blogombal Chapter 867 Countermeasures (7)
Chapter 867 Countermeasures (7)
After briefly introducing Serena's basic information to everyone, Navia smiled slightly and added unhurriedly, "By the way, Miss Serena's representative work is the famous detective novel that swept Teyvat, based on the water goddess Funyna—"
A sly, expectant glint flashed in her eyes as she said softly, "Sherlock Holmes, you...you've all heard of it, right?"
As she expected, it was exactly as she had predicted.
When the words "Sherlock Holmes" reached their ears, Ying and Paimon looked at each other blankly, as if they were trying to search for some vague fragment in their memory.
Immediately afterwards, a wave of shock washed over their faces, and they almost jumped up from their seats.
Paimon's eyes widened, his voice trembling slightly with excitement: "Wait! You mean..."
"Miss Serena, is she the legendary author who wrote 'Sherlock Holmes'—'The Daughter of Water'?!"
"Is that the masterpiece hailed as the progenitor of detective novels, unmatched for a century, and even the Sumeru Cult Academy has established a special project to study its reasoning logic and literary value?!"
She finished speaking in one breath, still finding it unbelievable, and asked again to confirm.
In response, Navia smiled calmly and confidently, nodding slightly, as if revealing a meticulously planned mystery.
Ying was stunned, her eyes filled with shock and admiration.
She subconsciously touched her chin and murmured, "This is beyond what 'famous' can describe..."
"...This is truly a legacy that will last for generations."
[666, "Sherlock Holmes"? I think it's a direct homage to "Sherlock Holmes"? This influence is practically transcending timelines...]
Following "Battle Through the Heavens," has "Sherlock Holmes" also arrived in Teyvat? Will Harry Potter be next?
[If the author is a follower of the water god, then who is Watson in the story? I'm really curious, could he be the judge mentioned earlier?]
Seeing the two people's dumbfounded expressions, Navia's expression was extremely smug, as if she had just solved a mystery that would make even the god of wisdom frown.
Seeing this, Nasita couldn't help but smile, revealing a gentle yet helpless smile, as if she were watching a group of children showing off their most beloved toys.
Just then, Navia brought out another exquisite cake from behind her—the cream was as smooth as clouds, adorned with bright red berries and emerald green mint leaves, exuding an enticing sweet aroma.
“Lord Little Lucky Grass King,” she respectfully handed over the cake, “this is our apology for missing the Flower Goddess’s birthday celebration and failing to offer our blessings in time. Please accept it.”
Seeing that Nasita hesitated slightly, as if she was about to decline, Navia immediately added, "This is our kind gesture. If you refuse, you'll be disrespecting us Fontaines."
Having said that, Nasita naturally couldn't refuse any longer, otherwise it would seem impolite.
She chuckled softly, took the cake, and said playfully, "Then I'll gladly accept this apology~ But... I think I should have the right to decide what to do with it, right?"
Navia laughed heartily, "Of course, now that the gift has been given, it belongs to you. What you do with it is entirely up to you."
Paimon leaned close to Ying's ear and whispered, as if sharing a shocking secret, "Hey, do you think... she might have originally prepared a birthday present for herself, but then realized she missed the celebration, so she just used her own as an apology?"
Ying smiled slightly and replied in a low voice, "If you see through something, don't say it. Let's save face for them."
The two smiled at each other, their tacit understanding evident without words.
Are you even polite? Speaking ill of someone to their face.
So this cake was originally a personal gift from Navia, but she changed her tune to say it was an apology because she needed to make amends?
[Pfft... I suddenly find this boss kind of cute.]
She's good-looking and her behavior is adorable!
I will always follow in your footsteps, young lady! Therefore, there is only one answer! I will pledge my loyalty to you!
Upon hearing Navia's reply, Nasita's lips curved slightly, a gentle smile appearing in her eyes. She said softly, "Since I can use it as I please, why don't we share this cake together?"
She then turned her head and looked at Ying and Paimon with gentle eyes, adding in a kind tone, "You two come along too, don't be shy."
