The next morning, Gu Sanqiu woke up unusually early, popped something he'd gotten from his golden finger into his mouth, and slowly made his way out of the house.
Item: Flame Sea Urchin Egg
Origin: Underwater Volcano
Notes: A delicacy produced by some mysterious sea creature dwelling in the volcano, though the creature itself remains an unsolved mystery in the scientific community.
As Gu Sanqiu peeled the sea urchin's shell, he could feel a spicy tingling sensation on his fingers—a clear sign that the shell was also a great material for trickery. Inside, instead of a typical egg yolk, there was a ball of fire, floating within the egg white.
When he swallowed it in one gulp, Gu Sanqiu immediately felt more energized, as if his blood vessels were about to catch fire. Having grown used to gourmet meals from places like Liuli Pavilion, Xinyue Kiosk, and Wanmin Restaurant, Gu Sanqiu figured that at this rate, he'd be able to single-handedly drag Guyun Stone Forest to Liyue Harbor and turn it into the next great port—if, of course, Osial wasn't an issue.
"Too bad I can't farm this stuff. If I could, the food industry in Teyvat would be mine."
As for that giant-legged chicken from before... Gu Sanqiu decided he didn't want to add any more complexity to his life just yet.
"Heh, so they've been watching me from the moment I left my house."
Gu Sanqiu smirked. "Fine then, come along. Let's see if you can figure out where I'm headed today."
Behind him, spies from various factions exchanged glances but refrained from making any rash moves. They were all professionals, after all, and no one wanted to act prematurely until the situation became clearer. That was how adults handled things.
But after following him for a while, the spies began to notice something off.
"His direction seems... off."
Based on his usual routine, Gu Sanqiu typically went to Wanmin Restaurant for breakfast, then wandered around until lunchtime. As for the afternoon? That was anyone's guess. The spies didn't follow him all day long since blatantly ignoring the Qixing wasn't something they were willing to risk.
But today, something seemed wrong with his route.
"Wait, is that...?"
When they saw Gu Sanqiu heading up the stairs and turning back to flash them a smile while tapping the air where they stood, it suddenly clicked.
"That's... Northland Bank!"
Upon realizing his destination, the spies panicked and immediately bolted to report to their superiors.
Gu Sanqiu had purposefully pointed them out and walked straight into Northland Bank, a move full of implications they couldn't ignore.
Once inside, he was served tea by one of the staff, and instead of inspecting the bank's decor, Gu Sanqiu sat calmly. After all, standing out wasn't exactly a good idea for a bank, especially not in Liyue, where people were used to a certain aesthetic. Trying to look too unique might give customers the impression of being unreliable or at risk of failure.
Sure, this place was just a front for the Fatui to handle their finances in Liyue, but they couldn't rely solely on funding from Snezhnaya. Finding ways to generate income locally was a necessity.
Still...
"Northland Bank... or should I say 'Scapegoat Bank'? Was that on purpose?" Gu Sanqiu mused.
"Sir, this is Amir, a senior account manager at Northland Bank. He'll be assisting you with your needs today."
"So, Gu Sanqiu, it's our first time meeting, I believe. We're well aware of the Fengxiang Clan's reputation."
Amir skipped any pointless flattery like "your name precedes you" and got straight to business. "So, what brings you to us today?"
He didn't believe for a second that Gu Sanqiu was here for regular banking services. As a Fengxiang, there were plenty of people willing to handle his financial affairs, even throwing money at him.
"Smart guy," Gu Sanqiu thought. He hadn't expected to meet Pulcinella on his first visit anyway. If he had, he would've been more worried about whether or not he'd leave the bank alive.
"You probably already know why I'm here. I trust the Fatui's intelligence network. I'm just here to establish... a connection with your organization."
Amir smiled. "As expected from the Fengxiang heir. According to our strategic department's analysis, coming to Northland Bank was indeed your optimal move."
"Oh? So you've been watching me for a while, then?" Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow.
"A family that straddles both ancient and modern worlds is a rarity in any country, let alone one with secrets as coveted as those of the Fengxiang Clan," Amir said bluntly. "Those secrets stir curiosity—and greed. To be honest, we in the Fatui, or rather Snezhnaya, are also quite interested."
"Good. I appreciate your honesty." Gu Sanqiu grinned. "So, how about a deal—just between me and the Fatui?"
"And what could you offer us? As far as we know, your family holds an exalted position, but it never interferes in Liyue's regular affairs."
"True. Traditionally, we don't get involved in such matters."
Gu Sanqiu nodded. "What you guys are doing in Liyue... well, let's put it nicely and call it 'stimulating economic growth.' More bluntly, you're disrupting the market as a foreign enterprise."
"Strictly speaking, we're not exactly on the same side."
"I understand, I understand. This is the adult world, after all. Temporary alliances can be formed for practical reasons. That's what you mean, right?"
"Exactly."
Gu Sanqiu pulled out a small orb from his waist. "I think you'll find the manufacturing method for this quite intriguing."
Item: Recovery Orb
Origin: Too many to trace.
Notes: When your enemy's pet or summon uses an unfair healing skill, like Roar of Restoration, they might be secretly using a Recovery Orb.
Effect: Heals and restores (works on all life forms).
"This is a handy healing item, similar to the life-saving items used by treasure hoarders, but this one can be applied directly to the body."
Gu Sanqiu placed five Recovery Orbs on the table.
"I don't know the exact method of production, but I can offer you the basic concept and let you test a few for yourselves."
After hearing the item's description, Amir's eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of intelligence flashing in them.
"Ah, now that's an interesting offer."
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If you spot any mistakes let me know so I can fix them.
Read up to Chapter 35! [P@treon.com/WiseTL]