Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

The game system was unexpectedly intelligent—it had crafted rewards specifically tailored to each wish. 

This was worlds apart from a certain system that did nothing but pilfer resources from other worlds under the guise of its own generosity.

[Say it directly if you have a complaint. No need to talk around me,] a familiar voice interrupted.

After a long silence, the system piped up to defend itself.

"Wait a second, everyone's getting rewards?" Fischl interjected suddenly. "What about the Prinzessin herself?"

"I'm pretty sure you didn't actually play the game," Lucas said, scratching his head with a wry smile. "And besides, your reward is probably the best of all—a whole kingdom, remember?"

"Well… that is true." Fischl finally nodded, though still intrigued. "But about this place where you're planning to settle the Immernachtreich—where exactly is it?"

"Follow me," Lucas said with a snap of his fingers. "Serenitea Pot"

---

Since the game was over, Lucas was free to access other spaces. 

Indeed, the perfect location for the Immernachtreich was none other than the Serenitea Pot realm.

As far as Lucas knew, only a minuscule fraction of the Serenitea Pot realm's land was currently in use. There was more than enough space to spare for Fischl's fantasy kingdom without impacting the lives of its other residents. He chose a location some kilometers from Raiden Mai's camp, setting the new Immernachtreich in a spot that balanced privacy and accessibility.

It was a perfect win-win situation. Fischl was overjoyed, and Lucas welcomed the thought of his realm gaining a touch of the fantastical.

As for the otherworldly Fischl and her counterpart Oz, they too found a home in the Serenitea Pot realm.

---

Back in Mondstadt, at Fischl's family home.

Fischl hesitated in the doorway, her steps tentative as she called out, "I… I'm home."

"Welcome back, Fischl." Her father set down his teapot, smiling warmly. "Your father and mother have been waiting for you."

"That's right," her mother added, emerging from the kitchen with a kind smile. "Were you out adventuring with Oz again today?"

Fischl was taken aback at first, but then she gave a decisive nod and said, "Yes! Father, Mother, please allow me to introduce my friend once again. Come forth, Oz!"

In a flutter of black feathers, the raven appeared before her parents, bowing politely. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance."

And at that moment, Fischl's parents finally saw with their own eyes that their daughter's "imaginary friend" was, in fact, quite real.

---

Though it felt like an eternity in the game world, only a few hours had passed in reality.

Even so, the adventure had left Lucas thoroughly exhausted, and he promptly fell asleep as soon as he returned to his quarters.

He awoke around eleven that night, caught in the strange predicament of feeling wide awake yet unsure of what to do. Just as he was debating whether to try sleeping again, there was a knock at his door.

"Who could that be at this hour…" Lucas wondered, heading over to open it. Standing outside was a handsome man with tanned skin and a cryptic smile, who greeted him with a suave, "Good evening, Lucas."

"Captain Kaeya?" Lucas blinked, surprised. "It's late—what brings you here?"

Indeed, the visitor was none other than Kaeya, Captain of the Cavalry for the Knights of Favonius. Lucas and Kaeya had only met briefly at the recent Wine Festival, and their relationship wasn't close enough to justify a spontaneous late-night visit.

"Naturally, I'm here for a 'good cause,'" Kaeya replied with a cryptic smile. "It seems you've been quite helpful to the Knights these past few days. As a member myself, I thought I'd repay you—personally."

Repay me? Personally? And at this hour?

"Um..." Lucas hesitated. "I appreciate the offer, but… I'm not really interested in, you know, that sort of thing."

Kaeya paused, then burst out laughing, slapping his knee. "Hah! Relax, I didn't mean anything like that. If I had, I wouldn't be here right now."

"So, what exactly is this about?" Lucas asked, bewildered.

"Just some fun," Kaeya replied, draping an arm around Lucas' shoulder as he led him outside. "Jean is a great leader, but she's too proper to understand what a man truly needs. Leave it to me—tonight, I'll show you Mondstadt's 'specialities' on my tab!"

"Wait, slow down! I'll come along, just… not so fast!" Lucas chuckled, half-dragged along by Kaeya's eagerness.

He wasn't sure what Kaeya was up to, but as he was bored anyway, he let himself be led along. And Kaeya, being a Knight, wasn't likely to take him anywhere truly shady… right?

Unlike Liyue's bustling nightlife, Mondstadt was usually quiet after dark, and outside the taverns, there were few businesses open late. But Kaeya eventually led him to a building with a faintly "mysterious" vibe—certainly not a tavern. A pinkish light bathed the entryway, giving the place an ambiguous air, and the name on the sign, "Maple Moon," seemed to hint at… certain expectations.

Hold on a second.

Lucas froze, realization dawning on him.

"Why are you hesitating?" Kaeya clapped him on the shoulder. "It's chilly out—besides, a lady's touch is far warmer."

"Captain Kaeya," Lucas eyed him suspiciously, "is this that kind of place?"

Is this really appropriate for a government employee?

"Don't overthink it. It's just an ordinary massage parlor," Kaeya smirked. "A lonely man's oasis, a little sanctuary for the night."

Lucas wasn't naive. This "massage parlor" likely offered services beyond back rubs.

No wonder Kaeya insisted on repaying him in secret—this was definitely off the books.

Lucas felt a bit torn. This place was clearly some sort of adult entertainment establishment.

Just then, a tall silver-haired woman in a mask passed by the entrance. Her legs, impossibly long and elegant, caught his eye immediately.

Wait, could it be…?

"Hey, if you're not up for it, I won't force you," Kaeya sighed in mock disappointment. "We could just grab a drink somewhere else."

"Ahem! As we say in Liyue, 'When in Rome…'" Lucas cleared his throat, deciding to follow Kaeya's lead. "Since you insist, it would be rude to refuse."

Inside, as expected, the parlor was full of scantily-clad women gliding between patrons. Their faces were obscured by decorative masks, but even from their figures alone, they were clearly captivating.

"Well, if it isn't Captain Kaeya!" A lively woman dressed in vibrant colors approached them with a smile. "And who's this handsome guest?"

"He's a special visitor to Mondstadt," Kaeya replied with a grin. "Give him the royal treatment, on my tab."

"Of course," she replied with a knowing smile, slipping her hand into Lucas's and leading him away. "You're in for an unforgettable night."

At this point, Lucas decided to play along, trying not to seem too much like a first-timer. He had an idea of what to expect here and wasn't about to act like he was some naive teenager.

Once Lucas was led off, Kaeya's carefree smile shifted to something sharper. He moved to a nearby office door, knocking and entering.

Unlike the dimly lit rooms outside, the office was well-lit and businesslike.

Sitting behind the desk was none other than the silver-haired woman Lucas had glimpsed—the true owner of "Maple Moon" and the Eighth Harbinger of the Fatui, the infamous "La Signora."

Yes, this was no ordinary establishment but one of the Fatui's intelligence hubs in Mondstadt.

Kaeya had arranged Lucas' visit as part of a discreet deal he had made with the Fatui.

"Your man has arrived," Kaeya said, nodding to Signora. "Oh, and since he's done the Knights a favor, this little arrangement might warrant a higher fee."

"I'm surprised you're even dealing with the Fatui." Signora sneered, "Aren't you aware your foster father's death is likely tied to my fellow Harbingers?"

"That family is in the past," Kaeya replied nonchalantly. "As long as it doesn't harm the Knights, a bit of extra profit isn't an issue for me."

"How nice that you have a 'code,' after all." Signora waved him away dismissively. "Now leave. We have no further need of you here."

"One last question," Kaeya paused, his expression serious. "You're not planning to harm him, are you?"

"If I went to this trouble, it's because I don't want to resort to violence," she said with thinly veiled annoyance. "My agents will deal with him as gently as possible. Unless, of course, he resists cooperation."

The room's extravagant lighting cast a warm glow as Lucas settled back in a bathrobe. Delicate, subtle aromas wafted through the air, and the murals on the wall depicted elegant figures whose grace seemed to beckon guests into relaxation.

He had to admit, this establishment had a refined touch. The décor, the thoughtfully selected appetizers, and the pre-dinner drinks all pointed to an experience that was a cut above the rest. Clearly, Kaeya hadn't just chosen any random place—he'd put thought into selecting somewhere that would impress.

At that moment, Lucas was still blissfully unaware that Kaeya had essentially "sold him out" by leading him here. He'd even been picturing the two of them as trusted friends—"brothers in arms" from the same "platoon." Well, technically, he told himself, this was just a relaxing massage. After all, he had been feeling rather stressed, so he could hardly be blamed for indulging a little.

The door opened, and five young women, all dressed in revealing attire, stepped in, bowing slightly and greeting him with, "Welcome."

The hostess from before, a woman named Hong Jie, beamed and said, "Go ahead, pick the one that suits you. If one isn't enough, two or three are perfectly fine too."

Wait a minute—two or three? What kind of "massage" involves a team? Are they going to stack on top of each other?

Was this… the legendary "selection process"?

