Liyue, Northland Bank.
Tartaglia was multitasking—grinding through quests while also watching Lumine's livestream on his computer.
The moment Dottore appeared in Sumeru's main storyline, Tartaglia couldn't help but burst out laughing.
That topic again: does Dottore have a good reputation?
Of course not!
There were too many people who couldn't stand him. Anyone with the slightest sense of justice wanted to see him dead.
In the past, Tartaglia didn't really care. But now? Now he wanted to enjoy the show.
Back then, not many people were capable of taking Dottore down.
But now, things were different.
Plenty of people had the power to kill him!
Tartaglia could already see it: as long as Dottore's role in Sumeru wasn't on the side of justice, he was as good as dead.
His finger tapped lightly on the table.
"I remember someone had a grudge against Dottore, didn't they?" Tartaglia muttered, trying to recall.
"Croak!"
The Crimson Calamity Frog, sprawled nearby and watching the livestream, let out a croak.
"Oh!" Tartaglia's eyes lit up. "That's right—Diluc from Mondstadt!"
As the story progressed, characters' profiles became more detailed, just like how Lu Heng's favorability unlocked character introductions in the past.
Now, people were beginning to truly understand the so-called characters of Genshin Impact.
Take Diluc, for example.
Tartaglia grinned. "Dottore's finished."
That was a father-killing vendetta.
Back then, Diluc didn't have the strength to defeat Dottore, so the grudge couldn't be avenged.
But now? Even three Dottores wouldn't last a single round against the current Diluc.
Facing him now, if Dottore didn't run, Diluc would crush him flat. If Diluc actually let him escape, then he wouldn't be Diluc at all.
"Hahaha!"
The more Tartaglia thought about it, the more he laughed.
Between Harbingers, bonds were paper-thin. Sure, his relationship with Rooster was solid, and lately he was getting along pretty well with Regrator—though that was mostly his own assumption.
As for Dottore? If he died, so be it.
"At most, I'll just refrain from kicking him when he's down. That already makes me a man of principle," Tartaglia said, nodding to himself.
The Crimson Calamity Frog croaked approvingly.
As the stream went on, Tartaglia's smile slowly twisted into a grim expression.
Inside the livestream, viewership had soared to over two million by the late morning. Most had come through news and other channels.
Lumine wasn't even excited about her exploding popularity anymore. Instead, she was full of shock.
In the story, Haypasia lit the incense of consciousness. She guided the in-story Lumine to touch the so-called will of a god.
And the moment Lumine's consciousness brushed against it, a voice rang out:
"I have been betrayed three times, and thus I know promises are but a facade."
"My wrath will never be appeased."
"The first betrayal came from a god. My creator, my 'mother.'"
"…Wait, what?"
Lumine dug at her ear in disbelief, staring into the camera. "So Haypasia lit the incense, and my character's consciousness touched the mind of a god? That voice—that's Scaramouche, right? And he's a god now?"
"Isn't it possible…"
Paimon, munching on potato chips, spoke with her mouth full: "That the evil scholar, Dottore, and the Akademiya created a god… based on Scaramouche?"
"…What?"
Lumine's jaw dropped. "No way! Nahida's still around, right? The Akademiya is making another god while she's still alive?"
The plot was becoming clearer.
The Akademiya and the Fatui were trying to create a god—using Scaramouche as the vessel.
From Haypasia, this was already evident.
The revelation left Lumine and Paimon utterly stunned, while the entire chat exploded with shock.
"666! The Akademiya is insane. The Lesser Lord is still there, and they're already creating a new god? Any Sumeru viewers here? What do you think?"
"The Fatui and the Akademiya really have guts. What are they even thinking? And can this even work?"
"I don't know. Looks like Scaramouche's consciousness really is ascending into godhood. I've never become a god myself, but with Fatui tech and the Akademiya's knowledge… feels like some kind of mechanical ascension?"
"I'm from Sumeru. What do I think? Hell if I know! The Lesser Lord hasn't shown her face in centuries… oh wait! When Lumine swapped consciousness with her earlier, she looked imprisoned! The Akademiya said she doesn't like to appear, but turns out she's been locked up?!"
"Damn! We knew the main story would be crazy, but not like this!"
"Mondstadt's Archon is hands-off, Liyue's Archon retired, Inazuma's locked herself away reading romance novels and eating sweets… and now Sumeru? Completely insane!"
"Lumine, hurry up! I need to see where this goes!"
"I was planning to nap after this part," Lumine said, rubbing her eyes. "But Sumeru really hit me with the big stuff. How can I sleep now?"
She was hooked. Both the hype from the viewers and her own burning curiosity pushed her forward.
"Scaramouche… in Sumeru? And about to ascend as a god?"
It sounded absurd, yet the plot proved it possible.
Tartaglia sneered. "Frog, do you really think something like him can become a god-tier existence?"
"Croak? Croak!"
The Crimson Calamity Frog shook its head. Not in denial, but because it didn't know either.
"Ah, forget it." Tartaglia leaned back, legs propped up on the desk, his expression mocking. "Even if he does become a god, so what? He's still just trash compared to you."
"Croak!"
The frog growled in displeasure, croaking furiously as if demanding recognition.
"Heh, heh." Tartaglia quickly sat up to comfort it. "I'm joking, don't get mad. He's nothing compared to you. You're a noble ancient relic of the old world. He's… what, some pathetic experiment? I shouldn't have even said that. Don't be upset, all right?"
