Poisson and Fonta

"Alright, we'll help you think of something over the next few days. We don't know how many we can scrape together, but we can get you at least sixteen hundred."

Lyney made the promise. Though he did not understand the significance of that number, gathering a thousand or so did not seem too difficult.

He knew for a fact that several children from the House of the Hearth had some. He just needed to find a way to get them.

"As for asking 'them' to help you too, I don't think you have enough bargaining chips!" Lyney frowned. This man was truly delusional—he wanted the entire Fatui to help him gather Primogems.

"Oh dear, it seems I really need to meet with a few big shots." Wu Wanghai shook his head, genuinely unsure how they could help him. Of the ones he knew, Tartaglia was the easiest to talk to.

Wu Wanghai looked toward Furina in the distance. Since he needed to discuss the secrets of magic alone with the Lyney and Lynette siblings—

She was currently playing by the shore with the Blubberbeasts basking in the sun.

So, without beating around the bush, he asked, "Where are Arlecchino and Sandrone?"

Good heavens, Lyney could only think. This Wu Wanghai was unbelievable—he had even strung together the names of two Harbingers into one sentence. And he did not mention a single man.

"Could I perhaps meet Arlecchino and Sandrone?" Wu Wanghai truly wanted to meet those two in advance.

He was in Teyvat now, after all, and there was no Paimon telling him, "The area ahead is off-limits for now." He did not have to limit himself to what he knew. Exploring the unknown was fine too.

"I can only contact Father. And are you sure you want to deal with her? Something as minor as collecting Primogems probably will not interest her. The same goes for the other Harbingers." Lyney spread his hands helplessly.

"Alright." Wu Wanghai pursed his lips.

It was another stretch of monster hunting. After walking all morning, Wu Wanghai and the others still had not found a Ley Line Overflow Outcrop.

"Poisson lies at the end of the road ahead. You can rest there for a while." Lyney pointed toward the crossroads ahead, where pedestrians came and went.

"What do you mean?" Wu Wanghai was puzzled. It sounded like... "Are you leaving?"

Lyney removed his hat and gave a bow. "Yes, I need to take Lynette back first."

"A full day has already passed. We really should return. We have new magic to prepare, and we need to help you too, don't we?"

"Though it's sudden, it's fine. Get those Primogems quickly! I'll be waiting for your good news." Wu Wanghai stroked his chin. "Let me think. If it's inconvenient to contact each other... let's meet at the Opera Epiclese. When are you free?"

Lyney thought for a moment before giving a timeframe. "Three days."

"Alright, then three days from now." Wu Wanghai nodded.

"No problem." Lyney nodded as well. Their magic show was also three days away, so they would be around the opera house all day. He did not ask for a specific time.

Lyney turned in the other direction and started walking away. Lynette silently followed behind him.

Wu Wanghai waved, and Furina beside him waved goodbye as well.

"Wait!" Wu Wanghai suddenly called out to the two of them.

After they turned around, Wu Wanghai called to Lynette in the distance, "One more thing... Lynette, when you have time, help me get a kitten!"

"!!!" Lyney immediately grew alert. Why did that sound so ambiguous? Surely he did not mean it that way. "My sister will not be getting anything with you."

"Alright, but it will need to undergo my special training first." The usually taciturn Lynette replied.

Lyney froze. Good heavens! This was the rare Lynette special training.

Unfortunately, he did not know as much about cats as Lynette did. Otherwise, Lyney certainly would not have wanted Lynette getting close to someone who had designs on her; he would have helped the man himself.

As the two of them walked farther away and disappeared from sight, Wu Wanghai could not help sighing again.

After coming to the real Teyvat, it would be difficult to always have a party accompanying him as he farmed the open world. One came, one left.

"Fufu is still the best!" Wu Wanghai suddenly crouched down and hugged Furina's black-cloaked leg.

"Eh?" Furina had only just relaxed a little after seeing the siblings leave. She had not expected Wu Wanghai to pull something like this.

Before Furina could react, he stood up again. "But luckily, I play a summoner!"

