"Adventurine, wake up. We're almost at Liyue Harbor."
Rosalyne's cold voice sliced through the ship's cabin like a chill wind, brushing past Shajin's ears.
There was not a trace of emotion in her voice—like a block of ice—sending an involuntary shiver down one's spine.
Shajin had been lost in a beautiful dream, but her voice startled him awake. His body jolted, and his mind slowly regained clarity.
"Ah~"
He covered his mouth and let out a long yawn, shivering slightly as though struck by a jolt of electricity.
Then, slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking as he tried to bring his surroundings into focus.
"So soon already?"
Sunlight streamed through the window, stabbing into his eyes. He squinted, struggling to adjust to the harsh brightness.
"You slept from morning till now. You really outdid yourself, Adventurine."
Rosalyne's voice rang out again, laced with faint reproach.
Shajin scratched his head and rolled his eyes.
"If you hadn't insisted on dragging me into that game of chess, I wouldn't have slept so long."
He stretched, shaking off his stiffness, feeling the gentle sway of the ship beneath his feet.
Squinting, he tried to get a clear view of his surroundings.
Liyue Harbor's docks were just ahead, drawing closer by the second.
His thoughts drifted to the chaos of the Beisht Rebellion—a disaster that had devastated Liyue's coastline, shattering its former prosperity and peace and plunging its people into fear.
Yet now, the once-ruined buildings stood restored, perhaps even more magnificent than before.
Shajin swiftly reached into the inner space of his Vision and retrieved a mask, fitting it expertly onto his face.
In an instant, the lazy, carefree image of him vanished—replaced by an aura of mystery and authority.
His eyes behind the mask sharpened with piercing depth, as if they could see through all secrets.
The sudden transformation stunned Rosalyne beside him. Her eyes widened; it took her a moment to process.
"You…"
She opened her mouth, but ultimately chose silence.
Shajin rolled his neck slowly, stretching his limbs as his joints let out crisp crack crack sounds.
His movements were fluid, deliberate—every motion seemed choreographed.
"Liyue, I have returned~"
His voice was low and magnetic, carrying a charm that was impossible to ignore.
His gaze swept across Liyue Harbor's bustling streets, a complex glimmer flickering in his eyes.
This had once been his home—familiar, eternal.
Now, he was finally back.
...
Above Liyue Harbor, suspended in the clouds like a celestial palace, was a grand and elegant pavilion—Jade Chamber, the seat of Tianquan Ningguang, one of the Liyue Qixing.
At this moment, Ningguang sat at her desk, frowning at a stack of photographs that Yelan had just handed her.
"The Gambler, The Fair Lady, and The Harbinger who's been stationed here all along…" she murmured, her tone heavy with concern.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the people in the photos, her mind calculating rapidly. These were all Fatui Harbingers from Snezhnaya. For them to gather in Liyue… this couldn't be good.
"A quarter of the Harbingers gathered in Liyue—definitely not a good omen…" she sighed softly, her expression growing more grave.
Her fingertips tapped against the desk, the crisp rhythm echoing her racing thoughts. She stared at the photos, searching for a countermeasure.
"Follow them first. Find out what they're planning." She finally spoke, voice firm and resolute.
Yelan nodded in agreement.
Then Ningguang glanced at her. "Yelan, does this Harbinger with the codename Gambler feel familiar to you?"
Yelan stepped forward, lifting the photo for a closer look. The man in the picture wore a mysterious mask, with the gold character for "Gamble" etched into the upper left corner.
He stood at the bow of a ship, the sea breeze fluttering his coat—his entire presence exuded mystery and dominance.
Yelan tapped her fingers against the photo, slipping into deep thought.
Suddenly, something clicked. She sharply looked up, locking eyes with Ningguang. In that instant, they understood each other without a word.
Ningguang gave a grave nod, her eyes tinged with worry. Their silent understanding needed no explanation.
"According to intel from Snezhnaya, the Gambler was appointed three years ago—the same time Shajin, the culprit behind the Beisht Rebellion, was exiled."
Ningguang's voice was low and solemn, heavy with implication.
"Gambler, huh? A fitting codename." Yelan gently brushed the bracelet on her wrist, a wry smile tugging at her lips.
She understood all too well what the name truly signified.
"Should we inform the others?" she asked softly, hesitant.
She knew spreading this news could stir unwanted trouble.
"Not yet. The Rite of Descension is the priority now. No matter what, we must complete it first. With the Geo Archon presiding, Shajin—no, even the Fatui—won't be able to cause much of a storm."
...
After disembarking, Shajin and Rosalyne didn't linger. They made straight for the Northland Bank's Liyue branch.
Their pace was brisk; the scenery along the way blurred past them like fleeting glimpses in a dream.
Halfway there, Shajin suddenly recalled something. He turned to Rosalyne.
"We need to stop by my inn first. There's something important I need to retrieve."
She nodded, understanding.
The two adjusted course, heading toward Shajin's inn—The Gambler's Den.
With branches in all seven nations of Teyvat, the Liyue location was its headquarters.
The name exuded mystery and mischief, but the inn was far more than just a place to stay. It was a multi-functional establishment offering entertainment, dining, and exceptional service, beloved by travelers.
And the more people that passed through… the easier it was to gather information~
When they arrived, the attendant at the entrance immediately recognized Shajin and bowed respectfully. "Welcome back, sir."
Shajin gave a slight nod and made straight for the front desk.
Wang Defa was already waiting there, standing respectfully as he handed over a document folder.
"Sir, your documents are ready. Please review them."
Shajin took the folder, murmuring a brief response, then opened it and quickly scanned through the contents.
As he finished, he raised his hand, dissolving the documents into void data with Imaginary Energy.
"Well done. Tell the staff to keep gathering intel."
"Yes, sir!"
_
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