Chapter 3

"Boom—"

Bai Luo, who had been lying in bed reviewing the plot of Inazuma, was startled by the sudden vibration.

The rumbling sound seemed to indicate that they were under attack?

But in the world of Teyvat, who would dare attack a ship bearing the Fatui insignia?

"Instructor, we're under attack by pirates! Lady Mirror Maiden has temporarily blocked the cannonballs with her water mirror. Should we counterattack?"

A Fatui member with a small braid knocked on Bai Luo's door, anxiously asking for instructions.

The Fatui were used to dominating the continent, so they had never encountered anyone daring to confront them head-on. For a moment, they were at a loss.

"Counterattack!"

Grabbing the white mask hanging at his waist, Bai Luo placed it over his face and stepped out of the cabin. He then looked toward the massive dragon-headed ship, several times larger than their own.

"The Alcor? Beidou?"

Seeing the ship, Bai Luo immediately recognized its identity.

In the game, he had spent plenty of time messing around on that ship.

He had been wondering who would have the guts to attack him, but if it was Beidou, Bai Luo wasn't surprised at all.

This was exactly the kind of thing she would do.

Watching the woman wielding the Blackcliff Slasher leap high into the air, Bai Luo flicked his wrist and threw the dagger in his hand.

Skill: Hei

Throw a dagger in the target direction, dealing piercing normal attack damage to all targets it hits. The dagger can penetrate multiple units (this skill is considered a projectile and can be blocked by special abilities) and can crit.

The first three targets hit increase the user's crit rate by 10% until a crit is triggered. This effect lasts for 8 seconds and can stack up to 5 times.

"Huh?"

Beidou, seeing that the Fatui ship was protected by some kind of elemental skill, leaped toward it with her Blackcliff Slasher in hand.

She planned to use her elemental power to break through the water mirror and sink the Fatui ship.

Once that was done, she could fish out a few lackeys and perhaps extract some information.

But she noticed that a man in a trench coat and a white mask had appeared on the deck.

His mask was different from those worn by other Fatui members.

The white mask, which covered his entire face, had a faint purple lightning-like symbol on it.

The symbol was positioned over his right eye and seemed to emit a faint glow.

Below the eye was a red streak that stretched almost across the entire mask.

The ends of the streak curved upward slightly, resembling a mocking smile.

This "smile" gave off an ominous feeling, as if it wasn't painted with pigment but with human blood.

When Beidou saw him, she immediately focused part of her attention on him.

Naturally, she also noticed the motion of his hand.

When she sensed the dagger piercing through the water mirror and flying toward her, she reacted immediately.

"Clang—"

The dagger collided with the Blackcliff Slasher, sending sparks and electric light flying.

Beidou herself was forced back, landing on the deck of the Alcor.

"Splash—"

When she landed, the entire ship sank slightly, causing ripples to spread across the previously calm sea.

"Such force!"

Watching the dagger spin in midair before returning to its owner's hand, Beidou's eyes were filled with shock.

She slowly opened her right hand, where blood was already seeping from the base of her thumb.

Faint electric sparks danced in her palm.

Although her Vision was Electro, these sparks weren't from her.

She had been forced back entirely because the electricity had paralyzed her, leaving her unable to move.

Just a casual strike had such power.

Who exactly was this Fatui member?

"Hey, you in charge! Care to talk?"

Beidou hoisted the Blackcliff Slasher onto her shoulder and stepped onto the edge of the ship, attempting to initiate a conversation.

If the entire Crux Fleet were here, she wouldn't mind taking down this big fish.

But with only the Alcor present and none of her top fighters around, she didn't dare provoke a full-on battle.

"Why did you attack us?"

The masked Fatui member put away his dagger and responded.

"Sorry, sorry! At first, I didn't realize you were friends from Snezhnaya. I thought you were ronin from Inazuma. Let me make it up to you."

Beidou laughed heartily and gave a meaningful glance to someone beside her.

That person was quick-witted and immediately brought over a barrel of fine wine.

Beidou lifted the barrel with one hand and tossed it toward the Fatui ship.

The woman dressed as a Mirror Maiden waved her hand, and a wave rose from the sea, gently carrying the barrel to the masked man's side.

"Fine Dandelion Wine from Mondstadt. Consider it compensation."

Mondstadt's wine and Liyue's cuisine were famous specialties across Teyvat.

Especially Mondstadt's Dandelion Wine, which was a valuable commodity in many places.

On the high seas, a barrel of Dandelion Wine could settle grudges.

"Do you think offending the Fatui can be resolved with just a barrel of Dandelion Wine?"

The masked man stepped onto the barrel, his tone calm.

With his face covered by the mask, it was impossible to guess his thoughts.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Mirror Maiden beside him changed her hand gesture, and the mirror-like surface enveloping the ship began to shift.

Glittering icicles, reflecting the sunlight, now aimed directly at the Alcor.

"Our Crux Fleet has a good relationship with your Eleventh Harbinger, Childe. For his sake, let's let this matter go, shall we?"

Beidou said this, but she was already signaling her crew behind her back.

If things took a turn for the worse, she would strike first.

Her attempt to negotiate was mostly to gather information and bring it back.

But if the other side wanted to cause trouble, she wouldn't back down.

As the leader of the Crux Fleet, she wasn't just strong—she was also cunning.

"Childe..."

Seeing the masked man's tone shift slightly at the mention of Childe, Beidou breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as Childe's name could keep him in check, that was enough.

Even though she wasn't actually familiar with Childe, that didn't stop her from using his name to bluff.

"Do you know who I am?"

The oddly shaped dagger flipped deftly in the man's hand, and his tone carried a hint of amusement.

"Do you recognize him?"

Beidou glanced at the man again and turned to ask her crew.

Although they spent most of their time at sea, they weren't completely cut off from news.

For example, they were well aware that the Eleventh Harbinger, Childe, had recently arrived in Liyue.

But this masked man... they truly had no idea who he was.

"I am the Instructor, the Twelfth Harbinger of the Fatui."

"..."

Hearing his title, Beidou was momentarily speechless.

At first, she thought she had caught a small fish. Then, it turned out to be a big one.

Now, it seemed... she had hooked a shark.

The Fatui Harbingers represented the pinnacle of the Fatui's combat strength.

No wonder a casual strike from him had such terrifying power.

It seemed escaping this situation wouldn't be easy...