A Commission From the Curatorium of Secrets

Wait, is this...?

The Alcor?

Actually, this is the second ship in our fleet. The Alcor's back home, patrolling Guyun Stone Forest.

Beidou! The infamous merc captain who sails the high seas!

Uh, yeah, haha. We've met, remember? What's with all the pomp and circumstance?

It's a long story...

Well, no sense standin' around. Take a seat. Tell me all about it. I'll have my men roll out the welcome mat.

Ah, I see. So, you know the head honcho of the Curatorium, huh... Your network of connections is somethin' else, that's for sure.

Hehe...

About the registration...

Right! We need a record of who's participating in the expo and what you're planning to trade.

Well, mark down me and a few crew members as participants — the rest will stay on the ship. As for what we're trading... Take a look.

What is it?

A while ago, Ningguang revamped the Guizhong Ballista. The beauty you see here is one of her new and improved models.

It has insane firepower and comes complete with remote guidance for accurate striking even at long distances. I just know people are gonna be fighting to get their hands on it.

Are you sure you're allowed to sell stuff like this!?

Haha, don't worry. Compared to the model the Millelith's using, this one might as well be an antique.

...Nefer wasn't kidding when she said "no restrictions," huh...

But, who's gonna buy something like this?

Oh, I'm sure someone will bite. Buyers from all over Teyvat will be in attendance, after all.

...Yelan?

Ah, sorry. I was so busy with the cargo, I forgot to mention that Yelan was aboard.

No worries. You here for the expo too, Yelan?

No, I'm just here for work. Captain Beidou was kind enough to lend me a ride. So, no need to register me with the expo.

Anyway, it's been a while, Traveler. If you get the chance, be sure to pass along my regards to the head of the Curatorium.

What kind of work?

The... sensitive kind.

Sounds like our cue to stop asking questions, doesn't it...?

One hundred percent.

Well, I'll be off, then. Once I'm done with this, drinks are on me.

About time! I've been itching to see Nod-Krai from the bottom of a bottle, haha.

Alright, that's it for registration. Follow us, and we'll take you to the venue.

So, this is the place, huh? Not a bad spot!

When you've got some time, come help me test the remote guidance on this thing. It's a real thrill — you'll love it.

The Flagship... Guess this participant decided to figure out lodging first.

Partner! Paimon!

Navia! It's been forever!

You got that right. Representing the Spina di Rosula, of course.

Top dog of the criminal underworld... Yep, that checks out.

Top dog of the criminal underworld... Yep, that checks out.

Haha, is that my new nickname? I'm not opposed — it's kinda snazzy.

It's great that we found you! We're working a commission to help with participant registration right now. Y'know, goods verification, stuff like that...

Oh, I see. Well, in that case, take a seat. I ordered a whole bunch of food. Clorinde and Chevreuse went to unpack some things, but should be back in a sec... Ohh, speak of the devil!

Talking about us?

Clorinde! Chevreuse! You're here too!

Nod-Krai is a chaotic and dangerous place. Considering the Spina's importance to Fontaine, the last thing we need is for something to happen to its president.

I do find it nice to travel with friends, but c'mon... Look who you're talking to! What's the worst that could happen?

With that nonchalant attitude, it's anybody's guess...

Fair enough. Guess you can mark down our Champion Duelist here as my... bodyguard.

Gang boss and her bodyguard... Got it. Should we mark you down for the expo too, Chevreuse?

No need. I'm here on official business. A lot of our recent cases have had ties to Nod-Krai.

Aaand that's Paimon's cue to butt out, hehe.

Oh, one more thing! What's the Spina planning to trade at the expo?

Ah, this right here! It's one of the Fontaine Research Institute's newest inventions. It's a kind of relay system that allows the user to unleash pneuma and ousia energy in battle!

So, it's... a weapon?

Of course! At a market with no legal oversight like this one, weapons are gonna be the first to go!

Guess so... Still, bragging about not having to follow the law in front of Chevreuse feels wrong.

I don't mind. I've read quite a bit about "lawless territories" in crime novels before.

As a detective, I know that I'll need to put the rules aside for now if I want to get things done here.

And, on that note, I should get to work. I've got Patrol members waiting on me.

Well, ready to head over to the venue? Just follow us!

