Bronya and Silver Wolf sat together, exchanging hacking techniques. However, it was mostly Bronya asking questions and Silver Wolf answering them. Although Honkai Impact 3 is also a technological world, it wasn't as advanced as Star Rail's.
After chatting with Acheron for a while, Mei noticed Xiangling busy in the kitchen.
She walked towards the small makeshift kitchen, which had been set up next to the hall. A single stove, a kitchen counter, a sink, and a range hood—it was simple but sufficient.
Xiangling held a large wok, quickly tossing and stir-frying the ingredients so that the food would have a rich aroma and excellent flavor.
Mei stepped inside. "Hello, you're Xiangling, right?"
Xiangling looked up. "Yes, and you are?"
Mei smiled. "My name is Raiden Mei. I've heard Kiana talk about you a lot these past few days. She said you're a great cook and that you always pack lots of food for her."
Xiangling grinned. "It's nothing special. I'm in charge of everyone's meals in Yuri's store. Usually, he and I cook together."
Mei nodded and glanced around. "Let me help you. I can cook a little."
Xiangling considered this. "Well, there's only one stove, and I've already prepped the ingredients. I can handle it."
Mei thought for a moment. "Let me get an induction cooker. That way, I can help cook some dishes, even if it's a bit slower."
Xiangling agreed. "Guoba, go and move a table over here."
The small creature scurried away and quickly returned, dragging a table into place.
After a waiter brought in a battery stove, Mei put on an apron and got to work.
Everyone was having fun.
Suddenly, Aha burst onto the stage with a flourish of fireworks, kicking the door open with a loud bang that drew everyone's attention.
"Aha, here we go!"
Sparkle immediately shoved Aha aside. "Go, go, you're blocking me."
Aha pouted, looking aggrieved. "Lady Sparkle is mean to me again!"
Seeing everyone looking at her, Sparkle cleared her throat and spread her arms dramatically.
"Ding ding~ The invincible Sparkle-sama appears! Good evening, everyone~ What are you all busy with?"
Hisui narrowed his eyes at her. "Fool, what are you doing here?"
Sparkle feigned shock. "Of course, I'm here to play with you guys! Why don't you welcome me? I brought gifts~"
Sparkle grabbed Aha and shook him vigorously. A bunch of Sparkle dolls tumbled out of Aha's clothes.
She handed them out one by one. "Come on, come on! These are all custom-made dolls for you. Please cherish them~"
Kevin took the doll from Sparkle, only for it to suddenly blare out, "Oh~ Isn't this the invincible Galaxy Skyfire? I didn't expect to meet you~ You're my idol!"
Kevin smirked. "Not bad, not bad. Say something nicer."
The doll's voice suddenly shifted. "Your Stellar Jade balance is insufficient! Please recharge to continue your experience. To recharge, shout three times, 'I am an idiot!'"
Kevin's face darkened, and without hesitation, he threw the doll into the trash.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Sparkle and Aha were doubled over, laughing uncontrollably.
Yuri sighed. "Alright, alright, Sparkle, Aha, stop messing around. You're about to get yourselves beaten up."
Aha put his hands on his hips. "Aha is a star god! Aha is not afraid of getting beaten!"
Yuri smirked. "Aha, believe it or not, I won't sell you anything anymore."
Aha's face instantly changed. That wouldn't do—he still needed to buy the Stellar Jade of Destiny! That was the key to all the fun!
"Okay, okay! For Yuri's sake, Aha will behave… at least for tonight."
Sparkle sidled up to Yuri. "Are you Yuri? I heard from Aha that you sell anything. Is that true?"
Yuri nodded. "Yeah. What do you want to buy?"
Sparkle grinned mischievously. "I heard Aha and Akivili once blew up a train. Do you have any bombs like that? Sell me some—I want to blow up a train too."
Yuri blinked. "I'm not selling that. The train just got running again. Don't mess with it."
Sparkle pouted. "Hehe, just kidding. Don't worry."
But the glint in her eye said otherwise.
Sparkle took the 1 million star coins and nodded with satisfaction.
Then, Sparkle looked at Yuri. "I have star coins. Let me see what good stuff you have."
Yuri smiled. "There's no rush. Let's have dinner together first. After dinner, I'll take you back to the store. The store has better equipment—it'll be more convenient."
Upon hearing this, Sparkle agreed. "Okay, okay, I'll wait for a while then."
More than half an hour later, Xiangling and Mei finished preparing dinner.
Seeing this, Yuri waved his hand. "Come and lend a hand. Let's put the tables together."
The hall had many small square tables, but with so many people dining, a long communal table would be more convenient.
Everyone put down what they were doing and helped move the tables. Soon, a long table was assembled, and Xiangling and Mei brought out the dishes, their carts filled with steaming, fragrant food.
