For the work of a Harbinger

II. Liyuan laws and rules

The man stopped, showing him his goods. "I already said that I have no interest." The man smiled, "But I got everything that you want." Childe thought for a while, thinking that this man can maybe help him. "Do you sell Gnoses?" The man froze, looking into Childe's eyes completely confused, "G-nosis?"

Childe sighed, "You see... You don't have everything." The man reached for his shoulder, pulling him back, after realizing something, "Gnosis.. Hm... Come with me, I may have one of these in my secret stock.. I think you want the Gnosis of Geo Archon, is that right?" the man smiled. "Y-yea.. That's- you really have it?" Childe laughed, following him, "Oh man! This helped me a lot. Thank you so much!"

The short man just smiled, walking down the stairs, which were leading somewhere. Childe wasn't feeling quite well, looking around and behind him. "You don't have to worry." The man saw Childe's weird behavior and smiled. Childe nodded, vigilantly following him.

"Who's there?" Childe turned around after he heard footsteps coming from one of the allies in the basement, already drawing his blades out.

"Maybe just mice or something, no need to worry." the man smirked. "No. Those footsteps weren't mice or anything like that-... Someone's here-"

The man laughed, looking at Childe with a sad look on his face, "Ah... You're smart enough.. What a shame... I thought we could be good business partners. Didn't know that Fatui Harbingers can be that smart..." he said, smiling widely, saying a command, "Catch him."

"Ugh- so you chose the path of death" Childe laughed, drawing his blades out again, "Well then, show me what you got and don't disappoint me." The man snapped his fingers and smirked after six other people stopped behind him."Seven on one?- COWARDS!" Childe's eyebrows frowned.

___

After some time, Childe smirked, looking at the only one, who remained untouched without any injuries, at the merchant, who was dragging him away. "P-please- h-have mercy!" The man pointed his eyes down.

"Hey! There's someone down there!", someone said really loudly. The man smiled, looking back at Childe, "Enjoy being arrested by Milleliths."

"You-" Childe stared at him. The sound of someone running downstairs was louder and louder. Childe panicked, hiding somewhere in one of the allies. "We received a report about some fight down here."

The man pointed in the direction where Childe ran off. Milleliths peered all over the room, looking for someone. Childe was slowly approaching the exit. He looked back one more time, walking upstairs.

"Woah.. That was close." he said out loud, looking around. "Isn't that.." he spotted someone, running after him. Childe was trying to get through the mass of people. He was trying his best to catch up with the stranger who had already taken the turn near the corner of some building. "..stop.. Stop!" The stranger turned around. "Hm?" Childe didn't manage to stop soon and bumped into him.

He was breathing loudly, exhausted from chasing. "I- pfuh- sorry... I got-" he took a deep breath and continued, "...got something for you... " Childe smiled, pulling out the bag of fragments, holding it in front of the stranger.

The stranger's eyes lit up: "How did you know.." Childe smiled even widely: "I saw you..arguing with that merchant... also- I want nothing in return. I just... want to ask..." he took another deep breath. "Why do you need them?" Stranger smiled, answering simply: "That's none of your business, I think you know what I mean. But thank you, I'll use them wisely, you needn't worry." Childe nodded.

   "I am Childe" he said, stretching out his hand. "Zhongli." Zhongli bowed down. "Right, another country, another habit." Childe smiled and Zhongli continued, "Thank you again for your kindness Childe, it helped a lot." Childe smiled: "It was...nothing." he said.

"Only... 3 million Mora Childe- That's absolutely nothing." Those words hit him deep in his mind, unspoken.