Low chuckles echoed as the Tsaritsa's words fell.
"Apologies… Your Majesty, I was comforting the children."
As the voice faded, a tall, elegant, and mysteriously poised woman appeared, her tone gentle.
Her loose Harbinger coat could not conceal her subtly alluring curves.
Her skin was pale, her silver short hair sharp and neat.
A striking black streak, nearly covering her right eye, added an unusual beauty to her.
But contrary to her gentle voice, her eyes held no warmth.
They were a pitch black, devoid of light, cold and dangerous.
The crimson mark in the center of her pupils sent a shiver down one's spine.
This woman smiled, exuding an inexplicable blend of eeriness and beauty.
This aura, paradoxically, was soul-stirring, drawing out secrets from the depths of one's heart.
A natural interrogator.
"..."
The Tsaritsa glanced at her, her fingertips continuing to tap the table.
"Are you the one appearing this time?"
Sandrone's eyes flickered as she spoke.
Arlecchino's benevolent persona.
This was not an occasion for you to be present.
"But the children… they still need me."
Arlecchino lifted her face reluctantly, biting her lip softly.
Yet, a peculiar, wild arc crept onto her lips, widening by degrees.
"Hmph… Heh heh… Hahaha!"
She covered her forehead, laughing to herself.
"Tch, a madwoman."
Sandrone scoffed, crossing her arms and falling silent.
The woman who was completely gentle with children harbored a hysterical madness and ambition within.
Sandrone disliked informants who were schizophrenic and exhibited yandere tendencies.
When the stakes were high enough, Arlecchino would even draw her sword against the Tsaritsa.
This was the manifestation of her darker personality.
"Phew… The agreed time is up."
Arlecchino murmured to herself, slowly raising her head.
Fourth of the Harbingers, The Knave.
Calm once more, she was elegant and charming, radiating the mature allure of a woman.
She seemed like the perfect older sister to raise children.
With her arms crossed, she smiled at Sandrone.
"Long time no see, Miss Puppet."
Her voice, magnetic and soft, deliberately emphasized the word "little."
As the intelligence chief, she remembered Sandrone's physical data.
A quick glance was all it took to know.
Miss Puppet's chest had not grown.
"You're asking for death!"
Sandrone slammed the table, her anger ignited.
After dating Qin Yu, she had grown a bit, Sister Columbia had even touched her!
The two women's meeting was instantly charged with hostility.
"Enough."
The Tsaritsa, her gaze fixed on the paused game console, spoke coldly.
She wanted to end the meeting quickly so she could continue playing her game.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The two women bowed apologetically, then glared at each other discreetly.
"Arlecchino, where are you?"
The Tsaritsa asked directly.
"Hmm… I'm not quite sure myself, Your Majesty."
Arlecchino smiled, looking at Sandrone and Columbina.
With these two traitors from the Fatui, who had been swayed, she felt uneasy.
But fortunately, there was the noble and aloof Tsaritsa.
No matter how capable Qin Yu was, he couldn't sway a deity.
It was absolutely impossible.
"I require your assistance."
The Tsaritsa's silver-grey eyes narrowed as she thought of something, her voice growing colder.
"Are we going to fight the Abyss, Your Majesty?"
Arlecchino smiled faintly, as if she had expected it.
She looked at Sandrone, whose face showed a flicker of surprise, and felt a surge of pleasure.
The Abyss Order's activities were becoming increasingly frequent.
In fact, since arriving in Inazuma, she had been constantly engaging them.
And completing Her Majesty's tasks, acquiring that particular item…
Enkanomiya, the Everlasting Sunfire.
Opening the Realm of Abyssal Waters was merely a personal ambition.
Arlecchino's mental state was becoming more unstable.
It was a shame she lacked the Primordial One's dream authority for treatment.
Opening the Realm of Abyssal Waters might yield some results.
"Yes, I have a deal with the Electro Archon."
The Tsaritsa nodded lightly, not elaborating on the details.
She stared at Arlecchino, her gaze proud and sharp.
Even you have intelligence you don't know.
This was the Ice Queen's reins, keeping The Knave in check and preventing her from losing control.
"Another secret, another truth I don't know."
Arlecchino bowed slowly, her posture elegant.
She revealed a captivating smile and said softly,
"Your Majesty, I will assist you."
"But before that… could you perhaps bestow Qin Yu upon me?"
Qin Yu held many secrets.
The thought of personally unraveling them made her…!
"!"
Sandrone watched Arlecchino, whose eyes sparkled with delight and her cheeks flushed, with a kind smile.
This woman…
Was flirting with her partner right in front of her?!
Columbina also raised her head.
The atmosphere turned subtly tense.
"..."
The Tsaritsa instinctively shook her head, then paused.
Why did she have the urge to refuse?
Yes…
Qin Yu was a sharp sword, a possession the Ice Queen had long coveted.
It was only natural not to want to give him up.
Moreover, she had to balance the emotions of Miss Puppet and The Girl.
So…
Why were three of the four female Harbingers entangled with Qin Yu?
Should she praise The Lady?
The Tsaritsa shook her head with a headache.
Once Qin Yu was brought back to Snezhnaya, they could all deal with it together.
"Alright."
Arlecchino was a little regretful, but not disappointed.
A man obtained too easily lost his appeal when it came to torment.
For the sake of pleasure, Miss Knave could endure loneliness.
"Heh, if you don't come back soon, you'll end up tied up by Qin Yu sooner or later."
Sandrone smirked.
Sooner or later, meaning tied up from morning till night.
"Is that so… How rather uncivilized."
Arlecchino's phantom sat down, pouring herself a drink.
Wine from Mondstadt.
She crossed her long legs, her tight, sheer leather pants outlining seductive curves.
Elegant, mysterious.
This unhurried aura was akin to…
That of a certain secretary applicant at the tea house.
The same elegance, the same mystery.
And both were intelligence experts.
Their clash would surely be interesting.
Add to that a certain maid cat.
Qin Yu's supporting force was nearing completion.
"Dare to come and play?"
Sandrone thought of Yelan and Lumine, her lips curving slightly.
Miss Puppet had been lingering on commissions precisely to drag Miss Knave into the fray!
And the battlefield would be in Enkanomiya.
As long as they could capture the opponent…
"Heh, do you think they alone are capable of that?"
Arlecchino knew everything about the Adventurers' Guild, resting her head on one hand.
She was the Fourth of the Harbingers.
"Whether we play or not, that's the gamble."
Referring to the eventual spanking.
"I, for one, have no objections."
Arlecchino's lips curved slightly as she looked at the Tsaritsa, "And Your Majesty?"
"Nonsense."
The Tsaritsa snorted coldly, about to put an end to this farce.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider."
Sandrone approached her, slipping her a game cartridge.
A thrilling new game.
The Cryo Archon:?
Her gaze turned dangerous.
A divine being, no less...!
Sandrone slipped her a few more game cartridges.
"..."
The Tsaritsa silently accepted them.
"Disrupting the balance of the three realms and endangering the continent of Teyvat."
"Do not forget that the true enemy currently is the Abyss forces within Enkanomiya."
She waved her hand, saying no more.
This was an agreement long set with the Raiden Shogun.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sandrone and Arlecchino exchanged a look and nodded in unison.
The strange competition, gambling on an eventual spanking, had begun.
And then…
"Take me to Qin Yu."
The Cryo Archon slightly raised her chin, stating it with undeniable authority.
It was a good time to see what he was doing.