"Let's get this straight first. I'm not going to be anyone's hired muscle."
"I don't want to get involved in the conflict between adepti and mortals, either."
"Don't think about winning me over."
Before Ningguang could speak, Jiang Xiaofeng flatly refused to get involved in Liyue's long-standing conflict between adepti and mortals.
Originally, the adepti had no intention of competing with mortals for the right to govern Liyue Harbor.
But if Rex Lapis fell, that would be another matter.
They would need to leave their mountains to manage Liyue Harbor, which might fall into chaos after Rex Lapis's death.
After all, in their eyes, mortals were no match for adepti...
Of course, Jiang Xiaofeng knew all of this was bound to happen.
As long as this Rite of Descension could begin, Rex Lapis would definitely fake his death, and the conflict between adepti and mortals would reach a critical point, waiting for a single opportunity to erupt in full.
Jiang Xiaofeng didn't want to concern himself with these matters. He just wanted to be the one to set the whole incident off.
For example... he could snatch the Sigil of Permission from Childe at the Golden House when the time came, then release Osial himself...
Jiang Xiaofeng pictured the scene.
...Quite a few people would die, wouldn't they?
Pah, pah, pah. What dead people? Those are all cells!
As Jiang Xiaofeng thought about it, his eye lit up.
There were certain things that could cause mass casualties that Jiang Xiaofeng was actually quite willing to do himself.
He couldn't help it. He was short on cells.
Jiang Xiaofeng didn't know whether the system's upgrades had an upper limit, but of course, judging by the current situation, the more cells he had, the better...
Jiang Xiaofeng looked at Ningguang in front of him.
He waited for her to continue.
Ningguang smiled and shook her head.
"Of course, that isn't why I asked you here."
Who would believe that?
Jiang Xiaofeng scoffed inwardly.
After I've turned you down so clearly, you'd have to be a complete idiot to bring it up anyway.
She was the Tianquan, after all, not an idiot. Naturally, she wouldn't answer that way.
Jiang Xiaofeng nodded, letting Ningguang continue.
Ningguang folded her hands beneath her chin, resting her elbows on the table, and asked meaningfully, "May I ask your name, sir?"
Jiang Xiaofeng shrugged.
He had forgotten that he had only told La Signora his real name.
"The Beheaded will do."
Ningguang frowned slightly. "Don't you have a name of your own?"
"We've only just met. Why would I tell you that?"
Jiang Xiaofeng was speechless.
Are we that close?
Jiang Xiaofeng grew wary.
Still, it seemed he had been overthinking things just now. Ningguang wasn't dwelling on the question.
Ningguang soon spoke again.
"Mr. Beheaded, what do you think of Liyue Harbor as it is today?"
Jiang Xiaofeng scoffed.
Hasn't this come right back to that question?
Jiang Xiaofeng thought for a moment before saying, "Not much. My view is that there's a little too much shady business. Even if it's meant to preserve the meaning of the legitimate side's existence... it's still a little excessive."
Ningguang nodded.
She had already investigated the fellow before her and knew what Jiang Xiaofeng was referring to.
The Yanshang Teahouse.
It was a gray area managed by a certain woman.
It was also a place whose existence she, the Tianquan, tacitly permitted.
After all, no matter how prosperous Liyue Harbor was, it still needed some shady business to support its underside...
Ningguang gestured for Jiang Xiaofeng to continue.
Jiang Xiaofeng shook his head.
"That's all?"
Ningguang found it a little hard to believe.
You can clearly see these problems, yet you can't see anything else?
Are you hiding your abilities, or do you really not know?
Ningguang and Jiang Xiaofeng looked each other in the eye.
After a long while, Ningguang smiled helplessly.
She said, "Very well. It seems you truly don't know, Mr. Beheaded."
I can't. Staring one eye down with two is just too funny...
Ningguang quickly composed herself.
Then she stood up.
She slowly walked over to a noticeboard.
