—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "Good, good, good!"
Stelle: "A toast to our Nameless predecessors!"
Stelle: "As for Gallagher… let's not toast to him just yet."
Stelle: "Otherwise, it feels a bit unlucky."
Diona: "So, there can be such profound and complex emotions poured into mixology?"
Diona: "I feel like I've suddenly gained a new understanding of mixology."
Venti: "Ehe, has little Diona figured it out?"
Venti: "Are you willing to mix drinks happily now?"
Diona: "Hey! YOU ANNOYING DRUNKARD!!"
Diona: "I said mixology, not bartending!"
Lumine: "Venti, your mind really is just full of alcohol."
Diluc Ragnvindr: "That's just how the Mondstadt drunkard is."
Gallagher: "Tsk, not bad."
Gallagher: "As expected, only Siobhan gets me."
Gallagher: "Too bad, I didn't get to drink this 'Drowning Sweetness' of hers."
March 7th: "It's fine, we'll have an extra glass, consider it us drinking for you!"
Gallagher: "Ha, that's the spirit!"
Gallagher: "Alright, this ending is pretty satisfying for me."
Gallagher: "I really wish that old man Mikhail could get up and see this too…"
Stelle: "Satisfying? I don't think it's quite there yet."
Stelle: "Whether it can truly be satisfying depends on who Penacony ends up in the hands of."
....
『 After finishing the drink, Stelle's phone vibrated, and she received a group message from Himeko.
⚠︎, Astral Express Family
" /Himeko: Guys, let's make our way to the Radiant Feldspar "
" /Himeko: I'm wrapping things up here, we'll meet at the aft pool later. "
" /Dan Heng: Roger "
" /Welt Yang: Catch you later. "
" /Stelle: By the way, what is Himeko busy with? "
" /March 7th: Hey! I was about to ask the same thing! "
" /Himeko: (Himeko: Smiling.jpg) It's a secret for now "
" /Himeko: Don't be impatient, you'll know when the opening ceremony starts "
" /March 7th: Eh— "
" /March 7th: I can't wait! "
The group chat ends here. 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Eh? How did Himeko handle everything so quietly?"
March 7th: "We didn't even see what happened."
Stelle: "And she's being all mysterious."
Stelle: "Could it be that the Family and the IPC couldn't agree on anything, so in a fit of rage, they threw Penacony to us?"
Qingque: "You really know how to fantasize."
Furina de Fontaine: "No, wait, what about the final negotiation result?"
Furina de Fontaine: "How did it go?"
Furina de Fontaine: "Why wasn't it shown?"
Hu Tao: "Don't worry, maybe they didn't have time to show it yet."
....
『 The three of them start saying goodbye to Siobhan.
[ Are you leaving? ]
[ Then take this with you. ]
Siobhan hands Stelle a newly mixed drink.
[ This last special drink, I specially mixed a bit more. ]
[ The past is like smoke; I hope this lets you remember the taste of Penacony. ]
Siobhan says with a smile.
[ Thank you, I think that will definitely be an unforgettable taste. ]
Welt nods in thanks.
[ If you see Gallagher, let him have a drink too. ]
[ I know that guy's taste, he'll definitely like it. ]
Siobhan adds.
[ But… what if we can't see him? ]
Stelle says after a moment of hesitation.
[ Then… we just don't see him. ]
[ Alright, that's enough. ]
[ You still have important business to attend to, don't let the atmosphere stay so sad. ]
[ Whether it's the Astral Express or Penacony, there's still a long road ahead for the future. Cheer up. ]
[ And then, let's head towards our respective tomorrows. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Xiangling: "It's clear that Miss Siobhan is very sad about Mr. Gallagher's disappearance."
Hu Tao: "They count as confidants in terms of mixology."
Hu Tao: "Losing a close friend like this, anyone would be sad, right?"
Gallagher: "Honestly, I didn't think anyone would miss a fictional old dog like me after I died."
Gallagher: "That actually makes me feel a bit guilty."
Stelle: "Then don't die, live well."
