"Signora—you're recovered?!"
Seeing her standing there, completely back to normal, Tartaglia exclaimed in surprise.
But soon, the usually easygoing Harbinger showed genuine anger.
"Do you even know what you've been doing these past few days? Do you know how much damage your shutdown has caused the Fatui?"
Childe rebuked her sharply.
The Fatui had always harbored a dream of acting as the world's police.
So when trouble arose in Liyue's Chasm, they dispatched troops to investigate and resist the corruption.
At present, relations between the Fatui and Liyue were still in a honeymoon phase.
There were countless matters requiring coordination and negotiation.
Signora had been the earliest to negotiate with Liyue and was the most familiar with intelligence from all sides.
Her role was crucial.
Strictly speaking, Tartaglia's trip had been half vacation, half work.
At the very least, he was laying the groundwork for what would follow.
But because of Signora's sudden inactivity, he had been forced to step in.
It hadn't even been his responsibility. Taking over in haste meant that even if deals were struck, they certainly wouldn't fully align with Snezhnaya's interests.
That was why Tartaglia was so furious.
As he angrily questioned Signora, he was already prepared to fight her—after all, she had always been arrogant and domineering.
Unexpectedly, after hearing him out, Signora simply nodded and admitted it.
"Yes, I am aware of my mistake."
"Rest assured, I will personally report this matter to Her Majesty."
She then added calmly, "As for now, you may leave. I have something to discuss with this person."
After dismissing Tartaglia with a few indifferent words, she shifted her gaze directly to Bai Ge.
A gaze with undeniable presence fell upon him.
"…Huh?"
Suddenly being called out, Bai Ge's face was full of confusion.
If today's events didn't seem so unplanned, he would have suspected the two Harbingers had deliberately lured him out.
"Wait… could it actually be?"
Seeing the formation—one close-combat fighter up front, one long-range controller blocking escape—Bai Ge subtly shifted his footing, widening the distance between himself and Tartaglia.
At the same time, the Lithic Blade was ready to be summoned at any moment.
"What do you mean?" Tartaglia stepped forward, puzzled.
She had inexplicably gone on strike, then appeared just as inexplicably, said strange things, and now was telling him to leave.
He, Tartaglia, might be the lowest-ranked Harbinger—but he was not a toy. Nor was he truly a toy salesman!
"Explain yourself, Signora! What exactly are you trying to do? What are you thinking right now?"
"As a Harbinger of the Fatui, I have the right to question whether your loyalty to Her Majesty has wavered!"
He took two steps forward.
"I don't mind fighting you over it!"
A sharp, crystalline aura burst from his body.
In the narrow alley near Bai Ge's home, fallen leaves were lifted into the air—then shredded apart by the clashing pressures.
Seeing this, Bai Ge instinctively stepped back again.
Today had already been full of surprises.
But he hadn't expected even more to come.
Given Tartaglia's battle-hungry nature, under normal circumstances Signora would have responded with a fight to prove herself.
But today, she did not.
From her body spread an extreme chill, like endless ice and snow.
The moment Bai Ge felt that cold, he felt as though his soul itself were about to freeze.
It was as if time had been infinitely stretched—his thoughts slowing to a crawl.
Then the system notification rang out:
[Ding. Detected the power of the Cryo Archon. System upgra—Error! Attempting absorption… Failed! This is a diluted pseudo–Cryo Archon power carried by a mortal. Insufficient purity!]
With the system's voice, Bai Ge's thoughts resumed flowing.
"Was that the system? No… she withdrew it!"
He looked at Signora again, wariness filling his eyes.
Was this the time-freezing power that Venti experienced in the original storyline?
Even diluted—pseudo-divine power—it was still terrifyingly strong.
If Signora was already like this, just how powerful were the true Seven Archons?!
Bai Ge was shaken.
And in front of him, Tartaglia was no less shocked.
"This… this is Her Majesty's power?"
He stared at Signora in disbelief. "You carry the Tsaritsa's power?!"
"Hmph. I always have," Signora replied coldly. "And that does not require explanation to you."
After withdrawing the divine power, her face had grown noticeably paler.
"Well? Will you listen now?"
"…Of course." Tartaglia nodded, his expression complicated.
"Though I don't know what you intend to do, Signora, I will still report your actions to Her Majesty," he said finally.
He glanced at Bai Ge, tossing him a look that clearly meant good luck, before turning to leave.
"The Secret Records of the Crimson Witch, was it? I'll go watch it right now."
He headed toward Heyu Teahouse.
He was tired of being the only one left in the dark.
In the alley, only Bai Ge remained—standing there warily, facing Signora alone.