"The commission? We'll take it."
Lumine accepted without hesitation.
The man had praised the Honorary Knight by name, offered generous pay up front, and spoke with the tone of someone placing sincere trust in her abilities.
How could she refuse?
"Excellent. Here's the advance payment and the commission sheet.
Once you're done, just report to the Adventurers' Guild—we'll pay the remainder then."
He handed her a pouch of mora and a slip of paper, then hurried away.
Rita—Su Mo—watched him leave with a subtle frown.
"You're… not going to check the commission? At least glance at the details?"
Lumine blinked.
"Don't worry, Rita. We've done stuff like this a million times.
We're used to weird commissions by now."
She smiled confidently.
"So," she added, "we'll head out right after we finish eating."
"In that case… May I come along?"
Rita asked with her usual gentle smile.
"I want to see how the two of you complete a commission. That's all."
"Uh…"
Paimon hesitated immediately.
Rita chuckled lightly.
"Relax. I won't steal your reward.
I'll just be watching—from a safe distance."
Paimon froze.
Lumine sighed.
"Alright. Let's go together."
Rita—Su Mo—stood up as well.
The commission request was simple:
Defeat the Cryo Regisvine near the Wolf of the North's temple.
If only that were true.
Underground Cavern
BOOM—
The massive Cryo Regisvine collapsed with a thunderous crash.
"Rita is amazing!!"
Paimon's eyes sparkled.
It took her—two hits.
One to break the Cryo shield.
One to finish the creature entirely.
Lumine stared at the fallen plant, then at Rita… and finally understood the truth behind Rita's earlier offer.
She came… just to help me? Why?
"Clean-up complete."
Rita turned around with a serene smile.
"Rita, um… about the reward—"
"I said I didn't want your mora. It's yours to keep."
Rita waved it off effortlessly.
"Besides… there's still one more thing to handle.
Step back."
Her gaze had already shifted upward toward a shadowed alcove in the cavern ceiling.
Lumine sensed it instantly and gripped her weapon.
A man's laugh echoed down from above.
"Heh… looks like you already figured out our plan, Miss Rita.
But what I really want to know is—
what your goal is."
The owner of the voice stepped into view.
Chestnut hair. Dark uniform.
A wicked grin like a wolf smelling blood.
"Tartaglia. Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers."
He landed lightly before them.
"You've been in Liyue. Now Mondstadt.
What exactly are you doing?"
Paimon yelped.
"Wait—he was hiding up there the whole time?! And he's a Harbinger?!"
Lumine's eyes widened.
A trap.
The "commission" had been a setup from the very beginning.
But why?
"Apologies, Childe."
Rita lowered her stance and raised her scythe.
"But my reports don't go to you."
"Pity."
Childe's smile widened as Hydro surged across his body, forming his Foul Legacy armor.
"But you know… I've wanted to test myself against you for a long time."
He lunged.
"Again with this giant cloak?
You know—lots of boys would cry if they saw you like this."
Rita said calmly, tightening her grip.
"What…?"
But before he could process the insult—
CLANG—
WHOOSH—
THUD—
A flash of cold swept the cavern.
The temperature plummeted.
By the time Lumine blinked—
Childe was already on the ground, armor shattered, wheezing.
"W-What just happened?! Why was it suddenly so cold?!"
Paimon panicked.
"Rita… won."
Lumine confirmed.
Even though she hadn't seen the exchange clearly.
Childe exhaled shakily.
"Hah… R-Rita… you don't give a man any pride, do you…?"
"You attacked first. I'm simply in a hurry."
Rita replied politely.
"Fine… fine.
Looks like the loser's fate is always the same…"
He sighed bitterly.
Rita tapped her scythe against her shoulder.
"Well then—about the rest of the commission payment.
I dislike it when people owe me."
Childe blinked.
"…Payment?"
Rita nodded.
"Since the commission was your organization's doing, surely you'll pay the remainder.
A fair request, no?"
Tartaglia stared at her.
Complex emotions flickered behind his eyes.
"How much?"
Rita smiled gently.
"Childe, how about… one million mora?"
Childe: "…"
He remembered the pain of Liyue's expenses.
…Morax's "consultation fees."
He suddenly felt a phantom pain in his wallet.
But he could only admit defeat.
"…Fine. Consider it tuition, Miss Rita."
"That's better."
Rita nodded.
"But I don't have that much on me right now.
I'll return to Mondstadt—
Oh, right. I forgot to tell you."
He straightened slightly.
"From today forward, I'll temporarily be replacing Signora as Snezhnaya's envoy in Mondstadt.
Meet me at the Goth Grand Hotel tomorrow. I'll have your payment ready.
You… live in Mondstadt now, right?"
"Correct. I'll stop by tomorrow.
Please prepare it on time, Childe."
"I know. Well then—I'll be going."
He limped away.
Rita simply watched him go.
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