Verisimilitude (GI Various x Reader)

Chapter Thirteen

        It's around noon the next day when we return to the Northland Bank. The receptionist greets us as we walk in.

"Welcome, Traveler, Oracle Knight, friends of Childe. And congratulations on the first day of your illustrious career with the Fatui." I frown, visibly annoyed.

"I don't consider Childe a friend." I start and Lumine finishes for me.

"And we have no intention of joining the Fatui." The receptionist sighs, shaking her head at us.

"You sound remarkably sure of yourselves... Remember, we are mere mortals- our ideas are fluid like water. Only the Tsaritsa truly has a will as solid as the permafrost. But back to the matter at hand. Childe tells me that he has upheld his end of your agreement." Paimon tilts her head.

"What agreement? Oh, the thing about him helping us find a guy?" The receptionist nods.

"Correct. Childe promised he would find someone to break the stalemate. And the Harbingers do not break their promises lightly." Paimon looks around, noticing the lack of a certain ginger. Now that I think about it, he'd normally be waiting for us inside, yet he doesn't seem to be here this time.

"Ah. Where is that guy, anyway?" Paimon asks.

"Childe is currently at Liuli Pavilion." Ah, that place again.

"Liuli Pavilion?" Lumine asks softly, her brows furrowed in confusion. Paimon shakes in excitement. Which is to be expected because it's Paimon. If it's something to do with food, she's certain to know about it.

"Ooh, ooh Paimon knows this one!" She exclaims. She clears her throat and then goes onto explain the differences between the two food cultures in Liyue. Lumine shakes her head at Paimon's enthusiastic explanation.

"Trust you to only know these sorts of things... You're like this every time we talk about food..." Paimon huffs, stomping her foot in the air and looking away.

"Don't talk to Paimon like that! Anyway, Paimon's hungry. Let's get moving." She's practically already out the door! I hold my laughter back and try to keep myself grounded. Last thing I need is the Fatui spies watching us having some sort of blackmail against me to give to Childe. He seems like the type of guy to use an embarrassing moment against someone.

"Master Childe awaits you at the Liuli Pavilion. If you please, do not keep him waiting." The receptionist calls after Lumine and me as we chase after Paimon. We caught up to her at the entrance of the Liuli Pavilion. Another was waiting for us too, it seems.

"Aha, you made it." Childe called out. He was standing before us, his hands placed in the pockets of his pants as he waited.

"As promised, I have found someone who can help you. Someone who can solve the mystery of why the Liyue Qixing would hide the Geo Archon's vessel." He states. Paimon looks around.

"So where is he? In Liuli Pavilion?" Childe nods.

"He certainly is. Come, I'll introduce you. I took the liberty of setting up a business dinner, as per the Liyue custom." We walk into the establishment. The waitress at the front counter bows.

"Welcome back, sir. You honor us with your patronage. Mr. Zhongli is awaiting your arrival in the room you booked." I raised a brow at this. Zhongli is the person who Childe called upon? How ironic is it, that the very person he called to help out is also the reason for the current situation in Liyue. We're led into the same back room for reservations only from before. The waitress bows and leaves us to our conversations. Upon entering the room, Zhongli's eyes were immediately on me once more.