Chapter 182: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [182]
Childe, battered and bruised, struggled to sit up from the rubble. His Foul Legacy Transformation had been forcibly dispelled by Luo Qing's strike.
The transformation had already taken a toll on his body, but Luo Qing's blow exacerbated the damage. Pain wracked his insides, and a thin trickle of blood stained the corner of his mouth.
Yet, the other Harbingers displayed no reaction to his defeat.
After all, the duel had been Childe's idea—it had nothing to do with them.
"Well, it seems we've gained another powerful colleague," Pulcinella remarked, stepping toward Luo Qing with a smile.
"This is truly something to celebrate. I look forward to working with you, Brighella."
"Heh, already trying to win him over, Mayor? With your close ties to Childe, shouldn't you be more concerned about him? He doesn't look too well," Pantalone quipped, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Well, the ceremony's over. I have some bank matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
With that, Pantalone descended the stairs, walking past Childe without a glance, and exited the hall.
"Hmph~ hmm~ hmm~"
Columbina hummed a light tune as she skipped past Childe, her fingers trailing a faint glow that settled over him. Without a word, she left the hall as well.
Following their example, the remaining Harbingers exchanged pleasantries with Luo Qing before departing one by one.
Capitano expressed an interest in sparring with Luo Qing someday, while Dottore was curious about the mechanics behind his ability to manipulate emotions.
Unfortunately, Luo Qing didn't fully understand it himself.
As Arlecchino passed by, she met Luo Qing's gaze briefly and said in a low voice, "When you have time, come back to the Hearth."
Before reaching independence, all children under Arlecchino's care—including Luo Qing—had only one home: the Hearth of the Fireplace.
"Mm..." Luo Qing replied softly.
Even now, as equals, he couldn't help but admire the madwoman. Her sharp gaze and commanding presence were captivating.
Perhaps, if the opportunity arose, she could join Rosalyne under his command.
The thought of having her glare at him with disdain while... well, the possibilities were endless.
As the Harbingers left, only Childe, still sitting amidst the rubble, and Pierro, standing by the throne, remained in the hall.
And, of course, Luo Qing's four trembling subordinates, huddled in a corner.
Luo Qing hesitated before walking over to Childe. With a thought, he tossed a Supreme Restoration Pill his way.
"Here. Take it. It'll help you recover faster."
"Heh..."
Childe caught the pill, examining the mudball-sized object in his hand with a raised brow.
"Is this... pity?"
"Think whatever you want. Take it or leave it," Luo Qing replied casually, glancing at Pierro.
Pierro returned the look, then descended from the throne with measured steps.
"Childe, explain the remaining formalities to Brighella," Pierro said flatly before leaving the hall as well.
"Tch. Looks like it's just the two of us now," Childe grumbled, rolling the pill between his fingers.
"Our colleagues really are a heartless bunch, huh?"
He paused, then looked back at Luo Qing.
"How do you even eat this thing?"
"Swallow it whole."
"...What?"
After dismissing his subordinates, Luo Qing left the Zapolyarny Palace with Childe.
The "formalities" Pierro had referred to were essentially an overview of the rights and responsibilities that came with being a Harbinger.
Despite Childe's questionable ability to articulate such things, Luo Qing managed to grasp the essentials.
As a Harbinger, he now had partial command over Fatui forces, a set budget for operations, and certain KPIs he was expected to meet.
Snezhnaya didn't support freeloaders—not even among its elite.
Each Harbinger was expected to excel in their area of expertise: Pulcinella handled governance, Pantalone oversaw the Northland Bank, Dottore advanced research, and Arlecchino managed espionage.
For those whose expertise lay in combat, like Childe, Capitano, or Rosalyne, their role was to serve as frontline warriors.
Luo Qing's strengths were in emotional manipulation and deception, supplemented by solid combat ability. This positioned him as a frontline disruptor—perfect for sowing chaos.
While the idea of battling Archons and other divine beings sounded daunting, Childe described the role of a Fatui envoy as surprisingly comfortable.
No political scheming, fewer annoying tasks, and the opportunity to build a loyal following.
"Anyway, that's the gist of what Pierro wanted me to tell you," Childe said, patting his stomach.
He still seemed amused by the odd sensation of swallowing the Supreme Restoration Pill whole.
