Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

Of course, this also included the vine in the Tsaritsa's mouth.

However, now wasn't the time to dwell on these random thoughts. Lucas knew very well that, given the Tsaritsa's power, he could only restrain her for less than a minute.

Lucas swiftly turned and swung Oni-Cutter, slicing the glass container imprisoning Scaramouche into pieces with a single strike.

The glass had been specially reinforced, but even that couldn't withstand Lucas's blade. As the glass shattered, the corrosive liquid inside spilled out, and Scaramouche's body slipped out with it. Upon contact with the air, her body immediately began to emit white steam.

"Scaramouche! Scaramouche!" Lucas shook her body, but she appeared to be in a deep coma, showing no reaction.

Without hesitation, Lucas pulled out a syringe from his coat and injected it directly into Scaramouche's chest. Her body convulsed immediately, and with a deep gasp, she woke up.

Seeing Scaramouche regain consciousness, Lucas finally exhaled in relief. His previously tense face softened at last.

"Cough… cough…"

Scaramouche blinked as she woke up, still not fully aware of her surroundings. Her confused gaze wandered around before landing on the Tsaritsa, who was pinned to a pillar.

The mighty Tsaritsa, usually commanding in her presence, was now wrapped in twisted vines, with one stuffed in her mouth, looking utterly humiliated.

"Am I… already dead?" Scaramouche murmured. "Why… am I seeing such a strange sight?"

"I told you, I wouldn't let you die here." Lucas pulled her into his arms and said, "We have to leave right now!"

"Doctor!" Scaramouche, now fully recognizing Lucas, said excitedly, "I'm not dead… I'm really not dead?"

Her memory was still stuck on the moment she was struck by the Tsaritsa's giant ice arrow. At the time, she had thought for sure she was doomed.

"Of course not!" Lucas replied with exasperation. "I brought you back!"

"Pfft!"

At that moment, the Tsaritsa bit through the vine in her mouth and spat it out, but the sap splattered all over her face, making her look even more disheveled. "You won't escape. As soon as this arm lets go, I'll break free… and I'll repay this humiliation tenfold!"

"In that case, I'll leave this arm for you to play with."

Without hesitation, Lucas swung his sword and severed his own arm. Despite being cut off, the arm continued to writhe, tightening its grip around the Tsaritsa.

Meanwhile, a new arm quickly grew from Lucas's severed stump. Though his natural healing factor wasn't enough for limb regrowth, combined with the Dendro Archon's genes, he was able to rapidly regenerate a new limb, made from both flesh and plant matter.

"Ugh..."

The Tsaritsa groaned as the vines tightened around her, squeezing her body. She spat out a mouthful of blood and coldly muttered, "With blood as my offering, I summon the Frostbound Tomb!"

As her words faded, the temperature in the air plummeted. From the palace's floor and ceiling, countless ice spikes surged forth, rapidly spreading toward Lucas and Scaramouche. Anything in their path was instantly frozen solid.

Clearly, the enraged Tsaritsa had unleashed her full power. Though Lucas wasn't afraid, the weakened Scaramouche wouldn't survive any more injuries.

Carrying Scaramouche, Lucas dashed toward the palace doors. Yet, even as he ran, the ice spread faster than he could move. Just when the freezing cold was about to engulf them, a wall of flames erupted behind them, instantly vaporizing the advancing ice.

Lucas was startled and turned to see a familiar figure. Standing behind them, surrounded by blazing fire, was none other than Rosalyne—the Fair Lady—in the exact form she had taken when they had burned together 500 years ago.

"Signora!" 

Lucas exclaimed in surprise. "You…"

"Eighth Harbinger of the Fatui, La Signora, hereby commits the grave sin of defying Her Majesty the Tsaritsa," Rosalyne said seriously, wrapped in flames. "It seems you'll have to take me with you when you escape."

Lucas was momentarily stunned but then gave a wry smile. "That's fine, the vineyard I bought is pretty big."

Of course, the bed was also big.

"Why?" 

The Tsaritsa's voice was icy. "Why would you betray me too? Don't you know that he abandoned you for another woman?"

"I know. No one hates him more than I do for that decision," Rosalyne nodded, smiling coldly. "That's why I'm going to punish him by haunting him for the rest of his life."

