Kapitel 4: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [4]
After guiding Yekaven off the stage, Luo Qing returned to the center of the arena, his eyes fixed on the referee.
The referee met Luo Qing's gaze, incredulous. You don't seriously expect me to declare your victory, do you?
This entire match had been so absurd that the referee couldn't make the final decision. He looked toward the central platform at Childe, the one with the final say.
If Childe didn't approve, then even if Luo Qing won, it wouldn't mean anything.
Childe watched Luo Qing, who was blowing kisses to the audience from the center of the stage, feeling a bit conflicted. He had expected an exciting battle, but instead, he got a performance of "Let's Learn to Meow."
As he hesitated on what to do, a deep voice spoke behind him.
"Let it be him."
"Lord Pierro? But he..."
Childe trailed off. As someone passionate about battle, he wanted his future comrade to be someone who fought their way up with blood and sweat.
"His abilities are... interesting, wouldn't you agree?"
Pierro smiled. After watching these five matches, he felt he had a grasp of Luo Qing's capabilities.
The ability to manipulate emotions and perceptions was precisely what the Fatui needed.
"Let it be him. Bring him to me later."
With that, Pierro turned and vanished into the shadows.
"Yes, Lord Pierro."
After Pierro left, Childe gave a reluctant nod towards the stage.
With Childe's silent approval, the referee finally dared to raise Luo Qing's hand and loudly announced,
"I declare that the winner of this Trainee Harbinger selection is Luo Qing!"
The crowd erupted in a chorus of boos.
They were soldiers, after all, and believed in proving one's worth through combat. Luo Qing's opponents had each acted bizarrely during their duels, which made his victory feel undeserved.
However, the final decision rested with Childe.
If he hadn't accepted Luo Qing's victory, it would've been meaningless, no matter how many matches Luo Qing won.
Now that Childe hadn't objected, it meant he recognized Luo Qing's win.
After blowing more kisses to the audience, Luo Qing finally descended from the stage.
He was surprised to find that the entire selection had netted him a total of 560 Frustration Points — enough for five pulls in the lottery.
But he decided to save up for a full ten-pull instead.
"You... you really did it..."
Belov's face was a mixture of disbelief and irritation.
Even if he could go back in time, he never would've guessed that Luo Qing would actually win and become the Trainee Harbinger.
"I did warn you, Belov," Luo Qing said with a grin, patting his friend's shoulder before walking away without a backward glance.
"Don't forget Lady Arlecchino's stockings. I want them worn~"
[Frustration Value from Belov +1]
Belov watched Luo Qing's retreating figure, his expression blank with confusion.
I heard that Lady Arlecchino is out on a mission... Maybe there's still a chance...
The selection of a Trainee Harbinger didn't end with simply declaring the winner.
After Luo Qing's victory announcement, the referee escorted him out of the arena and toward the Fatui's headquarters.
"Master Luo Qing, please change into these clothes. Lord Childe will see you shortly."
Even though he was still a trainee, Luo Qing now held an official rank among the Harbingers, and his attire had to match his new status.
The attendant left after speaking, and Luo Qing examined the room filled with uniforms of various sizes.
He chose a set that fit well, draping a black cloak over his shoulders, and stepped out of the dressing room.
The attendant nodded respectfully, leading Luo Qing to the room where Childe awaited.
"Lord Childe, Master Luo Qing has arrived."
"Thank you. You may leave."
Once the attendant left, Childe's face softened with a smile as he looked at Luo Qing.
"How does the uniform feel?"
Luo Qing's attire was a custom-made Harbinger outfit, reserved only for those who held the rank — a symbol of honor.
"Uh..."
Luo Qing hesitated for a moment. "A bit warm?"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Childe +1]
"Well, that's... one way to answer," Childe said after a brief silence, chuckling. "When I first wore that uniform, I didn't feel warm at all."
"Let's go. Today's schedule is tight, and there are a lot of matters to address."
Childe, not one for unnecessary small talk, rose, patted Luo Qing on the shoulder, and draped his own cloak over his back as he headed for the door.
"Lord Childe, didn't you want to see me for something?"
Luo Qing asked, confused, as he followed behind.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Childe smiled mysteriously, refusing to elaborate further.
Luo Qing, utterly bewildered, trailed Childe up to the top-floor lounge of the Fatui headquarters.
The luxurious surroundings filled Luo Qing with a sense of unease.
He had been a mere training officer before, and his rank had never warranted a visit to this part of the headquarters.
At the far end of the lounge, a middle-aged man with white hair was focused on a chessboard.
