Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

"That's truly a pity," Diluc's crimson eyes flashed with a hint of sadness. "I can somewhat understand the pain of losing parents at a young age."

Afterwards, the two chatted casually for a while, mostly about Lucas's family background and past.

Of course, after going through several simulations, Lucas had developed some sophistication. He could answer Diluc's questions fluently without revealing any flaws.

Finally, Diluc very elegantly wiped his lips with a napkin and smiled, "I think I've eaten a bit too much. Mr. Lucas, may I invite you to take a stroll around my estate?"

"It would be my honor," Lucas didn't refuse.

Although Diluc seemed to have been probing into his affairs, Lucas quite liked this man. Moreover, making such a powerful and influential friend wasn't a bad thing.

The two left the dining room first, while Fischl, who had been dining not far away, narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"It's really suspicious..." Fischl asked in a low voice, "Oz, did you hear what they were talking about earlier?"

"My lady, it was too noisy in the room, I couldn't hear clearly," Oz answered honestly. "However, Master Diluc seemed to be constantly inquiring about Lucas's family situation."

"Why would he ask about that?" Fischl's suspicion grew even stronger.

"I've heard that in Liyue, there's a tradition of 'parents' command and matchmakers' words,'" Oz said seriously. "Perhaps Master Diluc saw his talent and wants to introduce some female relative to him."

"That won't do," Fischl gripped her cup tightly, furrowing her brows. "Lucas is this princess's servant, no one can take him away!"

...

Meanwhile, Lucas was being led by Diluc to tour the scenery of Dawn Winery.

Whether in the game or from the information Lucas had obtained so far, Diluc should be a cold and aloof young master towards others.

But for some reason, he seemed quite friendly towards Lucas, whom he had just met, as if Lucas wasn't a stranger from a foreign land, but a long-lost brother.

The two chatted as they walked, and soon they passed by a large open area surrounded by practice weapons and training equipment.

Although Lucas wasn't a martial arts fanatic, he was a cultivator, and seeing such a scene, he couldn't help but feel excited: "Is this your training ground?"

"That's right. My ancestor was influenced by the rebels of that time and became a 'Dawn Knight,'" Diluc nodded. "Although I've left the Knights of Favonius, I've never abandoned our family's sword techniques."

Lucas then remembered that in the simulator, Ragnvindr's "ancestor" was the one he had appointed as the Dawn Knight.

However, that was just a plot in the simulator and had no connection to reality.

"By the way," Diluc continued, "I wonder, who was Mr. Lucas's ancestor?"

"Our family doesn't even have a family tree or genealogy," Lucas smiled bitterly. "As for ancestors, I'm afraid they were just rural villagers."

Diluc didn't continue this topic but walked to the training ground and casually picked up a training greatsword. "Mr. Lucas, since you're trusted by the Yuheng, your martial skills must be quite good. Would you like to spar with me?"

Being able to cross swords with an expert like Diluc naturally excited Lucas, so he picked up a training longsword and smiled, "Then I'll humbly accept your challenge."

"Oh?"

However, Diluc frowned slightly and said, "So you're skilled in sword techniques?"

"Is there a problem?" Lucas asked.

"Nothing, it's just that I've always heard that Liyue's spear techniques are unparalleled in the seven nations, and Mondstadt has very few spear experts, so I wanted to experience it," Diluc's face showed a somewhat disappointed expression. "Since you don't know spear techniques, we'll use swords then."

It was only then that Lucas realized.

No wonder Diluc had seemed so concerned about him from the beginning.

So he wanted to experience Liyue's spear techniques.

However, speaking of spear techniques, Lucas had mastered some in the last simulator, but he had always been accustomed to using a sword, so he hadn't practiced them in reality.

Since Diluc was being so considerate, it would be a shame to disappoint him.

Thinking of this, Lucas instead pulled out a long spear and said, "I'm not entirely unfamiliar with it. I've learned a few moves. If you don't mind, I can give it a try."

"Of course I don't mind!" Diluc nodded eagerly. "Please, go ahead."

Although this was Lucas's first time using spear techniques in reality, holding the flexible spear shaft gave him a rather familiar feeling.

When he looked up, Lucas was shocked to find that he could see the "death line" on Diluc's chest!

He had almost forgotten that this seemed to be a passive skill, and in battle, his actions would also be influenced by it, instinctively attacking the opponent's death line.

Although he was only holding a blunt-headed wooden training spear, spear techniques practiced to the extreme could kill even without a spearhead. If he didn't accidentally kill Diluc, even injuring him would be troublesome.

Seemingly sensing Lucas's hesitation, the system promptly responded:

[You can choose to temporarily disable the talent effect in the system]

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

[I thought you hadn't asked]

Lucas couldn't be bothered to argue with the system and quickly disabled the effect of [Mystic Eyes Of Death Perception]. Seeing the death line on Diluc's body disappear, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Here I come!"

Diluc seemed unable to contain his eagerness to experience Lucas's spear techniques. Gripping his two-handed greatsword, he charged forward.

Lucas dared not be careless and immediately countered with his spear.

Although Lucas's spear techniques had reached perfection in the simulator, with his current physical strength and combat experience, he couldn't use such powerful spear techniques.

He could only fight using the [Duelist's Spear Technique] rewarded by the system. Fortunately, the special effect of [Duelist's Spear Technique] was "When there's only one enemy, attack increases by 50%", which allowed him to cope with Diluc's overwhelming sword techniques.

If this were a fight to the death, Lucas was confident he'd have a 70% chance of victory. Although Diluc's strength was formidable and he possessed a Pyro Vision, Lucas had a bunch of miscellaneous skills and items on him, like a small mobile arsenal. In a life-or-death battle with a high-level opponent, he basically wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

However, this was just a sparring match, and Lucas couldn't use lethal abilities like the "death line", so for the time being, it was difficult to gain any advantage.

As for Diluc, he didn't seem to be using his full strength either. Instead, it was more like he was... probing Lucas's moves.

Perhaps because he felt Lucas's abilities hadn't met his expectations, a hint of disappointment flashed in Diluc's eyes.

This feeling of being looked down upon made Lucas feel quite displeased.

Well then, let's defeat you.

Let you, the heaven-sent prodigy, also taste the flavor of defeat!

Lucas didn't seem to realize the malicious thoughts surging from deep within his heart, and instantly reactivated the mystic eyes he had closed.

The death line immediately appeared on Diluc's chest. Although very small, it was clearly visible.

Everyone's "death line" is different. Generally speaking, the more one fears death, the more obvious the death line becomes, and the easier it is to hit - the more afraid of death a person is, the more likely they are to expose weaknesses.

Obviously, Diluc wasn't someone who feared death, but Lucas's spear tip still moved towards Diluc's chest as if attracted by a magnet.

This move seemed to be beyond Diluc's expectations. With his rich combat experience, he knew this strike couldn't be avoided, so he counter-attacked instead of defending, swinging his sword towards Lucas's shoulder.

If the opponent insisted on thrusting out this spear, he would definitely be hit by his sword blade.

Lucas completely ignored Diluc's attack and insisted on thrusting out this spear. With a muffled "thud", the greatsword's blade had struck Lucas's shoulder, while Lucas's spear tip had touched Diluc's chest.

However, at the last moment, Lucas still managed to withdraw his strength in time. Otherwise, this strike hitting near the death gap, would inevitably cause fatal injury.

Diluc naturally noticed that Lucas had withdrawn his strength midway. He quickly threw away his greatsword and supported Lucas, his face full of concern: "Are you alright?"

Although he had used a training wooden sword, Diluc's last move was not to be underestimated. An ordinary person would likely suffer a shattered shoulder blade if hit.

However, Lucas moved his shoulder a bit and smiled, "It's nothing. It's just sparring, how could I get hurt?"

The reason Lucas was completely unharmed was, of course, due to the effect of [Diamond Body], which negated 90% of the damage. Otherwise, even if he wasn't injured, it would have been painful enough to make him grimace.

Taking his full-force blow without any injury?

Diluc was quite surprised.

But what puzzled him more was Lucas's strange spear technique just now.

This spear move further confirmed the guess in Diluc's heart.

"That's good. It's been a long time since I've had such an enjoyable fight," Diluc extended a hand to Lucas, showing a rare smile, and said, "Would you be willing to be my friend?"

"Aren't we already friends?" Lucas grasped Diluc's hand without hesitation and said, "I look forward to your guidance in the future."

...

Several hours later.

After eating and resting, the convoy was about to set off again. According to the plan, they should be able to reach Mondstadt within the day.

Diluc personally escorted Lucas to the road.

"Lucas, these are some small gifts I've prepared," Diluc handed a rather exquisite box to Lucas and said, "If you encounter any trouble in Mondstadt, you can mention my name. I have some influence in Mondstadt."

This statement was somewhat modest.

"Then I'll accept them without ceremony," Lucas took the box and said, "Will we have a chance to meet again?"

"Of course," Diluc nodded and said, "You are my important friend."

After seeing off the convoy, Diluc turned and entered the winery. He went directly to his study and twisted the pen holder on the desk in a specific pattern. After a series of "click-clack" sounds, the adjacent bookshelf slowly parted, revealing a secret door.

Diluc opened the secret door and entered a hidden chamber.

The chamber was quite spacious, neatly arranged with valuable antiques and rarities, weapons and armor, as well as some ancient books, classics, and hidden wine brews.

Of course, the most eye-catching were the portraits hanging on the wall.

