Villain Simulator, Ch 272

Inside a stall in the restroom of the Ice Palace.

It had to be said—Snezhnaya was indeed wealthy. The Tsaritsa's palace was not only magnificently opulent on the outside, but even the restroom interiors exuded a luxurious and high-class vibe.

While it hadn't reached the point where the toilets were encrusted with gold and silver, the soft red swan-down cushion on the toilet seat probably cost tens of thousands of Mora.

Fortunately, the cushion was soft and springy; otherwise, it might have been quite uncomfortable for Signora's knees.

With a faint pop, champagne sprayed out. Lucas sipped the victory wine, savoring the crisp and refreshing "taste" that was uniquely Signora.

"Aren't you… going to leave already?" Signora turned her head slightly, her cheeks tinged with a rosy hue. "This is the women's restroom. If anyone discovers the dignified Tian Kui here, it will be… beyond embarrassing!"

"I already said, as long as we don't get caught, it's fine," Lucas replied nonchalantly, ignoring her protests. "Still, there really aren't many guards in this palace."

"That's because most of the forces were deployed for the war," Signora explained. "Plus, the Tsaritsa's personal guards are exclusively female warriors of great strength. No males are allowed to serve as her guards, so their numbers are naturally limited."

That made sense. Regardless of how strong these guards were, the Tsaritsa was a god after all. Her personal guards were likely more ceremonial than practical.

"Alright, that's enough for now," Lucas said, licking the fragrant wine off his fingertips. "Let's not keep the Tsaritsa waiting too long."

Just as the two were about to open the stall door, the sound of footsteps suddenly echoed outside.

The steps were heavy, suggesting the sound of iron boots clinking against the floor. Lucas and Signora froze, halting their movements immediately.

"Shh…" Signora whispered, her voice barely audible. "It's probably one of the palace guards. Let's wait for her to leave."

Lucas nodded. While he'd been carefree and bold earlier, being caught in a situation like this would undoubtedly cause trouble.

They thought the guard would handle her business and leave quickly. However, before long, a calm, steady female voice came from outside the stall:

"There are only two guards assigned to this floor today. The other is stationed outside. Whoever's in there… reveal yourself."

As expected of one of the Tsaritsa's personal guards—vigilant and sharp.

This was, without a doubt, an oversight on Lucas's part.

After all, this wasn't some public restroom in a department store—it was the restroom of the Ice Palace. Unless it was another guard, there really shouldn't have been anyone else here.

In hindsight, they probably should've snuck into the men's restroom instead.

"Not coming out?" The voice outside grew sharper, tinged with suspicion. Moments later, the sound of a blade being unsheathed rang out. "Don't blame me for being rough, then."

Seeing that the guard outside was about to break down the stall door, Signora could no longer hold herself back. She stepped forward and opened the door first.

Standing outside was a female knight clad in armor, her short hair giving her a clean and refined appearance. Her features were delicate and attractive, though currently her face was etched with a wary expression.

However, upon seeing Signora, the knight's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly bowed deeply and said, "So it's you, Lady Signora. Please forgive my intrusion!"

"There's no need to apologize—ignorance is not a crime," Signora said coldly. "Tonia, go about your business."

With her tall stature and the spacious restroom stall, Signora stood strategically in the doorway, fully blocking Lucas from view. From outside, there was no way Tonia could see what was happening inside.

"Yes, ma'am!" The guard named Tonia nodded hurriedly, keeping her head bowed as she retreated out of the restroom.

After Tonia left, Lucas finally stepped out of the stall, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I didn't expect… that she's Tonia."

"Yes, Childe's sister. A good girl," Signora replied with a faint look of regret on her face. "Ever since she learned of her brother's death, she's been honing her skills relentlessly and eventually became one of the Tsaritsa's royal guards."

When Lucas had killed Childe, he had used the man's family to cut deep into his heart as he died. However, Lucas had never actually harmed Childe's family.

His aim was simple: to ensure that Childe died with despair in his heart.

But just as Lucas and Signora were preparing to leave, the sound of footsteps returned. Tonia had come back.

"Sorry, I almost forgot—I came here to use the restroom myself… huh?"

Tonia froze, her expression instantly shifting to confusion. Her eyes locked onto the figure of Lucas, the man who had somehow appeared out of nowhere in the women's restroom.

And this man—this face—was one she could never forget.

"It's you!"

Tonia's expression transformed into one of unbridled rage. Without hesitation, she drew the sword from her waist and lunged at Lucas with ferocity. "Die!"

There was no denying it: as one of the Tsaritsa's personal guards, Tonia's skills were indeed formidable.

But unfortunately for her, her opponent was Lucas.

Or more specifically, the Tian Kui—a man who now stood as the supreme leader of Liyue Harbor and now Snezhnaya.

Thanks to the effects of his unique talent, "Rise to the Top," Lucas's strength was directly proportional to his growing political power. At this stage, his abilities had reached an entirely new height. Taking on a mere royal guard was a trivial task.

Signora, standing to the side, made no move to intervene. She knew there was no need.

Tonia's blade never even got close to Lucas. Before it could, it was instantly turned to stone, crumbling into fragments that fell to the floor with a sharp clatter.

Tonia stared blankly at the shattered remnants of her sword, her hands trembling. Even though she now realized the overwhelming difference in strength, she clenched her fists and charged again, aiming a punch directly at Lucas's face.

Lucas still didn't dodge. Instead, her fist collided with what felt like an invisible wall.

"You should have known this would happen," Lucas said calmly, his voice steady. "Do you have any idea how many assassins I've dealt with? I've made plenty of preparations to handle people like you."

As the leader of a nation, Lucas was no stranger to threats. Over time, he'd perfected his defenses. His passive ability to create protective barriers using Geo energy was always active, automatically triggering at the first sign of danger.

"Why…" Tonia gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with rage and anguish. "Why did you kill my brother?!"

Lucas wasn't surprised she recognized him. His face had been plastered on newspapers countless times. It was no secret that the Tianshu of Liyue had orchestrated Childe's death during the Golden House incident.

Adjusting the lapels of his coat, Lucas met her gaze with a composed expression and said:

"He stormed the Golden House, desecrated the remains of the Geo Archon, and attempted to steal the Geo Gnosis. Tell me, did he not deserve to die?"