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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Bab 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~ 🎵
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