Chapter 76: Kujo Tsumugi's Ideals, Undercurrents in Mondstadt

After the meeting with Grandmaster Jean, Diluc returned to the Angel's Share Tavern.

"Hey, our Grandpa Diluc is finally back," Yelan, disguised as an ordinary female adventurer, raised her hand in greeting.

"I have something to ask you. Come with me to the second floor," Diluc said.

The two then moved to a secluded private room on the second floor.

"Let me confirm first: you didn't participate in the Northland Bank robbery this time, did you?"

"Of course not. What are you talking about?" Yelan took a sip of wine. "You know I never do anything that would cause trouble. Although one of our organization's goals is to fight against the Fatui, we always act in secret... Wait, why are you asking?"

"Regarding the second daughter of the Kujou family, she was the one who reported the incident to the Knights of Favonius last night, but Captain Jean said that she was with Kujou Tsumugi the entire night."

"You mean there were two Kujou Tsumugis at the same time?"

"And among the people I know, the only one who has the ability to perfectly disguise themselves as someone else is..." Diluc looked directly at Yelan.

"Me?! Huh?!"

Yelan realized that Diluc was doubting her.

"Hey, I mean, we've been colleagues for several years, right? Are you just casually doubting me like that?"

"Based on the information we have so far, you are the most likely suspect. Captain Jean said that Kujou Tsumugi got drunk last night, and I took care of her all night in the hotel. I gave her the wine yesterday afternoon, and Captain Jean is not the kind of person who would lie casually," Diluc said slowly.

"Okay, okay, I'll investigate this matter!" Yelan interrupted Diluc, who wanted to continue talking. She downed the remaining wine in her glass and then left the Angel's Share Tavern.

Yelan had originally come to monitor Kujou Tsumugi. This was just a convenient task for her. She was also a bit curious about how Kujou Tsumugi could appear in two places at once...

However, since Kujou Tsumugi slept all day, Yelan waited outside the hotel she rented for a whole day but didn't find any opportunity. Just when Yelan was about to give up and leave, she saw that the window of Kujou Tsumugi's room was open.

Hmm... I slept really well... But my sleep schedule is totally messed up because of this.

Kujou Tsumugi stretched lazily and looked at the crowd on the street.

"Let's go eat."

Kujou Tsumugi soon arrived at the Good Hunter for dinner, but unexpectedly met two familiar faces there.

The blonde traveler, the emergency food floating in the air, and Amber, the only scout knight of the Knights of Favonius, who had long chestnut hair tied with a red rabbit-ear bow.

"Lumine, Paimon, and this must be Scout Knight Amber, right?"

Kujou Tsumugi greeted them.

"Hello, Miss Kujou," Lumine and Paimon responded.

"Eh? Excuse me, who are you...?" Amber asked, confused.

"This is Miss Kujou Tsumugi, a member of the diplomatic delegation from Inazuma," Lumine explained.

Paimon's attention was focused on something else.

"Kujou Kujou, you said before that you'd treat me to a big meal at Good Hunter."

"Haha, then I'll treat you to dinner." Kujou Tsumugi and Lumine sat at a table.

"Ms. Sara, I'd like a bowl of Lotus Seed and Bird Egg Soup, and the meal is on me," Kujou Tsumugi called out.

"Um... why does Miss Kujou know my name?" Amber asked.

"Well... because there are all kinds of rumors."

"Huh?! What rumors?" Amber was so startled that she stood up from her chair, looking at Kujou Tsumugi nervously.

For Amber, at her age, rumors were never a good thing.

"Hahaha, I was just kidding. Actually, Eula told me."

"What? So that's how it is." Amber sat back down, relieved.

"By the way, Lumine, is your brother's name Aether?"

Since they had nothing to do until the food was served, Kujou Tsumugi decided to tease Lumine a bit.

Cough, cough cough... Sure enough, when Lumine, who was eating Fisherman's Toast, heard her brother's name, she was so surprised that she choked. Amber kindly handed her a glass of water.

"Miss Kujou, do you know my brother?!"

Lumine's golden eyes were filled with surprise and joy.

"Well... almost. It's just that your styles of clothing are somewhat similar, and you're both blonde foreigners. I didn't expect it to be true."