These were portraits of the Ragnvindr family's successive heads, starting from the previous generation's head, Diluc's father "Crepus Ragnvindr," and going all the way back to the first head of the family after the Ragnvindr clan rose to prominence, the first "Dawn Knight."

Logically, this should have been the first portrait, but one step further forward, hidden in the shadows, was another portrait.

The portrait showed a handsome man with a hint of mischief, somewhat out of place compared to the other portraits.

If Lucas were to see this portrait, he would be shocked to the point of his eyeballs falling out - this portrait was actually the one of himself that was taken away by Ragnvindr's ancestor in the simulator.

No wonder Diluc's attitude towards Lucas was "strange" - the man in the portrait looked very similar to him.

No, they were virtually identical!

None of the successive family heads knew who the man in the portrait was, only that he was the father of the first Dawn Knight and was skilled in spear techniques. As for his life story, name, or background, it remained a mystery.

Lucas's appearance was not only very similar to this ancestor but he was also proficient in spear techniques, which made Diluc more convinced that they shared the same ancestor!

Diluc was an only child, with only an adopted brother Kaeya who had no blood relation, and now they were practically estranged.

He had thought he had no relatives left in this world. Now, encountering someone who might share his bloodline naturally excited him.

Although Diluc was Mondstadt's richest man, he actually had no interest in managing the family business. Rather than commerce, he was more passionate about playing the role of the righteous "Dark Knight Hero," protecting Mondstadt from the shadows.

So, the vast family fortune was more of a burden to him. Therefore, he had been looking for a suitable heir.

Having a child of his own to inherit was a good option, but Diluc currently had no interest in romance and didn't want to spend time raising a child.

The butler Adelbert was like a brother to him and very capable, but he was still an outsider. Entrusting the family business to someone outside the family might not do justice to the ancestors on the wall.

Thus, Lucas became the best target. As long as he could find a way to confirm their blood relation and have him inherit the Ragnvindr surname.

At that time, he could entrust Dawn Winery to him and be free to do what he wanted.

Thinking of this, a smile tugged at the corners of Diluc's mouth.

"My dear little brother, are you ready to accept this 'great gift'?"

...

"Achoo!"

Sitting in the carriage, Lucas couldn't help but shiver.

"What's wrong?" Fischl, sitting beside him, asked with concern. "Did you catch a cold?"

"I don't think so," Lucas said instinctively. "It would be troublesome if I had a fever. I wonder if they'll check body temperature when entering the city..."

"Check body temperature?" Fischl asked, puzzled. "Why would they check body temperature?"

Oh no...

He had accidentally brought in habits from before his transmigration.

"It's... it's nothing," Lucas made up an excuse. "Just a custom from my hometown."

"By the way," Fischl glanced at the box beside Lucas, curiously asking, "What good things did Master Diluc give you?"

----

Author's Note: Sigh, Diluc should entrust his "burdens" to me instead...

"I'd like to see it too," Zhang Luo rubbed his hands and said, "Given Master Diluc's status, if he's going to give a gift, it's bound to be something impressive."

"It's probably just some specialty wines," Lucas casually opened the box. As expected, there were two bottles of red wine inside, but next to the wine, there was also a black card. It had no extra decoration, just the name "Diluc Ragnvindr" written in gold embossing.

"Strange," Lucas picked up the card, puzzled, "What's this? A business card?"

However, upon seeing this card, Zhang Luo's face immediately showed an extremely surprised expression. He murmured, "This is no small gift. With this card, you can withdraw cash from Master Diluc's account at various banks, with an annual limit of... one billion Mora."

Although this was a huge sum, Lucas wasn't too excited. After all, in previous simulations, he had been a billionaire who spent money like water and a noble who lived extravagantly.

"Strange..." Lucas played with the card and said, "Why would he give me such a valuable gift?"

"I guess Master Diluc has an eye for talent. He knows you have a bright future ahead of you, Brother Lucas, so he's using this method to win you over," Zhang Luo analyzed earnestly. "You should use it without worry. This amount of money is nothing to him."

[Ding! A suitable rebirth target has been found. Do you want to proceed with the rebirth?]

Just then, the system voice suddenly sounded.

Seeing that there was nothing else to do at the moment, and they were still some distance from Mondstadt, Lucas nodded and said, "Let's begin."

[Age 0: You are born into one of the three great families of Mondstadt, the Lawrence Clan. Your father is named Schubert Lawrence, and your mother is from a branch family of the clan.]

Schubert?

Why does this name sound familiar?

Wait!

Lucas suddenly remembered.

Isn't this the guy who wanted to trade Mondstadt's defense plans to the Fatui in Eula's story?

How did I become this guy's son?

"Um... can I choose another one?"

[How am I supposed to change it? Do you want me to stuff you back into your mother's womb?]

Although the words were a bit crude, they made sense...

You've already been born, so thinking about changing now is somewhat unrealistic.

Fine, Schubert it is then?

After all, in the original storyline, Schubert only came up with the foolish idea of collaborating with the Fatui because the Lawrence Clan was in decline. In the simulator's storyline, things might turn out differently.

[Age 1: Although your father Schubert is not the head of the family, his position in the clan is not low. Due to your affluent family background, your life is naturally carefree.]

[Age 2: Because of your adorable appearance, you become the darling of the clan. Your clan cousin, Eula Lawrence, is especially fond of you. This beautiful girl, three years older than you, often comes to play with you after her training and noble lessons are finished.]

Eula has become my cousin?

But thinking about it, it makes sense. After all, Schubert is Eula's uncle, so by generation, they are indeed peers.

Of course, because the Lawrence Clan in the simulator is different from reality and hasn't declined, Eula's personality might also be different from reality.

At least, she probably won't hold grudges at the drop of a hat, right?

[Age 3: As you grow older, memories of your past life suddenly begin to surface in your mind. You start to gradually recall that in your previous life, you were actually the head of the Lawrence Clan a thousand years ago — Eberhart Lawrence.]

[After regaining your memories, you begin to re-examine your life. In your past life, you were always restrained by your noble status, and even hurt many people close to you. Now that you're born as a true noble, you decide... (This choice will determine the life goal for this simulation. If you complete the goal in the simulator, you will receive additional rewards)]

[1. Be a kind and elegant noble who loves the people]

[2. Be a rich idler, living a life of luxury and debauchery]

[3. Marry Eula, support her to become the clan head, and become the man behind Eula]

[4. Become the Lawrence Clan head by any means necessary, and restore autocratic rule]

The first one is definitely a trap question, not even worth considering. Pass.

If I choose that, I probably won't live past 10 years old.

As for restoring autocratic rule, honestly, Lucas wasn't interested. After all, he had already done something similar in his past life.

Although it's true that you can have absolute power, to be honest, it's quite tiring.

A lifetime of scheming and plotting, only to end up dying in a foreign land.

It seems that only the second and third options are better, but...

"Isn't Eula my cousin? Is it okay to marry her?"

[It's fine. Although you're from the same clan, your blood relation is very distant.]

[Besides, it's just a simulator, what are you afraid of?]

That's right...

After all, it's just a simulator, just a game.

Let alone cousins, even if it were siblings... ahem... Aether and Lumine, that's a no-no!

"Then I'll choose the third option."

Not only can I be a hands-off boss, but I can also win the beauty. It's a win-win — I win twice, actually.

[Little you has already made up your mind to marry Eula in the future and make her the next head of the Lawrence Clan.]

[Age 4: You start to like sticking close to Eula, becoming her little shadow. She also enjoys being with you. You know very well how to win the favor of this seven-year-old girl with your cute face and occasional acts of coyness.]

[Age 5: After all, you're siblings, and you're both children, so your intimate behaviors don't make the adults think there's anything wrong.]

[Your father, Schubert, seems to be very supportive of you building a good relationship with Eula. You can guess his thoughts — Eula is the eldest daughter of the clan head, after all, and this helps solidify his position in the clan.]

[Through the clan's history lessons, you begin to learn about Mondstadt's past.]

[A thousand years ago, the dragon Ursa the Drake suddenly attacked Mondstadt, viciously killing nearly 90% of Mondstadt's people, an event known as the "Fall of Decarabian." At that time, it was Kreuzlied of the Lawrence Clan who stepped forward and, with the assistance of the Dawn Knight and others, successfully slew the dragon.]

[Afterwards, Kreuzlied led the remaining survivors in rebuilding Mondstadt. The brave and fearless Kreuzlied worked tirelessly to develop Mondstadt, which had originally been in decline, once again.]

[The Lawrence Clan has continued to this day, becoming the representative of Mondstadt's new nobility.]

[When you hear this, you can't help but laugh, which gets you sent to stand in the hallway as punishment by the history teacher for "disrespecting your ancestors."]

[It seems that the Lawrence Clan has fabricated this false history to cover up the truth of that year and elevate the clan's status. The uprising of the resistance army and Vennessa's overthrow of the old nobility have all been erased.]

[After all, if the people of Mondstadt today knew that it was the head of the Lawrence Clan who cooperated with Ursa the Drake to destroy Mondstadt back then, it would likely cause quite a shock to the current Lawrence Clan.]

[And those who knew the truth of that year — only Kreuzlied, the ancestors of the Ragnvindr family, and those survivors in the church — have probably all forgotten this matter after a thousand years.]

[Age 6: You often spend the night in Eula's room. You cry and say you're afraid of the dark, asking your sister to tell you stories to help you fall asleep. Who could refuse such an adorable crybaby?]

