Dinner was held in the spacious dining room of the "justice."
The dinner Lynette prepared was indeed sumptuous—
A thick seafood soup, simmered to a milky white, gave off an inviting aroma.
Roasted sea fish with golden, crispy skin was sprinkled with herbs.
It was accompanied by a refreshing vegetable salad and soft bread.
Paimon was naturally the one eating most joyfully, his little belly bulging at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Zhongli sat opposite King, his dining etiquette impeccable, chewing slowly and savoring every mouthful to taste the most authentic flavor of the bread.
The fragrant roasted fish and the delicious fish soup, he did not touch at all.
Zhongli would occasionally comment a few words on the origin of the bread's Wheat or the history of the cooking techniques, his tone calm and his speech sophisticated.
King ate quietly, his movements casual but not crude, occasionally responding to Zhongli with one or two monosyllables like "Mm" or "Not bad," appearing very aloof.
Clorinde and Lumine sat together, heads down, eating heartily.
Both were pragmatists, and their eating efficiency was very high.
Lynette had already eaten beforehand.
She stood quietly behind King, like a silent shadow.
Halfway through dinner, Zhongli put down his fork and spoon, took a napkin to gently wipe the corners of his mouth, and looked at King with those amber-gold eyes, speaking as if casually:
"A few days ago, an extra moon appeared in Teyvat's night sky."
"This matter shook the Seven Nations; many scholars observed the celestial phenomena at night, and opinions are divided."
"I wonder what Mr. King's insights are on this matter?"
The atmosphere in the dining room froze for a subtle moment.
King picked up a piece of roasted fish, put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, and swallowed.
King did not intend to explain.
Paimon's identity, Asmodeus's secrets, the origin of the moon... these involve too much.
Besides, Zhongli was asking in his capacity as the "mortal Zhongli."
There was no need for King, in his capacity as the "Guardian of Fontaine," to answer an archaeologist's curiosity about an astronomical anomaly.
So, he raised his eyelids and glanced at Zhongli.
His gaze was calm and rippleless.
Then, he lowered his head and continued eating fish.
No answer.
Zhongli waited for a few seconds; seeing that King had no intention of responding at all, a hint of helpless laughter flashed in his eyes, and he immediately felt relieved.
If the other party didn't want to talk, then they wouldn't talk about it.
Zhongli gently picked up his teacup, took a sip, and naturally changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, the Ritou pier in Inazuma has a long history. Its architectural style blends local Inazuman elements with those brought by early Liyue merchant ships, making it quite unique."
"After arriving tomorrow, it will be worth a good look."
King still didn't speak, but simply nodded in agreement.
Dinner ended amidst Zhongli's chatter.
During that time, Zhongli did not try to probe about the moon again.
King also did not express any opinion on it from beginning to end... Three days later.
Inazuma, Ritou.
Although Ritou also serves as a nation's largest port,
its scale is far from comparable to Liyue Harbor or the Court of Fontaine.
The docks are narrow, the jetties are old, and most of the buildings in the distance are low-slung, exuding a sense of antiquity forgotten by time.
However, in sharp contrast to this antiquity are the samurai and Officials on the docks, dressed in fine clothes and wearing various clan crests, as well as the luxuriously decorated small passenger ships moored in dedicated berths.
Further away, the exquisite courtyards and tea houses of the wealthy districts are faintly visible, with the melodious sound of the Shamisen drifting from them.
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