"Don't tell me the famous Traveler is broke and can't pay their debts."
The smile on Qin Yu's face slowly faded.
"Slap!"
He slammed his hands on the table and leaned forward.
His expression, amplified by the already gloomy environment, became exceptionally dark.
Did she think she could just walk away without taking responsibility?
Did she even know she was breaking the law?
"I... I don't have that much money."
Ying, startled by the sudden noise, flinched like a frightened little rabbit.
After speaking, she lowered her head, her mood visibly deflated.
She had thought that upon arriving in Inazuma, she would find beautiful girls to share moments of closeness with.
She had almost forgotten, and to find her brother along the way.
But who could have imagined things would turn out like this?
Not only had her savings vanished, but she had also been captured and thrown into the underground cells of the Tenryou Commission.
And what was most infuriating...
She had been kicked by some perverted man!
"?"
Qin Yu noticed Ying's expression shift from sudden shame to sadness, a strange feeling stirring within him.
He dropped the pretense of sternness and cleared his throat.
It was then that he realized Ying might be in trouble.
He looked her over again, her hands still cuffed.
Her clothes were damp, making her look utterly disheveled.
She was like a stray kitten, homeless and caught in a downpour, looking pitiful and miserable.
"I'll pay it back as soon as possible. Whatever commissions the Tenryou Commission has, just give them to me!"
Ying bit her lip and said with a hint of stubbornness.
It wasn't the first time she'd been adrift, she wasn't afraid.
"..."
Qin Yu frowned upon hearing this and shook his head.
"I can't do anything with you."
He casually tossed out a construct.
A product of the Scarlet King's technology unfolded before Ying, a tetrahedron beginning to spin.
A sapphire laser emitted warmth, quickly drying the moisture from Ying's body.
"There, it's cold here. Don't catch a chill."
Qin Yu retracted the construct and sat back down, adopting his usual lazy posture.
He had no intention of returning to this dreary place a second time.
"...Thank you."
Ying felt her body become refreshed again. She sniffled and thanked him sincerely.
It seemed there were still many good people in this world.
Qin Yu's perception of her as a pervert lessened slightly in Ying's heart.
Of course, he was still a pervert.
"Don't thank me. Remember to report to the Tenryou Commission to settle your debt,"
Qin Yu waved his hand, reminding her with a hint of a joke.
"I don't need you to remind me, pervert!"
Ying gritted her teeth, looking at Qin Yu in his lazy state, a inexplicable anger bubbling up inside her.
"How about this, we make a deal, what do you say?"
Qin Yu smiled, seemingly unbothered by being called a pervert.
He could cover Ying's debt.
After all, the women in his home... cough, no.
The girls living with him at the Komore Teahouse were all hidden heiresses.
Not to mention Kujou Sara, who was the head of the Tenryou Commission and managed Inazuma's economy.
Problems that money could solve were not problems at all.
He could also do Ying a favor.
She had close relationships with Mondstadt and Liyue, and Qin Yu couldn't afford to alienate her completely.
"What kind of deal?"
Ying subtly perked up her ears, asking curiously.
"Nothing much, just asking a few questions."
Qin Yu gestured for Ying to relax.
"Ask away."
Ying breathed a sigh of relief and turned her face away, feeling a bit embarrassed.
She had thought Qin Yu was going to propose some kind of *other* transaction...
Why did her mind go there again?
Thinking of this, she shifted her body, her face growing even more unnatural.
Suddenly feeling relaxed, a strange sensation washed over her.
"!"
Ying's long, beautiful eyelashes fluttered, and she bit her lip.
"?"
Qin Yu watched Ying fidget and rub her legs restlessly, a slow question forming in his mind.
What was going on? Did she also want to go to the restroom like Nahida?
"N-no... I..."
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
Ying bit her lip, unable to meet Qin Yu's gaze.
"Go ahead and say it."
Qin Yu sensed the awkward atmosphere and cleared his throat.