Alright, let's get this show on the road! I wanna get a bit of shopping in as well.

Wow, it's even bigger than I expected. I'm hoping more people will show up, though...

It'll get busier once things kick off. Still, looks like Jahoda needs a lot of help.

Well, Clorinde and I are all set up for now. Be sure to stop by our booth when you get a chance!

Hm...

Hey, you two!

Traveler, Paimon, hello.

We're helping out Nefer with some expo stuff, and we heard the Krumkake Craftshop is taking part.

Correct. Aino is just doing a final round of debugging on her "Thwack 'n Smack Defense Bots."

Oh, is that her submission for the expo?

Yes. Moles and other small creatures often steal from the Craftshop, so Aino designed a defense bot based off of them to protect this place.

Upon further testing, these bots turned out to be highly effective, so she decided to perform some upgrades and bring them to the expo.

Wait, so Aino is actually gonna trade one of her bots?

Not exactly. With the exception of a few special orders, Aino rarely sells her finished products. What she's trading at the expo is the blueprint, not the finished product.

Ohhh... So, are you guys ready to head over, then?

Jahoda asked us to speed things along a bit. She's saving a super good spot for you, and she's worried people are gonna start asking questions.

I told her I need to finish debugging first! There's no point in rushing or I'll have nothing to trade!

Whoa, Paimon's never seen Aino this serious before.

The Craftshop is experiencing a severe shortage of funds. Aino is hoping the expo will improve our financial situation, so she's being extra thorough.

Where'd all the money go? Some kind of expensive research?

Negative. It's our dessert funds that are lacking. We have had at least 47 cases where excess dessert purchases have led to a shortage of research funds.

As such, I decided to split up our research and dessert budgets. Aino is forbidden from dipping into one to transfer to the other.

And not too long ago, she cleaned out the entire dessert budget for this month.

Alright, done! Thwack 'n Whack Defense Bots, do me proud!

Looks like we can head over now.

Hm... This looks like a good spot for the demo platform.

This new bot looks pretty interesting, Aino.

Hehehe! Swing by and try it out whenever you want! It'll blow your mind, I just know it!

Thanks for the help.

No problem! Oh, and for registration, is it just gonna be you two?

Hmm... I will be participating, but there is no need to register Aino. She doesn't like to be around a lot of people. Once the expo starts, she'll head straight back to the Craftshop.

Good point...

Hello? Anyone here?

Ah, you got here even earlier than I expected. That should give us just enough time to go over some details before the opening ceremony.

So, what did you need us to do?

How about a cup of tea first? I'm sure it was a long trip.

Now tell me, Traveler and Paimon... Have you heard of the "Nod-Krai Trade Expo"?

Uh, nope...

A long time ago, back before Nasha Town even had that name, this place was essentially one giant black market.

With no administrative oversight, trade that was prohibited elsewhere was fair game here. So, this place began to attract business from all over Teyvat.

Over time, more and more people settled here, and what was once a black market became what is now Nasha Town.

The spirit of free trade has been a local staple ever since. Hence, the "Nod-Krai Trade Expo" was born.

So... is it like a business convention?

In a sense. It's an annual tradition once the shipping routes open up. The expo offers a chance to trade without restrictions.

In other words, it's the biggest "legal" black market in all of Teyvat.

So, is that why you asked me to come?

Yes. The Voynich Guild is organizing the event, and that comes with a lot of responsibilities.

Normally, I would let Jahoda handle most of the work. But this year, it might prove too much for her to manage on her own.

Something tells me we'll have a lot of big names in attendance this time. Working with VIP clients takes someone with the right experience and connections.

Hence why I think Jahoda might need a helping hand.

Oh, so that's where Traveler comes in!

Exactly. I was hoping you could help her with participant coordination.

It's nice of you to look out for Jahoda.

I don't know if I'd put it quite like that. I'm just interested in playing to people's strengths.

In addition, I think you'll find the compensation to be quite to your satisfaction. So, are you in?

Confident, I like it. This is exactly why I chose everyone's favorite globe-trotting hero for this job.

I do have one special request, as the one offering this commission.

In principle, the Nod-Krai Trade Expo is a platform for commerce with no restrictions. That said, the Guild does have one line that is not to be crossed.