Xiangling called out, "Everyone, stop standing around and sit down to eat!"
At her invitation, everyone found a seat and settled in.
Kiana pulled Acheron and Mei over to sit down. "Mei Mei, which dishes did you cook?"
Mei responded, "I made egg rolls, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and black pepper beef cubes. The rest were made by Xiangling—her cooking skills are much better than mine."
Kiana waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay. You're already really good. Xiangling's a professional chef—she even runs a restaurant back home."
Mei nodded. That was true. She could cook well, but when it came to preparing ingredients and mastering flavors, Xiangling was on another level.
Meanwhile, Yuri and the other men sat together. Yuri glanced around at them. "What's this? Are we drinking again tonight?"
Venti grinned and pointed. "Come on! I won't get drunk this time!"
Yuri scoffed. "Tsk tsk~ I don't know who it was last time that passed out after just one drink."
Venti hesitated. "That was because I wasn't in good shape. I wasn't prepared! This time, I won't get drunk so easily!"
Fei Xiao, recalling his own embarrassing defeat last time, chimed in. "That's right, we weren't in good shape last time!"
Yuri smirked. "Alright, let's drink some more tonight."
He purchased a jar of "Tianxianzui," the wine he had enjoyed during the last Lantern Festival. The rich, high-quality liquor wasn't cheap—each 5-jin jar cost 1,000 Stellar Jade.
Setting the jar on the table, Yuri announced, "Alright, if you want a drink, sign up and bring your own cup."
Kevin nudged Hu Tao with his elbow. "Hu Nut, what do you think? Let's go get some."
Hu Tao eyed Yuri warily. He and his group had already started the first round of toasts. "Forget it. That wine looks strong—even Venti, who can drink a lot, passed out after one glass."
Kevin pressed on. "Let's just taste it. I'll get a cup, and we can share it."
Ying raised her hand in agreement. "I think it's fine. Just a little taste—it shouldn't be a problem."
Eula, who hadn't had a drink in a long time, was tempted. "Let's have a glass."
Kevin quickly grabbed a cup and ran to Yuri. He tugged on Yuri's sleeve. "Yuri, pour me a glass. I'll share it with March 7th and the others."
Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? This wine is strong."
Kevin nodded. "We talked about it. Just a little taste."
Yuri sighed but agreed, pouring him a glass. "Just taste it, don't overdo it."
Kevin took the juice cup, which could hold about ten small servings of the potent liquor, and carefully brought it back to the table, dividing it among March 7th, Hu Tao, Amber, and the others.
They clinked glasses.
March 7th, Hu Tao, Amber, and others who weren't big drinkers took tiny sips. But Kevin, Ying, and Eula downed theirs in one gulp.
The result was immediate.
Kevin's vision blurred, and the room swayed. Ying and Eula weren't much better off, still seated but visibly dazed.
March 7th sighed. "I told you the alcohol content was high, and you still drank so much. Now look at you!"
Kevin, trying to maintain composure, held his cup high. "No, I'm not drunk! I'm the Galaxy Skyfire Man! How could I get drunk after just one drink?"
He tried to steady himself, but the harder he fought, the dizzier he became. The floor seemed to roll like ocean waves beneath him.
Finally, Kevin couldn't hold on any longer. He collapsed onto the table, completely knocked out.
March 7th and Hu Tao exchanged glances before hauling him up and tossing him onto the sofa to sleep it off.
Meanwhile, in Fontaine Hall…
A servant stood before a high-ranking official, his face tense. "Sir Executor, a group of knights of unknown origin has appeared near the Water God. Many of our men have been killed."
The Executor rubbed his temples in frustration. Her Majesty the Queen had ordered a halt to the collection of divine hearts and suspended Fatui operations.
While ceasing the divine heart collection was a relief, suspending operations complicated matters. The Executor still sought to save Fontaine—to uncover the truth behind the prophecy.
To that end, she had been monitoring Furina's activities.
Returning from a recent meeting in Snezhnaya, she hadn't expected such grim news.
Lyney spoke up. "Father, should we continue following Furina?"
The Executor thought for a moment. "No. I will investigate personally tonight."
She needed to meet these knights and determine their origins.
Teyvat was vast, yet its true masters were few. If powerful forces were moving, she needed to know why.
Lyney hesitated. "Father, I should go with you. These knights are strong."
The Executor smiled faintly. "No, it's enough for me to go. You stay and protect your siblings. If anything happens to me, take them back to Snezhnaya."
Lyney wanted to argue, but his father's tone left no room for debate.
"It's decided."
That night, the Executor arrived near Mo Mang Palace. Releasing a sliver of his aura, he waited.
Within moments, four Lancelot knights materialized, surrounding him in an instant.
The Executor narrowed his eyes. Each of them radiated power—at least as strong as a harbinger's subordinates.
This would be no ordinary encounter.