A spiderweb of intelligence, and those who seek to avoid it

It is common knowledge to the people of Teyvat that Liyue Harbor is one of the most prosperous lands among the seven nations. Being the land in which the universal currency Mora is minted, it has cemented itself as the pillar of Teyvat's economy.

As the sole facility in the entire world that produces Mora, the Golden House, located just to the south of the harbor, is perhaps the most safeguarded location in the entire Liyue, save for the floating palace in the sky that is the Jade Chamber. The Millelith's presence there is a constant, and only the best of the best among them are stationed in such an important place.

Aside from that, the other reason why Liyue is as flourishing as it is now would be the docks. The most populated location within the entire nation, a place where vessels and people from all corners of the world gather for the main purpose of trading their goods. Not a single moment within the day would the hustle and bustle of crew members and merchants die down, all too busy doing their work for the sole purpose of gathering as much profit as possible.

And right now, leaning against the high wall of the upper area of Liyue, a woman wearing a dark overcoat covering the tight bodysuit she wears underneath is observing the gathering of people disembarking from their ships, noting their attire, the goods they're carrying, and the symbol painted on their sails indicating their affiliations.

"..."

Despite her beautiful appearance that would undoubtedly catch the eyes of the many people walking the busy docks, not a single person so much as glance towards her direction.

The fingers of her right hand continuously moved about, playing with the small translucent blue dice as she continued her observation, looking for even the smallest sign of the target assigned to her by the Tianquan Ningguang.

Time continues to pass by as she stood still in the open, dutifully keeping watch as the dice continued to roll in her hand.

The moment the sun sets and the night sky is painted black, her hand suddenly stops as the dice slowly disappears into nothingness.

"Still nothing." She whispered, her voice disappearing into the wind.

Taking her eyes away from the docks, she moved towards the stairs and began her ascent towards the upper area before following the stone pathway in the direction of Yujing Terrace.

"Wenyuan, Shanghua."

"Yes?"

"Your orders, Lady Yelan?"

Suddenly, two similarly dressed men appeared at her side the moment she called out to them.

"Any progress?"

"None, my lady." The bespectacled man, Shanghua, answered. "I've asked around, particularly the business owners he often frequented, but there's been no sign of him for the past several days."

"I see. Wenyuan?"

"It's the same for me." The other one, a man with short black hair, responded. "Taverns and restaurants he visited also came up empty. Nobody knows or has seen where he is."

"Is that so?" Though she expected as much, the result is disappointing nonetheless. "For now, continue to monitor the situation. If anything suspicious happens, you know what to do."

"Yes."

"By your will, Lady Yelan."

As she walked past the circular gate in the direction towards the pharmacy, her two subordinates disappeared, not a trace left from where they were.

"Where are you, harbinger?"

A little more than a week ago, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Jean Gunnhildr, after having been unable to be contacted for quite some time, finally entered into a correspondence with the Liyue Qixing, specifically the Tianquan Ningguang.

And the reason for her absence was made clear to them alongside a set of information, one of them in particular stood out among the rest: information regarding a certain organization from the lands of everwinter that is Snezhnaya.

The Qixing has always been wary of their presence within the nation, but the information given to them by the Acting Grand Master has made them question whether or not they should employ a much more forceful method in regards to their potential interference within Liyue, if the content of the letter was to be believed, of which they're inclined to.

Especially given the fact that a high profile member of their organization, a Fatui Harbinger as they call them, was seen entering the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor not too long before they receive the information. The harbinger in question, a tall male with ginger hair, was also seen walking around the harbor accompanied by the consultant of said parlor.

Though it was quite difficult to figure out as to what was happening behind the scenes, their activity would usually consist of them exploring the stores within Liyue and spending an unusual amount of Mora on items of all kinds, mostly antiques.

As if that's not enough, a different harbinger was also seen to have entered the Northland Bank and has since spent the majority of her time inside. Although, at one point in time, that same consultant of Wangsheng went on a brief visit towards the bank, most likely in order to meet the harbinger in question.

With one harbinger cooped up within the Fatui bank while the other is now nowhere to be found, she couldn't help but curse at how troublesome the current situation is.

'Not a single lead left to pursue. They're very thorough, I'll give them that.'

As for Wangsheng's consultant, the man named Zhongli, he is surprisingly hard to find these days, especially now that the Rite of Descension is mere days away. While her subordinates did try to question his whereabouts from the director, her answer was always the same.

That he had recently asked for a leave, and that whatever he's up to is none of her business.

