Chapter 125

"Lumine, calm down. Your mindset is the problem here!" 

"Brother, I'm very calm!" 

Lumine tightly gripped Nathan's wrist, refusing to accept his reasoning. 

In her mind, this was how siblings were supposed to interact. 

"Alright, let's save the sibling matters for later. Right now, I have a request for you." 

Ningguang's beautiful eyes narrowed into slits as she spoke. 

Despite Lumine's current closeness with Nathan, her status as his "little sister" made her the safest among the girls. 

Being a sister was an advantage, but it was also the biggest constraint. 

"Ningguang, what do you want us to do?" 

Paimon asked curiously. After all, they were used to receiving requests like this in Mondstadt. 

Though they were called the Honorary Knights of the Knights of Favonius, they were essentially the most convenient tools for odd jobs. 

"I need your help to investigate the undercurrents in Liyue Harbor." 

"Undercurrents?" 

"The Fatui... have you heard of them?" 

"Wow, those are the bad guys who caused trouble in Mondstadt!" 

Paimon exclaimed in surprise. She and Lumine had just fought the Fatui in Mondstadt, only to be outsmarted by La Signora in the end. 

Who would have thought they'd have to deal with the Fatui again so soon after arriving in Liyue? 

"So... what do you want us to do?" 

Hearing the name "Fatui," Lumine's attention was immediately drawn. 

"I need you to find out what role the Fatui played in the assassination of Rex Lapis." 

"But why don't you investigate it yourself, Ningguang?" 

Paimon continued to voice her confusion. Shouldn't someone as high-ranking as the Tianquan have an easier time investigating? 

"Because you're outsiders. If you investigate, it's less likely to attract the attention of the Fatui in Liyue." 

"So, what's in it for us? What do we get for helping?" 

Although Lumine was essentially a tool in the game, completing tasks still required appropriate rewards. 

"As the Tianquan, my wealth and knowledge are unmatched in Liyue. Once the task is complete, I can grant each of you one request."

"Really? Then I want an endless supply of delicious food!" 

Upon hearing Ningguang's promise, Paimon's gluttonous nature immediately kicked in. 

"As for me, I only have one request." 

Lumine's gaze remained fixed on Nathan as she spoke. 

"Hmm, Paimon's request is simple. As for Lumine... if she really is Nathan's sister, her request shouldn't be too difficult either." 

Ningguang smiled gently. After all, in the final battle for Nathan's affection, the "sister" role wouldn't even be a contender. 

"Go ahead and follow Ningguang's instructions." 

Nathan patted Lumine's hand. In truth, he was the only one present who knew the full story. 

As for why he didn't reveal the truth, it was because this was Morax's final test for the people of Liyue before his retirement. 

If he spilled the beans, it would be like cheating. 

"Then... I want you to come with me, brother!" 

As long as it was Nathan's suggestion, Lumine would agree no matter what. This was the pinnacle of her brother-complex personality. 

But before that, she still wanted to act a little spoiled. 

"You and Paimon go find the people first. I'll wait for you at the gates of Liyue Harbor." 

Nathan... had stopped worrying about Lumine's insistence on calling him "brother." 

After all, once the Liyue storyline concluded, the "We Will Be Reunited" quest would begin. 

By then, as long as Aether showed up, everything would be resolved without further explanation. 

But if Aether didn't appear, Nathan would really have to start suspecting the simulator system. 

"But... I..." 

Lumine still wanted to say something, but Nathan's palm was already resting on her forehead. 

A nostalgic warmth spread from his hand, and Lumine instantly closed her eyes, like a contented cat being petted. 

"Go on, be good." 

The gentle touch, combined with Nathan's soft words, was an irresistible combination for Lumine. 

"Alright then, Paimon, let's go! Brother, you have to wait for us at the agreed spot!" 

With that, she called out to Paimon, who was floating in the air, and the two left. 

It wasn't until Lumine's figure disappeared that Nathan realized he hadn't told her the exact meeting spot. 

But then again, considering Tartaglia's troublemaking nature, he would probably seek them out on his own. 

"Alright, Nathan, now it's time for us to settle some accounts." 

With Lumine gone, only the "insiders" remained. 

The four girls slowly closed in on him, their smiles unnervingly wide. 

It seemed they still had a lot of questions for Nathan about this suddenly appearing "little sister." 

"Wait, I'll talk... I'll tell you everything! Just don't hurt me!!!" 

Nathan's screams echoed through the pavilion, which was now occupied only by the girls... 

.......................

After enduring the girls' relentless interrogation, Nathan finally reunited with Lumine and Paimon in the outskirts of Liyue. 

As expected, the two had encountered Zhongli and Tartaglia, just like in the game's storyline. 

After speaking with Childe, they received the plot item—a token known as the "Sigil of Permission." 

They were then asked to go to Jueyun Karst to speak with the adepti. 

Nathan didn't say much about it. 

According to Tartaglia's plan, he wanted to stir up trouble in Liyue by involving the adepti. 

But in reality, calling the adepti would only provide more help in dealing with the ancient god. 

...................

Nathan, Lumine, and Paimon first stopped by Wangshu Inn to find Xiao, who was staying there, and informed him of Rex Lapis' assassination. 

Next, they went to Jueyun Karst, where, just like in the game's storyline, they spoke with the irritable adepti—Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper. 

Upon hearing about Rex Lapis' death, both adepti flew into a rage and headed straight for Liyue Harbor. 

After meeting three of the adepti, their final destination was Mt. Aocang, where they would meet Cloud Retainer, the adeptus Nathan was most familiar with. 

"Huh? Why is there a stone table here with so many utensils, carrots, and a wine jug..." 

Upon arriving at Mt. Aocang, Paimon, as expected, was the first to notice the food-related items. 

"Do you think adepti like eating carrots?" 

Paimon examined the thick, long carrots on the table and asked Nathan and Lumine. 

"I think you'd like them more, Paimon." 

Hearing Nathan's response, Paimon's expression turned strange as she compared the size of the carrots. 

"Can't get in, no matter how you think about it!" 

a/n - Read 60+ Chapters ahead on my patreon

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