202: Rosalyne Shocked — Alchemical Healing Potion!

Tartaglia got up, leisurely pacing toward the door and pushing it open.

Not far away, seated on a chair, was a woman he knew very well—graceful and elegant in posture.

She wore a deep crimson cloak that concealed her astonishing figure.

A strange half-mask covered part of her face.

She looked like an elegant and beautiful witch.

But at this moment, her condition was rather miserable.

A chilling cold radiated from her body.

Tartaglia raised an eyebrow and leaned casually against the doorframe, smiling as he looked at Rosalyne.

"What a rare sight... isn't this my ever-proud colleague, the Lady herself?"

"Lady Rosalyne, someone as powerful as you, reduced to this by a mere Liyue? How unexpected."

Right now, Rosalyne's once-smooth hair looked frost-burnt and scorched, whipped into a mess by the wind.

Her usually fair skin was marked with bloodstains, and even her legs bore traces of burns.

The more Tartaglia looked, the more amused he felt.

Just days ago, she had arrived here, learned about the changes in Liyue, and about the pressure the Fatui were under.

He still vividly remembered how she'd looked down on him and called him incompetent.

She insisted on investigating that small courtyard on her own.

Ah, how the tables have turned…

Tartaglia was grinning internally. It used to be Rosalyne who mocked him for being reckless—now, she was the one who acted without forethought.

Of course, Rosalyne could hear the ridicule in Tartaglia's voice.

But she merely shot him a cold glare and said in a low tone:

"You knew what was in there. Why didn't you warn me?"

"Huh?"

Tartaglia chuckled, shaking his head.

"How ridiculous. Did you ever give me a chance to speak?"

"A proud Harbinger, the Tsaritsa's envoy, suppressed like this by mere mortals in Liyue—and all this without the Geo Archon even stepping in."

"A mighty Fatui Harbinger, unable to investigate a simple courtyard—you should probably resign already."

"A proud Fatui Harbinger…"

Tartaglia lazily repeated the very same words Rosalyne had mocked him with earlier, causing her expression to darken even further.

"Enough!"

Rosalyne flung her hand, sending a flurry of ice spears flying at Tartaglia.

He nonchalantly shattered them with a single slap.

"Such a harsh tone. But if I recall, when you were insulting me the other day, I didn't interrupt you, did I?"

"You insisted on going. I tried to stop you. But of course, the proud Lady had no intention of listening to a Harbinger who had supposedly 'embarrassed' the Fatui."

Rosalyne gave him a frosty look, her mind involuntarily drifting back to what she had just experienced in that courtyard.

First, she was ambushed by a powerful squad of Millelith. Just as she prepared to retaliate, three adepti suddenly appeared.

Each of them was immensely powerful—none weaker than her.

Especially the older-looking adeptus with the spear, who completely overwhelmed her with flawless technique.

If she hadn't tapped into the power granted by the Cryo Archon at the last moment, she probably wouldn't have escaped.

Rosalyne had always known Liyue was strong.

But in her mind, that strength resided solely in the Geo Archon, the mighty Morax—one of the original gods even her own Archon had to respect.

As for the adepti…

Deep down, she had never believed they were stronger than her.

But alas…

Today just happened to be the day when Madame Ping, Mooncarver, and Mountain Shaper were standing guard.

Rosalyne had the worst luck imaginable.

These three were among the strongest adepti in all of Liyue.

Even back when hundreds of immortals coexisted, they ranked among the most powerful.

Without relying on her Cryo Archon's divine power, she truly wouldn't have stood a chance.

In fact, she had been somewhat lucky—because...

Zhongli was still "guarding the door." If she had actually broken past the adepti...

What awaited her might've been Heavenly Wrath.

Rosalyne didn't want to humiliate herself further outside and turned to head back to her room.

Tartaglia found it boring now, curled his lip, and casually tossed a vial her way.

Rosalyne caught the strange-looking bottle and examined it.

"A new product from Liyue. Alchemical potion—restores life force."

With that, Tartaglia turned and went back into his room, not intending to talk to her any further.

Rosalyne quietly studied the potion for a moment, then downed it in one go.

Though she didn't get along well with the other Harbingers, she wasn't worried that Tartaglia would poison her.

Among the Harbingers, he was one of the few completely loyal to the Cryo Archon.

Unlike Dottore or Pierro.

The potion's effects kicked in swiftly, and Rosalyne stared in disbelief as her wounds visibly began to vanish.

Not heal—vanish.

As if time had reversed, and she had never been injured at all.

No—wait!

It was more than that!

Rosalyne's eyes filled with shock.

Even the wounds from five hundred years ago…

The ones she had suppressed for centuries using the Cryo Archon's power—those injuries, the backlash of her Pyro witch powers, were healing!

Burns on her very soul.

And now… part of that damage was being undone!

This was something Rosalyne hadn't even dared to dream of for five hundred years.

Without thinking, she rushed forward and knocked on Tartaglia's door.

He opened it with an impatient look, clearly annoyed.

"What, you want to argue again?"

"I want ten bottles of that potion."