[Age 7: Today's noble writing class has the theme "Future Dreams." The students all talk about their future aspirations — becoming a scholar with profound knowledge, a peerless swordsman, a graceful musician...]

[You've heard Eula's dream countless times — to become the future head of the Lawrence Clan and continue the glory of the Lawrence family.]

[Her answer not only won the teacher's praise but also thunderous applause. When it's your turn, your answer is quite shocking: "My dream is to marry Sister Eula when I grow up!"]

[Your answer immediately causes an uproar of laughter and boos. The ten-year-old Eula, blushing furiously from embarrassment, runs out of the classroom. At this moment, you decide to...]

[1. Chase after her]

[2. Stay put]

"Of course, chase after her!" Lucas quickly replied. "Damn, being precocious shouldn't be used in this way!"

[Finding Eula isn't difficult for you. You know very well where she goes when she's in a bad mood. The abandoned stable in the manor is your "secret base."]

[Forcibly entering immersive mode]

Lucas slowly opened his eyes, and what appeared before him was a dilapidated stable, but this place felt oddly familiar to him.

That's right, this was the stable where he was born and spent part of his childhood in his past simulation life. He hadn't expected that after a thousand years, this place would still leave traces.

A blue-haired girl was sitting in the corner of the stable, hugging her knees, looking quite upset.

"Sister Eula!" Lucas started running towards Eula, though the body of a seven-year-old child was still something he found hard to get used to.

"Stupid!" Little Eula glared at Lucas lightly, biting her lip as she said, "Why did you make such a silly joke? I'll remember this grudge!"

Well, well, she's still kept that habit, hasn't she?

It was only now that Lucas got a clear look at little Eula's appearance. Unlike her adult self, the ten-year-old girl had her hair in twin tails, and her cute, snow-white face was like that of a porcelain doll.

"But..." Lucas shook his head and said, "I wasn't joking."

"What?" 

Little Eula's pale golden eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

"I mean..." Lucas reached out with his chubby little hand and pressed it on little Eula's shoulder, smiling as he said, "My dream really is to marry Sister Eula. I... I like Sister Eula the most!"

Hearing these words, little Eula's pupils slowly dilated, and the blush on her face deepened. She murmured, "But... but we're siblings..."

"It's okay, my dad and mom are distant siblings too," Lucas shook his head and said, "Besides, isn't it normal for nobles to marry within the family?"

"I see..." Little Eula seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. She said somewhat shyly, "Actually, I also..."

"Does Sister Eula like me too?" Lucas asked shamelessly.

Little Eula hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.

The little girl's adorable appearance made Lucas's heart flutter with affection. Unable to resist, he leaned forward and gave her a quick peck.

"Eh? Eh? Eh?" 

Little Eula quickly stepped back two paces, covering her mouth as she said, "You... you... you kissed me?"

"What's wrong?" Lucas tilted his little head, "Doesn't Sister Eula often kiss me?"

"Kissing... kissing on the mouth is different..." Little Eula said nervously, "It will... it will make babies!"

Seeing her nervous appearance, Lucas couldn't help but want to laugh. It seems the sex education in noble schools needs some improvement.

"Lucas," Little Eula stared at Lucas seriously and said, "Will... will you take responsibility for me?"

"Of course!" Lucas nodded and said, "I'll take responsibility even if we have several!"

"Then you just wait for me," A confident expression appeared on little Eula's face, "When I become the next head of the Lawrence Clan, I'll marry you!"

Eula is a girl with a very serious personality, and once she decides on something, she absolutely won't give up.

This point has never changed.

[Entering text mode]

[Age 8: Your classroom incident with Eula becomes a joke among adults, but no one takes it seriously.]

[Although you've lost the strength of your past life, you've retained your talents and spear skills. Of course, "The First Glass Of Red Wine" is still too early for you, but you often practice your past life's spear skills in secret.]

[Even after a thousand years, Mondstadt's custom of "revering the sword and despising the spear" hasn't changed. Especially members of the Lawrence Clan, who take their ancestor Kreuzlied, who wielded a great sword, as their role model. His two-handed sword technique is famous throughout Mondstadt.]

[Age 9: Martial prowess is an important criterion for evaluating young members of the Lawrence Clan. Almost all children begin learning swordsmanship from a young age. Because you have memories of your past life, your martial skills are on a completely different level from your peers.]

[But to avoid drawing attention, especially to avoid overshadowing Eula, you've been hiding your true abilities.]

[Eula, with her outstanding abilities, has become the focus of the clan's cultivation. The heavy courses and training have reduced the time you two can spend together.]

[Age 10: Today is Eula's birthday. You gave her a pendant as a gift, and she also got a rare day off. Because you haven't seen each other often, she decided to spend this day with you alone.]

[Today happens to be the WindBlume festival. You two went to the bustling market in Mondstadt together. To avoid attracting attention, you changed into commoners' clothes, but even so, Eula's outstanding appearance still made her a bright spot on the street.]

[The WindBlume festival of today has long abandoned the old customs of a thousand years ago. Being chosen as the girl to throw the Feather has become a symbol of honor.]

[As you look at the familiar high platform, your memories suddenly drift back to a thousand years ago. Those girls who threw down the Feather, and the fate that intertwined between you and them, seem like they happened just yesterday.]

[Amidst the cheers of the crowd, you see this year's WindBlume "princess," a blonde girl about the same age as Eula. Although she's young, her beauty is on par with Eula's.]

[A girl chosen as the Festival princess naturally can't be ordinary. Everyone raises their hands, wanting to catch the Feather and receive this blessing.]

[Whether it's fate playing a little joke or not, that Feather, after drawing an arc in the sky, lands perfectly in your hand.]

["Looks like your luck is pretty good," Eula seems quite happy too, patting your shoulder as she smiles and says, "Go up to the platform to receive the blessing. I'll wait for you here."]

[Although you cherish this hard-to-come-by time alone with Eula, you also don't want to ruin the festival atmosphere. So you carry the Feather, climb up to the platform, and approach the blonde girl.]

----

[Up close, the girl's delicate features make your eyes widen a bit. You unconsciously say, "Tonight, wait for me in my room."]

[The girl seems not to have understood the meaning of your words for a moment. You also immediately realize that you're no longer the old noble who could do whatever he wanted in the past.]

[Fortunately, you're just a cute little boy now, and the young lady doesn't seem to be angry about your nonsensical words. Instead, she smiles and says, "Hello, little brother. My name is Jean, Jean Gunnhildr. What's yours?"]

Oh my!

It's actually Jean?

How could such a noble become the princess of the WindBlume Festival?

You should know that many nobles wouldn't tolerate such public exposure.

Although surprising, this isn't entirely strange.

In reality, the Gunnhildr clan gained their high status in Mondstadt for being major contributors in helping Vennessa overthrow tyranny.

However, in the simulator, history has changed. Vennessa's existence was completely erased by the Lawrence clan, and consequently, the Gunnhildr clan's merits no longer exist.

So, in the simulator, the Gunnhildr clan is just an ordinary minor noble family, incomparable to the powerful Lawrence clan.

This is probably why Jean became the princess of the WindBlume Festival.

["My name is Lucas Lawrence," you give your name. However, upon hearing this name, a clearly complex expression flashes across Jean's eyes for an instant.]

[Nevertheless, she quickly regains her smile, raises your hand, and announces to the crowd below that you have received the blessing of the Anemo Archon.]

[Achievement unlocked: Anemo Archon's Blessing]

[Gained title: Anemo Archon's Blessing (You already have this talent, so an additional boost is applied to its effect)]

[Effect: Agility increased by 40%]

Can title actually be stacked?

However, the title "Anemo Archon's Blessing" seems somewhat ironic on Lucas, considering that Mondstadt, protected by the Barbatos, has been destroyed at least twice by him in the simulator.

Of course, this should just be a talent obtained from receiving the feather.

Unlike a thousand years ago when Lucas stood on the high platform as Eberhart, only able to see fear and hatred in the eyes of the people.

But now, their eyes show only celebration and joy.

It seems that Kreuzlied has indeed developed this city into what he envisioned.

Part of this is also due to Eberhart's contribution.

If it weren't for the "Great Purge" he carried out a thousand years ago, reshuffling the nobles and commoners of Mondstadt, it would have been difficult for the entire country to be reborn from the ashes.

["Goodbye, Sister Jean." You waved to Jean, preparing to go back to find Eula.]

["Goodbye, little cutie," Jean nodded and smiled, "Perhaps we'll meet again in the future."]

Compared to the impressively valiant and capable Jean in your memory, the Jean before you seems more like an ordinary noble girl, delicate and endearing.

No wonder, even the same person, growing up in different environments, can develop different personalities.

...

[However, when you return to look for Eula, she has disappeared, which puzzles you greatly. After all, you know her personality very well. If she said she would wait for you here, she absolutely wouldn't leave even if it rained knives.]

[Soon, you find a ribbon on the ground nearby, which belongs to Eula. A sense of foreboding arises in your heart.]

[You take out a pendant from your pocket, very similar to the one you gave to Eula. This pair of carefully chosen gifts is made of a very precious magnet, which will attract each other no matter how far apart they are.]

[You find that the pendant is pointing in a direction that is not towards Lawrence's mansion, but towards outside the city. So, you decide to...]

[1. Go home to report this matter to a trusted adult]

[2. Immediately go to Eula following the pendant's guidance]

"The second one!" Lucas blurted out almost immediately.

Even in the honest and simple Mondstadt, there are bound to be thieves with ill intentions. A pretty and cute little girl like Eula could easily become a target for human traffickers.