Lucas's heart raced a little at the unexpected scenario. He'd only seen such scenes in certain kinds of films.

Each of the five women possessed their own unique charm, from soft and gentle to bold and striking. Even with the masks obscuring half their faces, he could tell they were all beauties. Still, Lucas had seen his share of stunning women, particularly in his simulations; while beautiful, they didn't quite measure up to those standards.

However, his mind was set on the tall, silver-haired woman he had spotted earlier. Disappointed not to see her among the five, he asked, "Excuse me, are there… others?"

Admittedly, it wasn't the most polite question to ask, but it was only because she had intrigued him enough that he'd decided to come in.

"Oh, certainly!" Hong Jie nodded quickly, her smile strained. "Please wait a moment—I'll bring in a new selection for you."

Lucas was quickly starting to suspect something odd as Hong Jie paraded in group after group of "masseuses," each batch more attractive than the last. There was something unusual about them too; they all had tall, slender figures and pale skin, more characteristic of people from Snezhnaya than Mondstadt.

Could Snezhnaya's economy really be so bad that even noble-born women were forced to work in such places?

"I'm sorry," he said, glancing at the fifth group with an apologetic smile. "Is there… anyone else?"

"Sir, is there something in particular that you find unappealing?" Hong Jie forced a grin. "If all else fails, what do you think of me?"

"Oh, no, that's not necessary," Lucas replied, politely but firmly. "Earlier, I happened to see a tall woman with silver hair and a black mask. I was wondering… is she still here?"

Tall? Silver hair? Black mask?

Hong Jie's face grew tense; she'd already guessed who he was referring to. After all, none of the other women in the establishment could quite compare to her.

"Are… are you sure you want that one?" Hong Jie's smile turned awkward. "Can't I persuade you to choose another?"

"If she isn't available," Lucas replied, already losing interest, "then I might as well leave."

"Oh no, I can't have that," Hong Jie said quickly, scrambling for an excuse. "Mr. Kaeya would hold me accountable if I let you leave unsatisfied."

"No problem," Lucas said generously. "You can tell him I was very well taken care of."

"Please, sir, give me a moment," Hong Jie said helplessly, "I'll go check."

--- 

In La Signora's office.

"What?" She slammed her palm onto the table, frowning. "Not satisfied with any of them? This guy's standards are way too high!"

Hong Jie, looking as though she was walking on eggshells, hesitated before responding, "It's not that he's entirely unsatisfied. It's just…he specifically asked for one person."

"Let him ask then." La Signora waved her hand dismissively. "Who?"

Hong Jie hesitated again before finally replying, "It's…you."

"What did you say?" La Signora's expression darkened.

"I'm so sorry!" Hong Jie bowed her head immediately. "But based on how he described her, it sounded just like you. He even said if it wasn't you…he'd rather decline!"

Hearing this, La Signora felt a strange mix of emotions.

The entire reason she had orchestrated bringing Lucas here through Kaeya was to "relax" him and take advantage of that moment to remove the Ring of Manipulation. But she hadn't expected him to be so brazen, going so far as to ask for her, as if she were just another hostess.

"Maybe…we should just drop it?" Hong Jie suggested cautiously. "It doesn't seem right to compromise an Harbringer's dignity over one man."

"No, this started because of me, and it will end because of me," La Signora stood, a cold gleam in her eyes. "I'll see what kind of man he really is."

She had no intention of indulging him in "that" sort of way—she was just outraged. Worst case, she'd leave him without a hand if he tried anything.

---

Knock, knock.

The knocking on the door woke Lucas from his dozing.

"Come in," he called, admittedly with low expectations. If this was another disappointment, he might just cut his losses and go to sleep instead.

But as the door opened, an alluring, cool fragrance wafted in, and the woman entering was indeed the long-legged beauty he had seen at the entrance.

He had only glimpsed her before, but now, taking in her appearance up close, he and La Signora found themselves thinking the exact same thing.

The resemblance! It's uncanny!

La Signora's unique, stunning figure was unmistakable, and the sight of this woman instantly brought back vivid memories of his time with La Signora in the simulation. Meanwhile, as La Signora looked at Lucas, she too was taken aback.

He looked just like the "Doctor" from her dreams—uncannily so.

If it had been anyone else, La Signora might have had her doubts, but this man's face was one she would recognize anywhere, no matter the circumstances.

"Hello..." Lucas stammered, feeling unexpectedly nervous as he gazed at the woman, whose figure so closely resembled La Signora's. "I, uh…may I ask your name?"

Caught off guard, La Signora hesitated before replying stiffly, "I… I'm Number Eight."

As everyone knows, employees in these types of establishments typically don't use their real names. They usually go by stage names, which are almost always doubled syllables.

Of course, some places dispense with names altogether, instead assigning numbers to represent identities.

After all, when they return to the sunlight, the only thing they'll take from here is the money; nothing else will follow them out.

Those numbers and pseudonyms will transform into a kind of totem, an ambiguous code passed down through time.

La Signora, having no prior experience in such places, naturally didn't have a stage name or number. When they called her "Number Eight," it was only because that was her rank among the Fatui Harbingers.

Seeing that face, identical to the Doctor's from her dreams, had immediately thrown her off balance.

La Signora had once wondered if she would ever meet this man again.

But she had never imagined it would happen like this.

However, as a Harbinger, she quickly regained her composure. She reminded herself, "This guy only looks a lot like him. Those... they were just dreams."

Number Eight, huh?

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle a bit self-deprecatingly.

La Signora was a high-ranking Fatui Harbinger; what business could she possibly have in a place like this?

"I see..." Lucas said calmly, "Then let's get started."

"Get... started with what?" La Signora asked instinctively.

"Shouldn't you be the one telling me?" Lucas replied with a grin. "I don't even know what services you offer here."

La Signora's gaze swept over Lucas's wrist. Sure enough, the Ring of Manipulation was still there, wrapped around his wrist.

Originally, she'd planned to knock this man out, then leave him to her subordinates to "handle."

But after seeing his face, she hesitated.

Even if he wasn't the Doctor from her dreams, he was certainly connected to him in some way. It would be better to serve him temporarily, then look for clues.

"I understand." La Signora nodded. "Lie down. I'll... give you a massage."

If anyone else had heard her, their eyes would probably have popped out.

This was La Signora!

And she was offering to serve someone herself!

"Just so you know," she added softly to cover up her nervousness, "this is my first day on the job, so if my service is lacking, I hope you'll understand."

Lucas didn't think much of it. He lay down on the bed and even joked, "No need to worry. This is my first time too."

"Who knows if it really is your first time," La Signora replied coolly. "A lot of men who come here are just looking for a thrill behind their wives' backs."

"I... I don't even have a wife," Lucas sighed. "If I did, I probably wouldn't be here."

For some reason, hearing that made La Signora feel an odd sense of relief.

As Lucas slipped off his robe, revealing his broad shoulders, La Signora pressed her hands against him. He immediately felt a cold, soft touch on his back, seeming to sink straight into his skin.

Even without the massage, just her touch alone was a pleasure.

"Hah..."

Lucas let out a satisfied sigh.

"What's wrong?" she asked, puzzled. "I haven't even started yet."

"Your hands are so cold, it feels nice," he murmured, eyes closed. "Reminds me of someone I knew."

La Signora didn't know any massage techniques, but the sensation of his back was all too familiar. In her dreams, her nails had left many marks of pain and pleasure on a similar back.

"Oh?" she asked cautiously, "Your lover?"

Would La Signora be considered his lover?

If one were to consider the outcome, perhaps even his wife.

But since he'd just claimed he didn't have a wife, he wasn't about to contradict himself now, so he answered, "Just a woman from a dream."

From a dream?

La Signora traced circles lightly on his back with her hands. Even such a simple touch was enough to make him feel utterly content.

"Could you tell me about it?" Her voice trembled slightly. "That dream."

Chatting with a worker like this might seem odd, maybe even a waste of time, but Lucas didn't think too much of it. He began recounting the events that had taken place in his simulated world.

Of course, the details were altered. He didn't mention anything about the Harbingers. But the things that had happened between him and La Signora were eerily similar to what she remembered from her own dreams.

Suddenly, Lucas felt a dampness on his back, as if a drop of water had fallen on him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing..." she quickly wiped her eyes, replying, "Just some massage oil."

"Why don't you take a break," he said gently.

"No, that won't do," she shook her head. "I haven't... even started serving you yet."

"Talking with you has already made me quite happy," Lucas smiled. "Besides, I have to admit, your massage technique... really does feel like a first attempt."

Although pleasant, her movements were more like gentle kneading than an actual massage.

"Apologies for that," La Signora muttered, a little hurt. "I told you, it's my first time."

"Let me show you how it's done," Lucas offered, rising from the bed. "Lie down here."

"Is that really appropriate?" she asked, flustered. "You're the client."

"The customer is always right, isn't it?" he whispered, gently pressing her onto the bed. "So, you should listen to the customer."

