“I’ve only been as far as the lower production zone…”
Orius’s voice quivered as he spoke. “I’ve heard there’s a more central area deeper below, but only experienced veterans are allowed there.”
“The elevator takes you down?”
“Yes…” Orius nodded quickly. “It’s guarded around the clock. Without authorization, you can’t get through.”
“I see…” Luo Qing mulled it over.
Guards? With his abilities, they weren’t even an inconvenience.
“Alright, you can get back to work. You know what you should and shouldn’t talk about, right?”
“Y-yes, I understand!” Orius nodded frantically, his face drenched in sweat.
Time to take a break tomorrow, he resolved. Forget saving up for that limited-edition Lady Furina photo book… my life’s more important.
—
Late at Night
After spending the afternoon bonding with the adorable head nurse, Sigewinne, Luo Qing waited for the fortress to settle into silence. Once the inmates were asleep and the guards began nodding off, he opened his eyes.
Under the shroud of Time Zero, he bypassed the guards and returned to the production zone.
The massive central hub remained active, its brass light glowing faintly even at night.
Two guards stood at the elevator leading to the lower levels, chatting to pass the time.
Their idle conversation came to an abrupt halt as a figure approached from the shadows.
“Who’s there?” one guard barked. “What are you doing here this late?”
“Take me to the lowest level.”
“Didn’t you hear me? Get lost before I—”
Before he could finish, both guards froze, their bodies no longer under their control. Without a word, they turned and unlocked the elevator for Luo Qing.
“What’s… happening…” one of them stammered, struggling to comprehend what was happening. His gaze landed on Luo Qing, and his eyes widened in recognition.
“You… it’s you…”
“Yes, it’s me.” Luo Qing chuckled, patting their shoulders.
“Forget you saw me. Take a nap and let this memory fade away.”
As if on command, the guards felt an overwhelming drowsiness. Their eyelids drooped, and they collapsed at the elevator entrance, fast asleep.
Pressing the elevator button, Luo Qing watched as the doors slid shut. The machinery whirred, and the elevator descended further into the fortress’s depths.
When the doors reopened, Luo Qing stepped out into the lower production zone.
The vast area beneath the central brass hub housed four conveyor belts lined with nearly completed autonomous guards. The machines stood silently in the dim light, the assembly lines dormant for the night.
The quiet was palpable, and the atmosphere felt more like the beating heart of Meropide Fortress than the upper production levels.
Guards patrolled at regular intervals, their vigilance noticeably higher.
Not that it makes a difference.
Luo Qing’s footsteps echoed, drawing the attention of a nearby patrol.
“You! What are you doing here?” the guard demanded, stepping toward him.
“Waiting for you to sleep. Now, sleep.”
The guard collapsed mid-step, falling into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Why do I always have to speak for mind control to work? Luo Qing thought, standing at the next elevator. It felt cool at first, but if I have to address every single person… it’s just exhausting. Can’t I just give a look and be done with it?
The elevator descended again, its control panel lighting up as it approached the lowest level.
When the doors opened, Luo Qing found himself in a narrow circular hallway. Leaning casually against the wall was a black-haired man wearing mechanical gauntlets that pulsed with an icy blue glow.
The man’s lips curved into a faint smile as he stepped forward to block the path.
“Luo Qing,” he greeted, his tone light. “You seem to have wandered into the wrong place. Sleepwalking, perhaps?”
Wriothesley, the Duke of Meropide Fortress, exuded a calm authority as he regarded Luo Qing.
“If you turn back now, I’ll consider this little detour a harmless mistake. How about it?”
“Oh?” Luo Qing raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a grin.
He hadn’t expected the duke to show up personally. For someone in Fontaine, Wriothesley was proving to be more capable than expected.
“What if I insist on going through?”
Wriothesley’s mechanical gauntlets hummed ominously as he flexed his fingers.
“Then I’ll have no choice but to send you to the infirmary for a few days of… reflection.”
Despite Neuvillette’s warnings to avoid provoking Luo Qing, Wriothesley couldn’t simply let him pass. Allowing an inmate to walk freely into the restricted areas would be a stain on his authority as the fortress’s ruler.
“Don’t worry,” he added with a smirk. “The infirmary beds are much more comfortable than the dormitory ones.”
The blue glow from his gauntlets intensified, casting shadows on the walls like a lion baring its teeth.
“Guess we’ll see whose bed I end up in,” Luo Qing quipped, extending his hand in a mocking invitation.
“Come on, Duke Wriothesley. Show me what you’ve got.”
Wriothesley snorted, launching himself forward with a powerful leap. His gauntlets roared with icy energy as he aimed a punch straight at Luo Qing’s face.
But years of battle-hardened instincts made him hesitate just before impact. He veered to the side, narrowly avoiding the sudden appearance of a golden rock pillar that jutted out from the floor.
“Not bad, Duke,” Luo Qing said, clapping lightly in mock applause.
Wriothesley’s expression darkened. The timing and precision of the attack had been impeccable.
“Still, you’re strong only by mortal standards,” Luo Qing continued, his tone almost bored.
The duke said nothing, his gaze sharp as he reevaluated his opponent. That pillar appeared without warning. Approaching him head-on will be tricky.
Wriothesley hurled a blast of icy energy with his right gauntlet, following it up with a swift flanking maneuver. His movements were fluid, practiced—a testament to countless hours of combat experience.
But as he closed the gap, eight golden pillars erupted around him, trapping him mid-air.
“…”
Wriothesley hung suspended, his path completely blocked.
“See? I told you,” Luo Qing said, hands in his pockets as he strolled closer.
“You never had a chance.”
—
This is a fan translation of 原神：这个见习执行官太屑了 by 何一乐. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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