"Mushroom chicken skewers are a local specialty in Mondstadt!" Linaya explained with a smile after Ronava had eaten everything but the skewer.
"Besides those, Sweet Madame is delicious too!"
Yesterday, Tang Wang had asked Linaya to help her "look after" Ronava, and Linaya had taken that to mean looking after a child.
After all, Ronava really did act like a child. Combined with her status as an "Adeptus" (questionable)... Linaya thought Tang Wang might want her to teach Ronava some common knowledge about humans.
"If you want to buy something, you have to pay Mora to the seller, meaning the shopkeeper," she explained carefully. "And when you're enjoying good food, don't forget the effort the people who made it put in."
"Why do they all use Mora?" Ronava finally asked. "I mean, why did humans choose Mora as their currency?"
"Because Mora is a very powerful alchemical catalyst. Its inherent value makes it highly suitable for circulation."
"Oh, right, Nana." Linaya had finally come up with a nickname for Ronava. "Do you remember Albedo? The blond boy Tang Wang met before."
"He's a very talented alchemist, and he's discovered many special uses for Mora..."
After listening to Linaya, Ronava had a general understanding of the reasoning behind the human decision.
But with the flesh and blood of a god in her hand, she still couldn't shake an odd feeling.
"Come on! Besides the Good Hunter, there are lots of little shops here worth visiting!"
"How interesting. You've come this far, Mr. Kang Jie. Is this really the limit of your ambition?" Inside the lavish hall, La Signora sat with her legs crossed and looked at the young man with disdain.
"As partners, perhaps we shouldn't pry too deeply into each other's goals?" Kang Jie smiled helplessly.
"After all, I trust that the esteemed Lady La Signora would never have come for a bit of vulgar wealth."
"Hmph. At least you have some discernment..."
As they spoke, a blue figure burst through the door without warning:
"Kang Jie! Don't you think you owe the people of Mondstadt an explanation?" Eula demanded angrily.
"Oh? Where did this insect come from?" Seeing someone interrupt their meeting, La Signora immediately waved a hand.
Several Fatui soldiers appeared at once. Eula swung her Favonius Greatsword and engaged them in battle in the Lawrence Clan's hall.
"Hey, hey, hey! Stop fighting, all of you!" Kang Jie shouted hurriedly. "This place is a historical relic!"
He wasn't wrong. The Lawrence Clan's lavish hall had watched at least a dozen generations grow up.
"That's right. Mr. Kang Jie has a point." Tang Wang appeared just in time, swiftly took down the Fatui soldiers, and placed a hand on Eula's shoulder.
"Oh? I never expected even you to grace my humble home with your presence." Tang Wang's arrival had evidently taken Kang Jie by surprise.
"What? You know me?"
"Naturally! How many people don't know the legendary S-rank adventurer?" Kang Jie immediately put on a smile and exchanged a few pleasantries.
"Hah! What a bold fellow." A chill gathered in La Signora's hand, and an icicle shot toward the center of Tang Wang's forehead.
A golden light shimmered in his palm. He flicked a finger, and the icicle vanished in an instant.
"I often find myself wondering how someone like you, an arrogant shrew, ended up among the noble and mysterious Fatui Harbingers," Tang Wang said, turning to mock the Fatui's Eighth Harbinger, La Signora.
"How dare you!" La Signora's anger surged at his words. But in the blink of an eye, Tang Wang appeared before her, and after one punch, she crumpled to the floor.
"Don't worry, I held back. I didn't kill her." He looked at the Fatui soldiers, who were still staring at one another. "And you lot, why aren't you carrying your superior back?"
"If you stay here getting in the way, I don't mind clearing you out."
"Yes, sir!" They promptly scurried away, carrying La Signora with them.
"You..." Eula and Kang Jie were both dumbfounded. "How dare you?"
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Tang Wang asked. "If you're afraid the Fatui will take issue with it... all I can say is, don't worry. They absolutely won't."
"I have some connections in the Fatui myself. La Signora alone can't stir up any trouble."
With that, he raised his eyes and met Kang Jie's gaze.
"And now, Mr. Kang Jie, I really do have a lot of questions for you."
"Don't worry, this is a negotiation between equals." He spread his hands. "You can ask me questions of equal weight. As long as you don't try any tricks, I'll tell you everything I know."
"All right." Kang Jie nodded. "Then, Aunt Eula, why have you come to see me?"
"...Don't say things that make me feel so old." Eula coughed. "I only wanted to ask whether it's true that the Lawrence Clan is colluding with the Abyss Order."
"It's true." He admitted it openly. "How else could I effectively sabotage them without going deep behind enemy lines?"
Eula froze at his words.
"Now, I've obtained a very valuable piece of intelligence," Kang Jie continued. "The last remaining Electro Abyss Lector has the legendary five-star weapon, the Lost Prayer to the Sacred Winds."
"If you want to kill it, you must also take into account the effect that weapon will have on the battle."
"Also, there are some strongholds where the Abyss Order is particularly active..."
Kang Jie then took out a sheet of paper and wrote several names on it.
"...I'll report these matters to the Knights of Favonius." Eula's expression seemed to relax slightly. "Kang Jie, I don't understand. Why haven't you told the Knights of Favonius everything?"
"I've already passed on plenty of intelligence." Kang Jie looked helpless as well. "But apart from that cavalry captain, Kaeya, nobody took it seriously at all."
"Aunt Eula, you'd better have Mr. Tang Wang pass on the information too, or else..."
"Don't change the subject." Eula shook her head. "I'm asking why you didn't tell the Knights of Favonius something as important as the fact that you're undercover."
"Tell the Knights of Favonius and let the whole world find out immediately?" Kang De looked surprised. "Aunt Eula, you still seem a little unclear on the situation..."
"The Knights of Favonius aren't the only ones in the order now."
"..." Eula froze.
"So please keep this between us." Seeing her reaction, Kang Jie hurriedly added that.
"So, Mr. Tang Wang, what exactly did you want to ask?"
"Me?" He pointed at himself. "There's only one thing I want to ask..."
"Where exactly did your weapons come from?"
"The black markets in Liyue and Snezhnaya," he said frankly. "If you want more specific leads, sir, you can try making a trip to Nod-Krai."
"All right." He nodded. "So, what do you want to ask me now?"
"Hmm, can I save that question for later?"
"Sure. Whenever you want to ask, you can." He nodded.
"Then I'll save it for later." He looked around, and after confirming there were no outsiders present, he waved for the two of them to leave quickly.
"Mondstadt, my most beautiful homeland..." After they left, Kang Jie turned and gently stroked the map behind him.
"I encountered a future where you sank into darkness. This is the curse for my greed."
"So I will never allow anyone to defile your existence. If you are destined to sink into darkness... I hope it won't be in that despairing future."