"That was five hundred years ago. At that time, the capital of Khaenri'ah had just been destroyed by the Seven Archons. I met Aether in a mountain village in Liyue. He said that this continent had become unsuitable for travel and that he wanted to go to Mondstadt to wake up his sleeping sister and take her away from this world... Now it seems that Aether has failed."

Kujou Tsumugi took a sip of the Lotus Seed and Bird Egg Soup served with the salad.

"Five hundred years ago?!" Everyone present exclaimed.

"Yes, he was there when Aether said the Seven Archons destroyed the capital of Khaenri'ah, and he barely escaped."

"The Kingdom of Khaenri'ah was destroyed by the Seven Archons... so was our Anemo Archon Barbatos also involved? But... why..." Amber murmured in disbelief.

"Then do you know where my brother is now?" Lumine put down the Fisherman's Toast in her hand.

"I don't know the exact location, but he is most likely at... Never mind, let's keep it secret for now. I'll tell you after I meet him first."

Kujou Tsumugi shook her head, then lowered her head to eat her dinner.

"Hey! Why are you like this? Do you know how much Lumine misses her brother?" Paimon couldn't stand it anymore.

"Some things are kept from Lumine to protect her," Kujou Tsumugi replied calmly. "Paimon, don't you also have a secret from Lumine?"

"How could I have that!" Paimon retorted.

"Forget it, I'll just pretend it doesn't exist." Kujou Tsumugi shrugged. "For example, the name Paimon is exactly the same as the name of the ninth of the Seventy-Two Demon Gods, and for example, the special abilities you possess. I don't know any of this information at all."

Paimon... demon... I always feel like I heard something I shouldn't have heard. Beads of sweat appeared on Amber's forehead. Lumine, being a traveler, might not know much about demons, but as a native of Teyvat, Amber grew up hearing various stories about them.

"Paimon, is what Miss Kujou said true? Are you really hiding something from me?" Lumine looked at Paimon, her eyes full of sadness.

"No, I really don't remember!" Paimon floated beside Lumine, trying to comfort her.

"The continent of Teyvat may seem peaceful on the surface, but in reality, there are undercurrents. Every force has its own plans and agenda. Diving in without knowing anything will only make you a target for everyone."

"Lumine, I understand your eagerness to see your brother, but I can assure you that your brother is safe at the moment. You don't need to worry about his safety. What you need to do now is to treat yourself as a traveler and embark on your own journey through Teyvat, helping those in need. That's all."

Kujou Tsumugi wiped her mouth with a napkin, then stood up to leave.

Although Kujou Tsumugi had planned to travel with Lumine, she was someone who wouldn't do anything without benefits. Before understanding what she could gain, she was too lazy to stick around with Lumine, such a do-gooder.

Therefore, Kujou Tsumugi planned to meet with Aether first to see if there was any room for cooperation between the two.

Kujou Tsumugi didn't return to the hotel but instead visited a clinic in Mondstadt.

"Do you have any prescriptions for treating kidney deficiency?"

"Ah, yes. Is this lady going to use it for her husband?"

"No, this is for me."

Doctor:?

Ignoring the doctor's strange look, Kujou Tsumugi got the medicine and returned to the hotel.

Next up is placating the Lady...

Kujou Tsumugi subconsciously massaged her lower back.

I hope the Lady will be merciful tonight.

…

Soon, the moon was high in the sky, and the people of Mondstadt were falling asleep one by one. Kujou Tsumugi slipped into the Lady's room at the Goethe Hotel with ease.

The Lady sat on the edge of the bed, her expression cold as she watched Kujou Tsumugi fly in through the window.

"Ahahaha, Rosalyne, it's so late and you're still not asleep." Kujou Tsumugi approached the Lady with a flattering smile and began massaging her legs and shoulders, much like a lackey currying favor with a villain.

"If you think about it, trading 2 billion Mora for the Anemo Archon's Gnosis is quite a bargain."

"…"

The Lady, Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, stared coldly at Kujou Tsumugi without saying a word.

The Lady remained unmoved.

Kujou Tsumugi straddled the Lady's thighs, wrapping her arms around her from behind, and looked up at her with a pitiful expression.

This tactic was a form of acting spoiled that Kujou Tsumugi had learned from her sister. Whenever she used this trick, Kujou Sara would give in no matter the situation.

