The nights in Teyvat always seemed to come especially quickly. Before long, night had quietly fallen over Liyue Harbor. Beneath the dark, starry sky, the busy port city had finally been veiled in tranquility, settling into a calm and peaceful hush.
Knock! Knock!
At that moment, outside the office of Tartaglia—the Fatui's chief administrator in Liyue, Snezhnaya's ambassador, and the CEO of the Northland Bank in Liyue, better known by his alias, "Childe"—Nadia, the Northland Bank guard assigned to the night shift, raised her hand and knocked twice on the heavy wooden door. She was a woman in the Fatui's standard red-and-black coat and mask, her face impossible to make out. The door was decorated in Liyue style, with just a hint of Snezhnayan color and ornamentation.
"Who is it?"
"The door isn't locked."
"Come in..."
After a series of sounds came from inside the office, followed by a weary-sounding voice and the occupant's permission, Nadia didn't hesitate. She slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside with a light tread.
There, behind the desk, sat their superior, "Childe." He held a pen in one hand and rubbed his forehead with the other, apparently reviewing some troublesome matter.
"Hmm?"
"Nadia, it's you..."
"Phew!"
"Tell me, what is it?"
Seeing Nadia come in—and carefully close the door behind her—Childe looked a little surprised. He thought for a moment, then tossed aside his pen, clasped his hands together, and leaned back in his chair in a comfortable pose. With an easy, curious expression, he asked her what she wanted.
He knew this wasn't the time for the daily report; Vlad had already given that report earlier. If Nadia had come by this late, it clearly wasn't about something trivial.
"Childe!"
"Someone from the Crux Fleet just came to deliver a message."
"They