"So this is the good show you mentioned?"
Standing on the rooftop, Xiao watched the endless procession of coffins on the road below. His forehead was covered in dark lines. What was going on here? Had Su Bai hired the Fatui to perform some kind of "zombies rising from coffins" act?
"Just wait. What kind of show has the best part right at the beginning?"
Su Bai took a bite of the Sunsettia that Verr Goldet had brought up. Not bad—quite sweet. Xiao didn't say anything more, but his anticipation for Su Bai's "good show" grew.
"Boss, hurry up with that fruit platter we ordered!"
"Coming, coming. No need to rush."
Down on the first floor of Wangshu Inn, Verr Goldet dismissed the impatient Fatui soldier with obvious reluctance. At the same time, she quietly signaled Yanxiao to use the worst ingredients for the Fatui's meal.
Childe noticed Verr Goldet's little maneuvers. He keenly observed that after she had taken a platter of fruit up to the second floor, her entire demeanor had changed. She seemed far more confident, even dismissive of the Fatui.
It seemed Wangshu Inn was no ordinary place. Childe grew more cautious. He considered himself quite strong, but Liyue was home to adepti. Before actually fighting one, he couldn't be sure of their power. He had no desire to end up permanently stuck in Liyue.
"Childe, did you summon me all the way here just to treat me to tea?"
"If you wanted to treat me to tea, couldn't you have chosen a better place? Judging by the tea aroma in the air, the leaves in that pot are only average quality."
Just as Childe was about to send someone to check the second floor, Signora's voice came from the stairwell. Verr Goldet paused. She recognized this voluptuous woman—another Fatui Harbinger.
What was going on today? Usually, these Harbingers operated in the shadows. Why had two of them shown up at once? Wangshu Inn was just a rest stop. There were no secrets here. Verr Goldet had managed the inn for years and had never heard of anything hidden within.
Signora casually teased Childe a bit. After handing the Gnosis over to the Tsaritsa, the Queen had granted her eternal youth and beauty. That had kept Signora in a good mood for days. Even when her subordinates occasionally displeased her, she didn't get angry, much to their shock.
But even with eternal youth, she still needed skincare products. She wondered how far her agents had gotten.
"So, Signora, you know quite a bit about tea?"
"Heh, not really. I drank it occasionally while studying. I know a little."
Signora lifted her teacup. The clear liquid reminded her of the days she spent with her beloved. What wonderful times those were. If only she had possessed her current power back then, perhaps her love wouldn't have had to sacrifice himself.
Lost in memories, Signora brought the tea to her lips. But just as it touched her mouth, a blade shattered the cup.
Scalding tea splashed all over Signora. She saw her skin redden from the burn. In an instant, her fury ignited. Pyro energy surged from her body. She had worked so hard to maintain her complexion, and someone dared damage it? Unforgivable.
The intense heat from the dense Pyro energy forced Childe to coat himself in a layer of Hydro. He was secretly astonished. He hadn't realized Signora's Pyro was so terrifying.
"Who? Show yourself! I want to see who has such audacity."
"Lady Signora, it was me. I'm sorry. Please let me explain."
An Agent slowly emerged from the ground, immediately admitting his fault. Seeing it was her trusted subordinate, Signora frowned. This agent had always been steady since following her. For him to be so discourteous meant something important must have happened.
She used Cryo to cool her reddened skin, suppressed her rage, pushed the broken teacup aside, and sat back down.
"Give me a reason good enough to satisfy me. Otherwise, prepare to turn to ashes."
"Thank you, Lady Signora."
The Agent quickly expressed his gratitude. Childe watched the drama with interest while shooting a glare at the Pyroslinger beside him. This brat had never shown him the same respect this agent showed Signora. Infuriating.
The Pyroslinger, confused by his master's glare, wondered if his recent laziness had been discovered. That couldn't be—he'd been sleeping inside the coffins. His master shouldn't have noticed.
"You see, Lady Signora, you remember those coffins downstairs, right?"
"Yes, I do. What do they have to do with you shattering my teacup?"
Pyro energy began leaking from Signora again. She didn't consider herself stupid, but she couldn't fathom why her subordinate would use such an excuse to fool her. Did he truly think she had no brain?
"They have everything to do with it, Lady Signora."
The Agent's tone grew heavy. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Childe, who was staring at him. Childe raised an eyebrow.
"What? Need me to step away?"
"That would be best."
"How dare you! Speaking to my master like that? Are you asking for death?"
The Agent's words enraged the Pyroslinger behind Childe. Lazy as he might be, he genuinely respected his master. Hearing someone speak so disrespectfully, the hot-tempered Pyroslinger wanted nothing more than to blast the man on the spot.
"Heh, your true colors are showing, aren't they?"
"Lady Signora, I sent someone to investigate why those coffins were placed outside Wangshun Inn."
"Childe's Fatui agents all claimed in unison that the coffins were a gift for us. I was concerned for your safety, Lady Signora, and had no choice but to resort to this method."
The Agent sneered, his poisoned Fatal Blades already in hand. His words made his distrust of Childe abundantly clear.
"Damn you! Drawing a blade in front of my master? You think your knife is faster than my gun?"
"Heh, a gun? A weapon for the weak. Haven't you heard that beyond ten paces, a gun is faster than a blade?"
Acting on the principle of striking first, the Agent swung his Fatal Blades at the Pyroslinger.
A sharp sound broke the silence of Wangshu Inn. The Agent clutched his arm, staring incredulously at the Pyroslinger behind Childe. The Pyroslinger smirked contemptuously.
"You only know that within ten paces a blade is faster. Haven't you heard that within ten paces, a gun is even faster? Amateur."