"Boss, isn't what we're doing a bit bad?"
In a camp near Liyue Harbor, a Treasure Hoarder member looked at his boss with some hesitation.
"It's the Lantern Rite Festival recently. If we make a move during the Lantern Rite Festival, even if it's just a small target, the Millelith won't let us off, right?"
He was a little scared. Before, when they were caught by the Millelith, they would just be locked up for a while, or fined, and then released. This time, making a move during the Lantern Rite Festival, would the Millelith let them go?
"And the security is tight during the Lantern Rite Festival. Shouldn't we wait until the security is weaker to act?"
"What do you know? Don't you see how strict the security seems now? In fact, they have already exhausted most of their attention dealing with matters in Liyue Harbor. This is our best opportunity to act."
The Treasure Hoarder boss looked at the subordinate with a frustrated expression: "Besides, our target this time isn't big, just a few small things. After stealing these things, we'll pretend to be ordinary people and go back to Liyue Harbor to sell them to those who came for the festival. That way, our income will be legal."
"Le... legal? Our money can be legal?"
"Why not? Don't get stuck in a rut. This time, the targets I told Ah Biao to observe are all things that will be used during the Lantern Rite Festival. In the past, when the Millelith caught us, they would ask us to reveal the source of the money. Before, we could only say it was stolen, but if it's earned through business, they'll have nothing to say."
"Is... is that so? But will they believe that the money we earned came from legitimate sources? And it's so troublesome. Didn't we used to just snatch things and sell them?"
The subordinate scratched his head. They became Treasure Hoarders because they wanted to make quick money. Now they had to spend time doing business. Wasn't that putting the cart before the horse?
"Hmph! What if they don't believe it? And you're stupid. How can you last long like this? Do you want to treat the Millelith's prison as your home? Do you want to live there permanently?"
"Isn't that our situation?"
They had basically all stayed in the Millelith's prison before, and had already treated it as their home. Was there anything wrong with that?
"It used to be like that, but now the situation has changed. Recently, a new gang has emerged in Liyue Harbor. That gang's Sister Ying is accepting suitable members, and according to the information I've gathered, she's a very formidable person, a Vision holder. If we can ally with her and gain her protection, our lives will be much better."
He had been in other Treasure Hoarder groups before. Although those groups had good leaders, none of them had a powerful person acting as an umbrella of protection.
This time, he wanted to join the other party's gang. The problem was that she didn't want ordinary Treasure Hoarder members, so he wanted to make a big score during this Lantern Rite Festival and use that capital as a 'certificate of allegiance' to join.
"A God... a Vision? Why would such a person form a gang?"
"I don't know about that, but this is an opportunity that we absolutely must seize. Although it's a bit troublesome this time, try not to attract attention. All of you need to be quick with your movements, understand?"
"Yes!"
Hearing that there was a chance to change their future, the subordinate's mood immediately became high-spirited.
He wasn't dissatisfied with his previous life, but if there was an opportunity to live a better life, who wouldn't want their life to improve?
"Oh, so... you're not planning to cause trouble this time, but you want to make a big score, right?"
A somewhat abrupt voice joined their conversation. Immersed in their beautiful fantasies, they didn't notice the problem with this voice.
When they realized something was wrong, they found that the owner of the voice was a very cute-looking Damselette with short golden hair, who was watching them from the side.
"You... when did you start listening!?"
"When? Probably when you started complaining that it was too much trouble and that you wanted to make money fast."
"Then... then isn't that basically the whole story?!"
This is big trouble. I didn't expect someone could stay near them without being noticed. She can't leave here, she must be kept here.
These two Treasure Hoarders members were truly anxious, not even considering that if she had the ability to get close to them, there was no way she would be afraid of them.
Just like that, the Damselette swiftly dealt with both of them. When they fell to the ground, they realized that all their other brethren had already been knocked down, and there were even a few Millelith nearby.
These Treasure Hoarders were arrested, but the matter was not over. From their mouths, it was learned that besides them, other Treasure Hoarders groups were also eyeing this Lantern Rite Festival.
They also knew the drill, understanding how to get the lightest punishment, and basically confessed everything they knew.
If everything they said was true, then in just two days, all these Treasure Hoarders members could be apprehended.
Miss Durandal's party received commendations from the Millelith for their excellent performance. Lumine had received such rewards many times and didn't take long to leave the Millelith.
