Saphir didn't reply, simply giving Eula a cool, unreadable look that made her skin crawl.
Eula knew perfectly well—Saphir had just spared her. By revealing the secret, she'd given Eula a chance to quietly handle the matter herself. And if Saphir wasn't planning to kill her, then, as a member of the Lawrence family, she was indeed the most suitable person to deal with it. This way, they could eliminate the hidden threat without exposing anything publicly—saving the Lawrence family from even more disgrace.
What Eula couldn't understand was why a Fatui executive—someone with every reason to destabilize Mondstadt—would take such a course of action.
She wasn't one to beat around the bush. After realizing that her usual prideful act had no effect on Saphir, she asked directly, "You're with the Fatui. Why expose your own plan? Doesn't letting me know ruin everything?"
"Plan?" Saphir sneered. "That clown? You think Schubert counts as a plan? If that was our trump card, I'd crack Anastasia's skull open just to see what's rattling around in there. Who doesn't know what kind of reputation the Lawrence family has in Mondstadt?"
Eula fell silent. As a Lawrence, she was intimately familiar with their status. Shopkeepers wouldn't sell to her, passersby whispered behind her back. When she first joined the Knights, she faced unfair treatment at every turn. If not for Jean's support, she would never have made it to where she was.
She'd sewn her own clothes, had no access to proper weapons, and even now hesitated to use her one precious Favonius Greatsword. Most of the time, she fought using blades formed purely from Cryo energy.
Saphir went on, "Sure, if you're just looking for a partner to overthrow the city's policies, the Lawrences are ideal. But if you factor in everything else? They're nothing. They could never control Mondstadt. The Gunnhildrs wouldn't allow it. Nor would that old man from Dawn Winery. And besides—Barbatos is awake now. The Lawrences' little dream is already dead."
Eula had no response. As much as it stung to hear her family degraded, she couldn't argue. Saphir was right.
"Even if they succeeded, then what?" Saphir scoffed. "You think the Lawrences would obediently roll over for the Fatui? They'd bite the hand that fed them the moment it suited them. It's tradition for them, after all."
She didn't say it directly, but the implication was clear: treachery was in their blood. Eula clenched her fists.
"So you want me to deal with this?"
Saphir nodded, satisfied. "Now you're getting it. No permanent enemies—only permanent interests. We can work together."
"Work together?" Eula frowned.
Saphir gestured around them. "Dragonspine. It doesn't just hide the remains of Durin—it's also where a nation called 'Sal Vindagnyr' was buried. I want to investigate its secrets. I'll need your help."
"For anything involving diplomacy, you'll have to speak to Jean. I'm not authorized." Eula's tone was cautious but not entirely rejecting.
Saphir had expected this. "Of course. I'll talk to Jean. You, meanwhile, handle the situation back in the city. After that, go see Albedo. I plan to build a supply line through Dragonspine. All I need from you is to help clear out monsters in Wyrmrest Valley and Starglow Cavern. Once the line is in place, your team can use it too. Good for you, good for us."
Eula mulled it over. It was a tempting offer. Clearing out monsters was already part of their job, and with extra supplies flowing in, their situation on Dragonspine would drastically improve—especially with how understaffed Mondstadt was.
Still, she didn't agree immediately. "I'll need to talk to Captain Jean."
Saphir shrugged. "Naturally. She's the one in charge, after all."
Their discussion concluded, the two left the cave and returned to Albedo's camp.
Klee ran up to greet them, cheerful as ever. The Recon Team members sighed in relief upon seeing their captain unharmed. Their previously tense gazes toward Saphir softened. Eula noticed. And she didn't like it.
People's hearts had changed. There was no stopping the Fatui's influence now.
When Saphir mentioned using Albedo's base as a supply hub, Albedo agreed, but added one condition—that the line would also transport certain experimental materials. It was a minor addition, and Saphir accepted without issue. Albedo didn't waste time, drafting a quick note for Sucrose and informing Saphir that she would assist them.
