For the work of a Harbinger

I. The Boat Already Sailed Away...

"Ah, perfect weather!" one man stepped from the deck of Sneznayan ship on new land. "So this is Liyue..." he said while looking at the city, the motherland of all Mora in Teyvat.

A lady in some kind of clothes made for people who live in the coldest parts of Teyvat was looking at him and then she spoke up: "Your objective is to find the Geo Archon and get the Gnosis from them. Don't forget why you're here Childe, understood?" Childe nodded, walking away from the ship into streets full of life with his hands in his pockets.

"Hah... This does not happen that often in Snezhnaya. Only when...well- Christmas days are coming.." he said, looking around at the huge marketplace in a silent amazement. His quiet moment and the noise of the crowd was interrupted by some sharp voice...

"What do you mean, YOU DON'T HAVE MORA?! Do YOU really expect me to give my goods for free?!" Childe headed in the direction that voice was coming from, "We are not in a century where THE GOODS HAVE THE SAME PRICE AS SOME OF YOUR USELESS WORDS!" said the man with light hair.

"I know that my words are not enough to pay the price, but I think we-" "SHUT UP AND LEAVE MY SHOP!" a light-haired man cut off stranger's words, but the stranger continued: "..we can make a deal about paying you later."

"OUT!" The man yelled at him one more time, already pointing at him, when one of the Milleliths was walking around.

"I really don't want any trouble, but we really need your goods. I apologize for not having any Mora with me, but I think you're a reasonable guy and we can make a deal."

Light haired man came closer to the stranger and smiled widely, pushing the him out of his shop: "If I spot you in my shop again, you'll never step on this marketplace ever again and I'll take care of it!"

The stranger sighed, "I thought that sensible people were selling in a country, which also goes by the name 'the Heart of the Business in Teyvat'..." looking disappointed at the merchant, walking away.

Childe was thinking for a while what just happened and came to the store, clearing his throat: "Excuse me sir, I would like to have some of your goods." The light-haired merchant immediately asked.

"Do you have any Mora with you?" Childe nodded: "Of course I have, it's a thing you can't live without in this world right now." he said, still thinking about that stranger.

Merchant smiled widely, "That's my guy! Finally someone who knows how business works." he laughed. "So, what can I do for you?" Childe remained silent for a couple of seconds, "Oh.. I would like to have what that man before was asking for." The merchant raised his eyebrow, looking at him a little bit confused

"57 Cor Lapis fragments? What for?" Childe froze at one place, reconsidering what the merchant just said. "Y-yes, that's right. I would like to have 57 Cor Lapis fragments."

The merchant shrugged, handing him the bag full of Cor Lapis fragments: "I see it's probably not my business to know what you need them for." Childe pulled out his wallet, waiting for the merchant to say the price.

"2,746,935 Mora." Merchant stretched out his hand. "2-.. 2 million... Mora? I-..." "You don't want them?"

Childe shook his head, handing over the money: "O-of course I want them, here..." The merchant smiled widely.

"Almost 3 million Mora for some random Cor... Lapis fragments? Why would anyone.. buy it?" He was thinking about these words in his head. "I can ask the stranger, who was trying to buy them." he said in his mind, looking around trying to spot him.

"Hey, you!" someone shouted. Childe turned around. "Yes you! Do you want to see my shop? I offer very rare goods, from flowers to jewelry." said one shorter man, "For women, kids, men, for everyone!" the man approached Childe already putting his hand on his shoulder and dragging him into his shop.

"Listen... I am sorry but I have no interest in buying something from your shop. I have what I wanted." The man ignored him, walking even faster as Childe was trying to escape.