Although she is quite capable, she is still young and lacks social experience, which could put her at a disadvantage.

[Forcibly entering immersive mode]

[Target mission: Find Eula]

[Mission reward: B-rank talent x1]

At this moment, Lucas is in the busy marketplace, holding Eula's ribbon in his small hand.

Recently, there have been frequent reports of missing girls in Mondstadt, which makes Lucas even more nervous.

Due to the change in history, there is no Knights of Favonius established by Vennessa in Mondstadt now, and the process of registering missing person cases is quite cumbersome.

More importantly, every minute wasted increases the danger for Eula.

Now, he can only rely on himself.

Of course, given Lucas's personality, he wouldn't just rush in recklessly to save someone.

If his body were an adult... no, even if it were just in adolescent form, with a spear in hand, he could easily handle dozens of ordinary humans.

But now, he's just a nine-year-old child, with greatly reduced strength and speed.

...

In a blacksmith's shop, Wagner, with his full beard, is using a hammer to forge a long sword.

He is one of the top blacksmiths in Mondstadt, but his shop doesn't do very good business. The reason is simple: this guy has a bad temper and a very arrogant personality.

He doesn't show any friendliness towards customers, and if anyone dares to say there's a flaw in the weapons and equipment he forges, they're sure to get a scolding.

Despite this, many adventurers still frequently visit this blacksmith shop. After all, although the service attitude is poor, his weapons and equipment are all good stuff that can save lives.

"Mister!"

Just then, a crisp voice came from beside Wagner. He looked around but didn't see anyone.

"Damn it..." Wagner stroked his chin beard and frowned, "Is it haunted in broad daylight?"

"Mister, I'm here!" A small hand suddenly raised up from in front of the counter.

Wagner stood up and finally saw a little boy, not even ten years old, standing in front of the counter.

"Hey, kid, this isn't a place to play. Be careful not to get your head smashed by a hammer," Wagner waved his hand rather annoyed, "Go away quickly."

"I'm not here to play," the boy, who is naturally Lucas, shook his head and said, "I'm here to buy a weapon."

"Buy a weapon?" Wagner laughed, "The shortest weapon here is taller than you. Can you even lift it?"

"It's okay," Lucas said, "I want to buy a dagger."

"You're not planning to use a dagger to scare other kids when you fight, are you?" Wagner sneered, "That won't do. My precious creations will cry if they don't taste blood."

"I want to buy a new dagger as a birthday gift for my dad," Lucas widened his bright, big eyes, launching a cuteness offensive, "He's a hunter, and his old dagger has become so dull it can barely cut through rabbit skin."

Hearing this, Wagner, who had been scowling all along, paused slightly. After pondering for a moment, he took out a rather exquisite dagger from the cabinet behind him and placed it in front of Lucas, saying:

"Take it, kid. I originally made this as a gift for my son, but... that fool can't use it anymore."

There seems to be some story hidden in these words.

However, Lucas no longer has time to delve into it. He placed the bracelet he was wearing on the counter and said, "Thank you, mister. I don't have money, so I'll trade this for it!"

"I'll take a loss on this one. Deal." Wagner's eyes glanced over the bracelet.

Although it looks like a gold bracelet, how could a child from a commoner's family afford such a thing? It's probably just a copper bracelet with gold plating.

To be honest, Wagner's dagger is a fine piece that he put a lot of effort into crafting. It was originally intended as a gift for his son, but due to that "incident," he probably won't have the chance to give it away anymore.

The reason he's "half-selling, half-giving" it to that kid is probably because Wagner was moved by this act of filial piety.

"At least he's a filial little brat," Wagner chuckled self-deprecatingly. "Much better than that fool."

He sat down again at the anvil and began forging the unfinished longsword. Just then, a sturdy black-haired young man came in carrying a stack of iron ingots. He placed them nearby and said, "Master, the new iron ingots are ready. Do you think I could try making the next batch of weapons?"

"Schutz, your skills aren't there yet," Wagner replied without looking up. "Blacksmithing is something you can't rush."

"I see..." The apprentice named Schutz sighed in disappointment. He casually picked up a bracelet from the counter. After a moment, he exclaimed in surprise, "Master? When did you save up money to buy this gold bracelet?"

"It's just gold-plated," Wagner said offhandedly. "Some kid left it here."

"Master, this... this isn't gold-plated at all," Schutz said, gently biting the bracelet. "I swear by Barbatos, this is pure gold!"

"What?"

Wagner finally realized something was amiss. He stepped forward and picked up the bracelet to examine it, his expression turning to one of astonishment. He rushed out of the blacksmith shop in two quick strides, but Lucas was nowhere to be seen.

"Master, this thing must be worth a fortune!" Schutz grinned foolishly. "Maybe we could even use it to negotiate with those nobles and get Brother Raphael out of jail earlier!"

At the mention of "Raphael," Wagner's face immediately darkened. He coldly said, "Don't touch this gold bracelet. Wait for that kid to come back and claim it. As for my foolish son, he's in there because of his own actions. We don't need to concern ourselves with him!"

"I don't understand. He just said a few words, and he has to serve over ten years in prison," Schutz grumbled indignantly. "All that talk about 'thousand-year lies' and 'Lawrence being the real culprit from a thousand years ago' - how could anyone take such nonsense seriously?"

"Shut up!" Wagner glared at him furiously. "I've told you never to repeat those treasonous words! If such talk spreads, it will absolutely cause a huge uproar. What, do you find our current life too peaceful?"

"I'm sorry!" Schutz quickly shut his mouth.

Although he still didn't understand how some bizarre rumors could possibly shake the Lawrence family's rule.

...

Meanwhile, Lucas, guided by the pendant, casually drew out the dagger.

The blade gleamed coldly, carrying a hint of frost. Lucas's face was faintly reflected in the sharp edge.

He had initially thought trading a gold bracelet for a dagger might be wasteful, but seeing the quality of this dagger now, he realized it wasn't such a bad deal after all.

Soon, he slipped out of the city and walked another four or five miles. The pendant's reaction grew stronger. Lucas continued searching and spotted an abandoned barn in a rather secluded location.

At the entrance of the barn, a man was yawning, looking around with boredom - clearly not a very competent guard.

Inside the barn:

"Boss, we've got a good catch this time!" A woman in her thirties pushed the tied-up Eula onto a pile of hay, laughing. "This girl was so easy to trick, she took the bait without any effort."

"Mmph!" Eula's mouth was gagged, but she still glared fiercely at the people around her, her face full of anger.

"My, she really is quite pretty," a red-haired man approached, a malicious smile on his face. "Let me inspect the goods... Ouch!"

Suddenly, Eula raised her leg and kicked the red-haired man in the groin. The kick was powerful, instantly dropping him to the ground where he rolled in agony.

"Damn this little wench!" The red-haired man struggled to his feet, raising his hand to strike Eula, but his arm was suddenly stopped.

A man who appeared to be the leader grabbed his wrist, coldly saying, "Turner, can you afford to damage such valuable goods?"

Turner reluctantly lowered his hand. "I got it, boss."

"Why hasn't there been any movement outside for so long?" The leader frowned. "Turner, go check the situation."

Turner walked out reluctantly, still grumbling, "Damn it, I just wanted to cop a feel. It's not like I'd take a piece off her..."

"Un... Uncle..."

Just then, from behind a nearby tree trunk, a cute boy no older than ten appeared. His face was tearful as he sobbed, "I... I'm lost. Can you help me get home?"

A smile immediately spread across Turner's face.

To think a fat lamb would deliver itself to their doorstep - such a cute little boy would fetch a good price if sold to the priests at the Favonius Cathedral.

He seemed completely oblivious to how suspicious it was for a little boy to suddenly appear in such a remote area.

"Come here, come here!" Turner hurried over, putting on a gentle facade. "Don't be afraid. Tell uncle, where's your home?"

"You... you need to bend down," Lucas said pitifully.

Turner bent down with a grin. "Go ahead, tell me where your home is. Uncle will take you back..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a chill in his chest. A sharp dagger had been plunged into his chest, blood instantly gushing out.

"Let me take you home instead," 

As Turner tried to cry out, Lucas swiftly pulled out the dagger and slashed it across his throat. "To your final home!"

This series of actions was smooth and fluid, completely unlike something a child could do. Turner stared at Lucas as if looking at a monster. He stepped back twice, clutching his throat, before collapsing to the ground.

---

From between the gaps in the bushes, another doorman's lifeless eyes stared blankly at him. The blood on his neck had not yet fully drained, clearly indicating that his death had been similar to his own.

Who would have thought that such a sweet, angelic boy could so easily take two lives?

Lucas swiftly squeezed through the gap beside the barn. His small, childlike body now became a rare advantage.

Hiding behind a pile of hay, he observed the situation inside.

Fortunately, luck was on his side. There was only one man and one woman inside. The woman wouldn't be difficult to deal with, but the man looked sturdy and sharp, clearly not someone easy to handle.

However, the most important thing was Eula. Seeing that she was unharmed, Lucas finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he whispered to himself:

"Now, who is the prey?"

--- 

In the barn, Eula wasn't the only kidnapped child.

In the corner, seven or eight other children were curled up. The oldest was only about twelve or thirteen years old, while the youngest was just four or five.

Of course, here, they had already lost their identity as "people." They had been categorized and marked with different prices.

The younger children were to be sold as someone else's child, while the pretty girls would be sold as servants or sent to places of ill repute.

As for those children who didn't look as appealing, they would still be "put to good use."

