"A… a person from the underground?"
Hearing those words, Paimon instinctively felt something was off.
"Just follow me. You'll understand once we get there."
Childe smiled faintly, turned around, and walked off without offering any further explanation.
"Let's go. We'll follow him."
Lumine made her decision quickly.
She didn't care whether it was someone from the underground or not.
As long as they could really break the deadlock, that was enough.
Paimon nodded, not saying anything more, and followed along with Lumine and Klee.
Before long, the group arrived at Liuli Pavilion.
"An honor to welcome you again, Lord Childe. Our humble establishment is graced by your presence.
A private room has already been prepared—Mr. Zhongli is waiting inside."
The attendant at the entrance spoke respectfully.
"Didn't expect you to be so well-connected."
Paimon teased him.
"I forgot to mention— I'm a Fatui Harbinger, codename Childe.
So having a bit of face around here isn't surprising."
Childe smiled slightly, no longer hiding his identity.
"You're with the Fatui?!"
Paimon's eyes widened in shock.
She clearly hadn't expected the person who tried to save them to be from that group.
Lumine immediately raised her guard as well.
Having stayed in Mondstadt before, she knew very well that the Fatui were anything but simple.
Who knew if helping them earlier was part of some hidden scheme?
"I never attacked you—if anything, I helped you."
Childe spread his hands helplessly.
"Since we're already here, let's go in and see what's going on."
With that, he took the lead and walked inside.
After hesitating for a moment, Lumine followed.
Inside the Private Room
"Let me introduce everyone.
This gentleman here is the person I mentioned earlier—the one from the underground.
He is a consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Mr. Zhongli."
"As for these two, they are the Traveler and Paimon."
Childe briefly introduced both sides.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
Paimon looked Zhongli up and down, puzzled.
It sounded like a very strange organization.
And just like Boss Han, this man also seemed to enjoy drinking tea.
"A pleasure to meet you both. I've heard of your exploits.
As for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—it oversees funeral rites, its purpose being to send the departed off in peace."
Zhongli smiled gently as he explained.
During the Rite of Descension, he had been hidden among the crowd at Yujing Terrace and had already seen them.
He simply hadn't expected to meet them here.
"What made you think of inviting me today?"
Sitting beside Zhongli, Childe asked curiously.
Usually, either Zhongli sent the bill to the Northland Bank, or Childe himself treated him to a meal.
Zhongli inviting him was a first.
"Ahem."
Zhongli cleared his throat and slid a bill across the table.
"What's this?"
Childe picked it up and glanced at it—
"Solace Book House invoice:
Reading fee—100,000 Mora.
Interest—100,000 Mora?!"
Childe froze.
…What the hell?!
He'd thought Zhongli invited him out to welcome him after getting out of the Millelith.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect a bill instead.
And what was with the interest?!
Since when did reading manga incur interest?!
"Boss Han's invoice?"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged looks, equally confused.
At the bookstore, payment was always made before reading.
When did credit even become an option?
They didn't quite understand, but chose to stay quiet and continue spectating.
"Mr. Zhongli, starting with a bill like this isn't exactly appropriate, is it?"
Childe laughed bitterly.
The money itself wasn't an issue—200,000 Mora was nothing to him.
He'd paid far more before.
But the timing felt very wrong.
"By common rationality, you are correct."
Zhongli nodded calmly.
"How about this, then—we make a wager?"
He set down his teacup and smiled.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
Childe's interest was piqued.
"We'll play rock–paper–scissors. Ten rounds.
If I lose even a single round, I'll agree to one condition of yours.
Since you brought them here, I assume you have a request."
Zhongli said with an easy smile.
"Rock–paper–scissors?"
Childe's mouth twitched.
He knew the game—it was something children in Liyue often played.
But hearing such words come from someone as refined and erudite as Zhongli…
Didn't that feel wrong somehow?
At that moment, Childe felt Zhongli's entire aesthetic had gone crooked.
Still, after giving it some thought, Childe decided the bet was acceptable.
Rock–paper–scissors was practically a pure game of luck.
Skill didn't matter at all.
In ten rounds, winning more than five already counted as being lucky— winning every round was impossible.
From Childe's perspective, there was simply no way he could lose.
With that in mind, he smiled.
"Alright. I accept."
Then he turned confidently toward Lumine and the others.
"Wait here for a bit. Once I win, I'll have Mr. Zhongli take you to break the deadlock."
Seeing Childe agree, Zhongli continued smiling.
"Since it's a wager, there must be a chance for me to win as well.
If I win, then from now on, all similar invoices will be paid by the Northland Bank."
"No problem. I agree."
Childe waved his hand dismissively.
A bet like this? He couldn't possibly lose.
He couldn't even imagine a scenario where he would lose.
He even suspected that Zhongli might be deliberately helping him.
However—
In the not-too-distant future…
Childe would regret this wager more than anything.
He would regret ever agreeing to it.
"Come on, Mr. Zhongli. I'm ready."
Childe was getting excited.
Winning against Zhongli in a game like this felt strangely satisfying.
"Very well."
Zhongli smiled faintly and took out a small box—
The Rock–Paper–Scissors Box, a reward he had obtained not long ago from the manga shop.
"You're using that?"
Childe froze.
He had assumed Zhongli would play personally.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"N-No… not at all. Let's use that."
Childe shook his head.
But as he stared at the unfamiliar object in Zhongli's hand, an inexplicable sense of unease crept into his heart.
Somehow…
It felt like he might lose.
—------------------------------
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