Bab 180: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [180]
After reaching adulthood, Luo Qing had moved out of the Hearth of the Fireplace.
In the expensive real estate market of Snezhnaya's capital, he had managed to scrape together enough from Arlecchino's rewards and his own savings to purchase a modest two-bedroom apartment.
Now back home, with Makoto and Rosalyne accompanying him, the apartment felt a bit cramped. Still, it served as a good way to strengthen their bonds.
For several days, Luo Qing enjoyed a rare moment of leisure.
Rosalyne took charge of household chores. While she hadn't done such tasks in ages, her distant memories resurfaced, and she quickly regained her knack for it.
The only issue was her culinary repertoire—it leaned heavily on Mondstadt and Sumeru dishes, which didn't quite suit Luo Qing's palate as someone from Snezhnaya and Liyue.
Snezhnaya's perpetual cold discouraged outdoor activities. So, Luo Qing stayed home with Makoto and Rosalyne, passing the time playing "fun" (♂) games.
Days passed uneventfully, until Luo Qing finally received a summons from the Fatui headquarters.
The decree was from the High and Noble Tsaritsa herself:
Luo Qing and his subordinates are to report to the Zapolyarny Palace immediately.
"Subordinates..."
Luo Qing muttered, his gaze flicking toward Rosalyne and Makoto, seated before him, engrossed in a card game.
At home, the two women discarded their hoods and masks, donning comfortable casual clothing that highlighted their figures.
Strictly speaking, they were his subordinates too.
But if he brought them to meet the Tsaritsa...
If she discovered their presence, it would be a disaster.
"Master... your turn," Rosalyne said softly, eyes fixed on her hand of cards.
At the moment, they were playing Landlord, with punishments for the loser.
"Eh, let's stop here," Luo Qing said, tossing his cards onto the table. "Her Majesty has summoned me. I have to go."
"The Tsaritsa?" Makoto tilted her head, squinting suspiciously. "You sure this isn't an excuse because your hand was terrible?"
"Do I look like that kind of person?!" Luo Qing exclaimed indignantly, standing abruptly.
Rosalyne, ever the considerate one, also stood and helped him straighten his tie, fasten his coat, and drape the white mantle over his shoulders.
This white mantle, a symbol of the Fatui Harbingers, was a privilege she once held herself.
Now, however, hers served as a symbolic burial shroud at headquarters—after all, to the world, she was presumed dead.
The only ones who knew the truth, aside from Luo Qing, were Ei and the Raiden Shogun.
Fortunately, it seemed they hadn't shared the details of Rosalyne's rescue with anyone.
"Alright, you two behave while I'm gone," Luo Qing instructed. "If anyone breaks in, make them forget their name before kicking them out. Got it?"
"Yes, Master," Rosalyne replied softly.
"Got it!" Makoto chimed in.
"Good. I'm off." Luo Qing left the apartment, his white mantle trailing behind him.
Before leaving, he'd used his system rewards to give Makoto a spare Electro Vision and a Vision binder.
Given that Makoto's physical body was no stronger than an ordinary girl's and she couldn't wield elemental powers anymore, the gift seemed appropriate.
After all, she was once the Archon of Electro—mastering lightning came naturally to her.
---
Outside, Luo Qing gathered his four subordinates and made his way to the Zapolyarny Palace.
The Tsaritsa's palace, the coldest place in Snezhnaya.
Draped in his white mantle, Luo Qing led the way, with Natalia and the others in their Fatui military uniforms following close behind.
Under the guidance of an attendant, they stepped inside the grand palace for the first time.
At the far end of the throne room, Pierro stood beside the towering throne—currently unoccupied.
The other Harbingers, arranged by rank, stood on either side of the steps leading to the throne.
As Luo Qing and his group entered, the Harbingers turned their gaze toward them, their expressions unreadable.
The silent hall amplified the sound of their footsteps.
"Phew..."
The oppressive aura in the room was almost too much for Natalia and the others.
They struggled to keep their knees from buckling, forcing themselves to follow Luo Qing closely.
"They're all here..." Luo Qing murmured, his face calm as he glanced at the throne.
He recognized most of them from afar at large Snezhnayan events during his days as a lowly intelligence officer.
Only Arlecchino and Childe had ever interacted with him directly.
Now, he stood at the base of the throne as one of their own.
