The colossal curtain of light in the sky slowly faded, leaving only faint runes flickering at its edges—proof that it wasn't an illusion, but a Damocles' sword hanging over all of Teyvat.
But Orien had no time to admire the "masterpiece." His entire focus was drowned in the crackling chain of system prompts exploding in his head like New Year firecrackers.
[Breakdown Value +25 from Abbas, Scholar of the Sumeru Akademiya!]
[Breakdown Value +8 from an Inazuman Shogunate soldier!]
[Breakdown Value +3 from Wang the Sailor of Liyue!]
[Breakdown Value +12 from a Fatui Skirmisher in Snezhnaya! (Note: generated by suspicion and unease from unknown phenomenon)]
[Breakdown Value +15 from Jack, a Mondstadt resident!]
[Breakdown Value +9 from a Knights of Favonius logistics officer!]
…
The numbers rolled madly, before slowly halting at a figure that made Orien's heartbeat pound like a drum.
[First broadcast segment ended. Total Breakdown Value gained: 7218!]
"Seven thousand two hundred and eighteen!" Orien gulped hard, nearly jumping in place from excitement.
It was more than he expected. Clearly, the final revelations—"the starry sky is a lie" and "tearing away the chuunibyou shell"—had dealt a phenomenon-level blow. Especially to scholars who studied the heavens, and to everyone who knew Mona or Fischl, the impact had been massive.
"I'm rich! This time I'm really rich!" He rubbed his hands, eyes shining. "System, open the shop! I want to see what treasures I can buy!"
A new screen unfolded—dense with categories: Skills, Equipment, Items, Elemental Power, Templates, Specials… an overwhelming list that dazzled his eyes.
He dove into the Skills tab.
[Elemental Skill: Starfell Sword (Geo) (Beginner) – 1500 Breakdown Value]
(Note: Summons a temporary geo construct. Can be climbed, can smash enemies.)
[Elemental Skill: Gust Surge (Anemo) (Beginner) – 1800 Breakdown Value]
(Note: Fires a forward whirlwind, pulling enemies along.)
[Sword Arts: Basic Mastery of the Guhua Style – 800 Breakdown Value]
[Archery: Basic Mastery of the Favonius Technique – 800 Breakdown Value]
[Stealth: Night Raven's Disguise (Mastery) – 1000 Breakdown Value]
…
Plenty of good things, but the prices were steep. Even the most basic Elemental Skill cost at least 1500.
He flipped to the Lottery tab.
A gigantic roulette appeared, divided into shimmering sections:
Mythic (Gold): Almost invisible slivers. Prizes like [Fragment of Sustainer of Heavenly Principles Authority] and [Trace of Phanes' Breath]. Orien drooled—but the odds were nonexistent.
Legendary (Red): Tiny sections. Prizes like [Random Archon Authority] or [Exclusive Five-Star Weapon].
Epic (Purple): Moderate sections. Prizes like [Four-Star Weapon], [Powerful Skill Scroll], [Empty Vision Shell (requires self-channeling of element)].
Rare (Blue): Larger areas. [Three-Star Weapons], [Useful Items], [Pouches of Mora].
Common (White): The biggest area. [Teyvat Fried Egg], [Sweet Flower], [Damaged Mask]…
One draw cost 1000 Breakdown Value.
"Gamblers lose everything… but sometimes, gamblers win it all." Orien stared at the golden and red slivers, itch growing unbearable. He had over seven thousand points—enough for seven pulls. What if?
"System, one Black-Iron Draw! Test the waters!"
[1000 Breakdown Value consumed. One Black-Iron Draw in progress…]
The wheel spun wildly. The pointer slowed… wobbling… before landing smack in the giant white section.
Orien's mouth twitched.
[Ding! Congratulations! Reward: Delicious Teyvat Fried Egg ×3!]
(Note: Restores a small amount of health. A fine product of the system… but still just an egg.)
Orien: "…"
What the hell?! A thousand points for three eggs?! This system was robbing him blind!
