An Abyss Order base outside Mondstadt.
The boy on the throne frowned. Though many Abyss affairs tugged at him, what weighed most on Aether's heart was his sister.
A whole month had passed with no contact from Lumine. He was very worried.
"Your Highness…"
"We sent people quietly into Mondstadt to reach your blood kin, but… she was either at the Knights or… at that specialty shop."
"We even released bait—news about you—to lure her over, but she ignored it. Worse… the floating creature at her side went to the Knights to report our whereabouts."
The Abyss Mage spoke, involuntarily rubbing his waist.
If not for his quick wits and faster feet, his old legs might've been broken. That hateful floating creature… One day it must be stewed to vent his anger.
"You're saying Lumine ignored news about me?"
Aether seized on the point.
From what he knew, since awakening, Lumine had been searching for him. She wouldn't pass up any clue.
Now she ignored it?
"Correct… Your blood kin did ignore it."
Seeing Aether's wounded look, the mage still delivered the cruel truth, feeling it all rather odd.
They were a loving family…
He didn't understand His Highness. Why not just bring the kin to the Abyss and make her the Abyssal Princess?
Why force her to run herself ragged across the lands to find him?
Now that the blood kin had found happiness and was stepping into marriage, His Highness was the one seeking her out again. Hard to fathom.
"You said she often goes to a specialty shop. What's the story there?"
Aether clutched his chest, increasingly doubting his earlier thinking.
Had he been wrong?
Maybe she didn't know his identity in advance, and maybe saying marriage wasn't to provoke him…
But… she was really getting married?
At that thought, the air of the base felt stale. His chest tightened.
Even if she was getting married, wouldn't she invite her big brother to the banquet?
"The Mondstadt Specialty Shop belongs to the man with the Great Foresight—Ken, the one who foretold Stormterror. Your blood kin is very close to him."
The mage trailed off, realizing something off.
Eh?
"Your Highness, I suspect that Ken is your blood kin's marriage partner—your brother-in-law."
The Abyss Mage, thinking himself clever, pronounced.
He'd had doubts. Why was His Highness's blood kin staying at that shop every day? With this angle, everything clicked.
That was her fiancé's place; living there made sense.
The mage bounced slightly, awaiting praise.
"Silence!"
"Keep digging. Find out what Lumine is actually doing!"
Aether ground his teeth, itching to kick him.
His sweet, kind little sister suddenly saying she was getting married… If she wasn't deliberately tricking him, then… she'd been deceived by some man.
Why else upset the plan to find him?
Aether always thought himself smart.
But now everything felt like a tangled skein.
And the thought of his cute sister being deceived in love—stabbed his heart.
…
At the Adventurers' Guild.
After strolling Mondstadt's lovely streets, Ken reached the nearby Guild, eyeing a notice board plastered with commissions.
[Clear leaves at Dawn Winery; deliver takeout to Springvale…]
These familiar requests brought back memories of being dominated in his past life.
Never mind Springvale takeout… but was Diluc really not hiring two more maids?
"Ad astra abyssosque!"
"Welcome, Mr. Ken, to the Adventurers' Guild. Do you have a commission to post?"
Seeing Ken, Katheryne smiled.
Ken looked at her.
Though Katheryne was a bionic puppet, she was beloved by Genshin players. People checked in with her daily.
"I need about 50 kilograms of crystal ore. Commission price: 200,000 Mora."
He couldn't be bothered asking how she knew him. His photo was at the Knights—no longer a secret.
Katheryne recorded it with a smile. "Mr. Ken, your commission has been logged."
"Thanks." He nodded, paid the handling fee, and didn't linger.
Just as he left, a purple figure entered, staring after him.
"Dear Miss Katheryne, who was that visitor? Why does he seem so familiar to this Prinzessin? Is it fate's guidance from beyond the veil?"
With proud, haughty tone, Fischl strode in, head held high.
Seeing the girl's prim posture, Katheryne felt a touch helpless. "He's Mr. Ken, savior of Mondstadt. He wants crystal ore."
Fischl lit up. "What? The dawn light beaming through overcast clouds? This Prinzessin has beheld his visage not once, upon the high walls at night when none—"
"My lady means she often sneaks to the Knights' wall at night to admire Mr. Ken's portrait," Oz translated.
Katheryne: "…"
"As a fellow noble light of morning, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung will show the Evernight Garden's goodwill," Fischl declared.
Oz: "She'll take the commission."
"Hmm?" Katheryne was surprised. "Fischl, taking a mining order?"
Though communication with Fischl was… challenging, her investigative ability was superb—a top Guild investigator.
Mining was unrelated.
Fischl huffed, "We are both outlanders who met in the land of wind and freedom. This Prinzessin answers fate's call and shall extend the Evernight Garden's sincerity. Rejoice, citizens of Mondstadt, to share in the radiance of her will."