Rosalyne stared at him intently, completely ignoring his tone.

"Ten bottles?"

Tartaglia let out a laugh, half amused, half furious.

"Are you out of your mind, woman? What do you think I am?"

"These alchemical potions were just released in Liyue Harbor! In the past two weeks, the entire Fatui has managed to scrape together only four bottles."

"I paid for these with my own Mora! I bought them! I need them to save my life! And yet you're demanding them so righteously?"

"Get lost! If it weren't for the fact that you're so loyal to Her Majesty, I would've crippled you right here and now!"

Rosalyne paid no mind to Tartaglia's tone or attitude. As he was about to shut the door, she forcefully pressed her hand against it.

"You don't understand what this really is! You have no idea how important this is to Her Majesty!"

"This potion… has healed wounds my soul sustained five hundred years ago!"

"This is a miraculous elixir that contains the very essence of life's laws! It doesn't just heal—it regenerates life itself out of nothing!"

Tartaglia froze.

He knew a little about Rosalyne's past—how she had once been the Crimson Witch of Flame.

As one of the Ice Queen's most loyal followers, Tartaglia had naturally been informed of a few things.

He also knew that Rosalyne's injuries were rooted in her soul.

And now...

Such a seemingly ordinary potion had healed wounds on the level of the soul.

Tartaglia's brows furrowed.

He had underestimated what Liyue was putting out into the world.

After a moment of silence, he turned and said:

"Come inside."

Rosalyne stepped in calmly and released her elemental power, isolating the room temporarily.

Tartaglia opened a drawer. Inside were over a dozen bottles identical to the one Rosalyne had just consumed.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. A deep, soul-level instinct surged within her—the urge to snatch them all away.

These things...

They wouldn't just fully heal her. They held immense value for the Tsaritsa as well.

Even the Tsaritsa's divine power could only suppress her own injuries. But now, there was a way to truly recover.

That meant this potion could be effective even for gods—or beings beyond gods.

And the Tsaritsa was far from unscathed herself.

She had also been wounded in the upheaval of Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago.

Tartaglia quietly observed Rosalyne. If she made any move to seize the potions, he could strike at once.

He had strength, agility, and leaping potions on him.

If he drank them all, he could probably defeat her within a short time.

After all, Rosalyne wasn't at the level of the Doctor or the others, who could easily crush him.

But after a moment, Rosalyne simply took a deep breath and turned her head, saying:

"I need those potions."

Tartaglia curled his lip.

Rosalyne really had the nerve.

Ever since discovering that these potions could heal even soul injuries, he had treasured them dearly.

A battle addict like him was no stranger to danger.

These potions were literal life-savers.

There was no way he'd just hand them over.

"Alchemical potions—Liyue releases only four hundred bottles a week. Every merchant and adventurer in Teyvat is fighting over them."

"They go for one million Mora each. For us Fatui, the price is two million a bottle. I saved up for two weeks and bought more at inflated prices from others."

"In total, I spent 300 million Mora."

Rosalyne frowned slightly.

She didn't think that was expensive. For something like this, she'd be willing to pay even a hundred million for one.

Without hesitation, she pulled out a pouch and tossed it to Tartaglia.

"Five hundred million Mora. Give them all to me."

Tartaglia glanced at the pouch bearing the Tsaritsa's seal and gave a bitter laugh.

Rosalyne really did hold a special place in the Ice Queen's heart.

Even on this mission, his total personal operating funds didn't exceed a billion Mora—and Rosalyne had just casually thrown out half that amount.

It was clear just how much the Tsaritsa had entrusted to her.

Tartaglia didn't stand on ceremony. He needed massive amounts of Mora to keep buying potions and also wanted to try enchanting some weapons.

He pulled out two bottles and tossed them to her.

"That's all—two bottles. I need to keep one for emergencies."

Two?

Rosalyne's expression darkened. Two healing potions could only heal her halfway at best. That was already miraculous.

But Rosalyne needed full recovery—and enough to help the Tsaritsa recover as well.

With so many here, and with her having paid almost double the price, it wasn't like she was trying to rob him.

Rosalyne gave Tartaglia a frosty glare.

"Don't be so greedy. I'll pay you ten billion Mora—give me all of them. These potions are for Her Majesty!"

"Who told you they were all healing potions?!"

Tartaglia sneered, visibly annoyed.

"Healing potions are the most sought-after. I'm not lying to you—I only managed to buy four. You already drank one. At most, I'll give you two more."

"As for Her Majesty, I'll find a way to keep procuring and sending more back."

"Wait a second…"

Tartaglia paused, staring at Rosalyne suspiciously.

"Don't tell me—you thought all of these were life-recovery potions?"

"What else would they be?"

Realizing something, Rosalyne's expression softened a bit.

"Heh… frog at the bottom of a well."

Seeing her so completely in the dark, Tartaglia suddenly felt invigorated.

So what if her rank was higher than his?

Her vision was still that narrow.

"You really should visit Liyue more often. The changes happening there are beyond your imagination. Otherwise, do you think I'd willingly be pushed around by the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"

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