"Now, you've got three options: Sumeru, Fontaine, or Natlan. All three have operations in progress, so you'd be joining as a second-in-command. No chance of taking the lead."
He paused before adding, "Of course, there's also the Abyss. The rewards come fast there, but Pierro might not approve of it."
"Just these three?" Luo Qing asked.
"Where else? Her Majesty already has the Gnoses from Liyue and Mondstadt. The Raiden Shogun's Gnosis is in Scaramouche's hands. If not these places, where would you go?"
Childe's tone was casual, as if the answer should be obvious.
Luo Qing thought for a moment before answering.
"Mondstadt. To fish."
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Childe]
As a hardworking and dedicated member of the Fatui, Childe clearly struggled to understand Luo Qing's carefree attitude. He frowned in mild disdain.
"You've just joined us. If you don't make an effort to prove yourself, Her Majesty won't take you seriously."
"Ah... I'm not too worried about that," Luo Qing replied with a smirk.
He was already certain that his emotion manipulation tools had no effect on the Tsaritsa.
But his Affection Boost ProMax card? That might be a different story...
Not that he was eager to test it, not after what happened with the Raiden Shogun.
"Just decide quickly. Her Majesty doesn't tolerate slackers," Childe said, his tone firm.
As he felt the effects of the pill rapidly healing his injuries— even old wounds from using the Foul Legacy Transformation—Childe glanced at Luo Qing once more.
"Thanks for the pill. I owe you one. If you're ever in Liyue and need help, let me know!"
With that, Childe gave Luo Qing a hearty pat on the shoulder and vanished into the snowy landscape.
Luo Qing shook his head with a faint smile.
"Childe, huh? He's surprisingly straightforward for someone in this madhouse..."
He began walking toward his apartment, pondering his options.
Until he made a decision, he could at least enjoy some peaceful days at home with Rosalyne and Makoto... fishing.
As he approached the building and looked up at his modest two-bedroom unit, Luo Qing sighed nostalgically.
Just as he reached the door, a voice came from the shadows nearby.
"Care for a chat?"
---
Oh, hey there, Traveler! 🍃 My friend here is the one bringing these stories to you—quite the talent, wouldn't you agree? If anything feels off, just give them a nudge—they're always happy to make things even better.
Now, don't forget to take a moment to rest! Grab a drink (perhaps something as refreshing as Mondstadt's finest), and let the stories whisk you away.
Oh, and if you're feeling generous, you could check out [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Supporting them is like throwing a coin to your favorite bard—it keeps the magic flowing!
Here's to more adventures and endless inspiration~ 🎵
Chapter 183: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [183]
Her composed demeanor didn't mask the lethal intent in her gaze—a look that made Luo Qing's pulse quicken slightly.
He found himself... enjoying that gaze.
Damn it...
"Has Arlecchino-sama been waiting long?" Luo Qing asked politely.
"There's no need for formalities between colleagues. Just call me Arlecchino," she replied, stepping closer to him.
She glanced at his two-bedroom apartment, raising an eyebrow.
"So, this is where you live now?"
Luo Qing followed her gaze, quickly realizing her intention.
She wanted to go inside.
His heart sank.
Rosalyne and Makoto were inside, and if Arlecchino discovered them...
He'd have to accelerate his plans.
"Yes, that's right. Though, Arlecchino-sama, didn't you ask me to visit the Hearth? Why now..."
Before he could finish, Arlecchino had already started walking toward the stairs leading to his apartment door.
"Let's talk here," she said, her voice steady.
"It's been a long time since we last met. Let's catch up."
By the time she finished speaking, Arlecchino was already standing at his door, glancing back at him as if to say:
Well? Aren't you going to open it?
"..."
Luo Qing sighed inwardly.
He knew Arlecchino too well—if he tried to deflect and suggest another location, she'd grow suspicious.
She might even send people to investigate, eventually uncovering the truth.
And Luo Qing knew this process intimately because he used to do it for her.
Resigned, he walked to the door and unlocked it, saying, "My place is a bit messy. I hope Arlecchino-sama doesn't mind."
"I don't," she said curtly.
The door clicked open.
As the room came into view, Arlecchino was greeted by a peculiar sight.