"Croak!"
Finally appeased, the Crimson Calamity Frog nodded proudly.
Exactly! How dare anyone compare something artificially made to it?
It was a noble ancient creature. A true adult Crimson Calamity Frog was at least a mid-high ranked demon god. Some were even born at the peak.
Could an artificial god measure up to that? Impossible.
Scaramouche wanting to stand on its level? Laughable! He'd need centuries more.
Tartaglia's mood brightened again, his grin growing warmer.
"You know me, Frog. I'm too kindhearted. I just can't resist going to Sumeru to 'care' for my dear colleague. Such a momentous event as a colleague ascending to godhood—how could I possibly miss it?"
Just then, his phone rang.
Tartaglia answered.
"I've got some news for you," a voice said.
"Go on." Tartaglia straightened, face serious.
"Recently, some experimental materials were shipped toward Sumeru. The sender's name was Dottore. I'm sure you know what that means. And—don't make too big a mess."
"I understand."
Tartaglia hung up and clenched his fist.
In the story, Scaramouche and Dottore were in Sumeru.
And in reality, shipments were already en route there.
That meant even with Genshin's exposure of the future, Dottore and Scaramouche were still pushing forward with their plan in Sumeru.
He snapped his laptop shut, put on his Bluetooth headset, and said to the Crimson Calamity Frog:
"Frog, let's go."
"Croak?"
"Yes—we're going to deal with them." Tartaglia's eyes gleamed. "Before, I didn't know where they were. But now I do. If he escapes from Sumeru, I'll personally go back and beg the Tsaritsa for forgiveness."
"Croak!"
"Let's head out—by car."
"Croak?"
Driving? Wouldn't that be way too slow? By the time they arrived, Scaramouche might already be a god.
"That's exactly the point," Tartaglia smirked. "When he's at his most arrogant, his most triumphant—that's when I'll crush him."
"Croak."
Yes. That was truly the Fatui way.
The Crimson Calamity Frog found it utterly satisfying.
Lu Heng woke up with a yawn, as usual scanning the morning news.
When he saw the latest headline—"Sumeru Akademiya and the Fatui Suspected of Creating a God"—he raised a brow.
After a quick skim, he smiled knowingly.
Cyber Divination, activate.
A few seconds later, the results confirmed what he already suspected. His mood instantly brightened.
Whistling softly, he strolled into the shop.
Spotting Shenhe sitting on the sofa, watching Lumine's livestream, he felt even more pleased.
Though she had only been in the shop for a few days, her growth was obvious.
The cold, distant air about her was fading. She was becoming more… human.
She was no longer just a beautiful, emotionless statue.
"Good," Lu Heng nodded approvingly.
But he still reminded her, "Shenhe, don't learn from Lumine's bad habits."
"Huh?" Shenhe turned, then shook her head. "I already asked Ganyu. I won't."
"That's good," Lu Heng said with relief.
In private, Lumine was gentle and sweet. But on stream? Her behavior could get… abstract.
It was fine for Shenhe to learn from Lumine in private—but never from her livestream persona.
Otherwise… just imagining it made Lu Heng almost faint.
"You keep watching. I might not be back for lunch."
As he was about to leave, Shenhe suddenly said, "I bought stockings yesterday."
Lu Heng froze mid-step. "…By the way, if you're here alone, I still worry you're not eating properly."
Shenhe fell silent. She understood exactly what he meant now.
After a moment, she asked softly, "When do you want to see?"
"Anytime. You know my schedule's always free," Lu Heng said seriously. "It depends on you."
"I have time now."
She set her phone aside, stood up, and walked toward the stairs. "I'll go change."
Lu Heng's smile widened. "Second floor it is, then."
"Yes. Just for you."
Soon enough, his daily ritual was complete.
Every day, a glimpse of those legs. Life was smooth sailing.
From his perspective, it even felt like his lifespan had been extended a little.
"Are you heading out now?" Shenhe asked.
"I was going to wander a bit, but I can stay if you want. What's up?"
"Nothing too important. I just… want to talk to you."
"You want to chat with me?" Lu Heng was surprised.
"Yes," Shenhe said softly. "I can feel I'm growing, but I still don't want to talk to others. With you, I can. With you, I feel things I can't feel with anyone else."
"I can make you feel things?" Lu Heng was stunned.
"I want to talk to you more, eat meals with you, wear clothes you like, and show them to you… so many things."
Her words tumbled out, her calm face tinged with an almost urgent look. She quickly grabbed her phone, typed something out, and let an AI phrase it for her:
"When I can't see you, I feel empty inside. It's just like before, when I lived in the mountains—life was only cultivation and nothing else interested me. But you're different. If my whole world was black and white, then your presence is the color. You fill my world with warmth. I want to stay close to you."
"It translated it like that…?" Lu Heng looked at her for confirmation.
After a moment of serious thought, Shenhe nodded. "Yes. That's exactly it."
"You've grown attached to me," Lu Heng said slowly. "But have you thought about what that means? If you depend too much on one person, you may never be able to leave them. That's also a kind of shackle."
"I know."
Her tone was calm, steady. "I've thought about it. I don't mind."
Seeing her resolve, Lu Heng didn't press further. He just nodded.
"Then let's eat at Wanmin Restaurant today?"
"Okay."
A faint but undeniable smile appeared on her face.
And that was enough to make Lu Heng's heart light.
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T/N:
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