He held a black piece in his hand, seemingly undecided on where to place it.
"Lord Pierro, I've brought him," Childe said respectfully.
"Hmm..."
Pierro set the chess piece down beside the board instead of placing it, rising to face them.
Luo Qing met Pierro's gaze for a moment before bowing his head in respect.
"Master Pierro."
When under another's roof, it's best to stay humble. Though Pierro had only been a character in a game from Luo Qing's previous life, he was now his superior.
Luo Qing had never met him before and didn't know what kind of person Pierro was, so caution seemed wise.
"Luo Qing, are you willing to give everything for Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa?"
Pierro's voice was deep and commanding, carrying an undeniable authority.
"I am willing to offer my heart to Her Majesty! Tatakae!"
Luo Qing raised his head high, pressing his right fist against his chest with determination.
"Good."
Pierro smiled approvingly, even though he didn't quite understand the last word Luo Qing had said. The sentiment behind it, however, was clear and commendable.
"Perfect timing. There's a mission I need you to complete."
"A mission?" Luo Qing asked, his head snapping up.
"Her Majesty's grand plan requires Snezhnaya's influence to spread across all seven nations. But because of Rex Lapis and the Qixing, Liyue has always been the toughest nut to crack...
The Liyue Qixing are particularly vigilant towards the actions of the Harbingers...
That's why I need you to go to Liyue.
Plant the seed of Snezhnaya there."
"Uh... about that..."
By now, Luo Qing understood everything.
Pierro wanted him to go to Liyue as a spy and develop an underground network.
If he remembered correctly, the Qixing had always been wary of the Fatui's influence.
If he were caught, it'd be a death sentence — or worse.
"Is there a problem?"
Seeing Luo Qing's conflicted expression, Pierro asked calmly.
"Yes, Lord Pierro!" Luo Qing answered loudly.
"Speak."
"Can I... not go?"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Childe +1]
[Frustration Value from Pierro +1]
"No."
Pierro's face tightened slightly. Had he not seen potential in Luo Qing's abilities, he wouldn't have entertained this conversation any further.
He would've simply had Luo Qing beaten, followed by some serious "re-education" and forced to write "Her Majesty, the Greatest in the World" a few hundred times before even considering the matter.
---
T/N: EREN? Was this part of his plan...?
Kapitel 5: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [5]
Luo Qing never would have guessed that being selected as a Trainee Harbinger was nothing more than a baited trap.
The moment he donned that uniform, he was bound to go to Liyue on a mission.
Originally, he had planned to lie low in Snezhnaya, accumulating Frustration Points by toying with the new recruits, and then make a stealthy escape once he was strong enough to protect himself.
But now, with nothing but the Thirteen Fatal Thrusts under his belt, he was being sent to Liyue to stir up trouble.
Pierro had even claimed he possessed some sort of power to manipulate minds, making him the perfect candidate for such a task.
Has Pierro lost his mind, or did Old Man Zhongli's Geo spears dull?
If given a choice, he would have preferred to be a decent person.
But unfortunately, he didn't have a choice.
Fatui New Recruit Training Grounds
After a day of rigorous training, a group of recruits gathered in the rest area, cups of Snezhnayan firewater in hand, a drink renowned for its warming effects.
They had been with the Fatui for three months, having completed all the training at the recruit camp. Now, they were preparing to select their specialties and be assigned to their respective units.
"Hey, Natalia, are you seriously considering joining the Luminescent Witches?"
A tall, muscular man asked while sipping his firewater.
"I heard they spend all their time dealing with bugs and get sent to the wilderness for deployments. Doesn't seem like your style — aren't you all about beauty?"
Natalia took a sip of her drink, gazing at the sparks flickering in the stove.
"It's good to get some fresh air. But what about you, Sergei? Why not join the Vanguard?
Their weapons are impressive — way cooler than the desk job you mentioned. Or do you plan on staying in Snezhnaya forever?"
Under the icy might of the Tsaritsa, Snezhnaya remained frozen year-round, making alcohol a daily necessity to fend off the chill.
"They might look impressive, but outside of Snezhnaya, you'd be seen as a dangerous threat. It's only a matter of time before someone decides to beat you up."
Sergei grimaced at the thought, shaking his head as he pictured himself being chased around in foreign lands.
"Come on, what kind of defeatist attitude is that! For the glory of Her Majesty, if anyone dares to pick a fight with me, I'll show them what a true Snezhnayan greeting looks like!"
"By the way, did you hear? The instructor was selected as a Trainee Harbinger and will be heading to Liyue."
The conversation was interrupted by a thinner man named Igor, who had been listening quietly.
