Several days later, late at night...
Having resolved to test Furina's strength once more, Luo Qing wasted no ti preparing.
The key to his plan was ensuring Neuvillette's absence—his sudden interference last ti had thwarted Luo Qing's previous attempt.
After days of observation, Luo Qing had learned Neuvillette's highly consistent routine:
Every morning, he arrived at the Palais rmonia to handle governntal affairs. Unless interrupted, he would take a brief midday break before continuing his work until around 10 p.m., when he would finally leave for the day.
This ant Luo Qing's window of opportunity began at 10 p.m.—his "operation ti."
All he needed to do was sneak into the Palais rmonia before 10 p.m., complete his objective, and leave undetected.
If everything went as planned, he'd uncover the truth about Furina before Neuvillette even realized what was happening.
Tonight marked the execution of that plan.
Dressed in his familiar black hooded cloak and using a simulated mask to disguise himself as an ordinary passerby, Luo Qing left a few subordinates on standby at his residence before setting off toward the Palais rmonia under cover of darkness.
If Furina was truly a weakling, Luo Qing would be perfectly safe. But if she had hidden her powers, his own abilities were more than sufficient to ensure his survival.
And if things went sideways, he could always leave the ss to Arlecchino to clean up while he hid in the shadows, waiting for a better opportunity to resurface.
It was, in Luo Qing's opinion, a flawless plan.
Feeling satisfied with his ticulous preparation, Luo Qing darted across the rooftops of the Léonine District.
A sudden ow from the street below caught his attention.
At first, he ignored it and prepared to continue toward the Palais rmonia, but then a familiar voice rang out:
"Hehe~ Don't run, little cutie~ Let pet you~"
"Hmm?!"
Luo Qing froze mid-step.
Standing on the rooftop, he turned toward the source of the voice.
On the street below, a white-haired girl was chasing a black-and-white cat, utterly engrossed in her pursuit.
"She's out here at this hour..."
The girl below was none other than Furina herself—the very person Luo Qing had planned to investigate tonight.
She seed to have followed the cat all the way to the Léonine District's comrcial street.
"Shouting like that in the middle of the night..."
Luo Qing sighed as he watched the girl, whose actions made her seem more like a carefree teenager than an Archon.
The street was completely deserted, with even the patrol squads far off in another district.
If soone tried to kidnap her, wouldn't it be a guaranteed success?
"Oh, right. She's a god. Who would dare kidnap a god?"
Luo Qing chuckled dryly, donning his simulated mask to adopt the guise of a random man.
"That is... assuming she really is a god."
He was just about to leap down and surprise Furina when a shadow flitted across the corner of his vision.
"That's..."
Luo Qing's brow furrowed.
That silhouette was all too familiar.
"Could it be... she's here too?"
The figure darting through the shadows was none other than his forr subordinate, Arlecchino.
Her distinctive black nightwear—both functional and, well, bold—was unmistakable.
Just as Luo Qing debated whether to act, Arlecchino stepped into the light, appearing directly in front of Furina.
Her sharp, claw-like gloves glead coldly under the moonlight.
"Wh-who are you?!"
Furina's voice quivered as she collapsed onto the ground, her legs curling up in fear. She looked every bit the helpless, terrified girl.
"D-don't co any closer! Please don't kill ! I'm begging you!"
Her pleas echoed through the empty street, but with no one around, her cries went unheard.
Were anyone to see the Hydro Archon cowering and begging for her life, it would undoubtedly dominate the headlines of The Steambird the next day.
But strangely, Arlecchino simply stood there, her dark figure looming over Furina, making no move to strike.
"Why isn't she doing anything?"
Luo Qing frowned.
He had briefly considered letting Arlecchino handle this for him, but her hesitation was puzzling.
"Well... this gives an idea."
A sly grin spread across Luo Qing's face as a new plan ford in his mind.
If Arlecchino played the "villain," he could swoop in as the "hero."
Closing his eyes, he focused his thoughts and sent a ntal command to Arlecchino.
"Listen to —go ahead and scare her properly."
"What the...?"
Arlecchino's brow furrowed as the familiar voice echoed in her mind, overriding her will.
Against her control, her clawed hand moved toward Furina.
"N-no... don't... please don't kill ..."
Furina began to cry, tears streaming down her face.
The claws slashed through the air with a sharp, piercing sound, prompting Furina to instinctively scramble backward.
The attack struck the stone pavent in front of her, scattering debris onto her dress.
"So, she really is powerless."
Luo Qing shook his head, his suspicions confird.
Fear, he mused, was the hardest emotion to fake.
That single attack had revealed everything. Whether or not Furina had hidden powers, at this mont, she was nothing more than a helpless girl—a so-called god in na only.
"Well then, ti for the grand entrance of the heroic Luo Qing."
With a self-satisfied grin, Luo Qing shouted down from above.
"Stop, you scoundrel! How dare you harm Lady Furina?!"
Leaping down, he landed between Furina and Arlecchino, radiating an aura of righteous fury.
"You dare lay a finger on our beloved Hydro Archon?!"
Turning to Furina, he adopted a look of deep concern.
"Lady Furina, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Did I get here too late?!"
"I... I..."
Her face flushed with embarrassnt, Furina avoided his gaze, hiding behind him instinctively.
"So it's you..."
Arlecchino's gaze hardened as she looked at her forr superior.
The mont Luo Qing's ntal command had taken hold, she realized she'd fallen into his trap.
Furina had been the bait, and she the fish on the hook. Luo Qing, of course, was the fisherman.
Whether or not this had been Luo Qing's plan all along, her sudden appearance had undoubtedly played right into his hands.
From her perspective, Luo Qing's strategy to obtain the Hydro Gnosis appeared to hinge on cooperation—winning Furina's favor through peaceful ans.
Now, thanks to her intervention, Luo Qing had swooped in as a savior, earning Furina's gratitude in spades.
"You've grown quite clever over the years..."
Arlecchino smirked faintly, nodding as if to comnd his cleverness.
"Very well. Until next ti."
With that, her figure lted into the shadows, leaving the scene behind.
---
T/N: ...I will never forgive ARLECCHINO!!!!
"..."
- Gardevoir
(End of Chapter—Support the translator at /WiseTL]!)
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