Winter Capital.
Under the dark, overcast sky, pure white snowflakes fell from the heavens, drifting lightly and dyeing every corner of the city a pristine white.
Inside the Imperial Palace, a meeting of the Fatui was underway.
In a solemn and dignified atmosphere, the number of Harbingers present this time was slightly fewer than usual.
Scaramouche had been removed due to betrayal, while Capitano and Arlecchino were also both absent.
Pierro announced to those present: "Everyone, according to intelligence, the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, appeared in Mondstadt's main plaza yesterday."
His voice echoed within the palace, each word as cold as frost.
Rosalyne, seated in the back row, spoke with hate burning in her eyes: "That long-hidden hamster finally dared to show its face."
Then, she urgently pleaded with Pierro: "Director sir, I request permission to go to Mondstadt to retrieve that precious Gnosis for our supreme Empress."
Pierro was about to grant Rosalyne's request when he suddenly thought of something and fell into contemplation.
His fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the tabletop.
After a long silence, facing Rosalyne's expectant gaze, he spoke deeply: "Rosalyne, this matter is far more complicated than you imagine. Yide is currently in Mondstadt City."
Rosalyne's astonishment was evident upon hearing the name "Yide ". "Wasn't he always in Port Fudé? How could he suddenly appear in Mondstadt?"
Tartaglia, seated in the back row, crossed his arms, one leg comfortably resting on the other, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "Ah, Rosalyne, have you been out of touch with the world?
Even someone like me, who doesn't pay much attention to current events, knows that Yide facilitated the trade treaty between Fontaine and Mondstadt."
"Shut up! You, the lowest-ranked one, know your place! Don't speak when you shouldn't." Rosalyne turned her head away angrily and snapped.
During this period, she had some issues with the Hellfire inside her, forcing her to recuperate, and thus she paid relatively little attention to outside matters.
At this moment, Columbina suddenly spoke: "Let me go!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Pantalone immediately stated, "For this operation, our Northland Bank will no longer provide financial support."
Hearing this, Columbina couldn't help but feel annoyed: "Regrator, aren't you being too stingy? For you, aren't the numbers on a bank card just something you can rewrite at will?"
"That's right," Tartaglia chimed in, "It's just a few numbers, isn't it? The Northland Bank has made a lot of money over the years. If you're reluctant to spend, we can certainly help you with that."
Pantalone felt a surge of anger overwhelm him, and he said sternly: "I must emphasize again, the money in the bank accounts is not just a simple numbers game; it needs to be cashed out with real Mora.
This year, the Northland Bank's profits have significantly decreased compared to previous years due to competition from the Furina Foundation.
If you continue to make such unrestrained demands, the Northland Bank will sooner or later be dragged down by you."
Columbina defended herself with a lack of conviction: "These funds are necessary for obtaining a Gnosis."
Pantalone was about to retort but was decisively cut off by Pierro.
He said in a low and firm voice, "If a Gnosis can be acquired with Mora, it is undoubtedly an extremely worthwhile transaction. If the Northland Bank truly lacks Mora,"
He paused slightly, a hint of cold killing intent revealed in his tone, "There are still many nobles in the Winter Capital."
Pantalone's heart trembled; he understood the meaning behind Pierro's words.
Finally, Pierro solemnly announced his decision: "Columbina and Rosalyne will serve as Snezhnaya's diplomatic envoys and travel together to Mondstadt to seek the Gnosis.
The budget for this operation is limited to one hundred million Mora, and detailed expense reports must be provided."
Hearing the requirement for expense reports, Columbina immediately looked troubled.
She couldn't possibly submit receipts from Furina merchandise stores for reimbursement, could she?
…
Mondstadt, the City of Wind, where warm winter sunlight shone upon the land.
Venti took out his lyre, his fingertips dancing lightly on the strings, letting a melodious tune flow out.
With this melody, he summoned his familiar—Dvalin.
In the past few days, he had learned of all the recent events by asking around, from the rampant dragon calamity to the Knights of Favonius building a railway.
In his heart, he vaguely felt that an invisible thread connected these events tightly, yet the essence of this thread remained elusive to him.
Thus, he decided to summon Dvalin, hoping to learn the truth from it.
About half an hour later, Dvalin's massive body flew from the horizon, accompanied by an earth-shattering dragon roar, and it landed steadily in front of Venti.
To Venti's surprise, a gentle-looking young man was sitting on Dvalin's back. He jumped lightly from the dragon's back and landed gracefully on the ground.
As soon as Dvalin saw Venti, it immediately let out an angry roar: "Barbatos, give me back my hard-earned money!"
Venti was startled by this sudden roar and asked blankly, "What hard-earned money?"
Dvalin snorted coldly and said with resentment: "A thousand years ago, I followed you tirelessly everywhere, changing Mondstadt's terrain; five hundred years ago, I paid the price of serious injury to kill the corrupted dragon Durin. I did so much, yet you haven't even given me a single Mora!"
Venti never imagined that Dvalin would demand wages from him.
He pointed to his exquisitely beautiful and delicate face and said helplessly, "Look, my face is clean enough, isn't it?
But my pockets are even cleaner than my face."