"Sandrone, don't disturb Her Majesty the Tsaritsa."
Columbina's tone was laced with helplessness as she flicked Sandrone's forehead.
The Cryo Archon, aloof and sacred, must surely be contemplating a grand plan.
"Focus on preparing for the upcoming meeting."
Didn't she know the meeting was about her?
"Hmph, it's the Doctor's technology that's hit a bottleneck, isn't it."
Sandrone scoffed, having expected as much.
The Executive, the Doctor, and the Puppet shared a relationship forged in shared danger.
This referred to Miss Puppet and Qin Yu personally killing a "slice" of the Doctor.
Although the actions of the slice had nothing to do with the "Doctor" himself.
But, forgive me, Miss Puppet was simply the type to hold a grudge.
Coincidentally, they were both responsible for different god-creation projects.
Thus, this enmity was thoroughly cemented.
"Does the technology of the True God have flaws?"
Columbina murmured, something coming to mind.
Her good sister, when she set her mind to scheming against others, was quite troublesome.
"Of course. Those old fossils in the Sumeru Akademiya are probably tearing their hair out right now."
Sandrone made no attempt to hide her mockery and disdain.
They couldn't even understand the Khaenri'ah mecha technology that she had already moved past. The Akademiya, after losing the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, had truly gone downhill.
"Then what about the technology you learned for Qin Yu?"
Columbina suddenly asked.
"Very proficient. Now all that's left is to put it into practice with him."
Sandrone twirled a strand of hair around her fingertip, a hint of melancholy in her voice.
Recently, staying up late to study the blueprints provided by Qin Yu had even caused her hair to lose some of its luster.
But the results were gratifying.
After fusing the technologies of Khaenri'ah and the Scarlet King,
She was now confident that she could create a mecha shell capable of shaking the stars and the abyss.
And this was the final step for Qin Yu to become a god.
Although he already possessed the strength of a half-primordial god, his body was still human.
Humans had limits, unless they ceased to be human.
A divine body was a necessary condition for apotheosis.
Simply put, piloting a giant robot.
As for the True God?
Miss Puppet had long since lost interest.
It was merely a stepping stone for her companion, let the Doctor and the Wanderer tinker with it.
"The only problem now is..."
Columbina frowned slightly.
"Her Majesty the Tsaritsa does not permit me to offer any assistance to my companion at this time."
Sandrone expressed her regret.
Miss Puppet was waiting for Qin Yu's arrival to rescue her from the grasp of the higher-ups.
Just as the two women were slacking off and whispering behind the back of their superior,
"Sandrone."
An arrogant, icy voice suddenly rang out.
The surrounding air instantly turned frigid.
*Crack.*
Faintly, there was the sound of something breaking.
"Her Majesty the Tsaritsa."
Sandrone's expression shifted slightly, and she quickly responded.
The Cryo Archon seemed to be in a foul mood.
Could it be that her slacking off and dating since arriving in Inazuma had been discovered?
It must have been that detestable Arlecchino who reported her!
Sooner or later, she would have Qin Yu capture that woman and give her a good... !
Just as Sandrone was mentally cursing Arlecchino's backside,
"Regarding that plan, how confident are you?"
The plan to ascend, the "Ascendant."
The Tsaritsa put away the game console, which had automatically cracked from not being played for a long time, her voice cold.
It wasn't because her blood pressure was rising.
"Ten out of ten confidence."
Sandrone said earnestly.
"Is that so? Tell me the details again."
The Tsaritsa walked to the window, gazing at the bird-filled, flower-scented courtyard outside.
Everything was thriving and vibrant.
A scene never seen in the Palace of Winter.
Beautiful, yet so fragile.
"..."
The proud and aloof Tsaritsa narrowed her beautiful eyes.
It seemed she hadn't stopped to appreciate the scenery around her in a long time.
The end of destruction would eventually come.
But before the final battle, should she still treat these beautiful things with gentleness?
Qin Yu, I hope you can give me an answer.
"Your Majesty?"
Sandrone's voice brought the Tsaritsa's thoughts back to reality.
She had already explained it once.
But seeing the Tsaritsa's indifferent expression, had she zoned out?
"...Say it again."
The Tsaritsa withdrew her gaze and said calmly.
"Yes."
Sandrone, though puzzled, repeated herself.
...
After a brief silence.
"Technology that is too powerful will be detected, forcing the final battle to commence prematurely."
The Tsaritsa pointed out the hidden danger.
The timing was not ripe, much like Khaenri'ah, which was annihilated back then.
"I have designed several components that will allow the gradual acquisition of power."
