Chapter 90: Villain Simulator, Ch 89

"I don't really mind if you use force..." Lucas raised his wrist with a amused expression and said, "If you want to take it back, no problem—just go ahead and take it yourself."

"At least you're sensible," La Signora sneered. "That way, I won't have to take your life."

In truth, La Signora had already prepared for the worst, including silencing him if necessary. Lucas's words, however, made her relax a bit.

Perhaps, deep down, there was still a hint of "Rosalyn's" kindness lingering within her. Although she appeared cold and arrogant on the surface, in some ways, she was actually the most "gentle" of the Fatui Harbingers.

As she approached Lucas, she got closer until she could see his face clearly, and then she couldn't help but flinch.

N-no way...

Why did this guy look so much like the Doctor from her dreams?

No, it wasn't just a resemblance—it was as if they had been carved from the same mold.

However, because La Signora concealed her identity, Lucas naturally didn't know who she truly was. He could only tell that she was a tall and slender woman.

Of course, letting her take the bracelet was just a temporary measure. The monster from earlier was definitely related to this woman. Once she took the bracelet, he planned to subdue her and wait for the Knights of Favonius to come and arrest her.

"Hey?" Seeing that the woman in black seemed lost in thought, Lucas waved at her and said, "Aren't you going to take off the bracelet for me?"

La Signora snapped out of her daze and said flatly, "I know, what's the rush? If you push me again, I'll chop your hand off, believe it or not!"

Impossible...

That was just a dream, even if they looked similar, it was surely just a coincidence.

Though she convinced herself of this, La Signora couldn't help but grasp Lucas's hand.

Even the warmth and roughness of his hand felt exactly the same as in her dream.

"Uh..." Lucas was startled by her sudden action. "What are you doing?"

Wait, could this be... a female thug?

Is she one of those women who immediately go for a man's hand?

A guy really needs to protect himself when he's out nowadays!

"I-I'm just transferring the bracelet," La Signora replied awkwardly. "Don't get any funny ideas."

"I didn't say anything..." Lucas wasn't upset. "Take your time."

After all, her slender, soft, and slightly cool hands felt surprisingly comfortable.

And there was something familiar about them.

The [Ring of Manipulation] had a unique trait: it tended to attach itself to the strongest person around.

That's why La Signora used this method to transfer the ring to herself. Only the Doctor knew how to properly remove such a bizarre object.

However, the strange thing was that the ring on Lucas's wrist remained still, as if it had no interest in La Signora at all.

"That's odd; why isn't it working?" La Signora muttered, puzzled.

As the Eighth Harbinger of the Fatui, her strength was unquestionable. She was confident that there were no more than ten people in Mondstadt who could surpass her.

Either the ring was malfunctioning, or... this man's strength surpassed her own.

Perhaps due to her growing anxiety, her palm was now slightly sweaty.

Just then, a flash of light and the sound of footsteps could be seen and heard in the distance.

It seemed that Eula had returned with the Knights of Favonius.

La Signora recognized their identity from the heavy footsteps and the clanking of metal armor.

If the Knights discovered her, it would be impossible to explain herself.

"I have no choice!"

La Signora extended her other hand, forming a sharp ice blade, intending to sever the bracelet.

However, the ring was incredibly tough. With a sharp snap, the ice blade shattered upon contact.

Of course, even if she had aimed for Lucas's arm instead of the bracelet, the effects of his [Diamond Body] would have neutralized the attack.

"Hey! That's going too far!" Even though Lucas knew he had protection, he was still startled. "Going for the hand without warning?"

"Damn it!"

Seeing that the Knights of Favonius were closing in, and unable to retrieve the ring, La Signora had no choice but to retreat temporarily.

But Lucas gripped her hand tightly and smiled, "Trying to escape? Not that easy."

"Let me go!"

In their struggle, the black cloth covering La Signora's face fell, revealing her true appearance.

Upon seeing her face, Lucas was stunned, and La Signora used the opportunity to slip away.

"How dare you humiliate me like this..." La Signora glared at Lucas with hatred. "I'll remember this grudge!"

With that, she leaped into the night and vanished.

Wow, ice-type people really do hold grudges, huh?

Although Lucas had the ability to stop her, he decided to let her go, perhaps because he remembered their past encounters in the simulator.

However, this also confirmed that the matter was indeed related to the Fatui.

At that moment, Eula arrived with the Vanguard Squad, but she was a step too late and could only catch a glimpse of La Signora's retreating figure.

"Huff... huff..." Eula caught her breath and asked, "What did that person say?"

"She said..." Lucas muttered, "She would remember this grudge."

"I'm not joking around!" Eula snapped. "Why are you using my catchphrase?"

"So you know it's your catchphrase..." Lucas replied amusedly. "But I'm not lying, that's exactly what she said."

"Forget it; let's not worry about her for now." Eula scanned the area and asked, "Where's Terrence?"

"Him?" Lucas pointed at the ground, looking a bit awkward. "Everywhere."

"Huh?"

...

After a brief explanation, Eula finally understood what had happened.

"I'm sorry," Lucas sighed. "Even though he was your relative, I had no choice but to kill him."

"You don't need to apologize to me," Eula shook her head. "Terrence, or any member of the Lawrence family, must take responsibility for their actions."

Although Eula spoke as if she was unaffected, a trace of regret still flashed across her eyes.

Although she hadn't interacted much with Terrence, given how the Lawrence family was dwindling, he was one of the few diligent and hardworking members left. She didn't expect him to suddenly go mad, not only killing someone but even trying to attack her.

"I don't think it's entirely his fault," Lucas said, revealing the [Ring of Manipulation] on his wrist. "This was the bracelet he wore, and just now, it attached itself to my wrist like a living thing. Terrence's transformation might be related to it."