I'll need you to help make sure all participants are clear on this unspoken rule. As long as everyone complies, the expo should go off without a hitch.

So what's the unspoken rule?

No violence at the expo. The Guild has pledged to ensure the safety of all sellers and buyers in attendance.

Violence? Whoa, that wasn't even on Paimon's radar... Just because it's legal doesn't change the fact that this is still a black market, huh...

If that line is crossed, the event will descend into chaos.

Understood.

Of course, mediating such situations might prove complicated. So, if you ever want my judgment on the matter, just come find me.

The expo is being held on the shoreline to the southeast of Nasha Town. Jahoda is working on setting up the booths as we speak. She'll be able to provide details on the participants as well.

Alright, I suppose I'll leave you to it, then.

Yep, we've got this!

This is where Nefer said the expo should be...

Lemme think... Yeah, let's go with this! We can't keep changing the setup.

Where are the goods being stored? You still haven't told us.

And what's the Guild's cut on transactions this year?

Sorry, um, one question at a time please...

(Shoulda just stuck to cat wrangling...)

Hey, Jahoda.

Traveler? Paimon? Sorry, I've got kind of a line here...

Don't worry. We're not here to pile more work on you.

Nefer asked us to help you out.

Really? Ah, Boss Nef, you absolute lifesaver! I'm seriously drowning over here! You two are doing me a huge favor...

Nefer asked us to handle participant coordination. So, how can we help?

Ooh, lemme think... Oh, right! There are still three participants that haven't checked in...

(At least, I think it was three...? C'mon, Jahoda, get a grip. I'm not forgetting anything... am I?)

Looks like Jahoda's doing her freaking-out face again...

Don't panic. We're on your team.

Sorry, there's just so much to keep track of...

Let's start with the basics, then. What does "participant coordination" involve, exactly?

It's things like... registering all the participants, verifying their goods, showing them to their booths...

Oh, and if any disputes break out between them, it's your job to mediate.

Got it!

We're still waiting on the sellers for these last three booths. One's reserved for Aino, but as for the other two...

They're both big-deal clients from abroad. The kind of people we really don't want to offend. So be extra careful around them, okay?

Hey, Traveler's got this. What's the worst that could happen?

You don't get it... One of them's the captain of some mercenary fleet sailin' the high seas, and the other's a top dog in the criminal underworld. Getting on their bad side's one-hundred-percent a no-go...

If something goes wrong — let's hope that's a big if — don't engage. Just tell 'em you work for Boss Nef.

Alright. You have a bunch of work still, right? Leave the merc captain and gangster boss to us!

Ah, lifesavers, the both of you! Nod-Krai Hot Dogs are on me later, I promise! And whatever else you want!

Anyway, I'm guessing the two sellers I just mentioned are caught up with lodging or cargo. You should be able to find them at these addresses.

I'd get over there pronto if I were you. People like that don't take well to be kept waiting.

Oh, and tell Aino to bust a move, would you? The booth I'm saving for her is in a prime location. If she doesn't come claim it, the other participants are gonna start asking questions.

If you find yourself in a tricky situation, just come find me.

One at a time...

Ugh...

Hey, what was that for!?

Just shut up and move along. This spot is mine now!

Ahem...!

It's the lady in charge... We were just setting up our booth, and he's trying to take it from us!

Hm, a troublemaker, huh... The expo announcement spells it out clear as day: "All forms of violence are strictly prohibited." Read it and weep, buster!

(I've been wanting to talk tough like that for ages! Should be enough to scare off a punk like him, no problem.)

Hmph... It's not like I wanted to hit anyone... It's just not fair.

What's that supposed to mean?

We all know the black market stuff is in the highest demand here, so how did these twerps get a spot selling these stupid toys?

I did some digging, and guess what? Turns out these brats have connections in the Voynich Guild.

Obviously, someone pulled a few strings to get them here. But me? I miss one stupid deadline, and that's when the rules start to matter? Give me a break.

Hey, we earned our place fair and square!

Tch, as if...

So you're singling out the easy targets, huh? That might work for you on the outside, but not here, and not under my watch!

These kids earned the right to be here same as everyone else. Don't believe me, take it up with the Guild. We'll see who comes out on top.

...Hmph, just you wait.

Who the heck was that?

