"Could you… give me some time to think?"
Ganyu still couldn't bring herself to choose.
This was a matter that affected the future of the nation.
In Liyue, such decisions had always been made by the Geo Archon.
For something this enormous to suddenly appear today— and for her to be asked to take sides—
Her heart twisted into a knot.
Ningguang's warnings sounded terrifyingly heavy.
Yet… based on everything Ganyu had seen so far, none of it seemed exaggerated.
If Liyue didn't choose now, it would fall behind Snezhnaya and Inazuma.
But if she did choose— she might destabilize the delicate balance of the Qixing.
Ganyu didn't want to be the sinner who broke that balance.
Nor did she want to be the reason Liyue missed its chance to rise.
So yes, she needed time.
"Of course," Ningguang replied gently.
"But sooner is better.
Ganyu—please understand this as well:
the opportunity in my hands is precious.
I can bring fortune to Liyue ahead of the others…
but I cannot hold this advantage forever."
If she spoke as a colleague or friend, Ganyu might not feel the weight of it.
So Ningguang deliberately placed herself in the position of a neutral force aligned with Liyue—
rather than a fellow Qixing.
She wanted Ganyu to understand:
If this chance was missed, it might never return.
And when the time came, Ningguang would not open a back door for Liyue again.
"I understand…
And please rest assured, I won't tell the other Qixing."
Ganyu let out a small breath of relief.
At least she wasn't being forced to make an immediate decision.
And she truly believed Ningguang would not mislead her.
After all—
Ganyu had watched Ningguang grow into the Tianquan.
She had practically watched the woman's entire rise.
So if Ningguang said it was important, it was important.
"That's fine," Ningguang said with a faint smile.
"In fact, if they did hear of it and voluntarily stepped aside…
that would make things even easier for me."
She didn't want them on the station.
But if the idea came from Ganyu, it might avoid conflict altogether.
Ningguang genuinely loved Liyue.
And because she loved it— she refused to watch it miss its moment in history.
In the future, Teyvat might only have one dominant voice.
But the benefits would never be evenly distributed.
"I understand…"
Ganyu was so overwhelmed she completely forgot why she had come in the first place— to question Ningguang about work delays.
"Lady Ningguang… could you send me back to Liyue Harbor?"
"No need to rush."
"…No… to rush?"
Before Ganyu could understand what that meant—
A voice cut in.
"Don't rush."
It wasn't Ningguang who spoke.
It was—
Herta.
The great Herta had once again appeared on Su Ran's station, as though it were her own private residence.
If only she could remember the exact coordinates— she would've arrived by rocket.
As someone who logged in every day just to ask whether Su Ran was online, Herta today encountered…
a new specimen.
A humanoid with horns.
"The horns aren't decorative, right?
Want to let me study them?"
Ganyu panicked instantly, protectively covering her horns.
"Th-they ARE decorative!"
"Oh?
If you don't want to, never mind."
Herta waved it off.
She respected consent, after all.
And besides—horned humanoids were rare, but not rare enough to excite a researcher who didn't specialize in biology.
That was Ruan Mei's department, not hers.
"Is he here today?"
Herta asked—her daily question.
"No," Ningguang answered.
"Oh. Then I'm logging off."
Herta's puppet instantly went dormant.
Ganyu stared, shaken.
Ningguang patted her shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't be afraid.
Lady Herta is… quite a decent person.
She won't harm you."
If she wanted to harm you,Ningguang silently added,you wouldn't be able to run anyway.
"I'll send you back."
"Yes… thank you."
And with another instant warp, Ganyu found herself back on the Jade Chamber.
Still dazed, she descended the stairs— only for Keqing to appear immediately.
"Ganyu! How did it go?
Did you get Ningguang's explanation for her missing work?"
Ganyu's expression stiffened.
"…Um… about that…"
"What is it?"
Keqing leaned in, alert.
"Did something serious happen?"
A pause.
"…I forgot."
Keqing blinked.
"…You forgot?"
Was she serious?
How does one forget something like that!?
"…Was it because something even more important happened?"
Because surely Ningguang didn't simply distract her, right?
Ganyu nodded earnestly.
"Yes.
Keqing, can you accept Liyue entering a completely new era?"
Keqing: If it means Liyue standing proudly on its own strength?
Absolutely. Where do I sign?
"…Did Ningguang say something to you?"
So Ganyu told her everything— what she saw at the station, Ningguang's ambitions above the Qixing, the vision for Liyue's future.
Everything Ningguang had permitted her to reveal.
Keqing listened quietly.
Then—
Her eyes lit up like lanterns.
"You mean— there's a place more efficient than the entire Yujing Terrace combined— and it doesn't require manpower at all!?"
At last—
Keqing focused.
Just not on the part Ningguang expected.
—------------------------------
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