Inside an elegant room, everyone sat down as Ken brewed a pot of tea for them.
Of them all, Hu Tao was the most excited.
Beidou spent most of her life at sea. Danger was inevitable, and it wasn't uncommon for sailors to perish in the waves. A sailor's final resting place might be the ocean, but they also had a homeland.
After Hu Tao's persistent persuasion, she and Beidou reached a deal:
Should any crew member need a funeral in the future, the Crux Fleet would turn to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Sister Beidou, you're so straightforward! If you need anything, just say the word. As long as it's within our power, we'll do our best to help."
Hu Tao thumped her flat chest proudly, making a thock-thock sound.
Hearing it, Ken instinctively glanced at her. The girl was striking—pretty face, long legs—yet the flat land left something lacking.
Hu Tao noticed his gaze, confused at first. She looked down at herself, then at the towering figure beside her—Beidou. Realization dawned, and she fell silent.
Ridiculous.
She'd never thought of being flat as a flaw before… but standing next to Beidou, Hu Tao's back shrank inward in embarrassment.
Like comparing grapes to peaches.
Luckily, Beidou hadn't noticed Hu Tao's discomfort. She looked at Ken and spoke candidly:
"I came here today by Yuheng Qixing's recommendation. I want to strike a large export deal with Mr. Ken. How much of these specialties could you produce within a month?"
The Crux Fleet was famed across Liyue. Each voyage carried massive amounts of cargo. Buying thousands of each item from Ken's shop would be nothing to them.
"Name a number, Captain Beidou." Ken sipped his tea unhurriedly.
Backed by Blue Star's technology, producing tens of thousands of goods would be trivial—just a matter of time and money. And since Genshin's launch, he wasn't short on funds.
So, if there was a chance to make mora, why refuse? After dining at Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk, Ken felt the urge to earn even more.
"Oh? Ten thousand units of each food and drink in your shop—how about that?" Beidou asked expectantly.
"That's fine. But a deposit is required," Ken replied.
"Of course. Liyue is a land that values contracts. I'll pay 20% up front. How's that?" Beidou agreed easily. Though she often flouted rules, in business she honored her word.
Ken looked toward Zhongli. "Then let Consultant Zhongli bear witness."
"Certainly."
Beidou smiled at Zhongli. She had heard of him long before—an interesting man she'd wanted to befriend. She hadn't expected to meet him here.
With Zhongli as witness, Ken and Beidou signed their contract, agreeing to prepare the goods within a month.
"Sister Beidou, let me walk you out."
As Beidou prepared to leave, Hu Tao hurried after her.
Outside the shop, Beidou asked, "If you have something to say, Director Hu, just say it."
Worldly and sharp, she could tell Hu Tao was holding something back.
"Hehe…" Hu Tao chuckled awkwardly, lowering her voice. "I just wanted to ask… what food should I eat to turn grapes into peaches?"
"Hm?" Beidou was baffled. Grapes into peaches? She had no research in plant mutation.
"I mean…" Hu Tao glanced down at her own flat chest, then at Beidou's peach-like curves, eyes sparkling with curiosity and hope.
Ehehe… if only she could become a peach too, then she'd be perfect.
Beidou: "…"
After rechecking Hu Tao's expression, Beidou finally understood. Even the mighty captain was momentarily at a loss. She hadn't expected the girl to ask that.
"…I've never thought about it. My suggestion? Ask Xiangling. She knows all about food—maybe she can help."
Thinking of Xiangling, Beidou's smile widened. Of all Liyue's youths, she liked that girl most. She'd once tricked Xiangling aboard her ship to cook, only to be blown away by her culinary talent. She had predicted then that Xiangling would one day be a famed chef of Liyue.
From then on, Xiangling often sailed with her, hunting exotic ingredients at sea.
"Right! I can ask Xiangling! Thanks, Sister Beidou!" Hu Tao's mood brightened instantly.
But as Beidou's figure vanished, Hu Tao realized something odd.
Wait—wasn't Xiangling a grape too?
If she really knew the secret, wouldn't she have transformed already?
"Sister Beidou?" Hu Tao called twice, but there was no answer. She sighed and headed back inside.
…
In a quiet alley of Feiyun Slope, Beidou chuckled wryly as she watched Hu Tao leave.
So the rumors were true—the Funeral Parlor's Director was whimsical indeed. Even she hadn't expected such a question.
"How'd it go, Captain?"
Her sailor, Xu Liushi, asked eagerly. He still longed for the taste of instant noodles. If the deal went through, they could eat to their hearts' content.
"The deal's done. The goods will be ready in a month," Beidou said firmly, striding through the night. "Come. Liyue's not peaceful tonight—we'd best not linger."
"Captain, what's that Mr. Ken fellow like? I heard he's young." This time, the female sailor Furong asked, curious. Surrounded by rough men all year, she was desperate for some eye candy whenever they docked.