Looking at the smile on Rosalyne's face, Lucas suddenly felt a chill down his spine. Maybe dying here would have been the easier outcome.

"You will all…" The Tsaritsa's once-beautiful face now twisted with rage. "…pay for this."

...

As the three of them rushed out of the palace, it was immediately engulfed in ice.

However, the sight before them caused them to halt in their tracks.

A massive army. The Fatui, over 100,000 soldiers strong, fully equipped and blocking the Tsaritsa's palace in every direction like an impenetrable wall.

"Boom!"

With a loud crash, the palace doors behind them collapsed as the Tsaritsa emerged from the swirling frost.

"It seems your so-called 'spores' were just a bluff. My army is perfectly fine," the Tsaritsa said with a cold smile as she surveyed her troops. "Or did you have a sudden change of heart and decide not to kill the Snezhnayans who admire and respect you?"

"To me, they are mere ants. The only reason I didn't crush them earlier was that it wasn't necessary,"

Lucas sighed. "But if those ants stand in my way, that changes things. Now, Your Majesty, watch closely…"

"Bloom, flesh flowers."

Lucas's voice was as ominous as a whisper from the god of death. Suddenly, a piercing scream split the air as a soldier's eyeball popped out of its socket, and from the hollow eye, a blood-red flower bloomed. Then another soldier, and another...

Screams, curses, and wails filled the air. What had been an orderly army was now a chaotic scene as blood-colored flowers bloomed across the ranks, spreading like crimson ink in clear water.

More than half the soldiers quickly transformed into puppets, their bodies taken over by the blood-flower parasites. Those unaffected were attacked by their comrades, their throats torn open, their spines snapped, their bellies ripped apart as chaos descended upon the once-disciplined army.

"You really did it..." The Tsaritsa murmured in disbelief. "You would trade an entire nation for one person. Is it worth it?"

"For Scaramouche, I'd trade everything."

Lucas handed Scaramouche to Rosalyne and whispered, "And of course, you too."

"Tch, so I'm just a bonus?" Rosalyne glared at him. "What… what are you planning to do?"

"Nothing much," Lucas said without turning back.

"I'm just going to kill a god."

Watching the man approaching her, the Tsaritsa, who had been so sure of her victory, suddenly felt a wave of nervousness. "Don't come any closer! I'm giving you one last chance…"

"You think you've been giving me chances this whole time? No, it's been me giving you chances." Lucas continued walking forward, undeterred. "You wanted to see rivers of blood? Fine, I'll give you more blood than you could ever imagine."

Something similar had happened 500 years ago, but this time, Lucas had no intention of holding back.

The Tsaritsa's relentless pursuit had forced him to open this Pandora's box.

"Die!"

Countless ice blades materialized behind the Tsaritsa and shot toward Lucas. With a sharp sound, one of the blades pierced through his abdomen, leaving a gaping hole.

"Doctor!" Rosalyne cried out in alarm.

But Lucas did not stop. He stepped on a nearby soldier's corpse, which dissolved into a mass of blood and flesh. Absorbing it, his wound healed instantly.

"You can't kill me. This entire city is my nourishment." Lucas's voice was cold. "Your Majesty, tell me… are you satisfied now?"

"No... don't come closer!"

The Tsaritsa could no longer maintain her composure. She unleashed all of her icy divine power.

"Glacial Freeze!"

"Absolute Zero!"

"Frost Ray!"

"Multi-Ice Arrows!"

"Furious Blizzard!"

"Cold Wave Assault!"

She unleashed a barrage of her most powerful ice-elemental abilities, sparing no effort, but no matter how severe the injuries these attacks inflicted on Lucas, his body would instantly heal by absorbing the flesh and blood of the corpses beneath him.

These "spores," created by Lucas, infected any living thing they touched, allowing him to use their bodies as fuel to restore his health.

After the thirty-fourth time his head was partially shattered and healed, Lucas finally reached the Tsaritsa. She, a proud goddess, now realized she couldn't kill this man.

"S-stop... enough already!" The Tsaritsa's spirit was finally broken. She muttered, "Go... just go! I... won't try to stop you anymore... mmm!"

Once again, Lucas extended vines from his arm to silence the Tsaritsa by covering her mouth. However, this time, the vine slipped down her throat.