"Isn't that good news, Igor? We should toast to that!"
Sergei clapped Igor on the back with a hearty laugh.
Three months ago, they had joined the Fatui with dreams of glory, inspired by their loyalty to the Tsaritsa.
Then, on their second day, they met Instructor Luo Qing, who quickly shattered those fantasies.
Even now, they still didn't understand why Luo Qing insisted they dance to plaza music before every training session.
And worse, they had to sing along!
Dear Archons, it was a song Luo Qing recorded himself — not terrible, but certainly unforgettable.
"But I heard... he might be taking a few of us with him," Igor muttered nervously.
The moment those words left his mouth, all three of them went rigid, as if they'd heard the most dreadful news imaginable.
Going to Liyue... with Instructor Luo Qing?
Oh, heavens above, what could be worse?!
"Igor, let's change the topic to something happier... Cough, cough, Instructor Luo Qing! What a surprise to see you here!"
Natalia jumped up, hastily hiding her cup behind her back.
Hearing that Luo Qing was there, both Igor and Sergei quickly stood, tossing their cups aside.
Luo Qing, draped in a black cloak, made his way through the snowy training grounds and stopped in front of them.
"Good evening, Instructor Luo Qing!"
The three recruits saluted in unison.
"Hmm..." Luo Qing nodded.
"How good?"
[Frustration Value from Igor +1]
[Frustration Value from Natalia +1]
[Frustration Value from Sergei +1]
"If you can't give me a satisfactory answer, I'll have to severely punish you for drinking firewater on the training grounds." Luo Qing's voice was calm, but his threat was clear.
"Uh..."
The three exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond.
"Three... two..."
"Reporting, Instructor Luo Qing! As good as Her Majesty's long legs!"
Igor's expression was dead serious. He remembered how Luo Qing often slipped up, talking about working hard for the Tsaritsa's "long legs," so he figured this answer was foolproof.
"Excellent. I like that answer. You pass."
Luo Qing smiled in satisfaction, sat down next to the stove, and removed his cloak.
Natalia, ever attentive, took the cloak, folded it neatly, and hung it up while refilling Luo Qing's cup, standing respectfully by his side.
"Instructor Luo Qing, what brings you here tonight?" Sergei asked cautiously.
"Oh, I have two pieces of news for you: one good, and one bad. Which would you like to hear first?" Luo Qing asked with a smile.
"Uh... the bad news?"
"The bad news is that in two days, I'll be heading to Liyue. I won't be back in Snezhnaya for quite some time."
"Oh, that's... truly unfortunate."
"Yes, I might actually cry, thinking about not seeing you for so long, Instructor."
"Yeah, it's really a shame..."
The three of them exchanged sorrowful glances, their faces marked with exaggerated sadness.
"Instructor Luo Qing, what about the good news?" Igor asked, trying to sound hopeful.
"The good news is... I'm taking the three of you with me."
Luo Qing gave Igor a friendly pat on the shoulder as if asking, Aren't you excited?
"..."
"..."
"..."
The three recruits looked like they'd been struck by lightning. It felt less like Luo Qing was taking them to Liyue and more like he was leading them to the gallows.
[Frustration Value from Igor +10]
[Frustration Value from Natalia +10]
[Frustration Value from Sergei +10]
"Instructor Luo Qing, isn't that a bit... inappropriate?"
"Yeah, yeah, we've only just finished our training. We might not be ready for such a big responsibility..."
"Right, what if we end up dragging you down? We'd feel terrible about it..."
Despite their reluctance, they couldn't afford to show it, so they put on faces of false gratitude.
"It's fine. I don't mind."
"..."
The three were on the verge of tears.
You may not mind, but we do! Can't you just leave us behind?!
"Your performance in the recruit camp has been exemplary. I'm sure this mission will go smoothly," Luo Qing said, downing his firewater in one gulp. He stood and draped the cloak back over his shoulders.
His reason for bringing them along was simple: to provide a steady source of Frustration Points.
The Fatui's presence in Liyue was limited, mostly stationed secretly in the wilderness. There was no way he could start troubling the people of Liyue right away.
It would be far easier to mess with his own comrades.
"By the way, I've already submitted your names. We'll be departing from the port in two days, heading to Liyue Harbor. So, make sure to wrap things up here in Snezhnaya."
With those words, Luo Qing patted their shoulders and disappeared into the snow-covered training grounds.
The three recruits stood there, staring at the stove, their expressions as lifeless as condemned men who had just received their death sentence.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
200+ Power-
Rangliste 
660 Power-
Stein 
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