After hearing everyone's evaluations, Xianyun fell silent.
Seeing this, Lora leaned toward Zhongyue and asked softly, "She wouldn't be that easily discouraged, would she?"
Zhongyue shook her head.
"Don't worry. Her self-confidence is sky-high."
Sure enough, the moment those words left her mouth, Xianyun brushed back her long hair.
"Very well! It seems this adeptus truly isn't suited to competing in culinary arts. First place in the Masterful Chefs Competition can be left to the younger generation to fight over!"
"Still, we should thank you for preparing such a lavish dinner," Lora added.
Ei nodded.
"I want one for the Tenshukaku. I'm serious."
"Alright, after dinner let's go out for a walk!"
Lora stood and stretched lazily.
With a casual wave of her hand, streams of water curled around the pots, ladles, bowls, and dishes on the table, lifting them into a wooden basin in the corner of the courtyard.
"We'll deal with them when we get back."
Zhongyue immediately sensed something suspicious.
"Are you staying here tonight?"
"Nope." Lora shook her head. "I'm staying at the Jade Chamber. I've got a VIP room there."
"Then these dishes…"
Zhongyue glanced toward the basin overflowing with bowls and chopsticks.
"You wash them."
The words were delivered with complete seriousness.
"You—"
Before she could finish, Lora cut her off.
"Reporting me won't help. I have the final authority to interpret Fontaine's laws."
"This is Liyue!"
"I know. So what?" Lora shrugged. "Ningguang is my backer. Let's just say I'm one of those notoriously well-connected people."
Even so, washing the dishes for her was hardly any trouble. By the time Zhongyue came back, all that remained was to take the bowls and chopsticks out of the basin and set them aside. Every trace of grease and scraps had already been rinsed away under Lora's control.
Standing behind her, Zhongyue made a face.
After dinner, the group wandered through the streets of Liyue, where Lora inevitably began buying all kinds of accessories.
Between repeated remarks of "Send the bill to Northland Bank," her hands soon filled with more trinkets than she could carry, forcing her to distribute them among the others walking behind her.
Ei lightly swung the stick in her hand, a string of small lanterns dangling from its tip.
"Hey, hey—careful! Don't shake it so hard, you'll break it," Lora warned.
Looking at the trinkets in her hands, Zhongyue sighed.
"Just like Zhongli."
When the group arrived at the Masterful Chefs Competition venue at Yujing Terrace, Ningguang and Keqing were already there, along with Xiangling and Makoto.
"Oh? Why is everyone gathered here?" Lora asked with a smile.
She handed the small trinkets she was carrying to Xiangling and Makoto.
"Here, here—no need to be polite. Just think of them as little gifts from me."
After all, it wasn't her money.
Makoto glanced at Ei standing behind Lora, then quietly asked, "So? Has Ei been behaving herself?"
At that, Lora looked back at Ei, who was still fiddling with the lantern in her hands.
"She's been quite well-behaved."
"That's good." Makoto smiled.
Ei noticed the two whispering and stepped forward with a slight frown.
"Sister, what were you and Lora talking about?"
"Nothing. I was just asking how you did today," Makoto replied, shaking her head.
Ei puffed out her chest proudly.
"Of course my performance was excellent!"
Nearby, Beidou watched the sisters with a puzzled frown. They looked strangely familiar, yet she couldn't recall where she had seen them before.
People from Inazuma…
Sisters…
And somehow so familiar…
As the thought lingered, Beidou's eyes suddenly widened.
She remembered.
She had once seen a portrait of the Electro Archon at Inazuma's port—and it looked exactly like the woman standing before her. She had also heard that Inazuma recently held a grand ceremony to welcome the return of the Raiden Shogun.
Could these two be the Raiden Shogun sisters?
Ningguang noticed Beidou's reaction and immediately realized she had guessed their identities, so she quickly spoke up.
"Oh my, Miss Lora—what brings you here today?"
As she spoke, she shot Beidou a subtle glance.
Beidou, who had only heard Lora's name but had never met her in person, shifted her attention toward her. Since Ningguang had already mentioned that Lora was an adeptus, it suddenly made sense why the Raiden Shogun sisters would appear here.
They must have arrived together.
Hearing the question, Lora smiled.
"Oh, I came over after dinner to walk it off and take a look at the competition."
"Oh? Does Miss Lora intend to participate?" Ningguang asked.
"I'll pass." Lora shook her head. "The food I make is edible, but I'm nowhere near worthy of the title of Masterful Chef."
"Then perhaps this one?" Ningguang's gaze shifted to Ei.
Lora's expression immediately turned serious. Looking at Ningguang, she spoke with solemn sincerity.
"Ningguang, take my advice—never let the idea of asking her to cook even cross your mind. Really. It might save your life."
"Uh… is that so?" Ningguang blinked, surprised by Lora's unusually serious tone.
Ei frowned.
"Lora, what do you mean by—"
She might not be good at cooking, but was she really that terrible?
Makoto, standing beside her, nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yes, Ningguang, Lora is absolutely right. Under no circumstances should you let my sister cook. She truly can't cook at all."
Lora continued, "We're just here to take a look. Xianyun originally planned to participate, but after our professional evaluation, she decided to withdraw."
"Hmph!"
Xianyun folded her arms proudly.
"This adeptus never believed I couldn't win the championship. I simply think such matters are better left for you youngsters to compete over. I disdain fighting you for the title—if I won, someone might accuse me of bullying the young."
Xiangling waved her hands hurriedly.
"It's okay, Xianyun! You can still compete—we'd love to see it!"
Xianyun: "…"
The sudden shift in her expression made Lora laugh.
"Alright, Xiangling. Show the old lady a little mercy."
"Old lady?" Xianyun shot her a sharp glare.
Lora: "…"
Right.
Forgot she's sensitive about that.
Seeing Lora suddenly fall silent, Xianyun quickly changed the subject. She turned to Ningguang.
"Earlier, this adeptus saw you all arguing from afar. Has the competition encountered some problem?"
"If there's any issue, she can help," Zhongyue said seriously, pointing at Xianyun as she addressed Ningguang and the others.