37 37. Why Would Morax Lack Mora?

Seeing the dark curtain enveloping the room, La Signora was stunned. She knew Ryūhei didn't have a Vision just like her. However, it was her first time seeing a person create a barrier that isolated the outside world. And she was sure the curtain-like technique wasn't a space technique.

On the other hand, Zhongli's expression was still as deadpan as ever. And Ryūhei didn't know what he was thinking at all.

Ryūhei didn't know what to say to their silence. It was just a basic technique for a sorcerer like him, so he thought it didn't matter if he showed a technique or two.

La Signora put a smile on her face.

"Ufufu, interesting. Little brother, are you affiliated with any organization or anything? If not, how about you join me, The Eighth of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers? If you join me, an incident like yesterday where the Fatui agent wanted to copy your work won't be repeated since you're under my protection."

"Interesting offer, but no. I don't like being ordered around. Even if anyone dares to do that, I'll be the one to step in." Ryūhei declined the offer as he knew that she just wanted to use him.

La Signora suddenly sneered upon hearing his reply.

"Heee… What if the person who wants to copy your work is stronger than you?"

"Isn't it simple? I just need to be stronger than that person." Still, Ryūhei just replied nonchalantly.

"Ufufu. I thought you were smart. But I didn't expect you to be so naive. Well, it can't be helped. You're still a kid after all."

The tension heated up because of their conversation. Ryūhei knew that La Signora could control two elements, fire and ice, after seeing her. And since La Signora was called the Crimson Witch of Flame, he was sure that fire was her original power, but the ice element was the thing to suppress her power.

Ryūhei could see clearly how strong she was. And from the story he heard from Zhongli, the Crimson Witch of Flame took part in the Archon War 500 years ago. Surviving the war that killed 5 Archons definitely wasn't an easy feat.

"Arrogance is fine as long as the strength backing it up. And she's indeed dangerous, but isn't she too arrogant? It wouldn't be strange if she died because of her arrogance in the future." Ryūhei said in his mind.

At that moment, Zhongli tapped the table to ease the tension.

"La Signora, I came here for a business."

Not wanting to annoy the Geo Archon, La Signora immediately apologized.

"Pardon me, Mr. Zhongli. In that case, I'll be straight to the point. Her Highness agreed about the contract you offered since you decided to let go of your Gnosis. However, Her Highness has yet to hear what exchange is equivalent to Gnosis from you."

"Can you keep it confidential between you and her only? I don't want anyone else to hear my plan."

"That's easy. But, isn't there an outsider here?" Then, La Signora glanced in Ryūhei's direction.

"No need to worry about him. He's on my side." Zhongli reminded her.

"I see. Then let's hear your plan."

Since Zhongli said that Ryūhei was on his side, La Signora didn't want to waste any more breath. Zhongli trusted that she wouldn't leak his plan since he already knew she could be secretive if she wanted to. So, Zhongli explained his plan to her in detail.

As soon as Zhongli finished explaining to La Signora, she let out a chuckle.

"I didn't expect that you would be so vile to even use us as villains to unify the people of Liyue and Adepti. But well, I will convey this to Her Highness as soon as possible since your offer is so valuable. Regarding the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, I will let the manager handle the document for the funding."

"You have my thanks."

"You're too polite, Mr. Zhongli. This negotiation is a fair exchange. So you don't have to express gratitude."

The moment La Signora finished saying that, Zhongli and Ryūhei stood up from their seats.

"Then, I'll be waiting for your news. Just find me at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor next time."

Ryūhei who was beside him clapped his hands, then a dark curtain covering the room lifted in that instance.

After those two disappeared from her sight, the Fatui immediately gathered around her while asking in concern.

"Lady Signora, are you alright?"

"They didn't do something to you?"

"The black curtain earlier, what was that? We couldn't get inside at all."

Hearing the last question thrown by one of the Fatui, La Signora furrowed her brows.

Suddenly, the person asking the question was pierced by an ice lance from behind right in the head. And the other was silenced by her action.

"How impudent. Knowing that I have an important negotiation, you wish to get inside?" Then, she glanced at the Fatuus near the corpse. "Clean up this trash!"

"Y-yes."

La Signora walked away while pondering over something. She thought the barrier created by Ryūhei was just an ordinary one that couldn't be seen from outside. However, her guess was wrong. The barrier could even keep the people outside from getting in.

"How interesting. Niwa Ryūhei. Niwa clan. I don't think there are any other clans apart from that. To think that the Niwa clan still has a survivor. I want to see how Il Dottore will react when he hears this. Ufufu."

— — — —

Ryūhei didn't know why Zhongli asked to accompany him to the Northland Bank. After all, he didn't do anything special except the curtain he cast. Unbeknownst to him, even if he didn't form the curtain, La Signora could just order the Fatui in the surroundings to scram. It was because he didn't like being observed that resulted in him performing a barrier technique.

After leaving the Northland Bank and appearing at the top of Mt. Tianheng, where they could see a beautiful view of Liyue Harbor, Zhongli asked Ryūhei who was beside him.

"How about we enjoy a bottle of wine after this?"

However, Ryūhei looked at him suspiciously.

"That sounds like big talk, Mr. Zhongli. Do you have Mora?"

Zhongli looked at Ryūhei wryly.

"You're right, I do lack the Mora."

"..."

Ryūhei didn't understand Zhongli's thoughts at all. He roughly understood that Zhongli was the creator of Mora. But, it was weird if he said he didn't have one even if he planned to retire.

On the other hand, Zhongli saw Ryūhei's expression and somehow could guess his thoughts. He wanted to say something, but Ryūhei said to him first.

"Why would Morax lack Mora?" Ryūhei asked him, but then he added, "Morax lacks Mora. Somehow, I found my previous question a bit amusing according to a certain source."

Zhongli smiled in response.

"As the Rex Lapis, Morax, I can easily create Mora. But since I have chosen to walk this path as a mortal by the name of Zhongli, I should abide by the same rules that mortals do." Zhongli said. "Though I still had the Gnosis in hand, I knew that I must soon retire from my role as an archon. So I had to… rehearse a little, for my new life.

Zhongli's explanation made Ryūhei understand him.

"So, that's why, huh?" Then, Ryūhei smirked. "It seems you're becoming a parasite to society who lives off of other people's credit."

"You don't have to make it so clear. In the city of commerce, we do not merely exchange money or goods. We also exchange knowledge, memories, and foresight, as well as positions, roles, and lives. The archon Morax could never experience life as the true mortal Zhongli could, no matter how many times he descended to be with his people. So, I will create my own story as a mortal. Traveling to the street, enjoying tea, seeing the up and down of Liyue Harbor, etc. There are a lot of things I want to do as a mortal. And I will treasure those memories I made as Zhongli."

"I see. So, you're not planning to use your godly power anymore except as a last resort if your plan fails?"

"That's right."

Ryūhei slapped his own forehead. Then he said.

"You know, Mr. Zhongli. You formulated a plan to fake your death and unseal the ancient god to create a crisis in Liyue Harbor. But, isn't that too much? I said that I would help if disaster strikes Liyue. But I'm not sure defeating an ancient god is a feat I can pull off with my current strength."