Though they've managed to question him prior to his leave, his answer left much to be desired. He cooperated fully, that much was true, and he answered all of their questions. Though Yelan would've preferred if she was present at the time, her duties at the Chasm kept her hands full.

'Wupei mentioned that he's telling the truth. Or at least, he wasn't lying when he answered him.'

Having been in this line of work long enough, Yelan knows better than to only obtain information from the person in question. There's a difference between not lying and telling the whole truth, after all.

Unfortunately for her, with the consultant's location unknown and one of the harbinger disappearing from their radar, she and her subordinates had their hands full, and asking for more manpower would be difficult given how close they are to the start of the ceremony.

'It's a shame, but we'll just have to make do with what we have.'

Stepping into the terrace proper, she makes her way past the Yuehai Pavilion into the Yiyan Temple, walking around the Millelith patrol as she ascends the stairs towards the man waiting by the small elevator.

"Bu'yun."

At the sudden call from the invisible woman, Bu'yun seems unfazed as he directly addresses the ministry agent. "Ah, Lady Yelan. How can I help you today?"

"Do you sell the moon here?"

"Yes. How many would you like?"

"It is not convenient to speak of numbers here."

Nodding his head in satisfaction, the guide made way for the now visible Yelan to step forward. "Lady Ningguang has been waiting for your arrival, Lady Yelan."

"Thank you."

Stepping into the small square elevator, she patiently waited as it slowly ascended towards the skies; towards the prized possession of the richest woman in the entire harbor; the crown jewel of the Liyue Harbor, Jade Chamber.

Held up by large chunks of Sunset Vermillionite covered by the numerous building materials the Tianquan have ordered the construction of when it was created, the Jade Chamber slowly floats around Liyue, following a predetermined route through the control room located inside.

What started as a small room has now grown so large that the Jade Chamber would sometimes cover the moonlight shining down upon the harbor, casting its shadow towards the land below thanks to the constant expansion and refurbishment that the Tianquan made, ensuring that the floating palace would become more extravagant as time goes by.

As she reaches a higher altitude, Yelan slips inside the white furred coat hanging on her back, pulling it close in order to weather the cold wind of the night.

Once the elevator has reached its destination, Yelan steps into the floating castle, following the pathway between the pond as she greets the guard outside before opening the large door towards the Jade Chamber.

The cold temperature is soon replaced by the comfortable warmth permeating the entire building the moment she enters.

Much like its grand exterior, the interior of the Jade Chamber is as beautiful and expensive as one would expect. The wooden floors and furnitures made out of Sandbearer Wood of the highest quality; the antique vases filled with all sorts of beautiful plants from all over Liyue; A giant lantern decorated with banners hanging from the ceiling; and the intricate lighting mechanism built into the spiraling staircase in the center of the chamber.

It's as extravagant as Yelan remembers it being.

Stepping inside the palace proper, Yelan greeted the secretaries present as she walked down the spiral stairs towards the lower area, before heading towards the giant open room that serves as the personal office of the Tianquan.

"I've been waiting for you, Yelan." The Tianquan Ningguang said, as she took a puff of her tobacco pipe, not taking her focus off the board in front of her. "Has there been any new development?"

"No. The harbinger's whereabouts remain unknown for now." Walking over towards Ningguang, Yelan stops as she stands next to her, briefly glancing at the famous wall that was said to have contained every information the Tianquan had over the harbor's current state of affairs. "The same goes for the consultant, though with things being the way they are, he's no longer at the top of our priority list."

"Quite." Putting the tobacco pipe into her mouth, the pale-skinned lady took a long puff before slowly huffing the smoke, slightly blurring Yelan's vision. "Anything else?"

"I've finished the other investigation you've assigned me to."

"Oh? And how was the result?"

Yelan rummages through her pocket before pulling out a roll of paper and handing it over to the Ningguang. "The latest information regarding the two honorary knights and their small companion you've taken an interest in." She stops, before correcting herself. "Well, there's four of them now, I suppose."

"Really now?"

Looking away from the large board filled with notes, Ningguang takes the note from Yelan, careful as to not rip the paper with the golden claws attached to several of her fingers before walking towards her desk. "Take a seat."

As she did so, Yelan crossed her legs and rested her arms on top of the smooth wooden desk, waiting for Ningguang to finish reading the information she had compiled.

"What do you think, Yelan?" Ningguang asked as she traced her finger along the paper. "Which of these two caught your interest the most?"

