44: An Unpleasant Conversation

"Alice!" Saphir immediately recognized the floating Dodoco—it was the communication device Alice often used to talk with others from afar. During the events on the Golden Apple Archipelago, she'd used it to play the role of "Dodoking" and stage a grand imaginary adventure for Klee.

But that this mysterious witch had already taken notice of Saphir—an "outsider"—at this point came as a surprise. Alice said this was the second time Saphir had talked behind her back… implying she'd noticed it once before. Could it have been the letter Saphir wrote to Rosalyne?

Saphir found it hard to believe. She didn't even know when she wrote that letter—it must've been from the future. But it had already been destroyed, so how did Alice know about it? Could Rosalyne still be in contact with the Hexenzirkel? That couldn't be… right?

Unaware of Saphir's train of thought, Alice continued speaking:

"Teyvat's laws have been disrupted. Do you know what happened?"

She was probably referring to the world level suppression being bypassed—specifically Noelle somehow leveling to 25 despite the cap.

Saphir shook her head and replied honestly, "Sorry, I'm not sure what caused it. I'm just a hired blade, really. If you want answers about Noelle's level-up, you should ask Lin Yi. Wait, do you know him?"

Of course Alice knew Lin Yi. When he first arrived in Mondstadt, Alice had returned and even spoken on his behalf—allowing him to stay.

From the Dodoco came her voice:

"That kid, huh? Hmm… as far as I know, he shouldn't be capable of breaking the laws. I thought it was your doing. No matter. The real issue is resolving the conflict between established reality and the system's imposed rules. You know what must be done, right?"

Saphir looked at the red Dodoco but didn't immediately agree. Instead, she replied,

"Lady Alice, I don't think we know each other well enough for that. Shouldn't you be asking Lin Yi for help instead?"

Alice's voice took on a mock-hurt tone.

"I know what's going on. Lin Yi's busy with other matters, and you took Barbatos's Gnosis—shouldn't you take some responsibility?"

That was just pure deflection.

Everyone at this level was sharp as a blade—there was no need for veiled wording. But Saphir wasn't buying it. She wasn't some solo operator. As a Harbinger of the Fatui, she wasn't afraid of the Hexenzirkel or their influence.

Saphir crossed her arms and replied bluntly:

"A deal's a deal. I don't work for free. Even if Rex Lapis asked me for a favor, there'd be a price. Lady Alice, surely you're not trying to get this done for free?"

There was a pause from the Dodoco before Alice replied again,

"This concerns the survival of the continent. Not even your Tsaritsa has the right to say no. Or is this how a Fatui Harbinger handles her credibility?"

"Credibility and transactions aren't the same thing," Saphir said coldly. "If I agree to a task, I always complete it. But I also have the right to refuse, don't I?"

She looked down her nose at Alice's transparent attempt at moral coercion. Sorry—not happening.

Seeing the tension rising, Venti stepped in with a laugh to ease the mood.

"Now, now, let's not get so worked up. It's actually pretty simple. All three Ley Line stagnation points in Mondstadt have been cleared, which loosened the world level restrictions. That's how the little maid managed to level up unexpectedly. All we need now is to unlock the leyline seal in Mondstadt, fully lifting the world-level cap and preventing backlash on the Irminsul. Miss Saphir's job is just to break the seal. The sealing medium, if I remember right, is a powerful weapon. And Lady Alice never said she wouldn't compensate you."

"A weapon?" Saphir perked up.

If a five-star weapon was the reward, that was worth considering. Mondstadt's known five-stars were limited: Aquila Favonia and The Unforged were held by the Gunnhildr family; others—like The Widsith, Wolf's Gravestone, and Amos' Bow—were either lost or held elsewhere. The Skyward series and Elegy for the End were likely still with Barbatos. Wolf's Gravestone was probably with Andrius.

Saphir quickly narrowed it down.

"So… is it Amos' Bow or The Widsith?"

Venti didn't flinch on the surface, but the slight dilation of his pupils betrayed him. Alice's side also went quiet.

The air grew tense. Eventually, Alice broke the silence:

"That guy 'B' told me you were sharp… and he wasn't wrong. You know more than we expected. I suppose we can confirm it now—those strange ripples in the constellations he observed must've been caused by you."

"B" referred to Mona's teacher, who once tried divining Saphir's fate—but failed. Later, "N" (Nicole) from the Hexenzirkel also attempted to make contact, but Saphir had no ties to Irminsul, so it was impossible. That was why Alice had asked Venti to bring her here under the guise of unlocking a leyline seal.

