บท 156: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [156] [50 PS]
Bonus Chapter!
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Luo Qing felt a chill run down his spine under Lumine's scrutinizing gaze. Instinctively, he tried to change the subject.
"By the way, that all-healing pill I gave you—did it come in handy?"
"You knew he would…"
Lumine furrowed her brow slightly, a realization dawning on her.
Luo Qing was a Fatui Harbinger, and it was very likely he had connections to that Delusion factory.
"Don't look at me like that."
Luo Qing chuckled lightly and continued,
"That place isn't under my jurisdiction. If you're seeking revenge, you'll have to take it up with Signora or the Doctor—that's their domain."
"…"
Lumine remained silent for a moment before murmuring softly,
"His life was saved, but the vitality he lost… it's irreversible."
"So, you're saying he's aged from a young man to an old one overnight, right?"
"Mm…"
"I see."
That lined up with what Luo Qing had expected.
The all-healing pill could only mend physical injuries. For something like a Delusion, which drains life force, even the pill was unlikely to work.
"Don't look so glum. If you're still holding a grudge, you can settle it with Signora and the Doctor later."
Luo Qing stood up, patted Lumine on the shoulder, and pulled a small note from his pocket, handing it to her. He then turned to Ayaka with a calm expression.
"Well then, Ayaka, let's call it a day. Lumine still has something to discuss with you, so I won't overstay my welcome~"
Without waiting for Kamisato Ayaka to invite him to stay, Luo Qing waved casually and left the Komore Teahouse.
After he was gone, Lumine unfolded the note in her hand.
On it was an address, followed by a short line of text:
"If you want to bring down the Tenryou Commission, this might have what you need~"
"This…"
Lumine looked up at Ayaka, her gaze momentarily complex.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Now that Lumine had returned to Inazuma City, Luo Qing knew the in-game storyline was nearing its climax. He figured it was time to inform Rosalyne and let her decide when to meet the Raiden Shogun.
Although Rosalyne had been forced into a recluse's lifestyle for a while because of him, her inherent pride and sharp tongue hadn't changed a bit.
Sure, the Raiden Shogun acted all docile and sweet around Luo Qing, but anyone else would have to watch their tone in her presence—or risk getting slashed.
To bring Rosalyne over from the Tsaritsa's side, Luo Qing would have to make the Fatui officially declare her dead, give her a new identity, and make her vanish from the public eye.
Only then, when she was "his"… subordinate, of course, would he not have to worry about Pierro or the Tsaritsa coming after her.
Leaving the Komore Teahouse, Luo Qing headed toward his safehouse.
But he hadn't gone far when he felt someone's eyes on him.
Scanning his surroundings, he noticed several figures hidden among the crowd. They looked like ordinary passersby, but their gazes occasionally darted his way, clearly thinking they hadn't been spotted.
To Luo Qing, a veteran of the intelligence world, their attempts at stealth were as amateurish as kids playing hide-and-seek.
"Tch, familiar faces, too," Luo Qing muttered to himself with a wry smile.
Many of those watching him were people he had seen at the Resistance's camp. A few of them had even trained under him, alongside Gorou.
No wonder they looked so riled up at the sight of him.
Apparently, he'd trained them a little too well.
"So, they've already infiltrated this far…"
Luo Qing couldn't be bothered with the Resistance spies. Shaking his head, he prepared to head back.
That was when a mature woman's voice called out behind him.
"It's been a while, Luo Qing."
Turning around, Luo Qing saw Yae Miko approaching with her signature foxy elegance.
"What's this? Miss Yae, did you miss me?"
Luo Qing chuckled, casting another glance at the figures watching from the shadows.
"So, these people—were they your doing?"
"Whatever are you saying, Luo Qing?"
Yae Miko's mischievous smile didn't waver.
"I was merely running a little errand for a friend in Inazuma City. Surely, you wouldn't pin such baseless accusations on me~"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her smile suddenly turned sharp.
"But you, Luo Qing—don't you think you owe me an explanation for what happened in Tatarasuna?"
She hated being led by the nose, and Luo Qing always seemed to anticipate her every move. It irked her to no end.
"Explanation? For what?"
Feigning ignorance, Luo Qing tilted his head.
"I am a Harbinger, after all. Knowing a few things here and there isn't exactly unusual, is it?"
"Hmph, still as glib as ever."
Yae Miko snorted lightly before changing the subject, lowering her voice.
"How is she… lately?"
"No idea," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly. "She said something about training and hasn't been around for a while."
He wasn't lying—since their last, er, intimate encounter, it had been nearly a month since he'd seen the Raiden Shogun or Ei.
He had no idea what their so-called training entailed.
If not for the unchanged favorability displayed on his metaphorical "dashboard," he might've worried the two had gone off to transcend some love tribulation.
"Training?"
Yae Miko's brows furrowed in confusion.
Since Ei had retreated to the Plane of Euthymia, Yae hadn't heard of her doing any training.
Besides, when she visited Inazuma City, wasn't the puppet still in the Tenshukaku?
Other than a subtle change in her demeanor, there hadn't been any noticeable differences…
"Well, that's what she said. I'm not too sure about the specifics."
Luo Qing shrugged and added, "If you're curious, Miss Yae, you can always ask her yourself. I've got things to do, so let's chat another time."
With that, Luo Qing waved goodbye, not giving Yae Miko a chance to respond before turning and leaving.
"…"
Yae Miko stood there silently for a moment.
Something about this didn't sit right with her…
But her priority was still to coax Ei out of the Plane of Euthymia.
She had been planning this for a long time, and now was a critical moment. She couldn't afford any missteps.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Yae Miko glanced toward the Tenshukaku and then began making her way out of the city.
After parting with Yae Miko, Luo Qing finally returned to his safehouse.
Opening the door, he found Rosalyne lounging on his bed, one hand holding a light novel, the other snacking on cookies.
"Something you need?"
Rosalyne asked casually, not even glancing away from her book.
"You can go see the Raiden Shogun now."
"Huh?"
Rosalyne froze mid-bite, momentarily caught off guard.
Then she turned her head away, continuing to read as she popped the cookie into her mouth.
"Hmph, so sudden. You're not plotting against me, are you?"
"…"
Luo Qing was momentarily speechless.
"Suit yourself. It's not my problem—the Tsaritsa ordered you to retrieve the Gnosis, not me."
He left the room without another word.
If he were honest, he felt a bit guilty.
How did Rosalyne know he wanted to… well, recruit her?
No way she'd figured it out… right?
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