Teyvat
"Ohh, so that's how it works," Xia Yu said, finally understanding the mechanics behind how the system deployed characters after Paimon's explanation.
In short, the moment a character appeared in this world, they were automatically granted a legitimate, fully verifiable identity.
There was one more thing nagging at her, though. Paimon, can these characters still use their Elemental Skills and Bursts?
Xia Yu had already noticed that while everyone's outfits had been toned down from their in-game flashiness, their Visions hadn't been taken away along with everything else — Alhaitham's Vision still hung from his coat, identical to the one from the game. She had no idea whether a Vision would actually work in the Conan world. Sure, she'd heard that before she transmigrated, Conan had supposedly reached the point of kicking satellites out of orbit, but this should still be a physical world. It might very well restrict game skills from being used.
"Traveler, technically, in order to conform to this world's laws, these characters originally wouldn't be able to use abilities beyond what the people of this world can comprehend. But Traveler, you should know — this world has witches in it."
Witches? Xia Yu found that odd. Detective Conan certainly had plenty of cases where culprits disguised themselves as monsters or witches, but without exception, the culprits had always turned out to be ordinary humans. There was nothing supernatural about any of it.
Then, all at once, a lightbulb went off in her head — Kaitou Kid.
Of course. The Conan world wasn't just one series. There was another anime set in the very same universe — Magic Kaito. And that one did have a witch: Kaitou Kid's classmate, Koizumi Akako.
So what you mean, Paimon, is that because this world does have supernatural elements, the characters' Elemental Skills actually work?
"Mm-hmm!" Paimon nodded. "And they work about the same as they did back on Teyvat — the Visions light up and everything!"
Then she lowered her voice. "But Traveler, you should really keep things low-key when you use your Skills. I heard that if anyone catches you, they might drag you off to some mad scientist's lab and slice you up for research. Waaah~ that sounds so scary!" Paimon's voice actually trembled as she spoke — she had apparently frightened herself with her own warning.
Xia Yu did her best to soothe her. Relax, Paimon, we'll definitely be careful. Besides, even if someone does see us, we can just pass it off as stage magic. Some of Kaitou Kid's tricks come so close to real magic it's practically indistinguishable.
That reassured Paimon somewhat, and her voice perked back up. "So, Traveler — any other questions?"
Not right now. Although... I've been thinking — should I establish an organization?
"An organization? Why would you want to do that, Traveler?"
Think about it, Paimon. I'm bound to pull more characters going forward. That's a lot of people with different backgrounds but obvious connections to each other — and matching accessories, no less. The detectives of this world are bound to notice. When they do, they'll assume all these people belong to one single organization. So rather than let those detectives run wild with their own speculation, better to strike first and build the organization myself.
Her thoughts drifted to her main quest — balancing the power between the Red and Black factions — and she continued. And besides, if I want to complete that mission, having a faction of my own will make things a lot easier.
Paimon nodded, putting on an air of profound wisdom. "Hmmm~ you make a very good point, Traveler."
An organization needs a name. So what should we call ours? Xia Yu hoped for something decent — it didn't have to be grand and impressive, but at the very least it shouldn't be as lame as "the Black Organization." Anyone overhearing that name cold would think it was a clothing retailer.
The moment naming came up, Paimon's true colors came blazing out, and she proposed excitedly, "How about the Booming Fungus Brigade? It's got such a catchy ring to it!"
A dark line crawled down Xia Yu's forehead. That was even worse than "Black Organization." She shot it down immediately. No. Too childish.
"Then... Darknight Hero?" Paimon pressed on undeterred.
No, that's a bit too chuuni. And it's not right to just lift Diluc's nickname outright.
...
After having several names in a row shot down, Paimon was getting frustrated. "Aaah — Traveler, coming up with a good name is such a pain! Why don't we just call it Teyvat and be done with it?"
At Paimon's suggestion, Xia Yu's eyes lit up. Teyvat it is.
"Ehh—" Paimon thought it over carefully, then decided that yes, it actually fit quite well.
Xia Yu kept building on the idea. And doesn't the Black Organization have divisions and stuff — intelligence, operations, that kind of thing? We can do the same. Each nation can correspond to a different department, and each department handles different work. Mondstadt handles diplomacy and liaison, Liyue handles finance, Inazuma handles intelligence, Sumeru handles research, Fontaine enforces the organization's rules, and the Fatui of Snezhnaya handle military force... We can distinguish the departments by the style of their Visions, and the Seven Archons make up the management. What do you think?
Once she got going, the words flowed more and more smoothly, and before long the rough framework of the whole organization had been laid out.
"Clap clap clap!" Paimon couldn't help applauding right there inside Xia Yu's mind. "Traveler, you're amazing!"
Heh, oh, stop it~ Xia Yu felt a little embarrassed at such a direct compliment. Okay, let's settle it like that. Tomorrow I'll talk to Alhaitham about the organization. It's getting late — time to sleep.
"Mm~" As Xia Yu closed her eyes and settled in, Paimon answered softly, "Good night, Traveler."
With everything more or less sorted out, the energy Xia Yu had mustered to keep herself awake drained away all at once. Drowsiness swept over her, and through the haze she faintly heard Paimon's voice.
Good night, Paimon.
Quiet soon settled all around her.
The next day, Xia Yu opened her eyes to find the sky outside already bright with morning light.
She washed up and stepped out of the bedroom to find that Alhaitham, sure enough, was already awake, sitting by the window with a book. On the dining table sat a serving of breakfast.
"Since you're up, eat before it gets cold," Alhaitham said without so much as lifting his head at the sound of the door opening.
"Oh... okay." It had been a long time since anyone had made breakfast for her, and it took Xia Yu a moment to process it. Once she came back to her senses, she hurried to thank him.
"No need. The bread and milk were already in the kitchen — I just prepared them a little. Besides, I'm eating too. It was no trouble." With that, he turned a page of his book.
After finishing breakfast and washing the dishes, Xia Yu laid out the plan she'd come up with the night before for Alhaitham.
Alhaitham set his book down. "Not bad. An interesting proposal, and quite feasible. Let's do it your way — I have no objections."
Then, as an aside, he filled her in on his cover identity. "I'm a scholar who was invited here for an academic exchange with a research institute. I've been arranged to stay at the Beika Hotel, and these first few days are free time. The formal exchange begins in three days." (I know Alhaitham is from the Haravatat darshan, but I won't get that specific here.)
"An academic exchange? With which research institute?" Xia Yu asked, curious despite herself.
"Hakugei Pharmaceuticals."
"Eh?!"