This act forced the Tsaritsa to roll her eyes in agony, all grace and dignity vanishing from her face.

"Don't worry, I won't kill you. The death of a god would draw the attention of Celestia," Lucas said calmly. "Instead, I'll make sure you live for a very long time... but as a tree."

More vines extended from his arm, wrapping around the Tsaritsa's body. These agile vines quickly invaded every accessible part of her body.

After a brief, painful struggle, the Tsaritsa's expression turned blank, her will to resist completely extinguished.

The surface of the vines pulsed, delivering nutrients to the Tsaritsa as her body transformed into a towering tree, standing in front of the palace with only her face visible. From her vine-covered mouth, muffled words could barely be heard:

"Kill... kill me..."

"Don't worry, everything dies eventually," Lucas said, detaching his arm once more. "You'll probably last a few thousand years... in this form."

[Achievement Unlocked: Godslayer]

[Talent Acquired: Slayer of Archons]

[Effect: Damage against all Archon-class targets is increased by 100%]

Well, this talent is like getting a Lamborghini coupon for five dollars.

No matter how powerful Lucas became in the simulator, it was still just a simulation. In reality, he'd be lucky to even scratch the Tsaritsa. Even with a 100% damage boost, 1 point doubled is still just 2 points!

[Exiting Immersive Mode]

[Entering Text Mode]

[Age 542: The Harlequin and the Director returned to Snezhnaya and were shocked by the events that had transpired. However, rather than confront you, they proposed a "deal."]

[Snezhnaya would no longer pursue the matter of the Doctor, Lady, or Scaramouche's actions, but you had to contain the spread of the spores. You accepted the deal.]

[Age 543: Snezhnaya publicly declared that a devastating plague had ravaged the nation, killing over 70% of the population. The Tsaritsa had exhausted her divine power in trying to contain the plague and went into seclusion. The Harlequin assumed temporary leadership of the Fatui.]

[This great "calamity" forced other nations to abandon any plans to hold Snezhnaya accountable, including the issue of Scaramouche and the Gnosis. Everything was swept under the rug.]

[Snezhnaya's national power plummeted from being the strongest of the Seven Nations, leaving it in a weakened state. The Gnosis Collection Plan had to be postponed indefinitely.]

[You, Scaramouche, and Lady retired to a vineyard in Sumeru, changing your names and living in seclusion. You spent your days leisurely, occasionally helping nearby villagers with minor medical issues.]

[Since Sumeru didn't prohibit polygamy, your three-person household didn't raise any suspicions. However, Scaramouche and Rosalyn continued to butt heads, leaving you stuck in the middle of their frequent conflicts.]

[Their disputes escalated, especially at night, when things became even more intense... though the only one left utterly exhausted was you.]

[Age 544: One day, you encountered a golden-haired girl with an unusual emergency food companion. She seemed to be searching for her brother.]

[Age 545: You adopted a few children.]

[Age 546: You established a trade partnership with Mondstadt's Dawn Winery.]

...

[Age 570: The children you adopted grew up to become prominent figures in various fields in Sumeru.]

...

[Age 580: Rosalyn passed away peacefully after the fire within her finally burned out.]

...

[Age 584: Scaramouche passed away, and when she died, the Gnosis emerged from her body. You discreetly returned it to Inazuma.]

...

-----

[Year 601: You passed away peacefully with no remaining attachments. Though you never had children, your funeral was filled with people who had benefited from your kindness throughout your life. They probably wouldn't believe that the elderly man lying in the coffin with a smile was once a villain who desecrated corpses, destroyed nations, and killed god.]

[This life simulation has ended.]

[Cause of death: Died of old age.]

[Overall evaluation: Peaceful demise.]

[Your rewards have been sent and are available for viewing at any time.]

As this long journey finally came to an end, Lucas felt a mix of emotions, unable to calm his heart.

Unlike his previous two simulations, this time, it felt like he had genuinely lived for 600 years.

"So, this time, I ended my life as a good person?" Lucas mused. "Isn't this supposed to be the Villain Simulator?"

[There are plenty of villains in this world who die peacefully. That is the true nature of the Villain Simulator.]

The system gave its answer.

