LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 13: chapter 13
Chapter 13: Lady: "My Colleague Skipped Work, and I Became the Victim."
Sure enough, those who can rise to the rank of Fatui executive are never pure or kind.
Among them, the Genius is the most dangerous.
His position is the most unstable—others who might consider betraying Snezhnaya would hesitate due to the potential consequences: being hunted, divine punishment, or the safety of their loved ones.
But Su Ran? He only requires better incentives.
If someone offers him more benefits, he wouldn't think twice about turning against the Fatui.
This made him even more dangerous than the Doctor in some ways.
Watching Su Ran and Rosaline leave, Arlecchino sank into deep thought.
If his loyalty could be secured with something as simple as funds, that only meant his ambitions were vast—far beyond what the Fatui could offer him. The Fatui could provide him with Mora, but not much else that he truly desired.
So, what was his ultimate goal?
"Interesting man. You've successfully captured my attention," Arlecchino murmured to herself, a hint of intrigue in her voice.
It was a pity she didn't pick the Dragon King script. But in her homeland, there was a Dragon King.
Since Su Ran had mentioned he'd visit Fontaine for an assessment in the future, she decided to prepare in advance.
"It's strange… As an adventurer, he's not from Teyvat. He's spent all his time in Snezhnaya. So how does he know about Inazuman literature?"
Her doubts lingered as she returned to the Hearth House. Perhaps the children, who were fond of Inazuman light novels, might have some answers.
---
At the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt, a blonde-haired female knight sat at her desk, staring at a letter with a troubled expression.
Next to her stood a purple-haired witch, lounging lazily in her chair.
"Ah…"
Jean, who had taken on the role of Acting Grand Master, was utterly exhausted.
Not long ago, Tevyat's East Wind Dragon, Dvalin, one of the Four Winds' guardians, had awakened.
Initially, this should have been a cause for celebration. As a follower of Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, Dvalin's return should have signified hope for Mondstadt.
But fate had other plans.
Dvalin was in a state of madness, launching repeated attacks on Mondstadt. The destruction he caused earned him the title of "Stormterror."
Despite the chaos, Barbatos himself remained absent.
The Knights of Favonius lacked the power to stop Dvalin, leaving Mondstadt to endure disaster after disaster.
But Jean's biggest headache wasn't the dragon—it was the Fatui.
The moment Snezhnaya learned of Mondstadt's plight, they announced plans to send two diplomats to "assist" the city. Ostensibly, their purpose was to provide protection and resources.
But Jean knew better. The so-called protection was merely a pretext to station Fatui forces in Mondstadt and gain control over the city.
The supplies they brought, however, were harder to refuse.
Mondstadt desperately needed those resources to recover. Without them, the city would remain crippled for far too long.
It was an open conspiracy, but Jean had no choice but to play along.
The Knights could reject the Fatui's garrison, but the residents of Mondstadt couldn't reject the supplies. The recent dragon attacks had severed their trade route with Liyue, leaving the city on the brink of collapse.
Jean sighed, glancing at Lisa, her closest friend and the Knights' librarian.
"I heard the two diplomats are called Lady and Genius. Do you know anything about them, Lisa?"
Lisa, ever nonchalant, smirked. "Well, I'd guess the Lady is a woman, and the Genius is a smart guy."
Jean frowned, unimpressed. "This is serious, Lisa. The Genius just joined the Fatui and is rumored to have killed the former second-ranked executive."
Dottore's many segments weren't common knowledge, so most people believed the original second seat was truly dead.
The sudden shift in the Fatui's hierarchy left people uneasy. A ruthless new executive had risen, and now, that person was coming to Mondstadt.
"Isn't that a good thing? I heard the former second seat was a terrible man," Lisa remarked casually.
Jean shook her head. "If the Fatui only needed diplomats, they wouldn't have sent someone of his rank. Let alone two executives."
The situation was dire. Mondstadt was vulnerable, and the Fatui's intentions were clear. Still, Lisa's optimism offered a faint glimmer of hope.
---
As Su Ran and Rosaline approached Mondstadt, the Genius grew visibly bored.
"Rosaline, I want to see the fox."
The Lady raised an eyebrow. "Fox? What fox? There aren't any in Mondstadt."
"Not here, but there are in Inazuma. I heard there's a pink-haired fox there. I want to see it."
Su Ran gazed at the distant snow-capped peaks. If his geography was correct, crossing Dragonspine and the ocean beyond would lead to Inazuma.
Rosaline's expression darkened. "You're planning to skip work on your first mission? You're an executive! Can't you at least pretend to set an example?"
Su Ran waved her off. "What's so interesting about Mondstadt? The so-called 'God of Wind' is a bard who spends all day drinking in a tavern. Just find him, take his Gnosis, and be done with it. I'd rather see the pink fox."
Rosaline gritted her teeth, frustrated by his indifference.
"You agreed to come to Mondstadt with me!"
"Yes, but only because I had nothing better to do," Su Ran replied casually. "If it weren't for you, I'd already be on my way to Inazuma."
Rosaline sighed, muttering under her breath.
How did she end up stuck with a colleague who treated work like a vacation?