Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

And not just any girl—an absolutely stunning one with a thick tail!

Damn!

If you'd come to Mondstadt looking like this earlier, even without a contract with the Lawrence family, you'd have a line of people begging to be eaten by you.

"What's wrong?" Dragon Ursa tilted her head, her expression a bit confused. "This form should make communication easier, right? I could make myself even smaller if necessary."

It had to be said—Ursa didn't seem to have much in the way of principles. She'd do just about anything for food.

"This is fine," Lucas quickly nodded.

Any smaller and it might become... inconvenient, who knows if the multiversal FBI exists?

"Go on then," Ursa said, growing impatient. "How can I get more food?"

"It's simple," Lucas patted his chest and said, "We'll attack Mondstadt together. We'll wipe out everyone who's against me. You can eat as much as you want. If you like, I can even roast them for you with my flames and season them with top-quality spices imported from Sumeru."

Drip... splash…

Ursa said nothing, but the drool pouring out of her mouth like quicksilver made her stance clear.

"But…" Ursa wasn't entirely ruled by her hunger just yet. She wiped the drool from her mouth and asked, "Aren't they your people?"

"They were," Lucas replied calmly. "But they've already overthrown me."

"But you're the first Lawrence in thousands of years strong enough to fight me," Ursa said, confused. "Why would they overthrow you? It seems like a foolish choice."

Lucas smiled. "Because I can't give them what they want."

"And what do they want?" Ursa asked, her confusion deepening. "From what I understand, humans mostly desire power, wealth, and pleasure."

"A very accurate summary," Lucas chuckled. "But what they want is… freedom."

"They're going to be disappointed. I doubt they'll find much freedom inside my stomach," Ursa said with a naively sincere expression, rubbing her belly. "But I'll try to find a spacious place to expel them, so they can return to freedom."

"Can you not romanticize taking a dump like that?" Lucas burst out laughing and extended his hand toward Ursa. "Well then, we have a new deal."

Ursa stared blankly at his outstretched hand before curling her thick tail around Lucas's fingers.

The cool, smooth scales sliding across his palm felt oddly pleasant.

"This is how my kind seals a pact," Ursa said, her face expressionless. "When do we leave? Honestly, I'm starving. If this goes on much longer, I might lose control…"

Her gaze slid back to Lucas's body, sending a shiver down his spine.

Drool once again dribbled from her mouth.

"Tomorrow we'll set off. I need a good night's rest to recover my strength," Lucas said, as a thought crossed his mind. "Also, I need your help with something to ensure our plan succeeds."

"With our combined strength, is there really any chance of failure?" Ursa asked, confident in both her power and Lucas's, having witnessed his strength firsthand.

Together, they could easily overthrow not just one Mondstadt, but three.

"There might be some tricky individuals among the rebels," Lucas explained. "You wouldn't want any interruptions during your meal, would you?"

"Fine," Ursa relented, her will easily bent when food was involved. "What do you need me to do?"

"Simple," Lucas grinned, still holding her tail. "First, just lift your tail a bit. It's kind of heavy."

...

[" The First Glass Of Red Wine " talent activated, reward: 100% increase in all attributes ]

[Achievement Unlocked: Dragon Knight]

[Reward: Talent - Ride Anything]

[Effect: You can treat any creature weaker than yourself as a 'mount.' You also have an innate talent for riding, able to master any 'mount,' including all forms of transportation.]

No doubt about it, Ursa's dragon status made the rewards incredible.

A 100% boost to all attributes—something that would take a lot of sacrifices.

"Are you sure this method will strengthen you?" Ursa asked as she tidied her long hair, frowning slightly. "I've never heard of such a way to increase one's power."

"Don't you think..." Lucas casually conjured a fireball, sending it crashing into the wall and leaving a gaping hole in the stone. "...that I've grown stronger?"

"Indeed, your fire element is much more powerful than when you attacked me last time. But…" Ursa's expression turned displeased. "Do you not know that destroying a dragon's lair is considered an act of war?"

"Cough… I was just demonstrating my power," Lucas awkwardly waved his hand. "Besides, are you really planning to keep living here?"

"What else would I do?" Ursa seemed puzzled. "I was abandoned by my kin. I have no family, no friends."

"It seems we're in the same situation," Lucas said with a bitter smile. "If you don't mind, once we finish this job, we could stick together."

"Go with you?" Ursa sneered. "Do you really think that after just one collaboration, you can become my master?"

"That's too bad…" Lucas feigned disappointment, shaking his head. "I was hoping we could travel and enjoy the cuisine of the Seven Nations together. I've invested in businesses in other countries, you know. Even if Mondstadt is destroyed, I'll still be fine."

"Now that you mention it… your offer isn't that bad," Ursa changed her tone instantly. "But the food you're talking about, is it as delicious as humans?"

"I'm curious," Lucas rubbed his chin. "Why do you have to eat humans? Don't pigs, horses, cows, and sheep taste just as good?"

"I like bitter things," Ursa said matter-of-factly. "And commoners are usually the bitterest."

"Are Mondstadt's people bitter?" Lucas asked.

"Not very," Ursa replied, shaking her head. "But they are a little sour."

Lucas chuckled at the unexpected answer, a hint of self-mockery in his smile. "Get a good rest. Tomorrow, skip breakfast and leave room for the feast."

---

Three days after Mondstadt's rebellion had triumphed.

In front of the Favonius Cathedral, Vennessa stood by the statue of the Anemo Archon Barbatos, giving her victory speech. Standing next to her were other heroes who had fought in the rebellion.

Thanks to her curse, which had burned the Lawrence family head Eberhart alive, Vennessa was able to unite the remaining rebel forces and topple Mondstadt's noble regime.

However, the victory hadn't come easily.

"Citizens of Mondstadt!" Vennessa raised the Sword high and declared, "From today on, you will no longer be oppressed by the nobility! Your wives will no longer be sent to the tower, and there will be no more slaves forced to fight in the gladiatorial arenas. We... are free!"

Her rousing words were met with a thunderous cheer from the crowd.

"Freedom!"

"Freedom!"

"Freedom!"

But then, a hesitant voice emerged from the crowd. A young man frowned and said, "But… what happens now? The Lawrence family may have been evil, and Eberhart's crimes are unspeakable, but without him, who will protect us from the dragon Ursa?"

The crowd fell silent.

Many knew that the reason for their victory was that the fearsome Lawrence family head, Eberhart, had not participated in the fight.

Suddenly, someone punched the young man, knocking him to the ground. "How dare you speak for the Lawrence family! You're a traitor!"

"Traitor!"

"Noble scum!"

"Send him to the gallows with the other nobles!"

The crowd's anger flared, and they turned on the innocent man, beating him relentlessly.

"Everyone, please calm down!" A man with a greatsword strapped to his back, who had been standing beside Vennessa, stepped forward. "We want all Mondstadt peoples—noble or commoner—to be treated equally, not to kill or exile every noble."

This man was none other than Kreuzlied, Eberhart's son, who had been stripped of his noble title and exiled. After joining the resistance, he played a key role in the revolution.

But someone pointed at Kreuzlied's face and shouted, "This guy… he looks just like Eberhart!"

"I remember him! He's Kreuzlied! He's a Lawrence too!"

"His blood is tainted with sin. Get out of our city!"

Stunned, Kreuzlied tried to explain, "You misunderstand… I'm not like my father…"

Smack!

A rock the size of an egg hit Kreuzlied square in the forehead, drawing blood.

Why is this happening?

Kreuzlied stood there, frozen, forgetting to wipe away the blood streaming down his face. As one of the key figures in overthrowing the nobility, shouldn't he be respected and celebrated like Vennessa?

But now, simply because he bore the Lawrence name, the very people he had freed were cursing him and demanding he leave Mondstadt.

Father, was my choice… really a mistake?

Boom!

At that moment, the previously clear sky suddenly darkened with thick clouds.

A massive shadow soared out of the distance, circling above Mondstadt.

It was the nightmare of countless Mondstadt citizens—the dragon Ursa, whose name alone could silence even the most stubborn child.

In an instant, the festive cheers in the plaza turned to terrified silence as everyone stared at Vennessa, the hero of Mondstadt.

"E-Everyone, don't panic!" Vennessa gripped the Windhawk Sword tightly and shouted, "Prepare the ballistae! Begin evacuation of the citizens…"

But before she could finish, the dragon Ursa opened its massive maw and unleashed a blast of black and purple dragonfire.

The once-crowded plaza, filled with celebratory revelers, erupted into chaos as the flames carved a deadly path through the people. Hundreds of Mondstadters were engulfed in the purple-black fire, their agonizing screams filling the air.

Unlike normal flames, Ursa's dragonfire was impossible to extinguish. Once it touched someone, it clung to them like a parasite, burning them alive until nothing remained but ashes.