With things on Dragonspine handled, Saphir could have delegated the rest. But to safeguard the Fatui's interests, she decided to oversee it personally.
After saying her goodbyes, she teleported back to her room at the Goth Grand Hotel in Mondstadt.
By now, the city was showing signs of recovery. The dragon crisis hadn't fully passed, but Saphir knew Stormterror's rampage was over.
She flopped onto the bed, stretching and sighing.
"Yep… in the end, the main story still belongs to the protagonist crew. A villain like me's best off hiding in the background and waiting to farm dungeons."
Though she called it slacking, she hadn't really gotten a break since becoming a Harbinger. It'd been nonstop work—running back and forth without rest.
It was her own doing, of course. Liyue, Mondstadt… all for the Fatui. And for Rosalyne.
Inazuma was the only place that had stabilized, thanks to her efforts. As for those endless world quests—the Sacred Sakura Cleansing, Through the Mists—ugh, let that blonde errand girl deal with them. Or better yet, let that idiot Lin Yi handle it!
At the thought of him, a smile crept onto her face.
When he finally arrived in Inazuma… maybe she should convince the Shogun to slice him once. That'd be fun.
With idle thoughts swirling in her mind, Saphir gradually drifted off to sleep.
Do you want to hear… my story?
My arm… it's mutating. Help me. I don't want to become a monster…
I'm sorry █████. I'm sorry… I don't want to die, but—
That's… kind of heartbreaking. Makes me sad, too.
Victory doesn't always mean you were right.
Within the haze of dreams, strange voices echoed.
Saphir bolted upright, gasping for breath. Tears streaked down her cheeks. She wiped them away and muttered, "Another nightmare."
She rose slowly, clutching her forehead. Every time she woke from one of these dreams, she'd be struck by a pounding headache. Worse, she never remembered the dream's content—only the overwhelming grief and despair that clung to her afterward.
Once the pain subsided, she walked to the window. Night had fallen. The wall clock read just past eleven.
There was no hope of getting back to sleep right away.
Saphir drew the curtains, making sure no one could see inside. Then, she began to undress.
As each layer of clothing came off, her body—flawless and radiant under the soft light—was gradually revealed. Except her back. A long, narrow scar ran down its center, glaring and brutal.
Her legs, usually covered by her nun's robe or black leather pants, were also crisscrossed with scars.
She traced each one with her fingers. They were ugly. But they were hers.
Memories of wounds earned through recklessness, arrogance, and desperation. Each one a near-death experience.
Her healing powers, awakened with her Fate Star, could've erased these scars long ago. But she had never done so.
They were proof of her failures. A reminder. Even if she erased them from her skin, they would never vanish from her heart.
So what if she was an unwanted child? What did privacy or dignity matter to someone like her?
She laughed quietly, shaking her head.
With the burden off her shoulders, her steps felt lighter. She stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. It was time to wash away the day's exhaustion—and, hopefully, keep the nightmares at bay.
Meanwhile, in a distant domain, Lin Yi nearly lost his head to a Mitachurl's axe. Lisa yanked him out of the way just in time.
After defeating the enemy, she frowned at him.
"What's gotten into you? You were totally distracted."
Lin Yi coughed awkwardly, waving her off. "Sorry, sorry, just a little slip."
But in truth, he was silently screaming apologies in his heart.
Yes—he had access to Saphir's shared vision feed. Same with Jean and Keqing. Anyone on his system list, really. He'd never told anyone about it.
He had always thought himself above such behavior. A righteous man, not some lecherous voyeur.
"…She definitely noticed, didn't she? Damn system acting on its own again!"
He hastily severed the connection, heart pounding.
Back at the Goth Hotel, Saphir's voice exploded into the night:
"LIN!!! YI!!! YOU!!! BASTARD!!!"
"…Welp. I better start writing my will."
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