Chapter 363

Sumeru Cheng has become increasingly lively recently.

Not only because nowadays Sumeru's economic exchanges with other countries have grown closer.

More importantly,

but the Flower God's Birthday Festival is about to arrive.

In the past.

The Flower God's Birthday Festival was merely a minor holiday that went unnoticed; the Academy basically never held grand celebrations, and it was the residents of the big bazaar in Sumeru Cheng who organized the festivities themselves.

Even those merchants most sensitive to wind directions often didn't know that Sumeru had such a festival.

Even when the Little Auspicious Grass King returned to Sumeru and announced his renewed rule,

The Flower God's Birthday Festival was never said to be held especially grandly.

Until this year.

The Academy broke from its past silent attitude, not only purchasing a large amount of celebration supplies, but also opening channels for Sumeru Cheng residents to pay homage to the Little Auspicious Grass King.

At the same time.

The Academy also announced the Dendro Archon's birthday to other countries and invited nations to come observe this year's Flower God's Birthday Festival.

As Sumeru's staunchest ally today.

Mondstadt naturally was the first to respond.

To show their importance placed on Sumeru.

Qin personally led a delegation, also bringing several carts of gifts as offerings to the Dendro Archon.

Not only did they announce that the acting captain of the Knights of Favonius would serve as the envoy, but they were also the first delegation to arrive in Sumeru, even faster than the neighboring Liyue people.

The only pity.

is that they never managed to contact Venti, so they couldn't come together with their own Wind God.

Outside Sumeru Cheng.

The Mondstadt delegation's convoy did not use diplomatic privileges, lining up alongside the crowds of Sumeru citizens flocking to Sumeru Cheng.

Inside the lead carriage,

Qin sat opposite the Diluc and Kaeya brothers.

"Have you still not gotten in touch with Lord Barbatos?"

Lowering the curtain, Qin's first question was still about Venti.

"No."

Kaeya shrugged helplessly: "He seems not to be in Mondstadt; we've searched every corner of Mondstadt, big and small, and haven't heard of anyone who likes wearing green clothes, a bard."

Diluc interjected: "Perhaps the Wind God and the Dendro Archon are in contact; he might have already arrived ahead of time."

That is indeed a possibility.

Qin sighed: "I hope so."

Venti not being in Mondstadt always leaves her lacking confidence.

Qin is a serious person.

No matter what, she strives to do things perfectly.

Thus, in some diplomatic matters, lacking the Wind God's backing, her words sometimes lack confidence.

Fortunately, when Venti left Mondstadt, he didn't take Specialwine with him.

Having this East Wind Dragon who has regained his senses guarding Mondstadt at all times, and occasionally helping to clear out monsters causing trouble in the mountains and forests, eases Qin's burden greatly.

Thinking of this, Qin muttered: "I wonder if Mr. Luo De is in Sumeru Cheng right now."

"He?"

"He probably isn't."

According to the information in his hands, Diluc said.

The intelligence of the Northern Continent Intelligence Organization is still quite reliable, even more than what Kaeya secretly controls as the intelligence department of the Knights of Favonius.

As for news about Luo De,

It has always been the headline of various intelligence departments.

But nowadays Luo De is no longer like before; it's extremely hard to track his whereabouts, and even if there is any, it's only when he has nothing to do and is wandering the streets.

Under such circumstances, knowing his information only tells where he is, and isn't of much use.

Diluc's information was updated upon arriving at Omos Port.

The message said Luo De last appeared half a month ago, at that new city in the desert, after which there has been no trace of him.

"That new city,"

Upon mentioning that,

Kaeya laughed: "This time I have the chance, I must go to our new winery."

The Dawn Winery's branch in Sumeru is their first such outward expansion.

This matter had been planned during Crepus's time.

At that time, Crepus's inspection sites were Natta, where dandelion wine sells extremely well, and Inazuma, which is far from Mondstadt with high shipping costs.

He also once visited Sumeru.

As a result, he was dissuaded by the Academy's extreme self-serving foreign policy.

Natta, on the other hand, was very welcoming of the Dawn Winery opening a branch there.