"We're in too?" Paimon's eyes widened, his voice filled with surprise.
"Hehe, Nasita is the best!" she cheered impatiently, flashing over to the table.
Ying followed with a smile, and everyone sat around the table in a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Nasita gently took out a small, exquisite fruit knife and began to cut the cake with skillful and elegant movements.
Her technique was steady, each cut seemingly the result of careful consideration.
Paimon tilted his head and observed carefully, then suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Nasita, your cutting method seems a little different from ours!"
Normally, they would cut the cake in half and then cut each half into even triangular pieces, but Nasita chose a completely different approach—she neatly cut the cake into several rectangular strips.
Noticing Paimon's confusion, Nasita smiled and patiently explained, "If you cut it into triangles, it will be easier to use, but the cut area will be larger, which will expose too much of the cake to the air, causing it to lose moisture and become dry."
As she spoke, she carefully moved the sliced cake to a plate, then put the remaining two halves back together, fitting them perfectly as if they had never been touched.
"Cut it into strips like this, and after you finish eating it, just put the rest back together, seal it, and it will still retain its original moisture and flavor when you eat it next time."
Paimon suddenly understood, clapping his hands in admiration: "So that's how it is! I've really learned something new!"
Ying joked, "Could this be an exclusive life secret from the 'God of Wisdom'?"
“If you’re willing to understand it that way,” Nasida smiled gently, her eyes sparkling like stars, “then it can be considered a kind of knowledge transmission.”
Just then, Iya, who was standing behind her, suddenly spoke up, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing:
"The method is indeed ingenious, sister, but have you ever considered this—this cake might not even last 'next time'?"
"Hmm?" Nasita was slightly taken aback, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes.
Iya didn't say much, but meaningfully shifted his gaze slowly to Paimon, who was staring intently at the cake.
Paimon can consume 200,000 Mora of food in a month...
[Teyvat's number one competitive eater confirmed.]
Nasida planned everything meticulously, but she forgot one crucial thing—as long as Paimon is around, there will be no "next time."
[But I really learned this preservation method! I'll do it this way from now on when cutting cakes!]
No wonder the cakes I put in the fridge always seem to dry out by the next day; now I know the problem...
However, the straight-strip method also has a minor drawback: it's more prone to uneven division compared to triangles, since it's difficult to visually determine whether each strip has an equal area.
[Today's smart classroom has successfully concluded. A perfect score certificate should be awarded to the Grass God!]
"Iya! Your gaze is very rude!" Paimon immediately puffed out his cheeks and stomped his foot in the air, trying to defend his image.
Iya merely hummed softly, turned his head, and whistled, looking completely at ease, as if he hadn't heard anything at all.
Nasita watched the two bickering, shook her head helplessly, but her smile deepened.
She gently raised her hand and divided the cake for everyone, resolving the small dispute amidst laughter and joy.
In the end, everyone enjoyed the delicious cake.
Apart from the small piece that Nasita had carefully reserved for Caesar, even the last bit of cream was licked clean.
The cake remnants that occupied almost half the table had mostly settled comfortably inside Paimon's seemingly small but actually unfathomable belly.
This startled Nasita, and a hint of undisguised astonishment flashed across her eyes.
The aftertaste of the cake was still lingering on her lips and teeth, but Navia looked at everyone expectantly and asked softly, "How was it? Was it delicious?"
Without hesitation, Paimon raised her little face and said in a clear, bell-like voice, "Delicious!"
However, the expressions of the others were subtle and complex, as if they were trying their best to hide something. A barely perceptible awkwardness filled the air.
Nasita smiled slightly, her tone gentle yet tactful: "Little Paimon, would you like another piece? I remember Caesar doesn't seem to like things that are too sweet."
Ying gently put down her fork, her eyes flickering, and her tone hesitant: "Fontaine's desserts... are truly unique."
"I always felt that very few people could completely accept this kind of taste..."
Iya frowned without any attempt to hide it, revealing an expression of being hit by the sweetness: "Hmm... to be honest, isn't the sweetness of this cream a bit... too strong?"
