"Shut up."
Diluc put on a vicious expression, his face looking a bit exaggerated as he snarled,
"Say one more word and I'll shoot. I'm telling you—I'm very cruel."
"You won't," Xiaowen said softly. "I know you're a good person, sir."
"Uh…"
That single sentence completely threw Diluc off.
Am I really that useless?
I can't even play the villain properly?!
Yunli was utterly confused.
Since when was her client this brave?
This didn't match how she'd been acting before at all.
She cautiously took a few steps forward.
"Stop right there, I'm firing!" Diluc warned.
Another step.
"I'm really firing this time!"
"Heh."
Yunli finally understood what was going on and laughed. Without hesitation, she walked over, pulled Xiaowen behind her, and said,
"Diluc… you're all bark and no bite."
"…Alright, you win."
Diluc surrendered completely.
Killing an innocent person was something he truly couldn't do.
And judging from Ningguang beside him—eyes shut tight, expression conflicted—she clearly couldn't either.
"Let's go. I'll treat everyone to a late-night snack."
"You've got a problem," Ningguang shot back. "We're kidnappers, you know."
"Then are you coming or not?"
"…Fine. Let's go."
The group left the abandoned factory together and headed toward the city.
Only the so-called Dragon King was left behind, lying alone on the ground—
a pitiful, desolate figure.
[Valerius: Wait… isn't something seriously wrong with this picture?]
[Keqing: This is way too harmonious.]
[Jing Yuan: I've learned something new—kidnappers and bodyguards can sit at the same table?]
[Yukong: I don't understand it, but I'm deeply shaken.]
[Silver Wolf: These people really know how to play.]
[Beidou: No—why does this even work?!]
[Ganyu: No needless bloodshed. I think it's good.]
[Yelan: Ningguang really got played this time.]
[Sampo: Are they dumb? Why not go after Yunli directly?]
[Kaeya: Yeah, they couldn't kill the kid, but Yunli's an opponent—you could totally make a move.]
[Trailblazer: You're making Yunli sound grown-up. She's still a kid too.]
[Kaeya: Then that leaves only Silver Branch.]
[Ruan Mei: Reasonable. Against Silver Branch, they might manage.]
[Valerius: Heh. You think those two could beat Silver Branch?]
That single line sobered everyone up.
Even though everyone had equal combat power in this game, experience was another matter entirely.
Diluc might hold his own—but Ningguang? She wouldn't even get a chance to intervene.
[Kaeya: Then they can only target Silver Branch's client.]
[Fischl: Ridiculous! The Dark Magus answers only to this Prinzessin—those two stand no chance.]
[Jing Yuan: Silver Branch's client is also a young girl, isn't she?]
[Kaeya: …Ah. Then it's over. Completely over.]
Looking at it closely, there really was no one left they could bring themselves to kill.
Surely they weren't going to turn around and target Alhaitham, right?
[Aventurine: Excellent. An invincible position.]
They could kill others, but others couldn't retaliate.
Now that was interesting.
[Xianyun: You're celebrating too early—Blade is still on the move.]
[Topaz: He's not going to turn on his own side too, is he?]
[Dan Heng: Very possible.]
[Kafka: If it's Blade… yeah, he would.]
[Silver Wolf: Oh no. Blade's about to do something huge, isn't he?]
Inside a fast-food restaurant.
Yunli chewed her food and asked vaguely,
"So… what are you planning next? More kidnappings?"
"Can you stop saying kidnapping?"
Diluc rubbed his temples. "We planned all night and failed at the very last step."
"Hehe. Then… how about you help me instead?"
Worried about running into danger again, Yunli decided to extend an invitation.
"Heh." Ningguang rolled her eyes.
"You've got quite the abacus. If we're helping anyone, why wouldn't it be Alhaitham?"
"That's… fair."
Their factions were different anyway. Yunli had only asked casually—no loss if it didn't work.
"Ring—"
Diluc's phone rang.
"Hello? What is it?"
Seeing that the call was from his former client, Liu Ruyan, Diluc was surprised.
Hadn't the contract already been terminated? Why call now?
Silver Branch's voice came through the phone.
"Diluc. Your client is with me. If you want her back, bring Miss Yunli's client as an exchange."
"…Huh?"
Diluc froze, then silently handed the phone to Yunli.
"Uh… Silver Branch? My client's already safe. There's been a bit of a situation here, so maybe… you could let her go first?"
"A situation?" Silver Branch sounded surprised—
then Blade's cold voice cut in:
"No release. Everyone dies."
"…Uh… why don't you come take a look first. Things are… complicated over here."
Yunli hung up, her mouth twitching.
"So yeah. That's the situation. What do you think?"
Diluc covered his face.
Why did trouble keep piling up like this?
Liu Ruyan had already terminated the contract—he had no obligation to save her anymore.
But this mess had started because of him, and walking away still felt wrong.
In the end, Ningguang made the call.
"We go."
Not to save Liu Ruyan—but to find Blade.
If she couldn't bring herself to kill others, she could at least take it out on Blade.
After all, he didn't look like a good person anyway.
Out on an open field.
Silver Branch looked helplessly at Blade.
"Isn't it improper to treat a lady this way?"
"They're all going to die."
Blade didn't say much, but his intent was unmistakable.
Liu Ruyan was terrified.
She genuinely felt like she might die at any second.
In her heart, she cursed Diluc nonstop—this was all his fault.
Her gaze flicked back and forth between the two men.
From what she'd heard earlier, Silver Branch had a client.
But this man named Blade didn't.
And from their conversation, she realized something crucial—
Having a client was extremely important to them.
Summoning her courage, she looked at Blade.
"How about… you let me go, and I sign a contract with you instead? I'll be your client."
"…?"
That stopped Blade cold.
You can do that?
He'd genuinely never thought of it.
After a moment of consideration, he decided it was feasible.
He pulled out a contract and handed it to her.
"Sign."
Liu Ruyan didn't dare hesitate. She immediately signed her name.
[Notice: Player Blade has signed a contract with Liu Ruyan and has become a bodyguard once more.]
"…What?"
Still rushing over, Diluc froze in disbelief.
You can do that?!
So this was how it felt—
His client had just been stolen right out from under him.
To Read 160+ advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146