Inside the Serenitea Pot's landing zone, space suddenly twisted. A golden shooting star pierced the barrier membrane of the pot's entrance like a sharp sword, accompanied by a charred scent and the foul, sulfurous stench unique to the Abyss. It crashed heavily into the clearing of the temporary quarantine station. Billowing smoke and dust rose as Lumine's figure appeared unsteadily amidst the haze, carrying on her shoulder an Abyss Mage prisoner tightly bound with thick chains forged from the Geo Element, half of its body already scorched.
"Urgent military report! Requesting audience with Lady Keqing!" Lumine's voice was hoarse yet cut through the clamor. Recognizing her, the Millelith guards immediately sounded the alert horn and quickly cleared the passage.
Just as Keqing's Lightning Stiletto pinned Liyue Harbor's location onto the map in the command post, Lumine's report was nearing its end: "...The drilling platform covers half the ruins, personally overseen by an Abyss Lector. We intercepted this transport squad on the outskirts, and the documents were scattered everywhere." She slammed a stack of stained papers onto the table, her fingertips dragging heavily across the corners of several pages. "Look at these overlapping ink marks—they were altered using old General Affairs Hall exploration permits!"
Chapter 112