As Keqing dressed in her bedroom, the corner of her eye twitched. Looking at the room full of Rex Lapis figurines, she felt it was such a shame.
Yesterday, she had taken the lead in working overtime again to inspect land development around Liyue Harbor, only returning in the early hours. She really did need a good rest today.
But the appearance of this screen had directly disrupted her principle of giving both work and rest their due.
She had just been about to head to the Jade Chamber to properly discuss the screen with Ningguang and the others when she saw that the reward for the second video was actually a Mora that Rex Lapis had personally toyed with.
This was a Mora Rex Lapis had toyed with! Although, in theory, all Mora were personally produced by Rex Lapis, this one was definitely special. If it weren't, why would he have specifically toyed with this one?
What a shame that this Mora had ended up in a foreigner's hands. She wondered whether this person called Dori would sell it for a high price.
She was so envious of that little nun. As a god's follower, she had actually received an item containing her god's aura. For believers, that had to be the highest honor, right?
Keqing, ostensibly a bit of a hater but actually a diehard Rex Lapis stan, was immediately swept up in turbulent thoughts.
-Come to think of it, apart from Zhongli, who was a genuine "Rex Lapis hater," wasn't everyone in Liyue either a Rex Lapis stan or a twisted Rex Lapis stan?
[Ningguang: Everyone, I believe those able to speak in this discussion area should all be important figures in their respective nations, or at least people with some standing in terms of identity, status, wealth, or importance.]
[Jean: Miss Tianquan, I think, well, most of what you said should be correct.]
Looking at Sucrose, Fischl, and even Klee on the list, Jean could only express her cautious agreement with Ningguang.
Honestly, her initial thoughts had been much the same as Ningguang's, until she saw familiar faces like Bennett and Klee in the discussion area.
Truthfully, she now had absolutely no idea what criteria this suddenly appearing screen used to select people.
[Ningguang: Hello, Miss Jean. We've long known each other in spirit.]
As senior officials of Mondstadt and Liyue, the two had exchanged letters before. Though they had never met in person, they were quite familiar with each other-pen pals who were strangers yet knew each other very well.
[Ningguang: So far, this peculiar screen has shown two videos and posed two questions. Regardless of whether the contents of these videos are true or false, or what they mean, the rewards for both questions have been items connected to gods. I believe we should strengthen communication between us to prevent any mishaps with future questions.]
[Pantalone: Oh, interesting. Then, Lady Ningguang, precisely what form would this cooperation you speak of take?]
[Yae Miko: While I don't particularly care about divine belongings, this does concern my god, so I'm quite curious how we should cooperate.]
[Ningguang: I don't believe we currently have the foundation of trust required to lower our guard and cooperate wholeheartedly. Therefore, I believe what we should do now is share the most basic information, ensuring that nobody rushes to answer a future question only to get it wrong for nontechnical reasons.]
[Ningguang: In that case, a rash person being punished would be a small matter. Missing out on the reward would be the real loss.]
Everyone who saw Ningguang's words sank into thought, feeling that she did indeed have a point.
Though people from different nations could not possibly trust one another completely, the Seven Nations of Teyvat were still nominally allies, and none of them wanted to miss out on their respective gods' belongings because of their own mistakes.
That made this cooperation quite feasible.
The only question was, who would be first to accept Ningguang's proposed cooperation?
Or rather, who had the standing to be the most suitable person to accept first?
[Furina: Interesting, truly interesting. While I care little for a few trinkets, since this is what the people require, then I, Focalors, as the queen of all lands, waters, peoples, and laws, ought to answer your desires.]
[Furina: In the name of Focalors, I shall represent Fontaine in joining this cooperation. People of Fontaine, participate in this game eagerly, enthusiastically, and with even greater effort! Let this world grow livelier!]
"Ohhh, that's Lady Furina for you!"
"See? This is our Hydro Archon! So powerful! So confident!"
"That's right, Lady Furina is the strongest!"
"Could the gods of other nations do something like this?!"
At Furina's declaration, the people of Fontaine erupted with excitement.
