Chapter 873 - 873: 873: Terms of the Expedition

Lumine did not answer immediately, turning her gaze toward Arlecchino.

"What do you think, Arlecchino?"

Tartaglia shifted his eager, pleading gaze toward his fellow Harbinger.

"Come on now. We are colleagues under Her Majesty; give me a little face here. Wandering into Fontaine alone makes getting things done difficult, and it is far too easy to stir up trouble. Traveling with you two keeps me in check, sparing Her Majesty unnecessary headaches."

Arlecchino rolled her eyes.

"So you are actually self-aware enough to admit you court chaos?"

Tartaglia scratched the back of his neck with a sheepish grin, offering no defense.

Arlecchino let out a soft breath, shaking her head.

"We might as well bring him along. The ominous feeling and strange calling Tartaglia described sound far too nebulous; there is a distinct chance it ties directly into the prophecy I mentioned. Besides, given his reckless nature, he would simply trail behind us in secret even if we refused him."

"Keeping him under our direct watch inside the party is far wiser than letting him run wild in Fontaine, which would only land us on the wanted registers and drag us into judicial trials. His martial strength is respectable; he will serve as a capable hand."

Tartaglia beamed, his chest swelling with pride.

"Exactly! I currently wield a Master Staff, accompanied by firearms, modern munitions, and countless treasures from this block world. My authentic combat capability is no lower than that of a mid-tier god; taking me along will not cost you a thing. I promise to follow instructions obediently and cause zero trouble."

Arlecchino inclined her head slightly, her voice cool and level.

"A mid-tier god is hardly an overwhelming force, but having Tartaglia in our ranks means someone is available to handle the dirty work and heavy labor."

"Hold on a second! I take serious issue with that phrasing! What do you mean mid-tier combat strength isn't formidable? And since when did I become the domestic servant?"

Tartaglia glared at her with open grievance, but Arlecchino met his eyes without flinching.

"Virtually everyone in our allied command now holds a Master Staff, carries two Visions alongside a Delusion, and commands an armory of reality-bending artifacts. Conservatively speaking, every notable figure present operates on the level of a mid-tier deity."

"Lumine has already stepped onto Her Majesty's plane, standing as an authentic premier deity."

"Do you honestly believe your current parameters stand out?"

"Furthermore, you were the one begging to join our party. Did you expect us to handle the menial chores on your behalf?"

Tartaglia clicked his tongue, though he found no words to dispute her logic.

His standing was genuinely modest among the senior circle. What he possessed, the others commanded in equal measure; what Lumine held, he could only dream of obtaining. Aside from his aggressive martial arts, he held zero distinct advantages.

"Fine, fine. An errand boy it is. I never turn down a fight anyway."

Tartaglia spread his hands in total concession.

The corner of Arlecchino's lips twitched upward with subtle satisfaction as she pressed forward.

"Beyond menial labor, your responsibilities include carrying the baggage, purchasing provisions, scouting advance routes, and gathering field intelligence."

"Hey! That is crossing into outright exploitation!" Tartaglia protested, throwing his arms up.

Arlecchino tilted her head, her cadence flat and unyielding.

"You remain entirely free to journey alone; no one is barring your path. The Chief Justice of Fontaine is conservatively estimated to hold the power of a premier deity. Facing him in single combat should provide you with immense entertainment."

Tartaglia choked on his words, falling silent in an instant.

He craved combat, but he harbored no desire to walk into a one-sided execution. He knew his own temper far too well; without someone keeping a firm grip on his leash, he would inevitably trigger a catastrophic incident. Being apprehended by that Neuvillette character would force the Tsaritsa to mount an embarrassing diplomatic extraction.

Tartaglia slumped his shoulders, muttering under his breath.

"Understood, understood. I will shoulder the heavy lifting and the dirty work. Are you satisfied now?"

Arlecchino nodded with cool approval.

"Once our boots touch Fontaine soil, you operate strictly under orders. You are forbidden from drawing steel against locals without authorization. A nation enamored with legal trials is unlike any other realm you have visited. A single careless step will see you dragged into the Opera Epiclese for public judgment, and I have zero interest in breaking into their fortress prison to fish you out."

