"It seems that your tricks are nothing special," Lucas sneered as he steadily advanced toward the Electro Cicin Mage. "No worries, I can take my ti playing with you."
"Hmph! How dare you look down on !" the Electro Cicin Mage snorted. With a wave of her hand, she commanded, "Go, my children!"
Following her command, a dozen or so Electro Cicins, as if receiving orders, sward toward Lucas.
"Don't kill him, my darlings," the Electro Cicin Mage crossed her arms and said smugly. "I want to have so fun with him!"
Unexpectedly, the Electro Cicins flew right past Lucas, heading behind him. About ten ters away, an eerie-looking tree had sohow already grown without anyone noticing.
The tree's leaves hung down like willow branches, and its shape was quite peculiar. Not only did it emit a purple glow, but the leaves also pulsated rhythmically, resembling the flight of Electro Cicins.
The Electro Cicins released by the mage were instantly drawn to the mimic leaves, flying around them as if performing so sort of mating dance.
"This is a 'Luring Cicada Tree.' Your Mistgrass only attracts male Electro Cicins, but this tree can disguise itself as a female Cicin and release pheromones. Then..." Lucas snapped his fingers, and suddenly, one of the vines from the Luring Cicada Tree extended, wrapping around one of the Electro Cicins.
Despite being captured, the Electro Cicin seed unaware and made no effort to leave.
It appeared that, for these insects, reproduction was more appealing than food.
"No! Stop!"
Seeing her Electro Cicins being devoured by the tree, the Electro Cicin Mage's face imdiately showed deep distress.
She had raised and trained these Electro Cicins with care, like her own children. Seeing them consud, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken.
"How does it feel, watching the Electro Cicins you worked so hard to raise get eaten alive?" Lucas grinned wickedly. "Keep eating!"
As if following his command, the Luring Cicada Tree extended two more vines, instantly engulfing two more Electro Cicins.
"I'll kill you!"
The Electro Cicin Mage, now blinded by rage, seed to lose all sense of reason. She raised her arms, summoning several bolts of lightning that shot toward Lucas. "You've made angry!"
Naturally, Lucas wasn't going to sit idly by. Moving like a specter, he effortlessly dodged the lightning strikes and appeared behind her in an instant.
What made the Electro Cicin Mage dangerous was her ability to control the Cicins in coordinated attacks. But without them, her combat skills were fairly weak.
Before she could react, Lucas grabbed her by the back of the head and slamd her to the ground with great force.
The imnse strength rendered her unable to struggle. It felt like she was being crushed by a mountain rather than a man.
"Now, speak," Lucas said coldly, lifting her head by her hair. "What's the Doctor's goal? Does he know about ?"
"I... I won't say anything!" the Electro Cicin Mage gritted her teeth. "Don't underestimate the resolve of the Fatui!"
"Such principles!" Lucas sneered, forcing her to look at the Luring Cicada Tree. "Then watch closely as your beloved children get eaten one by one."
The tree extended more vines, wrapping around several more Cicins. They struggled briefly before going still.
"No... please, no!"
The Electro Cicin Mage felt as if her heart was being torn apart. These Cicins were more than just battle tools; they were her cherished partners and children.
Watching them get consud, even a mber of the cold-hearted Fatui couldn't help but feel intense pain.
"Still not willing to talk?" Lucas seed to enjoy this form of tornt. "For every minute you refuse, I'll command the tree to eat another one. At this rate, you won't have many left."
"I..." The Electro Cicin Mage hesitated for a mont before finally giving in. "I'll tell you everything I know. Please... stop."
"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Lucas released his grip. "Speak. What do you know?"
"The Doctor's plans are typically highly classified, and as a mid-ranking officer, I lack access to the full details. All I know is that there are so biological experints being conducted on the Hilichurls."
She bit her lip and continued, "Second, because the teams sent to retrieve materials suddenly went missing, the Doctor dispatched several officers to search for clues. I suspect you know sothing, which is why you were being tested."
Upon hearing this, Lucas finally relaxed a little. At least, the Doctor likely hadn't yet learned about his actions.