Though Vennessa was skilled in swordsmanship, she was still only human. In the real world's history, she had only been able to fight Ursa with the help of the Anemo Archon Barbatos.

She had expected that, by sacrificing Eberhart to Ursa, the two would fight each other to the death. But now, it seemed Ursa was stronger than ever.

"Mondstadt, your tyrant has returned!"

Vennessa turned around in shock to see Lucas, alive and standing before her with a smile.

"H-How is this possible?" Vennessa stammered. "How could you… still be unharmed?"

"Oh, I forgot to mention," Lucas said, pointing to his chest. "My vitality… is five hundred and seventy-two times that of a normal warrior."

Lucas's sudden appearance was like a crushing blow to Vennessa.

Looking at this man, who had become a living nightmare, her hands gripping the sword began to tremble.

"I have to admit, your plan was pretty good. If not for a small unexpected turn, Ursa and I might have really fought to the death," Lucas said as he slowly approached Vennessa. "Your biggest mistake was not finishing me off with a single strike."

"I can't lose because..." Vennessa roared, charging at Lucas with the Windhawk Sword. The blade was now surrounded by swirling wind blades. "Freedom never loses!"

Lucas couldn't help but smile bitterly inside.

At this point, he felt just like a villain in a novel. If this were a story, Vennessa, as the heroine, would probably be empowered by some protagonist aura and defeat him in a dramatic comeback.

But this wasn't a novel, and Vennessa wasn't the main character.

Out of respect for this fierce rebel, Lucas didn't fight her barehanded. Instead, he pulled out a spear from behind him.

The spearhead gleamed like a needle, silver and sharp.

In truth, just based on his overwhelming physical strength, Vennessa was already no match for the current Lucas. Even more so, Lucas's skill with the spear was no less than Vennessa's swordsmanship.

His flowing, graceful spear technique dazzled Vennessa, making it hard for her to keep up.

But what distracted her even more were the desperate screams and cries for help echoing all around. Under the demonic flames of the dragon Ursa, both well-armed rebel soldiers and unarmed civilians were being burned to ashes without escape.

Vennessa still couldn't understand why Ursa and Lucas hadn't ended up killing each other.

The head of the Lawrence family was certainly crafty, but could his tricks really fool a dragon?

Suddenly, the dragon Ursa swooped down, biting down hard on a rebel soldier. Before the soldier could even cry out for help, there was a loud "crunch" as fragments of armor shattered. Ursa chewed twice before spitting out a helmeted head.

The head rolled across the ground a few times before coming to a stop at Vennessa's feet.

"So," Lucas smiled at the dragon Ursa, "how does it taste?"

-----

"Burp!" The dragon Ursa opened her mouth and let out a loud belch. "A bit tough to chew," she muttered in a deep voice.

With a sharp "plop," she spat out a crushed lump of metal—a mangled mess of armor and shield that her dragon teeth had ground down.

"Eberhart, you actually teamed up with the dragon Ursa..." Vennessa finally grasped the situation and muttered in disbelief, "You betrayed Mondstadt... No, you betrayed humanity!"

"So what?" 

Lucas sneered, his body turning into a blur. With a swift motion, he spun his spear behind his back and struck with lightning speed. Vennessa couldn't even see the attack clearly before feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder. The razor-sharp spearhead had already pierced through her left shoulder.

As a seasoned gladiator who had endured many wounds, a stab like this shouldn't have posed much of a threat.

But unexpectedly, after being stabbed, Vennessa's arm went completely numb, as if she had lost all sensation.

This was the product of Eberhart's years of research into the "Line of Death" technique used by spear witch—a derived ability called the "Line of Injury." Unlike the Line of Death, which delivered deadly strikes, the Line of Injury acted like a pressure point technique that caused the targeted body part to lose sensation upon impact.

Of course, this technique had its limitations. It could only be used effectively with needle-like weapons, such as the "Flowing Moon Needle" spear of Spear Witch.

"What... what have you done to me?" Vennessa looked at her now-useless arm with fear for the first time.

It was a natural human reaction. She might not have feared death, but this strange ability left her unsettled.

"I thought about it—killing you outright would be too merciful," Lucas said with a crazed grin. "Since you love freedom so much, I'll punish you by making you live... in the most unfree way possible."

Before Vennessa could react, Lucas struck again, this time targeting her knee. Pain shot through her leg, and soon after, her knee also went numb.

With her leg disabled, Vennessa stumbled and fell, kneeling before Lucas.

The citizens of Mondstadt, who were fleeing in panic, witnessed this scene.

"Lady Vennessa... why is she kneeling before Eberhart?"

"She must be begging for mercy... damn it, wasn't she supposed to be strong?"

"We're doomed... we're really doomed!"

"No... if we beg for mercy now, maybe Lord Eberhart will spare us!"

One of the Mondstadt citizens, now completely broken by fear, fell to his knees, bowing repeatedly as he pleaded, "Lord Eberhart, we were wrong! Please stop your punishment!"

Ironically, the first to kneel was the very person who had been shouting the loudest against Lawrence's rule just moments before.

Above, the dragon raged in the sky.

Below, their former ruler stood strong.

Around them, bodies lay in ruin.

And in the distance, Vennessa knelt.

Compared to this nightmare, their previous lives had been paradise.

Then, like a wave of contagion, one person after another began to kneel—two, three, then hundreds, all begging for Eberhart's forgiveness.

"Do you see?" Lucas shook his head in mock regret. "These are the people you liberated. Do you still believe they wanted true 'freedom'?"

Vennessa stared in confusion at the masses kneeling before her. "Then what do they... really want?" she murmured.

"Power," Lucas sneered. "They just couldn't stand that the nobles had more power than them. If given the chance to become nobles themselves, they'd take it faster than anyone."

"That's not true... they are my followers!" Vennessa, still unable to accept this truth, protested weakly. "We swore an oath before the Anemo Archon together."

"Unfortunately, they don't follow you. They follow 'strength,'" Lucas said as he turned to face the groveling citizens of Mondstadt. "Vennessa has fallen at my feet. Are you now begging for my mercy?"

The people, sensing a sliver of hope, hurriedly responded:

"Yes... yes!"

"Please forgive our foolishness!"

"It was her... that woman who bewitched us into rebellion!"

"Lord Eberhart! I swear eternal loyalty to you!"

"Do you see?" Lucas turned his face slightly, a mocking smile on his lips. "This is the limit of their character."

"You've won..." 

Finally defeated in spirit, Vennessa let out a bitter laugh. "I should have accepted your deal. What was I even fighting for?"

Lucas knew that Vennessa was now dead inside.

This fate, where her spirit was crushed, was far crueler than physical destruction.

History often has turning points.

In the real world, Vennessa had the help of the Anemo Archon Barbatos to defeat the dragon Ursa and overthrow Mondstadt's old aristocracy.

But in this simulation, Barbatos never appeared, and the ruling nobles weren't entirely useless.

Naturally, the outcome was different.

"As for your apology, I'm very moved. Unfortunately..."

Flames began to flicker on Lucas's body, almost as if they were part of him. "I... do not accept."

Before anyone could react to what he meant, Lucas raised his hand. With a loud boom, a massive column of flame, nearly two meters wide, shot from his palm and slammed into the densest part of the crowd.

After absorbing the powers of both Vennessa and the dragon Ursa, Lucas's strength had reached a whole new level.

The flames, burning at temperatures of over 10,000 degrees Celsius, didn't even give the victims a chance to scream. They were incinerated instantly, leaving only human-shaped scorch marks on the ground.

A few unlucky ones who were not fully engulfed screamed in agony as parts of their bodies were burned away. Some had entire limbs melted off, while others saw their charred internal organs spill out.

Those around them stood frozen in shock. Several collapsed, their legs giving way beneath them.

"What are you standing there for?" Lucas calmly blew out the fire on his fingertips and smiled. "Aren't you going to run?"

Lucas wasn't particularly interested in slaughter, but this was a perfect opportunity to "cleanse" Mondstadt.

The rotten nobility, the ignorant masses, the reckless rebels.

None of them were worth saving. Better to burn it all to the ground.

After all, if things had gone according to his original plan, he might have already defeated Ursa and returned to Mondstadt, ready to abolish the "First Glass of Red Wine Decree."

If only...

But there are no "if onlys."

Since they wanted destruction, he might as well help them along.

Those citizens of Mondstadt, frozen in terror, finally realized what was happening and began to flee in all directions, their wails filling the air.

Meanwhile, the towering statue of the Anemo Archon continued to gaze ahead, showing no sign of concern for the worshippers who had so long revered him.

Having just enjoyed a hearty meal, the dragon Ursa landed beside Lucas in her human form, her previously flat belly now slightly bulging from overeating.

"Hey, don't burn everything to ash," Ursa said, lazily cleaning her teeth with a claw. "It's a waste."

