Snezhnaya was indeed incredibly wealthy.
Looking at the various conditions promised by the Fatui, Nolan couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
Trading a "Gnosis" that was of little use to Focalors for so many benefits across Fontaine's various fields shouldn't be a problem at all.
"Alright, then I'll take this to Focalors and help ask her. If she agrees, I'll come back and let you know as soon as possible."
Nolan closed the file.
"Then I'll leave it to you." Arlecchino nodded slightly. "Regardless of success or failure, I'll pay you the commission."
Since she was asking someone to help, she would naturally pay the corresponding reward. As an adventurer, Nolan's compensation would normally be Mora.
"…Um, if possible, how about Primogems as the reward instead?"
Nolan was no longer short on Mora, but Primogems were always welcome. If Arlecchino helped gather them, it would be like opening up another channel for acquiring Primogems.
"Alright."
Arlecchino didn't refuse. It was merely swapping Mora for Primogems—hardly a difficult matter.
After settling everything, Nolan took the documents and returned to the Wonderland.
He sensed slightly and found that Focalors was in her room at the moment, seemingly using the "Akasha Terminal" to learn about Fontaine's situation.
Nolan walked to her door and gently knocked.
"Please come in."
Focalors's gentle voice came from inside.
When Nolan opened the door and walked in, he saw her half-lying on the bed, snow-white legs swaying lightly, her gaze fixed on the "Akasha Terminal interface" projected in midair.
She looked like she'd turned into a shut-in girl who did nothing but play on her phone.
Amused, Nolan sat down beside her. She was still looking at the "virtual interface," reaching out to operate it, only parting her lips slightly to ask:
"Is something the matter?"
"Yes. It's about the 'Gnosis.'"
Nolan also half-lay down, turning to the side and propping his head up with his hand as he looked at Focalors's fair, pretty face. He explained Arlecchino's intention to trade for the "Gnosis."
Focalors didn't mind him being so close. She turned her head to look at Nolan, her tone carrying a hint of surprise.
"I've heard that the Fatui have been collecting 'Gnoses' recently. In other nations, it seems they usually just seize them directly.
"I didn't expect that this 'Knave' would be willing to obtain a 'Gnosis' through trade."
Because of how close they were, as Focalors spoke, a faint, sweet fragrance inevitably brushed against his face.
Nolan smiled and replied:
"In Inazuma and Sumeru, the Fatui initially wanted to snatch them directly as well, but after I beat them into submission, they stopped. Those two 'Gnoses' are still with me right now.
"I use those two 'Gnoses' to power the 'Akasha' system. But now that I have your 'Authority of Justice' helping out, their effect isn't that significant anymore.
"Once the 'Akasha' system covers all of Teyvat, I plan to return them to Inazuma and Sumeru, and then exchange some resources with the Fatui as well.
"That way, they won't keep obsessing over them. What do you think?"
Focalors thought for a moment, then nodded gently.
"That sounds fine. I no longer govern Fontaine anyway, so the 'Gnosis' really isn't of much use to me. Furina wouldn't be able to use it either. Exchanging it for some resources isn't bad."
"Take a look at this document. If you feel it's still not enough, I can go find Arlecchino and have her raise the offer a bit more."
Nolan took out the document Arlecchino had given him and handed it to Focalors.
"I'll take a look."
Focalors accepted the file and began reading through it carefully.
Watching her profile, Nolan didn't disturb her. Before long, Focalors had finished reading and turned back to him.
"The conditions offered are very comprehensive, covering all aspects. That Miss Arlecchino is quite sincere. I don't see any problem with it."
"Alright, then I'll go reply to her this afternoon."
Since Focalors had no objections, Nolan planned to give Arlecchino a response as soon as possible.
"Mm. But she'll need to carry out what's written inside first before I hand over the 'Gnosis.'"
Focalors nodded and added this clarification.
"Got it. I'll make that clear."
Although Nolan trusted Arlecchino, the Fatui still gave most people the impression of being rather domineering. Taking the "Gnosis" before anything was actually carried out made it hard to say whether they might go back on their word.