Though Lucas was strong, facing off against a Fatui Harbinger was still a bit out of his league. Opposing the Doctor would be the sa as declaring war on the entire Fatui—sothing he wanted to avoid.
"That's all I know," the Electro Cicin Mage sighed. "Now, do what you will, but please... spare the children."
She knew all too well that a ruthless man like Lucas wouldn't let her live.
"If I were to kill you, not only would you die..." Lucas said indifferently, "but I would erase all traces of everything connected to you."
"You're... you're heartless!" she spat, glaring at him. "Opposing the Fatui won't end well for you!"
"Haven't you figured it out?" Lucas smiled faintly. "I said 'if.' I'm not going to kill you because... I also work for the Tsaritsa."
"What?" the Electro Cicin Mage was shocked. "How... how is that possible?"
"It's no surprise that you don't know. My identity is highly confidential," Lucas said coolly. "I'm a dual-ranked senior agent, serving both the Tsaritsa and the Liyue Qixing, secretly acting as the Twelfth Harbinger, codenad Villain."
Of course, all this information was fabricated by Lucas.
He had indeed considered killing the Electro Cicin Mage, but even if he did, the Doctor wouldn't let the matter rest. The best course of action now was to place a spy within the Fatui to provide him with intelligence.
"I've never heard of a Twelfth Harbinger," the Electro Cicin Mage scoffed. "Kill if you want, but you won't fool ."
"I only serve the Tsaritsa," Lucas said with a straight face. "My primary mission is to monitor the Harbingers. Recently, the Doctor's actions have been suspicious, which is why the Tsaritsa sent to investigate. I hold information on many of the Harbingers. If you don't believe , feel free to ask."
"If you really are an agent of the Tsaritsa..." the Electro Cicin Mage's eyes glead with suspicion. "Then you should know what Her Majesty looks like, right?"
Though the Tsaritsa was the ruler of a nation, she rarely appeared in public. Only the Harbingers were privy to her true appearance.
However, due to an accident, this Electro Cicin Mage had once seen the Tsaritsa's true face, which is why she asked the question.
"Of course, I've seen her," Lucas responded casually. "Her Majesty has the appearance of a girl around twelve or thirteen years old, with silver hair and snow-white skin. She's incredibly adorable."
"How could this be..."
The Electro Cicin Mage was utterly shocked. The man before her had actually answered correctly.
Honestly, it was undoubtedly a trick question. After all, in the minds of most people, the Tsaritsa's image was surely tall, elegant, regal, and coldly beautiful.
So who had seen the Harbinger, La Signora, would even subconsciously associate the Tsaritsa's appearance with hers.
Who would have imagined that the real Tsaritsa would have the form of a young girl?
"Judging by that expression, it seems you know I got it right," Lucas said with a smile. "I didn't expect a mid-ranking officer like you to have had the fortune of seeing Her Majesty's true form."
"That... that might have just been a lucky guess," the Electro Cicin Mage retorted. "Then... do you know the true na of the Harbinger Tartaglia?"
"Ajax," Lucas replied without hesitation. "That shouldn't be considered a secret, right?"
In the simulator, the "Doctor" was truly a veteran of the Fatui, thoroughly familiar with many of its secrets.
Forget these simple questions—Lucas even knew what ti the Tsaritsa took her bath and what positions La Signora preferred.
The Electro Cicin Mage proceeded to ask several more questions, all of which Lucas answered fluently, seeming to know even more than she did.
[The effect of The Liar's Bane has activated; the target believes your lie.]
"You really are a special agent of Her Majesty?" The Electro Cicin Mage was finally starting to waver, muttering, "Then why haven't you killed ? If I remain alive, won't your identity be exposed?"
"I told you, I'm investigating the Doctor's activities and need an undercover agent," Lucas reached into the back of the Electro Cicin Mage's collar, smiling. "And I think you might be the perfect candidate."
The sudden gesture sent a shiver through the Electro Cicin Mage's entire body.
After all, the implication behind the action was far too obvious.
Especially since his hand was moving up and down her spine, as if playing so kind of instrunt.
"You..." the Electro Cicin Mage's voice dropped slightly. "What are you trying to do to ?"
"Of course..." Lucas whispered into her ear, "I'm about to do sothing bad."
What to do?