In her eyes, the fleeing humans were no different from pigs headed for the butcher.

"You're one to talk," Lucas shrugged. "Didn't you turn them to ash with your fire?"

"Can't help it," Ursa replied, frowning slightly. "I can't control the strength of my dragon fire. Can you control how bad your farts smell?"

Hearing such crude words come from her otherwise regal face was oddly amusing.

"And what about them?" Ursa gestured toward the people fleeing toward the city gates. "Are you just going to let them escape?"

"It's fine," Lucas said with a smile as he watched their retreating figures. "Let the bullets fly for a while."

Mondstadt, a typical medieval city, was built on an island in Wine Lake with only a single bridge connecting it to the mainland. This layout was meant to protect the city from monsters and invaders.

Now, that same bridge had become the only escape route for the citizens, who rushed to cross it—only to find that the bridge had been destroyed.

Their only way out was to cross the moat, a wide stretch of water over thirty meters across.

In desperation, many of the fleeing citizens jumped into the moat, trying to swim to safety. But to their horror, the temperature of the once-cool water began to rise rapidly.

Soon, the surface of the moat started to bubble and boil, and the people who had jumped in screamed in agony before their cries were abruptly cut off.

"I see now..." Ursa muttered. "Your power is so great that it can even boil the water?"

"They're probably cooked by now," Lucas remarked indifferently. "Why don't you go try a taste? I hear Liyue has a similar dish called 'hotpot.'"

"I'd love to!" 

With that, Ursa transformed back into her dragon form and flew over to the riverbank. She scooped up the now-boiled people in her jaws and swallowed them whole.

For Ursa, this was a lavish all-you-can-eat buffet. For the remaining citizens of Mondstadt, it was nothing short of hell on earth.

The dragon loomed above, casting her shadow over the city as her evil flames consumed it.

The one-sided massacre lasted from day into night, and by the time it was over, Mondstadt had been reduced to a smoldering ruin.

Even Ursa, who had gorged herself on the citizens, was now so full that her belly bulged, and she lazily sprawled in the middle of the town square, occasionally letting out a satisfied belch.

The city had been nearly wiped out, with fewer than one percent of its population surviving. Those who were still alive had been forced into the vast halls of the Cathedral by Lucas's "guidance."

Standing before the cathedral, flames flickered in Lucas's palm. One snap of his fingers, and the last remnants of Mondstadt's people would be completely wiped out.

"Go ahead and do it," 

Ursa the dragon seemed impatient, saying, "If you're hesitant, I can help speed things up."

"I just wanted to take one last look at this city," Lucas said calmly, "I hate it, but I also love it."

But at that moment, a figure suddenly descended from the sky, landing in front of Lucas. When he saw who it was, a complicated expression crossed his face.

The person blocking his way wasn't a stranger—it was his own son, Kreuzlied.

"Well, well, isn't this Mondstadt's great hero?" Lucas sneered. "How does it feel, playing a game where you overthrew your father's reign? Is it fun?"

"I... I was wrong."

Kreuzlied shook his head, replying, "I was too naive. But these people... they are the last spark of Mondstadt. If you kill them all, Mondstadt will be finished for good. I beg you—"

"Kreuzlied, have you forgotten all the noble manners I taught you?" Lucas said coldly. "You don't even want to call me father."

For the first time, Kreuzlied lowered his stubborn head in front of his father. "Father, please... spare them!"

"When you were studying abroad, you should have learned some basic economics," Lucas said, smiling as if having a casual conversation with his son. "I'm willing to spare them, but what will you offer in exchange?"

"I... I..." Kreuzlied found himself at a loss for words.

"Kreuzlied, before your mother passed away, she asked me to take good care of you. That's why I spoiled you all these years," Lucas said with a cold snort. "You have nothing to offer in exchange because everything you have comes from me. Without me, you're nothing."

"Then how about I take his place in this deal?"

Just then, a gust of wind suddenly swirled in front of Lucas. When the wind dissipated, standing there was a youthful figure in green clothes and a green hat, holding a lyre.

Seeing the ruins, the scattered corpses, and the burning buildings, including the anemo god statue that had been partially destroyed, the youth's face showed a fleeting expression of regret. However, he soon returned to a calm smile. "Mr. Eberhart, this isn't our first meeting, is it?"

Indeed, the young man dressed like a wandering bard was the same figure who had once left Lucas with three prophecies inside the simulator.

"I should have guessed," Lucas showed no fear. "Anemo Archon... Lord Barbatos, as a former Mondstadter, I should bow to you. Unfortunately, I no longer am."

Even the previously lazy Ursa the dragon stood up, her mouth emitting black flames as she watched the youth warily. "Is this a new enemy?"

It was clear that Ursa sensed this person's extraordinary power.

"No need to be so tense..." Barbatos quickly waved his hands, trying to defuse the situation. "I don't have the confidence to beat both of you."

"Really?" Ursa immediately turned to Lucas and said, "In that case, let's just eliminate this threat!"

"Hold on!" Barbatos said, both laughing and crying. "I told you, I'm only here to make a deal."

"Calm down, Ursa," Lucas shook his head. "He is, after all, one of the Seven Archons. He's not weak by any means... So, what do you want?"

"Strictly speaking, I shouldn't interfere in this matter, but these people are still the citizens of Mondstadt," Barbatos' usually playful face turned uncharacteristically serious. "So, I'm willing to offer something in exchange for their lives."

To be honest, Lucas had some reservations about Barbatos' strength. However, since Barbatos hadn't directly attacked and was instead proposing a trade, it seemed he wasn't planning to use force.

----

"Oh?" Lucas sized Barbatos up and down, somewhat disappointed. "Too bad you're a guy."

If Barbatos had been a girl, maybe he could have triggered the effect of The First Cup of Red Wine.

Wait, maybe boys could work too?

Barbatos didn't know what was going through the man's mind, but the look in his eyes made the god feel a bit uneasy.

"Please, don't get any strange ideas," Barbatos said awkwardly. "This is just a straightforward deal."

"That lyre of yours looks pretty good," Lucas stroked his chin. "How about you trade it for their lives?"

"No can do, that's something very important to me." Barbatos raised his hand, and a small object shaped like a chess piece appeared in his palm. "But I am willing to offer... this Gnosis in exchange."

Apparently, Barbatos valued his lyre more than the Gnosis.

No wonder when the Fatui's Harbinger, La Signora, stole his Gnosis, Barbatos didn't seem too upset about it.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is the symbol of a god," Lucas sneered. "You're really fine giving something like this to a villain like me?"

"If Mondstadt's people are wiped out, then who would be left to worship me?" Barbatos shook his head. "A king isn't a king because he wears a crown, but because he has subjects, right?"

"Honestly, I'm not too interested in the Gnosis, but I'll do you this favor." Lucas extended his hand, and the Gnosis slowly floated into his palm, dissolving into a radiant light that was absorbed into his body.

At that moment, a system message unexpectedly appeared in Lucas's mind:

[Detected acquisition of a Gnosis. Hidden mission activated.]

[Hidden mission objective: Collect all seven Gnosis.]

[Reward: The host may make any one wish.]

A hidden mission?

Lucas was momentarily stunned.

But the reward was indeed tempting...

This wasn't just about collecting seven Gnosis—this was practically collecting Dragon Balls!

"It seems you've accepted the terms," Barbatos sighed in relief. "I hope you'll keep your word. If that's all, I should be going now."

"Wait a minute..." Lucas seemed to recall something. He spoke calmly, "You once gave me three prophecies. Two have already come true, but the third... will it really happen?"

It wasn't surprising that Lucas had his doubts.

Not to mention whether his two children would ever attempt to assassinate him again—given the current power gap between them, even if they hacked at him for three days and nights while he stood still, they probably couldn't harm him.

"Prophecies never fail," Barbatos shook his head. "As I said, fate is unchangeable. Even gods are but a part of it. You will inevitably follow your father's path."

"But..."

Lucas wanted to ask more, but before he could, Barbatos had already dissipated into the wind, vanishing before his eyes.

Kreuzlied , who had been in shock, finally snapped out of it. After all, he had just seen the Anemo God in person!

"Kreuzlied, you saw what happened just now," Lucas said calmly. "It seems I have no choice but to spare them. However, you must agree to one condition."

"Please tell me, Father!"

Kreuzlied's attitude toward his father had taken a complete 180-degree turn. After all, his father was a man who could negotiate with the Anemo God!

"Carry on the Lawrence family name," Lucas said as he patted Kreuzlied's shoulder. "Since you dislike noble rule so much, why not try it yourself?"

Naturally, Lucas couldn't kill Kreuzlied. The reason was simple: if he killed him, the Lawrence bloodline would end. The [Eternal Bloodline] ability could only reincarnate him into one of his descendants. If there were no descendants, what would be the point of reincarnating?