"I didn't expect to get a reward so easily. This money should also be used for the bounty on my brother. The higher the bounty, the more people it will attract."
The money from selling lanternss this time was far more than expected. If this money were used to put a bounty on Aether, it would surely attract many people.
"Hmm, but what if someone who looks very similar to your brother appears? Wouldn't that cause trouble for them?"
Paimon asked with some concern. If an innocent passerby who looked very much like Aether appeared, and those eyeing the bounty accidentally mistook them for Aether, what would happen?
"How is that possible? Such things can be clarified with a simple question. Besides, how could there be such a coincidence? I don't believe it."
The features of Aether she drew on the bounty notice were so obvious, how could anyone mistake them? She didn't believe it.
"Alright, let's arrange it according to your request. However, that Treasure Hoarders member just mentioned a name I've never heard before. It sounds like... Sister Ying. This person has established a new gang in Liyue Harbor, and it seems to be quite powerful."
"Hmm, and she's also a Vision wielder, very strong. I wonder what kind of person she is. I hope the Millelith can catch this dangerous individual quickly."
Behind the prosperity of Liyue Harbor, there are still people operating in the shadows, constantly posing a threat to the peace of Liyue Harbor.
Fortunately, with the efforts of the Seven Stars of Liyue and the Millelith, otherwise Liyue Harbor would surely become a chaotic mess.
"Speaking of which, who do you think the title 'Sister Ying' refers to? Could it be Miss Ying'er?"
Ying'er, she is the owner of the Scented Vase and a famous perfumer in Liyue Harbor. She is... how should I put it? A very strong-willed person.
They met while helping to prepare for the Rite of Descension. This person was rather enthusiastic in a certain sense, but also a bit... a bit too strong-willed.
Every time she spoke, she would deliberately steer the conversation in strange directions, making Lumine exclaim that the "speed" was too fast and she couldn't handle it.
"It shouldn't be her. Miss Ying'er has been in Liyue Harbor for so long, and there's no possibility of her recruiting others."
Ying'er clearly doesn't have the personality to lead others, and combined with her businesses in Liyue Harbor, this possibility is almost zero.
"Then could it be White Oriole?"
"Idiot Paimon, that's even more impossible. White Oriole is one of us. She's almost always in the villa every day, how could she have time to do other things?"
Lumine almost immediately dismissed this possibility. As a member of the villa, although not fully understood, she knew quite a bit about White Oriole.
How could White Oriole do such a thing? She is Miss Durandal's person. This possibility is very low no matter how you think about it, even to the point of being impossible.
"What do you mean 'Idiot Paimon'? I just mentioned people I know whose names contain 'Ying'. Paimon also thinks White Oriole is unlikely, don't you dare think Paimon is an idiot."
The two chatting didn't notice that when they mentioned White Oriole, Miss Durandal subtly glanced at them.
Although Miss Durandal wasn't entirely sure if the person they were referring to was White Oriole, judging by White Oriole's recent actions, the possibility was not low.
However, she had already given White Oriole permission; as long as she didn't commit evil, she could use her free time to do what she wanted.
As long as her actions weren't aimed at destroying the peace of Liyue Harbor, Miss Durandal couldn't be bothered with what she wanted to do.
"Hey, is the 'Sister Ying' mentioned by those Treasure Hoarders the White Oriole from home?"
Venti suddenly leaned close to Miss Durandal's ear and whispered.
With thousands of years of experience, she had thought of this possibility after seeing a subtle change in Miss Durandal's expression.
Miss Durandal didn't answer, but Venti had already understood the answer from her reaction and playfully snuggled against Miss Durandal.
"Don't worry, since White Oriole is your person, she's also my person. Although I don't know what she wants to do, I won't betray my own people."
"...I don't know what you're talking about. And don't hold my hand, let go quickly."
"No~ way~ If you hate it, you can just shake me off. As long as you shake me off, I won't hug you, how about it? Hurry up and act."
"...You, lately, haven't you become more and more arrogant?"
Miss Durandal looked at Venti with a slight headache. This guy had been getting more and more boisterous lately, always deliberately saying such things.
The key was that after seeing this guy's smile, she didn't even have the slightest thought of taking action, which was truly a headache.
Seeing Miss Durandal make no move, Venti's smile grew brighter and brighter. She pressed her body tightly against Miss Durandal and whispered in a very faint voice.
"I love you the most, Durandal."
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