"What do you mean by that?!"
Rosalyne's tone turned sour.
Anyone would be upset after being repeatedly mocked—especially someone as proud as Rosalyne.
Tartaglia carefully took out four types of potions from a drawer and placed them on the table.
"These are four different kinds of potions, all of which Liyue has been selling recently."
He activated a bit of elemental power, signaling someone to prepare the rest of the goods they had recently procured from Liyue.
"In addition to the life-restoring potion you already drank, there are also strength, agility, and jump-boosting potions."
"For an ordinary person, drinking any of these can give them power comparable to a Vision bearer while the effect lasts."
"I tried them once myself. During the duration of the boost, my strength doubled."
"My physical power became terrifying. Even without using any elemental energy, I could crush a Ruin Guard with a single punch."
"My speed nearly reached the level I usually attain with my Hydro Vision activated."
"My jumping ability easily exceeded ten meters."
"If I used both my Delusion and Vision together, I might be able to stand toe-to-toe with Pulcinella."
Rosalyne's eyes immediately lit up after hearing Tartaglia's explanation.
Though Pulcinella usually seemed focused on Snezhnaya's internal affairs, his strength was unquestionably formidable.
Rosalyne didn't think Tartaglia was lying. When it came to combat, Tartaglia was always meticulous.
Besides, Tartaglia held great respect for Pulcinella and wouldn't casually drag his name into a lie.
"1.5 billion Mora. Keep one bottle of each for yourself—give me the rest."
"Help me buy 100 bottles of each."
Rosalyne quietly looked at Tartaglia. After a moment of silence, he opened his mouth and said:
"Get lost!"
Tartaglia rolled his eyes inwardly in frustration.
Did this woman really think he was stupid?
Even setting aside the strength, agility, and jumping potions—which already intrigued Tartaglia greatly—the healing potion No. 860 was like a miracle that defied logic. Clearly, the other three weren't simple either.
He had no intention of selling any of the potions that could enhance his own power.
"500 million Mora. I'll give you two healing potions and one of each of the other three."
"That's all. No more. If you want more, get them yourself—but I suggest you give up. Almost everyone who's gotten their hands on these is treating them like treasures."
"They're not going to sell them."
Rosalyne opened her mouth as if to say something.
But Tartaglia knew exactly what she was thinking. She was most likely planning to rob someone.
"I suggest you drop the idea of stealing. Liyue is watching closely. If you don't want the Geo Archon himself to come after you, it's best to behave here."
"These alchemical potions we see as treasures are reportedly standard issue for the Millelith in Liyue."
"They get a daily supply of them, free of charge."
"I even saw it with my own eyes. A Millelith soldier had both his legs severed by a Ruin Hunter. After drinking a life potion, his legs grew back in an instant."
"And he didn't hesitate to continue charging into battle. The injuries caused by the Ruin Hunter kept healing over time without stopping."
"That kind of healing potion is at least two levels higher than what we have."
Rosalyne fell silent, her feelings a mix of shock and confusion—she didn't even know how to describe them.
Thinking about how many Millelith soldiers Liyue had… and the possibility that all of them were carrying items that the rest of the world viewed as divine artifacts...
A chill suddenly crept up Rosalyne's spine.
"All of the Millelith…"
"Yes."
Tartaglia nodded, saying no more.
Rosalyne pressed her lips together. Her proud face now showed signs of uncertainty.
"What exactly is Liyue planning…? How could Celestia allow a power like this to exist?"
"Heh… Don't forget—how many of the gods in Celestia were once the Geo Lord's people?"
Tartaglia sighed.
The longer he stayed in Liyue, the more he understood how terrifying its foundation was.
No wonder the Cryo Archon didn't say a word after learning of the Fatui's setbacks here.
"What about Celestia, then?"
The moment Rosalyne asked, a thunderbolt of realization struck her mind.
"Could Liyue possibly be planning to—"
"Shut up!"
Tartaglia instantly broke into a cold sweat. He spun around and carefully scanned his surroundings. Only after a long moment did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Lowering his voice, he looked at Rosalyne with anger in his eyes.
"Are you insane? Even if you suspect something, you can't say it out loud!"
"Do you have any idea how many Adepti are in Liyue Harbor right now?!"
Rosalyne fell silent. Remembering her earlier encounter, she tightly buried the unease that had stirred in her heart.
But soon after, a glimmer of hope flickered within her.
"Is there a chance… that we could cooperate with Liyue?"
Given Liyue's current strength, if they truly chose to support the Tsaritsa—even without considering other factors—their alchemical potions alone could greatly bolster their chances.
In Rosalyne's view, an alliance with Liyue seemed very possible.
After all, the Tsaritsa had always held Rex Lapis in high regard. And from what she'd heard, Rex Lapis didn't harbor ill will toward the Cryo Archon either.
Rosalyne understood the pact between the Cryo Archon and the Geo Archon.
Which meant, perhaps, Rex Lapis also had his own opinions about Celestia.