And it made sense—this was a "Villain Simulator," not a "Tragic End Simulator."

Perhaps because Lucas had died so suddenly in the first two simulations, dying of old age this time felt a bit strange.

[Please choose one of the following three talents to keep as a permanent talent: "Medical Sage," "Die of Old Age," or "Old but Vigorous."]

Was there really any choice here? Of course, it had to be [Medical Sage]—not only was it a golden talent, but the other two would only become useful in the real world 30 or 40 years later.

[You've acquired the permanent talent "Medical Sage (Gold)."]

[Medical Sage (Gold): You possess an exceptionally powerful talent in medicine, destined to use your knowledge to change the course of history.]

After selecting the permanent reward, Lucas casually checked the system inventory, curious to see how many rewards this simulation had yielded.

Typically, rewards were based on achievements and how long you survived in the simulation. After living for 600 years, the rewards should be substantial.

[This simulation's rewards: A-rank loot box ×3, S-rank loot box ×1, Gold-tier talent ×1.]

In addition to loot boxes, there was even a talent reward?

And not just any talent—another golden talent!

Two golden talents from one simulation. This was a jackpot! Combined with the loot boxes, this simulation's rewards were six to seven times more valuable than the previous one.

[Dendro Archon's Gene (Gold)]

[Effect: The gene of the Dendro God takes root in your body, granting you the ability to wield the purest Dendro Elemental power. As your strength grows, your elemental power will increase.]

So, it was the Dendro Archon's gene from the simulation?

Based on the description, it seemed like Lucas couldn't yet wield the overwhelming power he had in the simulation.

Out of curiosity, Lucas reached toward a decorative potted plant nearby and concentrated. "Grow!"

In Teyvat, only those with a Vision could manipulate elemental power. For those blessed with a Vision, using elemental energy was as natural as walking or eating.

Lucas could feel the elemental power coursing through his body, but he wasn't sure how to control it. The plant in the pot only swayed slightly—whether in response to his elemental power or simply to a passing breeze, he couldn't tell.

"Well..." Feeling embarrassed as people around him gave him strange looks, Lucas lowered his hand and blushed. "Looks like I need more practice."

But just then, Master Mao, who had just entered the backyard to gather ingredients, was startled.

The sapling he had planted in the yard only a month ago had somehow grown into a massive tree, several stories tall, thick enough for two people to wrap their arms around.

"Holy moly, looks like that fertilizer I bought really worked wonders!" Master Mao exclaimed. "What was it called again... something like Golden Fertilizer?"

...

Of course, Lucas had no idea that his elemental power had merely targeted the wrong plant.

Now it was time to open the loot boxes.

[Opened A-rank loot box. Talent acquired: "A Knight Never Fights Barehanded."]

[A Knight Never Fights Barehanded (Purple)]

[Effect: You can treat any object in your hand as a weapon, imbuing it with special properties.]

[Description: Even a mop with dung on it becomes a mighty weapon in your hands.]

A purple talent from an A-rank loot box, huh?

Not bad, though the description was a bit... odd. Lancelot would probably want to hit someone for this.

[Opened A-rank loot box. Equipment acquired: "Mask of Disguise."]

[Mask of Disguise]

[Effect: When worn, this mask allows you to take on the appearance of any individual you've seen (you can only transform into someone you've encountered).]

[Description: If you're planning on impersonating someone's significant other, make sure to take precautions.]

A transformation mask? If it weren't for that suggestive description, he wouldn't have even thought of using it like that...

[Opened A-rank loot box. Equipment acquired: "Nano Battle Suit (Youth Edition)."]

[Nano Battle Suit (Youth Edition)]

[Effect: A nanosuit that can be equipped and repaired at the molecular level, enhancing the user's physical abilities. Its appearance can change based on the user's preferences.]

[Description: The "Youth Edition" just sounds better. It's actually the cheap version.]

Then just call it the cheap version! Damn it!

Still, Lucas was interested in this reward. After all, who wouldn't want a superhero suit? Maybe he could be like the mysterious Darknight Hero over in Mondstadt.

[Opened S-rank loot box. Talent acquired: "Lord of the Undead."]

[Lord of the Undead (Gold)]

[Effect: All undead creatures will have a favorable impression of you, and you can command undead creatures weaker than yourself.]

