Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

"Hah?"

"And what makes you think there's anything out there that could actually threaten me?"

"Not impossible, is it?" Tartaglia chuckled. "What if I handed some valuable intel to the Qixing and got them to order you into a proper showdown with me?"

"Is that supposed to be a threat? Sounds more like an overt scheme dressed up as blackmail."

Gu Sanqiu sighed. "Fine, there's really no harm in telling you, as long as it doesn't go beyond us."

"Oh? No promises there," Tartaglia teased. "If it involves some benefit to the Fatui, I might just betray you without hesitation."

"Hah, I figured as much."

Gu Sanqiu shot him a glance. "Relax. This could actually be beneficial to the Fatui too, and I'm positive you'll want to be on my side."

"Judging by that tone, it sounds like you already have a plan?"

Tartaglia blinked, realizing the implications of what Gu Sanqiu had requested earlier, and his eyes immediately brightened.

"You're planning to make a move?"

"Ah, I knew you'd catch on. Maybe I underestimated you—you're sharper than you seem."

Gu Sanqiu's tone was casual. "And you're right. It's about time. If you're willing to lend a hand, I'll make sure you get everything we discussed. How does that sound?"

"Well, I have to ask… why come to me? Don't you have people in Liyue who'd be more convenient for this?"

"No, not really. Strictly speaking, those people are bound to Liyue's laws and regulations."

Gu Sanqiu explained, "And as for the Fatui—you guys operate with a bit more flexibility. In other words, minor mistakes are tolerable for you."

"And I… I need that kind of leeway."

Tartaglia's expression grew serious. "You're planning to take all those people out, aren't you?"

"With idiots like that eyeing you constantly, would you really want to spare them and give them a chance to strike later?"

"Got it. No wonder you came to me for help."

Tartaglia smiled. "Don't worry. As long as the reward's fair, I've got no problem helping you out. Just don't throw me under the cart once it's all done."

"Heh, I'm not that kind of person. And tossing you aside gains me nothing."

They reached the hotel's entrance, and Gu Sanqiu gave a wave. "Alright, that's enough for now. I'll reach out when the time to act arrives."

"I'll be waiting."

As they parted, Tartaglia entered his room. "Have you found anything?"

Inside, several Fatui intelligence agents were gathered, sorting through information from the recent Domain expedition.

"Lord Harbinger, there hasn't been any change in Liyue's trade purchases recently. As for the Millelith guarding the convoys, their activities haven't been unusual—mostly training, day in and day out."

"Standard trade items, all accompanied by documents with Liyue's Ministry of Civil Affairs seal. We've verified it multiple times," one officer continued. "And that Millelith officer, Feng Yan, seems to be particularly strict. Ever since we started observing them, he's hardly had any leisure time or anything we'd find suspicious."

The intelligence lead shook his head. "As for Mr. Gu himself, our people have barely seen him around. And even if they did, they wouldn't dare follow him."

"One of our colleagues tried tailing him outside the Hunter's Guild, but woke up the next morning in the branches of a tree outside town."

"Is that so."

Tartaglia rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, you've done well these past few days. For now, suspend any further investigation on him, and destroy these files."

"Yes, sir."

Some time later, Tartaglia sat back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling in thought.

He pondered what exactly Gu Sanqiu had gained within the Domain.

Cross-border enforcement… sure, that would help his future plans and certainly benefit the Millelith.

The trading partners… insignificant, really. Not worth much concern.

What truly caught Tartaglia's attention, and raised more than a few suspicions, was Gu Sanqiu's request for those so-called "insight notes."

It was as though he had a hunch, an intuition that something critical lay behind that request.

In the Domain, Dekarabian had led Gu Sanqiu away for a private meeting. And now, when it was time to settle on rewards, he asked specifically for these notes—it had to be connected to that encounter.

If nothing unexpected had happened in the Domain, there were plenty of other ways he could've earned more Mora besides cross-border enforcement.

So while Mondstadt came out of this with a new trial site, Gu Sanqiu was likely the one walking away with the real prize.

"What could that guy have gotten from Dekarabian…? Could it be power that belonged to the old Archon?"

It was hard for Tartaglia to judge. If he'd thought of it, then the Knights of Favonius might've figured it out too.

However, Gu Sanqiu had come to help, and his requests hadn't crossed any moral boundaries.

More importantly, Gu Sanqiu would eventually return to Liyue, so whatever happened, it wouldn't directly impact Mondstadt.

But for Tartaglia, things were different. For Snezhnaya's plans, the time spent laughing and scheming with Gu Sanqiu would dwindle as tensions grew.

And one day, their paths would diverge—forcing them to cross swords in a deadly clash.

For Snezhnaya's sake, and to prepare for that inevitable battle, Tartaglia decided he needed to find out what exactly Gu Sanqiu had taken from the Domain.

"If he dares to ask for those insight notes so openly, it means he's not worried about people making connections. Maybe he thinks whatever he gained is beyond our comprehension."

"Could it be an Archon's power? An Archon's insights? Perhaps some rare knowledge from an older era, or even an Archon-level weapon? What could he have found that I'm overlooking?"

Tartaglia's brow furrowed. He'd considered connections to the old gods, yet Morax and Dekarabian didn't seem to have any ties.

"Damn it, that guy must've known I'd want answers, so he threw that request out there to distract me. I've been played."

With a wry smile, Tartaglia stood up and looked out the window.

"But the more he hides, the clearer it is that he's gotten something of great importance. As long as I keep a bit of caution in my heart, I'll have some leverage, whenever the time comes."

"I don't want that day to arrive too soon, but for us Snezhnayans, the ending we desire will come, regardless."

"So, this little puzzle… I'll treat it as the thrill before the real fight begins!"

---

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