And now, Liyue had already grown far beyond the boundaries permitted by Celestia. Such a thing would never be tolerated.
No matter what, Liyue might inevitably stand opposed to Celestia.
And for Snezhnaya, that was good news.
"The one Rex Lapis acknowledges is Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, not us Fatui. Even if things are as you imagine, Her Majesty would have to come in person."
Tartaglia gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Do you really think the Fatui have any sort of good reputation in Liyue? Don't forget what the Doctor and the Banker have done..."
"I'm sure Rex Lapis himself isn't too fond of the Fatui either."
"Besides, all these changes in Liyue began just over two months ago. If they could grow this much in such a short time, who knows what's next?"
"They probably look down on us already..."
Rosalyne fell silent again, for the first time feeling that the Fatui's chaos was truly… pitiful.
Shaking her head, she sighed.
"Regardless, Liyue walking this path is still good news for us. Has Her Majesty been informed?"
"I've already reported it. Her Majesty said this information must not be shared with the rest of the Fatui. Only I am to know."
"As for what she plans next, she didn't say."
Tartaglia waved his hand dismissively, not wanting to dwell on the topic. In a quiet voice, he said:
"For now, just stay in Liyue and don't do anything reckless. Observe carefully how things are changing."
"Alchemy isn't all Liyue has to offer. There are many other wondrous things here."
Rosalyne quietly packed up the alchemical potions she had bought. She casually downed two recovery potions.
She could feel the damage to her soul had already healed more than half. A wave of unprecedented ease washed over her.
It had been five hundred years since she'd felt this relaxed.
She now held deep admiration for the miracle that was Liyue's alchemy.
"No matter what, find a way to continue procuring these potions. Her Majesty's wounds still need healing. If possible, try to acquire some higher-tier alchemical medicines."
Seeing that Rosalyne hadn't truly taken his advice to heart, Tartaglia pursed his lips.
"We'll keep getting the potions, but that's not the only thing we should be focusing on."
"Liyue also holds a marvelous technique—weapon enchantments. Enchanted gear seems to be etched with some unique law."
"Some of them even allow ordinary people to wield elemental powers—like Pyro. They're practically divine artifacts."
"One enchanted weapon. A few pieces of armor. Even a regular person could take down high-level monsters."
"And the entire Millelith army is equipped with them..."
Everything Tartaglia said only made Rosalyne more troubled.
A technology that let regular people gain supernatural power—she had never heard of such a thing.
"What about the enchanted weapons? Have you managed to get any?"
Tartaglia could only shake his head with a bitter smile.
"You think I haven't tried? If I could get a Pyro enchantment, I'd have control over three elements."
"But Liyue forbids selling such weapons to the Fatui. They even monitor us closely—I haven't had a single opportunity to get my hands on them."
Rosalyne clenched her fists tightly. The level of suppression the Fatui faced in Liyue far exceeded what she had imagined.
But there was nothing she could do.
Liyue had become too powerful. She didn't even dare try to uncover what cards they might still be hiding.
Some deep instinct told her—if she dared make a move, not even the Cryo Archon could protect her.
It was like staring into the abyss, with multiple gods standing watch.
"But Liyue does not prohibit official Snezhnayan merchant fleets from making purchases. Their restrictions are only against the Fatui."
Tartaglia added quietly.
"Some merchant groups from Snezhnaya have already placed orders for enchanted weapons. They'll be ready in two weeks. They plan to take them back to Her Majesty."
"I've already informed Her Majesty. Unless something changes, she'll likely forbid us from contacting those merchants."
"After that, she may separate the Fatui's operations from Snezhnaya's official forces."
"Tch... If it weren't for that bastard Doctor constantly stirring up trouble, would the whole of Teyvat really despise us like this?"
The more he thought about the Doctor, the more Tartaglia felt sick.
Rex Lapis and the Cryo Archon had a decent relationship. If not for the selfish schemes of people like the Doctor—those who only wanted to use the Cryo Archon—maybe the Fatui wouldn't be treated this way.
Tartaglia, backed by the Northland Bank, shouldn't have had to go through such lengths just to buy alchemical potions and enchanted weapons.
Rosalyne clearly understood the internal divisions within the Harbingers as well. She sighed but said nothing more.
This was the Cryo Archon's plan. She knew she was being used—but hadn't she also been using the Doctor and the others in return?
She never doubted the Cryo Archon's decisions.
It was the Cryo Archon who had saved her. Since five hundred years ago, she had already resolved to offer her life to her god.
There was a knock on the wooden door. Tartaglia snapped out of his thoughts, glanced at Rosalyne, and said softly:
"Our supplies have arrived. Let me walk you through the key resources in Liyue."
"I'll need your funding for the upcoming purchases, along with the transfer permissions from Her Majesty for the Northland Bank."
Rosalyne nodded. At last, her pride had been restrained.
"No matter what, the alchemical potions are our top priority. Her Majesty desperately needs them."
"I understand..."
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