chapter 54

Chapter 54: Ye Lan Becomes a Worker for the Son of God

Upon arriving in Inazuma City, Zhongli couldn't shake the feeling of unease.

Everything seemed both normal and strange at the same time. From the outside, Inazuma was eerily silent. Yet, once he was pulled into the dream-like illusion, Inazuma was full of life, bustling with activity just like any other nation.

As he wandered through the city, he spotted someone familiar: Ye Lan from the Liyue General Affairs Department.

At the moment, she sat in Yae Publishing House, looking bored as she flipped through a manuscript.

"Are all the people in Inazuma this imaginative? How does something so messy get approved?" Ye Lan muttered to herself.

She had been working here for a week after being dragged into this situation by Yae Miko herself.

Thinking back to that day, Ye Lan had accepted a commission from Ningguang to investigate the strange occurrences in Inazuma. However, as soon as she stepped foot on Inazuman soil, she was met with a lawsuit from Narukami Shrine.

At first, Ye Lan thought they were there to arrest her as an intruder. But to her surprise, they took her straight to Yae Publishing House without a word. They didn't even question her identity—they just handed her a work badge.

And so, Ye Lan became an editor for Yae Publishing House. A week had passed, and she still hadn't figured out what the editor-in-chief's true purpose was. Could it be that Yae Miko just wanted cheap labor?

For the past week, Ye Lan had worked hard during the day and searched for traces of Beidou at night. However, there were so many manuscripts to go through that her personal time was shrinking, and even her intel-gathering efforts were limited. She was down to just five hours of sleep a day.

Oddly, though, she didn't feel tired. She even tried cutting her sleep down to four hours last night, but she still felt energetic.

"Are you here for more manuscripts? They're right next to me. I'll get them in a moment... Wait, Mr. Zhongli?" Ye Lan finally looked up and realized it was him.

Zhongli in Inazuma? What could he be doing here? Was he trapped like the others?

"Why is Miss Ye Lan working here?" Zhongli asked, glancing at the stack of manuscripts on the table.

Titles like "Reincarnated as the Thunder General: Invincible in the World," "My Fox Fairy Palace," and "Reincarnated as a Hilichurl: Eating the Loru Loru Fruit to Become Stronger" cluttered the desk. His eyes lingered for a moment on one particularly absurd title: "The Rock King Princess Falls in Love with Me."

Zhongli decided it was better not to read any further.

Ye Lan stared at him in silence. She knew of Zhongli, and was well aware of his mysterious background, but their paths had never crossed in her line of work. So how did Zhongli know her identity?

"People need Mora to survive, Mr. Zhongli. Otherwise, how can we live happily? Yae Miko pays well, so I'm staying here for now," Ye Lan replied smoothly, avoiding the real reason she was in Inazuma.

She couldn't reveal that she was here on a covert mission, even to a fellow Liyue citizen like Zhongli. The risk was too high. If her cover was blown, things would become far more dangerous.

"So, you're here every day?" Zhongli asked, his gaze once again drifting to the manuscripts.

"What else can I do?" Ye Lan sighed. Even as a spy, she needed a believable cover, and working as an editor for Yae Publishing House provided that.

The job wasn't bad, either. With Narukami Shrine backing the publishing house, it gave her some security. Without that, she'd be much more restricted in her movements.

"Have you thought about returning to Liyue?" Zhongli inquired.

"Mr. Zhongli, when I've made enough Mora, perhaps I will. But for now, I have a job to do," Ye Lan answered, picking up another manuscript. "If you need something, we can talk after work. Right now, I'm busy."

Though Zhongli was a close associate of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he held no official title, and Ye Lan couldn't afford to share sensitive information with him. Her cover as an editor provided a perfect excuse to brush off any further questions.

"My apologies for disturbing you," Zhongli said, understanding her position.

He had no intention of pressing Ye Lan for information. However, Yae Publishing House intrigued him. If someone as skilled as Ye Lan, a top agent of the General Affairs Department, was stationed here undercover, then there had to be something more to this place. Perhaps it held secrets worth investigating.

For now, though, Zhongli decided it would be best to consult with Baal directly.

He turned and left Yae Publishing House. Ye Lan watched his retreating figure with a thoughtful expression.

Why had Zhongli come to Inazuma? According to her intelligence, Zhongli was someone who rarely left Liyue. There had to be something unusual going on.

As soon as Zhongli was out of sight, a pink figure appeared beside Ye Lan.

"It seems you've adapted well, Editor Ye Lan," Yae Miko said, walking into the publishing house and picking up a manuscript. She scanned the pages, nodding approvingly at Ye Lan's notes and understanding of the content.

Indeed, Ye Lan had been recommended by Su Ran for good reason. Her skills were on par with Kujou Sara's, but the key difference was that Ye Lan was easier to control. After all, she had a mission to fulfill and needed a hidden identity, which made her compliant.

Just like the Fatui agents embedded in Narukami Shrine, Ye Lan's presence in Yae Publishing House was mutually beneficial. She got her cover, and Yae Miko got a capable worker.

Ye Lan couldn't shake a sense of unease, especially since Yae Miko was a close follower of the Electro Archon and had lived for over 500 years. The fox's presence made her nervous.

"Thank you for your concern, Lady Yae. I'll continue to work hard. But... if possible, could you reduce my workload a little?" Ye Lan asked cautiously. She knew better than to push her luck, but she couldn't help but test the waters.

Yae Miko ignored her subtle complaint. "Editor Ye Lan, don't worry. I've seen your abilities, and I'll be sure to increase your salary in the future."

"Thank you, Editor-in-Chief," Ye Lan replied with a forced smile.

Look at that, Ye Lan thought wryly. Even when she was promised more work, she still had to express her gratitude.

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