Chapter 55

"Lord Tartaglia! Should I take you to Bubu Pharmacy?" Andrew asked, concerned as he looked at Tartaglia. 

"No! That's not necessary. Just go to Bubu Pharmacy and get me some medicine for bruises and sprains!" Tartaglia quickly shook his head. He had already embarrassed himself enough! He didn't want to become the laughingstock of Liyue's citizens. 

"Understood, Lord Tartaglia. Let me help you inside first," Andrew stepped forward and supported Tartaglia, who could barely stand. 

"Ahem…" Seeing this, Andrew quickly scooped Tartaglia up in a princess carry and brought him into the room. 

... 

After beating up Tartaglia, Akio felt a sense of relief. As he strolled down the street, he noticed a familiar figure drinking tea not far away. 

"Zhongli," Akio walked over. This guy was indeed here, leisurely sipping tea. 

"Akio," Zhongli nodded. "Please, have a seat." 

As soon as Akio sat down, a server quickly brought him a cup of tea. 

After the server left, Akio leaned closer to Zhongli and said, "You're quite the trickster, huh? Faking your death during the Rite of Descension?" 

"Do you have any idea how chaotic Liyue is right now?" 

"Ahem…" Zhongli glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then whispered, "I want to hand Liyue over to its people. It's time for Liyue to enter an era of human governance." 

"Planning to retire?" Akio teased. 

"Yes," Zhongli nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "I've protected this world for over three thousand years. Even the sturdiest of rocks will wear down over time." 

"One misty morning, as I walked through an alley, I overheard a merchant say to his subordinate, 'You've fulfilled your duties well. Now, go and rest.'" Zhongli continued, "It made me ponder for a long time—have I fulfilled my duties as well?" 

"The people of today are exceptional. They can stand on their own," Zhongli said, seemingly relieved. "The Yuheng Star often challenges my ideas, and many of her suggestions have proven effective. That's the wisdom of humanity. The Tianquan Star, with her shrewd methods, is also commendable." 

"Faking my death is both a test for them and an opportunity for me to step back," Zhongli took a sip of tea. "I hope they can meet my expectations. If they do, I can rest easy and let go of Liyue." 

"However, my friend, you're a god from Inazuma. Is Beelzebul still pursuing eternity?" Zhongli asked, looking at Akio. Every god had their own will. 

"Yes," Akio nodded. 

"Time tempers all wills. And she is someone who would dedicate everything to her cause. Perhaps that's why she's come this far. If given the chance, I'd like to witness the eternity she's poured her heart into," Zhongli mused. 

"If the opportunity arises, I'll invite you to Inazuma," Akio said. Though not now—Inazuma's current state would be an embarrassment to show others… 

As Zhongli and Akio chatted, a lively voice came from behind. 

"As expected! Zhongli, you're slacking off again!" 

A figure ran over, full of energy, and looked at Zhongli before noticing Akio. "Ah! It's you! The guy who claims he's not human!" 

Akio, who had been about to tease Zhongli, froze. He looked at Hu Tao with a dark expression. This girl really had a way of making people's heads spin. 

Zhongli, with a faint smile, took a sip of tea and asked, "Director Hu, what brings you here to find me today?" 

"Oh, right! I almost forgot," Hu Tao said excitedly. "Zhongli, have you heard? The Geo Archon has passed away!" 

"Yes, I've heard the news," Zhongli nodded calmly. 

Akio glanced at Hu Tao. While the rest of Liyue was mourning, this carefree girl was still in high spirits. 

"Then what are you waiting for?" Hu Tao put her hands on her hips. "Come with me to the Ministry of Civil Affairs! This is a huge opportunity—a funeral for the Geo Archon! Once it's done, we'll make tons of Mora. More importantly, we can say we've personally sent off the Geo Archon! That'll really boost our reputation!" 

As soon as she said this, Akio noticed Zhongli stiffen slightly, his expression becoming somewhat awkward. This was going to be entertaining. 

"Director Hu, if we go now, we'll likely be kicked out of the Ministry of Civil Affairs," Zhongli remained composed. 

"Moreover, from a rational perspective, even if it's a funeral for the Geo Archon, it's not called a funeral. It's a Rite of Parting, and it must follow strict procedures." 

"Is that so? Then no problem! We can handle the Rite of Parting too! You know so much about it! If we land this contract, I'll leave it all to you! I'll even pay you a salary," Hu Tao nodded thoughtfully. 

"..." Zhongli's mouth twitched slightly. "If the director can secure this contract, I'll naturally handle it." 

"Then it's settled," Hu Tao nodded, then turned to Akio, who was enjoying the show. "Hey, mister, I didn't get your name last time. Mind telling me?" 

"Call me Akio," Akio said. 

"Akio? Nice name! But have you considered what I mentioned last time?" Hu Tao's plum blossom eyes sparkled as she looked at him expectantly. 

"..." Akio sighed, rubbing his forehead. No wonder Zhongli had a hard time dealing with this girl. 

"How much?" Akio asked. 

"One person costs 1 million Mora, and the second person is half price! The more you buy, the more discounts you get," Hu Tao said with a grin. 

"I'm broke," Akio waved his hand. He only had 5 million Mora on him. Giving it all to Hu Tao was out of the question. 

"Huh? So you're as poor as Zhongli?" Hu Tao asked in surprise. 

Zhongli: "..." 

Akio: "..." 

"From a rational perspective, I'm probably slightly richer than him," Akio said seriously. 

Zhongli: "..." 

"Alright, alright, I'll leave you two to your tea," Hu Tao waved her hand. "This director is off to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to discuss business! Hehehe, it's the Geo Archon, after all! Sending off the Geo Archon personally—that's going to be so much fun." 

Zhongli: "..." 

He had been rendered speechless many times today. 

"Oh, right, Zhongli, did you bring any money?" Hu Tao suddenly asked, remembering something. 

"Uh…" Zhongli patted his pockets and fell silent. 

"I knew it," the girl sighed. This guy was always like this. She waved her hand and said, "I'll pay for you." 

With that, the girl happily hummed a tune as she went to pay the bill. 

"Hu Tao is quite a character. She's adorable," Akio said, taking a sip of tea. 

"Though she's mischievous, she has a pure heart. She's a good kid," Zhongli nodded in agreement, then glanced at Akio with a strange glint in his eyes. 

Hu Tao is 16 this year, isn't she? That's the age when girls are ready for marriage. 

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Akio asked, puzzled. 

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