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Under the cover of night, Childe walked casually into a dark, secluded alleyway. A shadow emerged from the gloom, its form flickering with a faint, crimson light—it was a Fatui Debt Collector. The agent moved with practiced silence, half-kneeling on the cold stone floor to deliver his report.
My lord, the reinforcements dispatched from Snezhnaya have arrived. They are currently positioned in the outskirts and are awaiting your orders.
Childe nodded, his expression unreadable in the moonlight. Good, they moved faster than I anticipated. There's still some time before the Rite of Descension begins, so tell them to stay out of sight for now.
Yes, I understand. It's just... just...
The Debt Collector hesitated, his voice trailing off as if he were unsure whether to continue. Childe cast a sharp, sideways glance at the man. If you have something to say, just say it. Don't waste my time with hesitation.
I apologize, my lord. I am merely concerned. Are we truly going to attempt an assassination of the Geo Archon during the Rite of Descension?
The Debt Collector gritted his teeth as he finally forced the words out, immediately lowering his head to wait for his superior's reaction. Although he didn't dare to look up, he could feel a sudden, freezing chill emanating from the Harbinger. The air in the alley seemed to grow heavy, mirroring the dangerous aura that surrounded the young man standing before him.
That is not for you to worry about. If you've joined the ranks of the Fatui, you should have already prepared yourself to be a sacrifice for the Tsaritsa at any moment. Even if you find yourself standing against the Seven themselves, you must not hesitate for a single second.
Childe's tone was as cold and biting as a Snezhnayan blizzard, causing the Debt Collector to break into a cold sweat. As a member of the Fatui, his loyalty to the Cryo Archon was absolute and unquestionable. However, as a mere mortal, the prospect of facing a god head-on felt like a suicide mission with zero chance of victory.
I understand, my lord. Please forgive my insolence.
Hmph. It's for the best that you remember your place. Do what you're told and stay focused. By the way, look into that outlander named Xu Luo again. Investigate him thoroughly. I don't want anyone interfering with our plans when the time comes.
Once Childe finished speaking, he turned and vanished into the night. The Debt Collector followed suit, melting into the shadows of the alley as if he had never been there at all. It was a testament to the sheer audacity of the Fatui that they would even dream of attacking a god in the heart of his own nation. Childe's arrogance was truly on another level if he believed he could simply assassinate the oldest of the Seven.
Little did they know, their entire conversation had been overheard. A certain street-wandering consultant happened to be "passing by" the entrance of the alley at that exact moment. If it weren't for the fact that his retirement plan was already in motion, Mr. Zhongli might have been tempted to settle the matter right then and there.
Assassinate the Geo Archon at the ceremony? Zhongli sighed inwardly as he continued his walk. Even if every Fatui agent in Teyvat mobilized at once, they wouldn't have enough strength to survive a single strike if he chose to get serious. Fortunately, he had already planned for his "death" during the Rite of Descension. If he wasn't planning on playing dead anyway, he wouldn't even know how to react to an assassination attempt by such a bunch of weaklings. It would have been far too awkward to pretend he was in danger.
The next morning, the sun rose over the docks of Liyue Harbor, casting a golden glow across the bustling port. The hardworking people of the city were already up and starting their day, with sailors and merchants moving back and forth across the pier. As for Xu Luo, he was still fast asleep in his bed. He had decided that since he didn't feel like accepting any commissions today, he was going to enjoy the luxury of sleeping in.
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that he finally rolled out of bed, lazily got dressed, and headed over to Wanmin Restaurant for a late lunch. A full day had passed since the first broadcast, yet the streets were still buzzing with talk about the Second Creation Live Studio and the "Master Carver" incident. People were laughing and theorizing about who might be featured next.
While he ate his meal, Xu Luo leaned back and began brainstorming ideas for his second video. He had so many choices from across the continent. On the Liyue side, he had Ningguang, Beidou, Ganyu, Shenhe, Yun Jin, Xiao, and even the "Chatterbox" Cloud Retainer. He could feature Zhongli's lack of Mora or Childe's battle-hungry nature.
Then there was Mondstadt. He could focus on Jean, Barbara, Lisa, Amber, Eula, Rosaria, or the "Tone-Deaf Bard" Venti. There were also the kids like Klee and Diona, or the ever-suspicious Kaeya and Albedo. And he couldn't forget Inazuma across the sea. He had the Raiden Shogun, Ei, Kujou Sara, Yae Miko, Ayaka, Sayu, and even Arataki Itto.
It was a bit overwhelming. He had seen thousands of fan-made videos back in his old world before he crossed over, and he had hundreds of high-quality masterpieces saved in his mental collection. Every one of those ideas represented a potential reward from his system. This was the true meaning of happiness—having a limitless supply of content to share with a confused and unsuspecting world.
So, who would be the lucky victim today? As he glanced out the window, his eyes caught sight of the Jade Chamber floating majestically in the sky above the city. A lightbulb went off in his head.
I was brought to Liyue by Beidou, and I've met Ningguang and Keqing once before. Since they've already helped me out in their own way, I should probably return the favor by making them famous.
Xu Luo chuckled to himself as he settled on his choice. For this next Second Creation video, he would feature the Tianquan of the Qixing and the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean. He could already imagine how "happy" Ningguang and Beidou would be once the video started playing. With a mischievous grin, he finished his lunch and prepared to activate the broadcast. He was sure the residents of Teyvat were in for a real treat this time. After all, what could be more entertaining than seeing two of the most powerful women in Liyue in a completely ridiculous situation? He opened his system interface, selected the appropriate video file, and hit the start button. It was time for the show to begin.