[Description: Please refrain from doing anything weird to corpses.]

Another talent?

And it seemed related to his experiences in the simulation.

The only downside... there didn't seem to be any undead creatures in Teyvat—no skeleton soldiers or zombies. This was a 12+ game, after all. Including anything scary would probably lead to complaints from parents.

While it was a golden talent, it felt somewhat useless.

Wait, would the little zombie Qiqi count as undead?

After opening the four loot boxes, the rewards were decent, though they didn't seem to provide any immediate power boosts.

Or was this part of the system's design?

...

"Customer, thanks for waiting!"

At that moment, Xiangling cheerfully brought the food to the table with a grin. "Here's a special dish of mine—Spicy Slime. It's a complimentary dish for new customers. Enjoy!"

Lucas looked down at the Slime on the plate. The Slime looked back at Lucas. The air between them grew awkward.

Was this... really edible?

Just as Lucas was about to dig in, a loud, rough voice boomed from a nearby table.

"Hey, lil' sis! You think you can just ignore me, Brother Hu? It's your honor that I'm asking you to share a meal! Don't you go giving me the cold shoulder!"

Lucas looked up and saw a large, bald man standing at a nearby table. And sitting at the table was a silver-haired girl who looked rather familiar...

Wait, wasn't that Shenhe?

Although Lucas had never met Shenhe in real life, they had shared numerous "close interactions" during the simulations.

Lucas knew every detail about her, including the location of her moles, so naturally, he recognized her instantly.

However, despite his excitement, he quickly reminded himself that this was the real world, where he and Shenhe had no connection whatsoever.

At the moment, she seemed to be in a bit of trouble.

Standing in front of her was a man calling himself "Brother Hu," a burly thug covered in tattoos. He was clearly one of the local ruffians, and two lackeys stood by his side.

Brother Hu's gaze held an obvious malice, likely attracted by Shenhe's beauty, leading him to harass her.

However, Shenhe's expression remained completely calm. She reached for a booklet at her waist—it was none other than "Cloud Retainer's Guide to Polite Conversation."

Frowning slightly, Shenhe began flipping through the pages. After reading a few, she nodded and muttered to herself, "Hmm... Master wrote that when a stranger offers to buy me a meal, I should respond like this..."

"Hey! I'm talking to you! Can't you hear me?" Brother Hu, growing impatient, raised his voice.

Shenhe cleared her throat and recited, word for word: "Who do you think you are? Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Do you really think you're worthy of inviting me to dinner?"

Brother Hu's face immediately darkened. The veins on his forehead bulged as he shouted, "You damn woman! Are you mocking me?!"

At that, Shenhe squinted at the booklet again and read aloud, "Angry, are we?"

"You—!" 

Brother Hu, enraged, raised his hand to strike Shenhe, but before he could react, there was a soft "crack" sound. He felt a sharp pain shoot through his fingers and looked up to find that one of them had been snapped cleanly, bent at an unnatural angle.

Then, pain shot through his lower back and buttocks. With two swift "thuds," two strange cylindrical objects fell to the ground—obviously thrown at him.

Brother Hu looked around, scanning the restaurant. The patrons, initially interested in the scene, quickly turned away to avoid trouble with the thug.

"Damn it! You wanna play dirty, huh?" Despite knowing the person who struck him was powerful, Brother Hu tried to maintain his bravado. "You just wait! I'll be at Tiger Rock Street, and if I catch you, you're dead meat!"

Clutching his injured rear, he limped out of the restaurant with the help of his two lackeys, grimacing in pain.

"Those guys are notorious bullies from Tiger Rock Street. I wonder which expert stepped in to teach them a lesson," Xiangling, who hadn't left yet, gave Lucas a cheerful smile. "If I find out who it was, I'll treat them to one of my special dishes!"

Lucas could only smile in response, staying silent.

He wasn't one for drawing attention, and besides, who knew what kind of bizarre "special dish" Xiangling might serve?

Of course, it was Lucas who used his M1911 pistol, loaded with rubber bullets he had redeemed using his points. 

After all, causing a death in the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor would have caused a lot of unnecessary trouble.

[You have earned 500 Virtue Points!]

As expected, a classic act of "saving the damsel in distress" immediately earned him some points.