"No, I must have done it wrong!" He clenched his teeth. "Again!"
[1000 Breakdown Value consumed. One Black-Iron Draw in progress…]
The wheel spun. The pointer slid past white, past blue—then clicked to a blue segment.
"Oh? A hit?" Orien perked up.
[Ding! Congratulations! Reward: "Persuasion by Reason" (Three-Star Weapon)!]
(Note: A fearsome iron club of hardened steel. The best reason lies in brute force. Attack +.)
A heavy, spiked iron club appeared in his hands.
…
Orien went silent.
Yes, persuasive—but swinging this monstrosity, anyone would immediately think he was insane. Totally not the shadowy manipulator aesthetic he was aiming for.
"System, what's wrong with this prize pool? These things are ridiculous!"
[Reply: Prize pool probabilities are perfectly fair. Host's luck is also part of strength.]
"I believe you like I believe the Abyss Order's sermons!" he cursed. Yet, staring at the 5218 points left, his gambler's itch flared again. "Fine! Triple pull! Let's see who's boss!"
[3000 Breakdown Value consumed. Three Black-Iron Draws in progress…]
First pull, white glow.
[Damaged Mask ×1 (White).]
Second pull, blue glow.
[Adventurer's Golden Goblet (Three-Star). HP+. Once used by an adventurer, its liquid long dried.]
Orien's heart sank.
Then, the third pull—
The pointer wobbled, pushed past white and blue, and slammed into purple!
Dazzling violet light nearly blinded him!
"Epic drop! Finally!" He almost shouted aloud.
[Ding! Congratulations! Reward: Skill – "Mirror Flower, Water Moon (Beginner)" (Epic)!]
[Mirror Flower, Water Moon (Beginner): Manipulates surrounding light and elemental residue to create a near-perfect illusory clone. Clone has no attack power but persists for a set time and can perform basic actions. Duration and precision increase with skill level. Cooldown: Long.]
An illusion clone!
Orien's eyes lit up instantly.
Perfect! For confusing enemies, scouting, or slipping away at the last second. Absolutely priceless. Tailor-made for his schemer's style!
Though beginner-level and long cooldown, its strategic value was off the charts.
"Worth it! Those three thousand points were worth it!" He grinned from ear to ear, his fried-egg-and-club frustration evaporated.
With 2218 points left, he resisted the urge to keep pulling. A gambler had to quit while ahead. He scanned the shop for something practical.
Soon, he found it:
[Elemental Skill: Shadowstep (Electro) (Beginner) – 2000 Breakdown Value.]
(Note: Instantly dash a short distance in a chosen direction, leaving behind a fleeting Electro afterimage. Useful for dodging or quick approach.)
An Electro mobility skill! A lifesaver, a gap closer, and stylish to boot—perfect with his new illusion clone. Survival maxed out!
"Exchange it!"
[2000 Breakdown Value consumed. Acquired "Elemental Skill: Shadowstep (Electro) (Beginner)".]
A surge of alien energy flooded his body. Muscle memory and instinct for short-range teleportation seared into him. Though his body lacked true Electro affinity, the system fueled it directly, albeit weaker.
Now, he felt lighter, like one thought could launch him forward.
"Yes! Now I've got mobility and illusions!" Orien's confidence soared.
He spent the last 218 points on food, water, and a detailed map of Teyvat.
Done, he exhaled deeply, finally feeling secure. The iron club and goblet went into system storage, only basic supplies and three eggs left in his pack as cover.
"Time to move." He glanced at the crowded Mondstadt gate. More guards, stricter checks—walking in now was asking to be arrested.
Lowering his hood, he turned toward Springvale. Better to slip away, digest his gains, and plan the next broadcast.
But before he'd taken more than a few steps, a cool, slightly lazy female voice rang behind him:
"You there, adventurer. Please wait."
Orien froze. That voice… it sounded familiar.
