Genshin Impact: The Sharpshooter of Teyvat

Chapter 1224 Charlotte's Hunting News in Liyue

……

Liyue Harbor, Tiger Rock area, inside the Manmin Hall.

Despite the fact that the coup had created a very oppressive social atmosphere in Liyue.

But for most ordinary people, life goes on, and those political upheavals in the court are ultimately just topics of conversation over tea.

Today, Master Mao took Huanian to buy ingredients, and Xiangling also stood in front of the counter to greet customers, which is rare for her.

Just then, Shao Yun appeared at the door.

Xiangling immediately flashed a bright smile and greeted him warmly, "Mr. Shao Yun! When did you return to Liyue? Please come in and have a seat!"

Shao Yun smiled politely at Xiang Ling and replied, "I just got back not long ago. I was passing by and thought I'd wander around and buy some Liyue specialties or something."

Immediately afterward, Shao Yun looked around at the open Wanmintang restaurant and remarked, "I thought that with Liyue being so unstable lately, your restaurant would close for a few days to avoid the storm."

Xiangling understood what he meant, but she still said optimistically:

"Oh dear, I don't understand those political matters. All I know is that people have to eat. Even if the sky falls, you have to fill your stomach first."

"Although I've heard that there's been some trouble between Lady Ningguang and Lady Keqing, for us ordinary folks, taking care of our own stomachs and keeping our own lives safe is the most important thing, isn't it?"

Seeing Xiangling's optimism, Shao Yun stroked his chin and nodded in agreement.

Why is Paimon always so cheerful? Isn't it because he's well-fed and has no worries?

"Okay, you're right. Just give me anything, nothing too complicated. I'll just grab something to eat and then I'm off. I need to get back to Nata as soon as possible."

When Xiangling heard that Shao Yun wanted to eat, her eyes lit up instantly, and she patted her chest and assured him:

"Alright! I'll prepare some of the special dishes I've been thinking of recently, I guarantee you'll be satisfied! Please wait a moment, it'll be ready soon!"

……

Xiangling turned around and quickly walked into the kitchen to start cooking.

Just as Shao Yun was thinking of finding a place to sit down, he saw a familiar pink figure lying on the table, frowning at blank sheets of paper.

Isn't that Charlotte, the reporter for the Fontaine Steambird newspaper?

Shao Yun was somewhat surprised, not expecting to meet her at the Wanmin Hall in Liyue Harbor.

He stood up, straightened his clothes, walked to the corner, sat down gently in the chair opposite Charlotte, and raised his hand in greeting.

"Hi Charlotte, long time no see."

Charlotte was pondering the news about the recent earth-shattering events in Liyue when she saw Shao Yun and was immediately taken aback.

"Huh! Mr. Shao Yun! I never expected to run into you in Liyue! I remember you were always in Nata, why are you suddenly in Liyue?"

Meeting an acquaintance in a foreign land, especially Shao Yun whom she had met once before in Nata, made Charlotte feel instantly much closer to him.

Shao Yun looked at the blank manuscript paper spread out in front of her, and the several drafts scattered beside it that were filled with writing and then crossed out, and raised his chin.

"I had some personal business to take care of and just happened to be passing by Wanmintang, so I thought I'd grab a bite. You look so worried, are you chasing some big news?"

Judging from her demeanor, she must have her eyes on the recent political upheaval in Liyue.

“That’s right, that’s right!” Charlotte nodded vigorously, placing her hands on the table, leaning slightly forward, her eyes filled with fervor for the news.

She traveled all the way from Fontaineble to Liyue just to report on the big news of the Liyue coup!

"What happened in Liyue recently is a major event that's rarely seen before. I've even come up with some preliminary headlines for the news!"

When talking about the title she had come up with, Charlotte became even more animated, raising her voice several decibels as if afraid Shao Yun wouldn't hear her.

"'A Shocking Coup in Liyue: Ningguang Mysteriously Disappears, Keqing Takes Over in a Flash, Power Shifts Amidst Mysteries!' Exclusive Report from Special Correspondent Charlotte!"

She paused, then excitedly added, "How about that? Did you grasp the key point right away?"

"If this news gets out, it will definitely shock the entire Teyvat, no less than the news of the Rock King's 'passing away' back then!"

"The sales of our Steambird News will definitely reach a new high!"

Charlotte became more and more excited as she spoke, radiating boundless enthusiasm for journalism.

Watching Charlotte gesticulate wildly, seemingly risking her life for the news, Shao Yun couldn't help but laugh and remarked:

"You're always there whenever there's big news... But judging from the fact that your manuscript is still completely blank, the interview probably isn't going very well, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Charlotte's excitement vanished instantly. She sighed heavily and admitted with great frustration, "Oh, you're absolutely right!"

“I’ve been running around like crazy these past few days. I’ve been to Yuehaiting, the General Affairs Department, and all sorts of other places, but they either say ‘no comment’ or just shut me out. I can’t even get a look at them.”

"This report isn't making any progress at all, I'm so worried!"

As she spoke, she poked at the blank manuscript paper with her finger, as if venting her frustration.

I traveled all the way from Fontainebleau, hoping to catch a big news story, but I've run into obstacles everywhere.

Seeing her dejected look, Shao Yun patiently explained the political considerations to her.

"It's obvious even to a child. With such a major power shift, the Liyue government would definitely need to discuss the follow-up arrangements internally and stabilize the core team first. How could they possibly leak the news to the outside world so easily?"

"Especially in such a sensitive time, any unreconsidered 'false' information that gets out can easily cause public panic."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Thousand Rock Army patrolling outside the Hall of Ten Thousand People, and continued:

"To stabilize morale, all Liyue can do now is to strengthen the patrols of the Thousand Rock Army, prevent anyone from taking the opportunity to cause trouble, and avoid unrest."

