Chương 179: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [179]
After months at sea, the merchant ship returning from Inazuma finally docked at Snezhnaya's harbor.
For the first time in over a year, Luo Qing and his companions set foot on Snezhnayan soil again.
The familiar port, the biting cold of the air—
As they disembarked from the deck, Natalia and the others were in high spirits.
Though Snezhnaya's frigid climate was far from the livable conditions of Mondstadt or Liyue, this was home.
For the Fatui, returning home intact, without any missing limbs, was a luxury. For these three, safely returning was cause enough to celebrate.
"You're all on leave for the next few days. Go home, find your families," Luo Qing called out casually as he watched the trio frolicking ahead.
"But, my lord, what about the audience with Her Majesty...?"
"Don't worry. I'll notify you when the time comes."
"Yes, Luo Qing-sama!"
With that, the three cheered and disappeared into the bustling port crowds.
"Going home, huh? Must be nice," Luo Qing mused as he watched them leave, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
The trio had barely graduated from the recruit camp when he whisked them away for his mission. Getting them back in one piece felt like a small victory for him, too.
His gaze shifted to Theresa, who was still standing by his side.
"Theresa," he said, puzzled. "Didn't I say you're on leave? Why aren't you heading home with the others?"
"Um..."
Theresa's expression faltered, and after a moment's hesitation, she replied softly, "It's fine, my lord. I can go back later..."
"Huh? Why's that?"
Luo Qing raised an eyebrow.
When he first met Theresa, she couldn't stop talking about how much she wanted to return to Snezhnaya.
Now that they were finally back, she didn't seem all that eager.
"Well..."
Theresa hesitated before tilting her head up with a forced smile.
"I live alone, so it doesn't really matter when I go back."
"..."
Luo Qing fell silent, his eyes lingering on her strained smile.
He thought to himself, What an idiot I am...
"Alright then. You're coming with me for dinner tonight," he said, ruffling her hair.
Having spent so much time with Theresa, it was the first time he'd learned anything about her family situation.
He'd always thought Theresa was a bit dense, which made her antics easy to shrug off. But now, hearing that she lived alone stirred something in him for the first time.
Maybe it was because he was an orphan too.
"Really?! Thank you, my lord!"
Theresa's eyes lit up as she threw her arms around his and began nuzzling him.
"Alright, alright, cut it out," Luo Qing said, feigning annoyance as he pried his arm free.
Looking toward the other two women standing nearby, he added, "Let's go. Time to head home."
Luo Qing stretched lazily.
Though he called it "home," his situation wasn't much different from Theresa's—his house was empty too.
He had already informed the Fatui headquarters in advance of his return. Before the inevitable summons from Pierro, he planned to take some time to rest.
Leading the three women, Luo Qing made his way toward his residence.
---
Just as they were leaving the port, a broad-shouldered man with sharp brows and a cigarette in his mouth stood waiting near the exit.
When he spotted Luo Qing, he waved and jogged over.
"You brat!"
The man punched Luo Qing lightly on the shoulder, grinning. "You really made it back alive! Not bad!"
"Why do you sound like you were hoping I wouldn't, Belov?" Luo Qing teased.
Belov was one of the few people Luo Qing considered a friend in Snezhnaya.
After all, this man had once lost a bet and actually helped him steal Arlecchino's stockings...
"Hmph, if you'd died, I'd have had to clean up the mess. No thanks," Belov replied, slinging an arm over Luo Qing's shoulder.
His gaze shifted to the three women following behind.
Apart from Theresa, with her striking violet hair and eyes, the other two were masked and hooded, their figures the only clue that they were women.
"Not bad, kid. You came back with three more in the family, huh?"
"What's the matter, jealous?" Luo Qing quipped.
"Hah! I have a wife. What's there to be jealous about?" Belov snorted.
Leaning closer, he whispered conspiratorially, "By the way... you still have it, right?"
"Have what?" Luo Qing's grin froze.
"Don't play dumb. You know, that thing."
"Oh, it's safe. Why?"
"Lend it to me for a few days..." Belov muttered.
"?"
Luo Qing stared at him.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I just want to let my wife wear it for a while..." Belov clarified in a hushed tone.
"When she steps on me, it'll feel like Arlecchino-sama herself is stepping on me..."
"???"
"If your wife wears it, it's not 'original' anymore. No way," Luo Qing said sternly.
He would protect the essence of Arlecchino-sama's stockings with his life!
"You brat!"
Belov opened his mouth to shout but quickly glanced around, lowering his voice.
"I risked my life stealing that for you! What's wrong with borrowing it for a few days?!"
"Nope."
"When Arlecchino-sama came back, she even asked about it at the Hearth. She said a pair of her stockings was missing! I nearly got caught!"
"Still no."
"..."
"Fine, fine," Luo Qing sighed. "Just go steal another pair."
"She's here in Snezhnaya right now! How am I supposed to do that?! Come on, I'm desperate!"
Belov's face contorted in frustration.
"Call me when it's about drinks," Luo Qing said, patting his friend on the shoulder.
Turning to the women behind him, he motioned for them to follow and walked past Belov without a backward glance.
Makoto and Rosalyne, both masked, exchanged glances before casting disdainful looks at Belov.
Even through their masks, Belov could feel the sheer contempt.
What's with them? Luo Qing likes stockings too. Why am I the only one getting judged here?
---
At the Zapolyarny Palace.
In the dimly lit central hall, a massive square stone coffin stood ominously.
A girl lay draped over the coffin, humming a mournful tune that echoed throughout the chamber.
The Harbingers, clad in white cloaks, stood around the coffin, their expressions varied.
"Today, we gather to commemorate a dear companion. Her sacrifice merits a half-day of mourning for all of Snezhnaya," Pulcinella intoned, bowing his head solemnly.
"Hmph. Just half a day?" Pantalone's smile was razor-sharp as he glanced at Pulcinella.
"They say the Northland Bank runs on Snezhnaya's blood and tears, but Mayor, your values are more twisted than those of a banker like me."
"Rosalyne fell on foreign soil," Arlecchino snapped, her voice icy. "For someone like you—lacking empathy and cowering in Snezhnaya—to sneer at her sacrifice... keep your mouth shut."
"Now, now. This isn't the time for bickering," Childe interjected from his seat in the corner, smirking. "But I can't help noticing someone's missing. Are you really going to snub our newest colleague like this?"
"Enough, Tartaglia. I know you're itching for a fight, but not now," Capitano said calmly.
"We're here to honor Rosalyne. Despite the dishonor of her methods, her sacrifice was meaningful. Still, where are Dottore, Scaramouche, and the Gnosis from Inazuma?"
"Let the world believe divine knowledge is incomprehensible," Dottore said with a chilling grin, swirling a vial in his hand.
From the shadows, a middle-aged man stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the ornate stone coffin.
"The night's foolish play must end."
---
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Chương 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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