Yet the Raiden Shogun’s little stunt had the opposite effect— instead of increasing Ningguang’s wariness of Su Ran, it actually lessened it by a fraction.

If even an Inazuman god was trying to poach this man, then his abilities went without saying.

But... that so-called marriage profile earlier? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Was it just a joke? Or did he have some ulterior motive?

Ningguang wasn’t so naïve as to take his words at face value.

At their level of identity and status, marriage was less about affection, more about shackles.

For common folk, marriage might be for inheritance, for children.

But for someone of Ningguang’s standing, it was merely a binding of interests.

She had never truly considered taking a partner.

"Mr. Su Ran truly is extraordinary, to have even the Shogun herself value you so highly."

Especially when she noticed how tightly the Shogun clung to his hand, never once letting go.

That only deepened Ningguang’s curiosity.

Did this foreign god truly like him?

Or was it simply that she needed him?

"Miss Ningguang just doesn’t understand what I am.

If you did, you’d be even more fervent than she is."

To Su Ran’s eyes, Ningguang’s ambition surpassed even Ei’s.

On a continent where the Seven Archons still reigned, she already dreamed of the Jade Chamber spanning all seven nations.

Such a woman— her vision was bound only by Teyvat itself.

Were she to learn of the cosmos beyond, of the Interastral Peace Corporation...

she would no doubt dream of creating a rival corporation of her own.

Even if she started late.

"Every word of yours only highlights your value, Mr. Su Ran.

If you keep talking, I might truly be swayed."

Ningguang smiled gracefully.

She could see plainly that Su Ran was baiting her.

But the matter was far too great.

She couldn’t risk drawing a Fatui Harbinger into her fold.

"I merely wish to see whether, once you know everything, you’ll end up clutching your head in regret, cursing your present caution."

Whether Ningguang tried to recruit him or not mattered little to Su Ran.

It wasn’t as if she could easily succeed anyway.

And compared to the Fatui’s endless coffers, Ningguang’s investment might seem paltry— unless she truly understood who he was.

Not like Pantalone.

That one didn’t know the full truth either, but he was decisive enough— if Su Ran could be bought, then he begged without shame.

Face, dignity... none of that mattered to him.

Whether there was a scheme here or not, Ningguang couldn’t tell.

But she did know this Su Ran was a man of mischief— one who relished watching others squirm in regret.

Would she one day beat her chest in remorse? She couldn’t say.

But right now...

Ningguang truly wanted to poach him.

Yet with the Raiden Shogun glowering beside him, she tamped the thought down for now.

If she tried to recruit him now, she’d not only face the thunder of Inazuma, but likely the frost of Snezhnaya too.

"Let us set that aside for now.

Since you’ve come at my invitation, you must already know what I wish to ask."

Whether she would regret this later was irrelevant.

If she didn’t solve the crisis before her, there might be no later for Liyue at all.

"You wish to ask about Morax?

Don’t you think it rather absurd, Miss Ningguang?

That’s your god—yet you come to an outsider like me?"

If she had any other way, she wouldn’t be here.

And now she had to endure Su Ran’s mockery.

There was no excuse she could give— she couldn’t exactly admit they had lost track of their Archon.

"Yet according to your earlier words, sir, you are an involved party.

If you have a contract with the Geo Archon, then naturally you are no outsider."

At first, Ningguang had not been certain of the rumor that Morax sought to unleash a calamity.

But with his absence at the Rite of Descension, she found herself half-convinced.

For what reason could Rex Lapis fail to appear?

Could something have happened to him?

But that was impossible.

He was the oldest of the Archons, his strength among the greatest of the Seven.

Unless it was a god from beyond the skies... nothing could endanger him.

"If Miss Ningguang truly wishes to know the truth, then you should prepare lavish gifts, a banquet spread of delicacies, and bribe this humble Harbinger over dinner."

"There’s no such thing as ’you ask, I answer.’

We’re both adults here.

You know some things can’t be had without a price."

Ningguang fell silent in thought.

"Then what price would satisfy you, Mr. Su Ran?"

The more he spoke, the more slippery he seemed.

A "gift" for intelligence—but the flow of information would always remain in his hands.

"From what I see, this Jade Chamber would do nicely.

Would Miss Ningguang be willing to part with it?"

Her face darkened instantly.

What the Jade Chamber meant to her— how could it be so easily given away?

This wasn’t a trade.

This was mockery.

"If the value is sufficient, then even the Jade Chamber could be yours.

But why should I believe your intelligence is worth it?"

If she truly could put the Jade Chamber on the table, she feared she’d be no different from Pantalone— utterly without bottom line.

"What if I told you...

that one day your Jade Chamber will fall, and not so long from now?

That I am offering to save it?"

"...I believe you."

Ningguang’s gaze sharpened.

She saw now that Su Ran perhaps held no malice toward Liyue— nor any great loyalty to Snezhnaya, either.

"But the Jade Chamber is... truly dear to me."

She couldn’t give it up.

And yet she could not abandon this chance at the truth.

"Then... add to that one chance for me to take the field."

Once again, Ningguang hesitated.

This time, she did not reject it outright.

"Could you resolve a crisis of Liyue?"

"Even if Morax himself returned, his corpse would be all that remained."

~~--------------------------------------

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