But after conducting thorough research,

Crepus discovered that Natta's water quality is unsuitable for brewing, or rather, unsuitable for using the Dawn Winery's techniques.

Thus, this matter ultimately came to nothing.

As for Inazuma.

Kelipsi couldn't be bothered to talk about them.

Those corrupt officials of the Finance Bureau, whose brains were addled by money, treat the Dawn Winery‑style foreign factories—which could solve massive idle labor and boost the national economy—as if they didn't need help, yet they openly demand bribes there, showing no concern for the people of Inazuma.

Snezhnaya and Liyue were never part of Kelipsi's plan from the start.

Snezhnaya is because their people only like extremely high‑proof spirits and have little interest in the Dawn Winery.

Liyue is because it's too close, so shipping costs are low, and building a factory there would not yield the expected profits.

In the end.

Kelipsi still failed to complete this plan, and died in the attack of the magic dragon Ursa.

Looking at it this way.

Diluc opening a new winery in Sumeru Cheng can also be said to fulfill one of Kelipsi's last wishes, satisfying his dying wish.

Indeed, the main business of the Sumeru Cheng Dawn Winery is not wine, but rather sparkling beverages.

This matter once caused considerable controversy among the Dawn Winery's shareholders.

But under Diluc's authority, those discordant voices were forcibly suppressed.

But looking at it now.

The sparkling water produced by the Sumeru Cheng Dawn Winery has already become a bestseller across the continent; this low‑priced, mass‑market soda is very popular, and if not limited by production capacity, the profit it could generate would be no less than that of Dandelion Wine.

During this period.

Diluc had traveled back and forth between Sumeru Cheng and Mondstadt several times, personally overseeing the establishment of the Sumeru Cheng Dawn Winery and jointly developing and improving the sparkling water formula with technicians; he could thus be considered fairly familiar with this new factory.

However, Kaeya and Qin are usually busy with duties, and this is the first time they have had the chance to visit this new factory.

Just then.

The carriage stopped, and a familiar voice they knew well called out.

"Please open the carriage door; we need to check whether you are carrying any contraband."

Qin and the other two exchanged a glance.

It was Youla.

As former colleagues, that voice was extremely familiar to them.

Seeing an old friend again. Qin could barely contain their excitement, lifted the curtain, saw the blue‑haired woman holding a sword standing before the carriage, and happily said: "Youla~"

"Huh? Qin, is that you?"

Youla first froze, then broke into a wide smile and walked over, giving Qin a big hug: "How did you come here?!"

"The Flower God's Birthday is such an important holiday; naturally I came to celebrate the Dendro Archon."

Qin laughed and explained.

"Long time no see, Wave Knight."

Kaeya also hopped down from the carriage laughing, and the first thing out of their mouth was Youla's former title in the West Wind Knights.

Diluc also got down.

However, he merely nodded, considering that as having greeted Youla.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries.

Youla, however, deliberately straightened her face and spoke in a strict, businesslike tone: "Alright, you three, step aside for now; after we finish the inspection, you may leave."

"Pfft—"

Youla's expression made Qin laugh out loud.

Kaeya's mouth still wore that unforgiving look: "Tsk tsk, our Wave Knight, no matter where you go, you're still this fair and strict."

"You're the talkative one."

In Mondstadt, Youla and Kaeya had dealt with each other often, knowing he was the type who could never spit out ivory from a dog's mouth, so they weren't angry; while checking the carriage, they said without turning back: "After I get off work later, please go get a drink—don't run around."

"Later we still need to go pay respects to the Dendro Archon."

Qin hesitated after hearing that.

Compared to the private matter of drinking with Youla, what she needed to do first was to visit the Dendro Archon as an official duty; if she lost etiquette, wouldn't that embarrass Mondstadt?

"Oh, I almost forgot—you won't come out for a drink until you finish your official business."

Youla knows Qin's personality very well.

After the inspection was finished, she took out three Void Terminals and handed them to Qin and the others, saying: "These are Void Terminals; you can contact me after you finish your official business, and if you want to learn anything, you can also query them."

Not just Qin and the others.

