It had to be said that Arlecchino's deduction was flawlessly logical. Even Tartaglia, who usually preferred combat to schemes, couldn't find a single hole in her reasoning. In front of this cold, serious woman, secrets tended to unravel like frayed silk.
Childe had always respected her more than the "maniacs" like Signora or Scaramouche; at least with the "Knave," you knew exactly where the blade was coming from.
"So, what's your plan?"
"I'm heading to Liyue myself," Arlecchino replied, her voice steady. "I'll investigate this until I have a definitive answer. Inform the Jester... it's safer if I move alone."
"Wait—Arlecchino!" Childe's eyes widened. "If Rosalyne truly defected, you won't be safe. You're walking into a trap."
She didn't stop her pace. Her voice drifted back through the freezing darkness and swirling aurora. "I do not tolerate betrayal within the Fatui. Confirming her status is a piece of intelligence we cannot afford to ignore, regardless of the risk."
Her silhouette vanished into the blizzard. Watching the endless white, Childe sighed. "A season of storms, indeed..."
With Snezhnaya effectively under a declaration of war, their intelligence network was paralyzed. He knew Su Han was likely fortifying his borders; any slip-up would invite a lightning strike. For the first time, Childe wondered if being an enemy of that man was simply a mistake he couldn't take back.
[The Doctor's Ambition]
Inside the palace, Pierro looked at Dottore, his voice stern. "The next phase depends on you. Do not disappoint Her Majesty."
"Hehe... I'm not like those two failures," Dottore chuckled behind his mask, his voice a distorted, mad rasp. "Sumeru is my playground. Though, I must admit, that 'World Tree' in the ocean makes my eyes itch. I'd love to see how it burns... it would be such an exquisite experiment."
The other Harbingers remained silent; they were used to his lunacy. Dottore's status was untouchable because his twisted genius fueled the majority of Snezhnaya's military technology.
"Aside from Sumeru, you have other orders, don't you, Pierro?" Sandrone asked, her doll-like eyes fixed on the Jester.
"The martial techniques of those three nations have been publicized," Pierro noted. "I want our elite units to master this 'Haki' and their combat styles. To defeat an enemy, we must first become them. Furthermore, Her Majesty expects us to reclaim our dignity. Our diplomacy is being strangled by the Liyue banking system; we must strike back with precision."
"And what of Scaramouche?" Columbina asked, tilting her head. "He hasn't been seen since Inazuma fell."
"Let him wander," Pierro stated firmly. "There is no place in those three nations for him. He will crawl back to Snezhnaya eventually. And if he betrays us... I will personally dismantle that puppet."
[A Warm Breeze in Sumeru]
On the other side of the world, in a quiet wooden hut in Gandharva Ville, a young girl with light green hair yawned as she polished her boomerang. Collei was exhausted after a full day of forest patrols. Just as she prepared to sleep, a voice called from outside.
"Collei! You've got a letter and a big package!"
She opened the door to find a young forest ranger holding a bundle. "It's from Amber in Mondstadt," he grinned. "Sorry I'm late—I had letters for Master Tighnari and Lady Dori too. Today has been a marathon!"
Collei thanked him and retreated into her room, a warm smile touching her tired face. "It's been so long, Amber..."
Despite the distance, the two kept a steady correspondence. For Collei, Amber was the sun that had pulled her out of the darkness of her past. She tore open the envelope to find a hand-drawn sketch of a winking Baron Bunny.
"Hey Collei! Miss me? It's Amber! I sent some snacks—they're Mondstadt specialties. If they haven't arrived yet, get ready to be shocked! They are amazing!"
Collei giggled. No matter how tired she was, Amber's energy was infectious. She flipped to the second page, which detailed Amber's daily life.
"Guess what? I'm the commander of a thousand-man unit now! Hmph, pretty impressive, right? You have to work hard too—remember our promise to grow stronger together! Also, in the package, I included a manual for Haki training. I personally begged Big Brother Su Han for it. It's a top-secret technique, so keep it safe! Mastering it will help your body feel much better..."
Collei's eyes misted over. Even miles away, Amber was constantly worrying about her health and her "Eleazar" condition.
Then, she found a photograph tucked inside. It showed a magnificent, towering tree rising from the middle of the ocean, its canopy touching the clouds.
"This... is this real?" Collei gasped.
The letter continued: "See that? That's the World Tree Big Brother Su Han planted. It's growing every day and purifying the air. When you're free, you HAVE to come to Mondstadt. I'll take you there! There are even tiny elves living in the branches!"
Collei flipped through more photos: Amber and Paimon fighting over a plate of food, practitioners training under red maple trees, and shots of the vibrant new Liyue. It looked like a fairytale.
At the very end of the letter, Amber's tone became serious.
"We've been apart for so long, and I miss you dearly. Training is hard, but I'm getting stronger every day. Collei... I will never forget the people who hurt you. I will personally hunt down those Fatui scoundrels for what they did. Anyone who touched you will answer to me."
Collei broke down, the letter trembling in her hands as she sobbed. To be loved and protected by someone so bright... it was more than she ever felt she deserved.
"Amber... Amber... I miss you too..."
She opened the large package to find chocolates, juices, and high-end protective gear. But the centerpiece was a sleek, new-model Projector—a luxury item usually reserved for the elite. It was pre-loaded with footage of Mondstadt and the new World Tree.
Collei didn't know the exact price, but she knew it was worth years of a forest ranger's salary. "Amber, you silly girl... you shouldn't spend so much on me," she whispered, clutching a piece of chocolate to her chest, her heart fuller than it had been in years.
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