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***
"Then I'll really ask, alright?"
Although sensing something troublesome, Zhongli silently nodded.
So, Victor Wang began with the first question on his note:
"Ahem. I noticed that all timekeeping tools across Teyvat, as long as they still function properly, keep astonishingly accurate synchronization. For example, my pocket watch—no matter how I deliberately set it wrong, before I realize it, it automatically corrects itself. Do you know why that is?"
He had discovered this when he bought a pocket watch with the first Mora earned from Tales from the Box.
Zhongli's brows furrowed slightly, as if stumped by this odd question, but his reply was: "I cannot say."
"Cannot say?"
"Cannot say."
"Meaning you know, but cannot say?"
"That is correct."
Victor mulled over the implication, then tried rephrasing: "In Mondstadt's unofficial histories, I came across mention of a 'God of Time.' It's said the ruined Thousand Winds Temple and even the Anemo Archon are connected to this god. So, I wonder—does my previous question have something to do with this 'God of Time'?"
"…"
Zhongli's expression didn't change at all. He neither nodded nor shook his head, gave neither denial nor confirmation.
For a moment, the two stared each other down in silence, like a contest of who would blink first. Victor Wang was stuck—he still had so many questions to ask…
"Mr. Zhongli?"
As Victor finally broke the silence, Zhongli sighed softly. "You may continue asking."
Thinking quickly, Victor tried again: "Then, do you know the whereabouts of that god?"
This time Zhongli's expression was calm: "I do not know."
"Don't know?"
"Do not know, in the truest sense."
He didn't ask which god, which meant he understood Victor was speaking of the 'God of Time.' In other words, Zhongli had chosen not to answer the earlier question—because whether he said "yes" or "no," it would confirm that time itself truly was linked to the God of Time. To say "I don't know" would be dishonest.
Therefore, it was indeed related.
And if Zhongli was bound not to speak, then the matter must touch the Heavenly Principles or the Primordial One. Which meant the God of Time was very likely Istaroth.
Victor stopped his deductions there.
"Alright then, next question. I once heard a great astrologer say: 'The starry sky itself is a vast lie, and we all live under a false sky.' Is that true? How could the sky itself be false?"
Once again, Zhongli entered that state of no expression, no comment, no reaction.
"Mr. Zhongli?"
"Mm. You may continue asking."
Realizing yes/no questions only led to silence, Victor shifted strategy: "Do you know what 'false sky' means?"
"I cannot say."
As expected.
"Then another. When I accepted Venti's help, I promised him I'd climb up to Celestia. Do you know where the road to Celestia lies?"
"At the end of your journey. The path will extend upward of its own accord."
"What is there?!"
"I cannot say what lies there. Only this—I can tell you it is nothing good. Perhaps, when you reach it, things will have changed."
"Actually, my journey began from a mysterious female voice in my mind. She told me to seek aid from the Seven Archons to return to being human. But Venti didn't recognize her. Do you?"
"Speaking into one's mind is not difficult. And even if it was a woman, those capable of it are not few." Zhongli's voice then sounded directly within Victor Wang's mind.
"Hmm… If I had to say one distinguishing feature, it's that she only speaks to me after I touch a Statue of the Seven."
"A Statue of the Seven… Regrettably, I cannot give you a clear answer."
"'Hexenzirkel.' Do you know of it?"
"I've dealt with several of its members."
"I heard there's one among them called 'Nicole, the Guide who will never get lost.' I've always suspected she's the one guiding me."
"The Hexenzirkel indeed has members capable of such things, but I do not know this Nicole."
Fair enough—Zhongli was not all-knowing.
Following his note, Victor pressed on:
"Earlier, you helped Lumine prepare the Rite of Parting. She's also my friend and teacher. Even without a Vision, she can channel elemental power by touching a Statue of the Seven. Out of pure curiosity, no ill intent—how is this possible?"
"I cannot say."
"And Waypoints—why is it only Lumine who can use them for teleportation?"
"I have my suspicions. But I cannot say."
That clinched it—anything tied to the Heavenly Principles was "cannot say."
"…About the boundaries of Teyvat. How much do you know? I've heard they've been weakening in recent years."
For the first time, Zhongli looked faintly surprised and asked back: "Your intelligence has reached such a point?"
"Well, I was once killed by Isshin, the Cursed Blade of the Battle Technique Hunter's Four Heavenly Kings. That's how I gained a bit of information—at the cost of my life."
"Ah. Those ones."
Propping his chin with one hand, Zhongli mused: "As for the boundaries—I cannot speak of them. But rest assured, before they truly break, someone will repair them. Or… in any case, every journey eventually reaches its end. There is no need to hurry."
