Chapter 199.
At the championship finals, one contestant was on the verge of forfeiting, while the other had just lost consciousness from a severe magical backlash.
Faced with this unprecedented situation, the referee's brain short-circuited. For a moment, she had absolutely no idea what to do.
In truth, Nahida was equally frozen. She certainly hadn't expected things to escalate quite like this. Just as Futsu Mitama had warned, Mona had successfully divined Nahida's true identity—but the price was steep. She was currently slumped across the desk, her eyes rolled back and frothing at the mouth.
"Um... little girl, please wait right here. I need to report this."
The referee wiped a bead of cold sweat from her forehead, gesturing for Nahida to stay put. This was entirely beyond her pay grade.
As the referee hurriedly scurried off, Nahida stood in stunned silence.
Looking at the unconscious astrologer, she quietly channeled the power of the Dendro Archon, gently soothing Mona's fractured spirit.
No matter how you looked at it, Mona had managed to glimpse Nahida's true nature.
But attempting to scry directly on a god—especially the Dendro Archon, whose very consciousness was tethered to Irminsul—was a monumental miscalculation. In a single fleeting moment, Mona had perceived both Nahida and the sprawling roots of Irminsul itself.
Most scholars in Sumeru could never dream of achieving such a connection. If they did, their consciousness would be instantly corrupted by Forbidden Knowledge, plunging them into irreversible madness.
Mona had clearly been affected; hence the foaming and convulsions. Fortunately, her symptoms were relatively mild, and Nahida was able to carefully purge the residual corruption from her body.
No wonder Futsu Mitama told me not to compete with Mona. Is this why?
Nahida stared at her own hands. The Irminsul crisis was not entirely resolved. Although the Chat Group's suppression was slowly purging the Forbidden Knowledge, Irminsul remained a perilous domain.
Mona was a peerless genius of an astrologer. As long as she didn't court death by reading the fate of an Archon, she could easily thrive anywhere in Teyvat. The problem was, she had done exactly that.
Nahida could only sigh in helplessness.
Shortly after Nahida stabilized Mona, the referee returned—flanked by the event's organizer. Coincidentally, this organizer was an old acquaintance: The Fourth of the Fatui Harbingers, Arlecchino.
The moment Arlecchino stepped into the room, her eyes darted from the unconscious Mona to the disguised Nahida, flashing with a mix of surprise and dark amusement.
Nahida's disguise was flawless against ordinary mortals, but a powerhouse of The Knave's caliber saw right through it.
A lone Dendro Archon? To any other Fatui Harbinger, this would be the perfect opportunity to seize a Gnosis. But just yesterday, Arlecchino had witnessed Nahida traveling alongside the Geo, Anemo, and Electro Archons. That meant she was a VIP guest of Rex Lapis.
If Arlecchino tried to ambush Nahida now, she would instantly forfeit any chance of acquiring the Geo Gnosis. Between a lone Dendro Archon and the Lord of Geo on his home turf, Arlecchino knew perfectly well where her priorities lay.
Dismissing the referee with a wave of her hand, Arlecchino turned to greet her guest.
"Greetings, Lesser Lord Kusanali." Arlecchino said, offering a slight, measured bow. "Did you truly participate in our 'Guess What I Guess' tournament? I must admit, I am profoundly surprised to see you partaking in such trivialities."
"Surprised? I am quite surprised myself." Nahida replied slowly. "I didn't expect Liyue to permit you to host this event under the current circumstances."
Given the underlying tension between Snezhnaya and Liyue, the Qixing shouldn't have given Arlecchino the leeway to run this show. To celebrate the Rite of Descension, the Northland Bank was already running a massive promotional campaign. Nahida hadn't anticipated that Arlecchino would quietly run this secondary event in the shadows.
"It was Tartaglia's suggestion. He believed that if I remained too quiet, it would only draw Liyue's suspicion."
Arlecchino explained with a soft laugh, taking a seat.
She spared a brief glance at Mona's slumped form.
