"This phone truly is remarkable… I wonder how it'll be priced."
Cloud Retainer studied the image, aided by the diary's built-in comprehension.
Even she—who never lost in mechanical arts—felt genuine admiration.
"If this spreads, Shenhe should be done training with Ganyu by then."
"She can go down the mountain."
Just like that, Shenhe had been assigned another task.
The other diary holders were equally excited.
The phone's value—civilian or military—was enormous.
Imagine spotting a massive hilichurl camp and reporting it instantly.
Or the Adventurers' Guild issuing commissions by phone.
Still, everyone could tell—
Lin Ze intended this partnership for Ningguang.
No one else tried to interfere.
Most people were thinking about how to contact Lin Ze later…
build rapport…
seek cooperation.
Especially the Tsaritsa.
So what if Liyue got there first?
She could always poach him.
Morax hadn't made his stance clear yet.
If he did, then it would be difficult.
After all—she was only a second-generation Archon.
"Hmm? It's already night?"
Lin Ze finally noticed the sky darkening.
"No wonder—I didn't even feel hungry."
"But why hasn't Ningguang come yet?"
That didn't make sense.
If Ningguang knew he had something like this, she should've rushed over immediately.
"Don't tell me they're still running at full capacity?"
He frowned.
"Didn't she say not to underestimate the Qixing?"
After some thought, Lin Ze used his divine perception.
And instantly fell silent.
The Ministry was slammed.
The Jade Chamber too.
Ningguang's eyes were red—clearly sleep-deprived.
Keqing, surprisingly, looked fine.
"…So it really is like that."
He sighed.
"Fine. I'll go myself."
In a blink, Lin Ze vanished—and reappeared in the Jade Chamber.
Ningguang was still working.
She took a drag from her pipe, dark circles painfully obvious.
"I thought you said not to underestimate the Qixing," Lin Ze said.
"What's going on? Was there never a time Ganyu was away before?"
Ningguang paused, startled.
"…Ah. Mister Lin Ze."
"There were," she replied calmly, already returning to her documents.
"But recently we formed a Gnosis-weapon research team."
"Personnel were transferred from the Ministry. New people aren't used to the workload yet."
"So we're pushing harder for now."
"In your diary's words—we raised the difficulty for everyone. Including ourselves."
"Once this passes and Ganyu returns, it'll stabilize."
"But the workload stays high."
"She deserves some rest."
Lin Ze's mouth twitched.
Buffing yourself like this was something else.
Especially coming from Ningguang.
Keqing doing it would've made sense.
"But you haven't checked today's diary yet, have you?"
"I read before bed. Not today's."
"Besides, you've been playing with Cloud Retainer's mechanisms all week."
"…Even wrote 'continuing to slack off' yesterday."
She answered casually—clearly distracted.
Yet it proved something important.
She did read the diary every day.
Lin Ze exhaled.
"…Impressive. Truly."
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