Eventually, Luo Qing and his subordinates reached the throne.
Unable to withstand the immense pressure, Natalia and the others dropped to one knee, bowing their heads.
Even Luo Qing inclined his head slightly.
"Subordinate Luo Qing greets Her Majesty the Tsaritsa..."
At that moment, a soft azure light appeared above the icy throne, gradually forming the figure of a woman who reclined lazily in the seat.
"Luo Qing · Schneitzvich, a child of the Hearth," Pierro said, glancing at Arlecchino as he spoke.
Luo Qing raised his head.
Schneitzvich—the surname Arlecchino had bestowed upon him during his time at the Hearth.
Though he wasn't particularly fond of it, it was his official name in Snezhnaya.
"Your achievements in Liyue," Pierro continued, "have been praised before Her Majesty by Rosalyne herself."
"Her Majesty acknowledges your contributions. But if you wish to join the Harbingers and serve under her noble command to seize the authority of the gods, your efforts are far from sufficient..."
"Your guidance, please, Your Majesty," Luo Qing said, his expression neutral, though a trace of disappointment flickered in his eyes.
His main goal for this audience had been to catch a glimpse of the Tsaritsa's true form.
But seated on the throne was merely her spiritual projection.
"To become Her Majesty's instrument in seizing divine authority, you must first prove your strength," Pierro stated calmly.
He had chosen Luo Qing as an apprentice Harbinger because of his talent for emotional manipulation.
Now, it was time for Luo Qing to demonstrate whether that skill could reach the level of a Harbinger.
"..."
Luo Qing feigned hesitation before a sly grin spread across his lips.
"Then, please forgive my audacity, Your Majesty," he said, his tone cool as he raised his head.
His gaze swept across the Harbingers before him.
With a subtle thought, he activated his Imitate Cat Meowing emotion manipulation tool card.
No one in the room was spared—not a single one.
Even the Tsaritsa's spiritual projection was susceptible to Luo Qing's system.
As a deity, she deserved no less than the ultimate treatment.
To that end, Luo Qing bombarded her with over a dozen cards, emptying his inventory.
"..."
For a brief moment, the room fell into an awkward silence as the Harbingers' expressions shifted in bewildering ways.
[+1 Frustration Value from Pierro]
[+1 Frustration Value from Dottore]
[+1 Frustration Value from Columbina]
[+1 Frustration Value from Tartaglia]
[+1 Frustration Value from Sandrone]
[+1 Frustration Value from Pantalone]
[+1 Frustration Value from Pulcinella]
[+1 Frustration Value from Capitano]
[+1 Frustration Value from Arlecchino]
---
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Bab 181: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [181]
Among the Harbingers present, only two had power on par with deities. While most boasted formidable combat prowess, their mental resilience fell short compared to Luo Qing's.
With the application of his emotion manipulation cards,
The expressions of most Harbingers darkened, as though they'd swallowed something vile.
Just as some were on the verge of breaking and meowing aloud—
"Hmm..."
A soft hum came from the throne.
The Tsaritsa's spiritual projection raised a delicate finger, releasing an icy-blue glow that enveloped the Harbingers.
The weaker-minded Harbingers felt a soothing breeze sweep through their minds, dissolving the peculiar compulsions that had taken hold.
"Luo Qing..."
The Tsaritsa's voice was soft but carried a commanding tone.
"This ability of yours... quite intriguing."
With a slight wave of her finger, the icy-blue elemental energy in the hall coalesced above Luo Qing, forming the shape of a mask.
Luo Qing looked up.
The mask depicted a smiling face, but a single teardrop hung from its right eye—a weeping visage of bittersweet comedy.
"The rest is up to you, Pierro," the Tsaritsa said. Her spiritual form dissolved into a streak of light, vanishing from the throne.
At the same time, the mask descended into Luo Qing's hands.
As soon as he touched it, a surge of unique power coursed through him.
He could feel his mental strength increase by nearly fifty percent.
"This..."
It was evident.
The Tsaritsa believed Luo Qing's ability to manipulate emotions was tied to his mental fortitude. By granting him additional power, she sought to augment his talents.
The fact that she enhanced his mental strength despite knowing he dared to tamper with the emotions of deities showed her confidence.
Either his abilities didn't work on her, or she simply wasn't worried about him turning against her.