Two women, dressed in Inazuman kimonos and wearing fox masks, stood in the entryway. They bowed politely to Luo Qing and Arlecchino.
Arlecchino's gaze flicked toward Luo Qing, her eyes silently asking: Who are they?
"Oh, uh, these are my personal attendants from Inazuma," Luo Qing said, laughing nervously.
"They've been quite useful, so I brought them back with me..."
"..."
Arlecchino looked him up and down, a hint of disdain flashing across her face.
"Remember to exercise moderation," she muttered as she stepped inside.
"...Yes, I'll keep that in mind..." Luo Qing replied, stealing a glance at Rosalyne and Makoto, who had prudently donned their masks upon hearing him return with a guest.
Thank goodness for their vigilance.
If they'd been caught unprepared and Arlecchino had seen their faces...
Well, it would've been quite the coincidence for her to end up with such good fortune.
The interior of the apartment had been transformed into a traditional Inazuman style by Makoto over the past few days. Arlecchino removed her shoes and took a seat opposite Luo Qing on the tatami mat.
Rosalyne and Makoto tactfully served tea and snacks before retreating to a corner of the room in silence.
Arlecchino sipped her tea, glancing briefly at the two women.
"I heard from Rosalyne that you helped her carry out the retrieval mission in Inazuma?"
"I did," Luo Qing replied, feigning curiosity. "Why bring that up now, Arlecchino-sama?"
"The Tsaritsa declared Rosalyne dead, and even her bestowed divine powers dissipated with her," Arlecchino said in a measured tone.
"But according to my sources, someone resembling Rosalyne was spotted in Inazuma on the day of the incident..."
"..."
Luo Qing swallowed hard, leaning back slightly in a calculated gesture of confusion.
"Really? That's news to me! Are you sure your sources weren't mistaken?"
"You know how my information network works."
"..."
"Right..." Luo Qing muttered, falling silent.
As a former spy under Arlecchino, he knew her intelligence protocols well.
Each report went through rigorous verification, leaving little room for error by the time it reached her.
He had anticipated that Arlecchino might have agents in Inazuma. What he hadn't expected was for those agents to catch a glimpse of Rosalyne during her escape with Natalia and the others.
"So..." Arlecchino's voice broke his thoughts. Her sharp eyes locked onto his.
"Do you have any leads on this?"
"..."
Luo Qing raised an eyebrow and glanced fleetingly at Rosalyne before feigning ignorance.
"No idea," he said with a shrug.
"Really?"
Arlecchino's lips curved into a faint smile.
"Well, no matter. Just rumors, after all. No need to dwell on them."
Then, her tone softened slightly.
"I'm intrigued by your abilities. Interested in joining me in Fontaine?"
"Uh..." Luo Qing hesitated, caught off guard.
So, she's here to recruit me? Then why bring up Rosalyne at all?
Feigning indecision, he said, "Arlecchino-sama, the Doctor also approached me about going to Sumeru. What do you think of that?"
"Him?"
Arlecchino snorted, her distaste evident.
"You know what he's like. Whatever he offers, the price you'll pay is always far greater."
"But," she added, rising to put on her shoes, "you're no longer under my command. The choice is yours."
She glanced at him as she adjusted her shoes.
"I'll be returning to Fontaine soon. If you decide, visit the Hearth."
Luo Qing's gaze lingered on her shoes for a moment, a strange impulse stirring within him.
"Arlecchino-sama, leaving already? Why not stay a bit longer? My attendants are quite skilled—perhaps they could offer you a massage before you go..."
"No need," she replied curtly, heading for the door.
As Luo Qing prepared to escort her out, Arlecchino suddenly stopped and turned toward Rosalyne.
With a flick of her wrist, she removed Rosalyne's fox mask.
"..."
---
T/N: So... Luo Qing is that kind of...person.
Oh, hey there, Traveler! 🍃 My friend here is the one bringing these stories to you—quite the talent, wouldn't you agree? If anything feels off, just give them a nudge—they're always happy to make things even better.
Now, don't forget to take a moment to rest! Grab a drink (perhaps something as refreshing as Mondstadt's finest), and let the stories whisk you away.
Oh, and if you're feeling generous, you could check out [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Supporting them is like throwing a coin to your favorite bard—it keeps the magic flowing!
Here's to more adventures and endless inspiration~ 🎵
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