The bustling atmosphere in the Sunny-Rain Sector remained unchanged. The delicate fragrance of Glaze Lilies, mixed with the sweet, rich scent of roasted Dunjuan Peaches, drifted among the neatly arranged stalls. Thanks to the Gray Market Trading Regulations promoted by Keqing, the disorderly crowds of the past had been replaced by zoned order. Yet, transactions in those hidden corners—Fontaine perfumes, Snezhnayan mechanical pocket watches, Inazuman Ukiyo-e scroll fragments—still continued in whispers, forming the indispensable "gray" pulse beneath the prosperous facade of the Serenitea Pot.
The boots of the veteran Matra, Khalid, stepped across the flagstone path, producing a steady, muted sound. His falcon-like gaze swept over the sign of "Roswell General Store," finally stopping at a more unassuming shop next door: "Duvall's Lamps and Oil." The storefront was desolate, and Duvall, a lean Fontaine merchant behind the counter, was wiping down a dust-covered glass oil lamp.
"Routine inspection, Mr. Duvall," Khalid said in an even voice, displaying his Matra badge.
Chapter 119