"I... I fear I'm not capable," Kreuzlied replied, his face filled with frustration. "I can't make them believe in me."

"I'm not a great teacher, but there's one thing I can teach you." Lucas smiled. "Do you know what the most important thing a ruler needs from their people is?"

"Respect?" Kreuzlied guessed hesitantly.

"Wrong. It's fear."

Lucas walked past Kreuzlied to the doors of the Favonius Cathedral. With a wave of his hand, the heavy doors turned to ashes.

The fierce night wind rushed in, and inside the cathedral, Mondstadt's last remaining citizens huddled together in fear. Their eyes were wide with terror as they stared at the shadow looming at the entrance.

"Don't... don't hurt them!"

At that moment, a slender figure emerged from the crowd, gripping a massive greatsword. Though her body trembled, her expression was firm as she stood between Lucas and the people. "I will... huh? Uncle, why... why is it you?"

Indeed, the red-haired girl standing in front of him was none other than Eberhart's daughter. She seemed utterly shocked that the man who had destroyed Mondstadt was the same friendly uncle she had shared drinks with in the tavern.

"There are always surprises in this world," Lucas was taken aback for a moment, but then he smiled. "Tell me, why are you protecting them?"

"Because my grandpa told me that protecting the weak is a knight's duty!" the girl answered seriously. "Even though I'm not an official knight yet..."

"No, you are now," Lucas replied with a solemn expression. "As the head of the Lawrence family, I officially knight you as the Dawn Knight."

"I... I've been knighted?" The red-haired girl was momentarily stunned, then muttered, "But how do you know my surname?"

Lucas didn't answer her question. Instead, he scanned the remaining survivors of Mondstadt and said loudly, "By rights, I should burn every one of you traitors. However... my kind-hearted son Kreuzlied has pleaded for your lives."

Hearing this, the surviving citizens' eyes lit up with hope.

"From this day forth, Kreuzlied will inherit the title of head of the Lawrence family, and you must all pledge allegiance to him as your new ruler." Lucas's face turned cruel as he added, "Each year on this day, I will return on the back of the dragon. If I do not see the Lawrence banner flying high, well... you can imagine the consequences."

Even without him explaining, they understood the grim implications—Lucas wouldn't hesitate to roast the city again if they defied him.

With that, Lucas left the cathedral, leaping onto Ursa's back.

"Is everything done?" Ursa asked lazily.

"It's done. Now I'll fulfill my promise to you," Lucas said as he patted Ursa's massive head. "Where would you like to eat?"

"Just somewhere that's not people—I'm sick of eating them." Ursa stuck out her purple tongue in distaste. "Let's go to Liyue. I want to try that 'hot pot' thing."

"Father!" Kreuzlied suddenly called out. "Where are you going?"

"To a new life," Lucas waved goodbye, smiling. "Goodbye, my son."

With a powerful flap of its wings, the dragon rose into the night sky, gradually becoming a mere speck in the distance.

"Goodbye..." Kreuzlied whispered, watching the sky. "My beloved and hated father."

---

[Entering text mode...]

[Age 43: The burning of Mondstadt in one night attracted widespread attention. Many nations provided aid for its reconstruction.]

[Age 44: You left Mondstadt and traveled across Teyvat with Ursa. To avoid drawing attention, you often asked her to remain in human form.]

[Age 45: Mondstadt's reconstruction was nearly complete. As promised, you rode Ursa over the city and saw the Lawrence family banner proudly waving.]

[Age 46: You visited Fontaine and tried the local delicacy, escargot. At first, Ursa disliked it, but after a few bites, she became addicted.]

[Age 47: You learned that after you severely injured Vanessa, she became paralyzed and was cared for by the Church of Favonius. She passed away recently, but her body mysteriously disappeared.]

[Age 48: You and Ursa went to Inazuma to eat sushi.]

[Age 49: In Snezhnaya, Ursa won the local drinking contest and earned a lifetime supply of free alcohol.]

[Age 50: Ursa started feeling homesick, so you returned to her lair. You discovered she loved roasted chicken, so you raised livestock for her.]

[Age 51: Ursa ate chicken.]

[Age 52: Ursa ate chicken.]

[Age 53: Ursa ate many chickens.]

[Age 54: You noticed that your body was starting to feel weak...]

[Age 55: The dragon Ursa ate more chicken.]

[Age 56: Ursa complained that your roast chicken wasn't as good anymore. Well, you were getting older, and sometimes it was hard to keep up.]

[Age 57: You suggested that you and Ursa go on another trip. You arrived at Liyue Harbor, where you noticed an old man pouring wine into the sea. Curious, you approached and realized that the old man looked somewhat familiar.]

Upon seeing this line, Lucas seemed to realize something and softly said, "Activate immersive mode."

[Immersive mode activated successfully.]

The sea breeze carried a faint salty scent, and near the harbor, an elderly man stood. He appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, his face deeply wrinkled, and his back slightly hunched. In his hand was a half-full bottle of wine, which he was pouring into the sea as if in mourning for someone.

"Sir..." Lucas calmly stood beside the old man and asked politely, "May I ask what you are doing?"

As he got closer, Lucas noticed that the man's eyes were clouded and blind.

"Can't you tell?" the old man said, his eyes vacant. "I'm mourning my son. He was a first mate, like many, lost to the sea."

"Oh?" Lucas frowned slightly. "How did he die?"

"Who knows? A storm, sea beasts, a massive wave... Every time he sailed, it was as if he was courting death," the old man chuckled slightly. "Perhaps, for him, death was a kind of release."

"May I ask..." Lucas hesitated before continuing, "How many sons do you have?"

"Two," the old man replied, lowering his head. "But I don't remember the other one anymore."

"I see..." Lucas paused for a moment. "Sir, may I offer a drink in honor of your son?"

"Of course. He loved to drink. Every day he was drunk," the old man said as he pulled out a cup from his coat. It was finely crafted, though it had faded with time. "You know, his greatest wish was to have one last drink with his brother. But he missed out on so much in his life."

Lucas looked closely at the cup. Along its rim were signs of wear, but faintly, he could still see the crest of the Lawrence family.

"This was his favorite cup," the old man said, despite his blindness. He poured wine for Lucas and then raised his bottle, downing the last of the wine in one go. "To my son!"

Lucas also drank his cup of wine in one gulp. He was used to fine noble wines, but this strong liquor burned his throat. In a voice only he could hear, he murmured, "To my brother."

Then, Lucas pulled out a blue crystal from his pocket, the same one that Parsifal had given to the Spear Witch long ago. Even after all these years, traces of blood could still be seen on it.

"For your son, so that he may rest without regrets."

Lucas gently tossed the valuable blue crystal into the sea, where its brilliance was quickly swallowed by the depths.

It felt somewhat like the scene in Titanic where Rose throws the Heart of the Ocean into the water.

"Though I don't know what you just gave, I'm sure he would have liked it," the old man smiled faintly. "In return, take this cup as a gift."

[Item received: Golden Goblet of the Pristine Sea.]

[Golden Goblet of the Pristine Sea.]

[Category: Set item]

[Effect (1/4): Increases water elemental damage by 7%.]

Lucas seemed like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent, only whispering, "Goodbye, sir."

"Wait a moment. You seem like a traveler who's seen many lands," the old man said, slightly turning his face and offering Lucas a weathered smile. "If by chance, you meet my other son, tell him this—his father and brother have forgiven him."

"He may not need forgiveness," Lucas nodded. "But I will tell him."

Lucas turned and walked away. After a few hundred meters, he ran into Ursa, who was carrying a large bundle of food.

"Sniff, sniff..." Ursa sniffed at Lucas and asked with a puzzled expression, "Strange, why do you smell like Ingobert?"

Lucas realized something and quickly asked, "How do you know his scent?"

"It must have been about thirty years ago. I got to know there was something delicious in Dragonspine," Ursa began to recall.

"When I got there, I didn't find anything tasty, but I did smell humans. I found a lot of corpses and followed the scent to a crumbling ruin. Inside, I found him. He was barely alive. Since he was a Lawrence, I saved him. But his injuries were too severe. Though I managed to keep him alive, both his eyes were already gone..."

At that moment, everything clicked for Lucas.

So that's what the third prophecy meant.

His father had been betrayed by his children, but he hadn't died—he had simply left Mondstadt forever.

And now, just like him, Lucas had been betrayed by his own children and left Mondstadt behind.

---

Over the years, Eberhart had been deeply troubled by the prophecy. Now that the truth was revealed, he finally felt at peace.

He looked back toward the pier, but the old man had already disappeared, leaving only an empty wine bottle standing there, deserted.

[Entering text mode]

[Age 58: You and Ursa temporarily settled in Liyue.]

[Age 59: Ingobert passed away of old age. You secretly arranged a modest funeral for him, concealing your identity.]

[Age 60: You fell gravely ill.]

[Age 61: Your vision began to deteriorate.]