In the face of Ningguang's question, Yelan mentally shook her head in exasperation, preparing herself to indulge in another one of her long discussions.

"Both of them had their own points of interest." Yelan replied, as she remembers the information she and some of her subordinates had gathered regarding the two. "But if I were to choose, then perhaps the Inazuman wanderer, Kamiyama Yuu, has caught my attention the most."

"Is that so? Care to elaborate?"

"He's got quite the colorful background, from what I could gather." Moving away from the table, she leans her back against the soft cushion of the chair and absentmindedly stares at the ceiling. "A native of Inazuma that barely managed to escape his country, washed up somewhere in Sumeru and probably spent quite some time over there, before turning up in Mondstadt for traveling purposes."

"Quite the traveler, isn't he?"

"Mhm."As she nodded her head, Yelan continued. "He's attracted quite the attention the moment he steps foot in Mondstadt, what with the odd choice of mask he wears. Though the rather negative impression quickly turns when he single-handedly cleared most of Mondstadt's urgent commissions."

"Ah, so is that the reason then? His combat skills?" A small laugh escapes the Tianquan's mouth as she raises an eyebrow towards the intelligence officer.

"One of the many reasons, yes." Leaning onto the table, Yelan stares right at Ningguang with a small smile. "You have to admit, someone with an unknown background, an unknown identity, his extraordinary combat skills, along with the achievements he has racked up is quite the interesting one."

"I do. But I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one." Grabbing the tobacco pipe on the table, Ningguang once again takes a puff and huffs the smoke towards the side. "I'd say that the girl has more than meets the eye."

"Ara, care to elaborate?"

"Call it a merchant's instinct, Yelan. Besides, information gathering is supposed to be your forte, is it not?"

"It is, though I'm sure you of all people should have no problem doing that on your own." Yelan chuckled as she looked towards the board filled with notes. "That wall of yours isn't famous for no reason."

"Ah yes, the rumors are quite amusing to hear."

The conversation dies down as Ningguang continues reading the paper in her hand while Yelan sits in front of her, patiently waiting for the pale-skinned woman to finish up.

"Where are they now?" Ningguang asked, breaking the silence.

"Qingxu Pool, just to the south of the Chasm's entrance." Yelan answered. "As of this morning, anyway. But if their previous actions were to go by, they shouldn't be too far from there."

"And what of their recent hunts?"

"As for that…."

For the past week or so, the honorary knights alongside their companions have been going around Liyue taking down numerous treasure hoarders along the way, whether it's the ones usually lurking along the deserted path or even the ones hiding among the many ruins scattered throughout.

Although one can simply see it as an altruistic act on their part, with them being Honorary Knights of Favonius, Yelan had her suspicions. The moment she was briefed regarding the situation back in Mondstadt, however, things began to click.

"...it's safe to say that they've apprehended quite a bit. Perhaps reaching the hundreds by now." Yelan reported, noticing the subtle change in Ningguang's expression. "I'm sure I don't have to explain why they're doing this. The question is, has what they've done enough to satisfy the Tianquan?"

"Enough? Ha, at this point, it's more than satisfactory." Standing up from her seat, Ningguang picks up her pipe and walks over towards the large board, pinning the information Yelan gave her at the center. "Why, even if they hadn't gone through all that trouble, I would've lent my hand either way. Powerful adventurers like them are hard to come by, especially one that has solved Mondstadt's dragon problem.

"But now that they've gone above and beyond, I should naturally reciprocate their show of goodwill, don't you think?"

"And what do you have in mind?"

Humming in thought, The Tianquan taps at her chin for a bit before coming to a decision. "For now, after the Rite of Descension is over, I'll be inviting them over to the Jade Chamber and have a nice chat over some tea."

For Ningguang, who only ever allows the person she trusted the most to even step into the Jade chamber, it is indeed quite the gesture.

"And what of their new friend?"

"Of course, her as well." Ningguang said without hesitation. "It wouldn't do for me to exclude their friend like that. Such courtesy is necessary, if we were to ask for their assistance in whatever scheme the Fatui is planning."

"If you say so. Is there anything else you need me to do?"

"No. That's all for today." Turning her attention towards the intelligence officer, Ningguang gave her a smile as she took a puff of her pipe. "Get some rest, Yelan. Things might be peaceful now, but who knows what could happen."

"Of course. Then, I'll see you tomorrow, Ningguang."

Seeing the Tianquan nod in response, Yelan made her way upstairs and exited the chamber.