The woman who had kidnapped Eula was currently standing by a stove, brewing some kind of concoction. The cauldron emitted a pungent smell, and the dark purple liquid inside bubbled continuously.

This potion could blind a child, making them more pitiable and thus better suited to beg. Blind children could earn more money on the streets.

Blinding them had many benefits: it didn't cripple their mobility, and there was no need to worry about them escaping.

Of course, they could only make more money while they were young. Once they grew older, their fully developed organs would bring in another source of income.

"Let me see, which one should I choose?" The woman shook the potion in her hand, as if she were picking livestock at the market, scanning the line of children in front of her. "You'll do."

Like lifting a chick, she grabbed a frail girl and pressed her to the ground, carefully preparing to pour the potion into the girl's eyes.

The girl, sensing danger, struggled desperately, but her thin arms were no match for the woman's strength.

"Don't be afraid, it won't hurt much," the woman said with a twisted smile. "Such beautiful eyes... even blind, they'll surely be lovely."

Just as the potion was about to drop, a hand suddenly patted the woman's back.

"Can't you see I'm busy?"

The woman instinctively turned her head, only to find a young boy standing behind her, holding a cup of the same dark purple potion.

Before the woman could react, Lucas splashed the potion directly onto her face.

The scalding liquid poured into her eyes, and the intense burning pain made her clutch her face and scream in agony.

"My eyes... my eyes... ugh!"

Just as she started to speak, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her tongue. Lucas had pried her mouth open with a dagger and poured the remaining potion from the cauldron into her mouth.

The toxic liquid quickly burned her throat, and black, foul-smelling blood oozed from her mouth.

The horrifying scene stunned the children. Lucas glanced at them and said calmly, "What are you standing there for? Run!"

The children finally snapped out of their shock and scrambled to flee.

At that moment, the leader of the kidnappers, drawn by the noise, rushed over. Seeing his subordinate writhing on the ground and the kidnapped children running everywhere, his heart sank. He shouted, "Stand still!"

The children froze in fear. The leader pulled the woman up from the ground and frowned. "What the hell happened?"

"Ah... there... was... a boy..." The woman struggled to speak, her mouth full of the poisoned liquid.

At that moment, Lucas, who had been lying in wait, leaped down from the rafters, aiming his dagger at the back of the leader's neck.

This move should have been flawless, but the leader, who was quite strong, sensed the attack and quickly dodged to the side.

The sharp blade missed its lethal target and only pierced the leader's shoulder.

Shocked, the leader saw that his attacker was just a boy. The pain in his shoulder enraged him, and he grabbed Lucas, slamming him hard onto the ground.

"Get lost!"

Lucas was still just a child, and his strength was no match for the burly man. He gritted his teeth through the pain and rolled into a nearby haystack.

"Trying to escape?" The leader wasn't about to let him go. He rushed to the haystack, intent on pulling Lucas out.

But just as he reached into the hay, there was a sudden "swish," and a pitchfork shot out from the haystack.

The pitchfork moved too quickly for the leader to react, and his hand was impaled by its sharp prongs, leaving several gaping holes.

"Looks like my luck's pretty good. Sorry, uncle..." Lucas stepped out from the haystack, holding the pitchfork and smiling. "You're already dead."

He hadn't expected to find a pitchfork in the hay at the last second.

The reason he hadn't bought a spear at the blacksmith earlier was because carrying such a large weapon would have slowed him down. A pitchfork wasn't a proper weapon, but it was more than enough to deal with this enemy.

"You little brat...!" The leader looked at the wound on his hand, his fury growing. "I'm going to break your arms and legs and throw you out to beg!"

Just a kid with a pitchfork...

A kid with a pitchfork...

Wait, what?

The leader looked down in confusion. At some point, the boy's pitchfork had already pierced his chest.

Even in his final moments, the leader never realized when the pitchfork had entered his body.

...

On the other side, Eula, who had been in despair, suddenly felt a glimmer of hope due to the commotion.

Could it be... someone came to save us?

But who could it be?

"Eula... sis..." Lucas, bruised and battered, stood in front of Eula, forcing a big smile. "I've come to save you."

The girl had always thought that the classic hero-saving-the-damsel scenario only happened in forbidden romance novels.

But now, it had become a reality.

Even if it meant risking his life, he had come to save her. He really was the man she could entrust her life to... well, boy for now.

"You must have been so scared," Lucas hurriedly cut the ropes binding Eula and comforted her. "It's all over now."

"I... I wasn't scared at all!" Eula retorted, still trying to act tough. "I knew you would come for me."

"Why were you so sure?" Lucas asked, genuinely puzzled.

After all, he was just a nine-year-old kid.

"Didn't you say you will marry me in the future?"

Eula raised an eyebrow and said, "If you don't even rescue your fiancée when she's kidnapped, you'd be a pretty pathetic excuse for a man."

"Is that so?" Lucas smiled helplessly. "Good thing I came, then."

"But..." Eula suddenly pulled Lucas into her arms and softly said, "Even if you didn't come to save me, I wouldn't have blamed you. If something happened to you... what would I do?"

During the time she was kidnapped, Eula had indeed fantasized that Lucas would come to save her.

But she quickly dismissed the thought. She'd rather endure harm herself than see him in danger.

Yet, here he was! He had really come!

From this moment, twelve-year-old Eula made up her mind.

No matter what, she would become the next head of the Lawrence family. That way, no one could stop her from being with her brother!

"Let's go," Lucas grabbed Eula's hand. "We need to bring the other children back to the city as well."

"Yes..." Eula glanced back at the barn and frowned slightly. "Is there some kind of noise inside?"

"It's probably..." Lucas smiled faintly, "just some rats."

In the depths of the barn, the woman whose eyes and throat had been poisoned writhed on the ground like a maggot, her hands and feet severed by a dagger.

In the darkness, faint glimmers appeared. The hungry rats in the barn wouldn't pass up such a feast.

...

[Mission Complete: Retrieve Eula]

[Reward: Talent – Cloak and Dagger (Blue)]

[Effect: Reduces the chance of being detected during stealth by 50%. Launching a sneak attack on an unaware enemy deals double damage.]

[Bonus Reward: Dagger of the Unfilial]

[Grade: C]

[Effect: Maintains sharpness and doesn't dull easily.]

Was this reward given because the mission mostly involved sneak attacks?

But what's with "Dagger of the Unfilial"?

Well, since it's a weapon from the simulator, Lucas didn't complain too much. Anyway, he wasn't that skilled with short weapons, so he'd probably only use it during sneak attacks.

[Entering Text Mode]

[After you and Eula returned home, you were scolded for getting injured. To avoid exposing your abilities, you didn't mention what happened today.]

[Some time later, Mondstadt soldiers discovered four decomposing bodies near the barn outside the city. One of the female bodies had been gnawed down to the bone. According to initial assessments, they were involved in the recent child abduction cases. The cause of death is still under investigation.]

[Age 10: Perhaps due to the trauma of the kidnapping, Eula began practicing swordsmanship even more diligently. You knew she was working hard to fulfill your promise.]

[However, it still wouldn't be easy for Eula to succeed as the head of the Lawrence family. In a thousand years, there had only been two female heads. For a woman to become the head of the Lawrence family, she would have to work much harder.]

[Of course, you didn't plan to let Eula struggle on her own. Even if you couldn't help her directly, you could help clear away the "obstacles" in her way.]

[If the next generation didn't have any strong competitors, it would be much easier for Eula to become the successor.]

[As a reincarnator, aside from retaining combat skills and spear techniques, you also possessed extensive experience as a playboy. You knew exactly how to lead people astray.]

[Age 11: By intentionally hiding your talents, you didn't stand out among the younger generation in your family. But thanks to your charming personality, you thrived socially, making many "friends" and becoming adept at identifying their preferences and weaknesses.]

[Lutherford Lawrence, thirteen years old. Although his martial arts skills were average, his academic performance was exceptional, making him a formidable rival for Eula. After you casually gifted him a few books about rogue heroes, he became obsessed and lost all interest in his studies, even declaring that he wanted to become a novelist.]

How hilarious, a novelist? Not even a dog would choose that career!

Lucas rolled his eyes. Was the simulator version of him trying to bring down all the promising young talents by leading them astray?

[Age 12: You met Gray Lawrence, whose talent in economics was excellent. If he became the future head of the family, the Lawrence family's financial reports would likely look much better every year.]

[But that was only if. After you took him to a few gambling houses, his interest in numbers and business shifted entirely to dice and cards.]

[Age 13: Molit Lawrence, only one year older than you. His talent in swordsmanship rivaled Eula's, and he never neglected his physical training. Every time you saw his 6'2" frame and bulging muscles, you wondered if he was really only fourteen.]

[You quickly became close with Molit and secretly told him about a "good place" that would allow him to work out to his heart's content.]

[When he came out of that place glowing with pink lights and with a look of pure satisfaction, you knew this one was done for too.]

[Half a year later, Molit had withered away to a skinny reed and had picked up some "shameful" afflictions.]

[Age 14: Just like in your past life, you once again became a playboy. Although you couldn't wield the same influence as Eberhart did in Mondstadt, thanks to your noble birth, good looks, and honeyed words, you still became quite popular with the ladies.]

[Even after a thousand years, it seemed that wealth and appearance were still the ultimate weapons in attracting women.]

[Of course, this wasn't because you were heartless. Right now, Eula was the only one in your heart. You were merely using the "First Glass of Red Wine" talent to absorb strength from your admirers.]