[Age 62: You went blind due to your illness. Fortunately, Ursa stayed by your side to care for you. She often said the same thing—"Hurry up and die already, so I can eat you!"]

[Age 63: After a lifetime of toil, it felt like all your burdens caught up with you in your old age. Your health rapidly declined, and Ursa no longer made her usual dark jokes.]

[Age 64: Despite your blindness, your hearing became sharper. However, what you heard most often was Ursa sniffing around. That creature must have been sneaking food again.]

[Age 65: You sensed your life nearing its end. Ursa held your hand tightly by your bedside, for the first time in her life feeling anxious about a human's death. And you made one last request—to be eaten by her after you died.]

[You died from illness. Throughout your life, you committed countless atrocities. Many young girls suffered at your hands, and tens of thousands were burned to ashes by your flames. You betrayed your brother, teacher, and father to seize power. Your sins were innumerable... Yet, your death was so peaceful.]

[The dragon Ursa didn't eat you. That night, a black dragon was seen soaring over Liyue's sky, seemingly carrying something. Some recognized it as the legendary dragon. Soon after, it vanished into the night.]

[You have died, but the talent "Eternal Bloodline" has activated, and you are about to be revived.]

[Eternal Bloodline (Blue): After your death, you will be reborn as an infant with your bloodline and retain your memories (this talent activates only once).]

That's right!

Perhaps due to his immersion in the narrative, Lucas almost forgot that he possessed this talent. Although he would lose his previous power upon rebirth, he would retain his memories and the talents gained from this simulation.

Even without the talents, simply retaining his memories was enough to give his reborn self a head start.

"Who will I be reborn as?" he wondered.

[The simulator will continue to generate the story until a suitable newborn is found.]

[Year 1 after death: No newborns in the Lawrence family.]

[Year 2 after death: No newborns in the Lawrence family.]

[Year 3 after death: No newborns in the Lawrence family.]

[Year 4 after death: A newborn has appeared in the Lawrence family. Father: Kreuzlied II. Would you like to reincarnate?]

Kreuzlied II?

Isn't that Kreuzlied's son?

Good grief, am I going to be reborn as my son's grandson?

"No, no! That's too confusing!" Lucas shook his head hastily. "How long will it take to find the right newborn?"

[Unknown. This system cannot control the simulator's story progression.]

"Then... just keep running it in the background and notify me when you find one," Lucas said reluctantly.

[Understood, switching to background mode.]

As the system's voice faded, Lucas opened his eyes once again. Before him, the stars twinkled faintly.

Although he had just lived an entire life in the simulator, in reality, only a moment had passed.

At that moment, he was sitting on a soft patch of grass. After a brief pause, he remembered that he was standing watch over a convoy headed to Mondstadt.

"The endless stars... one day, I, too, shall become their ruler."

Suddenly, a voice, deliberately lofty in tone, spoke behind him. Lucas didn't bother to get up. Instead, he leaned his head back, just enough to see the sharp, petite chin of the girl standing there.

It was none other than Fischl. Thanks to her rather flat stature, her chin was easy to spot from below.

Had Shenhe been the one standing behind him, Lucas's view might have been completely obstructed.

"Hey! What's with that look in your eyes?" Fischl frowned slightly. "I feel like you're thinking something very rude."

"Not at all," Lucas chuckled awkwardly. "Miss, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Foolish mortal! Only weak humans need to sleep to recover their energy," Fischl declared proudly. "As for me, I am in peak condition."

"So, you're here to keep me company while I stand watch?" Lucas bluntly exposed her intentions.

"I-I only came because you're my servant!" Fischl blushed, sitting beside Lucas. "If we encounter danger, I'll protect you."

"Well, thank you very much," Lucas said gently. "The stars sure are beautiful tonight."

You couldn't see such a magnificent sky back in the real world.

Before being transported to this world, Lucas had been a novice astronomy enthusiast, casually observing stars and constellations. However, the stars in Teyvat were entirely different from the ones in reality. He didn't recognize any of the constellations here.

"Yes... this is the first time I've watched the stars with someone other than my father..." Fischl murmured. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she whispered, "Wait, watching the stars together... isn't that something only couples do?"

"Huh?" Lucas was startled and quickly added, "I didn't mean anything like that!"

"Hmph! And what if we were?" Fischl tilted her head, locking eyes with Lucas and smiling. "The bond we share far surpasses any that mere couples could have."

A gust of wind blew, knocking Fischl's eyepatch from her face. As it floated away on the breeze, Lucas quickly reached out to grab it.

He caught the eyepatch but lost his balance, causing him to accidentally fall on top of Fischl.

Though he quickly braced himself with his arms to avoid crushing her, their faces ended up almost touching.

The air between them grew still, with only the rhythmic chirping of insects breaking the silence.

Just as Lucas was about to say something, Fischl slowly closed her eyes, her lips slightly puckering.

Wait, what's going on here?

Sure, in such a romantic situation, it's easy for a girl to feel a spark.

Simply put... the mood was right.

But what was he supposed to do now?

Kissing her seemed too forward.

But not kissing her... might be even more rude.

In the midst of Lucas's hesitation, Fischl's soft hands suddenly grasped the back of his neck.

"Idiot..."

She whispered before gently pulling his head down for the kiss.

Their lips met, a soft, fleeting touch.

It was gentle at first, a hesitant, awkward meeting of lips. But then, something shifted. Fischl's hand, small and trembling, reached up to cup the back of his neck, pulling him just a little closer.

The kiss deepened, still innocent, yet filled with an emotion neither of them had expected. For a brief moment, it felt as though the world around them had disappeared. There were no stars, no sky, no camp. Just the two of them.

When they finally pulled apart, the silence that followed was deafening.

A minute later.

Lucas sat up slowly, his mind still replaying the sensation of that kiss. Although Fischl had acted boldly, she was clearly flustered afterward. Her face was as red as a ripe apple.

"D-Don't get the wrong idea!" Fischl said, her voice defensive. "That was just... a ritual to cement our bond! You know, like... an exchange of saliva. Got it?"

"Is that so?" Lucas touched his lips, smiling. "It was a pretty sweet ritual."

"You...!" Fischl's face grew even redder. She was about to retort when she noticed that Lucas had suddenly covered her mouth.

Wait, wait, what was happening?

The usually confident, dramatic girl felt her heart race. Could it be that this guy... wanted to take things even further?

What should I do?

After all, it was my own impulsive action that started this. Technically, if he's getting carried away, I'm partly responsible too. But it was just a moment of impulse—I'm not mentally prepared for this at all!

Besides, the bond between master and servant… it's basically the ultimate taboo!

Then again, as the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, haven't I always sought out forbidden powers?

Lucas had no idea what sort of wild thoughts the girl he had his hand over was having. He had covered her mouth because he sensed something unusual in their surroundings.

"Shh!" Lucas whispered. "Something's not right."

Just as he spoke, a faint purple light flickered from the nearby bushes, and several glowing purple orbs emerged.

"Seriously… you're getting all worked up over that?" Fischl raised an eyebrow. "They're just a few 'Electro Cicins.' These bugs might release Electro energy, but they don't actively attack humans."

However, before Fischl could finish speaking, she was immediately proven wrong. The dozen or so Electro Cicins suddenly shot out crackling orbs of electricity, aiming straight at the two of them.

Lucas quickly pushed Fischl behind him, drew the sword at his waist, and with a swift movement, the sound of a dragon's roar echoed as he sliced through the incoming orbs of electricity, reducing them to harmless sparks.

"Not bad at all~"

A feminine voice came from the shadows, and a figure clad in purple, with a hood over her head, emerged. Surrounding her were several more Electro Cicins.

Though her eyes were covered by a black blindfold, the half of her face that was visible hinted at a certain beauty.

The most striking feature, however, was the gem embedded in her chest, glowing with an ominous purple light. This wasn't a Vision, but rather a "Delusion," an artificial power created by the Fatui.

Lucas, having once played the role of "The Doctor" in the simulator, was quite familiar with it.

This woman was a special unit of the Fatui sorcerer corps—A Cicin Mage, skilled in controlling Electro Cicins to assist in battle.

Ordinary Cicin Mages could control around five or six Electro Cicins at most. But the fact that this one controlled dozens indicated she was no ordinary foe.

"Fatui again!" Fischl scowled. "These people just won't leave us alone!"

"Little girl, did you just say 'again'?" The Cicin Mage laughed seductively. "So it was you who dealt with the previous group of Fatui trying to collect materials, wasn't it?"

Lucas couldn't help but sigh. Fischl's quick mouth had given them away— in more ways than one.

It was clear that this Cicin Mage was allied with the Fatui group they had already encountered.

Now that their cover was blown, it was obvious that this woman could not be allowed to leave alive.

Lucas hadn't even realized it himself, but his thought process had subtly shifted. In the past, he might not have decided to kill so quickly.