Unlike La Signora's tentative touch, Lucas's hands worked with the skill of a true master, swiftly demonstrating what true expertise felt like.

And, as she soon realized, his technique was exactly like that of the Doctor from her dreams.

In the blissful sensation that threatened to melt her, she began to blur the line between the man in front of her and the lover from her dreams.

For the first time in five centuries, her heart—once as cold as ice—showed a faint crack.

Just then, a crisp bell chimed from outside.

"Time's up," Hong Jie's voice called out. "Would you like to extend your session?"

"Happy moments always pass too quickly..." Lucas sighed, as if reluctantly. "Let's call it a day for now."

This sudden "reminder" brought Lucas back to reality. The woman in front of him was not La Signora and never could be a replacement for her.

Though they hadn't even started the main event, just chatting with this woman had already made him feel his money was well spent.

Just then, the woman suddenly said, "W-wait a moment!"

She stood up, opened the door, and left the room, leaving Lucas alone in the private booth.

Seeing her come out, Hong Jie quickly approached and asked, "Lady, I saw you were in there for quite a while and thought something might have happened, so I came to check... I'm glad you're all right."

What surprised Hong Jie, however, was the slight flush on La Signora's face—something she'd never seen before.

"What could happen to me?" La Signora restored her icy expression and replied, "Are you doubting my capabilities?"

"Of course not!" Hong Jie lowered her head at once.

"No need to worry," La Signora replied coolly. "I'm close to succeeding."

"But how could we let you do this kind of task?" Hong Jie said, panicked. "Leave it to the others."

"What nonsense are you saying?" La Signora snapped. "I… I have my own methods. Just stand by here and await my orders."

"Understood!" Naturally, Hong Jie wouldn't dare defy La Signora's commands and could only watch as she reentered the room.

Still puzzled, Hong Jie couldn't help but wonder: while the man was indeed handsome, he hardly seemed the type who could captivate La Signora.

Upon returning to the room, La Signora found Lucas already preparing to put on his clothes. She hurriedly said, "Please, wait!"

"What's wrong?" he asked, puzzled. "Isn't our time up?"

"Th-they must have misread it," she improvised. "You still have... two more hours."

"Wasn't it only supposed to be two hours in total?" he asked, tilting his head.

"A special promotion today—buy one, get one free." La Signora continued, "Besides, the best activities haven't even started yet."

"Oh? And how 'best' are we talking?" he asked with a grin.

After all, being a man, he couldn't ignore a deal like this.

"You'll see for yourself," she replied, handing him a booklet. "This is the menu; just check off whatever catches your interest."

This was certainly high-end.

Scenes like this were things Lucas had only seen in films, and the woman in front of him was far more stunning than the actresses in those films.

However, unlike the greedy protagonist from those movies, he didn't choose every option. He only picked a few items with interesting names, then handed the booklet back to her. "These should be enough."

La Signora accepted the menu, but a slight frown appeared on her face.

Crystal Romance, Moonwalk, Desert Storm, Ants Climbing Trees, The Hanging Hook...

---

Taken individually, the words on the menu made sense to La Signora. But when they were strung together, the meaning was completely lost on her.

Though her face was concealed behind a mask, Lucas could sense her hesitation. Trying to be considerate, he suggested, "If it's too difficult, we can just skip it…"

"No, there's no difficulty."

With La Signora's pride, she would never admit defeat, especially not over something like this. Clutching the menu, she declared, "Wait here for a moment—I'll go prepare the props."

Props, too?

The thought stirred a bit of anticipation in him.

Watching Number Eight's figure disappear through the door, Lucas couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement.

Outside, Hong Jie was still standing by, not expecting La Signora to emerge again so quickly. Could it be that the man was that quick?

"Hong Jie," La Signora handed the menu over to her. "He selected these options."

"I understand," Hong Jie nodded. "I'll send someone in right away."

"No." To her surprise, La Signora shook her head and said, "Show me…how these things are supposed to be done."

"W-wha…what?" Hong Jie's expression froze, momentarily wondering if she had misheard.

"Do you not understand plain language?" La Signora replied with a hint of irritation. "I said, teach me how to perform these options, and as quickly as possible."

Goodness, was their leader really going to get hands-on?

"Understood!" Hong Jie answered immediately. "Please, follow me. I'll… do my best to teach you."

---

Lucas had expected he'd only need to wait a moment, but before he knew it, half an hour had passed, and he was nearly dozing off when the door finally opened again.

La Signora entered, carrying an elegant little box, her face tinged with a slight blush. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's...it's all right." Lucas quickly perked up. "I took the chance to rest a bit."

"Very well, let's... begin."

She opened the box and took out a small, quivering lump of translucent gel. "We'll start with Crystal Romance. This is slime gel. Which type would you like to try?"

Slime gel?

Lucas couldn't help but recall his past experiences with La Signora, remembering all the things they'd done with slime gel.

"You mean I can pick different types?" he asked casually.

"Yes," she replied, putting her recent crash course to use. "Electro Slime has a tingling sensation, Dendro Slime feels entwining, Anemo Slime has a cooling effect, Geo Slime has a gritty texture, and Hydro Slime is more slippery," she continued, reciting like a pro. "As for Cryo and Pyro Slimes, they're typically used together."

Wasn't that the famed "double element delight"?

Lucas remembered his friend Shen's line: See that? Now that is what you call professional!

"Which one would you like?" she asked again.

"Only kids make choices," he grinned. "I'll take them all."

"Then...then let's start." La Signora took a deep breath.

Even now, she could hardly believe she was actually going through with this.

Here she was, the proud Number Eight of the Fatui Harbingers, performing such a task in this dimly lit booth.

Yet, the stark contrast between her esteemed identity and the nature of her current task stirred an unusual thrill within her.

And to top it off, the man before her was the one she had shared her life with in her dreams.

In battle, La Signora was a seasoned warrior—she had seen countless formidable foes fall beneath her ice and fire.

Today, "ice" and "fire" were still her tools, but this time, her techniques were rough, unpolished. Clearly, many of the skills she'd once mastered in her dreams were now just hazy memories.

But to Lucas, her earnest efforts only made her all the more charming and endearing.

The feeling of being wrapped in all seven elemental types brought Lucas an unprecedented sense of comfort.

"How does it feel?" La Signora asked, somewhat muffled, as she spat out the Cryo and Pyro Slime gel from her mouth.

Lucas didn't answer her question directly. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Do you want the honest answer or the polite one?"

"Of course, the honest answer," La Signora replied immediately.

Truthfully, she already knew what he'd say. After all, the *Ring of Manipulation* was still firmly on Lucas's wrist, proving that everything she'd just done had been for naught.

"It was a bit painful," Lucas answered honestly. He reached out to wipe a bit of residue from the corner of her mouth and added, "But it's not your fault. A mouth as pretty as yours wasn't meant for this."

"This is just the beginning," La Signora replied, her pride flaring up. "I'll show you what I'm really capable of next."

"I look forward to it," Lucas nodded. "Please, continue."

---

As it turned out, a crash course was hardly enough to master these intricate techniques, and half an hour of lessons didn't quite equip La Signora to handle such specialized tasks.

For the remaining activities, her performance was, at best, passable. While Lucas enjoyed himself, it wasn't enough to bring him to a point of release.

However, the faint pink glow in the *Ring of Manipulation* burned ever brighter.

Finally, after going through every item on the menu, the exhausted La Signora collapsed onto the bed.

This ordeal was a hundred times more taxing than any of her most difficult missions.

In her mind, she couldn't help but recall the way she had once described Lucas in her dreams.

A beast.

"Hah…" Lucas let out a low growl, like a bull in spring, restless with pent-up energy.

La Signora lightly patted him on the shoulder and asked, "Are you all right?"

"I… I'm just a little warm," Lucas replied, his voice dry.

"Then let's rest for a bit," La Signora sighed, "I could use a break too."

But just as she lay down, Lucas's hand suddenly clamped around her wrist.

At her current level of strength, she could have fought him off, but she was already exhausted from the previous activities and didn't have the energy to resist.

More than that, she didn't actually want to resist.

After a brief struggle that amounted to nothing, La Signora finally gave in.

"Do whatever you want," she said calmly. "After all, you are my guest."

"I'm not your guest," Lucas replied, looking down at her. "I haven't paid, so that doesn't make me your guest."

It wasn't that Lucas intended to dodge the bill; he had more than enough assets to buy a lifetime membership here if he wanted.

He just didn't want to be "a guest" of Number Eight.

And he didn't want anyone else to be her guest, either.

[Effect of "First Glass of Red Wine" Activated][Reward: Increases Cryo Elemental Mastery by 50%, Pyro Elemental Mastery by 50%]

---

The heated encounter finally concluded an hour later.

To his surprise, Lucas found out that this wasn't just her first day on the job—she seemed inexperienced in other areas as well.

But La Signora was even more astonished.

She discovered that the *Ring of Manipulation* on Lucas's wrist hadn't loosened at the crucial moment.

