Clearly, having caught the attention of both Ganyu and Keqing,
and having ghosted Keqing for an entire month—only to show up to work perfectly fine the very next day—
There was now an unmistakable gulf in status between Bai Ge and the ordinary clerks around him.
Realizing this, Bai Ge couldn't help but chuckle.
He shook his head and headed upstairs alone.
They hadn't been close to begin with—
and now that things were like this, it was actually better. Quiet.
With unhurried steps, Bai Ge pushed open the door to Keqing's office.
To his surprise—
Keqing, who was practically fused to this office at all times, wasn't there.
Well, if she wasn't there, she wasn't there.
Bai Ge had no interest in asking where she'd gone—if anything, he welcomed the freedom.
"…So, what do I even do now?"
Once idle, Bai Ge suddenly realized he felt at a loss—
the same kind of emptiness he used to feel after getting off work in his previous life.
"—Hiss!"
The thought hit him like lightning, and Bai Ge sucked in a sharp breath.
Oh no.
How did I turn into someone whose entire life revolves around work again?
Ganyu—
was this your scheme all along?!
No, this won't do.
This absolutely has to change!
Bai Ge fell into thought.
And that single bout of thinking lasted the entire day.
Five in the afternoon.
Glancing once more at Keqing's still-empty seat, Bai Ge clocked out.
With anticipation, he opened the system interface and initiated his fourth monthly sign-in.
"…Huh?! This is—?!"
As new knowledge flooded into his mind, Bai Ge froze in shock.
"Holy crap… so all four weekly sign-ins before this month were just bad rolls—
they were padding the pity for this final hit?!"
Originally, Bai Ge's greatsword talent, Ancient Millelith Sword Art, and spear techniques had already reached impressive heights.
He'd been hoping to refine them further.
But this past month's weekly sign-ins had been… terrible.
Either useless things he didn't really need—like Cloud-Retainer Sword Forms or Guhua Stage Tricks—
or completely impractical nonsense, such as Twelve Insights on Traversing Wind Currents, or Amber's Gliding Secrets.
He didn't even have a Wind Glider yet—what was he supposed to do with flight tips?
Yet those four consecutive "misses" had led to this—
An explosive payoff from the monthly sign-in!
Rex Lapis' ultimate skill—
Falling Star (Planet Befall)!
"I've struck it rich. I've really struck it rich this time."
Bai Ge murmured as he reviewed the knowledge in his mind.
By condensing an immense amount of Geo elemental power,
a massive meteorite is summoned from the heavens—
And when the star falls, all beings caught within are turned to stone.
This was the ultimate killing move of the Geo Archon himself.
Even though what Bai Ge received was a simplified version…
no—simplified several times over—
It was still a decisive trump card for him.
But the true value of this gain went beyond just the skill itself.
Inside the office, Bai Ge extended his hand.
On his pale palm, a faint earth-yellow glow slowly emerged.
The Ancient Millelith sword and spear techniques already contained methods that synergized with Geo elemental power.
Now, with Falling Star added to the mix—
knowledge from Rex Lapis' own lofty, all-encompassing perspective—
The final missing piece in Bai Ge's combat system was filled.
At this moment, Bai Ge's standard battle style was finally complete.
…Or, one could say—
He had finally become a true Liyue native.
After all, Liyue citizens were universally fans of the Geo Archon.
Rex Lapis used a spear. He was Geo-aligned.
Anyone who could wield a greatsword could usually wield a spear too—
hence Liyue being full of polearm users.
And even those without spears would still grab a Geo Vision.
In comparison, Bai Ge—a greatsword user—was practically an oddity.
"Decision made. I'm going to watch some opera tonight."
A Liyue person should live like a Liyue person.
And since he'd just obtained the legendary Heaven-Commanding Starfall,
Bai Ge figured he might as well hear how the people of Liyue talked about the move.
After all, as powerful as it was—
it was also a bit sensitive.
With his mind made up, Bai Ge set off.
After weaving through the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor,
he arrived at the city center—
Heyu Teahouse, near the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Even better—
On the way, he heard that Yun Jin was performing today!
"Looks like my luck really is good today…"
For a leisurely Bai Ge, ordinary opera was already enjoyable—
but Yun Jin's performances were on a whole other level.
However, the moment he reached the second floor of Heyu Teahouse,
he sensed that something was off.
The owner, Fan Er'ye, wasn't inside helping as usual—
Instead, he was standing outside, repeatedly turning customers away.
One after another, patrons who'd come excitedly to hear Yun Jin sing
were persuaded by a few words from Fan Er'ye to leave—
Cursing under their breaths as they went.
From their complaints, Bai Ge caught a key phrase:
"The Fatui."
"Boss Fan, what's going on today?" Bai Ge asked directly.
"Isn't Yun Jin performing?"
"Oh! Young Master Bai!"
Fan Er'ye's eyes lit up when he saw him—
But his expression quickly dimmed again.
"It is Yun Jin's stage today… but we've had some unwelcome guests arrive.
I had no choice but to send the regulars away."
Lowering his voice, Fan Er'ye leaned in and whispered:
"There are Fatui Harbingers inside the teahouse."
"…And not just one."
"Two of them."
—------------------------------
Pat reon Advance Chapters: patreon.com/FicWarden