"Go look! At Liyue Harbor! There's a 'battleship'—something more advanced than a ship! It belongs to Captain Beidou and it's even more domineering than The Alcor!"
"Seriously? A ship cooler than The Alcor?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Believe it or not, if you don't go, you'll regret it. That ship is incredible."
"I don't know where Captain Beidou got it, but the harbor is packed so tight you can't even squeeze in a drop of water."
"They're not letting anyone on board yet, though."
...
As Mona crossed the ancient bridge leading to Liyue, several people rushed past her, chattering excitedly.
"Beidou? A ship more domineering than The Alcor? A 'battleship'?"
Mona paused.
She knew of Beidou and The Alcor.
But a ship even more impressive than that legendary vessel?
Suddenly interested, Mona changed course and headed toward the harbor.
When she arrived, her eyes widened in shock.
The sheer density of the crowd was overwhelming.
"My Archons, is that a battleship? It's so advanced!"
"Yeah, what was it called again? I forgot."
"Idiot, it's a Steam Battleship! Captain Beidou hasn't opened tours yet. She said she's busy preparing. Maybe a preview tonight, but full opening tomorrow."
"It's beautiful. Steam Battleship... definitely higher tier than a normal boat. I wonder what the inside looks like."
"I envy the locals. They only pay 100 Mora. We foreigners have to pay 2,000. Ugh, I hate that I'm not from Liyue."
...
Wave after wave of discussion reached Mona's ears.
Realizing she couldn't push through the crowd, she turned and walked to a secluded corner, then levitated into the air.
Rising above the heads of the throng, she finally saw it.
Resting in the harbor was the Steam Battleship.
"Hiss!"
The moment she saw it, Mona's pupils contracted.
How does Liyue have a ship with this level of technology?
It was unbelievable.
Even from a distance, the scale and design were clear. This wasn't just a boat.
She had only been away from Liyue for a short while. How did they acquire this?
"It's a pity we can't tour it now."
"Of course not. Captain Beidou needs to prepare. If she let everyone on now, it would be chaos."
"Let's come back tomorrow. Look at this crowd. Even if she opens it tonight, we won't get a turn."
"True, but if I don't see it tonight, I won't be able to sleep!"
"Don't worry. Lady Ningguang said it will be open for days."
...
Mona listened to the crowd and realized she wouldn't be seeing the inside tonight.
"Since I can't visit, I'll come back tomorrow," she muttered, descending back to the ground. "I'm not leaving Liyue immediately anyway. I can wait a day or two. Tonight, I need to solve my housing problem first."
With the harbor completely blocked off, there was no way she could just fly over and demand a tour from the legendary Captain Beidou.
She wasn't in a rush.
The priority was finding a place to sleep.
"Sigh."
Thinking of this, Mona sighed deeply. "Lodging in Liyue is so expensive. And I need to save money for the trip to Mondstadt. Food, travel expenses... I have no money."
She clutched her hat, a pained expression on her face as she thought of her meager coin purse.
Visiting such a prosperous city without money was pure torture.
She had only been out on her own for a short while, but she had already learned the hard lesson of poverty.
If it weren't for the occasional kindness of strangers (or a free meal), she wouldn't even be able to eat.
Even so, she felt out of place in the glittering city.
She had been taking odd jobs in the outskirts, helping people with hydromancy and astrology to earn scraps.
Her goal in Liyue was simple: eat a good meal, then head to Mondstadt to complete the mission her master gave her.
"I need to find a cheap place. Maybe someone renting a room for a few days. The money I earned this time should cover the trip."
"Then I'll settle in Mondstadt and finish the task. Perfect!"
Mona mumbled to herself as she walked away from the harbor and into the city streets.
She wandered through the quieter, less expensive districts, looking for "Room for Rent" signs.
Inns were out of the question. She always looked for spare rooms in private homes—cheap and practical.
Liyue had plenty of working-class residents, so affordable housing existed if you knew where to look.
"Hm?"
While scanning the street, Mona suddenly stopped.
"This feeling..."
She frowned slightly. A strange sensation stirred in her heart.
It felt like a pull. A tug.
The guidance of fate.
It had been a long time since she felt destiny calling her this clearly.
Mona followed the feeling.
Step by step, she walked until she stood in front of a small, unassuming shop.
Standing there, the feeling intensified.
Fate wanted her to go inside.
This feeling hadn't appeared anywhere else she passed.
"Jar Shop?"
Mona blinked at the sign.
A shop that sells jars?
Like an antique store?
She knew Liyue ceramics were famous, but still.
And at the door stood two Millelith guards, standing like sentinels.
Mona was surprised.
The Millelith patrolled the streets to maintain order. They guarded important sites.
But guarding a random shop?
She had never seen Millelith posted as private security for a storefront before.
While she stared, the guards—Doyle and Wenqi—noticed her too.
They exchanged strange looks.
This woman... dresses weirdly.
Liyue had its fair share of eccentrics, but a giant witch hat and a starry leotard-cape combo was a new one.
It looked... odd.
While they silently judged her fashion choices, Mona stepped inside.
"Should we report her?" Wenqi whispered. "She looks suspicious."
"Nah," Doyle shrugged. "Just a weird dresser. She's here to open jars. Besides, reporting her is a hassle. Our shift is almost over."
"True."
Inside the shop.
Mona looked around.
It was simple. Plain. A table, a counter, and shelves lined with clay jars.
On the very top shelf sat a single, ornate jar that clearly stood out from the rest.
And behind the counter stood a young man—dressed simply, but undeniably handsome.
Mona studied him for a moment.
She guessed he was the owner.
The guidance of fate had led her here.
To a jar shop that looked completely ordinary.
While she observed him, Felix observed her.
Mona?
He raised an eyebrow.
What is she doing here? She shouldn't be in this timeline/plot point yet.
"Hello, Shopkeeper."
Mona smiled confidently. "My name is Astrologist Mona Megistus. Which means 'The Great Astrologist Mona'."
"Hello."
Felix nodded politely. "Miss Mona. I am the owner of this Jar Shop. Are you here to buy jars?"
"You just sell jars?"
Mona blinked, looking at the shelves.
Fate guided her here... to buy pottery?
"Yes. Hence the name 'Jar Shop'."
Felix nodded, though his expression turned slightly amused.
She came here without knowing what the jars are? Is this a coincidence?
Most of his customers now came because of the rumors.
"Then give me one jar," Mona said casually, pointing to a standard clay pot.
Since fate brought her here, she might as well buy a souvenir. A ceramic jar couldn't be that expensive.
"100,000 Mora per jar. Payment first, then you take the jar."
Mona: "????"
Her smile froze.
Her eyes bulged. She looked at the cheap, dusty clay pot, then back at Felix.
"How much?"
Maybe she misheard. Maybe he said 10 Mora.
"100,000 Mora."
Felix repeated calmly.
"WHAT?!"
Mona jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"100,000 Mora?! For a pot?! What kind of black market scam is this?!"
"Even a black market shop wouldn't rob people this blatantly!"
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