To verify if something had gone wrong, she even suggested a "round two."

But the result was the same. Despite focusing all her energy, she hadn't detected any signs of the ring's control taking effect.

Moreover, trying to stay focused in such a situation was already extremely difficult.

Damn it, she had been tricked by the Doctor!

By rights, the discovery should have made her furious. But as she lay in Lucas's arms, her emotions were strangely complex.

This was, after all, just a fleeting affair, and the man before her was nothing more than a "substitute" for her real lover.

After tonight, there would no longer be a "Number Eight."

"It's time." La Signora gently nudged Lucas's shoulder and said, "You should go."

All good things are fleeting and bittersweet.

Lucas didn't say much. He simply got up in silence.

Watching him leave, La Signora felt a cold chuckle rise within her. As expected, he was just another heartless man after all.

But then, instead of heading for the door, Lucas suddenly asked, "How much?"

"Didn't you say you wouldn't pay?" La Signora smirked. "It's fine. My service wasn't worth it, so I won't charge you."

"That's not what I mean," Lucas turned back, his expression serious. "I meant, how much to buy you out of here?"

La Signora froze momentarily, then let out a derisive laugh. "Typical. Men always want to play the hero, trying to 'redeem' women. How hypocritical."

"You're right. I am hypocritical," Lucas admitted. "So, how much?"

"You want to buy me?" La Signora extended five fingers and laughed. "Fifty million Mora, and I'm yours."

She hadn't meant the number seriously.

Who in their right mind would make such a foolish investment?

"Fifty million?" Lucas's eyes widened slightly.

"Too expensive?" she sneered. "Then hurry up and leave."

To her shock, Lucas pulled out the black card that Diluc had given him. "This card's limit is a hundred million. Let's make it official—hand over the contract."

"Are you sure?" she asked, eyes wide. "That's fifty million Mora!"

"I'd already planned to take out a loan," Lucas replied, completely earnest. "Didn't expect it would only cost fifty million—I got lucky."

"You…"

La Signora, fully aware of the card's value, muttered in disbelief, "You must be insane."

---

The door to the booth opened once more, and Hong Jie, who had been nodding off outside, quickly stood to attention.

Seeing the complicated look on La Signora's face, Hong Jie asked, "Is there anything else you need me to handle?"

"Draft a contract," La Signora muttered, rubbing her forehead. "And charge fifty million on this card."

"What's that for?" Hong Jie asked with a puzzled expression. "Is the business up for sale?"

"No," La Signora replied darkly, her gaze cold. "I'm the one for sale."

What in the world?

The business was running just fine, and now the boss had suddenly decided to sell herself?

Could it be that her esteemed boss, The Fair Lady, was such a prodigy that after only half an hour of practice, she'd managed to captivate this man enough to make him spend fifty million just to buy her out?

"The contract is now in effect."

After pressing her fingerprint onto the document, La Signora handed the so-called "release contract" to Lucas.

However, when he saw the name on the contract, Lucas's eyes widened in surprise.

"Your…your name is Rosalyne?" he murmured.

"That's right," she nodded. "Do you know me?"

---

At that moment, La Signora wished more than anything to hear the words "I know you" from Lucas's lips.

However, he merely shook his head. "No, I just thought it was a beautiful name, that's all. I'll keep this contract. From today onwards, you're free...."

"Huh?" Her expression changed. "Aren't you going to take me with you? By law, I… belong to you now."

"No, you don't belong to anyone." Lucas shook his head. "Go do what you want to do, live the life you want to live."

For some reason, his words left La Signora feeling an unexpected sense of disappointment.

For a fleeting moment, she thought that if he had simply said, "Come with me," she might have abandoned everything to follow him.

Of course, that was impossible.

Becoming a Harbinger had meant severing all connections to the world. She could never leave—the Fatui and Her Majesty the Tsaritsa would never let her go.

"Hmph…" She gave a cold laugh. "Maybe one day, if I feel like it, I'll come back to this line of work."

She said this to provoke Lucas, but he merely replied calmly, "If you really did that, I'd buy out all your time, just so you could only ever serve me."

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded outside the room. Hong Jie burst through the door, her brow furrowed. "There's trouble—the Knights of Favonius are here for an inspection!"

"The Knights of Favonius?" La Signora looked surprised. "Who has the nerve? Don't they know who's backing this place?"

"It's Eula Lawrence," Hong Jie replied helplessly. "I told her, but she wouldn't back down!"

Lucas' face immediately turned a deep shade of red.

Yesterday he had been celebrated as a hero of the Knights, and today he might end up in a cell.

And of all people, it had to be Eula—the one person who wouldn't back down, no matter what.

As he looked around the room in disarray, he knew that if Eula actually made it inside, he'd have a lot of explaining to do. Or rather, there would be no explanation that could save him.

"Open the door!"

"Captain, there's no one in this room!"

"Split up and search over there—I'll take this side!"

That familiar voice was now just outside the door.

If Eula found him here, she'd likely regret ever handing him her family's heirloom sword.

A loud knock sounded on the door. "Knights of Favonius! Open up!"

"Stay here. I'll handle this."

Just as Lucas felt he was out of options, La Signora stepped up and left the room without a word.

---

"Hurry up and open the door!" Eula demanded coldly. "Or I'll kick it down myself!"

"What's with the racket?" 

The door opened, and La Signora stepped out slowly, sneering, "The infamous Spindrift Knight of the Favonius? You do realize this establishment is under the protection of the Fatui, don't you?"

"So what?" Eula replied, unfazed. "In Mondstadt, all establishments are subject to Mondstadt's laws. You're not conducting any... illegal business in there, are you?"

"How rude!"

With a piercing glare, La Signora removed her mask. "Do you honestly believe I would stoop to making deals in a place like this?"

"La… La Signora?" Eula took an instinctive step back, visibly shocked. "Why are you here?"

"Of course, I'm here for some covert dealings," she said mockingly, stepping aside. "Please, Captain Eula, go right ahead and take a look."

In the booth, Lucas nearly dove under the bed in panic. Facing murderers on the streets was one thing, but this level of social humiliation was another matter entirely.

"But… if you don't find anything suspicious," La Signora whispered, "rest assured the Fatui won't take an unfounded insult to a Harbinger lying down."

Though Eula was known for her fierce personality, she wasn't reckless.

She didn't understand why La Signora was here, but with her status, there was no way she was involved in anything shady. If she searched and found nothing, the Fatui would surely make a scandal of it.

At that moment, the other Knights arrived, reporting, "Captain Eula, we found… nothing unusual."

"This is a legitimate massage parlor," La Signora said with a shrug. "I just came here to relax, only to be mistaken for some woman of the night. Is this how the Knights of Mondstadt handle their investigations?"

"I…" Eula was left speechless and seething, unsure of how to respond.

Continuing the search would undoubtedly give the Fatui leverage, but backing down here could damage her own credibility in front of her subordinates.

Just then, a loud explosion shook the air outside. A Knight rushed in, looking alarmed. "Captain Eula, an unknown explosion just went off at the Church of Favonius—it appears to be intentional!"

This sudden turn of events provided Eula with an exit. She immediately ordered, "Everyone, follow me to investigate."

"Oh?" La Signora taunted. "Not going to keep searching?"

"There's a time and place for everything," Eula shot back with a glare before turning on her heel. "Consider yourself lucky today."

After the Knights left, La Signora finally allowed herself to relax.

Despite her bold front, she had no idea how she would have handled things if Eula had indeed forced her way inside.

---

"They're gone," La Signora said, donning her mask once more and opening the door to the booth. "You'd better leave quickly."

"I…" Lucas hesitated, feeling a pang of reluctance. "Will we… ever meet again?"

"What's this?" La Signora sneered. "Not satisfied?"

"No… it's not like that," Lucas shook his head. "It's not that kind of meeting I meant."

"We probably won't," she said, suppressing a flicker of disappointment. "We come from two different worlds."

"I understand." Lucas nodded, a touch of melancholy in his expression. "I have one last request, then."

La Signora seemed to have anticipated his request and replied calmly, "If I'm not mistaken, you probably want to see what I really look like, don't you?"

Lucas nodded silently.

"That's out of the question!" Hong Jie protested at once. "She's—"

"Hong Jie, step outside, please," La Signora waved her hand. "It's fine."

As a Fatui Harbinger, La Signora rarely showed her face publicly. Even in Mondstadt, only a few high-ranking members of the Knights of Favonius had ever seen her true appearance due to work-related interactions.

Reluctantly, Hong Jie left the room.

La Signora hesitated for a moment, then slowly removed her mask.

In that instant, it felt as if the very air around them froze.

It really was her.

What shocked Lucas wasn't her face itself, but the realization of who she was and the mystery of why she was in a place like this, doing such things with him.

But La Signora simply asked, "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes," Lucas nodded. "It's worth far more than fifty million Mora."

