"Lord Harbinger?"
The Fatui operative spoke cautiously, seeing Childe lost in thought. There had been too many unexpected incidents these past few days—and those doubled expense reports...
Just looking at them was infuriating!
"Lord Harbinger? Are you alright?" When Childe didn't respond, the operative swallowed nervously and asked again.
They kept their voices low, careful not to provoke the man before them. This was a Fatui Harbinger—their superior. Annoying him would only bring trouble.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Childe noticed his subordinate addressing him. He frowned, looking puzzled, and asked:
"I expected the bills might double during the festival. But why this much? Several times more than usual."
"Did some nation introduce something novel that caught Mr. Zhongli's eye?"
Childe crossed his arms, awaiting an answer.
The Fatui and Wangsheng Funeral Parlor collaborated closely on many fronts. Naturally, both parties pursued their own interests and agendas.
As Liyue's monopoly institution, Wangsheng possessed valuable intelligence and resources. Moreover, Wangsheng was already part of the Fatui's plans, so maintaining good relations was prudent.
If there was anyone in Wangsheng they respected, it was Mr. Zhongli. His knowledge and perspective were widely acknowledged.
Childe had promised to cover Zhongli's expenses during this period—a gesture of goodwill toward their partner.
Given Wangsheng's resources, they hardly needed this assistance. But since the offer was made, Zhongli would accept it.
Accepting this small gesture wasn't about saving face for Childe or the Fatui—Wangsheng had no need for that. But everything aligned with Mr. Zhongli's plans.
Poor Childe naively believed he'd secured favorable cooperation terms at minimal cost. He thought he'd played it smart, but Zhongli was playing on an entirely different level.
Back to the question at hand: why had festival expenses been so high?
Liyue celebrated many festivals throughout the year, each a lively affair. When festivals came around, Mr. Zhongli would make purchases—mostly quality stone materials and novel curiosities.
For the Fatui, such expenses were negligible. But this time, the amount had multiplied several times over.
The Fatui's wealth, backed by Pantalone, could easily absorb such costs. But the unusual increase piqued Childe's curiosity.
"Lord Harbinger, here's the situation..." The operative rubbed his head, cleared his throat, and explained helplessly.
"You've been away handling matters, so you're unaware of recent events. Let me give you a brief summary."
"These past days, something unexpected happened. Two adepti returned to Liyue. Our intelligence on Liyue's adepti is limited—we only know what's in certain texts."
"At the Jueyun Karst adepti's request, Mr. Zhongli showed the returning adepti around Liyue. During this time, the adepti put all their purchases on your account. It seems Mr. Zhongli gave them permission."
"Since Mr. Zhongli is your partner, we waited for you to return and handle this personally, despite our confusion."
"The detailed report is in the documents you're holding."
The operative finished in one breath, exhaling deeply. Seeing Childe's furrowed brow, he felt his own breathing grow difficult.
Childe rubbed his chin, gazing at the documents in his hand. After a moment of contemplation...
"I understand. You're dismissed."
Hearing this, the operative felt his tension release. Someone like him always felt nervous around such a powerful Harbinger.
"One more thing..."
Just as he turned to leave, Childe called out again.
"Lord Harbinger?" The operative turned back, confused.
"Next time you report, be more concise. Just the key points—skip the details."
"And where is Mr. Zhongli now? I need to see him." Childe asked calmly.
"Mr. Zhongli should be at Heyu Tea House. Miss Yun is performing today. At this hour, it should be the final show."
Childe nodded, tucking the documents into his pocket. He strode toward Heyu Tea House.
"Handle your own affairs. Leave the rest to me."
Two unexpected adepti? Interesting.
---
Elsewhere ~
A few minutes earlier...
The three Yakshas had gathered at Wangsheng to discuss matters concerning them.
They talked about things best avoided—what to do and what not to do.
With Liyue still unfamiliar to Bonanus and Bosacius, Xiao felt it necessary to clarify a few points to prevent unnecessary complications.
Bonanus nodded absently. She didn't dwell on such things. She knew she wasn't the troublemaking type. A peaceful life was best.
Their time together was brief. Soon, they parted ways.
After covering everything, they quickly returned to their respective places.
---
Yujing Terrace
Yanfei's Small House
Returning to her current residence, Bonanus greeted Yanfei—still organizing documents—and went straight to her room.
Though she'd have liked to cuddle Yanfei to sleep, Bonanus knew the girl was exhausted after a long day. She needed proper rest.
If she used her as a pillow again, she'd likely wake up with an expression of utter despair.
Once in her room, Bonanus flopped onto the bed, sprawling out like a starfish, eyes closed—completely without pretension.
No one was watching, so why bother being prim?
"Earn karmic debt..." She murmured to herself, sinking into the soft bed.
These past days, she'd been playing around, not seriously focused on gathering karmic debt. That wouldn't do. She needed it to save people. Couldn't keep fooling around!
With that resolve, she decided to get serious starting tomorrow. She'd become an exemplary employee!
Shaking off these thoughts for tomorrow, Bonanus rolled over, hugged a pillow, blew out the lamp, and slowly drifted into sleep.
Late night...
"Hehe... Xiao... don't be shy..."