Liyue was dangerous.
If before, he still had some confidence,
now no matter how he calculated, Tartaglia could not see any way out.
Let alone plotting schemes by himself.
With the power Liyue had just shown,
even if the Tsaritsa brought the entire Fatui, there was no guarantee of victory.
And he was only the Eleventh Harbinger.
How could he, alone, scheme against Liyue as it was now?
Rely on the ancient god sealed in Guyun?
Once that demon was unsealed, both Geo Archons would act together.
What waves could such an old monster make under their combined might?
Better to rely on his own little tricks.
The Qixing's pressure was nothing compared to the immortals'.
These two days had taught him the true meaning of "adeptus means."
Every time the Fatui made the slightest move in Liyue Harbor,
within a minute the intelligence was already before the Geo Archon.
How to play?
Play what? Play yourself to death?
He hadn't believed it at first.
But after being toyed with again and again by the Qixing, losing men in halves—
he had to believe it.
There wasn't even a sliver of chance.
Nothing good awaited him.
Plotting for a god's heart?
That was courting death.
Since then, he had learned.
He no longer dared to let his people do anything irregular.
If they stepped out, they "disappeared."
He himself was being watched from all sides,
but restrictions on him were lighter.
At least, openly, he was still an envoy of Snezhnaya.
As long as he didn't make too much noise, most turned a blind eye.
But the key problem—
he had come specifically to make noise.
And to plot for the Geo Archon's Gnosis,
something that could shatter heaven itself.
How could he dare show even a hint of that intent?
The whispers had already leaked long ago,
ever since La Signora had succeeded in Mondstadt.
"Right…"
Thinking of Mondstadt, Tartaglia's eyes lit up.
"What about that Honorary Knight who came from Mondstadt? What's her situation now?"
"The Honorary Knight?"
A debt collector thought for a moment.
"Our Fatui have been observing her. These days she's been circling Liyue Harbor.
Most of what she asks is about how to gain audience with the Geo Archon.
Nothing else unusual.
Apart from the Adventurers' Guild, she seems to have no other solid connections."
"Master, is this traveler really as the Lady said…?"
"Heh."
Tartaglia narrowed his eyes. "Don't know, but check.
Find her movements. I'll meet her myself."
"Yes!"
The debt collector bowed and left.
As soon as he was gone, the manager Andrei rushed in.
"Master, urgent news!"
"Hm?"
Tartaglia frowned. "About Taro?"
"Yes!"
Andrei nodded. "Word from a gambler:
After lunch, Taro will head to the Chasm.
He may be accompanied by three women, suspected immortals.
One of them, just seen leaving Yujing Terrace, was Vana."
"The Chasm…"
Tartaglia pondered. "The reliability of this intel?"
"Not a trap?"
The intel was too detailed, almost suspiciously so.
Having been tricked several times, Tartaglia doubted it.
If it was a trap, perhaps they meant to bury him in the Chasm.
But at least it was a lead.
"Have you verified?"
"Yes, Master."
Andrei hesitated. "I can confirm it's not a trap.
Because the subjects didn't even lower their voices.
Many guests overheard them.
It seems this matter isn't secret to Taro at all.
That fits his style."
"…Agreed." Tartaglia nodded. "And the Qixing? Any movement?"
"None."
"The Mondstadt traveler?"
"Just before noon she was at the Adventurers' Guild.
Seems she took a commission related to the Chasm—
likely to approach Tianquan Ningguang."
Tartaglia's brow lifted.
Today really was going smoothly.
Two parties colliding head-on.
All the more reason he needed to hurry.
Both the traveler and Taro were possible breakthroughs.
Maybe even unexpected gains.
"Prepare two teams."
"One will go through Liyue's official channels, delivering supplies and medicines under cover of supporting the Chasm expedition."
"Two members of the second team—one shadows the traveler, the other joins the rooster's squad."
"As for Taro—I'll go personally. I'll be the rabbit that leaps right in."
Coincidence—
that was the Fatui's art.
Whether the other side believed it or not, they would insist it was coincidence.
And the squad below was not going to sabotage,
but to cooperate with Liyue against the Abyssal outbreak.
Even if it looked too convenient,
it could be explained.
As for himself, there was no choice.
Three immortals plus the bottomless Taro—
he doubted any team could handle it.
Even his own heart pounded nervously.
But he had to try.
(End of Chapter)
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