A Hydro Mimic Rogue appeared in front of Wu Wanghai.

Wait.

"Are those monsters..." Wu Wanghai awkwardly pointed ahead.

Furina patted down her robes and secretly laughed in delight. "That's right! Who would let Hilichurl monsters get close?"

Wu Wanghai had two choices before him: either enter the town and restock, or keep grinding in the wilderness.

But there was one question—how far away could he control monsters from?

He could test it. With that thought, Wu Wanghai had his answer.

He took the rogue to a hidden patch of grass in the distance. Seeing bushes, trees, and rocks all around, he had the rogue sit there, set it to standby-and-counterattack mode, and forbade it from leaving the grass.

That way, even ordinary people could easily run away if they encountered it. If an expert killed it, he would not feel bad about it either. He could just catch another one later.

"Let's go! We're entering the city!" After making the arrangements, Wu Wanghai waved grandly.

"That ahead is Poisson. It's an underground town." Furina put her hands on her hips, speechless.

"Whatever, city or town—if I forget later, remind me to buy ingredients, seasonings, and tools or something." That was the biggest problem now. Without Lyney's wild camping skills, both shelter and food had become issues.

Wu Wanghai thought about it. It was fortunate Lyney had come yesterday; otherwise, how would they have spent the night?

No, wait. Since Lyney had come, had he not missed his chance to light a fire in the wilderness and have two beautiful women sleep against his shoulders?

Of course, that was assuming Lynette would not conjure two tents like Lyney had.

Wu Wanghai shook his head, casting aside the strange thought.

Then Wu Wanghai still followed behind Furina as she led him into the somewhat dark underground town, Poisson.

The first thing that entered Wu Wanghai's sight was the assortment of suspension bridges and houses built against the stone walls. The enormous cavern stretched as far as the eye could see. At the very end of his vision, a massive cruise ship was docked in the middle.

The whole town felt as though it had been built inside a gigantic cave.

It was hard to put into words. At a glance, it was clearly a very impoverished town.

That did seem to be the case. Around them, ninety percent of the people were dressed plainly.

It was practically a slum. Otherwise, who would not want to live aboveground?

Wu Wanghai had no ability to change Fontaine overnight.

Just as Wu Wanghai was lamenting the bleak reality before him—

A strange man approached.

He was not sneaking around like a pickpocket. He came right up openly, since both Wu Wanghai and Furina were already watching him.

"Tired from your travels? Buy something to drink." As he spoke, the man took a large case of beverages from the box strapped to his back.

They were bottled and orange-colored.

"Only five hundred Mora per bottle. A whole case is only three thousand Mora!" The man rubbed his hands together. So he was a merchant selling things.

Looking at the glass bottles, sealed with caps, Wu Wanghai thought a case would indeed be fine. He was thirsty too.

"One case." Wu Wanghai directly took a case and paid.

He casually opened a bottle and gulped it down.

It was just ordinary, sweet orange-flavored soda. Not bad—there was nothing wrong with it.

Wu Wanghai handed Furina a bottle, and she started drinking too.

Still, the flavor felt somewhat familiar.

Having made a sale and earned a tidy sum, the man saw Wu Wanghai's strange expression as he drank. "Looks like it's your first time trying it? How is it? This is Fontaine's most popular specialty drink—Fonta!"

"Cough, cough, cough—pfft!!" Hearing those last two words, Wu Wanghai choked on the huge mouthful he had just taken and sprayed out the rest of the drink.

I've been poisoned!... No, no!

That single word, Fonta, activated Wu Wanghai's memories. The final Archon Quest he had played in Genshin Impact seemed to have something to do with Fonta.

Wu Wanghai looked at the soda remaining in the bottle and downed it all in one go.

Mm, the drinks in front of him were normal.

A major case. Crucial information!

"Thank you!" Wu Wanghai put away the bottle, grabbed the beverage seller's hands, and shook them vigorously up and down.

Then he grabbed Furina, who was still drinking, and ran off.

Crash! The bottle in Furina's hand fell to the ground and shattered, spilling the half-full Fonta across the wooden boards.