"From this moment forth..." Pierro spoke calmly. "Luo Qing · Schneitzvich is no longer your name. Your name is now... Brighella, the Jester."
This was a rite of passage for every Harbinger—
To abandon their past entirely, including their name, and be reborn under the Tsaritsa's command.
The Harbinger's codename and new identity were bestowed by the Tsaritsa herself. Luo Qing had no say in the matter.
From now on, regardless of what he called himself in private, to the Fatui and Snezhnaya, he would be known only by one name: Brighella, the Jester.
"Yes..." Luo Qing bowed respectfully.
Though he wasn't particularly fond of the name, as the Tsaritsa's subordinate, he had no choice but to play along.
"Welcome to the fold, Brighella..."
From the edge of the throne's platform, Childe spoke up with a mischievous grin.
"Now, there's just one final step."
A spear materialized in Childe's hand, which he then hurled at Luo Qing's feet.
Luo Qing looked toward the throne.
The Harbingers around him reacted with faint amusement—
A girl hummed a tune, the Doctor swirled a vial of liquid, Pulcinella and Pantalone exchanged knowing smirks, and the Marionette closed her eyes as though disinterested.
Only Arlecchino maintained a calm gaze, her expression unreadable.
It seemed, to them, this fight was merely entertainment, regardless of whether Luo Qing won or lost.
Glancing at the spear at his feet, Luo Qing hesitated.
With so many eyes on him, if he defeated Childe too easily, it would embarrass his colleague in front of everyone.
"This is the final step," Childe said quietly, summoning a pair of dual blades as he descended the steps.
It was clear he had been looking forward to this.
The Tsaritsa's divine presence still lingered, and Childe intended to use this chance to fight Luo Qing before the opportunity slipped away.
"..."
Luo Qing fell silent and looked toward Pierro, standing beside the throne.
Pierro offered no words, his expression stoic, silently approving the duel.
"Well then..." Luo Qing muttered, shaking his head as he motioned for his four subordinates to step back.
Natalia and the others quickly retreated to a corner.
They weren't worried—unlike Childe, they knew the full extent of their master's strength.
After all, Luo Qing had once sparred evenly with the Raiden Shogun.
Luo Qing picked up the deep-purple spear and held it lightly, his gaze meeting Childe's.
"Good resolve. Now, show me what you're really made of," Childe said, advancing slowly.
Suddenly, he accelerated, twin blades slicing toward Luo Qing in a blur of speed, closing the gap in an instant.
Childe's plan was clear—overwhelm Luo Qing before he could deploy his emotional manipulation abilities.
But things didn't go as he expected.
The moment he neared, Luo Qing moved at a speed far surpassing his own.
With a casual sweep of his spear, he deflected the attack effortlessly.
"Childe, we haven't even called the start yet. Don't you think a sneak attack is a bit underhanded?" Luo Qing said, his golden eyes glinting.
"..."
The sudden exchange caught the Harbingers off guard, piquing their interest.
They had assumed Luo Qing's strength lay solely in emotional manipulation, with little physical combat prowess.
During the previous selection process, Luo Qing had relied on his emotion manipulation cards to achieve victory, annoying everyone in the process.
Many had considered his methods cheap, even underhanded.
But now, his swift counter and the golden glow in his eyes made them reevaluate his capabilities.
This guy—
He was strong in combat, too.
Several Harbingers turned to Arlecchino, their gazes questioning: Where did you find him?
"Don't look at me. He's no longer under my charge," Arlecchino said flatly.
Yet her gaze lingered on Luo Qing, a faint glimmer of expectation in her eyes.
She wanted to see just how much he had grown since leaving her care.
"Impressive reflexes..." Childe tightened his grip on his blades, his expression now serious.
"Then, I suppose it's time I stop holding back!"
Dark purple lightning erupted around him as Childe floated into the air.
When the light faded, he stood clad in his Foul Legacy Transformation.
Even knowing he might lose, Childe would treat every duel with utmost seriousness.
"Show me your true strength!" Childe bellowed, ready to charge.
But before he could, Luo Qing vanished from sight.
A moment later, Childe felt a sharp pain in his abdomen and was sent flying, crashing into the steps beneath the throne.
"Now..."
Luo Qing's voice echoed through the hall.
"Am I qualified?"
---
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