"Think of tonight as nothing but a dream," she said, putting her mask back on. "Also, that bracelet on your wrist is incredibly dangerous. You'd better find a way to get rid of it soon."

Lucas blinked, remembering that as a Fatui Harbinger, she might indeed know something about the bracelet.

But just as he was about to ask, he held back. After all, in the real world, he and La Signora weren't supposed to have any connection, much less knowledge of each other's true identities.

Perhaps that was why she had shown him her true face.

In her eyes, his reaction was merely that of being captivated by her beauty, so she said nothing further, turned, and walked back into her room, leaving him with four final words:

"Forget about me."

It had been but a fleeting dream.

La Signora understood her own nature all too well; she was a consuming blaze, and anyone who came close to her would eventually be engulfed.

---

Lucas wandered the dark streets in a daze, too preoccupied to even notice that Kaeya had mysteriously "disappeared" without a word.

Out of all the women he'd encountered in various simulations, La Signora, or rather Rosalyne, was unlike any other. Bound to him by a five-hundred-year entanglement that went deeper than any ordinary connection, she was not someone he could simply forget.

Especially after her parting words, "Forget about me," which seemed to declare the end of whatever destiny they might have had in this life.

Rather than returning home, he roamed the streets aimlessly, until the sound of hurried footsteps caught his attention.

"Who goes there? Why are you wandering the streets at this hour?"

He looked up to find a group of Knights of Favonius, the leader already gripping the hilt of his sword with a wary expression. "Could you be the thief who stole the Holy Lyre?"

Before Lucas could respond, a familiar voice called out from behind him, "He has nothing to do with this; he's a friend of mine."

Eula had appeared behind him at some point, frowning slightly. "Why are you always out late at night?"

Their last encounter had also been during the dead of night.

"I… couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk," Lucas said, coming up with a weak excuse before changing the subject. "What happened?"

"Hmph, didn't you hear the explosion earlier?" Eula replied with a huff. "Someone blew up part of the Church of Favonius and stole the Holy Lyre of Barbatos. To pull off something this outrageous—this is personal!"

"Could it have been… Klee?" Lucas ventured.

"No, not likely. As mischievous as that little girl is, even she wouldn't go this far," Eula shook her head. "Unless, of course, she wants to spend the rest of her life in the confinement room."

"I'll help with the search," Lucas said, giving his face a light slap to snap himself out of his thoughts. "Might as well make myself useful."

[500 Virtue Points Awarded]

In truth, he just wanted to distract himself.

And perhaps earn a few extra points.

"Suit yourself," Eula replied, nodding in acknowledgment of his abilities. "If you pull this off, you might even be granted honorary knighthood with the Knights of Favonius."

"Me? A Liyue native, joining the Knights of Favonius as an honorary knight?" Lucas chuckled. "No need for that—happy to lend a hand."

"Let's search over that way," Eula ordered her men. "And inform the guards to lock down the city. Tonight, I don't even want a fly to slip through."

If word got out that the Holy Lyre had been stolen, it would be a massive embarrassment for the Knights of Favonius.

As Eula led her team away, Lucas took off in a different direction.

With his enhanced senses and the [Night Vision] ability, his skills were well beyond ordinary, and he was ideally suited for tracking in the dark.

However, searching the streets on foot was inefficient. While climbing walls would be faster, his current white attire made him too visible, risking detection.

Then he had an idea.

He took out the Nano Suit (Youth Edition) and slipped it on, issuing a few quick commands to transform it into a black stealth suit, complete with a hood and cloak.

"Hello, Mondstadt's very own Batman!" he said to himself, striking a pose and admiring his appearance.

After all, every young man dreams of being a superhero at some point, and Lucas was no exception.

Thus, Mondstadt welcomed a second "Dark Knight" to its skies that night.

---

"Hey, kid!"

In a dim alley, two thugs had a young boy cornered, sneering, "Hand over your coin pouch!"

"No! I earned this money by collecting empty bottles every night!" The boy held his coin pouch tightly to his chest, defiant. "I'm saving up to find my dad!"

"Little Timmie, your dad's long dead," one of the thugs taunted, laughing. "Tell you what—give us your money, and I'll be your new dad. Go on, say 'Daddy'! Hahaha…"

Bang!

----

The thug hadn't finished his taunt when a powerful kick sent him sprawling. To his shock, his assailant was a mysterious figure dressed in black, cloaked, and looking every bit like a "vigilante."

"W-who are you?" the other thug stammered, drawing a dagger from his belt. "Just because you dress up doesn't mean I'm afraid of you!"

This "vigilante" was none other than Lucas. While searching for the stolen Holy Lyre, he'd stumbled upon this attempted robbery and couldn't resist stepping in to play the hero.

Naturally, these thugs were no match for him. Though he initially planned to give them a quick lesson, a mischievous idea flashed through his mind, and a wicked smile crossed his face.

"Witch's Prank!" 

Lucas waved his hand at the two thugs, and a magical aura surrounded them.

This skill, a gift from Alice, cast a random spell effect.

[Magic Activated: Chicken Transformation]

[Effect: Turns the target into chickens for 24 hours]

The two thugs began to transform, feathers sprouting as they morphed into clucking chickens. They took one look at each other, squawked in terror, and flapped their wings as they fled down the alley.

"Better run fast!" Lucas taunted, chuckling. "Or you'll end up as Sweet Madame tomorrow!"

As Lucas turned to leave, a young voice called out, "Th-thank you!"

This kid was Timmie?

The boy who fed pigeons at the city gate.

Mondstadt's top "poultry tycoon."

And supposedly, though disproven, a secret Fatui Harbinger.

"No need to thank me," Lucas said with a smile. "If anything, thank the pigeons you fed."

After all, before he'd obtained the [Villain Simulator], his "villainous" acts mostly involved scaring away Timmie's pigeons each morning, then making a quick buck by selling them as poultry.

"I-I get it!" Timmie's face lit up in excitement. "You're the embodiment of those pigeons—the Dark Pigeon Knight!"

That name was awful!

Was it because he'd "ghosted" the pigeons so many times that this nickname stuck?

"Uh, are there even black pigeons?" Lucas asked, exasperated.

"Of course!" Timmie replied confidently. "There are gray ones, blue ones, white ones, and yes, even black ones!"

Just then, Lucas caught the faint sound of a lyre in the distance. With a leap, he vanished from Timmie's sight.

"Goodbye, Dark Pigeon Knight!" Timmie shouted, waving enthusiastically. "I'll remember you!"

Little did Lucas know, the title of "Dark Pigeon Knight" would soon spread far and wide, and he'd become known alongside Mondstadt's "Darknight Hero" as one of the "Twin Knights of Mondstadt."

---

The faint strains of a lyre floated on the night air, barely perceptible but impossible for Lucas to miss. Moving carefully, he traced the sound to its source.

As he neared the origin, he slowed his pace to avoid detection.

Though not an expert in music, even he could tell that this "melody" was dissonant, as if someone were randomly plucking the strings without any knowledge of music.

Compared to the original owner's ethereal performances on the Holy Lyre, this was painfully unrefined.

Soon, Lucas reached a pavilion where he spotted the musician: a figure holding the Holy Lyre, casually plucking its strings.

Thanks to his night vision, Lucas could observe the person from behind—a slight figure wearing distinctly non-Mondstadt attire.

It was odd. Why steal the lyre, only to linger here playing it as if drawing attention?

Lucas's mind flashed back to the game's storyline.

The Holy Lyre belonged to Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, and could summon Dvalin, the Dragon of the East, through music.

But as far as he knew, only Venti, the lyre's original owner, could wield that power.

Just as he debated whether to retrieve the lyre, a strong gust of wind suddenly arose, then dissipated, revealing a green-clad bard standing before the thief.

It was Venti!

Lucas realized the thief must have been trying to lure Barbatos himself.

"All right, enough games," Venti sighed, shaking his head. "Hand over the Holy Lyre. That thing's not even worth much."

"Oh? You showed up quicker than I thought," the thief set down the lyre, smiling. "Barbatos… or should I call you Venti?"

The thief's voice was strikingly neutral, making it hard to determine their gender. Even stranger, Lucas felt he'd heard it somewhere before.

Recognizing his true identity, Venti's playful smile faded as he appraised the figure before him. "So it's you Fatui again. Fine by me; if we're going to fight, I won't hold back."

The Fatui?

As the clouds parted and moonlight spilled over the pavilion, Lucas finally saw the thief clearly—a slight, deceptively innocent figure with short black hair, a hat, and the attire of an Inazuman drifter.

Scaramouche!

Yet another figure Lucas could recognize instantly.

What were the chances? In a single night, he'd encountered both the Sixth Harbinger, Raiden Ei's creation, and Mondstadt's elusive Anemo Archon.

Lucas wasn't confident enough to confront either alone. But if he chose to join one side, it could greatly sway the other's advantage.

This dilemma left him conflicted. Logically, he should back Venti, but a part of him was reluctant to oppose Scaramouche.

After weighing his options, he decided to wait and observe, ready to act if the need arose.

