Yelan, disguised as a maid, paused.
Her eyes flickered, and she instinctively met Qin Yu's gaze.
The latter smiled and patted the floor beside him again.
"Sit down."
"Lord Qin Yu…!"
Yelan murmured, seemingly still processing.
But soon, a perfectly timed surprise and shyness appeared on her face.
It was exactly how a maid harboring admiration for Qin Yu would react.
"Perfect timing, I was just thinking of having some tea."
Qin Yu smiled, looking at the maid whose eyes rippled.
As he spoke, he casually swept his gaze over her ankle, wrapped in delicate black stockings.
"Yes, I am indeed a bit thirsty."
Yelan's face flushed slightly. With a hint of reserve, she pulled her skirt down to cover the stockings.
She lowered her head slightly, but a subtle curve formed at the corner of her lips.
"She's taken the bait."
A secretly discovered detail was far more alluring than outright exposure.
Much like the black stockings beneath her slightly raised skirt…
Yelan was adept at exploiting such psychology, having captured many targets this way.
Of course, this was her first time personally donning black stockings for a capture.
Qin Yu's gaze… it was unmistakable.
This dangerous man had taken an interest in her.
Once she secured this advantage, everything else would be much easier.
Yelan was confident she would extract everything she wanted to know from Qin Yu.
"…"
Qin Yu smiled faintly, watching the maid sit gracefully beside him.
A hunter?
He wondered what had happened to the last "Miss Fox" who wanted to play the hunter…
With a smile, Qin Yu turned his attention back to the chess game.
Ayaka and Nilou's match was still ongoing.
"...She's not to be underestimated."
Kamisato Ayaka placed a piece and murmured.
She looked up at the girl opposite her, her surprise growing.
She hadn't expected Nilou, who was playing for the first time, to adapt so quickly and become so proficient.
If this continued…
"Sister, I'm about to launch my attack."
Nilou raised her pretty face, a faint smile gracing her lips, and reminded her.
With that, she placed another piece.
Who would have thought that beneath the sweet and obedient exterior of this girl lay the backing of a deity?
And this deity, coincidentally, was quite interested in Qin Yu.
…
The two women were focused on their match and didn't notice the maid.
Qin Yu enjoyed the peace, content to be an observer.
He always enjoyed watching girls compete.
Just then, a faint fragrance wafted over.
"Lord Qin Yu."
Yelan presented the freshly brewed tea with both hands, her movements gentle.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Qin Yu took the tea and took a sip, his eyes immediately lighting up.
"Good tea."
He looked at the maid, who was smiling without a word, his gaze filled with admiration.
"You're quite skilled."
"I'm glad Lord Qin Yu likes it."
Yelan smiled and sat beside him quietly.
Her status was merely that of a maid, and too much talking would be inappropriate.
So she said.
But because she had to be ready to serve Qin Yu at any moment, their distance was extremely close.
So close that at any moment they could…
"Hoo."
Yelan took a deep breath, suppressing certain thoughts.
Qin Yu carried an aura of danger about him.
For Yelan, who craved danger and excitement, this was an irresistible temptation.
She intended to investigate personally.
Of course, benefits came with risks.
If she failed, and was instead subdued…
"?"
Qin Yu glanced at the flushed maid, a strange feeling in his heart.
This woman was… odd.
Thinking this, he felt a slight headache.
Another strange person had appeared at the Komore Teahouse.
Wait, why "another"?
In his mind, a vision of a cold and beautiful figure, as elegant as ice and snow, surfaced subconsciously.
"The toy shop owner?"
Qin Yu shook his head.
Someone who could have Sandrone and Columbina accompany her…
It was likely the Cryo Archon herself.
"What is she doing here?"
Qin Yu murmured, his heart growing heavy.
She was a god of a nation.
Could it be because he had "kidnapped" two Fatui Harbingers?
He pictured a scene where the Electro God, Dendro God, and Cryo God were all gathered in the teahouse…
And then add the God of Flowers.
In total, six gods.
"????"
Qin Yu quickly stopped himself, feeling a chill down his spine.
"Well, things are certainly getting more… harmonious."
This was no longer a situation that could be resolved by playing mahjong!
He wondered if the Geo Archon's shield could withstand so many gods.
"Never mind, thinking too much is useless."
Qin Yu shook his head, feeling no panic.
Even if he had to negotiate with the Cryo Archon, he wasn't without leverage.
"…"
He took something from his pocket.
A metallic tetrahedron.
A brilliant blue light emanated from it, exuding a dreamlike, futuristic aura.
Qin Yu fiddled with the tetrahedron, a slight smile on his face.
The technology of the Scarlet King was not meant to exist in Teyvat.
But now, he possessed it.
When various mechs could be mass-produced…
Just as Qin Yu was contemplating the path ahead.
"Lord Qin Yu."
The maid leaned in again, refilling his tea.
Her eyes were curious, also drawn to the metallic tetrahedron.
She seemed to feel an unusually intense sensation.
"Curious about this?"
Qin Yu tossed the tetrahedron, smiling.
His demeanor was casual, as if it were just a toy.
"Yes, it looks a lot like dice."
Yelan smiled.
At the same time, she secretly took note of the tetrahedron.
"It's quite useful. It can fire laser beams and bind targets."
Qin Yu said, looking at the maid.
He was applying pressure.
A certain mischievous Lumine cat had fallen for this before and was locked in the basement.
So, maid who infiltrated this place, how will you…
?
Qin Yu blinked.
"Bind…!"
Yelan murmured, a peculiar glint flashing in her eyes.
She hadn't done this to herself before.
But compared to ordinary silk threads.
Being bound by lasers, feeling the heat and sting of struggle…
It made her even more excited.
Qin Yu: …
He silently moved a bit further away, his gaze strange.
"Miss Maid, who seems eager, please act normally."
"Could it be that she's a sadist…?!"
"My apologies, I lost my composure."
Yelan quickly regained her composure and apologized softly.
But her intense gaze remained fixed on the tetrahedron.
"Heh heh… let's play something else with this."
Qin Yu tossed the tetrahedron, changing the subject.
Binding was too strange.
He was a decent person!
"What does Lord Qin Yu want to play?"
Yelan's interest piqued, and she pressed for details.
Did he have a more painful, more tormenting way to play?
"You really like playing dice, don't you?"
Qin Yu ignored the maid's peculiar preferences and said softly.
"How about a game of high or low?"
"Lord Qin Yu isn't afraid of losing?"
Yelan flashed a charming smile.
Those who tried to approach her with gambling skills had all ended up losing everything.
Even Qin Yu would be no exception.
"You're quite confident."
Qin Yu smiled and gestured for Yelan to begin.
"Alright."
Yelan took out her dice and tossed them with a flick of her wrist.
"A single six."
"Lord Qin Yu, I've won."
No matter how the tetrahedron was thrown, the maximum it could reach was four.
Yelan's smile was confident, until…
She noticed that every number on the tetrahedron was no less than six.
Her smile slowly faded.
"My turn."
Qin Yu looked at the stunned maid, a villainous smirk spreading across his face.
"If you lose, there will be a penalty."