Chapter 229

It had no effect at all.

The opening was so impressive, I thought it was some powerful trump card,

and this is all it is?

Just as Shi Laimu was about to charge forward, Lei Ze finally acted.

"No, it's just bad luck—I'm sure the random skill card is actually powerful."

Bennet told Lei Ze everything about the manga shop.

"Reading manga gives you rewards?"

Lei Ze became interested.

Though it sounded bizarre, it was his friend saying it.

He chose to believe.

And that black card had indeed demonstrated its effect.

Though it was only slightly weaker.

But he still knew his friend had terrible luck.

So perhaps the skill card's power had never been fully unleashed.

"Want to go together?"

Bennet invited.

He was in no condition to continue exploring.

Better to return to Mondstadt and read manga.

"Sure."

Lei Ze nodded.

If that shop truly had the miraculous ability Bennet described,

then he had to go.

Because he wanted to grow stronger, to protect his companions, his Lupika.

The two then left together, heading toward Mondstadt.

……

Mondstadt.

The Angel's Share.

Yingmeihe and Paimon sat at the table, happily drinking.

"This tavern's wine is really good."

After sipping, Yingmeihe smiled.

She rarely drank alcohol.

But once in a while, it felt truly nice.

"Hehe, I think so too."

Little Paimon sipped happily from her tiny cup.

"Traveler, may I sit here?"

A voice came from beside them.

Yingmeihe and Paimon froze, curious, and turned to look.

It was a man with golden hair, a cloak draped over his back, and an eye patch over his right eye.

"Y-yes."

Yingmeihe was bad at refusing, so she nodded in agreement.

Besides, his demeanor suggested he knew her.

Was he here specifically for her?

The golden-haired man, Dai Yin, was indeed here for Yingmeihe.

In the original plot, Yingmeihe joined the Adventurers' Guild.

Then, through a mission, she met this "riddler."

But recently, Yingmeihe and Paimon had been reading manga.

They had not yet joined the Adventurers' Guild.

So naturally, they did not know Dai Yin.

Yet Dai Yin had grown interested in Yingmeihe—the one resembling his former travel companion.

Because after arriving in Mondstadt, he'd heard many things about this "Honored Knight."

Most notable was the colossal wind dragon that manifested on the day the Wind Dragon attacked.

This deeply intrigued Dai Yin.

Added to that, the resemblance to that person, so he came.

To make contact.

"What's this little thing beside you?"

Dai Yin looked at Paimon, still drinking.

"Emergency food!"

Yingmeihe laughed.

"Hey! That's completely wrong!"

Little Paimon looked deeply displeased.

"It's not bad to have someone accompany you while traveling."

Dai Yin seemed to recall some past memory, and sighed softly.

"Do you know me?"

Yingmei asked curiously at this moment.

"My name is Dai Yin. May I ask you a few questions? The payment is this drink."

Dai Yin did not answer Yingmei's question directly, but instead posed his own.

"Ying, agree to him!"

Hearing someone was treating them, Little Paimon became excited.

Who would pay when they could get it for free?

Why not use the remaining Mora to buy comics?

"Mr. Dai Yin, then ask your questions!"

Yingmei nodded.

She also wanted to know what kind of questions this strange man would ask.

"There is no right or wrong in answering questions—only different attitudes revealed."

After a pause, Dai Yin began to ask.

"The first question: the dragon calamity in Decheng was resolved by you and that… Wind God who calls himself Wen Di. In your view, who was the key to ending the dragon calamity?"

"How do you know Wen Di is…!"

Yingmei slightly furrowed her brow.

They had never spoken carelessly; logically, Wen Di's identity as 767 should not have been exposed.

"I know all that I am meant to know. Answer my question."

Dai Yin said calmly.

"It's Boss Han!"

Yingmei answered without hesitation.

Although Boss Han contributed nothing during the resolution of the Stormterror,

both repelling the Stormterror and forcibly purifying it atop the Starfall Cliff required immense power.

And all that power came from Boss Han's comic shop.

So Yingmei believed the key to ending the dragon calamity was Boss Han.

"That's right, it's Boss Han!"

Little Paimon thought the same.

"Boss Han?"