"We've arrived."
The Wolf King, in its stealth state, hovered above Mondstadt, its cold electronic eyes scanning the exquisite city-state below.
"Wolf King, initiate life sign and energy fluctuation scans. Filter out all original humans, and pull those imposters out one by one, marking them."
Zane calmly gave the order.
"Understood."
The red light in the Wolf King's eyes flared like a searchlight, and an invisible scanning wave instantly covered the entirety of Mondstadt. The city walls, the houses, and even Master Diluc, who was mixing drinks inside Angels Share, all seemed to be brushed by an unseen hand.
"Scan complete. Confirmed: 873 lifeform signals do not match database records, indicating high-energy camouflage reactions. Specific coordinates and disguise target information have been transmitted to everyone's display terminals."
"Got it."
After Zane finished speaking, he and the three others uniformly removed the slightly ridiculous Hilichurl Masks they were wearing, replacing them with full-coverage metallic masks that glowed with a faint blue light and were full of futuristic technology, instantly transforming them from comedic characters into mysterious agents.
Lumine and Paimon in the cockpit also quickly put on the tactical goggles that the Wolf King had improvised (with scrap materials?) on the spot.
Instantly, in everyone's field of vision, dense red markers lit up inside Mondstadt, moving constantly like annoying fireflies in the night sky.
"Good heavens... that number is even greater than the pigeons in the Windblume Festival square..."
Jesse looked at the mass of red dots and felt his trypophobia kicking in.
"Just the few of us—we'd die of exhaustion before we could catch them all."
"We need help."
Zane crossed his arms and analyzed calmly.
"Preferably those skilled in stealth, tracking, and assassination, and with enough personnel."
"Then I have someone in mind!"
Elliot suddenly slapped his thigh, a 'I'm a genius' smile spreading across his face.
"A professional assassination group with top-tier stealth abilities and more than enough numbers!"
"Who is it?"
Matt tilted his enormous head, full of curiosity.
"You'll find out in a moment!"
Elliot kept them guessing and shouted toward the Wolf King: "Wolf King! Find an empty, auspicious spot outside the city! It needs to be spacious!"
"Roger."
The Wolf King immediately changed direction, silently flew away from Mondstadt, and landed on an empty, uninhabited patch of grass.
Everyone jumped off the Wolf King, which then deactivated its stealth, reverting to its three-meter-tall white Werewolf Form.
Elliot walked to the center of the clearing, his expression solemn (so he thought), and then, like sprinkling cumin, he violently thrust his arm forward—
A viscous liquid, flashing with ominous red light, splashed out from his palm, precisely tracing a complex and bizarre magic array on the grass!
"Wait! That gesture... this substance... are you actually going to—!"
Zane, recognizing the ritual, paled and cried out in astonishment.
"That's right! That's exactly what I'm going to do!"
Elliot proudly raised his right hand, revealing three bright red markings that had appeared on the back of his hand—Command Spell!
"Watch closely! This is the key to a miracle!"
"Command Spell! You really are summoning a Servant!"
Jesse also realized what was happening, his voice rising by an octave.
"Bingo!"
Elliot grinned, then took a deep breath, struck a perfectly standard pose, and began chanting in an aria-like voice:
"Thy body shall be placed under my command; my fate shall be entrusted to thy sword!
In response to the summons of the Holy Grail, obey this will and reason, and answer me!
I hereby swear!
I am the one who achieves all good in the world, I am the one who cleanses all evil in the world!
Seven heavens entwined by the Three Great Spells, traverse the Wheel of Restraint, and descend! Guardian of the Scales!!!"
As his final syllable fell, the magic array suddenly erupted in a towering pillar of white light! The powerful energy current whipped everyone's clothes around.
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the center of the light pillar, anticipating the arrival of some peerless Master.
As the light subsided slightly, a reddish-brown creature, biting a carrot, appeared!
"I am the fiercest general of the Three Kingdoms, Lu Bu Fengxian! Master... Hey, hey, hey? What are you doing, Master?! This subordinate hasn't finished speaking!"
"Wrong! Redo! I'm not summoning a Musou-style lawnmower like you!"
Elliot looked disgusted, grabbed the Red Hare's reins without explanation, and forcibly stuffed it back into the light pillar.
The light pillar shone again.
"Hehehe! Which Master summoned yours truly? I, Blackbeard Edward Teach, have come to report... Ow!"
An uncle wearing a captain's hat and looking rather sleazy had just poked his head out when Elliot landed a precise flying kick to his face, sending him tumbling back into the depths of the light with a scream.
"Not you either! Your stealth capability must be negative! Next!"
The light shone for the third time, and this time the aura was especially sinister, ancient, and heavy.
"Fear not, Contractor. The Old Man of the Mountain, having answered the summons, appears here."
A tall, imposing old man wearing a skull mask slowly materialized, his voice deep and full of pressure.
"Grandpa! You've come to the wrong set! I don't need an Assassin with an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm like yours! Wait??? Where's my head?!"
Just as Elliot tried to push King Hassan back, he suddenly found that everything above his neck was missing! And King Hassan was holding his head in his hand!
"Contractor, you were rude."
King Hassan said calmly, then placed the head back onto Elliot's neck.
Elliot fumbled to reattach his head, then quickly ushered this revered elder back: "My apologies, my apologies! Please take your time leaving!"
The light pillar shone for the fourth time, appearing somewhat weak and flickering.
"Um... with our Group of Shadows accompanying you, we are sure to secure victory. Please rest assured, Ma... ster..."
Hassan of the Hundred Faces appeared in the light pillar, speaking with some uncertainty and looking slightly bewildered by the chaotic scene before her.
"No—! You've arrived at the perfect time!!!"
Elliot's eyes burst forth with the light of finding a savior. He shot forward and tightly grasped Hassan of the Hundred Faces' hand.
"It's you! Hassan of the Hundred Faces! My Assassin Dream Team!"
Hassan of the Hundred Faces tilted her head, the expression beneath her mask full of confusion: "Huh??"
Everyone: "..."
Jesse: "Did he just push the old man away?"
Matt: "Looks like it..."
Zane: "I want to hit someone..."