"This tastes quite good. There are similar dishes in the world I came from, but perhaps due to the different ingredients, the cream mushroom soup and lasagna here are much better than what I've had before." Before Smith crossed over, his family was fairly well-off.
Although he didn't frequent high-end restaurants, he occasionally dined in places where the average cost per person was several hundred or even thousands of yuan. However, Smith could confidently say he had never tasted such delicious cream mushroom soup before.
"Is that so? Can you tell me about other worlds?" Fu Ningna asked with a curious smile, intrigued by the existence of other realms.
"Of course. You'll come into contact with them sooner or later," Smith said meaningfully. "You should be able to use the power of your other self by now, right?"
"Yes, but my body is still too weak to use too much power."
"Take it slowly. At the beginning, I wasn't much better than you! But haven't I grown now? The Godhead will help you develop naturally.
"Of course, it won't allow you to grow indefinitely. Eventually, you'll need to carve out your own path. Otherwise, it will hinder Fukaros's strength and affect you."
Even with a Godhead, one couldn't achieve infinite growth. If that were the case, every deity would simply keep splitting off parts of themselves and continuously using the Godhead to strengthen each version. That would theoretically create an infinite number of god-level beings, which was obviously impossible.
By Smith's estimation, at her current trajectory, Fu Ningna would likely reach the level of a powerful follower at most.
Of course, that was nothing to scoff at.
"By the way, if you have time, you should study some martial arts. You could also train in our internal energy cultivation. While the power of the gods can strengthen you, self-improvement is essential.
"Perhaps one day, you'll even be able to help her," Smith said, his words carrying a deeper meaning.
He didn't believe Fu Ningna was a weakling. There had to be a reason why Egolia had chosen Fukaros. Perhaps it was because she was the most outstanding of the pure water elves.
As a part of Fukaros, Fu Ningna was destined to become remarkable. And with the influence of the Godhead, her future potential was limitless.
Even though the people of Fontaine saw Fu Ningna as a celebrity rather than a figure of reverence, their belief in justice was strong.
"I see. I understand," Fu Ningna nodded thoughtfully. While she found it inconvenient not to have a Vision, she would practice diligently.
She resolved to seek guidance from her other self, as well as Violet and the others.
As Smith and Fu Ningna continued their conversation, the guild's chat screen was constantly refreshing.
Ningguang: "I wonder if Violet would be open to Liyue Bank opening a branch in Fontaine."
Violet: "Fontaine welcomes any reasonable, legal, and compliant business from Liyue."
Ningguang: "I mean, we could jointly open a bank. Mr. Villette, you should understand that running a bank requires asset verification and debt collection. It would be difficult for us to collect debts in Fontaine. The best solution is cooperation."
Villette: "Fontaine's laws protect all legitimate earnings and assets."
Ningguang: "...What I mean is that I want Fontaine to officially own part of the shares in Liyue Bank's Fontaine branch. Or, Fontaine could establish its own bank like Liyue Bank, expanding financial services across the Seven Nations. Liyue can guarantee the security of your bank in Liyue, just as we would expect Fontaine to ensure the safety of Liyue Bank's assets. It would be mutually beneficial."
Ningguang prided herself on being a master negotiator, adept at dealing with people.
Yet, when facing Villette, she felt pressured.
There was something oddly familiar about his personality. Oh, right—it was eerily similar to that of the Geo Archon himself.
She wasn't sure she could handle this one.
Villette: "You're looking to circumvent the financial influence of the Northern Bank, aren't you?
Liyue is the economic heart of Teyvat, with goods from every nation passing through its ports. Fontaine welcomes Liyue Bank, but as for establishing our own bank, that requires further consideration.
As for the concerns you raised, Fontaine's laws are designed to address such issues. We guarantee the protection of your financial assets."
Given the implicit alliance between Fontaine and Liyue, there was little reason to worry.
Ningguang: "Then I'll leave it in your capable hands, Mr. Villette."
Ye Lan: "@Smith, the person you asked me to keep an eye on has been spotted near Mondstadt."
Smith: "Oh? That guy has finally woken up? Looks like it's time for me to head to Mondstadt."
Keqing: "Are you talking about the Anemo Archon, Barbatos?"
Smith: "No, someone much more interesting."
Meanwhile, due to Inazuma's policy of isolation, intelligence from other nations arrived with considerable delay.
Yae Shenzi leisurely read through the reports. However, as she scanned the contents, her usually playful demeanor turned serious.
A person from another world had been named a consultant to the Liyue Qixing? That was within the realm of acceptability.
Liyue opening a bank? Also reasonable. After all, with Morax overseeing its wealth, it was natural for Liyue to establish financial institutions.
But then she came across something truly shocking—a fox-like creature in Guyun Stone Forest, one on par with a demon god.
According to intelligence reports, the creature had nine tails!
Even she, the intelligent and beautiful Yae Shenzi, did not possess nine tails.
In Inazuma's history, only Kitsune Saiguu had nine tails. And Kitsune Saiguu was a legendary figure.
Although she was not a deity, she had been one of the Thunder God's most devoted followers, and her strength had rivaled that of actual gods.
If Kitsune Saiguu had not sacrificed herself during the great calamity to protect Inazuma, the nation would have perished.
Yae Shenzi was currently the most powerful fox in Inazuma, yet a nine-tailed fox had appeared in Liyue?
What did this mean? That the foxes of Inazuma were no longer as formidable as those in Liyue?