But Saphir offered no reply to Alice's deduction.

They were all old foxes; retreating to probe further was a common tactic. She remembered all too well how Alice had once managed to scam even Yae Miko. So rather than speak and risk giving away more, she chose to feign ignorance.

"Please don't ask me about things I don't know, Lady Alice. I'm not a fortune-teller, after all."

With that, Saphir walked behind the floating Dodoco. From the moment she arrived, she had sensed a hidden disturbance—a concealed entrance. It was faint, but unmistakable. This must be the leyline seal they'd mentioned.

Alice didn't press the matter. What Saphir didn't know was that in the future, she not only left a letter for Rosalyne but also a cryptic message for Alice. Because of concerns over Irminsul, it had been heavily veiled, making it difficult to interpret.

Elsewhere, the real Alice watched the silent Dodoco device, her smile gone.

She knew far more than the current Saphir did. She already knew that the two of them would grow quite close in the future, and that Klee herself would share a deep bond with Saphir.

But this first meeting had not gone well. She blamed herself—it had been a mistake to assume Saphir wouldn't be wary. She wasn't yet the future "SU? Afurola? Saphir" of the Hexenzirkel. She was still a Fatui Harbinger—very much not on Alice's side.

With a self-deprecating sigh, Alice sent one final message:

"Then I'll leave it to you, little Saphir. May fortune favor your blade."

The Dodoco communicator fell silent. Saphir didn't respond. Venti stood quietly beside her, saying nothing. The Hexenzirkel and him had no hierarchy—only mutual cooperation. This leyline operation had been hastily arranged. He hadn't even had time to prepare properly. The Irminsul's influence on Teyvat was dangerous—one misstep could lead to catastrophe. Fortunately, the witches had detected it early and warned him.

Watching Saphir inspect the hidden gate, Venti asked,

"Are you ready?"

Saphir glanced at the slacker god and said,

"You're not coming with me?"

"Ehehe~," Venti chuckled. Of course not. Never change, Venti.

Saphir sighed and shook her head. "Can't count on you for anything… Fine. I'm heading out. You'll cover the Dvalin side, right?"

"I'm on it," Venti said, pounding his chest. "Don't worry."

Saphir added, "And… the Skyward Blade. You have it, don't you?"

Venti nodded.

"All the Skyward series are symbolic of my bond with Dvalin. Of course I have them. But are you sure? I remember your weapon was modified by Heulia. The Skyward weapons might not suit you."

"It's not for me. I want to get a proper sword for Lumine."

She recalled the plain Traveler's Sword Lumine still used. It was… honestly a little pitiful.

"As for Noelle's weapon," she said, "I have other plans."

Venti thought for a moment, then nodded.

"No problem. I like that little girl too. Giving her a weapon is only fair."

With his confirmation, Saphir smiled in satisfaction. Then, without another word, she stepped through the hidden portal.

As her figure disappeared into the barrier, Venti pulled out his lyre and began to play—a gentle tune carried on the wind. It was the Anemo Archon's blessing, sent to ensure her safety on this journey.

Meanwhile, at Liyue Harbor, the Death Star finally docked. With the gallant Captain Beidou accompanying her, the high priestess of Narukami Shrine, dressed in a white and red shrine maiden's outfit, stepped gracefully off the deck—pink-haired and fox-eared: Yae Miko.

"So this is Liyue Harbor… It's been quite a while. I must say, it's even more prosperous than I remember."

Yae Miko spoke as she walked, clearly impressed.

Beidou walked beside her. As someone who frequently sailed between nations, she was well aware of the contrast between Liyue and Inazuma. Whether it was Ritou in Inazuma or Port Ormos in Sumeru, neither held a candle to the grand scale of Liyue's docks. Beidou had always felt a sense of pride in being from Liyue.

Hearing Yae Miko's words, Beidou nodded.

"Liyue thrives on commerce. The scale of a port reflects the strength of a nation's economy. Our huge cargo throughput mirrors our prosperity. This is the foundation of our country—and what the Geo Archon has always emphasized."

Yae Miko nodded.

"It's quite impressive."

As the two approached their destination, a figure came into view—a tall girl with long ice-blue hair and two red-lined antler-like horns on her head.

"A divine beast… a qilin. Ganyu, is that you? It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

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