Stelle: "With your skills, wouldn't it be a waste to die?"
March 7th: "Stelle's right, you're a mixology master, just keep shining in Penacony."
March 7th: "Consider it helping Senior Mikhail watch over Penacony?"
Gallagher: "Haha, if I can live, I certainly will."
Gallagher: "But you know, once fictional things are seen through, they are no longer real."
Gallagher: "The fact that I can still exist now is all thanks to this livestream."
Qingque: "Mr. Gallagher, don't be so pessimistic."
Qingque: "Maybe you'll be able to keep soaking up the light of this livestream?"
Paimon: "Yeah, yeah, you definitely can!"
Paimon: "I hope Mr. Gallagher can live well!"
....
『 The scene shifts back to the negotiation site.
At this time, Topaz and Jade are having a private conversation.
[ …He's really tough to deal with, that old Oti. ]
[ I didn't expect him to play such a risky card as going public at the most critical moment for Penacony. ]
Topaz frowns, feeling a bit tricky.
[ That's right, he has a lot of guts. ]
[ Indeed, he's definitely bold. It's that kind of boldness that made him the Oti Alfalfa he is today. ]
[ But the scales of victory haven't tipped to either side yet. ]
[ No matter how loud the shouting is, the sound itself has no weight. ]
[ Topaz, is there any update on that phone call I asked you to make? ]
Jade asks.
[ Yes, they agreed. ]
[ But it will take a while for them to arrive. ]
Topaz nods.
[ That's perfect. ]
[ Just as it should be. The sweet dew should be served after the bitter poison. ]
Jade smiles.
[ Looks like we'll be skipping the exchanging apples step this time around ]
Topaz understands Jade's thought process.
[ Who told them to be such greedy merchants? ]
[ Relying on just one bland apple won't solve the problem—ah, it seems I've accidentally hit myself with that remark too. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Paimon: "Sweet dew… Bitter poison… Apples???"
Paimon: "What is this talking about??"
Paimon: "Paimon is dizzy!"
Stelle: "I get it, it means old Oti is too difficult."
Stelle: "So Jade is going to poison him severely, and then poison him to death!"
Stelle: "That way he won't be crazy anymore."
Silver Wolf: "God-tier understanding!"
March 7th: "Hey, Stelle, do you understand a hammer?"
March 7th: "Doesn't this clearly mean giving a slap and then a sweet date?"
Paimon: "Oh, so that's it!"
Paimon: "Now that March 7th says it, I understand!"
Lumine: "Then does exchanging apples mean exchanging interests between the two sides?"
Lumine: "But it won't work now…"
Jade: "So this step has to be omitted~"
....
『 [ I'm suddenly curious, Topaz. In your view, is Penacony a high-quality asset? ]
Jade changes the subject and asks suddenly.
[ Good credit, high profit, promising prospects, even after experiencing this disaster, it's still a top-tier high-quality asset in the galaxy, there's no doubt about that. ]
Topaz gives her evaluation without hesitation.
[ Hmm, obviously. ]
[ But what I want to ask is, given your taste, this project is clearly a bit boring, isn't it? ]
Jade says quietly.
[ Heh, indeed. ]
[ If it weren't for Aventurine pulling me into this, I wouldn't have come here at all. ]
Topaz doesn't deny this.
[ But you trust him a lot. For us, the Cornerstones are as precious as life, yet you were willing to entrust them to him to complete a gamble. ]
Jade continues.
[ Aren't you the same, Madam Jade? ]
[ If we didn't place the bet, your Jade stone wouldn't have been able to enter so smoothly, to see through the desires flowing in the sweet dream, and to win the bargaining chips…. ]
[ For this, of course, I am also willing to put up the Topaz stone to provide cover for you…. What a huge game of chess. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
Stelle: "See through the desires flowing in the sweet dream?"
Stelle: "So, is the Jade stone essentially a surveillance camera?"
March 7th: "Ah this…"
March 7th: "Stelle, how did such a high-end thing become worthless when you said it?"
Welt Yang: "The function of the Jade stone should be to extract power from desires, right?"
