SWNOVELXO Chapter 86: 86: Sumeru
The boisterous second phase of the Seven Archons' Banquet wrapped up in three days. With larger entourages, time flew. Barbatos, the drunken Anemo Archon, knew little beyond Mondstadt's wine and grain surplus, leaving his Grand Master of the Westwind Knights, the Northwind Knight, to handle talks. The Grand Master's frustration was palpable: Barbatos, do something useful.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata brought Sages, Raiden Makoto brought Yae Miko, and the Cryo Archon delegated to her aides. The Archons ceded the main stage to their teams, retreating to dine and drink, mindful of their image before subordinates. Reisen Riou and other low-ranking attendants with no specific duties followed, idling as the Archons spectated.
"Tch, Miss Ganyu, are past Banquets this lively?" Reisen Riou asked.
"Not quite," Ganyu said, chuckling awkwardly. "The Grand Master's presence changes things."
As Yuehai Pavilion's head, Ganyu mastered Liyue's affairs and foreign relations, especially with Mondstadt. Among those present, she knew the Grand Master best—a heroic figure with a grudge against Barbatos. As Teyvat's most powerful mortal after Khaenri'ah's emperor, the Grand Master, typically the strongest Northwind Knight, rivaled Inazuma's great youkai or Liyue's lesser Adepti. His rush to rein in Barbatos at the Banquet was unmatched.
Reisen Riou's Electro sparked, sketching a lively scene on parchment: the Grand Master center stage, exuding authority, Barbatos sulking beside him. Ganyu stifled a laugh. "If Barbatos sees that…"
"No worries, I'll keep it hidden," he said, passing it to Raiden Ei for safekeeping. Noticing Barbatos's ears twitch, Ei shot him a blank stare, scaring the drunken god back. Reisen Riou smirked, recording the bigwigs' talks. As predicted, the Banquet ended after two rounds, with Morax announcing its conclusion via Ganyu.
Raiden Makoto was thrilled, practically skipping, though Reisen Riou omitted this to preserve her dignity. Inazuma's mortal envoys prepared to return, but Makoto's group stayed. Yae Miko headed to Mondstadt to negotiate grain and wine imports, while Makoto and Ei planned to visit Sumeru for meat and mercenary deals. The Gilded Brigade, vital to Kujou Encampment, earned double subsidies—Inazuma's and the Akademiya's.
Reisen Riou joined Makoto for Sumeru, excited for a long-desired visit, expecting he'd need leave to go otherwise. Unlike Rukkhadevata's land route via Tianheng Mountain, Juegu Valley, Huagu Forest, and Sumeru City, Inazuma's party took the sea path from Liyue Harbor to Port Ormos, then Vimara Village, reaching Sumeru City's Tianbi Pond. Sea travel was faster, and with Inazuma's state letter and divine credit, trade was assured. Reisen Riou, a transmigrator, marveled at the gods' ability to seal major deals with mere words, unquestioned and natural.
"Gods make things easy," he mused.
Sumeru greeted them with utmost ceremony at Tianbi Pond, led by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, a Great Sage, and five Sages. State visits began. Rukkhadevata took Makoto, Ei, Reisen Riou, and Banna to tour Sumeru City, while others handled their tasks.
They started at Bazaar Street, Sumeru's bustling heart. Under Rukkhadevata's divine aura, vendors didn't recognize them, serving snacks enthusiastically. Sightseeing was fun, but the real highlight was Sumeru's research exhibits. Makoto stayed composed, but Ei and Reisen Riou buzzed with excitement.
Banna, now a Great Sage and head of the Spantamad School after rising from a minor faction, led them to his school's showcase. Spantamad focused on biology, ecology, and medicine—breeding new species, improving old ones, monitoring ecosystems, ensuring forest cycles, and curing diseases. The exhibit featured specimens, medicines, and stacks of papers.
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