"That thing of yours is far too dangerous. It should never have appeared on the continent of Teyvat."
"And that gives you the right to snatch something someone else gave away and destroy it?"
"Isla, let's talk this through. Don't resort to violence."
Seeing that Isla was about to make a move, Keqing quickly spoke up. In her understanding, Rex Lapis was powerful beyond doubt. She had grown up listening to the Geo Archon's legends.
Hearing this, Isla turned and threw herself into Keqing's arms. "Keqing, he's bullying me."
The speed of her change in attitude caught Zhongli, Ganyu, and Ningguang completely off guard.
"It's alright. To you, that was just a little toy. If it's gone, it's gone."
Keqing stroked Isla's head gently, offering comfort.
"That toy was worth several entire Teyvat continents. I'm standing right here. Couldn't he just give it back to me? There has to be compensation."
Isla puffed her cheeks in annoyance.
Worth several Teyvat continents!
Hearing that the small bead was so valuable made Ningguang feel as if her heart were breaking.
"Miss Isla, since you gave it to me, then it should belong to me, shouldn't it?"
"That's true, but destroying the gift I gave you right in front of me is unacceptable."
Zhongli could tell that Isla was deliberately picking a fight. He sighed. "This matter is indeed my fault. I apologize. How would you like to resolve it?"
"Ganyu and Keqing will come work for me for a while. You will take over their duties in Liyue. If that happens, we can consider this matter settled."
"..."
Zhongli fell silent. Turning all the alcohol across Teyvat into bitter liquid and playing a prank on Mondstadt's drunkards had already been troublesome enough.
Now she had come to Liyue and wanted to drag him, a newly retired old man, back into work.
The abacus beads were practically striking him in the face.
"Isla, maybe we should just forget it. After all, Zhongli is Liyue's Rex Lapis," Keqing said when she noticed Zhongli's deeply furrowed brow.
"Even if the Heavenly Principles themselves came, it wouldn't change anything. I said what I said."
Isla behaved like a stubborn child, refusing to let Zhongli off no matter what.
Zhongli felt a headache coming on. It was obvious that the other party had planned this in advance.
She was pulling away Liyue's two most capable workers and forcing him back into service.
I overreacted.
I shouldn't have destroyed that thing.
But an item capable of controlling everyone placed on Teyvat was simply too terrifying.
If it wasn't destroyed and fell into the hands of someone with ill intent, the consequences would be unimaginable.
If I returned it instead, she would probably come up with another argument, such as accusing me of looking down on her by refusing her gift.
It seems I cannot avoid this unwarranted disaster today.
"As for Keqing and Ganyu, I cannot decide for them. They must make that decision themselves," Zhongli said.
It seemed his retirement would have to be postponed.
"Keqing, Ganyu, you'll come, right?" Isla tilted her head and rubbed against Keqing. "If the work of processing abandoned planets isn't completed, Mom might get angry. And if she gets angry, something very scary might happen."
In truth, this was a lie. Her mother was indifferent toward most worlds. Kallen cared more about humanity, but she would not get angry simply because Keqing temporarily filled in as labor.
"For the sake of Rex Lapis, I am willing to work for you for a period of time," Ganyu said seriously.
"This is your job content."
"You can board the ship anytime. Do your best."
After speaking, Isla disappeared.
She liked throwing her work onto others. Even at the lowest levels, it was the same. Although many planets in the Finality Empire could be fully automated, she still assigned tasks to humans.
Labor was necessary. Otherwise, those humans would grow lazy and complacent. With nothing to do, they would begin stirring up trouble.
"What is this?"
Ganyu looked at the light-screen panel that appeared before her. A large amount of related knowledge suddenly surfaced in her mind.
"I dragged you into this, Ganyu," Keqing said apologetically. Being secretary to the Liyue Qixing was already exhausting work for her.
Now that she had changed jobs, it was uncertain whether she could endure it.
"It's alright, Keqing. I think I can handle this job," Ganyu said, shaking her head.
She felt that the new work was similar to her duties as secretary to the Qixing in Liyue.
"Rex Lapis, I think human governance is still too early for Liyue. It also doesn't suit Teyvat's environment," Keqing said, turning toward Zhongli.
After seeing the bizarre planetary nations, officials, and rulers among the abandoned worlds of the Finality Empire, she had come to understand something.
The reason the seven nations of Teyvat had remained free from war was because their rulers were gods.