Welt Yang: "In any case, it's definitely not simple."
Hu Tao: "So Miss Topaz was very reluctant about Penacony?"
Hu Tao: "She didn't really want to come."
Topaz: "If it were just for a vacation, that would be fine."
Topaz: "But thinking about negotiating with the Family, it's just tasteless."
Himeko: "Negotiating with the Family is nothing more than all about interests."
Himeko: "It's indeed unpleasant."
Aventurine: "Heh, luckily I'm only responsible for winning the opportunity, the closing work doesn't need me."
Aventurine: "Otherwise, I'm afraid I'd be annoyed to death by this old Oti's loud voice."
Qingque: "You're responsible for getting slashed, Miss Topaz, and Madam Jade is responsible for bearing the noise."
Qingque: "Nice, that's really a perfect division of labor!"
Lumine: "Uh… if it were me, I'd rather listen to old Oti's ho-ho-ho than be slashed."
....
『 [ That child is determined to do what she wants to do—even fate can't stop her. ]
[ At least she's still alive now, that's already the best result. ]
Jade shakes her head, feeling a bit emotional.
[ It seems… we've gone off-topic, Madam Jade. ]
[ Shouldn't we discuss the follow-up strategy? ]
Topaz tries to bring the topic back on track.
[ No need, I'll go in alone later. ]
[ You go receive our distinguished guests, act when you hear from me. ]
Jade instructs Topaz.
[ Understood. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "Eh?"
March 7th: "Madam Jade is going to negotiate alone?"
March 7th: "Is that really okay?"
Stelle: "Look at the aura of Madam Jade, who controls everything."
Stelle: "Do you think she will lose?"
Feixiao: "Judging from the momentum, she has been sure of this negotiation from the beginning."
Furina de Fontaine: "Hmm… it looks like Madam Jade is finally going to really start exerting her strength!"
Furina de Fontaine: "So looking forward to it!"
....
『 [ Eh? Is that… Robin? ]
[ So she is also on the Radiant Feldspar. ]
Jade prepares to return to the negotiation venue, but sees Robin standing not far away, looking at the scenery.
[ Miss Robin, hello, I didn't expect to meet you on this ship. ]
Jade steps forward and greets Robin.
[ Ms. Jade? Hello. ]
[ The opening ceremony of the Charmony Festival has been moved to the Radiant Feldspar. I came up early to make some preparations. ]
[ What about you? Have you talked to Mr. Alfalfa? ]
Robin smiles and starts chatting with Jade.
[ In fact, I'm just about to go see him. ]
[ Is Miss Robin familiar with him? ]
Jade asks.
[ Unfortunately, I haven't met him, just heard a few comments from… the former Oak Family head: Mr. Alfalfa? is a capable businessman, but in other aspects… I dare not compliment. ] 』
『 ....』
—✦Omniscient Viewer's Chat Lodge✦—
March 7th: "AH!!! It's Miss Robin!"
March 7th: "Miss Robin has finally appeared again!"
Furina de Fontaine: "Miss Robin is still so beautiful and elegant."
Furina de Fontaine: "Looks like… her condition is okay?"
Hu Tao: "Miss Robin and Madam Jade know each other?"
Hu Tao: "How do they know each other?"
Lumine: "Maybe they met before."
Stelle: "Oh! Birdie! I'm relieved to see you're okay."
Silver Wolf: "Can you not be so mushy when you call people?"
Stelle: "What's wrong, Wolfie?"
Stelle: "Are you jealous?"
Silver Wolf: "I….!!"
Silver Wolf: "Forget it, I'm afraid of you…."
Stelle: "Tsk, I have to say, Sunday's evaluation of old Oti is really hitting the nail on the head, straightforward to the point of being absurd!"
Paimon: "Old Oti is a capable businessman, but other aspects… dare not compliment?"
Paimon: "Doesn't that mean this old Oti, besides knowing how to do business and be a merchant, doesn't have any other bottom line?"
Paimon: "OH MY GOD!!!"
Paimon: "Penacony must not fall into the hands of such a person!"
....