Besides being a "god," Furina was also Fontaine's hottest celebrity. Every appearance she made was headline news, let alone a confident declaration to all of Teyvat like this.
For a time, not only Opera Epiclese but also residents of the Court of Fontaine, and even prisoners in the Fortress of Meropide, cheered at Furina's words.
The Fontaine participants qualified to speak in the discussion area, however, exchanged looks, most of them wearing wry smiles.
That boisterous god of theirs.
Ordinary people saw Furina through an idol filter, naturally trusting and loving her fervently. As for them, well, it wasn't that they had any complaints about Furina-in fact, they liked her quite a bit too-but in their eyes, she wasn't quite so reliable.
As the publicly recognized Hydro Archon, Furina was undoubtedly a very suitable person to endorse Ningguang's proposal first.
With a god's public endorsement, and the gods of the other six nations seemingly raising no objections, everyone naturally went along with it and joined the general knowledge exchange plan.
Their exchange of general knowledge did not last long, however.
As the ten-minute break after the question ended, the third video appeared on the screen.
[System: Now playing the third video-"Genshin Impact: Teyvat Chapter" storyline preview PV-"Footprint."]
[Alice: Well, looks like Teyvat really has been made into a game in another world. I just wonder whether the game came first and Teyvat followed, or whether Teyvat came first and then the game "Genshin Impact."]
[Alice: Either way, it's very interesting~!]
[Yae Miko: A preview PV, hmm? Tsk, tsk. I used to be the editor-in-chief deciding the preview and promotional strategies for new books. Seeing a preview for my own world now really does leave me with mixed feelings~.]
[Lumine: Teyvat Chapter. Does that mean there are other chapters...? For some reason, I have a bit of a bad feeling.]
As it turned out, Lumine's premonition was correct.
As the bilibili Games logo, which most people still did not understand, slid past, a voice that made Lumine's eyelid twitch rang out from the pitch-black screen.
"We haven't even had time to say goodbye, so... I won't consider this a farewell."
Lumine slapped a hand over her face, giving Amber and Paimon beside her quite a fright.
There was no mistaking it. That was her brother's voice. Even though Lumine had lost quite a few memories, she could still recognize his voice.
This damn game wasn't using us siblings as its protagonists, was it?
Was it telling the story of our adventures in different worlds, and just happened to be on the Teyvat Chapter now?
This is bad. Game protagonists, especially protagonists of what was probably an adventure game, seemed to run into all sorts of difficulties and trouble.
I just don't know what age rating this game has. If it's 18+, no, even 16+, I'll have to watch out for scripted defeats that leave me down for good.
As Lumine's thoughts ran wild, Aether's voice faded and the miHoYo logo flashed past. Quite a few people who knew something about worlds beyond their own, or were simply very intelligent, had already guessed that this was probably the logo of the company that made the game called "Genshin Impact."
The picture returned, revealing a starry sky absent from the memories of every astrologer on Teyvat. Amid the brilliant, glittering stars, two shooting stars flew together.
"The war has already begun."
In reality, the observer Dainsleif, who was wandering the continent to stop Aether, frowned.
This voice...
In the video, Dainsleif's voice did not stop because of his real self's thoughts.
"It is a continuation of the last war."
Countless pure white flowers formed a beautiful sea of blossoms.
"The gods gild the contours of desire with seven kinds of radiance, thereby proclaiming that their authority can be attained."
Golden light gradually shone from the centers of the countless white flowers.
Across all of Teyvat, only a handful of people could still recognize what these flowers were called. Kaeya in Mondstadt, in particular, frowned for the first time, his seemingly perpetually flippant expression changing.
Lumine, who was walking toward Mondstadt with Amber, subconsciously touched the flowers on her head.
She had worn these unfamiliar white flowers on her head ever since waking up this time, but she had no recollection of them at all.
Anyway, my brother was definitely behind it.
That was what Lumine thought.
The animation continued.
"Yet smoldering remains lie buried in the foundations of this world, a warning to the usurpers."
Zhongli, Venti, and even Ei and Snezhnaya's Cryo Archon, Barnabas, all wore indescribable expressions.
It was the sort of expression that wanted to say something, but ultimately could not, and could only settle for a "motherfucker."
