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Chapter 476 - Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [476]

Childe stared at Gu Sanqiu for a full half-minute before leaning back on the sofa, rubbing his temples with a sigh.

"I don't recall Pantalone ever crossing you, nor do I see any conflict between his business and Liyue."

"If there's an issue, just tell me directly. I can send a letter to his office and see if something can be worked out. Cooperation may not be realistic, but at the very least, we can avoid unnecessary friction."

"Does that work for you?"

Gu Sanqiu smiled brightly. "Where is Pantalone?"

He added, "And by the way, let me correct you on one thing: you should say 'our Liyue.' The moment you start saying things like 'send a letter,' you're already halfway to becoming one of us."

One day, when you officially take my place as the next wallet-in-chief, you might even get an unofficial Liyue residency certificate from my old man.

"Liyue is a great place," Childe said calmly, "but my home is in the north. That's where my Tsaritsa is, where my family is. That will never change."

So that's your reason for romanticizing Snezhnaya?

Gu Sanqiu smirked. "Enough with the sidetracks. If you want the Forbidden Curio, tell me where Pantalone is and why you want it."

"You should reconsider your target. You won't be able to kill Pantalone," Childe said seriously. "Our Ninth Harbinger rarely leaves Snezhnaya, where he oversees operations. Even when he travels for business inspections, he has an entourage of highly trained guards."

"Sure, ordinary guards wouldn't pose a challenge for you. But these aren't just any guards—they're specially trained under orders from the Tsaritsa herself, enhanced by techniques from the Doctor and other Harbingers."

Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. He understood Childe's point.

Pantalone's personal guards weren't just physically formidable; they also had exceptional combat instincts and tactical acumen, putting them at the top of the Fatui hierarchy.

If regular Fatui agents are akin to hilichurls, Pantalone's guards are like Mitachurls—or even Ruin Guards, outfitted with specialized enhancements.

"Interesting." Gu Sanqiu's grin widened. "So, if I aim for Pantalone in Snezhnaya, I'd have to face your Tsaritsa. And even if I caught him outside, I'd still have to deal with waves of loyal, death-defying guards?"

"They're far from 'just guards,'" Childe corrected. "As one of the less combat-oriented Harbingers, Pantalone's forces are the first to receive any technological advancements the Doctor develops."

Gu Sanqiu's eyes narrowed. "You're very confident in telling me all this. I take it you're convinced I can't kill him."

"That's right. You can't."

Childe sipped his tea calmly. "Unless, of course, you want to visit Snezhnaya to experience a god's power firsthand. If that's the case, I'd be happy to accompany you home."

"Only for me to get intercepted by your people on the way?" Gu Sanqiu rolled his eyes. "I've felt a god's power before, but I'm not stepping foot in Snezhnaya."

Snezhnaya, the ultimate high-level dungeon? I'll leave that for the golden-haired traveler to handle. Unless I can take a dozen adepti with me, I have no interest in a suicide mission.

"Oh, and didn't you say you wanted to know why we're after the Forbidden Curio? I'll tell you."

Childe leaned forward slightly. "It's said that the holder of the Forbidden Curio can safely approach adepti domains. There's also a legend that it can bind spirits or trap gods."

"While we're curious about adepti knowledge, the second property is what really interests us."

Oh, so you've rehearsed your excuses, have you?

Gu Sanqiu's smile didn't falter. "That explanation doesn't benefit me at all. So, no, you're not getting the Forbidden Curio. If you want it, find another way."

"You're going back on your word?" Childe's face twitched in frustration. "You said answering two questions would earn it!"

Gu Sanqiu chuckled. "Didn't you call me a lunatic earlier? Isn't it my prerogative to change my mind?"

"That's rich! Weren't you the one boasting about always keeping your promises?"

"That must've been Gu Daqiu, Gu Erqiu, or Gu Siqiu. Definitely not me, Gu Sanqiu."

With that, Gu Sanqiu stood up and turned to leave the Northland Bank. "I've got the intel I needed. You should feel reassured now—I'm not planning anything drastic. Let's call it even."

Childe waved dismissively. "Even? If I weren't so gracious, I'd file a complaint with Yuehai Pavilion about Liyue's local crime syndicates interfering with foreign business operations."

Gu Sanqiu laughed over his shoulder. "Oh, go ahead. I'll happily hand over the Ten Gold Guild and drag some of your Fatui skeletons into the light. You don't think Yuehai Pavilion has skilled investigators?"

After Gu Sanqiu left, Childe frowned, summoning his closest agents.

"Send another message. Tell the Ninth Harbinger to watch for unfamiliar faces nearby. I can't tell how much of that lunatic's talk was serious."

He leaned back, resting his elbows on the desk.

"The Fatui's expansion has been too aggressive lately. Sanqiu's probably calling attention to that. It's worth considering."

He sighed deeply. "Pantalone... if we lose our 'treasured brain,' it'll deal an unprecedented blow to our plans."

Why can't that lunatic target the Doctor instead? Childe thought with a grimace. If he wanted to kill that maniac, I'd even show him the way.

---

Meanwhile, Gu Sanqiu lay on his back in a quiet field, hands behind his head, staring at the sky.

"There's no second Divine Elixir for me this time. Snezhnaya is out of the question."

Or is it? Should I bide my time?

But timing isn't something you wait for—it's something you create.

The Ninth Harbinger, Pantalone, wasn't a target Gu Sanqiu chose on a whim. It was a carefully calculated decision.

On the surface, Pantalone was Snezhnaya's financial mastermind, managing industries both public and covert. Beneath him were elite guards and a handpicked team of advisors.

But that wasn't the crux of it.

The key lay in Gu Sanqiu's Elemental Seed.

To this day, he didn't dare disclose its secrets. Sometimes, he wondered if Decarabian had gone mad to entrust it to him.

Authority.

Everything Pantalone did seemed aimed at transforming Snezhnaya into a second Liyue Harbor—or surpassing it.

What's next? Seizing Morax's power? Gu Sanqiu's jaw tightened as his thoughts raced.

The golden vault's decay. The contracts fading. The essence of Mora losing its uniqueness...

What seemed like an economic strategy might well be a struggle over divine authority—a bid to usurp a throne.

"Gathering the Gnosis can't just be a coincidence. These Harbingers are all masters of their crafts," Gu Sanqiu murmured.

"Consolidating authority under the most suitable candidate to ascend... Is this about dethroning gods?"

He exhaled sharply, sitting up.

"If that's true, they're not just changing the rules—they're setting the stage for a coup. Seven Gnosis for one island... the stakes couldn't be higher."

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