"You're giving up the environment that favors you? Don't tell me you think I can't beat you, old auntie?"
"Heh, Childe, you really have a stubborn mouth. I only dispersed the steam because I've already hydrated my skin today. I didn't want to damage it."
"Hmph, I don't believe you!"
Childe kept up his bravado. Signora, looking somewhat languid, made herself a parasol of ice. The sun was too strong—she didn't want her skin to tan. If she got dark, that would be terrible.
"Do you still want to continue fighting?"
Childe hesitated for a moment. From their exchange just now, he could tell he was no match for Signora. But backing down like this would also make him lose face.
Bang!
A gunshot rang out from Wangshu Inn. Childe's heart tightened. Damn it—he'd forgotten that his Pyroslinger subordinate was still upstairs. Forgetting all about Signora, he rushed back into the inn. Signora's expression shifted several times. She signaled to her men, who immediately went upstairs to check.
On the second floor of Wangshu Inn, there was no one in sight except for two Fatui agents lying in pools of blood. Seeing his Pyroslinger in a pool of blood, Childe's eyes turned red. If before he had only felt a desire to fight Signora, now he wanted nothing more than to kill her.
"Lord Childe, what happened?"
Signora's subordinate found Childe blocking the doorway and felt confused. What was going on? Why did Lord Childe suddenly seem so much more dangerous?
"What happened? Go ask down there."
"L-Lord Childe, what are you doing? Lady Signora is right downstairs. Please don't do anything rash."
"Lord Childe, Lord Childe, please spare me! I don't know anything!"
Childe grabbed the agent by his collar and dragged him to the railing. With Childe's movement, the agent finally saw the scene inside Wangshu Inn. Seeing the Pyroslinger and the Agent lying in pools of blood, the man nearly fainted from fear.
He begged frantically, but Childe wasn't about to let him go. He grabbed the agent by the collar and threw him off the balcony, then leaped down himself, using his wind glider to land in front of Signora.
"Childe, what is the meaning of this? You throw my man to his death and then dare to stand before me?"
"Hmph, Signora, you'd better show me your true strength now. Otherwise, don't blame me if you end up dead!"
Childe's eyes were bloodshot. If that Pyroslinger had still been alive, he would have known not to provoke Childe—this was a clear sign of his fury.
Words were useless now. Childe formed water blades and charged straight at Signora. Caught off guard by his sudden attack, Signora had no choice but to summon an ice wall to block him.
At the same time, Signora was utterly confused. What was happening? Why was Childe acting like a rabid dog, going all out against her?
Seeing their master truly enraged, Childe's men began eyeing Signora's subordinates differently. The Hammer-wielder tightened his grip. The Pyroslinger loaded his gun with Pyro energy. The Cryo Gunner slowly raised his sprayer.
This terrified Signora's men. How could a dozen of them possibly fight several hundred—and all elites at that?
"Medic, medic! Hurry!"
"Our vice-captain was gravely wounded by their Agent!"
A Fatui agent who had followed Childe upstairs to check the scene saw that their vice-captain was barely breathing. He immediately carried the Pyroslinger down to find a medic. As for the Agent on the other side? His head had been blown off—definitely beyond saving.
"Hurry, hurry! Medic!"
"I'm here, I'm here! Give me some room!"
"Cryo Gunner, just carry the medic over here!"
"I know, I know! I'm building up power!"
After a flurry of chaos, the medic was finally delivered to the Pyroslinger's side. After emergency treatment, the Pyroslinger's breathing gradually steadied. The medic wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed with relief.
"Phew, he's out of danger. He'll be fine with some rest."
If he hadn't managed to save the vice-captain, he would have been beaten for sure—or maybe even sent straight home.
"Thank goodness! The vice-captain has the blessings of heaven!"
"You're a skilled medic. When we get back, I'll report this to Lord Childe and get you a promotion."
"Really? Thank you, Captain!"
The Anemoboxer Captain patted the medic on the shoulder. The medic grimaced from the force but couldn't hide his excitement. Promotions for medics within the Fatui were notoriously difficult.
"Alright, since that kid is out of danger, it's time for us to have a little chat with our 'good brothers.'"
The Anemoboxer clenched his fists. He had led this Fatui battalion for over thirty years. His men had died at the hands of monsters, at the hands of the Abyss, and even at the hands of other nations' armies—but never at the hands of their own people.
Now, just as he was about to retire, his vice-captain had nearly been killed by a fellow Fatui. This was tarnishing his perfect record.
"Brothers, attack! As long as you don't kill them, I'll take responsibility for anything that happens!"
At their captain's command, the elite Fatui agents immediately entered combat mode. All kinds of glowing elemental shields flashed before Signora's subordinates' eyes, making them want to die.
Following Lady Signora—sure, they weren't starving, but getting beaten up twice in three days was too much. Three days ago, they had been cornered in the wilderness by a red-haired man wielding a massive black-red greatsword.
That guy was a demon. He had cut an Agent clean in half with one swing. If they hadn't run fast, they would have been reduced to ashes. They had come out with Lady Signora, who had been in a good mood, to relax, and now before their wounds had even healed, they were about to get beaten again. Even an iron man couldn't take this much abuse.
Signora's subordinates exchanged glances. Their bitterness was something only they could understand. If heaven gave them another chance, they would never choose to follow Signora.
But reality was reality. In reality, there weren't so many "ifs." This beating was inevitable.
"Don't hit their heads—that can cause serious problems. Aim for the fleshy parts of their bodies."
"By 'fleshy parts,' I don't mean their stomachs! That's also dangerous."
The medic, who had nothing better to do, weaved through the chaotic battlefield. With his excellent medical knowledge, he instructed many Fatui agents on where to hit without causing permanent damage while still being satisfying. This made the Anemoboxer Captain appreciate him even more.