The scene changed. The golden-haired twins stood upon the sea of flowers.
"The divine throne in the heavens was never a seat reserved for you."
[Amber: Huh? Lumine, is that your brother?]
[Lumine: That's right, that's my brother. He hasn't been abducted into some illegal coal mine and made to dig day and night, has he?]
Seeing this comment, Aether, who was secretly watching the screen in the Abyss, nearly lost his composure. A mouthful of blood surged up, and he only managed to swallow it back down with difficulty.
"Your Highness, are you all right?"
Aether wiped the corner of his mouth. "I'm fine."
Beside him, Enjou suggested blithely, "Why not leave a message in the comments? You'd only be letting her know you're safe. Your blood relative could feel a little more at ease too."
Aether cast Enjou a sidelong glance. For an Abyss Herald, this fellow was abnormally lively. Was that only to be expected of a Pyro type? Apart from a few fellows with pissy cat faces, they were all such lively, restless characters.
"No need. It isn't time for our reunion yet, and we can't expose the fact that Lumine's brother is the leader of the Abyss right now."
Taking one final, lingering look at Lumine discussing with various people in the comments about posting lost-and-fou-ah, no, missing-person notices throughout the Seven Nations, Aether fell silent for a moment, suddenly feeling that Enjou might have a point.
If Lumine kept acting in ignorance like this, he would soon be unable to travel through the Seven Nations.
Should he say that was his little sister for you? She was screwing over her brother with her actions as much as ever.
While Aether's thoughts ran wild, the animation continued.
"But, O usurper, do not stop here. No one can watch the fire from the opposite shore. Behold..."
The screen went black for an instant before a shining title suddenly appeared.
[The Outlander Who Caught the Wind]
Lumine raised an eyebrow. She had just obtained Anemo power from the Anemo Archon's statue. Was that the supposed catching of the wind?
[Mondstadt]
[Jean: It seems our Mondstadt is where the story begins?]
[Kaeya: Looking at the Dragon of the East currently wreaking havoc outside, I'd say yes.]
[Lisa: It rather suits the adventure-story premise of heroes appearing wherever there's trouble. But in our story, does the hero have to fight a dragon right from the start?]
[Diluc: Hmph.]
"The dragon that guarded the city of freedom for a thousand years has at last become bewildered by freedom."
Flames swept past, and a pissy cat face filled the screen.
In reality, Kaeya immediately slapped the table and roared with laughter.
Diluc silently drew out his Seven Wolves belt.
"Can freedom commanded by the god of [freedom] still be called freedom?"
As the camera pulled back, the full figure belonging to that mysterious face appeared before all of Teyvat's viewers. It was Diluc, wielding a greatsword, with a flaming phoenix soaring behind him.
[Diona: Ah, an enemy who absolutely must be defeated!]
[Klee: Mondstadt's wine industry, blow it up, blow it up!]
[Jean: Klee!]
[Lisa: Oh my, does this scene mean that Diluc represents Mondstadt's image?]
[Alice: Hats off to this video's creators for finding the one reliable person among our bunch of crouching dragons and phoenix fledglings in Mondstadt. Ah, no, that's not right. Jean is very reliable too.]
[Barbara: Crouching dragons and phoenix fledglings?]
[Alice: Never mind, never mind. This is forbidden knowledge from another world. Little Barbara, if you learn too much, watch out or Mondstadt might be destroyed by the Heavenly Principles~.]
[Barbara: Eek! Miss Alice, please don't openly discuss such dangerous information in the comments either.]
[Jean: Miss Alice (helpless), please stop teasing Barbara.]
[Kaeya: Speaking of which, shouldn't we be paying attention to the information the screen revealed?]
[Jean: Indeed. For now, it seems our Dragon of the East has become bewildered. In that case, our Knights' approach will need to change as well.]
[La Signora: Hmph. So Mondstadt intends to keep letting this disaster continue? Why not leave it to us Fatui? We can definitely resolve the trouble in the shortest possible time.]
[Jean: That won't be necessary. This is Mondstadt's own affair. We do not need Snezhnaya's intervention.]