"Once the situation has completely stabilized, the authorities will naturally release relevant information. There's no use in being anxious now."

Charlotte sat in the chair, her legs shaking involuntarily. She was clearly not listening to what Shao Yun was saying and was still anxious about the news report.

But just then, a sudden inspiration struck her, her eyes lit up instantly, and she leaned forward abruptly, staring intently at Shao Yun.

"Hey, Mr. Shao Yun! I heard you're quite well-connected with Liyue, and you even made a special trip back to Liyue from Nata this time. You must know some inside information that others don't, right?"

"Please help me out! The reward will be incredibly generous. I can give you 50% of the bonus for this report, and I promise to keep your identity confidential during the report and won't cause you any trouble!"

As she spoke, she clasped her hands together, making a pleading gesture, her eyes full of expectation.

In her opinion, Shao Yun is absolutely the only person who can help her uncover the inside story.

Looking at Charlotte's innocent yet persistent appearance, Shao Yun couldn't help but burst into laughter and pointed at her with his finger.

"You really dare to think and say anything for a news story. Is this trivial matter really that important to you, worth all this attention?"

Upon hearing Shao Yun's words, Charlotte immediately felt that Shao Yun must know some inside information.

"Oh, Mr. Shao Yun! Does that mean you really know the inside story? Tell me quickly! I'll write it all down word for word!"

Looking at the quill pen tightly gripped in Charlotte's hand, and the unwavering determination in her eyes to uncover the truth, Shao Yun's smile gradually faded, and his gaze turned serious.

“Listen, Charlotte, I’m not kidding you.”

"The waters of Liyue are much deeper than you imagine. The people and events involved are not something an ordinary reporter like you can easily touch."

"If I were you, I would pack my things and go back to Fontaine right now. Stop staring at this news. Protecting yourself is the wisest choice right now."

Zhongli could abandon Ningguang without hesitation, so if Charlotte really uncovered some inside information that she shouldn't have, dealing with a small-time reporter would be a piece of cake for him.

During the war between the demons and gods, Zhongli truly fought his way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood! He showed no mercy.

Charlotte put down her quill pen upon hearing this, somewhat displeased; backing out at the last minute was not her style.

“Mr. Shao Yun, you really underestimate me! I, Charlotte, have never been afraid of danger since the day I became a reporter.”

"I will not back down even if it means facing death, in pursuit of the truth. Do you think the Liyue authorities would treat an ordinary reporter like those ruthless treasure-hunting gangs and kill me?"

Looking at her stubborn expression, Shao Yun gently shook his head, stating a cruel reality.

"In Fontainebleau, you have Chavore's protection, Navia's Rose Society to keep you safe, and Clorind to back you up. Even if you get into trouble while chasing the news, someone will help you clean up the mess."

"But this is Liyue. No one will protect you. If you cross someone's line, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Charlotte's fingers tightened slightly as she held the pen; she understood this perfectly well.

Over the years of chasing news in Fontainebleau, if it weren't for the secret help of Xia Worei and Navia, she probably would have already fallen and been thrown into the sea where people could drown.

But when she thought about her professional ethics and the readers who believed in her reports, she couldn't give up easily.

“I know politics is cruel, and I know that no one in Liyue will protect me like Fontaine did. But my professional ethics tell me that truth comes first.”

"As a reporter for the Steambird News, it is my responsibility to report the truth of the matter so that everyone in Teyvat can see it..."

"No, even if it's just letting the people of Liyue know what happened in Liyue, I won't regret it even if I have to pay the price!"

Shao Yun watched as Charlotte remained stubbornly defiant, as if she wouldn't turn back until she hit a brick wall...

At this moment, he recalled how Charlotte had offered to take a family photo of him, Ying, and Bao Bao in the cabin in the northwest of Fontainebleau, and he had always kept that kindness in his heart.

Seeing Charlotte's determination to pursue this dangerous news in Liyue, he couldn't bear to see her take the risk for nothing, so he decided to give her some pointers as a way of repaying the small favor he had done for her.

"Alright, if you really can't find any valuable information in Liyue, don't be impulsive or try to force your way into sensitive places. You can come to Nata, to my house."

“My family is from the Suspended Wood People tribe. You can just ask anyone when you get to Nata.”

The implication in those words couldn't be clearer: the waters of Liyue run too deep for her to reveal openly, but perhaps she could get a word out of it in the relatively safe environment of Nata.

Charlotte's eyes lit up instantly. Having covered all sorts of people over the years, how could she not understand the implication in Shao Yun's words?

"Oh, I understand, I understand! Don't worry, Mr. Shao Yun, I know what I'm doing! Once I've made no progress in Liyue and leave, I'll go to Nata to find you as soon as possible!"

As she spoke, she secretly wrote the words "Nata, Xuanmu Ren, Shao Yunjia" on the manuscript paper with her finger, afraid that she would forget the address.

Charlotte's smug look was just like that of a child who had received candy.

Seeing Charlotte's seemingly understanding yet smug expression, Shao Yun said seriously:

"Listen, I'm not kidding. Protect yourself. Liyue isn't the Liyue of the past. If something happens, there's really no one who can help you!"

He deliberately emphasized the words "no one can help you" so that Charlotte would truly realize the danger, rather than just taking his words as a casual reminder.

Charlotte stopped joking, sat up straight, placed her hands on her knees, and nodded solemnly.

"Understood, Mr. Shao Yun. I won't joke around with my safety. Thank you for reminding me and for showing me the way."