Having formed an offensive–defensive alliance, the two immediately sat down on a park bench and began discussing how to deal with the remaining players.
"So… who do we start with?"
That was the key problem. They didn't know where the other players were, so choosing the right target was crucial.
"Hmmm." Ningguang frowned in thought, then her eyes lit up. "How about… Yunli? Her employer seems to be a student. We could try the school."
"Miss Yunli…" Diluc hesitated. "Isn't that a bit too much? She looks like the youngest among us."
"She's from the Xianzhou," Ningguang replied flatly. "And you're worried about respecting elders and cherishing the young?"
"Oh—right."
That reminder snapped Diluc out of it. A Xianzhou native—who knew how long she'd actually lived? This wasn't bullying at all.
"Alright. Then her."
With the target confirmed, the two began planning the operation step by step, exchanging ideas on how to ambush Yunli.
In the livestream, viewers erupted into heated discussion as they watched the two abandon all morality.
[Yanqing]: My god… just listening to these plans is terrifying!
[Yukong]: Yunli is still so young—please, have mercy!!!
[Jing Yuan]: Why do I feel like Yunli's about to suffer badly?
[Ling Sha]: Failing to protect your own employer, then taking it out on others—how is that acceptable?
[Yelan]: Blade struck first.
[Keqing]: Blade struck first.
[Silver Wolf]: Such a beautiful scene… though I couldn't witness it myself, I can invite everyone to enjoy it—Blade made it happen!
[Kafka]: ...
[Topaz]: This doesn't look good… If Ningguang camps the school, it's not just Yunli—even Argenti could be in danger.
[Asta]: Right, Argenti's employer is at school too.
[March 7th]: Then doesn't that mean… we're about to lose everyone on our side?
[Stelle]: This is wrong! You can't hurt employers—I strongly oppose this!
[Beidou]: You weren't saying that earlier.
[Venti]: So this is also a valid way to play the game?
Earlier you were all cheering—now look. If Yunli and Argenti go down, Alhaitham wins instantly. The game wouldn't even need a full month.
[Herta]: Why does this feel like lifting a rock only to smash your own foot?
[Luocha]: It's fine… maybe Blade will reach the other side first.
[Yelan]: Heh. Wishful thinking. With a clear target, it's much easier to hunt.
The sky gradually brightened.
After planning through the night, the two got up and headed for the school.
At the school gate—
Yunli stood outside, waving to the girl inside.
"Xiaowen, if anyone bullies you, come out and tell me, okay?"
She already knew why the girl had hired a bodyguard—campus bullying. Her employer was timid, too afraid to speak up after being bullied, which was why she'd sought protection in the first place.
"Mhm."
Xiaowen nodded and slowly entered the school.
"See her?" Ningguang whispered.
"That's Yunli's employer."
"I see her. That's the one."
From the shadows nearby, Ningguang and Diluc watched the scene at the school gate clearly.
"When foot traffic drops, we sneak in," Ningguang said, fingers brushing the pistol at her waist. Today, they might actually take out another employer.
"Sneak… sneak in?" Diluc hesitated. "Shouldn't we wait until after school?"
Ningguang shot him a glance. "We're assassins now, not bodyguards."
"Ah—right."
Diluc nodded in sudden realization. He'd almost forgotten—his role had changed. No more bodyguard rules.
Soon enough, class time began.
The school gate returned to its usual quiet.
"Let's move."
With a signal to Diluc, the two approached a section of wall, vaulted over it effortlessly, and entered the campus.
"Be careful," Ningguang warned. "There's security here—don't get spotted."
After reminding Diluc, they began checking classrooms one by one.
Before long, they locked onto Class 3-2—the classroom of the girl named Xiaowen.
"We move after class."
They hid again, waiting for the bell.
[Ling Sha]: It's over… Yunli's still waiting cluelessly at the school gate.
[Yanqing]: What a waste—why won't she be more careful?!
[Bronya]: This… they're really going to do it?! That's a child!
Bronya's heart clenched. The girl was clearly middle-school aged. How could anyone bring themselves to do this?
If it were her, she absolutely couldn't.
"Riiing—!"
The class bell rang.
Ningguang narrowed her eyes. "She's coming out. Get ready."
Both were poised to strike. Ningguang had already planned the approach—claim they were Yunli's coworkers, sent to help.
That way, they could take her without causing trouble on campus.
Perfect.
Yet something felt off.
Students poured out of other classrooms—but this one didn't move.
Inside the classroom, a teacher calmly held a book.
"Don't rush, students… just two more minutes."
Those two minutes… stretched straight into the next class.
[Valerius]: Holy hell… so dragging class can actually save lives!!!
[Jing Yuan]: A true teacher of the people!
[March 7th]: Yunli needs to kneel and thank this teacher!
[Sampo]: No objections!
[Black Swan]: Heh… what an interesting memory.
[Dr. Ratio]: Dragging class? Not bad.
[Stelle]: Professor Ratio… maybe no bonus points for this one.
[Huohuo]: This teacher is awful—I wanted to see bloodshed~~~~
[Seele]: Whose side are you on?!
[Valerius]: Chaotic neutral.
[Sampo]: Checks out.
[Rosaria]: What's the big deal? One dragged class isn't long—unless they do it every time.
[Qingque]: You clearly never went to school. This is basic operation.
After hiding a while longer, the bell finally rang again.
This time, the teacher didn't drag class. Students began exiting.
"Finally."
Impatient, Ningguang rose and approached the girl.
"Are you Yunli's employer?"
"Huh? Yes, I am."
Xiaowen nodded. She'd seen these black-suited people before at the bodyguard company, so she wasn't suspicious—just curious.
"Come with me. Yunli asked us to help."
Hearing this, Xiaowen followed without hesitation.
They led her into a narrow alley.
Only then did Ningguang turn around.
"Something came up. Yunli can't come right now, so she sent us to protect you. You'll come with us."
"Huh? What happened?"
Xiaowen was confused. She'd only hired a bodyguard to deal with some bullies—how did things escalate?
"Hmmm… there's an assassin lurking nearby. Yunli went to handle it."
That left Xiaowen completely stunned.
She was just a student—assassins now?!
"Wait… I'll call her and ask."
In front of them, Xiaowen pulled out her phone.
…Crap.
Ningguang froze.
She'd forgotten—this world had phones.
If the call went through, everything would be exposed.
"Smack."
At the critical moment, Diluc chopped the back of Xiaowen's neck with a swift hand strike.
Her body went limp and collapsed.
"Take her. Now."
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