"Welcome! Would you like to read a manga?
It's 100,000 Mora per person, and you can only read once per day."
Noelle stepped forward to greet the new visitor.
"Manga? 100,000 Mora? And only once a day?"
Childe was completely stunned.
Was this a robbery?
Did the shopkeeper somehow know he was the manager of the Northland Bank, and was trying to fleece him for all he had?
If that was the case, then he was sure the price of any toy he wanted to buy would be even more outrageous.
Still, for his little brother's sake, he forced a polite smile and said:
"Miss, hello. I'm not interested in manga, but… are these toys for sale?"
"Toys?"
Noelle blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
This was the second strange customer she'd met today.
The first had been Hu Tao, the funeral parlor's hall master— who came not to read manga, but to advertise her own business.
If not for the boss stopping her, Noelle might have been convinced to "try the service."
And now here came another oddball— not for manga, but asking to buy the figurines.
What next? Someone wanting to buy the entire store?
"You mean… they're not for sale?"
Seeing Noelle hesitate, Childe quickly added:
"If it's a matter of price, I can pay well!"
Noelle waved her hands hurriedly.
"No, it's not that. It's just… I'm only a maid here.
I don't have the authority to make that decision.
If you really want to buy one, you'll need to ask the owner.
He's right there, behind the counter."
She gestured toward the black-haired young man sipping tea.
"Ah, the boss?"
Following her gaze, Childe spotted Han Feng, looking calm and relaxed behind the counter.
"Thanks!"
He nodded politely, then strode over.
"Boss, how much for these toys? I can pay whatever you ask."
"Toys?"
Han Feng paused, setting down his teacup.
"You mean the figures?"
"Figures?"
Childe blinked. So that's what they were called.
But he quickly nodded.
"Right, those! If you're selling, I'll pay 10,000 Mora for one."
10,000 Mora wasn't a small sum in Liyue.
He figured it was a fair offer.
But when Han Feng shook his head, Childe assumed it wasn't enough.
So he kept raising the bid—
"Not enough? Then 20,000!"
"30,000?"
"50,000?"
"Fine! 100,000! That's my final offer!"
He clenched his teeth— all for his little brother, Tonia.
But even then, Han Feng still shook his head.
"Come on, boss—100,000 and you still won't sell? That's daylight robbery!"
"No, no," Han Feng chuckled, "what I mean is—they're not for sale."
Childe: (⊙_⊙)
So he'd been negotiating all that time… for nothing?!
"You could've said that earlier!"
Seeing Childe's exasperated face, Han Feng laughed.
"Although I don't sell them, you can obtain them another way— by reading manga."
"Reading manga to get a figure? You're running a raffle?"
Childe raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Not quite. Reading manga here gives you rewards.
Sometimes it's an item, sometimes a skill, sometimes even a powerful ability.
If you're lucky, you might get a figure— since they're characters from those manga."
"Reading manga gives rewards…? That sounds ridiculous—"
Childe frowned skeptically, but then froze.
He suddenly remembered earlier events—
The Qianyan Army mobilizing…
Keqing and Ganyu personally visiting this shop…
And this was their destination.
There was no way that was a coincidence.
"So that's what they were after!"
A spark of realization flashed in his eyes.
If that was true, everything made sense now.
And besides, 100,000 Mora was pocket change for him.
No harm in trying.
He placed a pouch of Mora on the counter.
"Boss, here's 100,000 Mora."
"The manga are on that shelf," Han Feng said with a polite smile.
Childe nodded and walked over.
The newly drawn Kabutoborg (Iron Kid Kabutoborg) manga was right on the front row,
so it caught his eye immediately.
"This one looks interesting…"
The red robot on the cover sparked his curiosity.
If he could bring back a toy like that for his brother, Tonia would love it.
Smiling to himself, he picked it up and walked deeper into the shop.
"Mr. Zhongli? You're here too?!"
His eyes lit up when he saw the familiar figure sitting in the corner.
He'd originally come to Liyue under the Tsaritsa's orders— to obtain the Geo Archon's Gnosis.
His plan had been to use Zhongli's deep knowledge and his position as a guest consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to get closer to the truth.
That's why he'd willingly played the role of Zhongli's "wallet."
But after spending time together, Childe had grown to genuinely respect him— even regard him as a friend.
"I heard this place's manga are quite mysterious," Zhongli said with a light smile.
"So I came to see for myself."
"Even you think so, Mr. Zhongli?!"
Childe's eyes widened slightly.
If Zhongli—a man of such vast wisdom—believed it, then this shop might really be something special.
The thought sent a thrill of excitement through him.
Without further delay, he found a seat and began reading.
"So that red guy's a robot?"
"Wait, robots eat food?"
"What's this 'Peace Star'? It's that powerful?!"
As he continued, Childe's astonishment grew.
The Peace Stars could not only enhance what they were attached to, but also grant a single wish.
"If I had something like that," he thought excitedly, "I could just use it to help Her Majesty the Tsaritsa achieve her goal!
Who'd need a Gnosis then?!"
The more he read, the more impressed he became.
Then he reached the transformation scene—
"Wait, Kabutoborg can transform too?
Huh? Why does his head come out of his butt?!"
Childe nearly dropped the book.
Was it him misunderstanding something— or were all robots designed like this?!
He shook his head, clearing the image from his mind, and continued reading.
He had to admit, the story was surprisingly captivating.
Before long, he was completely absorbed— a battle-hardened Harbinger lost in the world of childhood adventure.
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