The entire Mondstadt convoy, and indeed all outsiders coming to Sumeru Cheng, after passing inspection, will receive such a temporary Void Terminal.

After putting on the leaf‑shaped Void Terminal,

Qin and the others temporarily bade farewell to Youla, boarded the carriage again, and entered Sumeru Cheng.

Upon entering the city,

they were startled by the sight before them.

On the Tiwatedalu continent,

the main cities named after their nations are each country's most prosperous cities.

But Qin and the others had never before seen such a prosperous city that still maintained such good order.

This is no exaggeration.

Just looking at the flow of people, even though we've only just entered the city and haven't reached the higher‑level inner city or commercial district, the streets are already bustling to the point where even an ordinary main city would be hard to navigate.

Yet despite such a huge crowd,

the Mondstadt carriage convoy suffered no delay whatsoever; as long as they stayed on the designated carriage lanes, they could proceed smoothly all the way.

"Traffic lights."

Kaeya reacted quickly, directly querying the root source from the Void Terminal.

"Traffic light?"

Jean and Diluc, unaccustomed to using the Void Terminal, asked in unison.

"Hmm."

A signal light that uses electricity control, with a pre-programmed release schedule.

"We can proceed so smoothly."

On one hand, Sumeru Cheng is expanding its roads and dividing them into vehicle-only lanes and pedestrian-only passages; on the other hand, signal indicator lights controlled by the Void are used to adjust traffic flow according to actual conditions.

After saying that, Kaeya clicked his tongue: "This Sumeru's Void is actually quite handy."

Regarding Sumeru's Void.

This is also quite famous across the nations of Teyvat.

It allows free knowledge queries and has many convenient functions; with it, one could say no thinking is required for any task—just do what it says.

"Huh?"

Diluc, fiddling with the Void Terminal, furrowed his brow.

He found that this Void somewhat deviates from the legendary version.

"You noticed too?"

Kaeya, playing with his own Void Terminal, smiled at Diluc: "Our Void Terminal can only query some knowledge and actual conditions about Sumeru; the Void gives no opinions or action suggestions, purely a query function."

"Perhaps they don't trust us with so many functions, lest we leak secrets."

Jean takes it in stride.

She herself has no special ideas about the Void Terminal; an information-query function is enough.

As the carriage went deeper.

Jean and company quickly noticed many more differences between Sumeru Cheng and other cities.

For example, more modern signs, streetlights built in the prosperous green belts and other infrastructure, as well as various distinctive goods sold at stalls.

Diluc and Kaeya have visited Sumeru Cheng once before.

But on their previous visit, they had never seen so many new facilities and novel devices worthy of praise.

"It's Luo De's doing."

Diluc said firmly.

The changes in Sumeru Cheng.

It resembles the style of A Ru Cun and that new city they visited before.

Especially, its infrastructure closely resembles that new city's; in many places one can tell at a glance, and although there are some differences, it's clear Sumeru Cheng was renovated by copying Hope City.

As for those differences,

Needless to say, they certainly come from Luo De's hand.

"What a pity, such a person is actually rooted in Sumeru."

Jean sighed with regret.

The more she learns, the more she feels that if Luo De were to stay in Mondstadt, Mondstadt could become ten times better than now, even dozens of times better.

It's just regrettable.

Luo De became an attendant of the Dendro Archon, thus destined never to go to other nations.

So no matter how much one craves him, there's no way to take him away.

Then for Mondstadt,

Dealing with such a capable person, it's best to maintain friendly relations.

If one becomes hostile toward Luo De,

Refer to the Foolish Crowd.

It's said that the two executives who died in Inazuma are closely related to him; as a result, Snezhnaya suffered this mute loss and never blamed the Fallen for those executives' deaths.

This also sounded a warning bell for other nations.

That is, never provoke this Dendro Archon attendant who claims to repay grudges; otherwise, no one can guarantee they won't be hunted to death by him.

Just like that.

Amid sighs of regret, Mondstadt's convoy passed through dense crowds, witnessed Sumeru Cheng's prosperity—now on a whole different level—reached the Academy, and was permitted to go to the Palace of Pure Good to see the Dendro Archon.

(End of chapter)