"Why resort to violence?" Scaramouche spread his hands in a placating gesture. "Why not make a deal? I'll trade the Holy Lyre… in exchange for your Gnosis."

"Though a Gnosis isn't of much use to me, giving it away so easily would be quite a waste," Venti replied, chuckling softly. "Do you think defeating an Archon is that easy?"

Even a weakened Archon like Venti still carried the power and wisdom of millennia. No one would assume that he lacked skill, even if his carefree demeanor suggested otherwise.

In the game's storyline, Venti had indeed once been defeated by the Eighth Harbinger, "La Signora." However, that battle had been colored by Venti's lingering guilt towards Rosalyne, so he had held back "just a little."

But facing Scaramouche, Venti had no reason to pull his punches.

"I admit, I don't have the confidence to defeat you," Scaramouche said, his slender pinky plucking one of the strings of the Holy Lyre as he smiled. "But I am confident that I can destroy the lyre before you beat me."

"Go ahead and break it," Venti replied nonchalantly, smiling as if unfazed. "As long as you don't mind the beating you'll get afterward."

"Don't mind?" Scaramouche sneered. Without hesitation, he yanked at one of the strings with a sharp twang, snapping it in half.

Venti's face immediately betrayed a flicker of pain.

"All right, all right!" he cried out. "Fine, you win. This lyre does mean something to me. So, tell me—what are your terms?"

"Simple." Scaramouche smirked. "We both place our items on the ground, then walk to each other's position to retrieve what we want."

It was clear that this arrangement was meant to prevent any underhanded tricks from either side. After all, neither Venti nor Scaramouche was known for being straightforward.

"As you wish."

Venti sighed, retrieving a Gnosis-shaped chess piece from his chest. "To think that a once-gentle woman would end up raising such a troublesome bunch."

Was he agreeing so easily?

Lucas was taken aback. In his mind, Venti wasn't the type to compromise without a fight.

Both placed the Holy Lyre and the Gnosis down, and then slowly walked toward each other's position.

As they drew closer, Lucas felt an inexplicable tension. Somehow, he doubted things would go this smoothly.

When the two figures crossed paths, Lucas's heart raced, expecting a sudden twist. But to his surprise, they merely walked past each other without incident.

The distance between them was short, and they soon reached each other's items. However, neither of them immediately reached out to claim what they had come for.

"What's wrong?" Venti asked with a smile. "Don't you really want that Gnosis?"

"I do," Scaramouche replied, smirking. "But I know this one's a fake."

With that, Scaramouche lifted his foot and stomped down, shattering the fake Gnosis into pieces.

Before Venti could react, Scaramouche's figure suddenly vanished in a burst of purple mist. From within that mist, another Scaramouche emerged, plunging his hand directly into Venti's chest and ripping out the real Gnosis in his palm.

Venti stumbled back, glaring. "You're resorting to tricks?"

"You started it," Scaramouche scoffed. "Trying to fool me with a fake Gnosis? Did you really think I'd fall for that?"

"Fine," Venti said, visibly displeased. "Since you have the Gnosis, hand the Holy Lyre back to me."

"You mean this?" Scaramouche sneered, raising the Holy Lyre before smashing it to the ground, its delicate frame splintering upon impact.

"Destroying someone's cherished possession feels rather satisfying," he said, grinding the lyre's fragments beneath his heel. "Pathetic Archon. You're nothing special."

"You…!"

For the first time, Venti's eyes flashed with fury, and a swirling vortex of wind began to coil around him.

This was the first time Lucas had ever seen Venti this angry. In his mind, Venti had always been a carefree bard who could laugh off almost anything, even a slap in the face. Clearly, the Holy Lyre was deeply significant to him.

"Finally getting serious?" Scaramouche's eyes gleamed with fervor. "Good. Show me what a god can do."

Nicknamed "Kabukimono," or "The Vagrant," Scaramouche was built to embody destructive power. He was no ordinary foe, strengthened even further by the power gifted to him by the Tsaritsa.

"Wind's Grand Ode!"

A shortbow materialized between Venti's hands, and he loosed an arrow in Scaramouche's direction. Scaramouche sidestepped, smirking.

"Too slow," Scaramouche taunted. "Even Childe's arrows are faster than that…"

But before he could finish, a violent gust erupted behind him. The arrow had transformed into a vortex, a raging Stormeye that sucked in everything nearby.

Scaramouche, standing closest, was instantly caught in the tempest.

In the game, this ability was mostly useful for gathering enemies, but now, fueled by Venti's wrath, it had become a deadly executioner.

"Crush him!"

Venti clenched his hands, and as he did, the force of the vortex intensified. Trees around them splintered under the pressure, and the winds slashed at Scaramouche, shredding his clothing and leaving deep cuts across his skin. Were he a mere mortal, he would have been reduced to mincemeat by now.

"Enough."

Venti finally let go, dispersing the Stormeye. Scaramouche stumbled to the ground, battered and bleeding, his clothes in tatters.

"Have you learned what it means to face a god?" Venti asked coldly. "If I were my old self, you would've been scattered with the wind."

"Stop!"

At that moment, Lucas could no longer remain a silent observer. Stepping out from the shadows, he removed his mask. "It's me!"

"You?" Venti frowned. "Why would you plead for a Harbinger? Do you have ties to the Fatui?"

"I… I'm just thinking about the bigger picture," Lucas replied earnestly. "If a Fatui Harbinger dies here in Mondstadt, it would cause no end of trouble. The Tsaritsa wouldn't let it go unchallenged."

By now, Venti's anger had subsided somewhat. He knew that if he killed Scaramouche, it would only give Snezhnaya grounds to act against Mondstadt.

Besides, he hated unnecessary trouble. If Scaramouche's death stirred Snezhnaya's wrath, his peaceful life as a wandering bard would come to an abrupt end.

As much as he understood the reasoning, Venti still glanced at the shattered Holy Lyre, a flicker of regret in his eyes.

Barbatos, along with Morax, was one of the oldest gods, and for both of them, the rare relics that connected them to their past held special meaning.

But now, one of the few remnants of Venti's connection to his former self had been destroyed beyond repair. There was no way he could forgive Scaramouche so easily.

---

Seeing the conflicted look on Venti's face, Lucas added, "How about this—I'll restore your Holy Lyre in exchange for sparing Scaramouche's life."

"Restore it?" Venti scoffed, giving a helpless smile. "The techniques for crafting the Holy Lyre have been lost for ages, not to mention it's shattered to pieces. There's no way you could fix it."

"How do you know if we don't try?"

Lucas gathered up the fragments of the Holy Lyre and began applying the alchemy techniques he had learned in the simulator. The Holy Lyre's craftsmanship might have been ancient, but its materials were relatively simple. And since Lucas wasn't creating a new instrument but rather restoring an existing one, as long as the molecular structure remained, he could bring it back to its original form.

"There," Lucas said, handing the fully restored lyre back to a stunned Venti. "Good as new."

"Is this… real?" Venti turned the lyre over in his hands, examining it from every angle. "This isn't some kind of illusion, is it?"

"No illusion, just alchemy," Lucas replied calmly.

"Alchemy?" Venti murmured, genuinely impressed. "You really are full of surprises."

In the game's storyline, after the lyre had been damaged, Venti had only managed to pass it off as whole with illusions, which showed just how hard it was to truly restore.

"Just a basic skill I picked up," Lucas said humbly, lifting Scaramouche's unconscious form in his arms. "Now, can I take him and leave?"

After a moment's hesitation, Venti sighed and waved his hand. "Fine, take him. He's learned his lesson anyway. Do with him what you like."

"Thank you," Lucas said with a nod and quickly made his way out, carrying Scaramouche.

Venti watched them leave, a curious expression on his face. "First, he takes all those photos of me, and now he saves this pretty-faced Harbinger… Could he actually be interested in men?"

"Over here! Elemental traces just appeared in this direction!"

At that moment, hurried footsteps sounded as Eula and a group of Knights of Favonius rushed over, drawn by the lingering elemental energy in the air.

"Hey there!" Venti waved at them cheerfully, holding the restored Holy Lyre. "I just—"

"Seize him!"

Before he could finish, Eula seized his shoulder firmly. "We've caught the thief red-handed—a bard, huh? At least you're a somewhat cultured thief."

"Wait, wait! This is a misunderstanding!" Venti cried out, a smile frozen on his face. "I'm not the thief!"

"Save it," Eula said sternly. "You can explain everything back at headquarters."

"I'm innocent!" Venti's pleas of protest faded into the night air as he was led away.

---

Inside the Serenitea Pot.

Lucas didn't bring Scaramouche back to his lodging, as showing up with an injured Harbinger would surely attract unwanted attention.

Instead, he headed to the Serenitea Pot, a safe, hidden space where Raiden Mai had already set up various facilities, making it an ideal place to tend to Scaramouche's wounds.

