"I..."
Under Citlali's overwhelming aura, Ororon was momentarily speechless.
Citlali, however, wasn't about to let him off easily just because of his current state. She stood up, her height significantly shorter than Ororon's, yet her aura dwarfed his by an immeasurable degree.
Bang!
Citlali's fist slammed into Ororon's stomach. Doubled over in pain, he immediately crouched down.
Towering over him, Citlali pointed a finger at Ororon. "You insolent brat! How dare you conspire with the Fatui behind our backs?"
She had been waiting here for a long time. When Ororon arrived with Angie and the others, she overheard their conversation. At first, she suspected Ororon was being threatened, but after listening to their exchange, she realized the truth:
This kid was actually colluding with the Fatui!
Ororon: "..."
Citlali: "There you go again, going silent the moment you're scolded. Do you think that'll help you escape?"
Ororon: "I'm not trying to escape."
Citlali: "Still talking back, huh? Then what exactly are you doing right now?"
Ororon averted his gaze. "I... I feel guilty. I'm sorry, Grandma."
"You!"
Citlali scoffed in anger, her eyes darting around for a stick.
"Ahem..."
At the cave entrance, Angie, Ailina, and Vanyeliya drew back the curtain and stepped inside. Now that Citlali knew of their presence, hiding was pointless.
Angie's cough drew the attention of both Ororon and Citlali.
Seeing the trio, Citlali's expression turned even colder. She crossed her arms and tilted her chin slightly. "Fatui, parading before me so brazenly? Do you think I've lost my fighting spirit?"
Ororon could no longer remain silent. He hurried to stand between them. "Grandma, I can explain."
Seeing Ororon's distress, Angie sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Ororon, let me handle this."
Angie had never intended to hide their presence. Telling Lumine was as good as informing Natlan's people, and they would find out sooner or later anyway.
"The Fatui are not Natlan's enemies."
As soon as Angie spoke, Citlali immediately retorted, "Not enemies? Your 'Captain' fought the Pyro Archon in the Arena! Now you're telling me you're not enemies?"
Angie: "..."
"I can explain the full story to you. Then you can judge for yourself."
Angie's eyes darted around the room, but there wasn't a decent chair to be found. The only slightly better one was behind Citlali. Noticing Angie's gaze, Citlali immediately sat down and crossed her legs with a flourish.
"Milady, here."
Ailina's voice came from behind. Angie turned to see Ailina placing a chair behind her. Their eyes met, and Ailina offered Angie a warm smile before glancing sideways at Vanyeliya.
Vanyeliya: "..."
Angie sat down, crossing her legs in imitation of Citlali.
"You should be well aware of Natlan's current situation. To defeat the Abyss and save Natlan, you still need to wait for the final two Heroes to emerge."
Citlali was somewhat surprised that the Fatui knew so much, but she didn't interrupt Angie, listening quietly as she continued.
"The Fatui and the Captain have been closely monitoring the Plan's progress. Frankly, the Pyro Archon's chosen method carries immense risk. Whether Heroes will truly emerge and whether their power will be sufficient to defeat the Abyss—we remain skeptical."
"If anything goes wrong... Natlan, and perhaps all of Teyvat, will perish."
"Do you believe she truly had no other options? Or does she possess a hidden emergency plan, one she's never revealed because the cost is too great?"
Citlali: "An emergency plan?"
Angie: "A method to ensure Natlan's survival even if the current Plan fails."
Citlali: "Since you yourself admit the cost is too great, isn't the Pyro Archon's current method the most suitable choice?"
Angie shook her head. "The Pyro Archon's hesitation likely stems from doubt, fear, or perhaps even naivety. But Natlan no longer has time for her to awaken."
"Our greatest fear is that the overwhelming responsibility will prevent her from confronting the harsh reality, causing her to miss the crucial moment to activate the contingency plan. If that happens, Natlan will be utterly destroyed!"
"We must act for her—now!"
Citlali: "Do you think a few biased words will make me believe you? Even if what you say is true, I'll trust Mavuika. I know her—she's not the hesitant, fearful, naive... God you describe. Under her guidance, Natlan will surely defeat the Abyss."
Angie sighed, scratching her head in frustration. She'd miscalculated. Natlan's forces were clearly aligned with the Pyro Archon. This decision should have been left to Lumine, the neutral party.
Angie: "If you don't believe me, ask the Pyro Archon herself. Our goal, like yours, is to save Natlan. If we can defeat the Abyss without resorting to the backup plan, all the better. But according to The Captain's observations, the chances of that are slim."
Citlali's gaze was sharp as a knife, piercing through Angie's words as if searching for the truth behind them.
The air in the cave seemed to freeze. Vanyeliya crossed her arms, her fingers unconsciously tightening. Even Ailina beside her held her breath slightly.
"The cost?"
Citlali's voice was low and clear: "You Fatui, what is this so-called 'backup plan' of The Captain's? What price will it demand?"
Angie took a deep breath, her expression turning grave, tinged with a subtle weight.
"Restructuring the Ley Lines."
Angie slowly uttered the phrase, noticing a flicker of confusion in Citlali's eyes before she elaborated, "Or, perhaps... remaking the Ley Lines."
"What does that mean?" Citlali pressed, her intuition telling her this was far more than just the literal meaning.
"It means..." Angie's voice was soft, yet it struck Citlali's heart like a hammer blow:
"Once The Captain's Plan is activated, it will forcibly guide and 'ignite' all the dormant power deep within Natlan's Land, including the portions... the Pyro Archon herself might have deemed too costly to ever use."
"Explain yourself clearly!" Citlali's tone carried an imperious edge.
Undaunted, Angie continued:
"The Plan will use Natlan's long history, all its memories, its unique cultural heritage... every foundational element that defines the very concept of 'Natlan' as fuel for a grand conflagration."
"The result might temporarily repel, even severely cripple the Abyss, buying our civilization a sliver of hope..."
She paused, her voice dropping to a somber tone. "But afterward, Natlan would likely no longer be the Natlan we know."
"It could survive, but it would become a 'blank slate,' devoid of its past vitality and stories. Those who survive might lose all connection to their ancestors and traditions."
"This is the Captain's ultimate, most extreme 'insurance policy.'"
The cave fell into absolute silence. Citlali gently furrowed her brow. This price was indeed heavier than anyone could have imagined, almost fighting one form of destruction with another.