Even five minutes after Venti left, Jean and Lisa still couldn't tell whether he had been serious or just joking.
The whole thing was a bit absurd.
But Venti undoubtedly knew Lu Heng better than the two of them.
What Venti said had credibility.
However, the only thing that could be confirmed now was that so-called "beauty traps" were unnecessary.
So, after some thought, Jean concluded that Venti had most likely just been speaking offhandedly.
"What should we do now?" Lisa asked.
Jean pondered for a moment before replying, "Let's head back first. The funds in the ledger need adjusting. Once that's done, we'll go to the Liyue branch to draw cards."
Some matters were more urgent than others.
Jean understood this well.
After the Knights of Favonius downsized, they were even more short-handed.
With fewer personnel, each individual needed to be stronger—capable of standing their ground with confidence and power.
And cards were the only way to achieve that.
Now, every Knight of Favonius possessed considerable strength, and with the boost from the cards...
Jean thought for a moment and decided she could dispatch some knights to form small teams and send them out for training.
The training would naturally involve clearing out monsters!
The process of eliminating monsters would double as combat drills, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the power of the cards.
Moreover, they could accumulate contribution points, which could later be exchanged for even stronger cards.
"Sigh..."
Jean let out a long breath.
She couldn't help but reflect, "The balance of power between us and the Fatui has changed overnight."
It wasn't quite a complete reversal, but the Fatui would certainly no longer be able to pressure the Knights.
This greatly alleviated the burden on Jean.
As she walked back to the Knights' headquarters, she checked the work reports in the group chat.
Everything was moving in a positive direction.
That was the best news possible.
Lu Heng brought his two wives to the Cat's Tail Tavern.
"What would you like to drink?"
A petite girl with pink hair, cat ears on her head, and a cat tail swaying behind her stood on a stool.
She looked at Lu Heng with undisguised disdain.
Diona didn't dislike Lu Heng specifically—she held equal contempt for all drunkards.
Lu Heng hadn't come here intentionally. He'd just been passing by and decided to drop in.
Before entering, Furina and Focalors had heard Lu Heng mention the little girl's special ability, so they were now filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"Give me your best or your signature drink," Lu Heng said with a smile.
"Same for me!" Furina wasn't picky.
Focalors thought for a moment before saying, "Just make whatever you think is best, little girl."
"What do you mean, 'whatever I think is best'?" Diona grumbled.
That was probably the hardest request to fulfill.
But was she working at the Cat's Tail Tavern to satisfy customers?
Absolutely not!
The worse they thought it tasted, the happier she'd be!
Diona frowned, already deep in thought.
Soon, she began tossing all sorts of strange ingredients into the drinks.
At a glance, none of them seemed remotely related to mixology.
To an outsider, it might have looked like Diona was cooking up some bizarre concoction.
The greater the contrast, the more Furina and Focalors looked forward to it.
After all, Lu Heng had already told them that no matter what Diona did, the drinks would turn out delicious—even exceptionally so.
Her ability wasn't particularly surprising to the three of them.
For example, Furina's "Will of the Sovereign" could achieve similar effects.
But none of them had ever tried it, so this was a first.
Their anticipation was palpable.
Three minutes later.
Diona slid three glasses toward Lu Heng and the others.
Lu Heng picked up his drink.
Under the light, the liquid shimmered with an odd glow, bubbles rising to the surface.
Visually, it didn't look very appealing.
But since they were already here, they might as well trust the process.
Under Diona's expectant gaze, Lu Heng took a sip.
His expression gradually shifted.
Staring intently at his face, Diona was disappointed to see him break into a smile.
"It's unexpectedly delicious."
"Hmm... Despite being alcohol, it actually has a sweet flavor. The first sip is soft and mellow, followed by a refreshing coolness..."
Diona covered her ears. "Stop, stop! Don't say anymore!"
"In terms of taste, it's praiseworthy."
Lu Heng nodded with a smile before reassuring her, "But don't worry, we're not heavy drinkers. We're just here for a couple of drinks—we won't get wasted."
"Eh?"
Diona blinked in surprise, looking up at Lu Heng.
His expression was serious, with no hint of deception.
Diona asked curiously, "Do you know about me?"
"We came because of your reputation," Lu Heng replied.
"Oh."
Diona wasn't surprised anymore.
Most people who visited the Cat's Tail Tavern came because they'd heard of her.
But the drunkards of Mondstadt usually ended up completely plastered here.
Who cared about moderation? They drank until they dropped...
Like Lu Heng, many people claimed they wouldn't overindulge.
But Diona sensed something different about him—he genuinely seemed capable of drinking responsibly.
"Well... I hope you keep your word." Diona shook her head.
They'd only had two sips. Once they finished the whole glass, this guy would surely start clamoring for a refill.
Diona had seen it too many times.
"It really is delicious!"
Furina's face lit up with amazement.
After a few sips, her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"We came to the right place," Focalors agreed.
Diona had heard plenty of praise before.
She didn't react much, just stood on her stool, her tail swaying behind her as she watched the three with a knowing look.
While chatting with Diona, Lu Heng finished his drink.
A single glass had no effect on him whatsoever.
His mind remained perfectly clear.
Holding the empty glass, Lu Heng looked at Diona.
Should he ask for a refill?
Diona crossed her arms, waiting.
"It was great. I'll come back next time I'm free."
"Eh?!"
Someone actually resisting the urge for another drink?!
Diona was stunned.
Her eyes widened as she stared at Lu Heng.
After a long pause, she finally said, "You're the first person I've met like this!"
"Someone who doesn't ask for a refill?" Lu Heng raised an eyebrow.
"You're so clear-headed!"
To Diona, alcohol was a bewitching, mind-numbing poison.
Yet she had the innate ability to mix perfect drinks every time.
Diona didn't actually hate alcohol—she hated the reckless, out-of-control drunkards.
"How do you do it?" Diona asked curiously.
"Nothing special. Just a bit of self-control."
It wasn't just Lu Heng.
Furina and Focalors were the same.
"You're the kind of guests I like!" Diona put her hands on her hips. "Since you're such rare customers, I'll make an exception and give you each one more drink. But that's it!"
"Can I trade it for ear scratches instead?"
Lu Heng was very interested in Diona's ears and tail.
They weren't that familiar yet, so the tail was off-limits, but her ears were just too tempting.
Let's be real—why else would anyone come to the Cat's Tail Tavern if not to pet the cat?
"Eh?!"
Diona glared at Lu Heng.
But after a moment, she didn't sense any ill intent from him.
His demeanor and aura made him seem... trustworthy!
"Fine, but just one scratch!"
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 50 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact