Tengu General. "Hello. I am Gan Yu of Liyue. The Millelith informed me that you are an envoy from Inazuma looking for me?"
"I am Kujou Sara. Guuji Yae ordered me to deliver this letter to you personally."
Sara reached into her uniform and produced the letter, handing it over with both hands. Yae Miko had been explicit: Give this to Gan Yu, and she will take care of you.
"Yae?" Gan Yu took the letter. "Has Inazuma lifted the lockdown?"
"No," Sara shook her head, her expression rigid. " The Vision Hunt Decree is still in effect, and the borders remain closed. My departure was... arranged specifically by Guuji Yae."
Gan Yu opened the envelope. Seeing the familiar handwriting—and the doodle of a small fox at the bottom—a smile touched her lips. It was definitely from Yae.
She scanned the contents quickly.
"Yae has asked me to look after you," Gan Yu said, folding the letter. "Come with me. I will arrange accommodation for you first. I understand the purpose of your visit."
The letter explained that Sara was here to inspect Liyue's steel ship technology.
Unfortunately, Gan Yu thought, our technology isn't quite mature yet. Even with the blueprints Captain Beidou had provided, the Shipbuilding Bureau was struggling. They had prototypes, yes, but nothing ready for the open sea. Though, with recent investments, success was only a matter of time.
"I apologize for the trouble, Lady Gan Yu," Sara said, bowing her head. She would follow Gan Yu's lead.
The two began to walk out of the harbor area.
"Huh? What is that woman doing here?!"
In a second-story attic overlooking the street, a girl with messy blonde hair and bandages wrapped around her chest stared out the window. Yoimiya's eyes went wide as saucers as she spotted Kujou Sara walking alongside Gan Yu.
Why has the Tengu General come to Liyue?
It didn't make sense. Wasn't the country locked down? Yoimiya herself was only here because she couldn't get back. And now, the very next day, the enforcer of the Vision Hunt Decree just strolls into town?
What is she planning?
Did they lift the lockdown?
No, that's impossible.
Yoimiya's expression shifted from confusion to mischief.
In a flash of golden light, the Infinite Ammo Sniper Rifle materialized in her hands.
She hefted the heavy, sleek weapon, resting the barrel on the windowsill. Through the scope, the crosshairs settled perfectly on the back of Kujou Sara, who was walking away from the harbor.
"Hehe..." Yoimiya giggled darkly.
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