Chapter 65. Albedo's Bold Idea
Since Klee still had not returned, Hu Tao only stayed for a short while before leaving somewhat regretfully.
Of course, her disappointment was not solely because she failed to see Klee.
The main reason was that work had suddenly come from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor next door.
An elder from Qingce Village had apparently passed away, and personnel from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor were needed to oversee the funeral arrangements.
Since she happened to be free at the moment, Hu Tao naturally chose to handle the matter personally.
After all, although she often appeared carefree and mischievous, when it came to the affairs of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she had always been extremely responsible.
"Looks like I have to head out first~"
Hu Tao sighed dramatically, though her expression quickly returned to its usual energetic smile.
"Business comes first, after all."
Then she looked toward Futsu Mitama and the others and continued cheerfully, "If little Klee comes back later, tell her she can come find me at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
As she spoke, she directly grabbed Zhongli beside her and began dragging him toward the exit.
"Consultant! Time to work!"
Zhongli let out a helpless sigh.
Although his expression remained calm and composed as always, everyone present could clearly sense the subtle resignation radiating from him.
Apparently, after being caught "slacking off" earlier, he no longer had any excuse to escape.
"Understood, Director Hu."
Zhongli adjusted his sleeves slightly before nodding with the dignity of someone calmly accepting fate.
Seeing this scene, Futsu Mitama nearly laughed out loud again.
Who would have imagined that the former Geo Archon, Rex Lapis himself, would one day be dragged off to work by the seventy-seventh Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?
Cloud Retainer also silently watched this scene unfold.
Her gaze toward Zhongli became increasingly subtle.
Clearly, she was trying very hard not to laugh.
After all, seeing the mighty Rex Lapis being forcibly dragged away to handle funeral business in Qingce Village was truly a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.
Even Lumine and Paimon looked somewhat strange.
Only Hu Tao herself remained completely unaware of how absurd the current situation actually was.
"Then we're leaving first!"
Hu Tao waved enthusiastically toward everyone.
Afterward, she dragged Zhongli along and hurried off toward the direction of Qingce Village, clearly intending to finish the funeral arrangements as quickly as possible.
Watching Hu Tao drag Zhongli away toward Qingce Village, Cloud Retainer also decided not to remain any longer.
After giving Shenhe and Aila several instructions, she immediately departed from the residence as well.
Next, she intended to enter seclusion and attempt to touch upon the threshold of the so-called Demon God Realm.
If she truly succeeded—
Then Cloud Retainer would begin "getting lost."
Yes.
She would "accidentally" wander through one Adeptus abode after another beyond Mt. Aocang, and whenever she encountered an old friend, she would casually pretend to be surprised and say:
"Eh?! How did you discover that this Adeptus has already reached the Demon God Realm?"
Just imagining that scene made Cloud Retainer incomparably excited. As a result, she left almost immediately, not even bothering to conceal the anticipation radiating from her.
After Cloud Retainer's departure, tranquility gradually returned to the residence once more.
Everyone also resumed their usual activities.
Futsu Mitama continued resting leisurely in the courtyard while Aila and Black Aila remained by his side.
Meanwhile, Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kuki Shinobu began researching desserts together. Lumine and Paimon followed closely behind them, clearly looking forward to tasting the desserts created using the legendary kitchenware.
As for Shenhe, much like her master, she had also gained insights after experiencing fusion.
Thus, she quietly began training once more.
—
At the same time, the Chat Group had already exploded into activity.
Everyone was enthusiastically discussing the spectacle they had just witnessed.
[Paimon: "I'm really looking forward to it! I wonder how delicious desserts made with the legendary kitchenware will be!!!!"]
[Paimon: "Traveler! Aren't you excited too?!"]
[Traveler: "I am… but you're literally standing right next to me. Why are you still talking through the Chat Group?"]
[Paimon: "Ehe! Because it's more fun this way!!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Desserts created by legendary kitchenware? I wonder what kind of delicacies they are. Unfortunately, I am currently only a soul. Otherwise, I would have liked to taste them as well."]
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "+1."]
[Bosacius: "+2."]
[Venti: "+3."]
[Azhdaha: "?"]
[Raiden Ei: "Anemo Archon, why are you adding +3?"]
[Yae Miko: "He's probably just showing off."]
[Zhongli: "By ordinary reasoning, that is indeed the case."]
[Venti: "No, no, no! How could I possibly be showing off?"]
[Venti: "I'm merely thinking of tasting the desserts on behalf of everyone here. Since none of you can eat them, I shall carefully savor every bite and then thoroughly describe the flavor to you all."]
[Shenhe: "..."]
[Aila: "..."]
[Albedo: "Venti, if you continue saying things like that, someone is eventually going to hit you."]
[Eula: "Hmm..."]
[Venti: "Hahahahaha! It's fine! I still have half a year before I regain freedom anyway!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "I shall remember this grudge for now."]
