The next morning.

Ryen had just been about to stretch lazily when he suddenly sensed something off, freezing in place.

Glancing around, he rubbed his forehead with a sigh, feeling a little embarrassed.

It seemed…

Something rather extraordinary had happened last night.

Thinking about it carefully, it could be considered a once-in-a-lifetime kind of achievement.

And Ryen wasn't the type to get a good deal and then pretend otherwise.

Judging by the time, everyone should be arriving soon.

He woke Ganyu and told the girls to wash up so they could get ready to head for the Twilight Forest.

Ganyu obediently went out to wash, but Hu Tao rolled over, sat up with a cheeky grin, and looked straight at him.

"So, so? Any changes?"

Ryen chuckled, pinching her nose playfully.

"What do you think this is, curing a cold? It'll take time."

"Cheh…"

Hu Tao pouted, blinking meaningfully.

"Want to… rest a bit?"

"I'll pass. Everyone's coming soon."

Ryen rolled his eyes, but Hu Tao wasn't giving up so easily.

"Ryen, you spoil this Hall Master the most!"

"…Hm?"

Well…

Sometimes, washing up wasn't that urgent, was it…

It was almost 8:30 by the time Ryen and Hu Tao finally strolled out.

As usual, he woke Klee and Nahida for breakfast — peaceful, warm, like a real family.

Just as they finished eating, Zhongli and the others arrived.

Without wasting words, Ryen opened the double-portal.

He remembered clearly — last night, Tartaglia had been in the MC world the entire time, experimenting with the ultimate beginner's scam: a "Heaven Portal."

If they didn't hurry over to see just how wrecked Tartaglia was — and check the photos Diluc had taken — they'd be missing out big time.

With a grin that reached all 873 corners of his heart, Ryen led the group in.

The moment he appeared, he was hit by an intense wave of resentment, unlike anything before — almost like coming face-to-face with Sadako herself.

Turning his head, he saw Tartaglia, sporting dark circles under his eyes, slumped on the ground and staring at him blankly.

Beside him stood what was almost a 9×9 block frame of diamond, with some puddles still visible on the ground.

Diluc, standing nearby, still wore his calm expression — but the smile hidden in his eyes was unmistakable.

Catching the group's gaze, Diluc subtly lifted the camera in his hand, indicating he had recorded everything thoroughly.

Only then did Ryen feel reassured.

Grinning, he walked over to Tartaglia and patted him on the shoulder.

"Well, if it isn't our big brain! What's the matter? You've gone all listless after just one night?"

Tartaglia lifted his head with a hollow look.

"Mr. Ryen… you did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean? I don't understand a word you're saying."

Ryen spread his hands innocently while eyeing the diamond portal frame in front of him.

"Tut tut… you really went big with this one. Didn't work?"

Tartaglia didn't answer — just stared at Ryen with a resentful gaze.

Putting on a serious face, Ryen said,

"Maybe the problem's with your technique. Why don't you try doing a hundred squats in front of the portal? Or maybe run ten laps around it."

"I already tried…" Tartaglia muttered quietly.

"Pfft—"

Venti couldn't help but laugh, but when Tartaglia glanced over, he quickly forced his face back into a calm expression.

"You tried all that, huh…"

Ryen's tone carried a trace of amusement. He patted Tartaglia on the shoulder and sighed,

"In any case, your spirit is truly commendable!"

"So… the Heaven Portal doesn't exist at all, does it?"

Tartaglia looked at him, filled with bitter indignation.

Ryen spread his hands.

"I didn't lie to you — the Heaven Portal does exist. And yes, it's made of diamond. The building method is almost exactly the same as the Nether Portal."

"But…"

Before Tartaglia could continue, Ryen added,

"However… the Heaven Portal requires a Heaven mod to be built."

"???"

Tartaglia looked completely dumbfounded, pointing to the diamond frame behind him.

"So… I've been here all night, working like an idiot, for nothing?"

"What do you mean 'for nothing'?"

Ryen said with a perfectly straight face,

"You used your imagination! You independently deduced how a Heaven Portal might be built. That kind of ingenuity is worth admiration!"

Tartaglia's expression turned bitter.

"Then why didn't you tell me last night?"

"If I told you, where would the fun be?"

"What?"

—

Ryen coughed into his hand and said again,

"I mean, you were the one who brought it up yesterday. You weren't wrong — diamonds can make a Heaven Portal. But you never asked me whether we could make one right now, did you?"

Tartaglia's face fell, and he shut his mouth in sullen silence.

Ryen patted his shoulder cheerfully.

"Look on the bright side — at least it proves you've gotten to know this world really well.

If you can already think of building a Heaven Portal based on the Nether Portal, that's a huge step forward."

Following Ryen's reasoning, Tartaglia thought about it — and realized he was right.

Immediately, his spirits began to lift.

He was just about to say something when Ryen turned to Diluc.

"How many photos did you take?"

Diluc shook the camera in his hand.

"A lot. This thing's memory is full. I recorded everything — even when he was performing rituals around the diamond portal."

Ryen nodded with a grin.

~~----------------------

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