[If Eula was destined to become the "light" of the Lawrence family, then you would become the "shadow" protecting that light. Even if you couldn't regain the overwhelming power of your previous life, you couldn't allow Eula to leave you too far behind.]

[Through both your efforts, Eula had already become a key figure for the family's future. As for you, you were seen as nothing more than a useless playboy.]

[Naturally, Eula couldn't understand your "good intentions," and the two of you drifted further and further apart. Every time she saw you, she would avoid you, her gaze tinged with complexity.]

[Even so, you still believe that Eula hasn't forgotten the promise she made.]

[It's just that she can't understand you right now. One day, she will realize your good intentions. For now, the most important thing is to clear obstacles and accumulate strength.]

[Age 15: Your decadent behavior had long caused much gossip in the Lawrence family, and those inexplicably fallen prodigies seemed to have mysterious ties to you.]

[Finally, one day, the scandal of you toying with a noble family's daughter was exposed. That noble actually brought his daughter to the Lawrence family estate to confront you.]

[Your father, Schubert, was furious. He even demanded that you marry the girl as an apology, or else you would face severe punishment. In response, you decided...]

[1. Agree to marry her.]

[2. Accept punishment.]

"Of course I'll choose the second option!" Lucas quickly said, "I'm going to marry Eula!"

[How thick-skinned of you to say that...] the system retorted.

[You refused to marry the girl, insisting that everything had been consensual. This only further enraged your father, who immediately decided to enforce family law and exile you from Mondstadt for three years as punishment.]

[In front of the noble father and daughter, Schubert used the "family law" to beat you six or seven dozen times. It was only when the nobleman could no longer bear to watch that he agreed to settle the matter with compensation.]

[Your strength far exceeded your father's, but you knew you couldn't fight back. He always upheld the grace and discipline of nobility, and he couldn't tolerate your "decadence."]

[As a result of the punishment, you were left with serious injuries and had to recuperate in your room.]

[That night, your father came to your room. You were sulking and ignored him, but he quietly applied medicine to your wounds. His touch was far gentler than the strikes he delivered earlier.]

["Son, I know you must hate me," Schubert said as he tended to you. "But I've had to punish you harshly because over the years, you've caused too much trouble. I've covered for you many times, but this time you went too far."]

[You realized then that it had been a long time since you'd had such a conversation with your father.]

[You couldn't help but think of your father from your previous life, Ingobert, the former head of the Lawrence family, who had only spoken to you like this once—on his deathbed.]

["Once you've recovered from your injuries, I'll send you to study at a military academy in Snezhnaya for three years," Schubert continued. "When you return, there will be even greater responsibilities waiting for you."]

[You didn't resist. Given the current situation, laying low and using the time to further your education seemed like the best option. At this point, there were no competitors around Eula who posed a significant threat.]

[Although the family law punishment was painful, it had actually helped you. Those in the family who had intended to use this opportunity to hold you accountable were forced to back off due to your severe injuries.]

[Perhaps this was also part of your father's plan.]

[For someone used to a life of indulgence, being bedridden was incredibly boring. But what bothered you most was that Eula hadn't visited you at all.]

[Could it be that she had truly given up on you? You found yourself occasionally wondering.]

[A hundred days to recover from broken bones. After about three months of recuperation, you were mostly healed. Tonight, you packed your belongings, as tomorrow was the day you would leave for Snezhnaya.]

[During this time, you had thought about going to see Eula, but you knew that given your current circumstances, it was impossible to meet her.]

[You lay by the window, gazing at the full moon in the sky. The next time you would see a full moon in your homeland might be three years from now. By then, the distance between you and Eula might grow even further.]

[For the first time, you began to doubt your "plan"—had you made a mistake?]

[Just as you were about to go to sleep, a hand suddenly grabbed the windowsill. Before you could react, a slim figure had already climbed in through the window.]

[Forcing entry into the immersive mode.]

Along with the figure entering the room, a faint chill also swept in.

Standing before Lucas was a tall, striking blue-haired girl—a blend of beauty and elegance—Eula Lawrence, the very person Lucas had been striving for all this time.

By now, Eula was over eighteen, and compared to the last time they met, she had shed all traces of her youthful naivety.

Of course, the most obvious change was her nearly perfect figure, shaped by rigorous training and a diet rich in nutritious food.

Eighteen years old, growing more impressive by the year.

"Eu... Eula!" 

Was she here to see me off because I'm leaving tomorrow?

Lucas's heart swelled with emotion. He spread his arms, eager to experience the warmth of his sister's embrace.

However, all he heard was a sharp "smack."

Lucas felt a stinging sensation on his cheek as Eula, without saying a word, delivered a hard slap to his face.

Do you realize how much emotional damage a slap from your sister can cause?

"What was that sound?"

From downstairs, his mother's voice called out, "Lucas, are you okay?"

"No... nothing!" Lucas quickly replied. "I just... slapped a mosquito."

"Strange..." his mother muttered, "It's autumn already. Why are there still mosquitoes?"

"Eula..." Lucas rubbed his burning cheek and said helplessly, "Did you come all the way here in the middle of the night just to hit me?"

"I've been wanting to slap you like this for the past three months," Eula bit her lip, her pale cheeks tinged with a hint of red. "You dared to do something like this—saying you'd marry me once I became the head of the family, but then... you spend your days flirting with other girls! Have you forgotten the promise we made all those years ago?"

"I haven't forgotten for a single day!"

Lucas quickly explained, "There's a reason why I've been doing all this..."

"You don't need to explain. I know what you've been doing behind the scenes," Eula sighed and said, "Lutherford, Gray, Molit... They were all once promising young talents of the family. But for various reasons, they fell into bad habits and are now ruined. These things... are all connected to you, aren't they?"

Caught off guard by her directness, Lucas fell silent for a moment before nodding. "You're right, I was behind all of that. But they couldn't resist temptation, and sooner or later, they would have failed on their own. With or without me, the result wouldn't have changed."

It sounded a bit like sophistry, but there was some truth to it.

"This approach is pointless," Eula frowned deeply. "I've never slacked off even for a single day. I'm confident I'm better than all of them."

"I know that, of course," Lucas said earnestly, "To me, Eula is... the most perfect existence."

His words struck a chord in Eula's heart.

The young man before her, with his gentle smile, overlapped in her mind with the boy who had rescued her from the barn six years ago.

The difference was that he was no longer a child. He had grown into a tall and handsome man.

"Then why... why do you keep doing these things?" Eula lowered her head, her voice soft with frustration. "Is it because I'm a woman?"

"Yes!" 

Lucas placed his hand on his chest. "More than anyone, I want you to become the next head of the Lawrence family. Only with the highest authority can no one stop us from being together."

Although the Lawrence family didn't forbid marriage between distant relatives, over time, the conditions for intermarriage within the family had become stricter. Especially for relatives like Eula and Lucas, who weren't very distantly related, they would inevitably face many obstacles if they wanted to be together.

Only by having one of them become the family head, wielding the highest authority, could they overcome these challenges.

Lucas had considered becoming the family head himself. In fact, with his abilities, if he truly wanted to inherit the position, it would be as easy as dreaming of meeting Aragaki Yui—it would be a piece of cake.

However, becoming the family head had always been Eula's dream, and it was also the main task of the simulator. So Lucas decided to support her instead.

"I promise you, I will definitely become the head of the Lawrence family!"

Eula grasped Lucas's hand firmly, her expression serious. "So you must promise me, stop causing trouble and be a good little brother, okay?"

Hearing this, Lucas couldn't help but laugh. "Do you still see me as that little brother from back then?"

As he spoke, Lucas stepped closer, and Eula suddenly realized that the boy who had once been half a head shorter than her was now taller than she was.

"I don't care! You're... still my little brother..." For the first time in many years, being this close to Lucas made Eula's heart flutter. She murmured, "You annoying little brother."

"Annoying? How am I annoying?" Lucas took the opportunity to pull Eula into his arms, grinning mischievously. "Come closer and smell. Do I really smell bad?"

"You... do smell bad..." Eula felt her cheeks grow hot, and her head spun a little as she mumbled, "But... I like it."

...

R-18 Scene

Lucas gently patted her head and removed her black headband, slowly running his fingers through Eula's silky, soft light-blue hair. Then he leaned forward and kissed Eula on the lips. Eula was slightly startled, but then she kissed him back. 

He grabbed her plump waist and pulled her closer. The kiss began tenderly, but slowly became more intense and lascivious.

"Little brother...mhm~~~" She moaned as she wrapped her hands around his neck.

As their lips parted, she blushed slightly, her cheeks turning pink as she looked up at Lucas.

He closed her lips with another deep kiss, his tongue gently exploring her mouth. He'd had countless experiences in his former life as Eberhart, so he wasn't a novice.

His hands were not idle either, moving over her body, his right hand squeezing her sweet and juicy buttocks over the fabric.

He gently lifted her up and placed her on his lap as he sat on the bed.

"Let me help you take off your clothes," he whispered in Eula's ear. She hesitated a little, then nodded her head with a sigh, her face flushed as she allowed him to undress her.

He smiled and started to undress her, starting from her legs he took off the thigh high boots, her blue stockings were visible making her look incredibly sexy, he moved his hands and started to caress her thighs also squeezing them a bit which made her whimper.

He then removed the black leotard and the next moment Eula's incomparable white jade body appeared before his eyes, nothing but blue stockings covering her thighs, making her even more alluring.

