"Forget it. This isn't the place to talk about such things. Better to just read the manga."
After a long silence, Dainsleif let out a sigh.
Just like Aether had said earlier—since he was already here, as long as he wasn't here to cause trouble but only to read manga sincerely, Boss Han likely wouldn't interfere. The rewards that belonged to him wouldn't be withheld either.
No matter what else he said now, it wouldn't change anything.
But just like before, he would still give everything he had to stop them.
For now, the most important thing was to keep reading, and to grow stronger.
He flipped open the manga in his hand and began to read carefully.
The opening of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime was quite simple.
The protagonist, Satoru Mikami, died in an accident and reincarnated into another world.
But unlike most "otherworld travelers," he didn't become a human adventurer.
Instead, he was reborn as one of the weakest monsters—a slime.
Yet even so, he remained optimistic.
After receiving the name "Rimuru," he began his new life as a slime.
And in the process of meeting different races, he established a grand dream— to build a nation where all races could live together in peace and joy!
"Though weak in strength, to hold such a great dream… rare indeed."
Dainsleif felt a pang of admiration.
But he also knew how difficult this goal was.
Even humans struggled to coexist peacefully—let alone different races.
He sighed, then kept on reading.
Aether, on the other side, seemed to sense the attitude of his former friend as well.
So he didn't speak further.
The two simply sat there quietly, reading manga together.
It was… not bad.
Meanwhile—At the Goth Grand Hotel.
Several Fatui agents stood guard outside.
But if one looked closely, they weren't staring outward at passersby— instead, their eyes kept drifting nervously toward the hotel's interior, filled with unease and fear.
Inside the hotel.
La Signora frowned at the man in front of her— dressed in a blue-and-white formal suit, face hidden behind a mask.
"Doctor… The Tsaritsa actually sent you here?"
Her voice was tinged with wariness, her tone far more formal than usual.
Though they were both Fatui Harbingers, she knew all too well how terrifying he was.
Not only was his strength far beyond her own— his methods were even crueler.
Human experimentation was routine for him.
Even his own subordinates were not spared.
Because of this, his reputation among the Fatui was notoriously foul.
"Don't be so tense," the Doctor replied with a narrow-eyed smile.
"The Empress merely grew curious after reading your letter, so she sent me to take a look."
In truth, he had been preparing to continue his human experiments.
But then the Empress summoned him and mentioned her curiosity about the report.
As a so-called man of science—a "mad scholar"— he hadn't believed a single word La Signora had written.
He assumed it was nothing but an excuse for her failure to seize the Anemo Archon's Gnosis.
To the Doctor, Delusions were the only true power.
Visions? Manga rewards? Worthless junk.
Still, despite his disdain, he came—only because of the Empress's command.
Besides, his supply of human test subjects was running low.
A trip to Mondstadt could serve double-duty as a recruitment run.
"And what's your attitude, then?"
La Signora's frown deepened.
If it had been anyone else—even Scaramouche—she wouldn't have felt so uneasy.
But this man…
Arrogant to the extreme.
One who looked down even on the Visions bestowed by the gods.
And he had never once witnessed the wonders of the manga shop.
Why would he ever believe?
She truly worried he might spark conflict.
Not that she feared for Boss Han's safety.
Don't be ridiculous.
Who was Boss Han?
In his eyes, the Doctor would be nothing more than an insect— something to be crushed with a flick of the finger.
No—what worried her was if the Doctor provoked him, and Boss Han developed a poor impression of her, or worse, of the Tsaritsa herself.
If that led to Boss Han refusing to do business with Snezhnaya in the future, the loss to their nation would be catastrophic.
Even worse—if he took it personally…
To be targeted by an existence stronger than the gods themselves— the mere thought sent chills down her spine.
"Since you claim rewards can be obtained from that shop, you must have received some yourself. Show me."
The Doctor's voice was cold.
"There."
La Signora pointed toward the black motorcycle in the hotel lobby, as well as a few ordinary items obtained by her subordinates.
She herself had only visited the shop twice.
The first time, she had received the "Chuunibyou Syndrome."
The second, this motorcycle.
As for her subordinates, aside from the Electro Cicin Mage who had obtained some food, and Dottore's sword, the rest were trivial.
Sure enough—
The moment he saw them, the Doctor sneered.
"Just these? And you dare call them powerful rewards?"
A sword—fine, that was at least a weapon.
But a red dress? What kind of joke was that?
And this so-called black machine… whatever it was, it looked useless.
Trash, all of it.
He raised a spiked instrument in his hand, clearly intent on destroying them.
La Signora quickly stepped forward, her tone sharp.
"Touch that motorcycle and I will not let it stand."
She truly liked that motorcycle— there was no way she would sit by and watch it ruined.
"Hmph."
The Doctor narrowed his eyes at her defiance.
But in the end, he stopped.
Not out of fear.
Simply because, here in Mondstadt, he still had use for her.
No need to sour relations over something so petty.
Seeing him relent, La Signora quietly exhaled in relief.
If she could help it, she never wanted to clash directly with this man.
"If the rewards seem unimpressive, that's only because of poor luck.
The true miracles are ones you have yet to witness.
Boss Han's manga shop is something you could never even imagine."
Her voice was cold and resolute.
"In that case…" the Doctor's lips curled into a smile.
"Why don't you take me there yourself?
I'd like to see with my own eyes what kind of 'rewards' await."
The smile he wore was icy, venomous.
The kind that made one's blood run cold.
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