Tartaglia: I'm So Smart

Tartaglia had been living quite comfortably lately. Successfully obtaining the Anemo Archon's Gnosis before La Signora, coupled with the lucrative trade partnership with Dawn Winery, had earned him praise from Pierro, "The Jester." Not only did he receive a hefty personal bonus, but his standing among the Fatui Harbingers had also subtly risen.

Of course, the Tenth Harbinger, Sandrone, still regarded him with disdain.

But that foul-tempered girl wasn't worth worrying about. No matter who she faced, she always wore that same "you owe me money" look, just begging to be punched.

Besides, he didn't particularly care what his fellow Harbingers thought of him. What truly delighted him was that the Tsaritsa had summoned him again and praised him with a simple yet meaningful: "Not bad."

The "Ruinguard" mechanical pet he'd sent back to Snezhnaya had also safely reached his younger brother Teucer, who wrote back saying he loved it.

"Before the Rite of Descension begins, I can enjoy a nice, relaxing break."

Having just finished his last task for the day, he was about to leave work early to snag a table at Xinyue Kiosk for dinner when Ekaterina suddenly barged into his office, holding a letter.

"Lord Harbinger, we've got work."

"Hm?"

"A letter from Mondstadt. You're invited to attend a conference."

Puzzled, Tartaglia took the letter and opened it in front of her. The contents were indeed a formal invitation to a Joint Commercial Investment Conference in Mondstadt, signed by Shen Qin and even stamped with the Knights of Favonius' seal.

'What's a Joint Commercial Investment Conference? Sounds business-related. Does Shen Qin want to collaborate with the Fatui again? But he hasn't developed any new products lately…'

'Still, since Shen Qin had gone through the trouble of sending an official invitation, he owed him the courtesy, especially after the Ruinguard favor for Teucer.'

"Report this to headquarters. I'll be traveling to Mondstadt for the next five days."

The conference was scheduled for two days later. If he left tomorrow morning, he'd arrive in Mondstadt by the evening before, attend the event, stay overnight, and then rush back to Liyue.

'Sigh… five days, and four of them just spent traveling. Only one day for actual business, and that's with using a gliding board.'

'Huh—what if I collaborate with Shen Qin on a product that drastically cuts down long-distance travel time?'

His eyes lit up. This was a fantastic idea! If successful, the Fatui could profit massively from it too!

I'll bring it up with Shen Qin when I get to Mondstadt!

Little did he know that Diluc had already discussed this with Shen Qin—who had not only completed the transport vehicle designs but was also quite smug about the idea.

….

….

The next day, after packing lightly, Tartaglia set off from Liyue Harbor. Not long into his journey, Keqing zoomed past him at triple his speed, also headed for Mondstadt.

He chuckled wryly. 'Of course, she got the top-tier hoverboard from the Knights, while I'm stuck with the budget model. Just fair.'

'But was she invited to the conference too? Or had Shen Qin reached out to other factions as well?'

Tartaglia fell into thought.

Keqing, meanwhile, had also spotted Tartaglia but felt no goodwill toward the Fatui Harbinger and ignored him. Still, she wondered. 'Is he going to Mondstadt too? Did Shen Qin actually invite the Fatui?'

She didn't dwell on it. She'd get answers straight from the Knights upon arrival.

By evening, Keqing reached Mondstadt. The city gates recognized her as a trusted ally, requiring no identification, and automatically relayed her arrival to the Knights.

So when she reached the Knights' headquarters, Kaeya was already waiting at the entrance.

"Ah! Miss Keqing! What a pleasure to see you again!" He grinned, arms spread for a hug.

Keqing, well-acquainted with his unserious charm, sidestepped it. "Kaeya, we saw each other two weeks ago. Hardly long."

Undeterred, Kaeya laughed. "But doesn't Liyue have a saying? 'A day apart feels like three years!'"

"Disgusting." Keqing shuddered.

"Oof. The Yuheng's coldness wounds me."

His shift from "Miss Keqing" to "Yuheng" was dripping with sarcasm, but Keqing was used to it and cut to the chase. "What's this Joint Commercial Investment Conference about?"

"No clue. Shen Qin just borrowed a conference hall and had us send out invitations. He's being weirdly secretive, wouldn't explain a thing. Just said to wait until the day of."

Kaeya shrugged. Even Albedo and the usually talkative Sucrose had clammed up, insisting everything would be revealed at the conference.

"Fine." Keqing nodded. "Is Acting Grand Master Jean available? I'd like to speak with her."

"She said you can head straight to her office."

"Thanks." Keqing brushed past him.

"Your lodging's arranged at the guesthouse. You can go there yourself later?" he called after her.

A dismissive wave was her only reply. Got it.

"Ugh. Just like Jean, all work, no play. No wonder they get along." Grumbling, Kaeya hurried off toward Angel's Share, any later and he'd miss a seat.

Ever since adventurers hauled in massive amounts of Mora from Stormterror's Lair, Mondstadt's taverns had been packed. After dinner, those with pockets full of disposable income flocked to bars, splurging on drinks they'd normally never afford.

Angel's Share and Cat's Tail were the biggest winners.

….

….

Meanwhile, Keqing entered Jean's office. The Acting Grand Master brightened upon seeing her and rose for a quick embrace, then held her hands warmly.

"Keqing! You're here so early, the conference isn't until the day after tomorrow. You could've come tomorrow."

"I wanted to ask for your advice on governance." Keqing sat down, gesturing for Jean to do the same.

"Last time, the dragon crisis cut our discussion short. But back in Liyue, I kept thinking about Mondstadt. The Anemo Archon vanished a millennium ago, yet the Knights have maintained order flawlessly. That proves a nation can thrive without a god. If there's a secret to it… please, teach me."

Her gaze was earnest.

The annual Rite of Descension was approaching. The Geo Archon would descend once more to deliver divine guidance for Liyue's governance.

But Keqing had always stood in opposition to Rex Lapis, advocating for true human-led rule. Yet, with so many of Liyue's people devoutly loyal to their Archon, her faction faced constant resistance.

And in the days leading up to the Rite, and after, the conflict between the two factions always reached its peak.