"At most... I can tell you the identity of the Geo Archon Morax in the mortal world. Two billion Mora in exchange for information on two gods. That's not a bad deal, right?"

"You also know Morax's identity?"

Finally, the Lady responded, causing Kujou Tsumugi to breathe a sigh of relief. As long as she's willing to talk, things will be easier.

"Of course. Not just the Geo Archon, I also have information on the Electro Archon, the Dendro Archon, the Hydro Archon, and the Pyro Archon," Kujou Tsumugi said proudly, puffing out her chest. She had gathered all this information from the game, so its accuracy was absolutely guaranteed.

"Tell me about it," the Lady demanded.

"I can tell you, but you have to forgive me after you listen."

"...Fine."

"Hehe, let's start with the Morax. There are thousands of incarnations of the Geo Archon, and no one knows which person in the crowd might be Morax in disguise. However, it's said that there's a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue Harbor. He's young but possesses an extraordinary demeanor. Whether it's music, chess, calligraphy, painting, or historical relics, he offers unique insights." As she spoke, Kujou Tsumugi blinked mischievously, nearly revealing that the consultant was indeed Morax.

Afterward, Kujou Tsumugi provided the Lady with some information about the other gods. However, she wasn't foolish; aside from the detailed information about Morax, the details on the other gods were vague—almost as if she hadn't said anything at all.

"I have another question... What is your true goal? As the leader of the hunters, is it really wise for you to help us, the Fatui?" the Lady asked.

Hearing this, Kujou Tsumugi fell silent for a rare moment. After a long pause, she finally answered.

"My goal has always been the same: to ensure Inazuma's prosperity and stability."

"If you Fatui hadn't built those Delusion factories in Inazuma and captured so many of our people for human experiments, I wouldn't have bothered forming a group of hunters to deal with you."

"You know, even though my sister Kujou Sara and I grew up in human society, we still have ties to the Tengu Village. One day, one of my Tengu playmates disappeared. Although there's no direct evidence, the clues suggest that she was taken by the Fatui."

"That's when I decided to form a special force to combat the Fatui, and after a few years, I put this plan into action and established the Hunter Force."

"I understand your desire to obtain the Gnosis of the Seven Gods, but I don't care about that. As long as Inazuma remains stable, I'm willing to cooperate with the Abyss Order."

"I know those Delusion factories in Inazuma were built by the 'Doctor' and are now managed by the 'Balladeer.' That's why I don't harbor as much hostility toward you. If you were the Doctor or the Balladeer, I would find a way to kill you, even if we shared a bond from five hundred years ago."

"...I see. I think I understand," the Lady nodded and stroked Kujou Tsumugi's hair. "But aren't you afraid of offending Liyue by giving me information on Morax?"

"Liyue... Ha, Tianquan Ningguang."

Upon hearing this, Kujou Tsumugi immediately revealed a disdainful smile.

"As long as I'm alive, relations between Inazuma and Liyue will never be good."

Seeing the confusion in the Lady's eyes, Kujou Tsumugi took the initiative to explain.

"Tianquan Ningguang once said, 'One day, I will let the shadow of the Jade Chamber cover all of the Seven Nations.'"

"That one sentence is enough to make Ningguang my enemy, and since Ningguang is one of the Qixing of Liyue, it means I'm also an enemy of Liyue."

Of course, Kujou Tsumugi knew that with the Seven Gods in charge, Ningguang wouldn't dare to directly provoke a war. Therefore, Kujou Tsumugi interpreted this statement to mean that Ningguang intended to "control" other nations by dominating their economies, eventually building six more Jade Chambers in the remaining six nations.

Kujou Tsumugi's goal was to maintain Inazuma's stability. How could she allow a foreigner to control Inazuma's economic lifeline? Therefore, hostility between Kujou Tsumugi and Ningguang was almost inevitable.

"It hasn't been easy for you either..." the Lady remarked after listening.

"That was when..." Kujou Tsumugi stopped herself from finishing her words because the Lady had already kissed her on the lips.

"Very well, I forgive you." The Lady licked her lips, a hint of seduction flashing in her eyes. "But now I need to settle this matter with you for breaking into my room without permission."