Just some punk looking for a fight. Heh, but I scared him off without even lifting a finger.

(Phew... I'm still shaking. That was close, almost had to pull the Nefer card.)

Well, he's lucky he decided to run off, or we'd have helped teach him a lesson!

Thanks a million, miss!

All in a day's work. Anyway, knew I remembered you guys. Your guardian works for the Guild, right? Who was it again...?

Ati! Are you alright?

I'm fine, just got a little scrape when he pushed me.

I got caught up with something. I should have been here, I'm sorry.

Ah, right! Ashvapati! The one man in the Guild who wouldn't know profit if it hit him in the face.

You get a spot in the most lucrative market in the world, and you're letting the kids use it to sell... toys? No one else would even entertain that idea.

Well, the purpose of the expo is free trade, right? There's no rule that participants have to sell weapons.

No, but... most people know what's gonna make real dough. Unlike a certain someone.

Ati, Neb, Raya, head back to the booth. If anything else comes up, you call for me, okay? Don't be reckless.

Okay, got it...

Yeah...

Heh... You two know your stuff.

Wait, what? Then why not make them look the part? They'll sell tons better that way.

...If you were to leave your kids a gift, would you choose a toy, or a weapon?

Well...

In any case, I'm not looking to make it big. I applied for the expo because the kids thought it would be fun. All I care about is them having a good time.

Fair enough... You're still gonna be busy with Guild business though, right? Just a heads up, this might not be the safest place to leave the kids unattended...

I understand... A lot of children suffer because their parents are too consumed with work. It's unavoidable sometimes, but I want them to have better...

...You know what? Don't even sweat it. I'll look out for them.

(What the heck are you doing, Jahoda?)

Really? That would be amazing! What do you say to Miss Jahoda, you three?

Thank you, Miss Jahoda!

My pleasure, hehe... Just have them come find me if anything comes up.

Got it. I should get going, then.

Wow, way to step up, Jahoda!

I'm just looking out for some kids. How hard could it be? Then again, I bet I'll be swamped with disputes to settle once this thing gets rolling for real... *sigh*

Relax, we'll help you out! Oh, also, we registered the last three participants. So, the expo can start now, right?

Wow, already? In that case, lemme go get things ready for the grand opening! Talk to ya later!

She really does have a lot on her shoulders...

Yeah, we should help as much as we can.

Ahem! Attention everyone! Participant registration is now complete. On behalf of the Voynich Guild, I am pleased to announce that the Nod-Krai Trade Expo is open for business!

Wonder how Beidou, Navia, and Ineffa's goods are selling? Let's go check!

Excuse me, according to the expo announcement, you are in charge of mediating disputes between participants, correct?

Yeah, did something happen?

Just now, as Aino was about to return to the workshop, she got dragged into a conversation with some individuals who appear to have unofficial ties to the expo.

My database does not have relevant information on how to address this situation, so I came to you for help.

Unofficial ties, huh? Sounds a little shady...

Let's go check it out.

Come with me.

A device that uses pneuma and ousia energies in battle... With that kind of tech, a bandit group could rob a caravan without even showing their faces.

And what about this thing... Remote guidance, precision bombing at long-distance... If a group of thugs got their hands on it, their enemies might as well surrender on the spot.

Uh...

The Fontaine Research Institute made the right call going through the Spina di Rosula rather than selling it themselves.

The same is true for the Ministry of Civil Affairs, I'm sure. A merc captain who spends most of her time at sea is far less conspicuous.

Huh?

What about this girl? She seems to be trading in military-grade weapons as well...

The Clink-Clank Krumkake Craftshop does take on a lot of orders for dangerous creations, but I think in this case...

I'm overthinking it?

I think so...

Yelan? Chevreuse? What are you doing here?

Traveler? Paimon? How did you find this place?

Although this location is indeed rather secluded, Aino has equipped me with a special sensor module. With it, I was able to detect that you had pulled her aside for questioning.

The rumors are true, then... She's quite the little engineer.

Can you tell me what this is about already?

Apologies, but it's a matter of utmost importance, so I had to be sure. After our conversation, however, I can confirm that Aino is not involved in this case.

Traveler, could you help us clear up this misunderstanding?

Understood.

Based on our conversation just now, I'm guessing neither of us is the target the other is searching for.