"If that's true..." Eula asked nervously, "Does that mean you might also end up like him?"

"I'm not sure," Lucas shrugged. "Looks like I'll need to consult a professional tomorrow to find out what this bracelet really is."

"A professional... I might know someone," Eula said thoughtfully, touching her chin. "But she's usually pretty lazy. With the Wine Festival going on, she's taken three days off, so it's almost impossible to get her help during her vacation."

"Who is it?" Lucas asked eagerly.

"Lisa Minci, the librarian of the Knights of Favonius," Eula raised an eyebrow. "She's a top graduate of the Sumeru Academia and well-read. She might have some clue."

"Oh, it's her," Lucas nodded. "That's fine. I know where she lives, I can pay her a visit."

"What? You know where Lisa lives?" Eula's face showed surprise. "She hates being disturbed during her off-time. In the entire Knights of Favonius, fewer than three people know her address. How do you know? You two... you don't have some kind of secret relationship, do you?"

The other members of the vanguard squad exchanged glances, barely holding back their laughter as they saw their usually calm and dignified captain show such an anxious expression for the first time.

"What nonsense!" Lucas said with an awkward smile. "We just happened to meet during the Wine Festival."

"Seems I was overthinking things," Eula coughed lightly, realizing her outburst. "That woman may look alluring, but she's not interested in any man, let alone someone like you."

"Am I really that unimpressive?" Lucas said, feeling a bit dejected. "I mean, I have some charm, don't I?"

"Stop... stop being so full of yourself," Eula turned her face away, trying to hide her embarrassed expression. "To Lisa, you're just a little brother."

"Oh?" Lucas looked at her with a sly smile. "And in your eyes, Sister Eula, am I also just a little brother?"

The term "Sister" made Eula's body shiver slightly.

After all, that was what her little brother called her in the dream world.

And this man in front of her not only looked exactly like him but even had the same expression when he said those words.

"Yes, you're nothing but a little brother!" Eula quickly turned away and addressed the other squad members who had come along. "Thanks for coming out so late."

"No problem!" one of the members replied with a smile. "After all, since our captain is working so hard, we can't slack off."

"Exactly!" another member nodded. "If you want to apologize, Captain, just treat us to some Moon Pies."

"Moon Pies?" Lucas asked curiously. "What's that?"

"That's Captain Eula's specialty!" The squad member licked his lips. "Don't be fooled by her serious demeanor—her cooking skills are top-notch. If you married her, you'd never go hungry!"

"D-Daring to tease the captain like that!" Eula stammered. "I'll remember this grudge!"

The squad members, of course, knew that Eula's "grudges" were usually just talk.

When they first joined Eula's command, they had some biases against the Lawrence family. But over time, they realized Eula was a truly reliable captain.

"And you," Eula muttered, still looking down and fiddling with her fingers, "daring to call me Sister so casually... I'll remember that too. If you dare call any other woman that, I won't forgive you!"

"As you wish, Sister Eula," Lucas nodded with a smile. "I'll head back and get some rest now. Goodnight."

As she watched Lucas's departing figure, Eula felt a sweet warmth welling up in her heart.

A feeling she had never experienced before.

...

Meanwhile, at the Goth Grand Hotel, inside the Doctor's room.

"What?" The Doctor, dressed in pajamas and applying a face mask, looked so shocked that it seemed the mask might tear. "The parasite was defeated?"

"That's right," La Signora said with displeasure. "Is this your brilliant plan?"

"What's wrong with the plan?" The Doctor showed no hint of remorse. "No one knows the connection between the [Ring of Manipulation] and the Fatui, and it was a perfect opportunity to create some chaos."

"If it results in deaths, that's a different story," La Signora slammed the table. "My mission is to retrieve the Gnosis, not to kill people."

"Why does it matter?" The Doctor shrugged. "They're just Mondstadt citizens, and besides, their deaths would only help the ring accumulate more power."

"Well, you might be disappointed," La Signora sneered. "Your bracelet is now being worn by someone else."

"Ah, it seems my little treasure has found a stronger host," the Doctor said, unperturbed. "No matter. In a few days, that person will be corrupted by the ring, consumed by their own darkness, and turn into a mindless monster. By then, I'll simply retrieve it."

That man... will he also turn into a monster?

Though she didn't understand the connection between Lucas and the "Doctor" from her dreams, deep down, La Signora didn't want Lucas to get hurt. Otherwise, she could have killed him earlier or cut off his hand.

"I told you, I don't want to cause that kind of chaos again," La Signora shook her head, offering an excuse. "Tell me, how can I remove the [Ring of Manipulation]?"

"Isn't it simple? Just chop off his hand," the Doctor said, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. "Or better yet... kill him."

"I... I want a gentler method," La Signora frowned.

"Well, there is a way," the Doctor said with a wicked grin. "But... I doubt you can do it."

"Ridiculous! There's nothing I can't do."

La Signora, proud by nature, hated being underestimated. Seeing the Doctor's response, she immediately asked, "Tell me, what's the method?"

"The [Ring of Manipulation] is, to some extent, connected to the consciousness of its host," the Doctor said, tapping her temple with her index finger and smiling. "In other words, when the host's consciousness enters a state of emptiness and detachment, the ring loses its mental connection and reveals a weakness."

"Emptiness and detachment?" La Signora looked puzzled for a moment. "How does one even achieve that state?"

"For example, through spiritual enlightenment, a massive emotional shock, or a sudden burst of inspiration during artistic creation." The Doctor, though often appearing unreliable, clearly had a wealth of knowledge. "Of course, such moments are incredibly rare. An average person might not experience any of these even once in their lifetime."

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Author's Note: Rosalyn my love >_<