"Could you temporarily unfasten my handcuffs? I won't run."
The young woman said softly.
"...Alright. You'll be out of here soon anyway."
Qin Yu didn't refuse and unlocked Ying's handcuffs.
"Thank you so, so much, Mr. Pervert."
Ying, who had been holding back, let out a long sigh of relief and stood up, leaning on the iron chair.
Being handcuffed for so long had made her legs weak.
"My name is Qin Yu, and the restroom is over there."
Qin Yu pointed in a direction.
However, to his surprise, Ying shook her head.
She just stood there, indicating for Qin Yu to continue with his questions.
"Don't you want to go?"
Qin Yu asked, confused.
"Um... ! I'm fine now."
Ying guiltily turned her face away, indicating she was fine standing.
Hiding behind the iron chair, she subtly pulled at the hem of her skirt.
When Qin Yu wasn't looking, she patted her backside.
"Phew..."
Her unnatural expression finally eased.
That's right, the kick Qin Yu had landed earlier had been both painful and itchy.
Combined with sitting on the cold, hard iron chair afterward, it had been quite an ordeal.
If she had sat there any longer, things might have gotten truly uncomfortable.
"Alright, let's get back to our previous conversation."
Qin Yu felt a strange sensation but nodded, not overthinking it.
They had barely spoken a few sentences.
"Ying—!"
The iron door was knocked, and the next moment, a white floating sprite rushed in.
"Paimon? Are you okay!"
Ying exclaimed in surprise and quickly hugged her into her arms, showing concern.
"Hehe, I'm fine. They had good food and drinks there."
Paimon scratched her head a bit sheepishly.
She had only remembered to look for Ying after she was full.
Ying:?
She had been cuffed here for half the day, while Paimon was next door...?!
This emergency food could not be kept!
"..."
Watching Ying and Paimon hugging and playfully bickering, Qin Yu shook his head helplessly.
He recalled his earlier conversation with Ying.
Strange commissions, the mysterious shrine maiden's Sacred Sakura ritual?
Qin Yu nodded silently, having obtained a very important piece of information.
As expected, whenever the Traveler arrived in a new country, disaster would follow.
And this time, he had caught her.
Qin Yu declared that he would immediately report this crisis...
To the higher-ups.
It wasn't because he wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Ei.
"Hmph, you meanie, let us go quickly!"
Paimon flew over, waving her tiny fists.
"Alright, come with me."
Qin Yu, too lazy to argue with the boisterous little creature, nodded in agreement.
"Huh? Why are you so agreeable?"
Paimon was surprised, covering her mouth.
Her small body swayed in the air.
"Why else? Should I say something threatening?"
Qin Yu smiled. Paimon, you truly are a character.
"Let's go, I'll lead you out of the Tenryou Commission."
...
"Lord Qin Yu, I never expected you to be here!"
"Lord Qin Yu!"
Along the way, Qin Yu responded to greetings.
Ying, on the other hand, followed quietly, curiously observing her surroundings.
"Qin Yu, your status in Inazuma is quite high."
Ying said softly.
"I suppose so. What's wrong?"
"Then can you let me see the Raiden Shogun?"
Ying's eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together in a plea.
"..."
Qin Yu paused upon hearing this and was about to reply.
"Qin Yu, you're indeed here."
At the end of the corridor, a blue-haired young man waved his hand.
Kamisato Ayato.
"Hurry to the Tenshukaku."
He said with a solemn expression.
"What happened?" Qin Yu's heart grew heavy.
If his brother-in-law was this serious, it must be a big deal.
"Yes, an Eleven Fatui Harbinger has arrived. They're at the Tenshukaku and specifically asked to see you."
"There's such a thing... Wait a moment."
Qin Yu realized something was amiss. A Harbinger?
And they specifically asked for him.
"Could it be..."
"The third-ranked 'The Columbina', you need to be careful."
It was Columbina.
Qin Yu sighed inwardly. Why was she looking for him?