What can I do?
I can't beat him in a fight, and there's no point in running...
Might as well surrender.
Besides, this guy is pretty handso, and he's an important subordinate of Her Majesty. Submitting to him might not be such a bad thing.
However, just as the Electro Cicin Mage's thoughts began to wander, Lucas withdrew his hand from her collar.
"All done."
Wait, it's already over?
The Electro Cicin Mage turned her head, her face slightly flushed. "What... what did you do?"
"I planted a 'Horsehair Worm Flower' seed in your body," Lucas said with a sinister grin. "If you ever intend to reveal my identity, I'll activate it imdiately. The Horsehair Worm Flower will rapidly grow inside your intestines, slowly tornting you, and eventually... boom, your stomach will swell and burst, sprouting a flower!"
The Electro Cicin Mage broke into a cold sweat, especially after Lucas made the "boom" sound, which startled her into crying out.
Given his control over the dendro elent, it wouldn't be hard for him to do such a thing.
"So, are you willing to be my spy? I promise, your future within the Fatui will be bright." Lucas clapped his hands. "If you refuse, you might just split open right now."
Split open, not leave.
"I... I'm willing!" the Electro Cicin Mage nodded, saying, "After all, I'm already serving Her Majesty."
Though the statent was true, it sounded more like self-consolation at this mont.
"Stand up," Lucas's icy deanor shifted to a warm smile as he extended a hand toward the Electro Cicin Mage. "From now on, we're allies."
The Electro Cicin Mage hesitated for a mont but eventually took his hand. It was warm, yet a bit rough.
Strangely, the gentle smile on his face didn't seem fake at all. It was hard to believe that this was the sa evil man from monts before.
The codena "Villain" truly suited him well.
"Oh, by the way," Lucas suddenly rembered sothing, "what's your na? You Electro Cicin Mages all look pretty similar; I don't want to mistake you for soone else."
The Electro Cicin Mage removed her hood and mask, revealing her true face, and softly said, "My na is... Lyudmila."
Upon seeing Lyudmila's face, Lucas couldn't help but cover his mouth and chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Lyudmila blushed. "My mother gave this na!"
"It's not your na, it's your appearance," Lucas said, finally stopping his laughter. "I thought you'd look more mature, but you're just a little girl."
"You!"
Lyudmila's face turned bright red with anger as she quickly pulled her hood back up. "I... I need to go. If I'm late in reporting, the Doctor might get suspicious."
"Wait, you forgot sothing."
With a wave of Lucas's hand, the leaves of the Luring Cicada Tree instantly withered, and to Lyudmila's surprise, the Electro Cicins that had been wrapped in the vines were completely unhard, flying back to her side.
"They're all safe!" Lyudmila smiled with relief, but quickly beca puzzled. "Why... why did you do this?"
"You're my person now, and your Electro Cicins are part of my power," Lucas said with a smile. "Hurry and go. And rember, if a third person finds out about today... you know the consequences."
Lyudmila felt a chill down her spine. To say such chilling words with such a warm smile—this man was truly a senior double agent of the Tsaritsa and the Liyue Qixing!
...
"Mmm..."
It wasn't clear how much ti had passed before Fischl slowly woke up. She quickly sat up, startled. "An enemy attack! There's... huh?"
Everything around her seed normal. The chirping of insects and the moonlight were as if nothing had happened at all.
"You're awake?" Lucas, sitting beside her, smiled. "What's the matter? Did you have a bad dream?"
"Strange..." Fischl furrowed her brows. "I could've sworn I saw a Fatui invader."
"That must've been a dream," Lucas said with a straight face. "Nothing happened while you were asleep."
"Was it really just a dream?"
As Fischl remained puzzled, a dark shadow suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed on her shoulder—it was her familiar, Oz.
"Oz, you've returned," Fischl resud her usual dramatic manner and asked, "Oh, my eyes and ears, did you spot any enemies nearby?"
Lucas frowned slightly. He had completely forgotten about Fischl's ever-present familiar. If Oz had been patrolling the area, there was a chance he had witnessed everything that happened between him and Lyudmila.
---
Author's Note: The Bullshit-no-jutsu is strong with this one....
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