Jeanne Alter Complains, Hu Tao Handles the Funeral / Keqing Goes on a Business Trip, Fu Hua Gets Her Chance

The more she thought about it, the more dejected and miserable she felt. In her sorrow, Laffey twisted open the bottle cap, tipped her head back, and gulped down several huge mouthfuls straight from the bottle, drowning her sorrows in drink.

After half a bottle of red wine went down, Laffey's fair little face instantly turned rosy red, like a ripe apple with an adorable blush.

Ye Ming was dumbfounded.

It took him a while to snap out of it. He hurriedly snatched the red wine from Laffey's hands. He wanted to warn her, but when he remembered the flicker of disappointment the little girl had inadvertently revealed earlier, he could only sigh and pat her head.

"Let's go home."

"Okay."

Laffey obediently responded, tugging at the corner of Ye Ming's clothes as she followed him to pay and leave the supermarket.

Feeling a little down, Ye Ming failed to notice the cunning, satisfied glint that flashed through the little girl's seemingly hazy wine-red eyes after she had successfully gotten a drink.

Maybe I should find a few playmates for Laffey?

On the way home, Ye Ming quietly thought to himself.

A little girl without friends to play with would probably feel lonely, wouldn't she?

But Laffey was a Ship-Girl after all. Ye Ming did not feel at ease letting her play with ordinary children.

At that moment, Ye Ming could not help thinking of the youngest, mentally speaking, among the three women from Fate/Grand Order who had been confirmed to have vanished—Jeanne Alter.

Jeanne d'Arc was the French hero who liberated Orléans during the Hundred Years' War, as well as a Catholic saint. She was burned at the stake after being falsely accused, only to be exonerated twenty-five years later.

The Jeanne d'Arc in Fate/Grand Order was the Heroic Spirit form of the legendary Jeanne d'Arc after her death.

Jeanne Alter, meanwhile, was Jeanne d'Arc's darkened form that appeared after she was burned at the stake. Though called the "Witch of Dragons," Jeanne Alter was actually just a little girl with a mature body who had inherited Jeanne d'Arc's memories. Her mouth was sharp, but she was really a tsundere who said one thing and meant another, known as Chaldea's easiest woman to win over.

If it were Jeanne Alter, she should get along well with Laffey, right?

I wonder where Jeanne Alter is now.

Ye Ming quietly sighed. He brought Laffey home and opened the front door, only to discover in surprise that Fu Hua had already returned. The television was on in the living room, and Fu Hua and Keqing were sitting on the sofa watching it together. They were neither too close nor too far apart, and the atmosphere was exceedingly delicate.

"We're back."

With that, Ye Ming took a deep breath and stepped into the house.

Jeanne Alter Complains, Hu Tao Holds a Funeral

On the other side of the ocean, in the United States, late at night.

"When the sun comes out, I bask in the sun; when the moon comes out, I bask in the moon~"

A sweet, adorable, energetic girl's song drifted from a dim alleyway.

Jeanne Alter, clad in a black trench coat, happened to be passing by and curiously glanced into the alley.

The darkness could not hinder Jeanne Alter, a Heroic Spirit. With a single glance, she took in the entire alley.

At the end of the alley, a girl was happily swinging a shovel, digging a hole in the ground.

The girl had delicate features. Her waist-length brown twin ponytails bounced cheerfully along with her shovel swings. She wore a dark brown mid-length dress and black boots, the muted outfit making her already fair, tender skin seem even paler.

The scene was rather eerie.

"Big Hilichurl got sick, Little Hilichurl came to see; Third Hilichurl gathered herbs, Fourth Hilichurl boiled tea; Fifth Hilichurl died, Sixth Hilichurl carried him away~ Ah... whew."

Still cheerfully singing that unknown tune, the girl finally dug a pit large enough for one person. She planted the shovel in the soil, rested a foot on it, wiped her completely sweatless forehead, and let out a soft breath.

Then she began swinging the shovel again, filling the hole back in.

Jeanne Alter curiously looked into the pit and found nothing inside. It was completely empty.

Jeanne Alter was baffled by the girl's actions and could not help asking, "Hey, there's nothing in that hole at all. Why did you dig it up only to fill it back in?"

"Heh! I can't help it either."

The girl filling the hole seemed to have noticed Jeanne Alter long ago. She was not surprised in the slightest and kept diligently swinging her shovel as she answered without turning around, "Everyone uses cremation these days, and nobody talks about the rules of traditional funerals anymore. My family trade has nowhere to be used, so I can only come out by myself at night and practice once in a while, so I don't get rusty."

"Funerals?"