If they were all human, there would inevitably be rulers who sought to annex the other six nations. Once unified, the empire would eventually fracture again, repeating the cycle of long unity leading to division, and long division leading to unity.
"..."
Hearing this made Zhongli even more weary. The Keqing he had once favored, who had always advocated human governance, had changed.
He sighed. "I will arrange your duties with Ganyu. We will discuss the rest after everything is over."
"Understood, Rex Lapis," Keqing nodded.
...
Inazuma.
Tenshukaku.
The Raiden Shogun suddenly felt all restrictions vanish.
She was free.
No longer required to work for that reclusive shut-in.
Plane of Euthymia.
Raiden Ei sensed something unusual about the Raiden Shogun.
"Shogun, are you alright?"
Previously, due to differences in ideology, she had fought the Shogun and forcibly altered the eternal rules she had originally set.
"Ei, I will be leaving for a while," the Raiden Shogun said, feeling unprecedented lightness. "This body, I will return it to you."
"?"
Raiden Ei could not understand what her Shogun was saying.
The Raiden Shogun offered no further explanation. A streak of violet lightning separated from the body.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished.
Raiden Ei took control of the body left behind, utterly bewildered.
Shogun, Shogun, where did you go!
She had never known that the Shogun could voluntarily detach from the body.
Finality warship.
Isla created a new body for the Raiden Shogun she had "kidnapped" from Inazuma. She felt a strong affinity toward the Raiden Shogun as a fellow artificial intelligence.
Especially that mature, married-woman-like face. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it.
"Are you the one who freed me?" the Raiden Shogun asked, sensing her new body. It was far more powerful than Raiden Ei's vessel.
"That's me." Isla stepped forward and hugged the Raiden Shogun. "So? How does it feel now?"
"Light. Comfortable. Is this what emotion feels like?"
Unlike the Wanderer, the Raiden Shogun had no emotions. This was her first time experiencing such sensations. She wrapped her arms around Isla's body, feeling an electric-like sensation that was comfortable and filled with happiness.
Her body was so soft, delicate, and smooth.
There was also an irresistibly enticing fragrance.
The Raiden Shogun felt an indescribable calm within her heart.
"That's right. I've upgraded you."
"Why?"
"Because I like you. There doesn't need to be a reason."
"..."
The Raiden Shogun did not understand. She did not remember ever meeting the girl before her, so how could the other suddenly like her?
But that was no longer important.
"You're not familiar with your new body yet, are you? I'll help you get used to it," Isla said, a charming smile curling at the corners of her lips.
"Mm."
The Raiden Shogun did not refuse.
...
Inazuma.
Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Oh my, Ei, what wind blew you over here?" Yae Miko raised an eyebrow when she saw Raiden Ei rushing toward her. What was wrong with her today, coming in such a hurry?
"Miko, the Shogun is gone," Raiden Ei said urgently. She had checked inside and out dozens of times and finally confirmed that the Raiden Shogun had detached from the body and disappeared.
"The Shogun you mean is the Raiden Shogun?" Yae Miko asked in confusion.
"I only have one Shogun. Who else would it be?" Raiden Ei said helplessly. "She said she would leave for a while and return the body to me, then turned into a streak of lightning and left."
"Think carefully. Did you make any changes that caused her to run away?"
"I didn't do anything! I still don't understand how she was able to detach from my body." Raiden Ei sounded irritated.
Yae Miko murmured, "Another strange incident..."
Recently, while drinking sake, the flavor had suddenly turned bitter. After sending people to investigate, she discovered it wasn't just Inazuma. Alcohol across other nations had turned bitter as well.
Instantly changing the taste of alcohol across the entire continent of Teyvat was not something ordinary humans could accomplish.
"The Traveler hasn't left Inazuma long ago, right?"
Whenever something like this happened, Yae Miko's first thought was always the Traveler.
"You want to commission her to look for the Shogun?"
Hearing the Traveler mentioned, Raiden Ei immediately understood Yae Miko's intentions.
"Who else would we turn to in a situation like this?" Yae Miko shrugged helplessly.
Inazuma was currently rebuilding from ruins. It was impossible to send Ei herself out searching.
Raiden Ei thought about it and realized the Traveler did seem like the most suitable choice.
If something had happened to the Shogun, only the Traveler would likely be able to handle it.
"Additionally, we should send people to investigate. Strange events keep happening across Teyvat," Yae Miko said seriously.
...
Finality warship.