Tartaglia sighed with genuine sorrow. He had heard whispers that Fontaine employed Champion Duelists, renowned as the finest martial champions in the land. He had nurtured quiet hopes of challenging them to formal duels.

Now, that dream was thoroughly dead.

Still, it mattered little. The Five-Nation Alliance was packed with titans; whenever his hands grew restless, he could simply pester one of his peers for a spar. Courting pointless diplomatic trouble was unnecessary.

"One final condition," Arlecchino added smoothly.

Tartaglia's eyes widened in disbelief.

"There are more?"

"If the terms displease you, the road is open for your solitary departure," she replied in a quiet, measured drawl.

Tartaglia scowled, crossing his arms with a sullen huff.

"An unequal treaty through and through. Aren't you worried Zhongli will scold you for unfair contracts?"

Arlecchino ignored his grumbling entirely, stating the term plainly.

"You shall personally finance every expense incurred during our stay in Fontaine."

Tartaglia let out a long, tragic breath. With Lumine and Paimon in the party, he could already hear the agonizing weeping of his purse.

Yet wealth meant little to him. He held no personal need for endless mounds of Mora, and his family back in Morepesok was well cared for under Pulcinella's watchful eye. Bleeding a few million coins was an acceptable price.

"Agreed."

"Splendid!"

Lumine finally chimed in, clapping her hands with bright enthusiasm.

"You are officially inducted into our Fontaine expeditionary force."

"Hooray! We secured our personal luggage porter and snack sponsor!" Paimon cheered, hovering in circles while clapping her tiny hands.

Tartaglia stared at the three of them with an aggrieved, tragic pout.

He swore to the heavens that had Snezhnaya's operational development not hung in the balance, and had he possessed any self-control or knowledge of Fontaine's legal codes, he would never have allied with this trio.

He had literally sold himself into indentured servitude.

Nearby, Ryen looked up from teasing Klee and the young girls, having caught the conclusion of their negotiations.

A warm smile crossed his face as he offered his counsel.

"There is no need to rush your departure for Fontaine. Allow the Genshin Impact module to run its course for a brief period before setting out."

"That module provides an abundant stream of vital resources and unique armaments."

"Securing those assets will elevate your combat parameters even further, granting you an additional layer of security across the western waters."

Lumine nodded cheerfully, bouncing over to drape her arms over Ryen's shoulders from behind.

"Aren't you joining us? You have been cooped up inside this realm for far too long."

Ryen rolled his eyes playfully, leaning back against her embrace.

"Do you imagine I sit here indulging in idle daydreams? I hold massive infrastructural schedules to coordinate, needing to direct personnel and construction projects based on our territorial milestones across this world."

"You girls should enjoy the trip yourselves."

Lumine wrinkled her nose, pouting slightly.

"You sound entirely indifferent to my absence."

Ryen laughed softly, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose.

"Hardly. Besides, once you reach Fontaine, a single step through a Teleport Waypoint brings you straight back to my courtyard. You can return whenever you wish, so why fret over missing me?"

"Once the new modules settle into a stable routine and my schedule clears, I will cross the sea to accompany you across the streets of the capital."

"I hear their underwater scenery is breathtaking; I wouldn't mind taking a stroll beneath their tides myself."

Lumine's face instantly bloomed into a radiant beam.

"It is a promise, then! You owe me a proper date!"

Ryen shook his head with an amused chuckle, marveling at how naturally she steered the conversation toward romance.

Yet her point held merit. He spent ample time strolling through mountain glades with Ganyu and Ningguang, and even Ei enjoyed quiet afternoons sharing sweets with him. In truth, he had rarely accompanied Lumine on an open journey.

Showing favoritism was poor leadership.

Visiting Fontaine sounded pleasant enough; he was rather curious to witness how advanced an elemental civilization could become.

With that, the blueprint for the western journey was settled.

This time, Lumine's party was formidable.

She was spared the lonely, exhausting travels of her earlier days, where strangers constantly roped her into running errands for trivial matters.

With Arlecchino managing their path, Lumine would be shielded from getting bogged down in endless requests for charity.