Though Lucas possessed the [Medical Sage] skill and had restored Scaramouche's body countless times in the simulator, those procedures had always relied on high-end equipment and resources provided by Snezhnaya.

Currently, the Serenitea Pot's setup was far too basic for such an intricate repair. Unlike the Holy Lyre, Scaramouche's body was a complex, precision-made puppet. Lucas's level of alchemical skill was nowhere near enough to guarantee a full restoration, and even a minor error could have fatal consequences.

Just as he found himself at a loss, Raiden Mai appeared beside him, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Scanning in progress…"

Raiden Mai's eyes scanned Scaramouche rapidly, analyzing him with an unfeeling expression. "Unit 0000 detected. Initial model, damage level at 78%, beyond self-repair limits. Core is critically damaged and irreparable. Estimated time until complete failure: one hour."

Of course!

Lucas suddenly remembered that Raiden Mai, like Scaramouche, was also a puppet created by the Raiden Ei. If anyone could restore him, it would be her.

"Is there a way to save him?" he asked urgently.

Raiden Mai hesitated briefly, then nodded. "If it is your wish, there is one solution."

"And that is?" Lucas pressed.

"All puppets rely on their core as the essential component," she explained, tapping her chest. "If my core is implanted in him, he will be restored."

"And… what would happen to you?" A feeling of unease stirred in Lucas.

"I would cease to function, just as a human would die without a heart." Her tone was calm, almost indifferent. "Would you like me to initiate the process? All you need to do is remove my core and implant it into him."

"No…" Lucas shook his head firmly. "Trading one life for another? I can't do that."

After all, while Scaramouche resembled the one from the simulator, he wasn't the same person.

Based on what he knew, Scaramouche was, at best, a cunning and untrustworthy individual.

"Wait!" A thought suddenly crossed his mind. "If it's only a matter of having a core, then couldn't I… create a new one?"

"That's correct." Raiden Mai nodded. "But there's only one core here."

"No…" Lucas's face lit up with a smile. "I think I can make another."

Repairing Scaramouche was indeed challenging, but crafting a replacement puppet core using alchemy alone simplified things considerably.

"Mai!" Lucas called, struck by an idea. "Could you let me examine your core?"

To recreate an object with alchemy, he needed both the materials and an understanding of its structure. With something as complex as a "puppet core," seeing the internal layout was essential.

"Of course."

With no hesitation, Raiden Mai began to unfasten her collar.

Despite knowing she was a puppet, Lucas couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious about watching her perform such a gesture in front of him.

Especially given that her body was so lifelike, with skin that even felt and appeared real.

"Please proceed," Raiden Mai said, her face impassive. "To access my inner compartment, you'll need to input a code."

"A code?" Lucas's cheeks flushed slightly. "Not to mention, I don't even know what the code is. And if I did… how exactly would I input it?"

There didn't seem to be any obvious interface for it.

"My model number is LD0413. The password is 0413," Raiden Mai explained. "You input the code by pressing specific buttons according to the numbers."

"Buttons?" Lucas looked at her in confusion. "Where are these buttons?"

"In order to make puppets as lifelike as possible, all controls are integrated into the body," she said with a slight pause. "Wherever you think the buttons might be, that's where they'll be."

Where they "might" be?

Lucas froze for a moment before it dawned on him.

"Is… is that really how it works?" he murmured, realizing what she meant. "So, I press four times on the left, and then thirteen on the right?"

He couldn't help but wonder if the buttons would hold up under that much pressure.

"No, the left side controls the first two digits, and the right side the last two," Raiden Mai continued in her usual calm tone. "So, four on the left, and thirteen on the right."

Incredible technology! Lucas wondered how Raiden Ei had come up with such a "creative" solution.

"Uh… could you… press them yourself?" he asked, hoping to dodge the task.

"Puppets are unable to self-operate in this way," Raiden Mai replied, shaking her head. "Also, I should mention that unit LD0000's damage level is continuing to rise."

"Fine! I understand!" Lucas forced himself to focus and pressed the designated "buttons."

However, the buttons weren't quite what he had pictured… In fact, they didn't resemble buttons at all.

But when pressed, they did pop back like buttons, more or less.

"Pressing down one centimeter will ensure proper input," Raiden Mai added. "Please proceed; puppets do not experience pain."

One centimeter down?

Lucas swallowed and pressed with a bit more force, feeling her body give way slightly as he pushed the "button."

With a soft sound, Raiden Mai let out a barely audible hum.

"What's wrong?" Lucas immediately stopped, concerned he might have broken something.

"It's simply the feedback sound indicating a successful input," she replied. "This sound can be changed if desired to something like 'Ah,' 'Oh,' or even 'Mmm'—"

"Let's… stick with the default," Lucas quickly resumed pressing, eager to avoid any further awkwardness.

Finally, after seventeen inputs and seventeen feedback sounds, he succeeded in opening Raiden Mai's inner compartment. Unlike a human body, her internal structure was complex, revealing a pulsing core that glowed faintly, resembling a beating heart.

"Please be careful," she said, with a rare trace of concern in her voice. "Once removed, I will immediately cease functioning. If it isn't reinstalled within thirty minutes, my system will shut down completely."

"I understand." Lucas nodded, carefully extracting the core from her chest.

As soon as the core was removed, Raiden Mai's gaze lost all life, her body going limp like a machine suddenly cut off from its power source.

Lucas wasted no time, diving into his analysis of the core's structure. Fortunately, though intricately designed, it didn't require particularly rare materials. Most components could be found within the Serenitea Pot.

He retrieved Scaramouche's damaged core and confirmed that its design was nearly identical to Mei's. Using the broken core as a base, he began reconstructing it through alchemy.

Of course, given that Raiden Ei had originally created it, not all materials could be easily sourced. The most crucial component, Amethyst, was exclusive to Inazuma and a highly rare Shogunate resource, unavailable on the market.

Thankfully, Lucas still had a Philosopher's Stone on hand, which could substitute any material needed in alchemy synthesis.

Like a wild card in a game, the Philosopher's Stone could act as any required component.

Success!

With Raiden Mai's core design analyzed, Lucas managed to create an identical core. He quickly installed it into each puppet's chest cavity.

"Rebooting…"

Seeing Raiden Mai come back to life reassured Lucas; his heart finally calmed down.

Scaramouche, however, remained unconscious.

"What's going on?" Lucas asked anxiously. "Why hasn't Scaramouche woken up yet? Is something wrong?"

"Replacing the core was the most critical step," Raiden Mai explained. "I'll take over from here and handle the remaining repairs."

"Thank you. Please restore him to the same…" Lucas's voice trailed off as darkness closed in, and he collapsed.

Although he didn't operate with "magic points" or "stamina bars," performing alchemy twice in rapid succession had drained him. Now that the immediate danger was past, his exhaustion caught up with him, and he fainted on the spot.

Raiden Mai swiftly caught him as he fell, murmuring, "Restore him to be just like me… Understood, Master. I will fulfill your instructions."

Gently, Raiden Mai carried Lucas to the adjoining rest room and laid him down to recuperate. She then returned alone to the room where Scaramouche lay, his eyes closed as he lay motionless on the hospital bed. Mei's expression grew pensive as she looked at him, and she murmured to herself:

"First, let's get rid of… the unnecessary parts."

Just like in the simulator, Scaramouche's body as a "puppet" was constructed with many modular components that could be added or removed as needed.

However, unlike the simulator, after countless years, Scaramouche had chosen to reinforce his self-image by attaching certain "male accessories."

Naturally, this "addition" was purely decorative—there was no functional mechanism to operate it.

Seeing this part, even the typically stoic Raiden Mai couldn't help but twitch at the corners of her mouth.

What… is this? A teapot?

It looked like something a kindergarten student would put together for an arts-and-crafts project. Though Mai had never seen a real one, she was certain this shape had no resemblance to anything a human body would naturally possess.

And the positioning was strange too. In fact, it wasn't exactly "attached" at all—more like it had simply been tucked into place.

Now, seeing this absurdly unnecessary piece, Raiden Mai coolly raised her tool, and with one clean cut, removed it entirely.

---

Raiden Mai examined the small "accessory" she had removed, shook her head in disapproval, and tossed it into the trash bin.

On the LD model of puppet, such additions were utterly unnecessary.

To Raiden Mai, all of Raiden Ei's creations were based on her own perfect design, and adding anything extra was, in her view, a "desecration" of that perfection.

What? Why does a puppet need such an ample "buffer zone" in the chest area?

Well, obviously, it's there to protect the puppet's core with a cushion!

"No wonder the core was so badly damaged," Raiden Mai murmured, frowning at Scaramouche's relatively flat chest. "Being the first model, it's no surprise the protective measures were a bit lacking. Fine, I'll install a C-sized buffer… no, maybe a D-sized one."

"Wait, the master did say to make her exactly like me…" Raiden Mai hesitated, then decided, "I suppose E-size it is."

Raiden Mai, unlike Lucas, couldn't craft an intricate puppet core. However, the repairs on other body components were well within her capabilities as a puppet. 

