Genshin Impact: I'm The Envoy of Snezhnaya
Chapter 447: The Empty "Save File"
Bai Luo had never intended to replace Aether.
That might bring a moment of amusement, but if the truth were exposed, the fun he'd lose afterward would be even greater. That wasn't what Bai Luo wanted.
So he decided to make up a story—a story that Lumine would believe.
After all, making up stories was what he did best.
As for how to explain this so-called "save file," that wasn't difficult either.
The Doctor's reputation was well known. He could simply pin the explanation on him. After all, the Doctor also possessed something similar to save files: his Segments.
"The Abyss?"
When it came to the Abyss, the only thing Lumine really knew about was the Abyss Mages. So... an image suddenly appeared in her mind: an Abyss Mage with Aether's face.
Oh no. She was definitely going to remember that image for a long time.
"Is there any way to save him?"
Without realizing it, Lumine had already lowered some of her guard toward Bai Luo.
It made sense. Aside from his appearance having little in common with Aether, this "save file" Aether had left behind was almost identical to him in every other way. He even wore Aether's earring.
How could something like that possibly be fake?
"I didn't leave behind any information explaining why I became the Abyss Prince. If you want to save me... then at the very least, you'll have to do what I did: complete a journey, reach its end, and let this world's experiences settle into your eyes."
Bai Luo explained.
"And even if I reach the end, what then?" Lumine said with a bitter smile. "Even if I walk the same road he once walked and experience everything he experienced, if I still can't find him, then all of it will have been for nothing."
Lumine had once believed that as long as she found Bai Luo, she would eventually find Aether.
Now it seemed that Bai Luo truly did know where Aether was. He had even once been a part of him.
But now... all he could do was find her and ask her to save Aether.
"Who says you can't find him?"
A strange smile slowly spread across Bai Luo's face.
"Perhaps because he feared something might happen to him at the end of the journey, when Aether left me behind as a save file, he also granted me certain privileges."
"For example... I can sense where he is."
"So that means..."
"That means, if I want to, I can find him whenever I wish."
Those words instantly filled Lumine with excitement. Afraid Bai Luo might disappear, she lunged toward him without thinking.
"Take me to him!"
But instead of grabbing him, she passed straight through Bai Luo's body and stumbled face-first onto the ground. It took her a moment before she realized what had happened.
"Putting aside whether the current you could persuade him, I can't appear before him for the time being."
Indeed, he couldn't.
He had knocked Aether unconscious with those sour fruits, taken down a whole group of his subordinates, stolen his earring before leaving... and finally tricked away his sister.
There was no way Bai Luo dared show his face in front of him now.
"I'm sorry, but because of certain circumstances, he's extremely hostile toward me. He even completely denies my existence. Later on, he'll probably tell you that I've been lying to you."
Bai Luo was doing everything he could to patch up the story of becoming Aether's "save file." He had even anticipated what Aether might say in the future.
But Lumine wasn't foolish. After hearing that, she asked,
"Then... isn't it possible that you've really been lying to me this entire time?"
The chances might be slim, but they weren't zero.
Her question didn't fluster Bai Luo in the slightest.
On the contrary, he'd expected her to ask exactly that.
"Whether my words are true or false isn't for me to decide."
"It's for you."
"For me?"
"Go through this journey. Examine every detail. Think carefully about every clue. Verify every word I've said."
"I believe that, by then, you'll naturally arrive at your own answer."
Bai Luo's calm confidence made Lumine believe him a little more.
He was right. If what he said was true, then during her travels she would gradually uncover clues. Once she pieced them together, she would naturally know whether Bai Luo had been lying.
"All right. Time's about up. If I stay any longer, it might cause unnecessary trouble."
"We'll meet again, Lumine."
"At least..." she called after him.
"At least tell me where he is right now. Let that be proof that what you've told me is true."
As Bai Luo gradually became translucent, Lumine called out to him.
Her question was also a form of provocation, hoping to force him into answering.
But Bai Luo didn't respond.
Instead, just like the first time she had met him in Whispering Woods, pale blue particles enveloped his body. In the next instant, he vanished from before her without a trace.
Lumine was about to sigh in disappointment, but just before Bai Luo disappeared completely, he let out a quiet sigh and said one last sentence.
"He's here, within Stormterror's Lair."
With those words, Bai Luo vanished completely.
Only Lumine remained, holding Paimon in her arms, gazing up at Celestia in the distant sky, lost in thought.
. . .
"Phew... I managed to bluff my way through."
After putting some distance between himself and Lumine, Bai Luo finally let out a sigh of relief.
Lumine was even smarter than he'd expected.
Fortunately, fooling smart people was sometimes easier than fooling ordinary ones.
Just like this time, he had used the same trick he'd relied on countless times before:
Trust.
Most people tend to believe the things they themselves conclude to be true.
Lumine was no exception.
When she followed Bai Luo's advice and experienced everything for herself, she would inevitably meet Aether again.
And when that happened...
As soon as she tried talking to him, she'd discover that almost everything Aether said had already been said by Bai Luo before.
Would Lumine find that strange?
Of course not.
She would simply assume that, as Aether's "save file," it was only natural for Bai Luo to speak in much the same way as the original.
As a result, she'd subconsciously come to believe that Bai Luo's version of events was the correct one.
Coupled with the undeniable fact that Aether truly was the Abyss Prince, as well as his parting ways with Dainsleif, even if Lumine trusted her brother unconditionally, she still wouldn't be able to completely dismiss Bai Luo's words.
Most importantly...
There was the mark Bai Luo had left on Aether.
As long as Aether remained within the range of his perception, Bai Luo could locate him anytime, anywhere.
It was practically a bug-level ability, and far more convincing than any explanation he could possibly give.
In short...
Bai Luo had already planted a seed within Lumine.
That seed would gradually sprout and, one day in the future, bloom into a completely different flower.
Every time Bai Luo imagined the furious expression that might appear on Aether's face, he couldn't help but grin with delight.
"Hehehe..."
Next...
It was time to deal with the little kitten in his arms.
He had to admit that Silver's potion was incredibly potent—far stronger than the one he'd gotten from Cyno.
Its effect had taken hold much faster than Bai Luo had expected.
The only question now was how long it would last.
In any case, he'd better take him back first.
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Tn: I updated the story once every 2 days, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
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