I second that. And, since our strategies were so similar, I'd wager we're after the same person.

When we talked earlier...

Yeah! Paimon thought so too!

Well, I wasn't planning on dragging you into all this, but now that I appear to have gained an unexpected partner, I suppose I might as well explain...

I trust you, Traveler, and Miss Chevreuse seems to do the same. With you here, I'm hoping we can avoid further misunderstandings.

Hmm... Agreed.

I'm all ears.

Miss Chevreuse and I seem to be here in Nod-Krai to reel in the same fish.

That's right, and the product we brought to trade is the bait. Of course, if I worked the booth, it might tip people off, so that's where Navia comes in. I assume it's the same situation with Captain Beidou?

So, does that mean your target is gonna be at the expo?

Yes. There's a good chance it's one of the buyers.

But, um... What about Nefer's golden rule?

Yeah...

What? No. I've done some digging into the head of the Curatorium and where she stands. We can't let her know what we're doing.

Well...

Heh... I wouldn't be surprised if she got Traveler involved because she anticipated this from the start.

If Traveler has someone to answer to, then we should go.

Hmm... Fine.

Nefer? You here? Turns out, we actually do need your help with something...

Ah, Miss Yelan from Liyue and Miss Chevreuse from Fontaine. It's quite the honor. Forgive me for not greeting you sooner.

So you knew we were coming all along...

Anticipating your arrival is one thing. Getting you to come talk to me is another.

And that's why you put Traveler in charge of participant coordination.

You knew we trusted him enough to tell him the truth about our plans.

And you also knew that, out of respect for your arrangement, the first thing he would do... is bring us here.

How else could I have gotten us all to the negotiating table?

So this was the plan all along...

Forgive me for not clueing you in, Traveler. I had a feeling things could get complicated, so caution was vital.

Rest assured, you will still be compensated as promised.

So, uh, can someone explain what's going on here?

Yes, might as well get it out in the open, ladies. You two were going to exchange intel sooner or later, correct? No better time than the present.

...Recently, the bandits at our border have become more aggressive. We don't know how, but they seem to have gotten their hands on some kind of weapon, which has made them a lot more dangerous.

The caravan transports have been helpless against their attacks.

We're facing a similar situation in Fontaine. Conflicts between gangs have been escalating, with civilians getting caught in the crossfire.

Our investigation indicates that someone has been supplying the gangs with some unusually powerful weaponry. Even with the Spina's help, we've been struggling to curb the fighting.

In which case, I think we can confirm that we're facing arms dealers operating on an international scale.

Yes, and their cover has been ironclad. There hasn't been so much as a trace leading back to them... until their most recent operation.

Let me guess... Someone leaked where the weapons are coming from? And it pointed right to the Nod-Krai Trade Expo?

Exactly.

I see... Well, weapons tend to be a hot commodity in a market with no restrictions.

Say that the person you're searching for is in attendance... Does that mean you're prepared to ruin the expo to nab them?

I won't lie to you, catching this person is my top priority.

How about this? In the spirit of being a good host, you give us a bit of leeway to do what's necessary, and in return, we won't do anything to undermine the expo.

All deals made at the expo are protected, including those that would be illegal elsewhere. It's the entire purpose of an event like this.

The Voynich Guild gets a cut from both the seller and the buyer, so we have a duty to uphold that principle.

I can't just let a customer get scooped up by the authorities while everyone watches.

You said this was a negotiation, but you don't seem prepared to compromise.

Let's think about this... Maybe there's another way?

...Only deals made through the expo are protected, correct?

Oh?

...Theoretically speaking, were any deals to take place outside of the expo's scope, I would have no right to interfere.

Good. Then we can promise that the rules will be followed.

I want insurance, then. To hold you to your word, Traveler must be part of all operations related to the investigation.

We have a deal.

Then, you have my thanks in advance.

Looks like negotiations were a success!

It's the best outcome I could have asked for. I appreciate the help, Traveler.

In that case, do me one more favor, would you? When this is all over, I want to hear the real story behind everything that goes down.

No problem.

When this is all over, I want to hear the real story behind everything that goes down.

Looks like we'll be working together quite closely. The pleasure is all mine, of course.

This whole negotiation really feels like something out of a light novel...