[Tighnari: In this situation, do the gods of Inazuma not plan to let their people explore the stars?]
[Alhaitham: If that's the case, it's truly regrettable. If the knowledge from beyond the stars is all obtained by the Fatui, it won't be a good thing for us either.]
[Nahida: But knowledge from outside the stars is not necessarily beneficial to Teyvat. Traveling there arbitrarily might bring forbidden knowledge.]
[Grand Sage Azar: Hmph! Since Lord Takagi can use his power in Teyvat, it proves his power is allowed to exist here. Therefore, exploring the stars is not forbidden!]
[Nahida: ...]
[Grand Sage Azar: Lord Takagi, Sumeru is willing to arrange personnel to go with you. Please come to Sumeru for a meeting.]
[Ningguang: In any case, we cannot allow only the Fatui to go. Lord Takagi, Liyue is also willing to arrange personnel to join you. Please forgive us for not being able to arrive in Mondstadt in time due to the distance. If you are willing to come to Liyue, we are prepared to pay more.]
[Hu Tao: Well, I'm just asking—if I travel with Lord Takagi, can I do business in that place called Belobog?]
[Xingqiu: Doing Wangsheng Funeral Parlor business in other worlds... perhaps not. You might be resented by the locals.]
[Zhongli: In terms of universal rationality, it's better not to do so.]
[Hu Tao: Zhongli, are you really my consultant? Why aren't you on my side!]
[Grand Master Varka: In the nation of Mondstadt, there are still people willing to explore the stars; the Fatui shouldn't need to join in the fun.]
"Lord Takagi, I think there may also be people in the Knights of Favonius who are willing to go with you," Acting Grand Master Jean said with a serious expression. "Why don't we make a list of those interested and give it to you? Then you can make a decision."
As the Acting Grand Master, Jean naturally couldn't allow La Signora and the Fatui to act unchecked. Coupled with the fact that Grand Master Varka had spoken up, Jean was more than willing to step forward.
"You people..." La Signora frowned, looking at Jean and the others with displeasure.
On the other hand, Takagi's mouth curved slightly upward; he was quite happy. He saw the forum messages and never expected that a few words from La Signora would drive so many people to board his train. Gradually, he felt that La Signora was becoming useful—not nearly as annoying as when he played Genshin Impact.
"I'm very happy to see everyone so enthusiastic. I don't plan to leave Mondstadt immediately, so there's no need to rush these five passenger spots. Miss La Signora, Acting Grand Master Jean, I'll trouble you to summarize the potential passengers. I will randomly select five from that list. If there are fewer than five, I will select from the forum. But I must remind you: if you are going to the universe to embark on a Path, you need to choose people with high enough potential. For example, my suggestion is those who possess a Vision."
Takagi paused, then turned to Lumine: "Of course, special people like you, Lumine, are also fine."
[Alhaitham: Do we need to satisfy Mondstadt and La Signora before they consider us?]
[Grand Sage Azar: Isn't this a bit unfair?]
[Zhongli: Fairness is determined by Lord Takagi himself. I think he is considering that since he is in Mondstadt, he should give them more opportunities.]
[Azar: You! How can you say such things? Since you are not Lord Takagi, don't speak for him so presumptuously!]
[Zhongli: ...]
[Venti: This Azar really dares to speak, ehe!]
[Azar: Noisy bard, shut your mouth.]
[Venti: ...]
[Ei: You are the noisy one.]
[Azar: I just said what should be said. The person who finds me noisy is the one with the problem.]
[Ei: ...]
[Yae Miko: Amazing, truly amazing.]
[Takagi: Zhongli is right. Since I am in Mondstadt, I naturally need to consider the people in front of me first. Also, Azar, I think it's best for you to say less. Otherwise, something very terrible might happen to you.]
[Azar: Terrible thing? I am the Grand Sage of Sumeru. Lord Takagi, you worry too much. Compared to this, are you really not considering letting people from Sumeru ride your train?]
[Takagi: Hehe, maybe another time.]
Since Grand Sage Azar liked dancing on a tightrope, Takagi had no choice. As for inviting Azar onto the Astral Express? Forget it. There were plenty of better people to invite.
"Well then, think about it carefully, Lumine. Acting Grand Master Jean, La Signora, prepare your lists. For now, I'll trouble Miss Lisa to show me around Mondstadt," Takagi said.
"No problem, please follow me," Lisa smiled, inviting Takagi forward.
Just then, a clear voice rang out. "Sister! Everyone, are you all alright?"
Takagi looked over and saw a girl with blonde twin-tails running over quickly.
"Barbara, how did you end up here too?" Jean asked as Barbara stopped in front of her, panting.
"I wanted to see with my own eyes if everyone was alright." Barbara took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over Jean, Diluc, Paimon, and Lumine. "Strange, where's that green bard?"
Because the live stream started late, Barbara hadn't heard Dvalin address Venti, nor had she seen Venti display his power. She still considered him a normal person caught up in the incident—as did most people watching the stream.
"As for Venti, he disappeared. Honestly, who knows what that guy is thinking," Paimon said, hands on her hips.
"Disappeared? What about the Holy Lyre der Himmel? Where is it now?" Barbara asked anxiously.
"Hey, don't look at me like that! I don't know where it is!" Paimon said, waving her hands. Lumine added, "Don't look at me either!"
Barbara turned to Jean and Diluc. Jean admitted, "I don't know either," and Diluc noted, "I remember it was in that bard's hands earlier."
"How can this be? Where is he!" Barbara became even more anxious. She had seen a damaged harp in the stream and confirmed the real Holy Lyre was missing from the church.
Takagi spoke up. "As for the Holy Lyre der Himmel... is it this thing?"
A damaged harp appeared in his hand.
"The Holy Lyre!" Barbara exclaimed, snatching it from him. After confirming it was damaged, she knelt on the ground in despair. "Lord Barbatos, even if I spend the rest of my life praying, I can never atone for this."
"Heh, what an interesting scene," La Signora sneered.
"Takagi, how did it end up with you?" Paimon asked. Lumine suggested, "I remember Venti put it on the table in the train earlier. Did he forget it, and you stored it in your space along with the train?"
"I think that guy deliberately left it there," Takagi smiled.
"Ah... that does seem like something he would do," Paimon agreed. Diluc and Jean just shook their heads.
"Miss Barbara, do you hope to repair the Holy Lyre?" Takagi squatted down and asked.
"Huh?! Repair it? You... can you do that?!" Barbara looked up, her energy returning.
"What I mean is, if you step onto the Path of Abundance, the Holy Lyre might be repaired. If you want to fix it, perhaps you can come with me to the stars and try. You might gain the power to restore it." Takagi's voice was full of temptation.
Barbara hugged the lyre tightly. "The Path of Abundance can repair it?"
"Takagi, didn't you say Abundance is the power of healing?" Lisa asked curiously. Jean added, "Healing people shouldn't be able to repair objects."
"I never said the power of Abundance could only heal living beings. For inanimate objects, it can also be useful," Takagi said.
Lisa and Jean looked at each other in surprise.
"Can dead things be 'healed'?" Paimon floated up to Takagi's shoulder. "Dead things don't have life. How could they be healed? You're not bragging, are you?"