Aboard the Crux Fleet 1

"Now, Paimon. Do you have any idea where to find Lumine?" Lu cracked his neck as he questioned.

" 'Now, Paimon...' What do you mean, NOW PAIMON?!!! Explain yourself, shady deity!" A demanding voice was heard in Tenshukaku.

"Why? Did I do something wrong~?" He feigned ignorance.

"Wha! You! That... I'm done! I'm never ever giving Lumine to you!" She stomped while in the air.

"You're on the right track Paimon. Finally! Now, do you have any idea where Lumi-Lumi might be?" The deity asked once more with a bored tone.

"Argh... Okay, I'm cooperating with you. But just for the traveler. Let me think... Oh right, if she's nowhere in Teyvat then she's most likely in the Teapot! How did I not think of that?! Being with you messes by brain..." Machine gun Paimon.

"A Teapot? I see... A closed space. No wonder I can't detect her. Technically, I could have tried harder to find her, but there isn't a guarantee that no one would notice my probing..." He muttered.

"What are you murmuring about?... Suit yourself, I'll go find her inside it. Wait here." The flying creature mysteriously disappeared.

"The Teapot from Liyue, Mikage Furnace in Inazuma, An Akasha Terminal in Sumeru, and countless inventions from Fontaine... Seems like this world is complicated in its own way." Raiden Lu whispered in contemplation.

...

"Ziya? Paimon said you're looking for me?" A worried lady appeared and caught his attention.

"Che! It's probably nothing important. Let's leave him alone, and go somewhere amazing traveler." Her partner suggested.

"Lumine? Oh, Lumine! I've been looking everywhere for you~." Lu acted as he embraced her. The shamelessness of this guy...

"Hey! Hands off the traveler, fake merchant!" Paimon bopped his head. Which did nothing at all... How weak...

"Hehehe~" Lumine giggled at his antics.

"Traveler..." Despair Paimon, despair...

"There there, Ziya. What's the matter?" She asked while ruffling his hair.

"I need your help regarding the Crux Fleet and Kaedahara Kazuha. Is there a way to meet them?" Lu uttered.

"I know them both. Should I ask them to meet-up inside the Teapot?" The cheerful blonde suggested.

"That won't do, Lumi-Lumi~. I'd rather visit them for an 'advantage'. Leave the planning to me." He whispered directly into her ear.

"If by planning, you mean scheming, then congratulations shady merchant! You're one of the best I know!" Unfortunately, someone still heard it and threw a backhanded compliment.

"How long are you planning to continue this?! Release Lumine already!" Paimon added.

"Hehehe~... Oh right! Back off and give me your hand, Ziya. I haven't given you the permission to enter my teapot... yet..." Lumine blushed for some reason.

"Uwah? My whole body isn't enough? You still want my hand? How greedy of you, Lumine~." Lu teased.

"Do it, Ziya..." She threatened.

"Unlucky... Here you go. Give it back to me as soon as possible, please..." He pleaded as he let go of her.

"Don't say stupid things. I only need to hold it for a second." The blonde remarked.

"Handholding? How lewd~." The two were immersed in their own world.

"Hey?... Someone talk to me, please..." Paimon was having a breakdown from being ignored...

"Ah, Paimon! Come here in my arms." Lumine hugged the creature with one hand, holding his hand with the remaining one.

"Done... You're in luck, Ziya. Kazuha boarded the Crux Fleet just a few days ago. We might be able to meet them both today." She informed him with a bright smile while comforting the cheeky fairy.

"As for my Teapot, be careful when going inside, you might get noticed by the others." The blonde warned.

"Why were you stuck there in the first place? Any guests?" Lu inquired.

"It was your fault to begun with. Your stunts were spreading fast to the other nations. So a lot of my friends have been asking me about you." She explained in a weirdly cheerful tone.

"Oh... It seems like I caused you some trouble, Forgive me... Shall we go, lady~?"

"The heavens might fall any second now... To think that you gave me a heads up instead of just teleporting me suddenly." Lumine giggled.

"Huh? When have I ever done that~?"

*Chime*

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"This is... Liyue? Mt. Tianheng? You never told me that you visited here once..." Lumine mumbled.

"You never asked... Anyway, which way is the ship we need to board? We need to hurry, before that old dragon detect us." Lu asked.

"How did you know that they're on Liyue?" She fired back with a curious expression.

"Because they're not in Inazuma..." He stared at her blankly.

"Ah... I sometimes forgot that you're a god." The blonde scratched her cheek in embarrassment.

"It's natural to forget about it, traveler. This guy doesn't act like one at all!" Paimon berated.

"Don't say that Paimon, it's rude! They should be near Guyun Stone Forest, Ziya." Paimon got scolded while the deity was answered with a smile.

The difference in treatment is enough to make the cheeky fairy despair... Rejoice, Paimon.

"I see... Brace yourselves, you two." He notified the duo.

*Chime*

...

"We're flying... 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘪𝘤... But won't this make it easier for you to be detected by Rex Lapis?" Lumine questioned.

"Not at all! My experience of running away from troublesome ladies told me so~." Lu smirked... but that was the wrong answer.

"... Care to repeat what you said... Ziya?" The deity guarded against coldness from moving fast, yet that wasn't the big problem after all.

"I was jesting Lumine... Twas nothing but an old joke... Haha." He laughed nervously.

"...Are we there yet?" The third party asked.

...

..

.

It didn't take long for the people in the Alcor to notice the shooting star. And it didn't reassure them at all when they noticed that it's landing on the ship...

"Men, surround the intruders!" The party of three was definitely welcomed with vigor.

There stood a triumphant Lumine, an aghast Paimon, and a flabbergasted Raiden Lu. No one among them wanted to talk about what happened on the way here...

"Yo?!" He waved at the crewmates...

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Don't forget the powerstones! It's the easiest way for me to check how many people read the latest one.

If we reach 200 powerstones this week, I'll upload a bonus chapter by the end!