Hearing Zhongli's reassurance, Victor finally let go of the anxiety he'd long harbored about the boundaries.
Next, he quickly asked: "The cause of Khaenri'ah's cataclysm five hundred years ago?"
Zhongli finally gave a new response: "Confidential."
"Confidential?"
"Bound by contract, it must remain secret."
"Did Khaenri'ah have a god? What was their power?"
"I cannot say."
"Where did they go?"
"I do not know."
"'Artifacts of Khaenri'ah'—what does that mean? Finding them was the second task given to me by that voice."
"Artifacts of Khaenri'ah… I don't know the specifics. But you do know artifacts are condensed from a being's 'memories' and 'emotions,' yes?"
"Mm. Last time, when I went with Hu Tao to the border of life and death, I witnessed it firsthand."
"There is something else you may not know. The stronger the emotions and spirit, the higher the quality of artifacts. That's why three-star and above are rarer, and why they cannot be taken out of domains."
"But equipping them lets you bring them out, doesn't it?"
"That is a projection. Not the true artifact."
"What?!" Victor was stunned.
After drinking some Qingce specialty tea to ease his throat, Zhongli continued:
"When people clear domains, they receive a token. Through it, the ley lines project the artifact outward. The true Artifact never leaves the domain. Each five-star artifact set is virtually unique, and has never truly been obtained.
"That much I can reveal. So, if you were told to seek Khaenri'ah's Artifacts, most likely she meant the true forms, not their projections."
"Then who created the artifact domains?"
Zhongli did not answer directly. His voice grew distant, almost like a sigh: "At certain times, certain people hoped mankind would grow stronger. But… no will is eternal. Orders are reversed as often as they are given."
Zhongli didn't know how much Victor had learned, so it was merely a sigh.
But Victor understood—it was like how the Primordial One did create humanity, bestowing them with rain and ore, only to withdraw those gifts later.
"Then why do some artifacts seem to come from beings not yet dead?"
Zhongli tapped the table lightly with his fingers. "You already asked this earlier."
Earlier? Time? Time! If the Sacred Sakura could transcend time, why couldn't artifact domains? After all, they were also tied to the ley lines.
Victor realized, and moved to the next: "Ley line flow?"
"I cannot say."
"Lumine's brother and Khaenri'ah?"
"Confidential."
"Then I'll skip. Next: Are the Seven Archons elemental beings?"
"Hehe, not purely. But they are slightly stronger than elemental beings."
"Then will Vision holders eventually turn into elemental beings?"
"I have never seen the ultimate fate of a Vision holder. But I doubt they become pure elemental beings."
"What is the use of a Gnosis?"
"I cannot say."
"Why is the Cryo Archon collecting Gnoses?"
"Confidential."
Completely blocked! All the crucial questions, blocked!
Victor wanted to cry. He pulled out the map he'd copied from the final page of Khaenri'ah's Geography and respectfully handed it over: "Do you know where this is?"
After carefully examining it, Zhongli firmly replied: "I do not know."
Even Zhongli didn't know…
"One more question. This may sound self-indulgent, but don't laugh at me."
"Speak. I will not laugh."
"Why do I attract ghosts? No other Hilichurls do, no other people either."
"Because of imbalance among the Seven elements. You've undergone distortion, and it spreads to your surroundings. This strongly affects pure spirits. But to humans, not so much."
"So, it's not just me being narcissistic!"
Victor straightened, meeting Zhongli's gaze. "Last question. Why are you helping me?"
"Three reasons: Venti's request, simple friendship, and a low-risk, high-reward investment. You know well, cleansing an element costs us only a bit of time and energy—almost zero risk. Why wouldn't we?"
"Then why not choose another Hilichurl?"
"They lack reason. Helping them would be wasted effort. That's all. Also, I believe that was your final question."
"Ah… haha…"
"That will be all, then. Once you've gathered the materials, come find me."
Zhongli didn't press further. He called for the server to pack the many untouched dishes.
"Mr. Zhongli, shall these be delivered to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
"Mm."
"Hehe, with such a colleague, the staff of Wangsheng are truly fortunate. And the bill—shall I send it to the Northland Bank, or to Wangsheng?"
"…" Zhongli touched his pocket. "…Send it to Wangsheng."
"Understood!"
"Wait! I'll pay! If Hu Tao finds out, she'll kill me!"
The server rubbed his hands respectfully. "Either way, either way works. Let me calculate… The total is 1.7 million Mora. For good fortune, I'll round it down—1.68 million Mora."
"Whew~ That's… still acceptable."