Little did Scaramouche know, but that night would mark a major turning point in… well, her life.

---

The Next Morning

"Yawn…"

Lucas stretched and sat up, rubbing his eyes. To his surprise, Raiden Mai was standing beside his bed. As he awoke, she inclined her head and announced, "Master, the operation was a success."

"Really?" Lucas was instantly alert, his fatigue forgotten. "Has Scaramouche regained consciousness?"

"Not yet," she replied. "Estimated time to wake is approximately one hour."

"Take me to see her," he said, grabbing Raiden Mai's hand.

The instant Lucas touched her, Raiden Mai seemed to freeze momentarily, as though her system briefly paused, but she quickly returned to her composed self. "Please, follow me."

When they reached Scaramouche, Lucas's smile froze in place as he looked at her resting on the bed, her face peacefully flushed.

"It's definitely Scaramouche, but…" Lucas's face reddened. "But… I don't remember things being this… well, big."

Neither in real life nor in the simulator had things looked like this.

He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things and then stammered, "H-how did she end up… like this?"

"Isn't this what you instructed?" Raiden Mai replied calmly, expression unchanging. "You requested that I restore her to be just like me."

Lucas suddenly realized his mistake.

It was his incomplete instruction that had caused the misunderstanding.

Of course, he couldn't entirely blame Mai; she was, after all, a puppet and followed orders precisely.

Besides, she had already mentioned that Scaramouche would wake within the hour, so he doubted they had time to make further adjustments.

"It's… fine, just like this," Lucas said with a sheepish smile. "You did well. Thank you."

"It was my duty," Raiden Mai nodded. "Additionally, I took the liberty of programming commands into her puppet core. She will now, like me, prioritize carrying out your instructions."

Could she really do that?

While it might be a bit excessive, Lucas figured he could just avoid using that function. After all, Mai had spent the entire night painstakingly working on Scaramouche's repairs; it would be rude to complain.

Lucas decided not to let Scaramouche awaken inside the teapot domain, so he transported her back to the real world.

---

A while later, Scaramouche stirred from unconsciousness and opened her eyes groggily.

"Am I… still alive?"

The unfamiliar ceiling, the strange scents, and… an unusual sensation in her body?

Scaramouche sat up abruptly, feeling an unexpected weight on her chest that wasn't there before.

She slowly looked down and found that she could no longer see her own feet.

What… is this?

Why does my body have these things now?

A thought struck her, and she frantically reached downward.

Nothing there!

The plug had become a socket!

Her last memory was of being shredded by Venti's Stormeye. But now, there was no sign of damage on her body.

Could it be that I was retrieved and then modified by the Doctor?

Considering the Doctor's twisted nature, she couldn't put such an idea past him.

"Damn…" she muttered, scanning her surroundings to get a sense of the situation. But then, she heard a faint sizzling sound from a nearby room.

Her guard instantly went up, and she moved cautiously in that direction, where she spotted a man's back, standing in what appeared to be a kitchen.

Not the Doctor!

The figure's back seemed vaguely familiar, but she was certain she didn't know this man.

Friend or foe?

For Scaramouche, it was a simple question—she didn't have any friends.

She crept silently toward Lucas, intending to subdue him from behind, but just as she raised her fist, her body froze mid-motion, her arm hanging in the air, refusing to follow her command.

Why can't I hit him? Why won't my body move?

Scaramouche struggled, trying to comprehend why she couldn't land the punch. It wasn't an external force stopping her—it was her own mind, somehow refusing to let her strike.

Lucas, sensing something amiss, turned around to find Scaramouche frozen mid-swing, caught in a strange, awkward position. 

Their eyes met, and Scaramouche's gaze widened instantly. 

It was him—the "Doctor" from her dreams.

Though he looked younger and dressed differently, his face and that unmistakable aura were exactly the same.

"You're… him?" Scaramouche stammered.

"That's right, it's me," Lucas nodded with a calm smile. "I was the one who saved you."

Scaramouche quickly composed herself, mentally scolding herself for confusing her dream with reality. It was absurd to think that a figure from her dreams could show up here.

"Why do I look like this?" Scaramouche demanded, frustration clear on her face. "What did you do to me?"

Lucas had anticipated her reaction. After all, anyone who woke up to discover they'd been transformed would probably be just as shocked.

He could tell that she had intended to ambush him—her nature was something he'd already learned well through the simulator.

Scaramouche trusted no one.

Even if he was her rescuer, her instinct was to eliminate any perceived threat first.

As for why her attack suddenly stopped midway, it was likely because of the "command" Raiden Mai had inputted into her puppet core: a command that prevented her from attacking him.

"This might take a while to explain," Lucas said as he poured the freshly cooked bacon onto a plate. "How about we discuss it over breakfast?"

After seeing his face, a flood of questions filled Scaramouche's mind. She hesitated before nodding. "No pepper… on the bacon."

"Of course. Double butter, no pepper. Already prepared just how you like it," Lucas replied smoothly.

It was exactly how Scaramouche liked her food.

Though she didn't actually need to eat, she'd long kept up the habit as part of her effort to seem more human. Whether it was due to the energy demands of battle or the fact that as a puppet she wouldn't gain weight, she had a particular weakness for high-calorie foods.

But how did he know my preferences?

It must just be a coincidence, she told herself.

"So, I was out on a late-night walk last night," Lucas began his prepared explanation as they sat at the table, "and happened upon you, unconscious and severely injured."

"Taking a stroll at four in the morning?" Scaramouche raised an eyebrow, still suspicious, as she bit into a slice of bacon.

The degree of crispness, the balance of butter—it was just like the meal prepared by the person in her dreams.

"Everyone has their own habits," Lucas replied casually. "Anyway, I saw you lying there, badly hurt. The hospital wasn't open that early, so I brought you back to treat your injuries myself."

"And you uncovered my 'secret' in the process?" Scaramouche's eyes narrowed.

"That's right. Turns out you're not quite human," Lucas replied with a smile, making no attempt to hide the truth. "Lucky for you, I happen to know a little alchemy, so I gave it a shot and patched you up."

"You're a reckless one," she scowled. "Do you realize that if you'd made even the slightest mistake, I might never have woken up?"

"But you're awake now, aren't you?" Lucas shrugged. "If I hadn't tried, you'd have died there anyway."

"Fine, but let's set that aside…" Scaramouche glanced down at her chest, an edge of anger in her voice. "Would you care to explain why my body is… like this?"

"Well, it's like this," Lucas answered as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world. "Your core is the most crucial part, but it lacked proper protection. So, I took the liberty of adding some armor."

"Armor?" Scaramouche shot him a skeptical look. "This soft armor is supposed to protect me?"

"It's specifically designed to cushion impacts and absorb shocks," Lucas improvised. "If you'd had it before, maybe you wouldn't have taken such severe damage last night."

"And you don't find my condition or my identity the least bit suspicious?" Scaramouche asked, her tone wary.

"My grandfather is ninety-two this year," Lucas replied offhandedly. "Still in perfect health."

"What does that have to do with me?" she asked, baffled.

"What do you have to do with me?" he countered. "Besides, my grandfather's longevity is probably due to minding his own business."

He had that same infuriating demeanor as the Doctor from her dreams!

"Fine," Scaramouche muttered, grudgingly accepting his nonchalance. Suddenly, she remembered something and stretched out her hand, looking away. "Give it… back."

"Give back what?" Lucas tilted his head innocently. "I didn't take anything from you."

"You did!" Scaramouche's face flushed as she insisted, "The… the thing you removed from me!"

"Oh, that?" Lucas smirked as if recalling something trivial. "Why do you even want that thing?"

"It's something I made myself," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It has sentimental value."

"Well, it's not exactly well-crafted," Lucas teased. "It's already in the trash."

"I… I've never seen the real thing!" Scaramouche's tone grew indignant, feeling as though she'd been mocked. "If I had, I could have made it perfectly!"

"Sure, sure," Lucas said with a soft laugh, his gaze warm.

Time felt as if it had turned back to his days in the simulator, where Lucas, as the "Doctor," would often tease Scaramouche, and her flustered, exasperated reactions were always the same.

"If you don't believe me, show me yours!"

Her irritation flaring, Scaramouche lunged at Lucas, catching him off guard. In an instant, his face was buried against her newly-added "armor," leaving him completely immobilized.

For some reason, her actions felt oddly familiar. Before Lucas could react, his "reference" had already been… uncovered.

For a moment, Scaramouche froze.

Her gaze was drawn entirely to what she was seeing.

Compared to her own handmade version, this one was clearly more… robust.

Wait a second… why does it look so familiar?

That's it! The shape, even the scent—it was just like the one from her dreams.

"Stop!" Lucas commanded, his voice steady but firm.

At his command, Scaramouche's body froze once more, r

eleasing her hold on him and obediently stepping back.

It was only then that Lucas remembered: Raiden Mai had indeed implanted a command in her core, compelling her to obey his orders.

---