Feeling the cold of the night, she once more slips into her fur coat, greeting the guard on standby and stepping into the small elevator as she slowly descends towards Liyue Harbor.

Looking over the lanterns lighting up the harbor, Yelan begins to make her plans for the next few days as she thinks over what Ningguang said to her.

'Peace, huh?'

With the coming ceremony being one of the most important events in Liyue's history, the presence of two Fatui Harbingers as well as one of them currently being unaccounted for, she knows, more than anyone else, that this period of peace would not last.

After all, what others might perceive as a moment of quietness is nothing more than the calm before the storm.

___________________________________

'My dearest sister Tonia, I hope you receive this letter in good health, though I can only hope that the old man's headache has gone better by the time you read this.'

On one of the many dilapidated ruins scattered across Liyue, many members of the Fatui can be seen walking along the broken walls, as numerous gunmen kept their vigilance despite the dark night.

'I have sent some medication from Liyue Harbor. It's very effective and will probably keep him from his nagging for a while. It should reach you after a few days.'

Despite the importance of this ruin to their operation, the security measure seems relatively light to any observer. Though in reality, aside from gunmen, numerous agents hid themselves within the shadows, ready to ambush anyone that trespassed.

'Of course, I haven't forgotten about the presents I've bought for you.'

Inside one of the large tents that serves as the command center, a lone figure sat as he wrote a letter for the family he left behind. With a single lantern on the table as the only light source, the ginger haired man continued scribbling away.

'Along this letter, there should be two kites, a rattle drum, two porcelain dolls, and a crate full of various snacks.'

Thinking of his siblings, the man couldn't help but smile.

'And please, break it to Anthon that the residents of Liyue are just regular human beings like us. No, they're not made of stone, and they don't eat stones either.'

"Lord Harbinger, apologies for the interruption."

Hearing a call coming from one of the agents on standby, he couldn't help but feel annoyed at the sudden interruption.

Putting down the quill, the man reigns in his bubbling bloodlust, holding back the urge to kill him. "Enter."

Once permission was given, the agent wearing a dark red hooded Fatui uniform alongside the beaked mask steps into the tent before immediately kneeling on the ground as he presents a scroll of paper towards the harbinger.

"Apologies, my lord, but an urgent message has arrived for you."

"Enough." Standing from his seat, the man approached the agent and took the letter from him, glaring all the while as he stamped down at the bubbling heat burning him from the inside, telling him to end the agent's life. "Who's the sender?"

"Lady Signora, my lord."

Hearing his fellow harbinger's name, his interest was piqued, the heat disappearing as a cold sensation ground him back to reality.

He was sent to the Land of Contracts for a mission, and was told to cooperate with the Fair Lady as best as he could. As much as he despises his fellow harbingers, orders are orders, and far be it for him to disregard the wishes of the Tsaritsa.

The only problem would be the fact that her blatant disregard of him and her unwillingness to even communicate practically made cooperation impossible. But that's fine for him. After all, as long as he gets to have fun while accomplishing what he was told to do, he doesn't really care about cooperation.

And yet, that same person now sends a message to him?

"Has she finally come to her senses?"

Even as the word escapes his mouth, he couldn't help but scoff.

"Yeah right." As he sat back down, the harbinger turned his attention towards the kneeling agent. "You're dismissed."

"Understood."

As the agent's figure disappears into an inky black shadow, the harbinger opens the letter and reads its content.

At first, the words written in the standard Fatui code confuses him, but the further into the message he reads, the more excited he becomes as he draws an astonishing conclusion.

One that perhaps even she has yet to realize.

"Ahahahaha!" He couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. The situation was too hilarious. Too amusing. Something like this, surely he must enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity to the best of his abilities.

"Ahaha! Ha… it seems that another player wishes to join the game." Rolling the unfurled paper, the harbinger opened the lantern case and burned the message using the fire within. "But hey, who am I to deny such an interesting opponent?"

Picking the quill back up, he dips it into the pot of ink as he continues writing his letter, his mood much better than before.

'There's no need to worry about me Tonia, and please, do not make trouble at home. As soon as I seized the Seven Stars of Liyue and laid them at Her Majesty the Tsaritsa's feet, I will take the first ship back to Snezhnaya. Just as I promised you.'

Thinking of the days to come, he decided that he might as well go on a hunt tonight. Hilichurls are plentiful, and surely the Milleliths wouldn't mind seeing their blood painting the ground red.

'Yours faithfully, your loyal knight,

'Ajax.'