When Kiana Kaslana returned, she sensed traces of lightning element mixed with Honkai energy in multiple locations.
After scanning the bridge with a glance, her figure instantly teleported to the door of Kallen's room.
Guarded so tightly... they definitely weren't doing anything proper inside.
They had even used time-adjustment technology.
With a thought, Kallen's door opened automatically.
Entering the room, Kiana Kaslana sensed the space within this private chamber, which was as large as an entire world.
After confirming Kallen's location, she teleported again.
At that moment, Yae Sakura wore a yukata, sitting by the edge of a hot spring. Her exquisite legs swayed gently in the warm water.
Kallen stood within the spring facing Yae Sakura. Her loose white hair draped behind her back, flowing along her smooth spine down to her hips, soaking in the water.
All she wanted was to stay with the beautiful girl before her and protect her forever.
After spending a long time with Kiana Kaslana, Kallen had changed subtly. She was no longer the saint who would sacrifice her life to protect everyone, but rather a witch who indulged herself and acted freely.
Even knowing that this Sakura was not the one from her own world, Kallen still wanted her.
Years of accumulated emotions had intensified her darker desires.
Not long ago, Kallen had confessed everything to Yae Sakura.
Yae Sakura had long noticed that this Kallen was different, but she had pretended not to know.
Even if this was a Kallen from another Imaginary Tree, she was still a real Kallen.
Not a fake created from memories.
Right now, she felt satisfied in every way.
Splash!
A beautiful figure emerged from the water.
Kallen was already used to Kiana Kaslana suddenly appearing.
Their methods of movement were either flight or spatial teleportation.
"You two seem to be having fun," Kiana Kaslana said as she hugged Kallen from behind.
"You're back. How did it go?" Kallen turned her head.
"We exchanged some technical knowledge. But you know the rules of the Imaginary Tree in the Honkai universe differ from other universes."
"She believes the Aeons are obstacles, so she wants to kill those Aeons, restart the universe, and redefine its laws," Kiana Kaslana said as she released her arms and sat atop the water's surface.
Kill the Aeons and restart the universe?!
Kallen showed little reaction upon hearing about this plan from another Kiana Kaslana connected to the Imaginary Tree. The greater one's power, the greater one's ambition.
"As long as you're happy," she said.
She knew her own limits and had no intention of involving herself in such matters.
She had seen too many conflicts between powerful beings where ordinary people suffered.
Kallen would no longer claim that everyone was innocent.
Weakness itself was a sin.
Even an entire universe might be wiped out by beings beyond it.
Before protecting others, one must first learn to protect oneself.
"Lady Kiana, Kallen said you could revive the Kallen from my world," Yae Sakura said, looking at the Kiana Kaslana who had influenced Kallen so greatly.
"What? Isn't my Kallen good enough?" Kiana Kaslana looked at Kallen with a teasing expression.
"No, that is not what I meant," Yae Sakura hurriedly shook her head.
Looking at the slightly dejected Kallen, she smiled with clear satisfaction. "Whether it's Kallen from a parallel world or the Kallen from my world, I love both."
Hearing this, Kiana Kaslana couldn't help clapping. "Well said. If you like someone, you like them. You're just like me. Kallen, see? Sakura is much more sensible than you."
Kallen rolled her eyes.
Sakura was nothing like you!
"Kallen, don't you have any thoughts?" Kiana Kaslana asked.
"I support Sakura," Kallen replied. She knew that the Kallen of this Honkai world still had a perfectly preserved body, one whose consciousness could be reactivated.
Even now, she didn't know whether she herself counted as a resurrected Kallen.
The same body. The same memories.
"Since you say so, if she abandons you later, don't blame me," Kiana Kaslana said.
"I would never abandon Kallen," Yae Sakura declared seriously before Kallen could respond.
"Alright then." Kiana Kaslana shrugged.
"I am deeply grateful." Yae Sakura knelt in a perfect formal dogeza posture.
"..."
Watching the strange scene, Kallen felt as if she were witnessing someone asking for a daughter's hand in marriage.
...
Honkai world.
Schicksal Headquarters.
The Divine Key known as the Suspended Key, which contained Kallen's body and kept all things in suspended dormancy, suddenly vanished into thin air.
This alarmed Otto within the Stigmata Space. He immediately exited it.
After checking the surveillance footage and seeing that the stasis chamber had simply disappeared, Otto relaxed.
Was the Will of Ruler finally intending to keep its promise and resurrect Kallen?