The grand hall fell into a deafening silence.
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?”
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