Sandrone pointed to the symbol of the Seven Elements and smiled.
She had considered this point.
"Good."
The Tsaritsa nodded slightly, then paused.
She took out the game console that, for some reason, had cracked.
"?"
Sandrone and Columbina exchanged glances.
Why did Her Majesty the Tsaritsa seem a bit off today?
"Sandrone."
"Yes."
"Regarding the last level of the game..."
The air suddenly grew still.
Sandrone opened her mouth, not quite comprehending.
Was Her Majesty the Tsaritsa not quite herself?
"?"
But sensing the increasingly dangerous gaze from the higher-up, Miss Puppet still chose to smile.
She inexplicably thought of a puppet's expression.
(ᗜ˰ᗜ)
"..."
Columbina clasped her hands on her lap, a hint of a smile on her face.
She had played that game too.
Indeed, Her Majesty the Tsaritsa had become much gentler.
She had only smashed the game console, instead of beating up Qin Yu.
Qin Yu: ?
It was hard to imagine that the Fatui leadership would discuss game consoles before a meeting.
As expected of Teyvat's largest toy manufacturer.
...
The meeting of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers finally commenced.
In the dimly lit hall, a projection screen lit up.
Concurrently, several blurred figures appeared.
"It's been a while, Puppet, Girl."
The Doctor opened his eyes first and greeted them.
It sounded like a reunion of old friends.
"It seems the experiments went smoothly, Doctor."
Sandrone smiled, though there was little warmth in her eyes.
"So the data error was your doing."
The Doctor chuckled, his voice growing colder.
The two researchers clearly disliked each other.
"..."
The remaining Harbingers expressed their accustomed indifference, letting the two bicker.
In short, they were all talking about their own matters.
"What requires the convening of the Harbingers? The Northland Bank..."
The bespectacled man spread his hands, a smile on his face.
He appeared to be a very friendly person.
"Mister, could you reimburse me for some expenses first?"
The orange-haired youth beside him spoke, his tone laced with helplessness.
Childe, Tartaglia.
"Certainly. Miss Zhongli... hmm?"
Mister glanced at the figure on the bill, his smile slowly fading.
The cost of attending Yun Jin's opera last time...
The Fatui's funds are being used like this?!
"Cough."
Childe was a bit embarrassed and offered no defense.
Being left behind in Liyue with no one to fight, it was unavoidable that he would slack off.
It wasn't that he hadn't tried to challenge a certain Geo Archon.
As for the result...
"Heh, so it's just casual chatter."
Beside Childe was a woman of lazy posture, elegant and alluring.
She wore a magnificent long gown, her figure exceptionally voluptuous.
Whether it was her slender, fair legs or the ample cleavage, it was breathtaking.
La Signora, Rosalyne.
Having not gone to Inazuma, she naturally remained in Liyue, considered to be on vacation.
"It's not casual chatter, there's something very important."
Columbina smiled and handed a document to La Signora.
The Tsaritsa's plans for Liyue.
"A contract with the Geo Archon...!"
La Signora's gaze sharpened as she read it.
She was inherently proud, but she understood the significance of this.
It seemed the Cryo Archon had made up her mind.
"However, such a request would be difficult for the Geo Archon to agree to."
Just as La Signora shook her head.
"Erosion."
A cold voice rang out, and the room fell silent.
Everyone finally noticed the cold, noble silhouette and quickly rose.
"Your Majesty."
Fortunately, they hadn't gossiped about the higher-up.
Why didn't Girl and Puppet give them a heads-up!
"You are dismissed."
From the shadows, the Tsaritsa raised her silvery-gray eyes and looked at everyone, her voice calm.
No one sat down, and silence persisted.
The proud and cold deity's authority was indisputable.
"..."
Sensing the dead atmosphere, the Tsaritsa's gaze flickered.
When did it become like this...
Everyone feared her, feared the absolutely cold yet lonely deity.
At least on the surface.
Shaking her head, she looked at La Signora.
"Tell her that erosion can be repaired, in Inazuma."
After fighting Raiden Shogun, she had realized this.
Although she didn't know why, the Geo Archon would be interested.
"Yes, Your Majesty." La Signora bowed elegantly.
"Doctor Dottore."
"Your Majesty."
"I want to see results from the Sumeru plan."
"Yes."
...
The Harbingers dispersed one by one.
"..."
The Tsaritsa sat in the shadows, pondering something, her silvery-gray, silky hair cascading down.
She tapped her fingertips, a paused game console beside her.
The one that had cracked earlier had been replaced by Sandrone.
Finally, her fingertips stilled.
"Arlecchino, do you have nothing to say?"