Morax said Tartaglia was "quite suitable," so naturally, the Tsaritsa should send him back.
After all, he's Zhongli's personal wallet!
Zhongli wholeheartedly endorsed this suggestion.
Despite past… misunderstandings, he welcomed Tartaglia's return.
The Tsaritsa, however, fell silent.
Recalling Pantalone's rants about selling that idiot and Tartaglia's extravagant Liyue expenditures…
If he returned, would the Northland Bank go bankrupt?
But then again—who else was fit for the role?
"Understood. I'll recall him."
"Ajax will serve as Snezhnaya's ambassador to Liyue."
She'd just have to warn him to spend moderately.
(And surely, after one financial disaster, he'd learned restraint?)
"Excellent. We'll await his arrival."
Jiang Chen grinned.
Zhongli's wallet was finally returning.
Just… don't drain it all at once this time.
Slow and steady exploitation was key.
Last time, thanks to Hu Tao's antics, Zhongli had mercilessly swindled Tartaglia into funding years' worth of coffin lumber.
Truly diabolical.
Now, with "Ducky" back, perhaps Zhongli would show some restraint?
With her objectives secured, the Tsaritsa departed.
She'd honor her agreements—Jiang Chen was watching.
Defying him might cost another Harbinger.
Besides, with Inazuma, Sumeru, and Mondstadt aligned with Liyue…
Even Barbatos would comply if pressured.
Her visit had revealed Liyue's terrifying growth.
But this benefited her plans.
The stronger Liyue grew, the better.
When the time came, they couldn't remain neutral.
After her departure, Jiang Chen turned to Venti.
"Speaking of which—how long have you loitered in Liyue?"
"Planning to settle down permanently?"
"Not returning to Mondstadt?"
Was this freeloader ever leaving?
Why hadn't Hu Tao kicked him out yet?
"Ehe~! I was just about to leave."
"Need to deliver these Terminals, you know?"
"Only stayed today because the Tsaritsa visited."
Venti grinned, though his eyes held rare seriousness.
"You should go back."
"A wind god constantly haunting the geo god's territory?"
"People might think Mondstadt's been annexed."
Jiang Chen rolled his eyes.
Had this drunkard adopted Liyue as his second home?
"Not a bad idea!"
"How about merging Mondstadt and Liyue?"
Venti's eyes sparkled.
Imagine the combined strength!
Mondstadt's citizens thriving under Liyue's prosperity!
"Hell no!"
"Who wants your man-child nation?"
"Dream on!"
Jiang Chen vetoed instantly.
Mondstadt's laissez-faire culture clashed violently with Liyue's workaholic ethos.
The moment Mondstadters faced Keqing's overtime demands, rebellion would erupt.
A nightmare scenario.
"Teasing~!"
"I'm off now."
"See you all soon."
"Teyvat's evolving too fast—I'll have Jean strengthen ties with Liyue."
Venti's tone turned uncharacteristically earnest.
His stay hadn't just been about wine.
Liyue's breakneck progress under Jiang Chen's leadership alarmed him.
While Mondstadt languished in post-Dvalin recovery…
Liyue was sprinting ahead.
Without urgent cooperation, Mondstadt risked irrelevance.
Inazuma and Sumeru already enjoyed intimate Liyue ties.
Makoto and Buer—both bound to Jiang Chen—held real power.
Mondstadt lacked such connections.
Hence… unconventional measures.
(And maybe his merger idea wasn't entirely a joke.)
With a final wave, Venti dissolved into the breeze, heading home to mobilize Mondstadt.
Only the Liyue group remained.
Jiang Chen studied Dragonspine contemplatively.
"Old man, can we claim full control of this mountain?"
"The mineral deposits here are immense."
Zhongli sighed.
"Not yet."
"Focus on developing Guili Plains first."
"Dragonspine bears Celestia's nail—its leylines are chaotic."
"Mining here would be prohibitively difficult."
He studied Jiang Chen intently.
This man was undoubtedly scheming something.
Yet every move benefited Liyue.
So… tolerate it.
"What are your plans for Liyue?"
"Or rather… for Teyvat?"
"You're clearly orchestrating something."
"Care to share?"
Guizhong and Havria leaned in, equally curious.
*Yes, Jiang Chen—what's your endgame?