"She admires Ken a bit and will mine to show goodwill," Oz relayed.
"Oz!!" Fischl yelped, blushing. "Don't spout nonsense. I just want to see Blue Star!"
Oz: "Mm-hmm."
Katheryne: "…"
Knowing Fischl's intent, Katheryne still handed her the commission.
Though chuunibyou and tsundere, Fischl was steady and reliable in work.
…
Blue Star.
After posting at the Guild, Ken returned to Magic City. As he stepped to his company's door, excited shouts came from inside.
"What's got you so happy?"
He walked over and saw Hana hollering at the computer screen.
On it—Genshin Impact.
"Boss, from yesterday's public launch to now… Genshin's downloads have surpassed 20 million! The revenue is amazing!"
Hana Bunny shifted so Ken could see the data.
Klee's banner had just gone up; gacha numbers were surging. Even the standard banner was doing well.
"Little Klee is too cute… I also recharged 648 to bring her home!" Hana gushed. "Also, who's next for the banner?"
"Venti next. The PV team has the cut ready. Everyone can relax a few days."
After such a crunch, even a draft animal needs rest.
After a brief meeting, Ken studied growth curves and trending topics.
Domestic and overseas chatter was hot.
Many complained that some chests and oculus were in cursed spots, but gripes aside, they played with gusto.
Especially after pulling Klee; plenty posted "la-la-la" running clips, stirring envy.
After all.
Guides sprouted too. After a single night, those creators had gained loads of traffic.
One thing annoyed Ken: many players weren't playing seriously—they were doxing him.
The real culprit was Star Dome's promotional character videos: each featured a top Cosplayer.
And those Cosplayer were all close to him.
Cue envy and hate.
"If the players learned those Cosplayer are the actual characters… would they storm my place with knives…"
He coughed, a bit mischievous.
When future events roll out, he could add himself as an NPC to see their reactions.
With that thought, he downloaded Genshin himself.
When invitees arrived later, the game would be handy.
…
Busy hours flew.
With core staff on break, Ken had more to watch himself.
Before he knew it, dawn came.
An all-nighter didn't faze him now. After breakfast and confirming no issues, he drove home.
"La la la! Daddy! Klee's here! Daddy, hug!"
He'd barely arrived when little Klee came through the Vortex Gate.
He crouched to scoop her up, rubbing her cheeks. "Have you had breakfast? If not, Daddy will cook."
"No, I want Daddy's breakfast!" Klee pecked his cheek with a smack.
"Then Daddy will cook." He set Klee down. "Is the Knights' work busy? Be careful when clearing Hilichurl camps."
Klee put hands on hips, proud. "Don't worry, Daddy! Klee is super strong! Though Klee's bombs aren't as good as Daddy's… which made Klee a little sad. But Daddy coming to Mondstadt to see Klee makes me super happy."
... ..... ...
After returning from clearing camps, Klee had heard Ken visited the Knights to see her and was overjoyed.
Before, she always came to Blue Star. Ken hadn't gone to Teyvat.
For Klee, that was a pity.
"No worries. Daddy will visit Mondstadt from time to time."
He chopped shrimp to make her breakfast.
He'd once been too lazy to cook, but after having a daughter, he found cooking for her fun. Having a daughter was truly sweet.
"Really? Yay! Then can Daddy teach Klee to make bombs? We'll use the new Jumpy Dumpty to fish—so many fish!"
Thinking of the new bomb's power, Klee spun in delight.
If they tossed it into Cider Lake… they'd get tons of fish, right?
Afraid he'd refuse, Klee hugged his leg after spinning, big eyes brimming with hope.
"Of course. After breakfast, Daddy will explain the principles. But we can't use it in Mondstadt… We'll do it in Liyue. There's a weird big fish there—with several heads."
He bent to touch foreheads and smiled.
If they dropped one in Cider Lake… ahem, Jean would have a headache.
"Yippee!"
Klee cheered and waited for breakfast.
He picked fresh mushrooms, mixed with minced shrimp, stirred with egg white, then put it in the steamer.
Soon, fragrant seafood custard was ready.
Klee ate happily, little legs swinging, eyes squinting in contentment.
After the meal, he took her to the villa's third floor.
It was spacious and uncluttered—perfect for bomb research.
"Daddy will first explain the bomb's principles…"
He wasn't sure she could learn it—she was still young, far from full constellation.
But if she wanted to learn, he'd teach.
After about half an hour, Klee decided to try hands-on.
Watching her carefully assemble a bomb, Ken filmed a short clip to add fuel to Klee's trending fire.
After posting, he opened the Invitation Gate.
With Klee here, it wasn't convenient to head to Teyvat. He'd invite guests over—and get a free draw.
"Who will it be?"
Since the Liyue region was already built in the game, the system had unlocked Liyue invitations.
He was excited to see who'd come.
…
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