Beidou stroked her chin. "Mm… very handsome, very young. A rare beauty. Refined, scholarly type."
"Wow!" Furong grinned. "Then why not drag him onto the ship, Captain? Make him our 'captive husband.' That way we'd have a steady supply of goods—and you'd have a bedwarmer!"
Beidou scowled. "Don't talk nonsense. Mr. Ken is a gentleman."
Yet, despite her words, Ken's face surfaced in her mind. Handsome indeed…
But kidnapping? No. The Crux Fleet might occasionally plunder Fatui ships, but abducting innocent men was out of the question.
As for the "bedwarmer" part—Beidou touched her chin and forced the thought away.
…
Magic City, Blue Star.
Venti was still snoring on the sofa.
"Carry him to a bed," Ken said dryly to Zhongli.
Having sealed the deal with Beidou, Zhongli wanted to check how Liyue's story unfolded—whether his plan's ripple matched his expectations.
Zhongli: "…"
With a faint golden glow, he lifted Venti with Geo energy and tossed him into a guest room.
Ken pulled up the main Liyue storyline on his tablet, handed it to Zhongli, and prepared to head to Mondstadt. He hadn't visited in days and missed Barbara. The dishes he'd packed from Xinyue Kiosk and Liuli Pavilion were perfect for her. He also wanted to check on Jean and Lisa.
After cleansing himself of wine and changing into Mondstadt-style clothes, he was ready to depart—
"Mm? So Ningguang would really sacrifice the Jade Chamber?" Zhongli's calm voice broke in.
The Jade Chamber was Ningguang's life's work. But Ken's prophecy showed her casting it down to destroy the sea monster Osial, awakened by Childe.
"How does it feel, seeing the future unfold?" Ken asked.
Zhongli's amber eyes remained placid. "By common reason, only great calamity reveals true nature. This trial is meant for the adepti and for Liyue. I will watch and see."
His answer didn't surprise Ken.
In the game too, Zhongli oversaw everything from the start. Childe's "schemes" never escaped his sight. Letting them play out, as he said, was simply a test for Liyue.
If, without their Archon, the adepti and Qixing couldn't unite to face disaster, then perhaps his retirement must be reconsidered.
Even with the prophecy, the future might shift due to Ken's interference. Zhongli wouldn't change his stance.
"What about that seafood problem?" Ken asked.
"The resentment from a slain god is immense," Zhongli frowned. "Until a method is found, Osial can only be suppressed."
"When the trial's over, if you want him dead, I can purify the remnants of his hatred," Ken said casually. He was eager to try out Siren's Aria on that big fish.
Zhongli raised a brow. "Purify?"
"Mm. If you're interested, tell me in advance. I'll help—on one condition: let my daughter have some fun. She loves blowing up fish." Ken's tone was serious.
Zhongli: "…"
Your daughter likes fried fish, so you'd hand her a god to blast apart? No wonder you get along with Alice.
Birds of a feather.
After a pause, Zhongli said, "Do you have time to visit Liyue again?"
"You want to test my purification? Fine. But whatever remains inside belongs to me."
Zhongli nodded slowly. "Then it's a contract."
"Those who break it shall face the judgment of stone," Ken intoned. With their pact sealed, he summoned a vortex portal to Mondstadt—straight into Barbara's room.
He wasn't worried about Zhongli or Venti. Even if he left, they wouldn't cause trouble.
…
Mondstadt.
Thunder rolled. Tonight, storms lashed the city, lightning tearing across the heavens.
Within Favonius Cathedral, silence reigned.
Barbara, done with her duties, was ready to go home. Seeing the rain, she wrapped herself in a Water-element shield. Just as she was about to step outside, she saw a familiar figure approach with an umbrella.
"…Master Jean."
Barbara stiffened nervously.
The elegant figure strode forward, knight's boots splashing through the puddles. Jean's crystalline eyes softened as she looked at her sister, fingers curling nervously.
She had come earlier, learned Barbara hadn't gone home yet, and with the storm raging, she couldn't focus on work. So she'd gathered her courage to fetch her.
Though Barbara could shield herself, Ken had been right—it still mattered that Jean show care and take the initiative.
"Mm… I was passing by. Let's go home together."
Jean exhaled slowly, striving to sound casual, not wanting to burden her sister.
"O-okay…" Barbara clutched her skirt, nerves and unease fluttering in her chest.
Though they often worked side by side, walking home together alone like this was a first. Both sisters were tense.
The awkward air lingered, but fortunately Barbara's home wasn't far.
"Jean… would you like to come up for a bit?" Barbara asked softly, mustering courage.
She often gathered herbs that eased fatigue—perhaps they could help her sister.
Joy flickered in Jean's heart. "I'd love to…"
Barbara smiled happily as she rushed to open the door. But as the lock clicked, her eyes widened—
The light in her upstairs bedroom was already on.