"Fischl, go wake the others," Lucas said, not turning to look at her. "I'll handle this."

But Fischl didn't respond. Instead, there was a soft "thud," and she collapsed onto the soft grass, unconscious.

"Fischl?"

Lucas was momentarily surprised but quickly noticed something else. A faint pink mist was wafting through the air, carrying a sweet, intoxicating scent.

"This is..." With his Medical Sage talent, Lucas immediately recognized the smell. "Daigo Fragrance?"

"My, my, you're quite knowledgeable, aren't you?" The Cicin Mage giggled. "That's right. I'm here to take you alive. Maybe I can get some useful information out of you. This Daigo Fragrance isn't cheap, you know."

The "Daigo Fragrance" was an extract from flowers that, when inhaled, made one feel as though they'd drunk too much strong liquor.

It didn't take long for Fischl, still a young girl, to succumb. Lucas, with his unusually strong constitution, had managed to resist so far. Since the fragrance wasn't technically a poison, his Regenerative Factor wasn't counteracting it, but even Lucas was starting to feel light-headed.

"You're holding up well. Impressive," the Cicin Mage said as she confidently approached him. "I wonder… are you just as good at lasting in other situations? Hehehe..."

But at that moment, Lucas suddenly opened his palm and tossed a handful of seeds onto the ground.

In an instant, the seeds seemed to come alive, burrowing into the soil. Soon, the ground bulged, and a large vine burst forth, quickly growing into a massive flower with a trumpet-shaped bloom. The flower began to suck in the pink mist, rapidly clearing the air of the Daigo Fragrance.

"A Dust-Eater Flower?! How did it grow so fast?" The Cicin Mage looked shocked. "Are you a Vision holder, attuned to the Dendro element?"

Close, but not entirely right.

Before setting off, Lucas had bought some special seeds from a flower shop in Liyue to prepare for unexpected situations. Using his Dendro Archon Gene, he had the ability to make them grow instantly.

It seemed his plan had worked.

With the Daigo Fragrance gone, his vision cleared.

----

"It seems that your tricks are nothing special," Lucas sneered as he steadily advanced toward the Electro Cicin Mage. "No worries, I can take my time playing with you."

"Hmph! How dare you look down on me!" the Electro Cicin Mage snorted. With a wave of her hand, she commanded, "Go, my children!"

Following her command, a dozen or so Electro Cicins, as if receiving orders, swarmed toward Lucas.

"Don't kill him, my darlings," the Electro Cicin Mage crossed her arms and said smugly. "I want to have some fun with him!"

Unexpectedly, the Electro Cicins flew right past Lucas, heading behind him. About ten meters away, an eerie-looking tree had somehow already grown without anyone noticing.

The tree's leaves hung down like willow branches, and its shape was quite peculiar. Not only did it emit a purple glow, but the leaves also pulsated rhythmically, resembling the flight of Electro Cicins.

The Electro Cicins released by the mage were instantly drawn to the mimic leaves, flying around them as if performing some sort of mating dance.

"This is a 'Luring Cicada Tree.' Your Mistgrass only attracts male Electro Cicins, but this tree can disguise itself as a female Cicin and release pheromones. Then..." Lucas snapped his fingers, and suddenly, one of the vines from the Luring Cicada Tree extended, wrapping around one of the Electro Cicins.

Despite being captured, the Electro Cicin seemed unaware and made no effort to leave.

It appeared that, for these insects, reproduction was more appealing than food.

"No! Stop!" 

Seeing her Electro Cicins being devoured by the tree, the Electro Cicin Mage's face immediately showed deep distress.

She had raised and trained these Electro Cicins with care, like her own children. Seeing them consumed, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

"How does it feel, watching the Electro Cicins you worked so hard to raise get eaten alive?" Lucas grinned wickedly. "Keep eating!"

As if following his command, the Luring Cicada Tree extended two more vines, instantly engulfing two more Electro Cicins.

"I'll kill you!"

The Electro Cicin Mage, now blinded by rage, seemed to lose all sense of reason. She raised her arms, summoning several bolts of lightning that shot toward Lucas. "You've made me angry!"

Naturally, Lucas wasn't going to sit idly by. Moving like a specter, he effortlessly dodged the lightning strikes and appeared behind her in an instant.

What made the Electro Cicin Mage dangerous was her ability to control the Cicins in coordinated attacks. But without them, her combat skills were fairly weak.

Before she could react, Lucas grabbed her by the back of the head and slammed her to the ground with great force.

The immense strength rendered her unable to struggle. It felt like she was being crushed by a mountain rather than a man.

"Now, speak," Lucas said coldly, lifting her head by her hair. "What's the Doctor's goal? Does he know about me?"

"I... I won't say anything!" the Electro Cicin Mage gritted her teeth. "Don't underestimate the resolve of the Fatui!"

"Such principles!" Lucas sneered, forcing her to look at the Luring Cicada Tree. "Then watch closely as your beloved children get eaten one by one."

The tree extended more vines, wrapping around several more Cicins. They struggled briefly before going still.

"No... please, no!"

The Electro Cicin Mage felt as if her heart was being torn apart. These Cicins were more than just battle tools; they were her cherished partners and children.

Watching them get consumed, even a member of the cold-hearted Fatui couldn't help but feel intense pain.

"Still not willing to talk?" Lucas seemed to enjoy this form of torment. "For every minute you refuse, I'll command the tree to eat another one. At this rate, you won't have many left."

"I..." The Electro Cicin Mage hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. "I'll tell you everything I know. Please... stop."

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Lucas released his grip. "Speak. What do you know?"

"The Doctor's plans are typically highly classified, and as a mid-ranking officer, I lack access to the full details. All I know is that there are some biological experiments being conducted on the Hilichurls."

She bit her lip and continued, "Second, because the teams sent to retrieve materials suddenly went missing, the Doctor dispatched several officers to search for clues. I suspect you know something, which is why you were being tested."

Upon hearing this, Lucas finally relaxed a little. At least, the Doctor likely hadn't yet learned about his actions.

Though Lucas was strong, facing off against a Fatui Harbinger was still a bit out of his league. Opposing the Doctor would be the same as declaring war on the entire Fatui—something he wanted to avoid.

"That's all I know," the Electro Cicin Mage sighed. "Now, do what you will, but please... spare the children."

She knew all too well that a ruthless man like Lucas wouldn't let her live.

"If I were to kill you, not only would you die..." Lucas said indifferently, "but I would erase all traces of everything connected to you."

"You're... you're heartless!" she spat, glaring at him. "Opposing the Fatui won't end well for you!"

"Haven't you figured it out?" Lucas smiled faintly. "I said 'if.' I'm not going to kill you because... I also work for the Tsaritsa."

"What?" the Electro Cicin Mage was shocked. "How... how is that possible?"

"It's no surprise that you don't know. My identity is highly confidential," Lucas said coolly. "I'm a dual-ranked senior agent, serving both the Tsaritsa and the Liyue Qixing, secretly acting as the Twelfth Harbinger, codenamed Villain."

Of course, all this information was fabricated by Lucas.

He had indeed considered killing the Electro Cicin Mage, but even if he did, the Doctor wouldn't let the matter rest. The best course of action now was to place a spy within the Fatui to provide him with intelligence.

"I've never heard of a Twelfth Harbinger," the Electro Cicin Mage scoffed. "Kill me if you want, but you won't fool me."

"I only serve the Tsaritsa," Lucas said with a straight face. "My primary mission is to monitor the Harbingers. Recently, the Doctor's actions have been suspicious, which is why the Tsaritsa sent me to investigate. I hold information on many of the Harbingers. If you don't believe me, feel free to ask."

"If you really are an agent of the Tsaritsa..." the Electro Cicin Mage's eyes gleamed with suspicion. "Then you should know what Her Majesty looks like, right?"

Though the Tsaritsa was the ruler of a nation, she rarely appeared in public. Only the Harbingers were privy to her true appearance.

However, due to an accident, this Electro Cicin Mage had once seen the Tsaritsa's true face, which is why she asked the question.

"Of course, I've seen her," Lucas responded casually. "Her Majesty has the appearance of a girl around twelve or thirteen years old, with silver hair and snow-white skin. She's incredibly adorable."

"How could this be..."

The Electro Cicin Mage was utterly shocked. The man before her had actually answered correctly.

Honestly, it was undoubtedly a trick question. After all, in the minds of most people, the Tsaritsa's image was surely tall, elegant, regal, and coldly beautiful.

Some who had seen the Harbinger, La Signora, would even subconsciously associate the Tsaritsa's appearance with hers.

Who would have imagined that the real Tsaritsa would have the form of a young girl?

"Judging by that expression, it seems you know I got it right," Lucas said with a smile. "I didn't expect a mid-ranking officer like you to have had the fortune of seeing Her Majesty's true form."