She looked nervously to the other side, her left hand covering her lower lips while trying to cover her large breasts with her right hand, avoiding his gaze.

Seeing this, he chuckled and began to undress, and the next moment he approached Eula and sat down next to her. 

"Beautiful... Sister Eula, you are very beautiful."

Taking her lips again, Lucas gently touched her large breasts and began to squeeze them.

Pulling away from her lips, Lucas looked at her chest and her beautiful pink nipples.

He immediately lowered his head and placed them in his mouth. He sucked on her pink nipples and bit them as well.

"Ahn~" she moaned softly, her arms pulling him closer as she pressed his head against her chest.

At the same time, his left hand caressed her thighs, slowly approaching her most precious spot.

"Ah~!" Suddenly, Eula's body shook. She had a small orgasm, but that didn't stop Lucas. He gently bit her nipples and at the same time his hand slid between her thighs, entering her cave.

"Not there! Ahn~"

Feeling his fingers on her most intimate part, Eula's eyes opened wide. She looked at Lucas, who was busy sucking on her nipples, with teary eyes.

But this only increased the fire in Lucas. He gently slid his finger into her already wet vagina and touched her clitoris. Eula gripped the sheet tightly, she had never felt anything like this before. Her body tightened and immense pleasure flooded her.

He released her nipples and kissed her neck as he began to reach for her bottom. Lucas looked at her for a moment before moving closer and kissing her lower lips.

"Ah?! What are you doing?! No, no, no, no! Ahh~"

Her body shook violently, and she couldn't help but grab Lucas' head, which was now between her legs. She gripped his hair tightly, her eyes tearing up as her body contracted violently, experiencing another orgasm.

"So this is how you like it, huh? Sister Eula, you are delicious."

But Lucas didn't care how tightly Eula held him. He was completely devoted to savoring her sweet nectar.

"Ahhhh..." she moaned and grabbed his head and Lucas started to plunge his tongue into her pussy. Her pussy began to release its juices and get wet, and she felt the pleasure around her cave as his tongue throbbed in her vagina.

"Sister Eula, are you ready?" he whispered to her. She had no more thoughts of stopping or resisting and wanted to do whatever he told her. Her body began to feel a sense of pleasure she had never felt before.

"Be gentle with me," she whispered into his ear.

"Don't worry, we will do it slowly," he told her, seeing that she was afraid to see his big dick. It was a little embarrassing because his little brother was very big despite his young age.

Eula lovingly stroked his hair and slowly spread her legs, allowing Lucas' body to come even closer.

After confirming that her body was relaxed, Lucas took both of her legs and lifted her knees as he spread her legs wide.

Eula watched as Lucas's penis came closer and closer to her vagina, she shivered at the sight and was also embarrassed by the position she was in, but at this Lucas just smiled before lowering his head and murmuring in her ear.

"Sister Eula, I love you."

"Mmm...!" she moaned, clutching the sheets tightly.

"Ahh..." Her eyes became teary the moment his dragon entered her cave...

Seeing Eula's pain, Lucas stopped what he was doing and waited a few moments, then slowly pushed the tip of his rod into her cave.

"Ahh!" Eula bit her lips from the extreme pain. Tears appeared at the corners of her eyes. She could clearly feel her hymen being slowly torn apart by Lucas' thick dick, and blood poured through the small gap that remained in her cave.

Lucas stopped moving and after a few moments he slowly began to move.

"Ahhh...mmm...it's big...it hurts but it feels good," she moaned and cried at the same time, and the next moment Lucas' arms were gently around her, and she closed her eyes as his mouth slowly reached for her soft lips.

Kissing passionately, Lucas began to move.

Pah, pah, pah, pah!

With the sound of flesh striking flesh, Eula's body shook violently.

She had reached another great climax, but Lucas' movements didn't stop.

"Mmm...ahhhhhh~" Eula's erotic moans drove Lucas crazy. He thrust very hard into her cave.

"Ku! It's so good! Brother Lucas! Haa, haa!"

 Lucas' breathing became heavier and heavier as Eula's moans of pleasure grew louder and louder as she reached out with her hands, hugging his back and digging her nails into him.

Eula could feel no more pain - only extreme pleasure. Her mind quickly emptied, and soon the only thing she could think about was the burning sensation in her vagina and the deep pleasure that came with it.

The only sound that could be heard in the room at that moment was Eula's mesmerizing moaning and heavy breathing, the sound of splashing water and pounding flesh.

"Ahhh! Harder! I want it harder!" Eula begged for more as she clutched Lucas' neck tightly.

Suddenly, her body shook again, and at the same time, Lucas buried his head in her neck and gave her a kiss that would later leave a mark on her, while her back shook with pleasure.

"Sister Eula!"

"Ahhh!!!"

They had climaxed. 

R-18 End

...

Hearing the strange noises coming from upstairs, Lucas's mother frowned and muttered, "What on earth is going on? It's late in the season. How many mosquitoes could there possibly be in that kid's room? Maybe I should go check on him."

Schubert set down the poetry book he had been reading. His usually stern face softened with a rare smile. "There's no need. The boy's grown up now. He's leaving for the military academy in Snezhnaya tomorrow, and for the next three years, he probably won't have many... opportunities."

"What opportunities?" His wife, a lady of noble upbringing, clearly didn't understand the implication in her husband's words.

"Don't worry about it," Schubert chuckled. "Just send up some tissues later."

The strict father, thinking his son was simply entertaining himself, had no idea that his son was actually doing something far more significant.

...

[The talent "First Glass of Red Wine" has been activated. Attribute enhancement: Able to control ice elemental power.]

The enhancement effect... has changed?

Based on Lucas's past life experience, this talent could only absorb and control one elemental power.

In his previous life, Lucas had obtained the fire element. But after his reincarnation, it had now changed to ice.

This was probably due to differences in his current physique. Even though he had inherited Eberhart's memories, Lucas and Eberhart were now two completely different people.

Eula, still a bit dazed, seemed unable to process what had just happened.

She had actually gone along with something that violated noble etiquette.

"Sorry..." Lucas awkwardly scratched his cheek. "I... couldn't help myself. Sister Eula, are you mad?"

"I... am indeed very angry," Eula said coldly, her back turned to Lucas. "Do you know why?"

Killing intent!

There was definitely killing intent!

Lucas couldn't help but swallow nervously. "No idea..."

"You already have a sister, yet you still go out and flirt with other girls..." Eula turned slightly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "Shouldn't I be angry?"

--- 

"So that's the reason?" Lucas said with mixed emotions. "I thought it was..."

"I know what you're thinking. We haven't officially married yet, but we've already consummated our relationship," Eula seemed to have prepared herself mentally long ago. She looked directly at Lucas and said seriously:

"In this life, I may not become the head of the Lawrence family, but besides you, I, Eula Lawrence, will not marry anyone else. Giving myself to you sooner or later doesn't really matter."

"Sister Eula..." 

Lucas felt deeply moved.

To have such a sister, what more could one ask for?

"But..." Eula's tone changed, and she said coldly, "If you dare to betray me, hmph hmph."

"I swear, I will never betray you in this life, otherwise..." Lucas's eyes rolled, and he said, "Let me be eaten by an evil dragon!" 

Lucas found a loophole in his own oath.

After all, "this life" was only in the simulator.

"Tch..." 

Eula gave Lucas a sidelong glance and smiled, "There are no evil dragons in this world, stop trying to be clever. If you dare to betray me... my revenge will be more terrifying than any dragon!"

Indeed, due to the changes in the world line, the simulated world of Mondstadt had not been invaded by the wind dragon Dvalin, and Mondstadt had long forgotten the fear of being ruled by dragon disasters.

Eula's personality wasn't much different from reality, but because the Lawrence family hadn't fallen, she hadn't experienced neglect and hostility, so she was naturally more cheerful.

To make an imperfect comparison, Eula might be the "Jean" of another world.

The same noble birth, the same favored daughter of heaven, the same focus of attention.

"Knock! Knock! Knock!"

Just as Lucas and Eula were about to continue their intimate moment, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside: "Lucas, open the door."

"Oh no, it's Mom!" 

Lucas and Eula both looked surprised.

This feeling was just like young lovers caught in a midnight tryst when a parent suddenly knocks on the door.

"I... I'm coming!" Lucas hurriedly said, "Mom, don't open the door yet!"

"I... I'll leave first!" Eula quickly reacted, nimbly climbing over the window. Holding onto the windowsill with both hands, she said to Lucas reluctantly, "Good... goodbye."

No wonder she was so reluctant to leave, as their next meeting... would probably be three years later.

"We'll definitely meet again!"

Lucas leaned out and gave his future wife a passionate farewell kiss.

"This child, why is he so slow?" 

With a creaking sound, the door was pushed open by Mrs. Schubert, who saw her son leaning on the windowsill, not knowing what he was doing.

At this moment, Lucas was stretching his head out, watching Eula leave with lingering affection, while Eula also seemed unwilling to leave, looking back at her dear brother every few steps.

Seeing this scene, Mrs. Schubert immediately became alarmed. She stepped forward and hugged Lucas, crying out, "My son! It's just a few years of military school, you don't need to end your life over it!"

Lucas felt speechless and had to say helplessly, "Mom I'm not trying to end my life. I'm just looking at the scenery. Besides, this is only the second floor, falling from here would at most break a leg, right?"

Mrs. Schubert calmed down a bit. She suspiciously stuck her head out and immediately saw Eula, who hadn't had time to walk far.

"Oh, isn't this Eula?" Mrs. Schubert was slightly stunned and asked, "What are you doing here so late?"