Arlecchino would naturally draft a flawless itinerary for their stay.

Aether, who had slipped back into the grand parlor unnoticed, caught the tail end of the discussion.

Narrowing his golden eyes, he gestured with two fingers.

"Lumine is setting out for Fontaine, correct?"

Endis bowed his head, whispering respectfully.

"Your Highness, should our shadow detachments move in advance to eliminate potential hazards on Her Highness's behalf?"

"Hardly! Quite the opposite!"

Flames of mischievous fury ignited within Aether's eyes.

"I want you to deploy elite monster detachments to cause friction along her route! Make her vacation as turbulent and irritating as possible!"

Endis stood frozen, his mouth opening slightly as he looked at his prince with profound distress.

The endless squabbling between these twin royals was dragging the Khaenri'ahn remnants into peril once again.

Attempting to manufacture trouble for Lumine was suicidal.

Ryen was watching from the throne; if Lumine dropped a single complaint into his ear, Khaenri'ah would suffer an unmitigated disaster!

Yet directly defying Aether's command was impossible.

Pressing his lips together, Endis offered a cautious, delicate reminder.

"Your Highness... our operational network within Fontaine is exceptionally sparse... Moreover, Lady Arlecchino and Tartaglia are escorting her party... Should they discover our involvement and lodge a formal protest..."

Catching the reluctance written across Endis's face, Aether clicked his tongue in mild disgust.

"Why are you trembling so pitifully? Even I show no fear, so why should you cower? I never commanded you to step onto the stage yourselves!"

Endis lowered his head in silent endurance, muttering inwardly.

His Highness naturally held zero fear, as it was merely a domestic spat between siblings. Why should a squad of tragic Khaenri'ahn retainers throw themselves into that grinder?

Seeing his aide's stubborn resistance, Aether waved a dismissing hand, letting the petty scheme drop.

"Forget it. National restoration remains our supreme imperative, meaning our resources belong strictly to this block world."

"As for Fontaine... post discreet watchers along her perimeter. Unbearable as Lumine is, she remains Ryen's woman."

"Neuvillette's true heritage is veiled in secrecy, carrying high probabilities of being the Sovereign Dragon of Water. Should Lumine encounter a genuine crisis, report to me immediately."

Endis let out a quiet breath of relief; that directive was infinitely easier to manage.

Looking at his prince's stern facade, Endis could not help but chuckle inwardly at the stubborn pride masking his deep concern.

"I have an uncomfortable suspicion you are entertaining disrespectful thoughts," Aether noted suddenly, his eyes narrowing with dangerous scrutiny.

Endis flinched, quickly composing his expression with an innocent laugh.

"Not at all, Your Highness! I was merely calculating how to position our observers without drawing Her Highness's attention."

Aether inspected him for another second before waving him away.

"Enough. Direct the covert personnel stationed in Teyvat to oversee the matter, and begin organizing our domestic labor divisions here."

"With the royal capital of Khaenri'ah founded upon the New Continent, laying down our second municipal hub must be expedited."

"Dispatch scouting parties to survey potential sites, finalize the territorial boundaries, and lay the bedrock foundations. Do not let our progress lag."

Endis bowed with crisp discipline before turning to depart.

He needed no prompting on that front.

Having delivered stellar combat performances throughout the Bedwars exercises, he had already been privately appointed by Aether as the governor of their second sovereign city.

Treating such duties with utmost care was second nature.

Across the parlor, Lumine continued conferring with Arlecchino regarding Fontaine's unique culture, parsing through the mechanisms of their legal courts and regional districts.

Naturally, her primary inquiries centered on the culinary landscape.

Though Arlecchino had spent years away, her knowledge of her homeland remained exhaustive.

Tartaglia stood close by, listening with earnest concentration and jotting down detailed notes in his pocket ledger, an ingrained habit cultivated through months of modded exploration.

Time slipped by until the final delegations of the allied courts filtered through the arched entryway of the City Lord Manor.

Ryen looked up at the bustling, crowded hall, clapping his hands firmly to call the assembly to order.

"It seems everyone has arrived. Then let us officially begin."

"The first general territorial development summit following the conclusion of the cataclysm is now in session!"