[Futsu Mitama: "That line sounds oddly familiar."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "It really does."]
[Eula: "This… this…"]
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "What you are doing is somewhat excessive, Barbatos."]
[Cyno: "Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is correct."]
[Bosacius: "..."]
[Guizhong: "It's alright, Bosacius! I'll speak on your behalf! You're too much, Barbatos! I'm taking Klee to Mondstadt to play!"]
[Klee: "Eh?! But Klee already lives in Mondstadt."]
[Guizhong: "Ah, no, no! I mean I'm taking Klee to Mondstadt to blast fish!"]
[Venti: "NO NO NO!!! I was wrong!!!"]
[Klee: "?"]
[Albedo: "Ahem. Klee, what Venti means is that if you start blasting fish in Mondstadt, the Knights of Favonius might not appreciate it."]
[Paimon: "Yes! It's like earlier when Hu Tao insisted on making Zhongli bow together with her toward Cloud Retainer!"]
[Paimon: "So don't misunderstand, Klee. Venti is afraid of Guizhong, not afraid of little Klee."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Hmm? Wait."]
[Raiden Ei: "Bowing?"]
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "Things are suddenly becoming very interesting."]
[Venti: "Please elaborate. I have a friend who wishes to know."]
[Azhdaha: "Knowing Cloud Retainer's personality, she probably dislikes excessive formalities. Compared to receiving bows, she prefers researching bizarre inventions."]
[Guizhong: "Wait! This happened after we left?!"]
[Albedo: "Bowing to Cloud Retainer—"]
[Paimon: "Why does everyone sound so shocked?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "..."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Perhaps not shocked. Merely… curious."]
[Aila: "Mm~"]
[Paimon: "Never mind that! Anyway, Cloud Retainer came over as a guest and learned about White Aila and Black Aila."]
[Aila: "My name is Aila. Not White Aila."]
[Paimon: "Ehe! It's a habit! Sorry!!"]
[Venti: "Continue."]
[Raiden Makoto: "My sister Ei appears extremely curious."]
[Raiden Ei: "I am indeed curious. Continue."]
[Zhongli: "I suddenly feel somewhat tired…"]
[Guizhong: "I actually missed such an entertaining event. Didn't any of you record it?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "I forgot."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Forgot."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "We were too busy talking at the time."]
[Lumine: "Exactly."]
[Paimon: "Ahhh! I forgot too! Never mind, I'll continue! Anyway, after Cloud Retainer learned about Aila and Black Aila, she asked Futsu Mitama whether she could fuse with Shenhe."]
[Paimon: "And then she even transformed from a bird into a human!"]
[Shenhe: "Master is a crane, not a bird. Paimon, please pay attention."]
[Paimon: "Cough cough! Got it! Then Shenhe and Cloud Retainer fused. According to Futsu Mitama, their compatibility reached 65%, which is already very high!"]
[Paimon: "After fusing, according to Cloud Retainer and Shenhe, they gained enough strength to defeat weaker Demon Gods who specialize less in combat!"]
[Guizhong: "???"]
[Raiden Makoto: "I somehow feel personally attacked."]
[Guizhong: "Same."]
[Azhdaha: "Interesting. They did not step into the Demon God Realm, yet they possess power comparable to it?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Yes. It seems the Demon God Realm truly is not easy to enter."]
[Albedo: "That is normal. Demon Gods are fundamentally different lifeforms. Pure combat power alone cannot fully explain the difference. Strength can increase through effort, but the evolution of one's level of existence is another matter entirely."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Stop speaking vaguely. Did Zhongli bow or not?"]
[Venti: "Is there at least a video?"]
[Raiden Ei: "Photos would also suffice."]
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "All of the above. +1."]
[Paimon: "Nope! Cloud Retainer refused, so Zhongli never bowed!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Alas. What a pity."]
[Raiden Ei: "Indeed. Extremely regrettable."]
[Venti: "I thought we'd finally have some excellent drinking material today. Truly unfortunate."]
[Bosacius: "Why is everyone so interested in this? Is Mr. Zhongli some extraordinary figure?"]
[Azhdaha: "You'll get used to it eventually, Bosacius. These people simply enjoy watching Mr. Zhongli embarrass himself."]
[Guizhong: "Exactly. You'll adapt eventually."]
[Azhdaha: "But one thing is certain. Mr. Zhongli is an extraordinary talent within Liyue Harbor."]
[Keqing: "That is correct. Mr. Zhongli's reputation in Liyue Harbor is unimaginable."]
[Keqing: "Whether it concerns archaeology, gourmet cuisine, antiques, opera, or storytelling, he is treated as an honored guest everywhere. Sometimes I even suspect that Mr. Zhongli is secretly an Adeptus."]
[Zhongli: "I merely know a little."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Yes, yes. 'A little.'"]
[Venti: "'A little'? That is far too much to be called little!"]
[Zhongli: "..."]
