***
After he shortly described his world to the girls, they began discussing the menu, as Paimon was starving.
He promised he would tell them more, but now was truly not the time or place to be talking about something important like this.
"Paimon will have a Chicken-Mushroom Skewer!"
"Lil Paimon sure eats the same stuff all the time, doesn't she? In that case, I'll have the Jueyun Chili Chicken. What would you like, my most cherished Assistant?"
"I suppose I'll have some Fisherman's toast because I don't want to overeat."
While everyone else was deciding what to eat, Mona was browsing the menu and attempting to determine what she could order with her limited funds.
"Oh, the Almond Tofu looks incredible, but it costs 1550 Mora by itself? How despicable... The price of one Chicken-Mushroom Skewer is 450 Mora... I have only 200 Mora on me... I can't even afford the 270-dollar Butter ingredient for the side dish! This restaurant is ridiculously overpriced! How outrageous..."
Mona let out a defeated sigh.
"Is everything alright?" Yomite inquired, noticing that Mona appeared annoyed.
"I'm fine. Don't be concerned... It is irrelevant... I am slightly hungry, but it's not a major issue. Astrologers must abandon their materialistic desires. Only by ridding oneself of clutter can one see the true world around them. Sometimes, the hunger itself must be consumed." Mona stated this while coughing loudly to cover the sound of her growling stomach, which had not seen anything remotely edible in approximately six days.
She then added an extra "Hmpf!" for a strong emphasis to show her complete determination to look like she cared about nothing.
"Hmm, hmm..." Yomite nodded, unconvinced, but decided it would be best if he refrained from pressing the issue further.
Yuhua, a courteous waitress, soon arrived.
"Hello, we meet again. Are you ready for your order? What can I get you?" She spoke as sweetly as before.
Yomite glanced at her, before asking with a sly grin, "Yes, we would like to order, but first, let me ask you a question, may I?"
"Yes, sure! Ask away!"
"...Who are you?"
"..."
"..."
"...Eh?"
This made Yuhua slightly taken aback, however, she answered him almost immediately, "Aw, don't you remember me? We met just earlier near the elevator, sir. My name is Yuhua. It makes me so sad that you forgot about me this quickly..." And then she dramatically shed some fake tears.
Yomite blinked and then smiled politely at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I do remember meeting Yuhua, but you're not Yuhua, are you?"
At this remark, the waitress' face fell into shock before turning a bit pale, "...Sir...No...as expected of you, Hero Yomite Hissha. Not even our parents could sometimes tell us apart, yet you somehow found out immediately. I am indeed not Yuhua. My name is Xiuhua, her twin sister. We switched just now, she went to take a break. How amazing." As Yuhua's twin sister continued speaking, her smile slowly returned and she stood straight, looking even more friendly than before.
"Eh!? But Paimon couldn't tell the difference between them at all!"
"Yum-Yum is simply amazing! As expected!"
Xiuhua bowed and asked, "Would you mind if I come back in a few minutes? I really want to tell that this happened to my sister real quick, she won't believe me! I'll get your meal in a few minutes, okay?"
"Well...sure..but come back quick...?"
It was a weird request but he didn't mind waiting a few more minutes...
"Thank you so much!" Xiuhua bowed once more and hurriedly descended the stairs...
"Wow, frankly, I didn't think anyone other than me would notice it wasn't the same person." Mona spoke up, sounding genuinely intrigued, "Even their constellations are almost identical. I retract my statement that you do not pay sufficient attention to those around you. Even if it was...just a pair of women...So how did you do it? Is there a trick to it?"
"A magician never reveals his secrets!" Yomite replied and Mona just rolled her eyes, "Hmph, fine. I didn't want to know anyway."
"Surely you didn't."
Yomite's ability to check stats was, of course, the reason he even noticed the twins had changed.
He decided to start using his 'Observe' more often. Meaning, he would be using it on everyone he met to train with it a bit more.
And seeing a different name on the person who looked the exact same, but wasn't the same person did make him a bit curious, so he decided to poke some fun at the waitress duo, and it bore some funny reactions.
"Paimon always said that he pays way too much attention to girls...maybe that's how he did it?"
"Better for him to focus on girls than on guys, right~?" Hu Tao poked Paimon's cheek with her finger.
"Eh...weirdly enough...Paimon...agrees...? Eh...Hu Tao...Paimon doesn't like that smirk of yours...You are up to no good again!"
***
**
*
*
**
***
"So? Anything suspicious to report about him?" Verr Goldet asked her trustworthy employee.
"With a single glance, he realized it wasn't Yuhua speaking to him. He is bound to be the real deal. He saw through me immediately... I am ashamed." Still embarrassed over what had occurred, Xiuhua responded.
The twins were identical to the same birthmark on their thighs, not even their parents could tell them apart yet somehow he did. Was it perhaps smell? But even that wouldn't work considering they used the same perfume. She genuinely questioned how something like that could be possible.
"Hmm. Don't fret over it. I was just curious about him. Did you perhaps happen to overhear anything special?"
"No, not particularly; however, one of his friends complained that the prices were a bit too pricey for her. Oh, the Wangsheng Funeral Director seemed particularly angry about something as well, but I missed it."
"Intriguing. Alright. As our lord, Rex Lapis, has been assassinated, Tianquan Ningguang commanded me to keep an eye on Yomite Hissha. What do you think about them being the culprits?"
"M-Me? I couldn't possibly have a say in this matter... I'm just a lowly servant..."
"Just your honest opinion is enough. I am curious."
"...Well...Yomite Hissha appeared to be strong, and so did the girls around him. It's just... I don't think someone who would kill lord Rex Lapis would be having a casual conversation over a dinner not too far away from the place it happened... Besides, him being a Hero, and the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor following him around as his lover...it doesn't sound right for them to be in the wrong... I do not believe they were the perpetrators, but I cannot imagine why they would flee the scene immediately after the crime was committed..."
"You know, Xiuhua, you're getting quite intelligent for someone so young. Perhaps you should leave our small gathering and broaden your horizons."
"W-What? No!! I couldn't possibly-"
"I shall contact Lady Ningguang and explain the situation to her. Whatever occurs for the time being, do not inform our resting guest about the death of Rex Lapis. I cannot fathom what would occur if he discovered the truth..."
"Y-Yes!"
Xiuhua bowed deeply, before taking her leave from the room.
"Things are becoming more complicated; if it turns out that a Hero of Mondstadt murdered Rex Lapis, this could escalate into an international conflict." As she watched the door close in front of her, Verr Goldet murmured.
What Yomite and his little group didn't know, was that the moment they stepped into the Wangshu inn, they stepped into a lion's den.
As each and every employee at the Wangshu inn.
Was directly under Ningguang's rule and intelligence gathering.
