"Alright, he's gone now..."
Furina sat cross-legged on her bed, arms folded, looking every bit like an interrogator sizing up a suspect.
"Now, spill it. Why were you ssing with that thing at the Opera House?"
"Well..." Luo Qing hesitated for a mont before answering, "Soone told that it might contain sothing that could counter the prophecy. They asked to check it out."
"Soone? Who?"
"Confidential."
"..."
[ 1 Frustration Value from Furina]
Furina's irritation was palpable. Pointing an accusatory finger at Luo Qing's nose, she fud, "Seriously, Luo Qing?! I didn't even hold it against you for threatening , and I helped cover for you in front of Neuvillette. And now you have the audacity to tell it's 'confidential'?"
"I didn't have much choice..." Luo Qing replied with a sheepish grin. "I hope Lady Furina can understand."
"..."
"But speaking of which..."
Suddenly, Luo Qing leaned forward, closing the distance between them until their noses were re centiters apart.
"Since Lady Furina went out of her way to cover for in front of Neuvillette, does that an you're willing to work with ?"
Despite the undercurrent of coercion in his earlier threat, the truth was that even if Furina hadn't helped him smooth things over, Luo Qing wouldn't have been too worried. With Neuvillette's strength at the pinnacle of Fontaine's hierarchy, he could have simply subdued Luo Qing and buried the secret with him.
But Furina had chosen to help him.
This indicated, on so level, that Furina trusted him—or at least leaned toward him rather than Neuvillette. Luo Qing didn't know why Furina had decided to side with him, but it wasn't a bad thing.
After all... who wouldn't like a cute, clueless girl?
"I..."
Furina startled at Luo Qing's sudden closeness. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she instinctively averted her gaze, refusing to et his eyes.
"W-who said I was going to work with you?!"
"Oh?" Luo Qing's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Then why did Lady Furina help cover for ? With Neuvillette there, you didn't have to worry about my threats, did you?"
"I..." Furina stamred, at a loss for words.
As she racked her brain for an excuse, Luo Qing leaned back slightly and continued, "Let guess. Lady Furina, deep down, you also believe the prophecy might co true. But because your power is too weak to do anything about it, you're anxious—so anxious you can't sleep at night. Am I right?"
"W-who said my power is weak..." Furina's voice grew smaller and smaller, her guilt evident.
"So, in your personal capacity, would you consider cooperating with ?" Luo Qing extended his right hand toward Furina, his tone serious.
"I'll place all my strength at your disposal to counter Fontaine's prophecy. In return, I need your Gnosis..."
"...or you, yourself."
The terms were the sa as before, and Luo Qing saw no issue with them. If he couldn't get the Hydro Archon's Gnosis, bringing the Hydro Archon herself back as collateral would work just as well.
"..."
Furina stared at Luo Qing's outstretched hand, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious.
The usually carefree and frivolous pair now both wore solemn looks.
One stood at the edge of the bed, the other sat atop it, creating the image of a girl in despair being offered a helping hand.
"I..."
Furina, rarely seen with such a thoughtful expression, raised her head to look at Luo Qing's hand, falling into deep contemplation.
If sacrifices had to be made no matter what, then what was the harm in sacrificing a bit more?
If it ant helping Fontaine weather the prophecy...
"You say your strength..." Furina murmured softly. "Do you think it's enough to withstand the prophecy?"
"Maybe," Luo Qing replied with a casual smile. "Trust , Lady Furina. You won't regret the choice you make today."
"..."
Furina fell silent again.
For reasons she couldn't explain, a part of her truly wanted to believe in Luo Qing. His confidence didn't seem like a bluff—it was as if he really had the power to stand against the entire world.
"Fine," Furina said softly, her tone carrying a hint of tsundere stubbornness. "If you fail, don't expect to give you anything."
"Of course."
Luo Qing's smile remained calm, as if it didn't matter to him whether he received the Gnosis... or Furina herself.
"You said it yourself..."
Furina extended her delicate, pale hand and placed it into Luo Qing's larger one. His hand enveloped hers as he gently shook it, then released her grip with a slight cough, adopting a more formal tone.
"Then, the contract is sealed. To break it is to incur the wrath of stone."
"..."
Furina blinked in confusion.
"Isn't that a contract phrase from Liyue?"
"Of course. I'm from Liyue. Nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"..."
Liyue native. Suru envoy. Snezhnaya operative.
How many identities does this guy have?!
"Listen, I've already agreed to work with you..." Furina rose from the bed, an inquisitive expression on her face.
"As your partner, shouldn't you at least be honest with ?"
"Honest?" Luo Qing tilted his head. "You want to strip?"
"..."
[ 1 Frustration Value from Furina]
Furina clenched her fists, suddenly regretting her decision to cooperate with him.
Ugh, he's getting on my nerves again!
"What I an," Furina said through gritted teeth, "is that you should tell what gives you such confidence in defying the prophecy!"
"Are you sure?" Luo Qing leaned closer, smirking. "If I show you, we'll really be in the sa boat."
"Pfft, I'm the Hydro Archon. What's there to fear?"
"Alright then..."
Luo Qing nodded slightly, pointing to his forehead.
"Here. Put the Void Terminal on and press your hand here."
"Uh...?" Furina hesitated.
"You wanted to see my secrets, didn't you?" Luo Qing explained. "Letting you access my mories is the fastest way."
"..."
The Void Terminal can do that?
After a mont of hesitation, Furina slowly extended her hand and touched Luo Qing's forehead.
In an instant, a massive stream of information flooded her mind through the Void Terminal. Images from Luo Qing's mories flashed before her like a series of vivid paintings.
"These are..."
Furina's pupils dilated in shock.
"Now, Lady Furina, are you satisfied?" Luo Qing crossed his arms, exuding confidence.
The mories he shared were snapshots of his past interactions with certain godlike beings—monts that hinted at extraordinary bonds with them.
Of course, he had carefully omitted any particularly "mature" content. Furina wouldn't have been able to handle that.
"T-this..." Furina looked up at Luo Qing, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Luo Qing... is involved with gods?!
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