Seeing everyone's reaction, how could the three from Fontainebleau not understand—this was clearly a subtle way of saying that the cake was too sweet.
Myleston immediately looked embarrassed and quickly explained, "I'm so sorry... When Miss makes desserts, she always unconsciously adds a few extra spoonfuls of sugar; it's become a habit..."
A blush of embarrassment crept across Navia's face. She coughed lightly twice and earnestly promised, "I'll definitely pay attention next time and really control my sugar intake."
The cake has been eaten and the gift has been given; lingering any longer would be inappropriate.
The three members of the Rose Society were preparing to take their leave. Just as they stepped out of the gates of the Pure Goodness Palace, Silver suddenly stopped and whispered a reminder:
“Young Miss, wait—it seems there’s one more thing we haven’t handed over to Lord Little Lucky Grass yet.”
Myles suddenly remembered and quickly chimed in, "Yes, there is indeed one gift that hasn't been handed over yet!"
Navia paused for a moment, then suddenly realized, patting her forehead: "Oh—that's it~ I almost forgot."
So the three of them turned back and walked back to Nasita and Ying. The meeting, which was about to end, was now given another unfinished interlude.
"Is there anything else?" Nasita tilted her head slightly, her eyes clear and full of doubt.
Myles took out an exquisite gift box from his pocket, wrapped in silk satin and decorated with gold patterns, and handed it to Navia.
Navia held it in both hands and solemnly handed it to Nasita.
Nasita took the gift box, her fingertips touching the delicate packaging, and she couldn't help but whisper, "This is... the third gift?"
The first one is a fairy tale book written by Serena herself, which carries the blessings and respect of the entire people of Fontainebleau for her;
The second item was a cake baked by Navia herself, filled with her sincere apology for being late;
If this is also a gift, then whose sentiment does it represent?
“Yes,” Navia nodded, her expression serious. “This is the third gift. It is not from the Rose Society, but was specially prepared for you by our important partner, the Gongming Chamber of Commerce.”
“Kongming Chamber of Commerce?” Nasita’s eyebrows twitched slightly, as if she remembered. “I remember… they seem to be business partners of the Church Council in Fontaine.”
"But why give me a separate gift?"
Indeed, the Church and the Gongming Chamber of Commerce have a long history of cooperation in trade and resource exchange, but Caesar has always been in charge of the liaison.
As the goddess of Mount Sumeru, Nasita had never had direct contact with the merchant guild. This sudden gift aroused her suspicion.
Navia shook her head slightly, her tone revealing her confusion: "I don't quite understand either. But they specifically emphasized that this gift was not for 'Little Lucky Grass King,' but for 'their young lady.'"
She looked directly at Nasita with a questioning gaze: "Little Lucky Grass King... have you really never heard of them?"
Nasida slowly shook her head, her eyes clear and firm: "We have never met, nor have we ever seen each other."
This answer made Navia fall into deep thought. But she didn't ask any more questions; since her mission was accomplished, she didn't linger.
Finally, she nodded slightly to Nasita, then turned and left with Miles and Silver, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance and out of the gates of the Pure Land.
Inside Jingshan Palace, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense and the candlelight flickered.
Naxi Da frowned slightly, her gaze falling on the exquisite gift box in her hand, a faint hint of doubt appearing in her eyes.
The box is carved from agarwood, with delicate lotus patterns that are as beautiful as a painting, but no one knows what secrets it holds inside.
Seeing this, Yi Ya smiled slightly and gently advised, "Sister, if you don't understand, why not just open it up and see? The answer might be inside."
Nasida pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then nodded, finding the words reasonable. She gently stroked the rim of the box with her fingertips, and under the breathless gaze of everyone, she slowly opened the gift box.
The moment the lid was opened, a dark golden luster quietly appeared.
This is a double-layered nested treasure box. On the upper layer lies a token, made of warm and lustrous jade with exquisite carving.
With just one glance, all doubts vanished.
On the token was a phoenix with outstretched wings, its feathers clearly defined, as if it were about to break through the jade surface and soar into the heavens.
This is Junbai's token.