44 And... They're back.

*Thud*

A sound of a book being put on a hard surface was heard.

"Huff..." Sighed a person.

It was Keqing, the current Yuheng Qixing of Liyue Harbor. She had just finished reading the manga, 'Your Name' and The Avatar. If she had to make a review, she would put the latter in high regard rather than the former.

Truth to be told, she doesn't have a particular fondness for the romance genre. She prefers books where the main characters work hard for something they want to achieve, in short, the action and adventure genre. This preference may or may not have stemmed from her workaholic nature.

Regarding The Avatar, although she had only read one chapter, she still found it entertaining and decided to keep reading.

Just then, the doors leading to her office opened, revealing a familiar blue-haired half-Adeptus. "Sir Yunru's shop has now opened..."

Hearing Ganyu, Keqing nodded. "Have you found out why he suddenly went missing for a full day? And all of a sudden, he mysteriously appeared back in his shop?"

It was clear. She was slightly suspicious of Igarashi for disappearing the other day. From her information network, they saw him leave Liyue Harbor in the morning the other day and did not return that day. Then all of a sudden, he's back in Liyue Harbor and her information network doesn't know how.

She even considered getting in contact with Yelan, a person she had gotten help from in the past.

Ganyu shook her head. "No, I had already contacted the Ministry for information, but they too do not how Yunru suddenly appeared."

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is a government organization under the Liyue Qixing. They handle various tasks and play a big role in Liyue Harbor. Additionally, they also have a great information-gathering network. And Yelan is part of this network but is considered a "Non-entity" individual, meaning that she's really secretive.

Furthermore, they also have a watchlist for potential dangers to Liyue Harbor. Various individuals are listed there, including a certain captain of the Crux Fleet that has an electro vision.

Of course, Igarashi was also on the list. He mysteriously appeared there one day, and no one knows who put him there. But the higher-ups already guessed that it was the "Non-entity" individual they have.

Keqing brought her hand to her chin and pondered something in her mind. She then stopped and shifted the topic. "Never mind. I will investigate this matter personally later..."

She then changed the topic once more. "Anyway, Ganyu, can you purchase me the next chapters of this?" She lifted The Avatar manga.

"Oh, and get me the new books Yunru is releasing... I heard that a book called Re:Zero has been recently made..." She added before taking out a document from the piles of paperwork beside her and picking up a pen.

Due to work, she cannot go to Igarashi's shop as of now. And it's not because she has a lot of work, no, it's because she wants to work. If there's work to do, she'll do it, and if there's none, she'll look if there is. And if there really isn't, she would do some of her hobbies or explore outside Liyue Harbor.

A workaholic through and through.

"I will." Ganyu nodded, accepting the small request. Because she is given a task by Ningguang of monitoring Igarashi's shop, she would sometimes notify Keqing of some reports, as a fellow reader.

As for her? Well, she has taken a liking to Igarashi's manga too, especially Your Name. She very much liked light-hearted books, and this trait came from her Adeptus side as a Qilin, an Adeptus that is known for their gentle personality.

The qilin are gentle creatures who refuse to harm any animal, living a vegetarian lifestyle, with fur as soft as clouds. However, when they do not live in times of peace, they will fight.

Ganyu even guessed how Igarashi could come up with such a good story. It was as if it came from another world, she thought.

After giving her response, Ganyu left Keqing's office and walked through the corridor.

After Ganyu left, Keqing was left alone in her office. She stopped writing and put the pen down as she looked out the window where the morning sun's light was entering. 'I should visit later...'

* * *

Sunday Morning, Mondstadt.

It was a breezy morning. The air feels refreshing outside the city and the sun's sunlight is quite warm to the touch.

The sun's light then lit up a certain shop that had just recently opened. On the shop's front door, a close sign was hanging, indicating that it was closed. But of course, it will be opened later.

The reason for this is because Igarashi, Sasori, and the puppets under him, were in Liyue.

Liyue Harbor, inside Igarashi's shop.

It was a good day today. It was Sunday and some people have no work and decided to buy their new mangas.

Mo Fan then entered the shop. He then went to the other side of the wall to see Igarashi. "I heard you're back, boss?"

"Yup, I was just out for a day, how are you doing, Mo Fan?" Igarashi asked as he drew something

Mo Fan placed his handbag down on his desk and replied. "I'm doing good, Boss Yunru. To tell the truth, yesterday was me and my lover's anniversary. So when I found out that the shop is closed yesterday, you technically gave me a day with my lover."

Hearing this, Igarashi was slightly surprised. "You have a wife?"

Mo Fan laughed and touched the back of his head. "Haha, no, we are still couples. A year now, actually."

"Eh~ congratulations..." Igarashi raised a thumbs up with a plain expression, congratulating Mo Fan.

"Haha, thank you, boss." Mo Fan happily replied.

"Yeah..." Igarashi turned his head away. Truth to be told, he just remembered some bitter memories.

Back in his last life, he too had a girlfriend. But sadly, the relationship only lasted for 5 months.

Because apparently, the "Feeling" was not just there anymore. That, or because Igarashi's ex-girlfriend had a boy best friend who immediately became her new boyfriend shortly after their breakup.

But he soon brushed that thought off. Those are memories in past.

Just then, Sasori entered the shop along with the two lesser puppets. The three of them then soon started drawing on their own desks.

Mo Fan saw the new faces and asked Igarashi. "Boss Yunru, are they new recruits?"

Igarashi stopped scratching and looked at Sasori and then looked at Mo Fan. "Oh them? Oh, yeah. They'll be under Little Liang..." After saying this, Igarashi went back to sketching Rem killing Subaru with her morningstar.

Mo Fan was slightly surprised that new recruits came. He stood up and approached their desks.

He then smiled and stretched out his hand to Satoru. "Hi there! We'll be working from now on, nice to meet you."

However, Satoru just looked at him with an expressionless face with cold eyes. Seeing the look, Mo Fan felt slightly nervous. 'Did I offend him in some way...? Or is he just rude?'

Seeing that he wasn't replying anytime soon, Mo Fan was about to retract his hand but was stopped. Satoru's hand stretched out and shook it as he gave a small nod without saying anything.

Seeing this response, Mo Fan also nodded and shook their hand.

Just then, the door's bell chimed, signaling a person entering.

Mo Fan took a glimpse of who it was and was surprised at who it was.

"Mr. Zhongli?" Mo Fan said. He naturally knows Zhongli, after all, the man is famous around Liyue Harbor for his rich knowledge of history, myths, legends, and folklore. And of course, other fields of knowledge.

He then saw someone beside him enter. It was a person dressed foreign who was smiling. 'Who is he?'

Just then, Zhongli's clear and firm voice was heard. "Please behave yourself here, Childe."

"Haha, relax Mr. Zhongli, It's not like I'd attack everyone here out of nowhere." Replied the Childe.

"Yahoo~ I'm here too~" Added a girl's voice at the back. There, the current Funeral Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was waving her right arm.

"Huh? Why are you here, Hu Tao?" Said another person outside. It was Xiangling who was carrying Gouba.

"Oh? Why is everyone here?" And of course, another person was added. It was Xingqiu walking with Chongyun.