After he and Ningguang finalised the plan, Ryou slid an arm around Keqing's waist and left the Jade Chamber.
"When you go to the Northland Bank, be careful," Keqing said. "Bring more people if you can. The ones inside might all be ordinary staff, but if the bank has Fatui posted in there, things could turn ugly fast."
Keqing knew what kind of place the Northland Bank had become after years of digging its roots into Liyue Harbor. The Liyue Qixing had wanted to move against it for a long time, but chances like this were rare. And Ryou's move today was risky—risky enough that one wrong step could turn into a disaster.
He was just a normal man. Of course she worried he'd get hurt.
"Relax. Who's going to hurt me?" Ryou said, brushing his fingers along her cheek to steady her.
His physical ability had increased by 100% compared to before—more than double what he used to have. On top of that, he could trigger his talent, Stronger With Every Fight.
Even if he ran into Childe, and even if he couldn't win, he wasn't worried about something going wrong.
"So stay home and wait for me to come back," he said. "Got it?"
He leaned in and kissed her once.
"Mhm. Be safe."
Keqing held him tighter, her forehead resting against his chest as she spoke.
"Mhm." Ryou nodded, then turned and strode off.
Keqing watched him go, and the worry still wouldn't loosen its grip.
"Damn it… If I'd recovered properly, I could at least help. Then he wouldn't have to go in and fight alone."
A thought snapped into place.
"Ganyu. I'll go get her—she can help me!"
…
Ganyu was at her desk, sorting through paperwork, when she noticed Keqing rushing in.
It caught her off guard.
After what happened last time, Ganyu had been avoiding Keqing a little. Thoughts she shouldn't have had about Ryou had taken root—and the guilt that came with them made it hard to meet Keqing's eyes. Now, with Keqing right in front of her, Ganyu's shoulders went faintly stiff.
She set her pen down, closed the documents, and looked up. "Keqing, what happened? Don't rush—sit down, have some water, and tell me slowly."
"Ganyu," Keqing said, stepping in close and catching Ganyu by the arm. "I need a favour. Can you help me?"
"What is it?" Ganyu asked, confused.
"I… I'm hurt," Keqing said. The words came out softer than she meant. "Can you help me recover?"
The moment she said it, heat rushed up her neck.
It wasn't like she'd been injured in a fight. She'd been… pushed around by Ryou. Saying that out loud to another girl made her want to sink into the floor.
But for Ryou's sake, she forced herself through it.
Ganyu studied her for a moment, the shyness in Keqing's eyes only making it stranger.
Hurt?
That didn't add up. In Ganyu's mind, Keqing's swordsmanship was already formidable, and she had a Vision besides. When Keqing handled official matters outside, a single blade was usually enough. In Liyue Harbor, who could even manage to injure her?
"Don't worry," Ganyu said, guiding her down into a seat. "Let me take a look."
Adeptal power gathered at Ganyu's fingertips as she checked Keqing carefully.
Then she reached the injured spot.
Ganyu froze for half a beat, as if her mind hadn't caught up—then the warmth hit her so hard it climbed all the way to her ears.
"Keqing…" Her voice dipped, flustered. "You… you need to take better care of yourself. This is… this is pretty serious. It's swollen…"
She glanced away, then back, still trying to keep her tone steady. "In this condition, why are you even out here? You should be at home resting. So last time… you were coming to me for this too, weren't you?"
"I… yeah." Keqing's voice went small, but she didn't dodge it. "Ganyu, my husband led people from the Ministry of Civil Affairs to make arrests. I'm worried he'll clash with Childe, so… I need you to treat me. I want to go help him!"
"Ryou led people to the Northland Bank to arrest someone?" Ganyu's breath caught. "What happened at the bank?"
Ganyu didn't know the Northland Bank well. She only knew the Liyue Qixing had been looking for a chance to move against it, and that "chance" had been delayed again and again for various reasons.
But now they were finally doing it.
And then, like a needle pricking through fog, Ganyu remembered the Sigil of Permission from last time.
Wait.
If Ryou took people over there… would he run into real danger?
The Fatui still had a Sigil of Permission in their hands.
[End of chapter]
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