"Why aren't the God of Fire and the God of Ice included?" Ningguang asked curiously.
"I don't know much about the God of Fire," Smith admitted, glancing at Zhongli. "As for the God of Ice, I'm not too optimistic about her actions. Most of the Fatui are a bunch of lunatics, and I have no desire to cooperate with a deity who aligns with such people. At least for now, I have no interest in working with the God of Ice.
"Besides, the war between her and Celestia actually benefits us. It buys us time."
The Heavenly Principles must be dormant. Even when Furina's godhood was shattered and the Hydro Dragon King returned to full strength, the Heavenly Principles did not intervene. This suggests they lack the power to do so right now.
"The Ice God..." Zhongli sighed, his expression complicated.
Before Smith's arrival, Zhongli had been content to ignore the God of Ice's dealings with the Fatui. He had even seen it as an opportunity to be rid of his own Godhood. But now, things were different. Smith's presence and influence had changed the landscape, and Zhongli found himself reconsidering his stance.
"What should we do next?" Keqing turned to Zhongli for guidance.
"If there are tasks, take them. The guild's abilities should continue to expand, and this is an opportunity to strengthen yourselves. We still have a few years of relative peace to grow stronger," Zhongli advised, his gaze resting on Smith as if implying a deeper meaning behind his words.
Keqing nodded solemnly. "Understood, Emperor."
Ningguang also turned her attention to Smith. "And what about you, President? What are your plans?"
"I'll stay in Liyue for a while, take on tasks as they come, and perhaps travel to other nations later. If possible, I might even bring in people from other worlds or retrieve valuable artifacts." Smith paused in thought before continuing, "Inazuma is off-limits for now. If I step foot there, Ei might cut me down on sight."
Other regions, however, were viable options—especially Sumeru and Fontaine. Those nations had potential allies worth considering.
"If you're staying in Liyue, how about residing at my former residence near Yujingtai?" Ningguang offered. "It's not far from Yujingtai and Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I lived there before becoming one of the Seven Stars."
"I appreciate the generosity, Tianquanxing," Smith said, his gaze lingering on Ningguang. He had mixed feelings about her—she was a shrewd capitalist, always calculating, but when she wanted to, she could be considerate.
"By the way, I don't have much Mora in Teyvat. Would you be open to a trade? I can offer certain items in exchange for currency," Smith suggested.
"If you require Mora, you need only send the bill to the Jade Chamber," Ningguang replied smoothly.
Zhongli, overhearing this, fell into deep thought. Recently, he had been charging all his expenses to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and Hu Tao had started protesting. Should he consider billing the Jade Chamber instead? He quickly dismissed the thought. He had a legitimate claim to Wangsheng's resources—he had protected it for centuries. But Ningguang? Convincing her to part with Mora wouldn't be so simple.
"No, I'd prefer a fair trade," Smith insisted. "For instance, the Wind Dragon currently causing havoc in Mondstadt is actually Dvalin, a follower of Barbatos. He was once an ally of the Anemo Archon but has now fallen into madness. As Liyue's Tianquan, you must understand the value of this information."
"Dvalin, the Anemo Archon's follower?" Keqing and Ningguang exchanged shocked glances.
The Wind Dragon had disrupted trade between Liyue and Mondstadt, but they hadn't realized its true identity. Ningguang turned to Zhongli, seeking confirmation.
Zhongli nodded. "Indeed, if the reports are accurate, the so-called Wind Dragon is none other than Dvalin. I never expected Mondstadt to fail in recognizing one of its own god's champions."
He sighed, remembering Dvalin's past heroism. Five hundred years ago, the dragon had fought bravely against Durin, a monstrous invader. Yet in just a few centuries, Mondstadt had forgotten his name.
"Wait! Mondstadt doesn't even know that the Wind Dragon is Dvalin?" Ganyu asked, wide-eyed. She had personally seen Dvalin before and recognized him immediately. It had never crossed her mind that Mondstadt might be ignorant of his identity.
"They truly do not remember. They simply call him the Wind Dragon," Zhongli confirmed, shaking his head.
"Unbelievable…" Ganyu murmured. She had expected better from Mondstadt's people.
"I see," Ningguang said thoughtfully. "This is useful information. I will inform Mondstadt's Acting Grand Master, Jean."
For Liyue, this intelligence was not crucial, but for Mondstadt, it was invaluable. Ningguang could deliver this news free of charge, earning Jean's gratitude and fostering goodwill between their nations.
Sometimes, the most expensive gifts were the ones given for free.
Turning back to Smith, she asked, "How does five million Mora sound as compensation for this information?"
"That's acceptable," Smith agreed without hesitation.
Five million Mora was more than enough to sustain him for a long time. He knew that, in Ningguang's hands, this information was worth far more. Depending on how she leveraged it, she could gain influence, power, or even trade advantages. But Smith didn't mind. It was a fair deal in his eyes.
Ningguang smirked slightly. She had just made a profitable transaction. Even if she had handed Smith five million Mora without asking for anything in return, she still would have profited in the long run.
Keqing, who had been watching quietly, spoke up. "President, if we're trading in information, I'd like to ask something else—can we learn techniques from the ninja world? Their abilities, especially space-time jutsu like Minato Namikaze's, could be extremely valuable."
Smith nodded. "The ninja world has gone through thousands of years of war, leading to the development of countless powerful techniques. During Teyvat's Archon War and even before it, many powerful entities emerged, but most relied on their innate power rather than refined techniques."
Zhongli turned to Keqing. "Your combat style is somewhat similar to Minato Namikaze's. Studying his methods could be beneficial."
Keqing's eyes lit up. "I'd love to!"
"As for quickly improving combat effectiveness, my own techniques are not suited for you—not yet, at least. You lack the points to afford them," Zhongli stated. "Instead, I recommend acquiring another Vision."
Keqing and Ningguang exchanged glances before nodding in understanding. Smith, as the guild leader, clearly had access to more resources than they did. Even so, they were grateful for the opportunity he had given them.
Zhongli then shifted his gaze to Smith. "What are your long-term plans for the guild?"
Smith pondered for a moment before responding. "No immediate major plans. If possible, I'd like to recruit the Anemo, Dendro, Hydro, and Electro Archons. But it's not time for that yet."
He thought of Raiden Ei. If he approached her now, she might cut him down without hesitation.
Ningguang chuckled. "You certainly aim high, President. But perhaps, with time, such a goal will become feasible."
Smith smirked. "Time is something we have plenty of."
With the transaction settled and new plans forming, the future of the guild—and its members—was bound to be interesting.
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