Jiang Xiaofeng stood up as well.
"Up here... blah, blah, blah..."
Jiang Xiaofeng listened listlessly as Ningguang explained the benefits of these slips of paper, letting out a bored yawn.
"So... did you need me for anything else?"
Seeing that Ningguang was gradually winding down, Jiang Xiaofeng asked.
"No."
Ningguang felt quite helpless.
Jiang Xiaofeng simply wouldn't budge. No matter how she hinted at the extent of her influence, he remained unmoved.
There was nothing she could do. Ningguang wasn't going to sell out anything else for someone who might be very powerful.
"Then... you may leave."
Ningguang hesitated no longer and waved him out.
"Baiwen, Baishi, see Mr. Beheaded out."
Tsk, what a mouthful...
Ningguang thought as she watched Jiang Xiaofeng leave.
Once Jiang Xiaofeng was out of the Jade Chamber's interior, the two secretaries behind him spoke up.
"Hey, you! How could you be so rude to Lady Ningguang?"
"You..."
Before Baiwen could finish, Jiang Xiaofeng raised a hand.
A bolt of electricity struck Baiwen, knocking her unconscious on the spot.
"You!"
Baishi hurriedly caught Baiwen and glared angrily at Jiang Xiaofeng.
"Ningguang hasn't even said anything. Why are you two running your mouths?"
Jiang Xiaofeng replied impatiently, spread his dragon wings, and flew toward Liyue Harbor.
By the time Jiang Xiaofeng reached Liyue Harbor, the sky had already darkened.
Jiang Xiaofeng didn't want to wander around any longer, either, lest he see something unpleasant again and give himself more worries.
He went straight to the entrance of the Northland Bank and walked inside.
Meanwhile, the Millelith hidden nearby quickly passed the news up the chain...
"Ningguang, that fellow really does have ties to the Fatui!"
Ningguang calmly picked up a cup of tea and took a sip.
"Don't be so impatient, Keqing."
"He isn't important for now."
"If the Fatui really do cause trouble at the Rite of Descension, it won't be too late to demand an explanation from them then."
Keqing understood that reasoning, too.
But she just couldn't stand Jiang Xiaofeng!
He had flouted Liyue Harbor's laws. Keqing swore she would find something to hold against him!
What? What would she do after finding it?
Rage impotently, of course...
Back to Jiang Xiaofeng.
The Northland Bank's manager spotted Jiang Xiaofeng, thought for a moment, and brightened. Before Jiang Xiaofeng reached the counter, he said with a smile, "You must be the person Lady Signora is waiting for. Lady Signora is resting in the lounge at the back. I'll take you there."
Jiang Xiaofeng nodded.
As the manager led Jiang Xiaofeng through the back door, the fellows at the front desk started talking.
"What's that guy's relationship with La Signora?"
"No idea, no idea..."
"We'd better do as Lady Signora says..."
One of them said a few words into a... walkie-talkie? Then he put it down.
Afterward, they went on gossiping...
The manager led Jiang Xiaofeng to a door.
"La Signora is right inside."
"I won't disturb you. I'll be off, then."
Jiang Xiaofeng grabbed the manager, who was trying to slip away.
"You can't leave."
Jiang Xiaofeng smiled.
"Look at you, running around directing people to wait in this room. What hard work."
"La Signora probably wasn't the one who told you to do this."
"I hope whatever's in here interests me a little. Otherwise, I'll take your head off when I come back out."
Smiling, Jiang Xiaofeng flung the manager aside and kicked the door open.
Several Fatui Skirmishers were inside.
Jiang Xiaofeng sighed.
"La Signora should have seen what I can do... And I think a certain someone has always been stationed at the Blameland Bank."
"It goes without saying... who sent these people."
"Is La Signora a blabbermouth, too?"
"Whatever."
Jiang Xiaofeng took out Acceptance.
"Since you've sent them out, I ought to respond."
"I'll just kill them all..."