[Albedo: "So Adeptus can fuse with Shenhe— In other words, besides the two Ailas, fusion with others is also possible."]
[Albedo: "In that case—I suddenly have a rather bold idea."]
[Futsu Mitama: "A bold idea? How bold?"]
[Venti: "Albedo actually has a bold idea? Quickly tell us!"]
[Zhongli: "Curious."]
[Guizhong: "Why does Albedo's expression suddenly feel extremely dangerous?"]
[Klee: "Eh?! Why is Brother Albedo looking at Klee like that?!"]
[Albedo: "I was merely wondering—What exactly would happen if Klee fused with Hu Tao?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Ohh!"]
[Zhongli: "!!!"]
[Venti: "!!!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "That sounds unexpectedly interesting."]
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "I see~ Hu Tao and Klee are good friends, their personalities are somewhat similar, and both possess Pyro Visions. From that perspective, it truly does sound quite interesting."]
[Cyno: "Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is correct."]
[Eula: "Although I don't know who Hu Tao is, if her personality is similar to Klee's—then that's probably not a good thing."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "I can already see a corner of Liyue Harbor being reduced to rubble."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "It… shouldn't be that terrifying, right?"]
Outside the Chat Group, the corners of Futsu Mitama's mouth twitched slightly. Looking at Albedo's message, even he felt a trace of fear rise in his heart.
Klee and Hu Tao fusing together?
Wouldn't that completely overturn the world itself?!
A single Klee alone was already enough to give countless people headaches. Hu Tao, likewise, was hardly someone who could ever be described as "safe."
If those two were fused together, then the result would definitely not be a simple one-plus-one.
It would probably become one-plus-one-equals-five.
Don't ask Futsu Mitama why he felt that way. Whether it was appearance, personality, habits, or the way they thought, the similarities between Hu Tao and Klee were simply too outrageous.
One loved explosions.
The other loved causing mischief.
One possessed terrifying destructive power.
The other possessed terrifying mobility and execution ability.
If those two truly fused together—Futsu Mitama genuinely suspected that the resulting creature would become an unprecedented disaster-level existence.
No wonder Albedo had such dangerous curiosity.
Even Futsu Mitama himself, after hearing the idea, initially thought it was absurd.
But after thinking about it carefully—it strangely didn't seem impossible.
Perhaps they really could try it once and see what kind of terrifying chemical reaction would emerge after the fusion.
However, that thought itself was simply too dangerous.
Futsu Mitama immediately shook his head vigorously, forcefully throwing that terrifying idea out of his mind.
"What's wrong, Young Master?"
Black Aila naturally didn't know what was happening within the Chat Group.
After all, only when she fused with Aila would she temporarily gain access to the Chat Group's information.
Now that they had separated, at most she could vaguely sense Aila's emotional fluctuations whenever she looked at the Chat Group messages.
At this moment, seeing the subtle expression on Futsu Mitama's face, as well as the way he continuously shook his head, Black Aila naturally became somewhat puzzled.
Futsu Mitama was about to explain, but Aila immediately cut in first, speaking eagerly:
"It's nothing. Young Master was just startled by something. You can't see the Chat Group anyway, so naturally you don't understand what happened. But don't worry, I'll explain it to you slowly later."
Hearing those words, Black Aila frowned slightly.
A faint trace of displeasure flashed through her heart.
Of course, she understood that it was impossible for her to independently join the Chat Group.
After all, "Aila" had already joined the Chat Group first. She couldn't exploit some loophole and join again as a second individual.
Unless she fused with the Aila before her once more.
Only then could she temporarily "share" the qualification of being a Chat Group member.
But that merely counted as exploiting a loophole. It was not truly her own membership.
And precisely because of that, Black Aila became even more irritated.
Was this woman showing off?
Showing off that she alone could stay in the same Chat Group as the Young Master?
Showing off that she alone could see the same scenery as him?
If that was truly the intention—
Then Black Aila had to admit that the other party had succeeded. Because she was indeed very angry right now. And the consequences of her anger would be severe.
Aila looked at Black Aila with a bright smile.
Meanwhile, Black Aila stared back at her expressionlessly.
For a moment, it almost seemed as if sparks of lightning were colliding within the air between them.
An invisible war had quietly begun once again.
Unfortunately, Futsu Mitama remained completely unaware of this subtle confrontation. Because his attention had already been entirely drawn away by the terrifying fusion topic from earlier.
"Actually, it's nothing serious."
Futsu Mitama waved his hand casually before explaining:
"It's just that Albedo suddenly proposed a very bold idea. He asked… what would happen if Hu Tao and Klee fused together."
As he spoke, Futsu Mitama's expression became extraordinarily conflicted.
"Right now, I'm genuinely torn. On one hand, rationally speaking, I absolutely should oppose this idea. But on the other hand—"
A dangerous look of curiosity gradually appeared within his eyes.
"I'm honestly very curious."
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