"Then I'll hand this over to you for now. Once she fulfills the terms, you can give the 'Gnosis' to her on my behalf."
Focalors placed a hand over her chest and gently lifted it. A water-blue "Gnosis," shaped like a chess piece, appeared.
She handed it to Nolan.
"Alright."
Nolan put away the Hydro-element "Gnosis." When he went to reply to Arlecchino, he could also show it to her to put her at ease.
After handing over the "Gnosis," Focalors reopened the "virtual interface" and continued browsing its contents.
She then noticed that Nolan was still lying beside her, quietly watching her, with no intention of getting up.
"What's wrong? Is there something else?" Focalors turned her head and asked him.
"By the way, your pupils—one light blue and one deep blue—are like shallow seas and deep oceans. They're quite beautiful."
Nolan said as he looked at Focalors's heterochromatic eyes.
"Why are you suddenly saying things like that? There's nothing strange about it, is there?"
A look of confusion appeared on Focalors's fair face before she turned back to the "virtual interface."
Teyvat was vast. Due to genetic reasons or the influence of certain powers, there were plenty of people born with or who later developed heterochromia.
"Uh, it's just that things suddenly got quiet, and when I lay down for a bit, my attention was drawn to your eyes. I haven't gotten a clear look yet. Could you turn back so I can come closer and look more carefully?"
Nolan asked earnestly.
"…Mm, alright."
It wasn't a big deal anyway—she might as well satisfy this fellow's curiosity a little.
So Focalors tilted her face slightly once more, blinked her mismatched eyes, and looked back at Nolan, letting him study her.
"They really do look like the azure ocean… mm, and also like beautiful sapphires."
Nolan stared at Focalors's eyes, then slowly leaned closer, putting on an expression as though he wanted to see them more clearly.
Focalors blinked twice. Before she could even react, she realized the two of them were already so close they were practically pressed together.
Just as she was about to move back, she felt her lips enveloped by something soft, their noses brushing against each other as well.
Focalors' eyes widened. It took her a moment to process what had happened, and then her fair cheeks flushed red in an instant.
She quickly turned her face away, looking at Nolan with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"Y-you—what are you doing all of a sudden?!"
Now Focalors understood. Being "attracted by her eyes" had just been an excuse—this guy had simply wanted to sneak a kiss!
"Ahem. We were a bit too close, and I kind of lost control. Well, since we've already kissed… how about we kiss again? I didn't really get to savor it just now."
Nolan coughed lightly and tried to justify himself.
At the same time, his left arm had already wrapped around Focalors' waist, gently pressing down so she couldn't get up.
He then leaned in once more, aiming for her soft lips again.
"Wait—what do you mean 'since we've already kissed'—"
Focalors grabbed Nolan's arm, instinctively trying to push him away, but she didn't have enough strength.
Seeing him about to kiss her again, she hurriedly turned her head to the side.
Nolan was a step too late and only managed to kiss the spot beneath her earlobe, along her neck. He didn't mind at all and simply continued.
After lingering against the fair skin of her neck for a while, he gently took her earlobe into his mouth.
"Ah—don't go too far, you jerk."
A tingling sensation spread from her ear, and Focalors protested again, her face flushed red with embarrassment and irritation.
Unfortunately, it had no effect. Nolan continued kissing her earlobe without restraint.
A few minutes later, the snow-white thighs revealed beneath Focalors' dress were pressed tightly together, her calves slightly apart, with only the tips of her toes touching the ground.
She was breathing lightly, one hand clutching the fabric at her abdomen, the other gripping the white bedsheet. She really couldn't take it anymore.
With no other choice, she spoke up:
"D-don't lick anymore… mm. I'll let you kiss me once more, and then hurry up and get up…"
"Sure—but how long the kiss lasts is up to me."
Nolan said with a smile.
"No! A-at most just a little while!"
Focalors had no idea what kind of strange thoughts Nolan was cooking up again, so she naturally couldn't agree. If he was going to keep kissing endlessly, she'd rather he just keep kissing her ear.
She didn't even realize that she had already subconsciously allowed Nolan to kiss her. Feeling that he could push things further, Nolan continued.