Hearing the girl's answer, Jeanne Alter became interested. "Hey, do you handle funerals for people?"

"You could say that."

As she spoke, the girl had already filled in the pit. She turned around with the shovel in hand and looked at Jeanne Alter. "What, do you have business in that area? If you do, come find me. I handle everything from preserving and keeping vigil over the body to burial methods, memorial tablets, ceremonial items, and more. The second tombstone is half price."

"I do have someone I hate."

Jeanne Alter curiously examined the shovel in the girl's hand. "That guy clearly said he wasn't allowed to get close to me, but he kept coming near me again and again, teasing me. I clearly told him I was a cursed witch. I clearly threatened that if he came close, I would strangle him, burn him with fire, and send him to hell, but he still came near me on his own and teased me."

"He certainly sounds like an irritating bastard." Hu Tao was filled with righteous indignation. "So, would you like to order the full funeral package? I can personally arrange that bastard's funeral."

"He is an irritating bastard." Jeanne Alter gritted her teeth. "That annoying guy kept shamelessly pestering me, teasing me, and deceiving my feelings. If he weren't my Master, I would have burned him to ashes long ago."

"But even though he was such an annoying guy, after being together for so long, I finally, reluctantly accepted him and made up my mind to accompany him all the way to the end of hell... yet that guy suddenly vanished for no reason at all and never appeared again!"

"Oh, so you like him."

The girl sounded a little disappointed after hearing Jeanne Alter's words. "I thought I would get the chance to arrange another funeral."

"W-Who said I like him?"

Jeanne Alter's face immediately flushed red at the girl's words. She stammered, "I-I only reluctantly accepted him because he's my Master. H-He has Command Spells that can order me around. A bastard with no sense of responsibility at all... if I can find him, I'll definitely make him pay!"

"Why not hand him over to me? Dead or alive, I can personally arrange his funeral. I guarantee both of you will be satisfied."

The girl suggested.

"Huh? Ah, um, n-no need. I-I'll teach him a lesson myself. I'll make him pay."

Jeanne Alter was startled by the girl's words and hurriedly objected.

Her suggestion had been rejected again, and the girl was disappointed that she could not arrange a funeral. Still, she pulled out a business card from her pocket and handed it to Jeanne Alter. "This is my card. You can come find me anytime you need something. I really enjoyed talking with you today. If you come to me again, I'll give you fifty percent off."

Jeanne Alter curiously took the card and looked at it. It read—

Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor: Hu Tao.

Services: Funerals and memorial arrangements.

Her contact information was listed at the bottom.

Jeanne Alter thought for a moment while holding the card, then tucked it into her pocket. She took out her own business card and handed it to Hu Tao. "This is my card. I really enjoyed talking with you today. I hope we can be friends in the future."

Hu Tao reached out and took it. When she saw the words on the card, she froze—Mond International, Head of Security: Jeanne d'Arc.

Mond?

Could it be that Mond from Teyvat? Did they come to this world just like us?

Was she from Mond?

Hu Tao was very surprised.

"Sorry, I suddenly remembered I have something to do, so I'll be going first. See you next time, bye-bye!"

Hu Tao waved farewell to Jeanne Alter. Then, carrying her shovel over her shoulder, she darted away and vanished into the darkness.

I have to tell Ganyu and the others about this!

"Since Hu Tao heard news about Mond International, I had someone investigate it specifically. We found that Mond International is a European corporation whose business has already expanded to the mainland. Mond's leader is very likely someone we know."

On the way to the airport, Ganyu sat in the back seat and explained to Enterprise beside her, "In the past, Liyue and Mond had both competition and cooperation, but now, they are more likely to be competitors. So we must set off early and head to the mainland, to avoid letting Mond seize the initiative and putting ourselves at a disadvantage."

Enterprise listened silently, looking at the plane ticket in her hand without speaking.

It was tonight's flight. Once she boarded and slept through the night on the plane, she would reach the mainland early the next morning.

Reaching the mainland also meant taking one step closer to the Commander.

How was the Commander doing? Was Laffey with the Commander?

Had Ship-Girls from the other factions also come to this world like she had and found the Commander?

The White Eagle War God of old was now filled with anxiety and had not taken in a word Ganyu said.

Once they reached the mainland, they could rely on the help of that girl named Keqing and use Liyue's information network to search for the Commander, right?

Would she be able to find the Commander smoothly?

A vague premonition told Enterprise that this trip to the mainland might bring good news very soon.

Commander, please wait just a little longer. Enterprise will definitely find you!

Keqing Goes on a Business Trip, Fu Hua's Opportunity

"We're back."

With that, Ye Ming took a deep breath and stepped into the house.