"Th-This Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…"
Paimon leaned close to Lumine's ear and whispered nervously,
"it's not a hitman organization, right?"
She whispered—but not nearly quietly enough.
"Hey, hey. This Director can hear you just fine," Hu Tao said, arms crossed, shooting Paimon an annoyed look.
"Ah!! S-Sorry! Please don't kill me!!"
Paimon immediately dove under the table.
"..."
Seele, sitting beside Cael, couldn't help snickering.
"What kind of creature is this? It flies… and it's dumb,"Black Seele commented flatly.
Tartaglia laughed.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor handles funerals for the deceased. They escort people to their final rest. It's a legitimate organization."
Cael nodded.
"Exactly. Paimon, that was pretty rude of you."
"Uh…"
Realizing her mistake, Paimon scratched her head awkwardly.
Hu Tao tugged lightly on Cael's sleeve and whispered,
"So this is the one you mentioned—the one who defeated Stormterror? Just one look and I can tell she's a potential long-term client. I can feel it—future performance numbers will definitely come from her!"
Hu Tao could immediately tell Lumine wasn't from this world.
Someone like that was bound to face endless danger in Teyvat—and where there was adventure, there were casualties.
Future customers, basically.
Cael broke out in cold sweat.
What kind of sixth sense is this? Did she read the script?! That's terrifying.
Tartaglia guided Lumine and Paimon to their seats and brought the conversation back on track.
"Seeing the Geo Archon's divine body isn't easy," Tartaglia said.
"At first, I thought Mr. Zhongli might be able to help. But now that Mr. Cael is also involved, I'm confident this will be resolved quickly."
Zhongli nodded.
"A few days ago, the Geo Archon passed away. The Qixing will certainly take this seriously. Since ancient times, when an adeptus or god falls, a Rite of Descension is held."
"Yet now, there has been no announcement."
"To see the Geo Archon's divine body, the Rite must be held. Otherwise, it is impossible."
Cael followed up smoothly.
"Preparing the Rite of Descension is no small matter. But if you truly intend to do it, we can help."
Their conversation reached the ears of the others.
Hu Tao and Seele finally understood—
so the Traveler wanted to see the Geo Archon's divine body.
That alone was impressive.
Guizhong, however, was completely baffled.
She looked at Zhongli… then at Lumine.
The Geo Archon's divine body?
Did Morax die? Then who's the one standing next to me right now?
She shot Zhongli a speechless look.
You're really something else… I didn't know you were this good at causing chaos.
Lumine tilted her head.
"So… that means you can host the Rite of Descension?"
"Precisely."
After a brief hesitation, Lumine nodded.
"Then let's go."
...
"Brother Cael is going too?"
Seele tugged gently on Cael's sleeve.
Cael smiled and nodded.
"Sounds interesting. I'll go take a look."
Seele immediately raised her hand, determined to come along.
Guizhong was also curious about what was going on—
and even more curious about letting Morax prepare the funeral of the Geo Archon.
As Cael put it—
Morax attending his own funeral.
So she joined as well.
When Hu Tao tried to come along too, Cael shut her down immediately.
"Why not?! This Director wants to join the fun too!"
Hu Tao planted her hands on her hips, indignant.
Cael sighed helplessly.
"Hu Tao, this will take the whole day. You're the Director—don't come along. Besides, aren't you working on something big lately? You're busy enough as it is, yet you still have time for a dinner meeting?"
The moment he said that—
Hu Tao froze.
"Oh—damn it!! I almost forgot! I've got a signing meeting today!"
"It's almost evening—I need to go, now!"
Only then did she remember—
she had an important contract meeting with Inazuma that required her presence.
Watching Hu Tao rush off, Cael let out a quiet sigh.
"This Director really is something…"
Zhongli nodded knowingly.
"By general principles, that assessment is accurate."
Seeing that everything was settled, Tartaglia stood up.
"Since our objective has been set, I'll wish you all smooth sailing. I have matters of my own to attend to."
Lumine nodded, watching him leave, then turned to Cael.
"So… you really do escort people to the afterlife?"
A soul-searching question.
Cael shook his head.
"Of course not. I'm just staying at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. They're far more professional at that sort of thing."
"So you can do it, though?" Lumine pressed.
"…Technically," Cael said, rubbing his chin.
"Does physical ascension count?"
"..."
"Uh… what does physical mean?"
Paimon scratched her head in confusion.
"Well…" Cael hesitated.
"Things like gravity, friction-generated heat, pressure differentials—those are physics."
That explanation somehow made things worse.
"Pressure difference? Gravity? What kind of nonsense is that?!"
Paimon clutched her head. "I didn't study much—don't lie to me!"
Meanwhile, Seele and the others understood perfectly.
Zhongli and Guizhong had long since heard Cael's concept of "physical subjugation."
And Seele—having spent plenty of time in restricted libraries—knew exactly what physics was.
"Ugh… forget it!"
Paimon waved her hands. "Let's stop thinking and go prepare the Rite of Descension already!"
Zhongli nodded in agreement.
As Lumine and Paimon left, Guizhong immediately stared at Zhongli with dead fish eyes.
"…Explain later," Zhongli coughed lightly.
"Hmph."
...
...
"Yo, Brother Cael—done eating?"
Xiangling bounced over the moment she saw Cael step out of Room 404.
"Mm. How's business at Wanmin Restaurant lately?" Cael asked with a smile.
Xiangling beamed.
"It's been great! The dishes you taught us have basically become signature items. Customers love them! We even have foreign guests now!"
Cael nodded, genuinely pleased.
"Excellent. After today, I'll come by again—help out in the kitchen and introduce a new dish."
"Eh—new dish?!"
Xiangling's eyes sparkled. "I'm already excited! I don't even know what it is, but my expectations are maxed out!"
Cael laughed.
"Alright, I'm heading out. See you next time."
"Mm! See you!"
...
As they walked, Seele gently held Cael's hand and said softly,
"Brother Cael, you're really popular with girls."
Cael burst out laughing.
"Hahaha… I'm popular with guys too, you know."
...
...
—
You people are monsters, you know that?
Two groups of 200 still aren't enough?!
I just made the group yesterday morning, and it was basically full by night!!
No Group 3 for now—
wait until I expand things later, then we'll open more slots.