Because Lucas had been inseparable from Eula since childhood, Mrs. Schubert was naturally quite familiar with Eula.

Of course, precisely because of this, Mrs. Schubert didn't have any unusual thoughts.

"Aun... Aunt, hello!" Eula's little face turned red as she stammered, "I... I'm night jogging."

"Ah, you child, you're working too hard," Mrs. Schubert showed a somewhat distressed expression. "Why don't you rest for a while, and I'll make you a cup of tea?"

"No need!" Eula hurriedly pretended to be jogging and said, "I have other training to do, so... so I'll be going now!"

With that, she ran away stiffly. If Mrs. Schubert had been more observant, she might have noticed that Eula's running motion was awkward due to her nervousness.

Watching Eula's retreating figure, Mrs. Schubert sighed and said, "What a wonderful child... Look at you, you grew up together, why can't you learn from her?"

Indeed, parents are all the same; other people's children always seem the best.

"Yes..." Lucas seemed to be still savoring what had just happened, murmuring, "Sister Eula is really great..."

"Ah, such a good girl..." Mrs. Schubert said with regret, "I wonder which lucky man she'll marry one day?"

To this, Lucas just smiled without saying anything.

He wondered what expression his mother would make when she eventually learned that Eula had chosen him.

[Entering text mode]

[Age 16: You left for Snezhnaya with only a small amount of luggage and a letter of introduction. Your father, Schubert, had coordinated with Mondstadt's Snezhnaya envoy to get you enrolled in the Snezhnaya military academy.]

[It wasn't your first time in Snezhnaya. In your previous life, you had traveled across the seven nations with the Dragon Ursa, who had a particular fondness for a local brew called "firewater." Whenever she drank too much, she would perform fire-breathing tricks in the taverns.]

[Of course, that wasn't alcohol-fueled fire, but Ursa's own dragon breath. You couldn't help but think of that fierce yet adorable dragon. After a thousand years, she had probably returned to the dust by now, right?]

[But your feet unconsciously led you back to the small tavern you used to frequent with her. Surprisingly, it was still there, though it had changed its appearance.]

[You couldn't help but chuckle at yourself. Of course, a little tavern couldn't possibly last a thousand years. Still, you went inside to have a drink or two to remember the past.]

[Among the seven nations, Mondstadt is undoubtedly the one that loves alcoholic beverages the most. Otherwise, the Ragnvindr family wouldn't have been able to amass such wealth through the wine industry. However, when it came to alcohol tolerance, Snezhnaya far surpassed Mondstadt.]

[For Mondstadters, drinking was like drinking water. For Snezhnayans, alcohol was as vital as blood.]

[It's said that each year, some Snezhnayans drink themselves to death by passing out drunk on the roadside and freezing to death. At one point, the government even issued a prohibition, but public outcry forced them to repeal it.]

[Perhaps due to their rugged nature, Snezhnaya didn't prohibit minors from drinking. You easily ordered a strong drink.]

[However, you were surprised to see an old, prominent oil painting hanging on the tavern wall.]

[In the painting, a delicate girl was shown breathing fire, while next to her sat a smiling middle-aged man, casually sipping his drink.]

[For some reason, you felt your eyes moisten. "What's the story behind this painting?" you casually asked the bartender.]

["It's said that a thousand years ago, there was a foreign girl who drank one hundred and seventy-eight cups of 'firewater' in a row," the bartender says with a smile while wiping a glass. "The bar owner at the time painted this scene of her drinking fierce liquor."]

[You continue to ask, "But why is a thousand-year-old painting hung here?"]

["This legend is quite famous in Snezhnaya, so a tradition was established here. No matter what kind of shop opens in this place, they always pass this painting on to the next shop."]

[You ponder for a moment and express your desire to buy the painting. However, the bartender shakes his head and says, "This painting is not for sale, but if someone can surpass the record of one hundred and seventy-eight cups, they can win this painting."]

[Almost every day, people come to take on the challenge, but no one has ever surpassed the record. Some even believe it's just a gimmick used by the bar to attract customers. Only you know... that it all really happened, as vivid as if it were yesterday]

[Whether it's because you miss your homeland or you miss Ursa who accompanied you in your previous life, you unknowingly drink a lot. In your haze, you seem to see Ursa pushing your shoulder, opening her mouth saying, "I'm hungry, go get me something to eat!"]

["Ursa!" You hug the girl in front of you, but what follows is a heavy slap. You realize that you're not hugging Ursa, but a waitress who had come to collect the empty glasses.]

[However, this waitress is quite pretty. Although she seems even younger than you, she's quite tall, and more importantly, the girls of Snezhnaya have a wild beauty different from the women of Mondstadt. Those waitresses in Mondstadt bars would never slap a drunk customer]

[Just as you were about to speak, you suddenly felt a chill on your face. The waitress had splashed the remaining drink in her cup onto your face, waking you up even more.]

[The surrounding patrons burst into boos and laughter. Clearly, this wasn't the first time this wild flower had done such a thing. Faced with their jeers, you decided to...]

[1. Apologize.]

[2. Threaten her.]

[3. Start a fight.]

Apologizing is impossible, it will never happen in this life.

Hitting a woman would be undignified, and besides, you're a foreigner in this land. The bar is filled with rowdy drunks who'd love to see a fight break out, and you'd likely gain nothing from it.

Moreover, getting violent with a woman after failing to flirt with her would make you no better than a beast. Even if you're playing the villain, Lucas still has his limits.

"I choose the second option."

[Entering immersive mode]

[Mission objective: Take revenge on the waitress. The more hatred she feels toward you, the greater the reward.]

Interesting?

When Lucas opened his eyes again, what appeared before him was a noisy, bustling bar. The drunk customers around seemed to be watching the show, all looking at him.

Standing in front of him was a beautiful young girl, but she was fuming with anger.

It had to be said, perhaps due to the cold climate of Snezhnaya and the nutritious food they consumed, the girl in front of him, though around the same age as Lucas, had quite the impressive figure. Almost as impressive as Eula's.

"What are you looking at?" The waitress glared at Lucas and said, "Consider yourself lucky to get off with just a slap."

"I was drunk and acted on impulse. I deserved that slap," Lucas smiled slightly and said, "But that drink you threw at me, I'm not letting that slide."

"Hmph," the waitress seemed completely unafraid of the drunk customer in front of her and said, "My hand slipped, at most I'll clean it up for you."

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is a suit made by Mondstadt's top tailor, using the finest silk," Lucas held up five fingers and said, "It's worth at least this much, and now you've ruined it all. Asking you to compensate me isn't too much, is it?"

The waitress knew that throwing that glass of wine was a bit excessive, but she still stubbornly said, "It's just 50,000 Mora, right? I'll compensate you, even if it means I work this week for free!"

"50,000 Mora? That'll only cover one sleeve. Listen carefully, it's 500,000 Mora." Lucas casually took out his letter of recommendation stamped with Mondstadt's seal and added:

"Imagine the headline: Mondstadt exchange student discriminated against, brutally splashed with wine by waitress. I bet the newspapers would love that."

The waitress's expression darkened even more.

To be honest, she wasn't afraid of this man's threats, but she didn't want to make a big deal out of this incident.

"Tonia..." The bartender nearby said with some helplessness, "Why don't you just apologize?"

Tonia?

That name sounds quite nice.

Lucas pondered silently, feeling like he had seen it somewhere before.

However, even in the game, Snezhnaya was still an unopened map, and there wasn't much information about it. He didn't have any real impression of the name, so it likely wasn't a major character.

"I... I understand," Tonia gritted her teeth and bowed her head slightly toward Lucas. "It was my fault."

"Just admitting fault isn't enough," Lucas reached out his hand to Tonia and said, "Pay up, 500,000 Mora, not a single coin less."

"I... I don't have that much money." Tonia bit her lip tightly, "I'll pay you back slowly."

"Pay back slowly?" Lucas tilted his head and smiled, "How do I know you won't just run away?"

"How could I, I'm..." Tonia stopped halfway through her sentence, frowned and said, "Forget it, what do you suggest then?"

"Actually, I don't care about a mere 500,000. Young master just wants to seek justice," Lucas looked Tonia up and down with ill intent and said, "If you help me clean the wine off my body, I'll let it go."

"Really?"

Tonia was a bit surprised in her heart. She had thought this bad guy had some evil intentions, but unexpectedly, his request was so simple. So she nodded and said, "I'll go get some paper towels right away."

"Who said anything about using paper towels?" Lucas stuck out his tongue and pointed at it. "Use this. Clean it with your tongue."

"You!" Tonia's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "How... how could you ask such a thing?"

"Hurry up," Lucas said impatiently, "If it dries on its own in a while, I'll have to make you pay."

Tonia hesitated for a moment, then nodded very reluctantly and said, "I... I agree, but can we... do this in the break room?"

The bar was filled with drunken patrons eagerly watching the spectacle.

After all, it wasn't often they got to see the usually arrogant waitress being humiliated. Everyone was curious to see how she'd be punished.

"Of course," Lucas nodded and said, "After all, I'm not some kind of demon."

Still, watching Lucas and Tonya walk into the break room together left the patrons feeling somewhat disappointed. It wasn't every day they got the chance to witness such an amusing scene.

Twenty minutes later.

Lucas and Tonia finally walked out of the break room. Lucas's face showed a relaxed and contented expression, and the wine on his face had long been cleaned up.

As for how they were cleaned... there was no need for further explanation.

---