Genshin Impact: I'm The Envoy of Snezhnaya
Chapter 64: A Nighttime Conversation
Small Lamp Grass are a type of plant unique to Mondstadt. Their flowers emit a faint glow at night.
When cooked together with other ingredients, they can also enhance the flavor of food.
However, only a handful of people actually use them for cooking. Most people simply treat them as decorations, hanging them on their balconies or placing them on their desks.
But perhaps many Travelers don't know that a certain Pyro claymore character also uses this plant as an ascension material.
Anyone who knows that is either a true fan or... has a tragic story to tell.
You've lost your 50/50.
Tonight, Lisa had gone out of her way to dress in her usual formal attire.
After all, aside from her good friend Jean, there were also two members of the Ice-and-Fire duo in her room.
Originally, Lisa hadn't wanted them to come along. However, Diluc felt that since he had dealt with the Ausbilder before, he was better suited to negotiate with the other party. Thus, he had come along with Jean, wearing an expression that practically screamed, "It's not like I deliberately wanted to come here."
As for Kaeya... Well, didn't every domain run require four people? He was basically there as the Cryo support.
With a healer, a Pyro main DPS, an off-field resistance shredder, and a Cryo applicator, this team should have no problem soloing a Fatui Harbinger... right?
Though after the fight, they would probably only drop a bunch of four-star [The Ausbilder] artifact sets.
"Well, it's almost time."
Lisa glanced at her pocket watch and said.
The appointed time with the Ausbilder was drawing closer. The other party shouldn't stand her up.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the entrance, including Diluc, who had been quietly resting with his eyes closed.
The ticking of the pocket watch grew particularly noticeable in the silent room, especially given the tense atmosphere.
And then...
CRASH—!
The Small Lamp Grass that Lisa had specially moved from the balcony to the windowsill was smashed by a uniquely shaped dagger.
The sound of steel wires retracting rang out. Holding Collei in one arm, Bai Luo practically leaped through the window at the very last second.
Under the lamplight, the pale mask on his face gave him a rather sinister appearance.
Lisa: "..."
"Sorry, everyone. This child got a little too carried away playing with her new friend, so we're a bit late."
Looking at the four people in the room, Bai Luo wasn't particularly surprised.
He had originally only invited Jean, but there was no way Diluc would feel comfortable letting Jean meet him alone. That guy would definitely tag along.
And if Diluc came, how could Kaeya possibly stay away?
"Didn't I tell you not to come in through the balcony anymore?"
Looking at the last traces of light disappearing from the Small Lamp Grass, Lisa sighed.
Fortunately, it wasn't anything particularly valuable. They could easily gather more around Mondstadt.
Otherwise, the damage would have been quite troublesome.
"But I came through the window, not the balcony."
Bai Luo replied matter-of-factly.
After so many years of being accustomed to assassinations, sneaking around at night had become second nature to him. He really wasn't used to entering through the front door.
"..."
Were all Fatui members' thought processes really this bizarre?
"Let's dispense with the small talk, Mr. Ausbilder. I've already heard about your plan from Lisa, and we've also verified the information you provided."
After exchanging a glance with Diluc, Jean took the initiative to speak.
This matter was extremely important to Mondstadt, so she didn't waste time beating around the bush and went straight to the point.
"So? Do you accept my proposal?"
Bai Luo glanced at the single-seat sofa Lisa had specially prepared for him. Without making it obvious, he pressed Collei down onto it, while shamelessly taking the seat beside Lisa himself.
"Given your abilities, I believe you should have noticed the letter I sent to Sumeru, right?"
Lisa didn't seem to mind his behavior. Instead, she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and asked.
Ever since the Fatui had entered Mondstadt, more or less every letter sent out of the city had been monitored by them.
Yet this time, her letter had made it through without any obstruction.
Lisa certainly didn't believe Bai Luo had nothing to do with that.
"In other words, you've accepted my proposal?"
Taking off the mask he had always worn over his face, Bai Luo revealed the gentle smile hidden beneath it.
Almost immediately after removing the mask, his entire demeanor seemed to undergo some kind of transformation, giving off an almost surreal feeling.
"We currently have only one question. If you can answer it, I will agree to your request in my capacity as the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."
Although she was technically only the Acting Grand Master, Jean's current position was practically no different from that of the Grand Master.
Ever since Grand Master Varka had begun making preparations for his expedition, he had been deliberately strengthening Jean's influence within the Knights.
"Go ahead. As long as it doesn't involve certain confidential matters, I'm still authorized to answer you."
"Why are you doing this? According to our investigation, you and her were merely strangers who happened to cross paths. Why would you go so far as to betray the Fatui for her sake?"
Ever since Bai Luo had returned with Collei, Kaeya had already begun using his network of contacts to investigate the mysterious young girl.
The results of their investigation had come as quite a surprise.
According to their intelligence, this girl should have had a grudge against the Fatui. In fact, what she had been doing was quite similar to what Diluc had done after leaving Mondstadt.
During her travels across the seven nations, she had caused the Fatui no small amount of trouble.
Yet now, she had somehow ended up alongside a Fatui Harbinger. This Harbinger had even gone so far as to disrupt the Fatui's long-standing plans for her sake.
"First of all, I haven't betrayed the Fatui. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone through all that trouble traveling around for two whole days to set up those devices."
As Bai Luo spoke, Collei, who had been listening intently in anticipation of his explanation, couldn't help rolling her eyes.
Was he really the one who had worked tirelessly for two days?
This guy had been sleeping in the tent every single day! She was the one who actually did all the work, okay?!
Remembering the incident when she had accidentally made a mistake and ended up surrounded by Hilichurls, Collei shuddered again.
"As for why I'm helping her... That's a private matter. I've always been someone who keeps business and personal affairs separate. Setting up those traps for the mission and telling you where they are to save her life don't seem to contradict each other, do they?"
"..."
That actually sounded quite reasonable, yet somehow, there was still something that didn't quite add up.
"Allow me to ask you once more: Are you truly not pursuing some ulterior motive?"
To be on the safe side, Jean asked again.
Perhaps realizing that her question might come across as somewhat impolite, she had even made a point of addressing him respectfully.
"An ulterior motive? A plan only works its magic when both sides are on equal footing. As far as I'm concerned, if I wanted to cause trouble for you, wouldn't it be much easier to simply pick a night and slaughter all the high-ranking officials in Mondstadt while they're asleep? Don't tell me that would damage the friendship between our two nations. As long as I refuse to admit it, what exactly could you do to me?"
Bai Luo delivered those words with a smile, yet everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.
It was true that Mondstadt had individuals who were stronger than Bai Luo.
But even a mighty lion has moments when it lets its guard down. How could Mondstadt's leadership possibly remain on constant alert against Bai Luo?
If he really did something like that, the combination of their already hectic daily schedules and the need to remain vigilant throughout the night would eventually drive them all to the brink of madness.
There was no denying that Bai Luo's direct combat strength might not be particularly impressive compared to the other Harbingers. But the threat he posed was perhaps even more terrifying than that of some of the Harbingers notorious for their brutality.
Sometimes, the trump card you keep in your hand is far more intimidating than the one you actually play.