章節 27: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [27]
Luo Qing returned to Northland Bank, carrying a fishing rod in one hand and a basket of fish in the other. He'd spent the afternoon fishing with Zhongli, and the results had been exceptional. His face brimmed with pride—anyone passing by could expect him to boast about his haul.
Stepping into the bank's lobby, he spotted a certain blonde girl and her floating companion chatting with Tartaglia.
Drawn by his ever-present curiosity and love for a good drama, Luo Qing sauntered over, fishing rod casually slung over his shoulder.
"So, you want us to find those... uh... Adepti, right?" Paimon scratched her head, trying to understand Tartaglia's intentions. "To clear our names... and, hey, who's this?"
The little floating companion's confusion grew as she noticed the dark-haired man standing in front of them, staring at her with a curious expression.
"Huh? How did you know I caught seventeen fish in two hours today?" Luo Qing asked, tilting his head.
"Wha—?"
Paimon's face was a picture of bewilderment.
"Is he a friend of yours?" Lumine asked, turning to Tartaglia with a questioning glance.
"Uh... he's also one of the Harbingers," Tartaglia replied with a slightly strained smile, silently hoping Luo Qing wouldn't derail his plans. "Though he's still just a trainee and hasn't been officially given a code name yet."
"I'm Luo Qing. Nice to meet you!" Luo Qing grinned at Lumine and Paimon. "I've heard a lot about the two of you. Maybe we can go fishing together sometime."
"Hmm... you really seem to like fishing," Paimon observed.
"Of course! Freshly caught fish make the best grilled meals," Luo Qing said cheerfully.
"Ah... well, if we get the chance, we could try it out. Lumine's actually pretty good at fishing!" Paimon declared with a proud nod.
Lumine shot Paimon a warning look: Please don't drag me into this.
Staring at Luo Qing's features, Paimon suddenly looked puzzled. "Wait... you said you're with the Fatui, but you look like someone from Liyue..."
"That's because I'm a Liyue defector," Luo Qing replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Defector? What's that mean?" Paimon asked, thoroughly confused.
"He just likes to spout nonsense," Tartaglia interrupted, exasperated. "Don't pay him any mind. He grew up in Snezhnaya—his only connection to Liyue is through his bloodline."
"Oh... I see." Paimon nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Since he's also a Harbinger, there's no need to hide anything. But why are you helping us?" Lumine asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned her attention back to Tartaglia.
"Because..." Tartaglia started to explain, but Luo Qing jumped in before he could finish.
"To stir things up," Luo Qing said, grinning.
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Tartaglia]
"Stir things up..." Lumine's gaze grew complicated as she glanced between the two. She had suspected that the Fatui wouldn't help them out of pure goodwill.
"But you don't have much of a choice," Luo Qing continued casually. "Your wanted posters are plastered all over Liyue. Step out on the streets, and I guarantee someone will turn you in to the Millelith for the bounty."
He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "If you go through the usual channels at the Ministry of Civil Affairs—even if you're innocent—you'll be detained first, then have to wait for a lawyer, argue your case, and eventually be proven innocent. That whole process? At least six months, minimum."
"So you see, you really only have one option—going to Jueyun Karst," he concluded with a casual shrug.
"But we didn't do anything! We're not the ones who killed the Geo Archon!" Paimon protested, stomping her little feet in frustration.
"Well, that's a question for you two," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly. "Why did you try to sneak away back then? If you'd just stayed put and let them question you, they would've released you in a few hours."
Lumine turned to Paimon with a flat stare.
If Paimon hadn't panicked and made things sound so dramatic, Lumine doubted she'd have tried to flee.
"I... I was scared, okay!" Paimon admitted, her voice small and embarrassed. She then put on her most pleading expression. "But we're friends, right? Friends forgive each other, don't they?"
"Anyway," Luo Qing interrupted with a smirk, "the sooner you meet the Adepti, the sooner you clear your names. They've held authority in Liyue since the founding. Their word counts for a lot."
Luo Qing gave them a friendly wave and added, "I've got fish to grill. Until next time!"
Despite being Tartaglia's subordinate, Luo Qing had a habit of stealing the spotlight, and he figured he'd better let Tartaglia handle the rest without overshadowing him completely.
After saying his farewells, he returned to his room to put away the fish and rod. As he gazed out towards the coastline, he stretched and spoke over his shoulder.
"Igor, I remember you specialized in intel gathering back in training, right?" Luo Qing asked without turning around.
"Yes, Lord Luo Qing. Why do you ask?" Igor responded, stepping forward.
"I have a job for you. Did you see the blonde girl downstairs just now?" Luo Qing asked.
"The one speaking with Lord Tartaglia?" Igor confirmed.
"Exactly." Luo Qing nodded. "From now on, you're to track her movements and report back to me regularly."
Now that Lumine was officially in Liyue, the story arc for the region was unfolding. As someone who had knowledge of future events, Luo Qing needed to keep tabs. He didn't want to be caught unawares if Osial suddenly appeared while he was fishing under a bridge.
Monitoring Lumine's activities would give him a good idea of how far along the plot had progressed.
"Uh... Lord Luo Qing, isn't she the famous Traveler from Mondstadt? She's very powerful. What if she spots me?" Igor asked, a bit hesitant.
"No worries. If you get caught, just tell her that Tartaglia ordered it. Just don't mention my name," Luo Qing instructed with a wave.
"..."
"And if I do mention your name?" Igor asked cautiously.
"If you do," Luo Qing said, stepping closer to Igor with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "you and Sergei can go dance a naked jig at Yujing Terrace."
"...?"
Sergei, who had been standing guard at the door, looked utterly bewildered.
[+1 Frustration from Igor]
[+1 Frustration from Sergei]
"Alright, that's settled," Luo Qing said, giving Igor a pat on the shoulder before turning to Sergei. "Is the boat still docked at the usual spot?"
"It's right where you left it, Lord Luo Qing. Are you heading to Guyun Stone Forest again tonight?" Sergei asked.
"Yeah, got some time to kill, might as well have some fun," Luo Qing replied with a yawn. Stretching once more, he vaulted over the balcony, landing nimbly on the ground below.
He headed towards the street stalls, picking up a bag of snacks before strolling leisurely to the docks.
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