"That... that might have just been a lucky guess," the Electro Cicin Mage retorted. "Then... do you know the true name of the Harbinger Tartaglia?"

"Ajax," Lucas replied without hesitation. "That shouldn't be considered a secret, right?"

In the simulator, the "Doctor" was truly a veteran of the Fatui, thoroughly familiar with many of its secrets.

Forget these simple questions—Lucas even knew what time the Tsaritsa took her bath and what positions La Signora preferred.

The Electro Cicin Mage proceeded to ask several more questions, all of which Lucas answered fluently, seeming to know even more than she did.

[The effect of The Liar's Bane has activated; the target believes your lie.]

"You really are a special agent of Her Majesty?" The Electro Cicin Mage was finally starting to waver, muttering, "Then why haven't you killed me? If I remain alive, won't your identity be exposed?"

"I told you, I'm investigating the Doctor's activities and need an undercover agent," Lucas reached into the back of the Electro Cicin Mage's collar, smiling. "And I think you might be the perfect candidate."

The sudden gesture sent a shiver through the Electro Cicin Mage's entire body.

After all, the implication behind the action was far too obvious.

Especially since his hand was moving up and down her spine, as if playing some kind of instrument.

"You..." the Electro Cicin Mage's voice dropped slightly. "What are you trying to do to me?"

"Of course..." Lucas whispered into her ear, "I'm about to do something bad."

What to do?

What can I do?

I can't beat him in a fight, and there's no point in running...

Might as well surrender.

Besides, this guy is pretty handsome, and he's an important subordinate of Her Majesty. Submitting to him might not be such a bad thing.

However, just as the Electro Cicin Mage's thoughts began to wander, Lucas withdrew his hand from her collar.

"All done."

Wait, it's already over?

The Electro Cicin Mage turned her head, her face slightly flushed. "What... what did you do?"

"I planted a 'Horsehair Worm Flower' seed in your body," Lucas said with a sinister grin. "If you ever intend to reveal my identity, I'll activate it immediately. The Horsehair Worm Flower will rapidly grow inside your intestines, slowly tormenting you, and eventually... boom, your stomach will swell and burst, sprouting a flower!"

The Electro Cicin Mage broke into a cold sweat, especially after Lucas made the "boom" sound, which startled her into crying out.

Given his control over the dendro element, it wouldn't be hard for him to do such a thing.

"So, are you willing to be my spy? I promise, your future within the Fatui will be bright." Lucas clapped his hands. "If you refuse, you might just split open right now."

Split open, not leave.

"I... I'm willing!" the Electro Cicin Mage nodded, saying, "After all, I'm already serving Her Majesty."

Though the statement was true, it sounded more like self-consolation at this moment.

"Stand up," Lucas's icy demeanor shifted to a warm smile as he extended a hand toward the Electro Cicin Mage. "From now on, we're allies."

The Electro Cicin Mage hesitated for a moment but eventually took his hand. It was warm, yet a bit rough.

Strangely, the gentle smile on his face didn't seem fake at all. It was hard to believe that this was the same evil man from moments before.

The codename "Villain" truly suited him well.

"Oh, by the way," Lucas suddenly remembered something, "what's your name? You Electro Cicin Mages all look pretty similar; I don't want to mistake you for someone else."

The Electro Cicin Mage removed her hood and mask, revealing her true face, and softly said, "My name is... Lyudmila."

Upon seeing Lyudmila's face, Lucas couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Lyudmila blushed. "My mother gave me this name!"

"It's not your name, it's your appearance," Lucas said, finally stopping his laughter. "I thought you'd look more mature, but you're just a little girl."

"You!"

Lyudmila's face turned bright red with anger as she quickly pulled her hood back up. "I... I need to go. If I'm late in reporting, the Doctor might get suspicious."

"Wait, you forgot something."

With a wave of Lucas's hand, the leaves of the Luring Cicada Tree instantly withered, and to Lyudmila's surprise, the Electro Cicins that had been wrapped in the vines were completely unharmed, flying back to her side.

"They're all safe!" Lyudmila smiled with relief, but quickly became puzzled. "Why... why did you do this?"

"You're my person now, and your Electro Cicins are part of my power," Lucas said with a smile. "Hurry and go. And remember, if a third person finds out about today... you know the consequences."

Lyudmila felt a chill down her spine. To say such chilling words with such a warm smile—this man was truly a senior double agent of the Tsaritsa and the Liyue Qixing!

...

"Mmm..."

It wasn't clear how much time had passed before Fischl slowly woke up. She quickly sat up, startled. "An enemy attack! There's... huh?"

Everything around her seemed normal. The chirping of insects and the moonlight were as if nothing had happened at all.

"You're awake?" Lucas, sitting beside her, smiled. "What's the matter? Did you have a bad dream?"

"Strange..." Fischl furrowed her brows. "I could've sworn I saw a Fatui invader."

"That must've been a dream," Lucas said with a straight face. "Nothing happened while you were asleep."

"Was it really just a dream?"

As Fischl remained puzzled, a dark shadow suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed on her shoulder—it was her familiar, Oz.

"Oz, you've returned," Fischl resumed her usual dramatic manner and asked, "Oh, my eyes and ears, did you spot any enemies nearby?"

Lucas frowned slightly. He had completely forgotten about Fischl's ever-present familiar. If Oz had been patrolling the area, there was a chance he had witnessed everything that happened between him and Lyudmila. 

---

Oz did not immediately answer Fischl's question. His small beady eyes glanced at Lucas before responding respectfully, "My lady, I did not see anything suspicious."

"So, it was just a dream after all," Fischl yawned lazily, "Oz, this princess will retire for the night. Stay with Lucas and keep watch for a while longer."

"Yes, my lady." Oz flew onto Lucas's shoulder, nodded towards Fischl, and said, "Sweet dreams to you."

Once Fischl's figure had completely disappeared, Lucas whispered, "Why did you hide the truth for me? Aren't you afraid I might be a bad person?"

"I'm merely a familiar; human concepts of good and evil have nothing to do with me," Oz responded calmly. "I know that you protected my lady and treat her well. That's enough for me."

"You're quite smart," Lucas nodded. "Smarter than many humans."

"No offense, but... could it be that some humans are just too foolish?" Oz remarked indifferently.

This made Lucas chuckle.

Though the comment was somewhat mocking, considering the fallen nobles, ignorant commoners, and reckless rebels he had seen in the simulator, it didn't seem wrong at all.

---

Mondstadt, Goth Grand Hotel.

The hotel's owner was Ludwig Goth. While the Goth name wasn't noble, it had quite a bit of history in Mondstadt.

The Goth family had been in the inn and banquet business for generations, starting with the modest Morning Breeze Inn, which eventually grew into one of the largest establishments in Mondstadt, the Goth Grand Hotel.

However, in recent years, business hadn't been great for the hotel, which catered mainly to nobles and the wealthy. The Gunnhildr family promoted frugality, the Lawrence family, though still aristocratic, had long since declined and lacked the financial resources. As for the Ragnvindr family, Master Diluc was wealthy, owning many properties in Mondstadt, so he had no need for a hotel.

Yet, recently, Goth Grand Hotel had struck a major deal—the entire hotel had been "indefinitely" booked by the Fatui. The reason? They were apparently dissatisfied with the accommodations provided by the Knights of Favonius.

Initially, the hotel's owner, Goth, refused the deal, since the hotel's mission was to serve the people of Mondstadt. But ultimately, he caved... because they were paying far too much.

At that moment, in one of the VIP rooms, the third Harbinger of the Fatui, "The Doctor," had just finished receiving a mission report from her subordinates.

That's right, she had arrived in Mondstadt along with La Signora and Scaramouche. Her reason? "To conduct some necessary research."

"So, Lyudmila..." The Doctor, sitting in her chair, stood up with a slight frown. "You didn't manage to gather any information either?"

"My deepest apologies, Doctor," Lyudmila replied with her head bowed. "I used the Electro Cicins to search the target area, but found nothing."

She tried to remain calm, knowing the Doctor was known for her ruthless methods. If her role as a double agent were exposed, her end would be equally brutal.

"Lyudmila, you know I hold you in high regard and wish to promote you," the Doctor said, walking up to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't disappoint me again."

"I understand!" Lyudmila bowed her head even lower, struggling to hide her nervousness.

"Go rest now," the Doctor waved dismissively. "I'll summon you if needed."

"Yes!" Lyudmila sighed in relief and quickly turned to leave, but she overheard the Doctor muttering to herself, "Time is running out. I must complete this before the Tsaritsa finds out..."

Lyudmila felt a chill run through her.

Could it really be true, as the Twelfth Harbinger, "The Villain," had said? That the Doctor harbored treacherous thoughts against the Tsaritsa?

This eased her guilt a little. After all, the Fatui served the Tsaritsa, not the Harbingers.

