"Grumble, just kill me!"
As Lumine's indignant voice of refusal echoed, the basement fell silent.
The atmosphere became strange.
"?"
Qin Yu looked at the slender girl, her hands tied behind her back and her whole body drenched.
Then he looked at the various props in his hands.
Qin, fell into contemplation.
What was with this sense of déjà vu?
He didn't know who was so thoughtful as to lock the basement door tightly.
In other words, even if something were to happen here, it wouldn't be heard outside.
Hmm... If he were to interrogate her here...
Qin Yu glanced at the tied-up Lumine again.
"Hmph!"
The girl in her white dress was as pure and beautiful as the morning sun.
That unyielding gaze of hers was exactly like that of a noble female knight.
Speaking of which, Lumine was indeed a knight, nominally a member of the Knights of Favonius.
"Cough, cough."
Qin Yu couldn't help but conjure up a large number of imaginary scenarios.
Wait, what was he expecting!
[Ding, the system expresses its support.]
Qin Yu: What are you doing here?
[This line is too classic and has triggered a check-in reward.]
"..."
Qin Yu sighed softly and tossed the props in his hand aside.
Why would such a strange check-in reward appear!
But no matter what, a reward from the system was better than nothing.
He thought to himself, "Speak, what is it?"
[Ding, small item: Four-Corners Net (Modified Version).]
[It can capture cute small animals and sign mutual assistance contracts, making them your good helpers.]
[But please remember one thing.]
Qin Yu: What thing?
[Do not use this small item for strange purposes.]
[Absolutely do not.]
Qin Yu: ...
He inwardly raised his middle finger and leaned against the iron chair that was currently restraining Lumine.
He wanted to see what this net, whatever it was called, was capable of.
"Pervert, stay away from me!"
Lumine snorted, like a small wild cat that had its fur ruffled and was baring its teeth.
She twisted her body and began to struggle.
Creak, creak, with a rhythmic sound.
It seemed she wanted to shake Qin Yu off the chair.
"Be quiet."
Qin Yu shook his head, crumpled the tape into a ball, and roughly stuffed it into Lumine's mouth.
"Mmm mmm mmm!"
After being stuffed, Lumine's eyes widened, and she let out a series of unintelligible muffled groans.
In her clear eyes, mist seemed to be gathering.
"Mmm—"
However, to Lumine's surprise, the perverted Qin Yu had no intention of doing anything to her.
"!"
She kicked her legs, trying to get Qin Yu's attention.
What was with that look of disdain just now?!
Just as Lumine was flailing around Qin Yu.
Qin Yu was checking the usage of the Four-Corners Net.
[Ding, just aim at a small animal and capture it.]
Qin Yu: ...
Is this instruction manual a bit too simple?
Besides, what the heck was this about capturing small animals? He wasn't running a pet shop!
No...
Qin Yu paused, falling into contemplation.
The system wouldn't give such a stingy reward.
[Ding, think about it more.]
"Can it capture monsters?" Qin Yu probed mentally.
[Be bolder.]
"Can it catch...?!"
Qin Yu genuinely couldn't think of anything bolder than a monster.
[In a state of weak soul, even Archon-level beings can be captured and brought to your side.]
The notification sounded, and Qin Yu's eyes slowly widened.
Holy shit.
Surely no one didn't know what the word "Archon" meant on the continent of Teyvat.
Speaking of which, Archon-level beings in Inazuma...
The Great Serpent Archon, Orobas?
No, that unlucky guy was already cleaved in two by the Great Leader, his soul gone.
Then there was only one left.
As everyone knows, each of the Seven Nations of Teyvat gives birth to the most powerful elemental beings.
For example, the Wind Dragon of Mondstadt legend, Dvalin.
The Geo Dragon of Liyue legend, Osial.
As for Inazuma...
It was the Electrogranum that permanently hovered above Seirai Island.
Well, unlucky guy number two, pinned to death by an arrow from the Great Leader.
But at least there were residual powers.
Was this small item really that strong?
[There is another use: sign a contract with someone whose strength level is not higher than yours and who is willing, allowing them to become your companion.]
[This contract will provide them with your strength.]
[When they break through and become stronger themselves, they can also feed back to you.]
Qin Yu nodded silently.
A contract like working for himself?
A win-win situation, not bad.
He would prioritize using it on those close to him first, giving them an extra layer of self-preservation.
Moreover, Qin Yu would need to recruit people soon, and this would be useful.
But before that...
Qin Yu looked at the struggling Lumine and showed a meaningful smile.
He felt a bit like a villain facing a Paladin.
He suddenly wanted to use the bound little rabbit for an experiment.
"Mmm!"
Lumine sensed Qin Yu's lingering gaze.
Her small body tensed, and she stopped struggling.
Her golden eyes widened, conveying a message.
You pervert, are you finally going to do something to me!
"Don't be nervous."
Qin Yu shook his head and reached out his hand.
Golden light flared, weaving into a large net that enveloped Lumine.
Qin Yu attempted to capture Lumine.
"..."
A moment later, he lowered his hand.
He failed, as expected.
It seemed the rules mentioned by the system were indeed inviolable.
"Alright, no more jokes."
Qin Yu removed the ball of tape from Lumine's mouth.
"Haa... Haa..."
Lumine spat out the tape, panting slightly.
Faintly, one could see the mist she exhaled, and glistening threads stuck to the corners of her mouth.
"Tsk."
Qin Yu, with a hint of disgust, threw away the tape ball that was now covered in Lumine's saliva and walked to the interrogation table.
"Sit here for a while longer, and I'll let you go."
"Pervert, you're just letting me go like this?"
Lumine looked at Qin Yu, who had already slumped into a lazy posture in his seat, and asked in surprise.
"Firstly, I'm not a pervert."
"Secondly, I have no intention of letting you go."
"According to the management regulations of the Tenryou Commission, you should compensate for the damage you caused."
Qin Yu glanced at Lumine and pouted.
As if he had some designs on Lumine.
Let's clarify, that's a rumor.
This annoying Lumine is acting strange.
"Compensation? The street wasn't destroyed by me!"
Lumine protested.
"Witnesses from the Tenryou Commission only saw you. Who do you expect to pay?"
Qin Yu shook his head. Protests were invalid.
Lan Baishi Jia's passive ability meant that ordinary people couldn't see her.
Therefore, Lumine had to bear the blame alone.
Anyway, for a renowned adventurer like her, a few million Mora was just pocket change.
"Compensation?"
Lumine looked away somewhat guiltily.
Her savings had all sunk into the sea during the shipwreck.
The only savings she had on her was advance Mora from taking on Ms. Sandrone's maid commission.
But before their maid miss could even start working, she was caught by Qin Yu and locked up.
"You can't afford it, can you?" Qin Yu chuckled.
"If you can't afford it, you'll have to sell yourself to pay off the debt."
Meaning, to work as labor.
Lumine whispered, "Tell me, how much Mora."
"..."
"Several, several million?!"
After the shock, the clarity in Lumine's eyes faded.
She was bankrupt.
Did she have to sell herself to this perverted man from now on?!