“If Captain Beidou insists on firing, then let her.
After all, we’ve come to apologize—we ought to show at least a little sincerity.” After studying the adeptal arts, Piers’s five senses and body had been considerably nourished and strengthened by adept power.
Even from a great distance, he could tell that the cannon aimed at their ship from the Alcor was extremely old.
That kind of cannon had been phased out in Snezhnaya more than a decade ago.
Modern cannons generally weren’t so intimidating in size, but their destructive power was many times greater.
Liyue’s technology wasn’t so backward as to sink to this level—clearly, this cannon was nothing more than a deterrent.
But if their entire ship were to bear down on the Alcor, whether the other side might haul out a new cannon and open fire…
well, that was anyone’s guess.
“Light the fuse.” The moment Piers finished speaking, Beidou planted both hands on her hips, the corners of her mouth curling up, and with a wave of her hand ordered her subordinates to light the fuse—deliberately saying those two words very loudly, as if afraid Piers wouldn’t hear.
Boom— A thunderous roar.
Piers still stood in midair.
That cannon shot was all sound; no projectile was actually fired.
Just as expected, pure intimidation—a social maneuver.
What?
You ask what would happen if Beidou had really fired?
Please, what kind of antique cannon is this?
The fact that it could fire once without falling apart already counts as good maintenance.
Even if it had truly fired a shot, with Piers’s current strength, catching the shell wouldn’t have been much of a problem.
“Hahaha, you’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.
I just received an order from Lady Tianquan—let you through, but the ship has to be detained first.” Beidou planted one foot on that old-fashioned cannon, raised a wineskin in her other hand and took a swig, exuding the bold air of someone from the jianghu—well, all right, she actually looked more like a blonde delinquent riding a will-o’-the-wisp.
“The ship cannot be detained.
We’ve come to ease relations between our two nations—as envoys from Snezhnaya, no less—not to become Liyue’s prisoners.” So she was setting out to give him an intimidating show of authority.
If he backed down here, the negotiations to follow would be difficult indeed.
Piers suddenly leaned forward and drifted directly onto the Alcor.
Seeing Piers board, the Alcor’s crew immediately raised their weapons to resist, but Beidou stopped them with a raised hand.
“Come to apologize and still this arrogant?
What?
You think we can’t take you down here on Liyue’s turf?” “Captain Beidou overstates it.
I have indeed come to apologize and smooth relations, but I serve as envoy to Liyue on behalf of Her Majesty the Tsaritsa, and naturally I cannot disgrace her dignity.” “Heh.
Good-looking and silver-tongued, full of twists and turns—you’re a lot like that woman.
And here I thought you’d be just like the last Harbinger who came to Liyue.” Beidou took another swig from the wineskin, then glanced at Piers and held it out to him.
“Can you drink?” Piers took the wineskin, downed a gulp straight away, and tossed it back.
“In years past, the Seven Gods gathered in Liyue, and relations among the seven Archons were quite good.
I’ve come here precisely because I don’t wish for certain underlings to cause a rupture between the gods and enmity between nations.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk.
No wonder they sent you.
If you were a Liyue native, I’d absolutely have to drag you aboard the Alcor.
That silver tongue of yours—I get the feeling it’d save us a lot of trouble dealing with folks from other nations.” Beidou caught the wineskin Piers tossed back and slung an arm around his shoulders, every bit the air of a good buddy.
“Mr.
Piers speaks so well.
It seems I didn’t wait aboard the Alcor all this time, after receiving word from Snezhnaya, for nothing.” At that moment, another voice suddenly came from within the cabin.
It sounded very familiar, and just as Piers was puzzling over whose it was, a magnificent figure in white and gold stepped out from the cabin.
Holy—Ningguang?
How is she aboard the Alcor?
“Tianquan Star, a pleasure to meet you for the first time.
My name is Piers, the Harbinger dispatched by Her Majesty the Tsaritsa to ease relations between Liyue and Snezhnaya.” “I’ve already gathered a fair bit of information about you, Mr.
Piers.
After word came from Snezhnaya, the Alcor kept a close watch on the situation in the Sea of Clouds, and the moment there was news of a Snezhnayan vessel, I came.” She walked toward Piers step by step.
The four secretaries who were usually always at her side—this time she’d brought not a single one.
“Since we have matters to discuss, surely not here.
The tea is already prepared.” Ningguang, wearing gloves, made a gesture of invitation with her slender fingers.
Beidou, for her part, waved a hand, and the wary crew around them promptly ignored this side of things and went off to their own business.
“Hey, hey, little Piers, who’s this?
I remember that when envoys from other nations came before, it was usually Morax who came in person.” Sister Guizhong, this person is the Tianquan Star among the Liyue Qixing—essentially an official post Morax set up to govern Liyue.
You left too early, so you probably don’t know, but the specifics are a bit of a hassle to explain.
Piers conveyed his words directly to Guizhong in his mind, using adept power.
“Oh?
You’ve even learned to transmit messages with adept power?
Fine, fine—since it’s a hassle to explain, deal with her first and then give me a proper account.” “Since the Tianquan Star extends an invitation, I naturally have no reason to refuse.
Let’s go.” Piers likewise made a gesture of invitation.
Ningguang walked into the cabin, and Piers followed behind.
To be honest, the cabin was very dark.
There were lamps on both sides, but they’d been deliberately left off.
The two of them rounded a corner and entered a room that, compared to the dim cabin, could be called exceptionally well-lit.
“Have a seat.” Beside a round table, the two of them sat down facing each other near the window.
The window was half-open, and the cool freshness of the seawater outside could be clearly smelled.
“The winds of Snezhnaya must be colder than here.” “Of course.
In Snezhnaya, ‘freezing to death’ isn’t used to describe the cold—it’s used to describe people.
Liyue’s scenery is lovely, but, Miss Ningguang, let’s discuss business first.
Since you came to wait for me ahead of time, you must already have calculated your terms.” Piers picked up the teapot to the side and poured himself a cup.
In the sea breeze, the tea quickly cooled to a drinkable temperature.
“Mr.
Piers has come from afar and is my guest.
Where’s the sense in having the host state demands first?
Why don’t you tell me, Mr.
Piers, what bargaining chips you’ve prepared?” Truly worthy of being the old fox who became Tianquan Star at such a young age—now she’s even playing psychological games.
She’s setting out to see whether I understand all this, so she can fleece me good.
“Since we’re on Liyue’s turf, the exchange rate for the bargaining chips should of course follow Liyue’s rules.
Why don’t I state my demands first, and you then estimate a price for me?” “That works well enough.” “Eh?
Little Piers, what are you two talking about?
Why can’t I quite follow?” Guizhong sat barefoot on the table, her little feet swinging back and forth.
Sister Guizhong, have you really lived for several thousand years…?
“Of course.
The genuine article, no mistake.” She suddenly planted her hands on her hips, wearing a very proud expression, looking just like a naive girl in her teens.
Are girls who tinker with mechanism arts and machinery all this dim…?
It’s all right, Sister Guizhong, you don’t need to follow it.
That clear, innocent look in your eyes is quite charming.
Guizhong thought Piers was praising her, and, a little embarrassed, turned her head to the side.
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