Turning slowly, he saw her: a tall knight with ice-blue hair flowing behind her, Favonius uniform draped loosely over her shoulders, arms crossed. Her figure was striking, but sharper still were her crystalline eyes, fixed on him with a piercing gaze.
Oh hell. Eula Lawrence!
Why was she here? And watching him?
His heart skipped. But his face twisted into anxious confusion—the perfect image of a poor adventurer halted by the Knights.
"M-me, Lady Knight? You mean me?" His voice quavered with well-practiced innocence. At once, his passive skill "Silver Tongue" stirred subtly, lending him sincerity.
Eula's boots clicked as she closed the distance, eyes flicking over his shabby gear and empty pack.
"That's right. By the look of you, new to Mondstadt?" Her tone was unreadable.
"Y-yes, my lady. Just came to try my luck… find some work." He bowed his head, humble.
"From outside the city?" she asked casually. "Did you see… anything unusual? For instance, the phenomenon in the sky?"
There it was—the curtain.
Orien's mind raced, but his face showed only fear and awe. "Y-yes! I saw it! Terrifying! The sky went dark, then a huge curtain appeared—with Mona and Fischl on it! And it said something about stars being lies! Lady Knight… what was that? Monsters? Abyss Order?"
He put his acting to work, embodying the panic of a clueless adventurer facing the unknown.
Eula studied him, eyes narrowing as if to pierce his facade. But with his skill smoothing edges, no cracks showed.
"The Knights are investigating," she said flatly. "Mondstadt's outskirts are dangerous—hilichurl activity abnormal, now this strange event. Alone, you're in danger."
Then her tone shifted, pride from her Lawrence bloodline bleeding through: "By law, I have the right to question and register suspicious outsiders. State your name, origin, and purpose."
Orien cursed inwardly. Registration? That would leave a trail!
His brain spun, weighing fight, flight, or bluff. Shadowstep might not beat Eula's greatsword.
But then—Eula tilted her chin, adding almost casually:
"Of course, if you cooperate and provide valuable leads, I—Eula Lawrence—might consider waiving registration."
Her lips curved in the faintest, meaningful smile.
"And for this… I'll remember the grudge."
Orien: "???"
Wait—what? She was holding a grudge already? For what?! He hadn't even done anything! Or… was this just her infamous catchphrase?
He blinked, stunned. Was she excusing herself for questioning him? Or was it just typical Lawrence pride?
Either way—it was a chance.
He plastered on gratitude. "Thank you, Lady Knight! I'll cooperate fully! My name's Orien, from… a small village far away. Just a normal adventurer, honest! As for strange happenings…"
He pretended to strain in thought, then slapped his head. "Oh! In the forest earlier, I think I saw someone shady in white robes! Vanished in a blink! I didn't think much of it, but now… maybe it's related?"
He spun the story on the spot, dumping the blame on Fatui Skirmishers. Their reputation in Mondstadt was trash—perfect scapegoats.
"White robes?" Eula's brow furrowed. "Fatui?"
She pondered, seeming to find the tip useful. Her gaze lingered on him, sharp as ice blades, before she nodded.
"Very well. I'll take this intelligence." Eula turned slightly. "You may leave. But remember—cause trouble near Mondstadt, and…"
She didn't finish, but the threat was clear.
"Y-yes, of course! Thank you, Lady Knight!" Orien bowed repeatedly, backing away before hurrying off.
Only after he was far out of her sight did he exhale hard, sweat trickling down his back.
"Damn… terrifying… So that's the pressure of a Favonius Knight? Eula's eyes were like blades…"
He glanced back at Mondstadt uneasily.
"I can't return there yet. Eula seemed convinced, but if she thinks it over later, she might get suspicious again…"
"I need to disappear. Lay low. And prepare the next broadcast—once it airs, the whole world will be distracted. Nobody will care about one little adventurer."
A grin, sharp and mischievous, spread across his face—the grin of a born troublemaker.
He checked his bearings, slipped off the road, and vanished into Whispering Forest.
The storm had just begun. And its maker was already at the eye, quietly… adding more fuel.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]