Act 2, Scene 7
17th of the 2nd Cycle
"For the last time, we have nothing to do with this! I swear to myself, I am going to throw you to the dark side of the Moon and fucking-"
Paimon suddenly breathed in, "Woah, almost lost control there."
She breathed out slowly. The Millelith Sergeant looked at her incredulously. Aether decided this was a good time to speak.
"Sir, if you check our documents, uh, you can be assured we were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time."
The sergeant flipped through the paperwork again. Mumbling to himself.
"Arrived yesterday… merchant pass… sold three casks of dandelion wine… alright, seems like you two are clear. Sorry for taking up your time."
Paimon wasn't quite done yet. "Sorry for taking up your time? I am going to take that spear of yours and shove it up your-"
Aether stood up quickly, speaking loudly. "Alright! Thank you sir very much, please excuse my loud companion here, we'll be on our way."
He closed Paimon's mouth with his hand and departed, dragging her along. She was still spitting curses at the poor man who was just doing his job.
They ran into Mona outside, she was waiting for them. Aether complained to her.
"Why aren't you getting questioned!?"
Mona gave him the smuggest look he imagined a human can have. She then pulled out a six-sided insignia emblazoned with a triquetra.
"The Hexenzirkel is the most powerful magi association in Fontaine, no, in all of Teyvat. My master is one of their Elders. I was questioned as well, but promised to help find the culprit."
"You already know the culprit."
"Well I can't exactly stroll up and tell them their god killed himself can I!? Ahem, also, how many languages do you speak!?"
"You seem to haven't noticed, but I've been talking in both Mondstadter and Fontainean and you seem to not be bothered by it at all, and now you speak Liyuean as well! Do you know all the languages on Teyvat?" Mona continued.
Aether shrugged his shoulders, "Chalk it up to my Outsideriness I suppose."
Mona looked like she wanted to pull her hair out.
This time Aether questioned her instead.
"Do you know Liyuese then? How did you talk to the shipwright at the Wharf and the Millelith?"
Mona blushed.
"Well, uh, let's just say my divination circle has more, uh, purposes than one."
"You used your circle thing as a translator?"
She gave a pretty good impression of a tomato.
"A-anyway, what are we going to do now? I doubt the Qixing is going to consider my offer in a time like this…"
Aether thought differently. This was the perfect time to have the Qixing patron them, Mona had already told them she would help find the culprit. All the Qixing are merchants at heart right? Certainly, they'd understand that they would have to pay for such services.
With that, he told Mona his plan and they set off to get an audience with the Qixing
Act 2, Scene 8
18th of the 2nd Cycle
The waiting list was three and a half years. That won't do. He gave Mona a sideways glance, and she nodded in understanding, albeit sighing. How rude.
As the secretary of the Yuehai Pavilion emerged from its doors with the waiting list in her hand, she spoke to them.
"Please write your name and purpose here, and we will assign you a date for your audience."
Mona would have none of it, as they had planned.
"Pardon me?" She spoke viciously, causing the secretary to take a half step back, "Do you even know who I am?"
"Uh-"
Mona whipped out her Hexenzirkel Insignia, the secretary caught sight of it and her eyes widened.
"I am here as a representative of the Hexenzirkel, I am not requesting an audience, I am offering my services to uncover the culprit of the murder of your Archon! If you will not have me, then I will offer my services to someone else! I hear the Fatui are looking into the matter as well."
That did it. The secretary bowed and apologised profusely. Aether felt kind of bad.
"Forgive me, miss. Pardon me! I will inform the Yuheng of your presence immediately! Please wait a moment!"
She scurried back inside. That went well.
A short moment later, the secretary returned accompanied by a purple-haired lady wearing a matching purple dress.
"Apologies for the wait, I am Keqing, Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, I hear you know how to find the perpetrator of the incident."
"Know how to find? I already know the culprit, Lady Yuheng. A mage of my calibre would find out easily, if Liyue had any good magi, perhaps you wouldn't be in this situation!"
Aether believed that Mona is acting a bit too well, and should tone it down a bit. The Yuheng was offended by her words, he could tell, but hid it behind a carefully constructed mask of apathy.
"Is that so? A bold claim, you must understand, do you have any proof?"
He felt like a rabbit caught between two lions.
"Proof? Hah, pay me and I will show you. If not, I will bring my findings to Northland Bank. A down payment of two million Mora will suffice, and two million more if my findings prove to be useful to you."
The Yuheng's smile strained. He knew the predicament she was in, the Hexenzirkel was a secretive but incredibly powerful magi circle, any member of theirs must know what they were talking about, if only for their reputation.
But even then, to pay 2 million upfront without any assurance would be an utterly preposterous thought to any self-respecting merchant. However, if Mona actually sold her findings to the Fatui instead, the consequences would be even more disastrous.
Balancing the pros and cons in his head, he already knew the Yuheng's answer.
"Very well, we accept. Please be present at the Yiyan Temple tomorrow at noon, I will arrange a lunch meeting for you with the Tianquan at the Jade Chamber. The two of you will be present, I assume?"
Aether nodded, Mona nodded imperiously.
The Yuheng sighed.
"The Qixing looks forward to working with you."
"Likewise."