"How about a 10% discount? That's a great deal, right?" Director Hu continued to promote Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services.
"Thank you for your kindness, Director Hu, but unfortunately, we Fatui probably won't need it," Childe politely declined.
"Eh? Why? Your work as Fatui should make you quite prone to dying, shouldn't it?"
Director Hu was puzzled, speaking auspicious words.
To Director Hu, death was merely a necessary stage of life and nothing to be avoided.
In her opinion, both the Fatui and Adventurers were prime clients, potentially needing their services at any time.
"Our work as Fatui is indeed dangerous, and every one of us is prepared to die."
Childe didn't get angry.
For a Harbinger who intended to seize the Rock God's Gnosis, death was something to be expected.
"However, when we are on a mission, we don't go to die; instead, we hold the belief that we must survive."
"And after we die, the Tsaritsa will bury us, so we won't be needing Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services."
"I see," Director Hu nodded.
She respected everyone who respected life and death.
Originally, she didn't have a good impression of this SnezhnayaHarbinger, only not wanting to restrict Zhongli's friendships.
Now, however, she had a somewhat changed view of this Childe; perhaps that's why Zhongli would befriend him?
"Director, may I ask why you've come?" Zhongli spoke only after their conversation ended.
"Oh, oh, I almost forgot."
Director Hu pulled out a book from her Vision; the cover still read 'teyvat travelogue'.
"Ta-da!" Director Hu even provided sound effects for pulling out the book.
Childe was a bit confused; wasn't this the novel they had just been discussing?
He had already read it, so why bring it out now?
Zhongli, however, seemed to realize something, staring intently at the book in Director Hu's hand.
Director Hu smiled mysteriously, her little head tilted slightly with a hint of pride.
"Hmph hmph, this is the second act of the novel! Little Qiu Qiu specifically gave it to me."
It turned out that she had recently received a letter from Lin Qiu, and the letter included an unreleased second act.
Director Hu, before Zhongli's letter arrived, quickly searched the world for Zhongli, just to show off in advance.
"Oh?" Childe also became interested, wondering if this second act would be Liyue.
He didn't pay attention to Director Hu's way of addressing him.
After all, Zhongli knew the author, so it wasn't strange for Director Hu, as Zhongli's superior, to know the author.
Moreover, the author's pen name already contained the character 'Qiu', so it was uncertain whether she was calling him by his real name or pen name.
Speaking of which, didn't the person who had been freeloading off Mr. Zhongli also have 'Qiu' in his name? What was his surname again?
Tartaglia didn't think too deeply about it; after all, even the second young master of Feiyun Commerce Guild had 'Qiu' in his name, so Tartaglia just considered it a coincidence.
"Director Hu, I wonder if you would let me take a look as well?" Childe asked.
"Hehe, of course, it's more fun when everyone reads together," Director Hu naturally didn't refuse.
For someone who was naturally friendly and got more excited with more people, the more people there were, the happier she was.
Besides, she had come to show off anyway, so wasn't it better to have one more person to show off to?
The three sat closer, Director Hu in the middle, flanked by men, which she didn't mind, and began to flip through the book.
'Prologue: Act Two: For Tomorrow Without Tears'
["So, this is our stance," Anastasia said to Jean.
"If you cannot immediately eliminate the rampaging Dragon, why not hand over Mondstadt's city defenses to the Fatui?"
"Mondstadt's Dragon Disaster can be resolved, as long as you let us deal with that beast."]
It turned out that in the original timeline, when Stormterror attacked the city, the Knights of Favonius failed to immediately set up defenses.
So, at this time, the Fatui were pressuring them.
Director Hu looked at the only Fatui present, the Harbinger 'Childe' Tartaglia.
"Ah... cough... how should I put it, aren't we also doing this for the good of Mondstadt's citizens?"
Childe explained with a smile.
"After all, not knowing what the future held, the Knights of Favonius failed to protect Mondstadt City."
Director Hu was noncommittal about this; that was the defense work of an entire nation, how could it be handed over to you Fatui?
This was like asking Liyue's Millelith to step down and handing over Liyue's defense work to the Fatui in the future; it was too ridiculous.
Although Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was a private enterprise, it actually had an official background.
If the Fatui really did that to Liyue, Director Hu would want to use her Staff of Homa to send them off to the afterlife.
Zhongli also shook his head; the Fatui's diplomat in Mondstadt was truly accustomed to being aggressive.
The main force of the Knights of Favonius had gone on an expedition to Junjiji Sea, leading to a severe shortage of personnel within Mondstadt.
Coupled with the Anemo God having been missing for centuries, this led to the Fatui's arrogant attitude when facing Mondstadt.
The Fatui in Liyue were much more well-behaved; at most, they would pull some minor stunts, all of which were within Zhongli's sight.
In Liyue, let alone a Fatui diplomat, would even the HarbingerTartaglia dare to tell Ningguang to hand over Liyue's city defenses to the Fatui?
The Rock God was not dead yet! If you angered him, even the Tsaritsa couldn't save you.
However, even with insufficient personnel and the Anemo God absent, Mondstadt would still not compromise with the Fatui.
["Beast?"
"Hmph~" Jean sighed, seemingly suppressing her anger.
"I hope your nation's diplomat can adopt a more professional attitude; you wish to 'deal with' one of Mondstadt's Four Winds?"
"I do not wish for anyone to speak such madness in front of the Knights of Favonius."]
The Fatui diplomat was completely unconcerned by Jean's warning.
["Hehehe, it's not as mad as you say, is it?"]
For Mondstadt, which had no Anemo God and had lost its Grand Master and many elites, the Fatui held no reverence.
["Very well, this discussion ends here."
"The outcome of this meeting is that 'both sides frankly exchanged constructive opinions,' correct?"
After speaking, the Fatui diplomat left.]
Zhongli nodded; he was very satisfied with Jean, who was a very capable and courageous person.
This reminded Zhongli of Keqing, who was also a courageous person, even daring to deny her own decisions.
Zhongli liked such people because they could better demonstrate the potential of humanity.
Director Hu, however, had no interest in such diplomatic language and complained:
"What do you mean 'constructive opinions'? It's clearly just an argument."
"It's even worse than an argument; at least with an argument, you can just fight it out."
Childe shrugged, seemingly also uninterested in such diplomatic talk.
As the boss of a private enterprise, Director Hu could avoid these things if she wasn't interested.
But Tartaglia, as a high-ranking official of a state power, had to speak these diplomatic words even if he didn't like them.
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Character Voice Line · Zhongli: About Jean
"While she reveres the gods, she also has her own ideas. Even though that drunken bard has been missing for so long, his people still uphold the will of freedom."