At the Fatui camp on Dragonspine, the once quiet encampment was suddenly filled with waves of agonized howling. The sheer intensity of the screams was enough to make the Fatui stationed there proactively head out to "carry out missions," just to avoid being anywhere nearby.
"Hey, brat, take it easy! I am made of flesh, not iron! Ow!"
The moment they returned to their own territory, Hammer Guy completely dropped the act. His cries of pain never stopped. Seeing their captain like this, Pyro Gunner Guy and Geo Staff Guy were too embarrassed to show their faces and could only stay holed up inside the tent.
Meanwhile, the Anemo Skirmisher, who was calmly wrapping bandages around himself, watched his old comrade suffer with a wide grin. After more than ten years together, this was the first time he had ever seen Hammer Guy acting so dramatic.
If Hammer Guy knew what the Skirmisher was thinking, he might have jumped up and smashed him with a hammer. Damn it all, if his body had not been as tough as it was, he might actually have died back there.
"By the way, Captain," Pyro Gunner Guy asked, "were we not supposed to be searching Dragonspine for that bastard who played with your daughter's feelings? This mountain is huge. How are we supposed to find him?"
"You are asking me? Who do you think I would ask?" Hammer Guy snapped. "I never worked under Lady Signora. All I know is that the kid operates on Dragonspine, has a scar on his face, and he is a Debt Collector."
"Tsk, l-l..."
A sharp pain flared at Hammer Guy's wound, and he was just about to curse when a thought struck him.
Wait.
There was a Debt Collector right next to him.
"Kid," Hammer Guy said, glaring at the man treating his wounds, "are you not the boss of the Dragonspine Debt Collectors? Let me ask you, do you have anyone under you with a scar on his face who is always sending letters to Inazuma?"
"That is not something you can ask me," the Debt Collector replied calmly. "Debt Collectors all have separate areas of operation. And we wear masks. We do not recognize each other by appearance. I do not know who you are talking about."
His hand trembled slightly as he treated the wound, but the excellent training drilled into him back in Snezhnaya allowed him to regain composure almost instantly. His flawless acting prevented anyone in the tent from noticing anything unusual. After a few complaints about how incompetent he was as a "boss," the matter was dropped.
"Boss! Your letter arrived. It is from your girlfriend in Inazuma," one of his subordinates said, waving an envelope. "She even sent some Naku Weed seeds. But... with how icy it is here, can they even grow?"
Damn it.
Seeing the envelope in his subordinate's hand, the Debt Collector could only laugh bitterly inside. With the Anemo Skirmisher already blocking the tent entrance, he awkwardly turned to Hammer Guy, who was lying on the cot.
"H-Hello, Father-in-law! You look really healthy, haha... haha..."
"You are the little bastard who ran off with my precious daughter?!"
"Father-in-law, Father-in-law, you cannot move yet. Your wounds are not treated!"
Hammer Guy instinctively reached for his hammer, ready to show this Debt Collector the might of a veteran with ten years of service. Unfortunately, Su Bai had already taken the hammer with him. Otherwise, the tent might truly have turned into a crime scene.
"Old friend," Hammer Guy barked, "are you not my daughter's godfather? Get him. Hit him for me too."
The Skirmisher looked at the Debt Collector's pitiful expression. In the end, the fist he raised slowly lowered again.
This brat might have stolen away the most precious thing in his life, but he was not a bad person. Leaving his goddaughter in this kid's hands... he could accept that.
"That is enough," the Skirmisher said. "Stop yelling. Kid, keep treating his wounds. Relax. You are not getting beaten today."
He patted the Debt Collector on the shoulder, prompting a long sigh of relief. Thank the Tsaritsa. His earlier performance must have gone over well.
"But," the Skirmisher added, "from now on, you are part of our squad."
"...Huh?"
"What are you confused about? Cannot bear to give up your position as a Debt Collector leader?" The Skirmisher grinned. "After we finish our Liyue assignment, we are heading to Inazuma. Do you not want to see your beloved? Otherwise, I might just have a nice chat with my goddaughter about this."
"No, no!" the Debt Collector hurriedly replied. "Vice-Captain, no, Godfather, I am willing! Thank you, Godfather! Thank you, Father-in-law!"
The Skirmisher nodded in satisfaction and shot him a look. The Debt Collector instantly understood, picked up the forceps, and resumed treating Hammer Guy's wounds. This time, his hands were noticeably gentler.
"Alright, old friend," the Skirmisher said, "do not be so sour you freeze solid. Your daughter has grown up. She is going to marry someday. And my goddaughter is a Mirror Maiden. She and this kid are a good match."
With the Skirmisher's persuasion, Hammer Guy finally let out a helpless sigh. Beating up the Debt Collector would have to wait.
"Fine. Brat, you will come to Liyue with us first. When we get there, I will explain things to Lord Tartaglia. For your own survival, stay far away from Lady Signora. She is not exactly known for her patience."
Outside the Debt Collector camp, snow continued to fall, but his heart was warm. Among the Fatui Harbingers, Lord Tartaglia was one of the more... normal ones. Becoming his subordinate was something he had only ever dreamed of.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere on Su Bai's side was very different.
The trio parted ways with him at the bridge outside Mondstadt. Razor returned to Wolvendom to help the wolves hunt, and Bennett followed him there. Fischl, who had planned to share a meal with Su Bai, was immediately intercepted by her mother at the Adventurers' Guild.
"Oh, Little Amy, you have really gotten bold," her mother said coldly. "Sneaking off to accept a Dragonspine commission without telling us? Do you have any idea how well your father's newly bought Liyue belt, the Seven Wolves, fits your backside?"
"M-Mom! I know I was wrong! Please forgive me!"
"And Dad would not actually hit me anyway. You are just trying to scare me!"
Just as Fischl tried to plead her way out, Oz stabbed her in the back with his deep, magnetic voice.
"Forgive my interruption, Queen of the Night, but this morning, Miss deliberately spilled half her milk. Perhaps this matter also deserves your attention."
"Oz! You traitor to this Prinzessin!"
Watching Fischl being dragged away by the ear while being lectured, Su Bai silently prayed for her for three seconds. This really was not her mother's fault. After all, the storms on Dragonspine had yet to subside, and the mountain remained extremely dangerous.
After receiving the Mora from Katheryne, Su Bai split it into two piles. As agreed, he was only entitled to half. Fischl's share could wait until their next meeting, assuming the poor girl would not be grounded indefinitely.
"Ah, well. I am just a little fox," Su Bai muttered. "Probably best not to interfere in how other people discipline their kids."
"Since I have earned so much Mora, I might as well spend some at the tavern."
"Last time, I did not even get to finish my Dandelion Wine before the Knights of Favonius hauled me away. What a waste."