"In that case, I'll just have to keep kissing."
He smiled and continued kissing her delicate, fair earlobe, gradually moving down toward her neck.
"…You really are something."
Seeing this, Focalors simply closed her eyes and let Nolan kiss her. Surely he couldn't keep this up forever.
Noticing that Focalors had stopped resisting, Nolan became even bolder. He rolled over and pressed her beneath him, once again sealing her soft lips with his own.
Feeling that softness again, Focalors' cheeks—just beginning to calm—flushed red once more.
So this is what kissing feels like… it doesn't seem like much—
While she was lost in her thoughts and not paying attention, Nolan took advantage of the moment and slipped in.
"Mm…"
Focalors' eyes widened as she looked at Nolan. Guided by him, she began to respond clumsily.
After about ten minutes, Nolan finally ended the kiss.
Focalors felt as if her tongue had gone numb. Breathing lightly, she let out a small "hmph" and turned her face away, as if she didn't want to look at him.
Nolan smiled, propped himself up, and sat on Focalors' thighs with one knee bent, lowering his gaze toward the hem of her dress.
"Y-you—what are you planning to do now?!"
Focalors grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it down, her other hand covering her chest, flustered and embarrassed.
"Since we've already kissed, going a step further shouldn't be a problem, right? Besides, this is a form of training—it can make your soul-body stronger."
Nolan didn't force her hands away. Instead, he gently stroked the side of her snow-white thigh, slowly sliding his hand beneath her skirt.
As he lightly caressed her soft skin, he waited for the moment her guard dropped.
That moment came quickly. The earlier kissing had already drained much of her strength, and as Nolan stroked her thigh, her body gradually softened.
Seeing this, Nolan easily coaxed her hands away and lifted her skirt, revealing white, triangular close-fitting shorts.
The fabric was decorated with hollow patterns, with sheer white gauze beneath them. Through it, her fair skin could be faintly seen.
Holding the sides of her shorts, Nolan looked at her and asked:
"Is this okay?"
Focalors shot him a glance and merely let out a dissatisfied "hmph," as if to say that at this point, how could things possibly stop?
"I'll take that as consent, then."
Nolan gently pulled down the now slightly darkened white shorts, then lowered himself again, pressing Focalors down as he kissed her once more.
Time passed quickly. After gradually getting used to the closeness, Focalors shifted from being passive to becoming more proactive.
If he dared to pin her down, then she'd pin this guy down too.
Nolan was more than happy to oblige. Before long, the character panel popped up with a notification:
[Focalors Has Developed Good Feelings Toward You, Obtained 790 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.10 (Max)]
Focalors' affection toward him increased once more, reaching the maximum level without surprise.
Nolan wrapped his arms around Focalors, who was now pressing down on him, gently stroking her soft hips. Then another notification appeared on the character panel:
[Through sincere intent and unyielding effort, a fate once unrelated to yours has become deeply intertwined with you. From this point on, the maiden's constellation shall shine alongside yours. Ability acquired: Justice of Devotion and Sacrifice.]
Without a doubt, this was a notification indicating that he had obtained a new affection skill.
Justice of Devotion and Sacrifice—the name fit perfectly with Focalors' willingness to sacrifice herself to save Fontaine. Curious, Nolan opened it to check the detailed information:
[Justice of Devotion and Sacrifice: Any act of giving will be rewarded. When you make a selfless contribution, you will receive a "Gift of Justice," granting a permanent random increase ranging from a minimum of one ten-thousandth of the "combined level of both parties" up to a maximum of a percentage equal to the "combined level of both parties." The greater the selfless contribution, the greater the reward.]
It looked pretty impressive.
Any effort would be rewarded. Normally, when he accepted commissions to help others, he would receive commission fees—but when he gave selflessly, there was usually nothing in return.
With this ability, however, he could receive a "Gift of Justice."
A permanent boost, with the greater the selfless effort, the greater the reward. The minimum was one ten-thousandth of the combined levels.
He was level 130, and Focalors was level 113—making a combined level of 243. One ten-thousandth of that was equivalent to an overall increase of about 2.43%.
(End of Chapter)
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