The perspective shifts to the Traveler, who has just arrived outside Liyue Harbor and has already activated the Waypoint.
"Finally here? I've been waiting for you for a long time." A voice rang out.
Lumine turned around and noticed a young girl sitting atop a pile of rocks.
"Mona?" Charlotte recognized the girl—it was indeed Mona.
Since Lumine had encountered Xiangling on the way and spent a few days gathering ingredients and participating in a competition, Mona had actually arrived in Liyue before her.
"Oh? Reporter Charlotte." Mona was slightly surprised.
The Traveler was an outlander, making her movements inherently difficult to predict, so Mona hadn't bothered to divine the whereabouts of those accompanying her.
Mona frequently published articles in The Steambird, so she had naturally been interviewed by Charlotte before.
"You two know each other?" Paimon asked.
Charlotte introduced herself, and only then did Lumine and Xiangling realize that Mona was a highly skilled astrologist.
"Through hydromancy, I deduced the identity of that little girl from Mondstadt—she turned out to be the descendant of my master's rival."
"So, naturally, I can't lose to her. Lumine, come with me to Mondstadt, okay? Consider this my commission to an adventurer."
Mona revealed her goal: she wanted to surpass that little girl from Mondstadt.
See? Your 'Honorary Knight of Mondstadt' is my disciple!
"But we just got to Liyue…" Paimon hesitated.
"The reward won't be small!" Mona had just received her manuscript payment and was still flush with money.
"Reward! Lumine, let's go back for a bit! We've already activated the Waypoint anyway." Paimon immediately switched sides.
Unable to withstand Paimon's insistence, Lumine reluctantly agreed to the proposal.
"Then I'll wait for you at Wanmin Restaurant. Don't forget to come find me!" Xiangling said.
"I'll also head into Liyue to organize my notes. I'll look for you when you return." Charlotte added.
Along the way, she had already learned the full story of Mondstadt's dragon crisis from Lumine and now planned to compile the information for The Steambird.
She had no intention of returning to Fontaine just yet, as she happened to arrive in time for Liyue's "Rite of Descension." It would be a shame not to document it.
With that, the group went their separate ways.
===✧✦✧===
Now, let's return to Lucian.
Furina's meeting with The Knave had concluded, but The Knave had also invited Lucian to The House of the Hearth for a conversation.
"Lucian, are you really going?" Furina was worried about him, her ahoge swaying left and right.
That The Knave was a ruthless killer—wasn't it too dangerous to go to her territory?
"Don't worry, nothing will happen." Lucian reassured her.
If The Knave had invited him elsewhere, it might have been questionable, but The House of the Hearth was likely safe.
This was her "home."
Taking action here would be tantamount to announcing to the world that the Fatui had killed the "Prophet."
After all, Lucian wasn't just anyone—he was the world-renowned "Prophet."
Most importantly, while Lucian couldn't defeat Arlecchino, he had the Waypoints to escape.
I'll just teleport to Liyue. Good luck chasing me on horseback.
Upon arriving at The House of the Hearth, things unfolded just as Lucian expected—Arlecchino made no move against him.
She invited him inside, where he finally met Lyney and Lynette.
However, it was only a brief encounter. After serving tea to Lucian and Arlecchino, they left.
"Mr. Lucian, some words cannot be spoken plainly in front of a god."
"Now, I ask—how much do you truly know about my story and experiences?" Arlecchino stared at Lucian as she spoke.
Lucian knew that to deceive someone, you couldn't rely entirely on riddles—you had to offer some vague information as well.
So, Lucian uttered two words and a name: "Crimson Moon… and Clervie."
Arlecchino's pupils constricted slightly, but her expression and posture remained unchanged.
The mere mention of Clervie's name earned Lucian an [Emotional Value Obtained].
Arlecchino crossed her legs, interlacing her fingers over her knee, her right index finger tapping lightly.
"Prophet Lucian… your value far exceeds what I imagined."
"Her Majesty's judgment was correct. Recruiting you into the Fatui would be a wise decision."
"Therefore, I, Arlecchino, extend to you an official invitation on behalf of the Tsaritsa."
"Will you join the Fatui as one of the Harbingers? Her Majesty will bestow upon you a new 'name'—and power."
Lucian fell into thought. While his actions of altering fate were, in a sense, already an act of rebellion against the Heavenly Principles…
So far, he had only sought to save those overlooked by the gods' gaze. He hadn't yet considered openly conspiring to overthrow the Heavenly Principles like the Tsaritsa.
Toppling the Heavenly Principles might be a fine idea, but Lucian had little interest in joining the Fatui—he really didn't want to be colleagues with Dottore.
The other Harbingers were tolerable—ruthless in their methods, but still human.
But The Doctor Dottore? He wasn't just ruthless—he barely did anything remotely human.
Come to think of it, this guy had even experimented on The Knave—part of Arlecchino's abilities stemmed from a "curse."
Among them was "flame," not Pyro from a Vision, but flames of unknown origin.
If Dottore researched this, he might very well burn the Irminsul tree when the Tsaritsa raises her banner of rebellion.
Teyvat's stars record the future, while Irminsul records the past—both could very well be creations of the Heavenly Principles.
If the Fatui rebel against the Heavenly Principles and Irminsul is indeed their creation, burning it becomes a likely possibility.
"I'll need some time to consider." Lucian neither refused nor accepted.
Even if he didn't want to become a Harbinger, they might still ally in the future.
"Is that so?" Arlecchino showed no reaction, her tone as calm as ever.
"A pity, Mr. Lucian. It seems we won't be working together."
"However, the doors of The House of the Hearth will always be open to you."
Arlecchino stood up and opened the door for Lucian—a clear gesture of dismissal.
Lucian didn't linger. He smiled at Lynette outside before taking his leave.
"Father… is Mr. Lucian's ability real?" Lyney asked Arlecchino after Lucian left.
Arlecchino nodded. If he knew of Crimson Moon and Clervie, then even if he wasn't a prophet, he was no ordinary man.
"Do your best to maintain a good relationship with Mr. Lucian, Lyney." Arlecchino specially instructed him.
In her vision of the future, time might be running short.
Lyney… you will be the next Knave, the next Father, the next King.
"Understood, Father." Lyney nodded.
The Knave said no more and returned inside.
Lyney… your path to becoming King will not be the same as mine.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice-Over: The Knave – About Lucian
"A fascinating ability. Not only can he foresee the future, but he's also intimately familiar with the pasts of others… Hmm. With such knowledge, he must know many stories. Perhaps he could tell them to the children."