"Besides, I just returned from visiting the diplomatic residences. I saw the Sumeru delegation. To speak frankly—that Great Sage, Faruzan, strikes me as far less capable than Alhaitham."
As a Harbinger, Arlecchino had naturally made an appearance at the diplomatic suites. A few figures had left a distinct impression:
Acting Grand Master Jean was an impeccable leader.
Yae Miko was exactly what one would expect from a five-hundred-year-old fox envoy—exhausting to deal with.
Alhaitham was the pure embodiment of rationality, immediately dismantling any rhetorical flaws.
As for Great Sage Faruzan? A brilliant scholar, undoubtedly, but hardly cut out for the political theater of rulership.
Nahida fell silently exasperated.
In her original plans, Alhaitham was supposed to be the Great Sage. Both Futsu Mitama and Maha Rukkhadevata thought highly of him. But the stubborn Scribe had flatly refused, threatening to resign entirely if they forced his hand. Faced with a man who so fiercely guarded his right to slack off, Nahida had no choice but to yield.
Noting Nahida's silence, Arlecchino shifted gears, looking intently at the Dendro Archon.
"Lesser Lord Kusanali, may I ask you a question?"
"You wish to ask about Fontaine, don't you?"
Nahida deduced.
Thanks to the Chat Group, Nahida already knew Arlecchino was searching for a way to avert the prophecy of Fontaine. In truth, Nahida had been curious herself, recently diving into Irminsul to investigate. She had uncovered a great deal—but it was knowledge bound by strict consequence.
"Yes." Arlecchino nodded gravely. "You must know what is unfolding in Fontaine. I ask for nothing more than a hint. In exchange, I will utilize my authority as a Fatui Harbinger to provide full logistical and labor support for the reconstruction of the Sumeru desert."
It was a masterfully targeted offer. Rebuilding the rainforest was manageable, but taming the desert required a staggering amount of Mora, materials, and manpower. If Arlecchino ordered the Fatui forces currently biding their time in the desert to assist the Akademiya, the infrastructure would rise practically overnight.
"Very well." Nahida wasn't about to turn down such an advantageous trade. "However, I must insist we sign a contract first. If the Fatui attempt any underhanded schemes during this period, do not blame me for the consequences—"
"Done."
Arlecchino agreed without hesitation.
Securing the Hydro Gnosis and saving Fontaine justified any localized loss of Fatui leverage. Spending resources to buy goodwill with the Dendro Archon while securing critical intel was a bargain.
Once the contract was materialized and signed, Nahida looked up.
"Regarding Fontaine—I can only tell you that the prophecy itself cannot be changed. Furthermore, the original Hydro Archon died in Sumeru, though I do not know the exact coordinates. Perhaps you Fontainians can uncover that resting place."
She paused, her voice carrying the solemn weight of a god.
"Just as the prophecy dictates, Fontainians are born with sin. You yourselves are the sin. No matter where you flee, the sin will inevitably face its end."
"We ourselves are the sin?"
Arlecchino looked down at her gloved hands, her brow furrowing.
The logic remained baffling. Yet, hearing it stressed by the God of Wisdom made one thing chillingly clear: fleeing Teyvat would not save her people. The key rested entirely with Focalors.
"I understand."
Arlecchino nodded respectfully. It was clear Lesser Lord Kusanali would share no more. If she wanted the whole truth, she would have to return to Fontaine and corner the seemingly negligent Hydro Archon herself.
"Now then." Arlecchino said, her professional persona slipping seamlessly back into place. "Regarding the twenty million Mora grand prize, I will have someone deliver it to your lodgings. The runner-up will receive five million Mora. A pity, but I must abide by the rules of my own tournament."
She cast an amused look at Mona.
"She truly is a spectacular astrologer, to have survived so much in just one month. During our last encounter, she even helped me divine the crisis of Fontaine."
In a way, Mona was the true victor of this match. To glimpse the Dendro Archon's true nature and live to tell the tale was an absolute triumph. But the rules were the rules—unconscious contestants took second place.