Distracted by her thoughts, Lyudmila exited the room, not noticing where she was going until her head bumped into something soft.

In front of her stood a tall, cold, and beautiful woman. What she had bumped into was self-evident.

"My deepest apologies, Lady La Signora!" Lyudmila quickly stepped back and bowed. "I was careless."

Lyudmila wasn't too familiar with La Signora, who had only recently arrived in Mondstadt, but she had heard that the woman was quick-tempered and arrogant—a figure not to be trifled with.

As Lyudmila braced for a scolding, La Signora merely glanced at her and said indifferently, "No matter. Just be careful next time... And while Fatui doesn't prohibit members from having romantic relationships, do take care to straighten your clothes after getting intimate."

"Huh?" Lyudmila finally realized what had happened. Lucas had slipped his hand inside her collar earlier, leaving noticeable creases that she had forgotten to fix.

She considered explaining but then realized that doing so might expose "The Villain's" identity, so she blushed and said, "I... I understand! Thank you for the reminder."

La Signora paid her no further attention and entered the Doctor's room. Lyudmila, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Why had La Signora noticed that someone had touched her collar, yet the Doctor, also a woman, had completely missed it?

Could it be that La Signora had once experienced a similar situation, where a lover had slipped a hand into her collar?

Impossible.

Lyudmila shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Such a perfect woman—no man could be worthy of her.

---

"Well, if it isn't Miss La Signora."

As La Signora walked into the room, the Doctor's beautiful yet unlikable face twisted into a malicious smile. "Coming to see me so late—do you have something on your mind?"

La Signora frowned. She clearly disliked the Doctor but restrained her disgust as she said, "This is about Her Majesty's mission."

"The mission to collect Gnosis?" the Doctor rubbed her chin. "Then you should be looking for the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. What use am I to you?"

"If I could find him, I wouldn't need to come to you," La Signora shot her a glare. "Unlike the gods of other nations, Barbatos hasn't appeared in ages. But since no new god has taken his place, that means he must still be in this world. I suspect he's hiding right here in Mondstadt."

The Doctor shook her head. "Mondstadt has thousands of citizens. Finding a hidden god among them won't be easy."

"That's why I don't plan to search," La Signora sneered. "I plan to lure him out. You must have some ideas."

"I do have a few toys that might work, but..." the Doctor's tone shifted. "Helping you—what's in it for me?"

La Signora held up two fingers. "You can take 20% of the credit for this mission."

"30%," the Doctor countered.

"Tch..." La Signora clicked her tongue. "Fine, 30%."

After La Signora left, the Doctor turned and carefully took a sealed box from her drawer, a twisted smile on her face. "Don't disappoint me, my little darling."

---

The next day.

It seemed the events of the previous night had gone unnoticed by anyone.

The convoy continued its journey and by noon, they were passing by a large vineyard, surrounded by an endless expanse of orchards.

The grapes looked bountiful, thick-skinned and small—ideal for winemaking.

Naturally, such orchards were located in well-lit areas, and by noon, the convoy members were parched under the sun.

Lucas, leading the group, pulled his hood over his head to block the sunlight.

At the entrance of the vineyard stood a young man with light hair, who appeared to have been waiting for them. As the convoy approached, he stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said, "Please stop for a moment. I am Elzer, the steward of the Dawn Winery. May I ask, are you Mr. Lucas?"

"That's me," Lucas nodded. "Is something the matter?"

Dawn Winery?

It was one of the most renowned wineries, not just in Mondstadt, but in all of Teyvat, and its owner was none other than Mondstadt's wealthiest man, Diluc Ragnvindr.

"Yes, the Yuheng of Liyue, Master Keqing, has written a letter requesting that the Dawn Winery provide you with some rest and refreshment," Elzer said politely. "A feast has already been prepared inside. Please, make yourselves at home."

The group, having traveled for two days and even been kidnapped by Hilichurls, was weary. Hearing Elzer's words, their spirits lifted.

"Brother Lucas, let's take a break," Zhang Luo chimed in. "This is indeed the Dawn Winery, and I've met Mr. Elzer before. There's no problem."

"Very well, then. We'll accept your hospitality," Lucas agreed, dismounting first. "Everyone, take some rest."

Lucas walked up to Elzer and removed his hood, revealing his face. "Lead the way."

But the moment Elzer saw Lucas's face, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Is something wrong?" Lucas asked, puzzled. "Is there something on my face?"

"N-No, not at all." Elzer quickly composed himself and shook his head. "A maid will guide you to the dining room. I must take my leave for now."

With that, Elzer bowed slightly and hurried off.

"What an arrogant steward..." Fischl, who had just stepped out of the carriage, crossed her arms and huffed. "He acts so high and mighty."

"Miss Fischl, surely you know," Zhang Luo said seriously. "Mr. Elzer is not just a steward. His other role is as the chairman of Mondstadt's Wine Guild."

"I... I don't even like wine," Fischl's face flushed as she stammered. "Why would I need to know who he is?"

"So, this is the winery owned by Master Diluc?" Lucas was curious. "I wonder if we'll have lunch with him?"

"That's unlikely," Zhang Luo replied regretfully. "Master Diluc hates socializing. Many officials and nobles have tried to dine with him—some even offering large sums just to share a meal and learn some business insights."

Wow, lunch with Diluc? This guy is practically the Warren Buffett of Teyvat!

---

While Lucas and his group headed to the dining hall, Elzer had already entered a study.

Inside the study, a tall young man in a robe was reading at a desk. His handsome features and long, fiery red hair, tied in a ponytail, made him stand out.

This man was none other than Diluc, the owner of Dawn Winery and the undisputed leader of Mondstadt's wine industry.

"What is it?" Diluc asked without looking up.

"Master Diluc..." Elzer spoke respectfully. "The people Master Keqing mentioned have arrived."

"You don't need to report such things to me," Diluc said, still disinterested. "Just take good care of them. Don't forget to send them some fine wine as a gift."

"No, there's something important I must tell you!" Elzer said urgently. "The leader of that convoy, Lucas... his appearance..."

After hearing Elzer's words, Diluc, normally composed, showed a rare expression of surprise. He immediately stood up. "Are you sure? You didn't mistake him?"

"Master Diluc, though my skills are limited, I'm rarely wrong when recognizing faces," Elzer said confidently. "If not an exact match, then at least an 80 to 90 percent resemblance."

"Hmm, this is interesting," Diluc said thoughtfully. "I understand. You may go. I'll prepare and meet this... Lucas."

At this moment, Lucas had no idea that he had caught the attention of a very important figure.

In the dining room of Dawn Winery...

A long table was filled with a variety of sumptuous dishes, but the guards and escorts, who were used to life on the road, were not eating with the most refined manners. The previously quiet and elegant dining room had now become a bit noisy.

"So, this is Mondstadt's dandelion wine? It doesn't pack the same punch as Liyue's old baijiu!"

"This Sweet Madame is absolutely delicious!"

"But I still prefer the flavors of Wanmin Restaurant..."

Seeing this, Lucas could only smile wryly.

Luckily, Master Diluc hadn't shown up. Otherwise, this would have been quite embarrassing.

"Hello, everyone. I hope you're enjoying your meal?"

Suddenly, a man with black clothes and red hair entered the room from outside and said, "I am the owner of this winery—Diluc Ragnvindr."

In an instant, the room fell silent.

After all, Master Diluc's reputation wasn't just well-known in Mondstadt; even many people from Liyue had heard of him.

In the minds of most Liyue citizens, when they think of the richest person, their thoughts immediately go to the Tianquan Star, Ningguang, one of the Liyue Qixing. But if they were to name the second richest, most would think of Diluc.

However, Diluc only gave the group a quick glance before fixing his gaze on Lucas. Walking straight up to him, he politely asked, "You must be Mr. Lucas, correct? Might I have the honor of joining you for lunch?"

Well then, the wealthiest man in Mondstadt inviting him to lunch—what an honor.

Naturally, Lucas didn't dare be disrespectful. He quickly made space and said, "Please, take a seat."

"My apologies," Diluc said as he sat next to Lucas, speaking in a calm tone, "I had some business to attend to, so I couldn't greet you earlier."

"No need to apologize," Lucas replied, feeling a bit flustered by the attention. "Master Diluc is a busy man, it's completely understandable."

"There's no need to call me 'Master'; it sounds too formal." Diluc gracefully sliced a piece of steak and casually asked, "May I ask, Mr. Lucas, are you a native of Liyue?"

Though it seemed like an ordinary conversation starter, Lucas found himself momentarily unsure of how to respond. He finally said, "I'm from a village near Liyue Harbor."

Diluc narrowed his eyes slightly and continued, "And your parents—are they in good health?"

"They... have both passed away."

Lucas felt puzzled. Why did this conversation suddenly feel like he was being interrogated about his family background?

---