As for Shenhe, Lucas briefly considered approaching her but decided against it. The bond they shared in the simulator should stay there. 

Besides, seeing how cold and distant Shenhe seemed, if he tried to strike up a conversation now, he'd likely end up with the same fate as that "Brother Hu."

However, Lucas wasn't aware that Shenhe had already cast her gaze toward him.

Though her face showed no expression, her mind was in turmoil.

How was this possible?

The man sitting there wasn't just anyone—he was the same man who had appeared in her dreams, threatening her with Chongyun's safety, forcing her into unspeakable acts, and attempting to deceive her.

There was no mistake!

Even if the age was slightly different, his face, his demeanor, even the smallest gestures were identical to the man from her dreams!

It couldn't be a coincidence—there had to be a connection between this man and the villain from her nightmares.

Moreover, the person who had just helped her by throwing those projectiles... seemed to be him as well.

Could it be... that he knew who she was?

The thought made Shenhe's cheeks flush slightly.

If he did know her, then he might also be aware of what happened in the dreams...

There was no way she could just walk up and ask him directly if he recognized her. For now, all she could do was wait and observe, hoping for the right moment to find out more.

----

When it came to combat and exorcising demons, Shenhe was certainly confident, but having spent years training in seclusion, she wasn't very skilled at interacting with people.

Luckily, she had the booklet her master had left her. With its help, she was sure she could figure out what was really going on with that man.

Perhaps due to her preoccupied thoughts or her usual diet of bland food, the delicious dishes on the table seemed tasteless to Shenhe. She kept a close eye on Lucas's every move, waiting until he finished eating and left the restaurant. She stood up immediately, ready to follow him secretly.

"Excuse me…" Just then, Xiangling suddenly blocked her path, looking a bit embarrassed. "Could you wait a moment?"

"Is there something you need?" Shenhe asked coldly.

Although her beauty was undeniable, she was as cold as ice. Moreover, with her destined fate of Lone Calamity Star, she often exuded an aura of foreboding that could be quite intimidating.

Poor Xiangling was so scared she almost burst into tears, nervously stammering, "Y-you haven't paid your bill yet."

"My… apologies…" Shenhe finally realized her mistake, quickly taking out some Mora and stuffing it into Xiangling's hands. "Is this enough?"

"It's… it's too much…" Xiangling quickly replied.

"Doesn't matter. You can keep it all!" Shenhe brushed past Xiangling and hurried outside.

Shenhe's full attention was focused on Lucas, and she failed to notice that as she stepped out of the restaurant, several unfriendly eyes were already following her.

....

"Man, the food at Wanmin Restaurant is really top-notch," Lucas muttered as he turned into an alley, taking a shortcut. "I should head back and report in."

"Hold on."

A slender, snow-white arm suddenly stretched out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I have some questions for you."

Lucas instantly recognized the voice—it was Shenhe's, a voice he had heard countless times in the simulation. 

But unlike now, it was usually him standing behind Shenhe, speaking while… "assisting" her.

Startled for a moment, Lucas quickly regained his composure, turning around with a calm smile. "Oh? Young lady, I don't believe we've met. What can I do for you?"

Despite his polite words, when Lucas turned and saw the girl before him, his eyes couldn't help but reveal a flicker of something… familiar.

Shenhe was wearing a form-fitting black silk outfit that highlighted her nearly unfairly perfect figure. Her abdomen, toned from years of training, showed the clear lines of muscle, and her upper garment, embroidered with delicate golden threads, strained to cover her full chest, giving the impression it might burst at any moment.

A red string wound from her shoulder blades around her neck, adding a touch of sensuality to her icy demeanor.

Although only her smooth, snow-white shoulders were exposed, she exuded an irresistible allure.

'Yes! That gaze!'

Even though Lucas's glance at her body had only lasted a moment, Shenhe was all too familiar with the desire in his eyes.

It was the same lustful look that wanted to devour her whole, leaving nothing behind.

However, a single glance wasn't enough to confirm whether this man had any connection to the villain from her dreams. Keeping her emotions in check, Shenhe said coldly, "Thank you for helping out at the restaurant earlier."

As she spoke, Shenhe took out a rubber bullet and furrowed her brow. "This concealed weapon is blunt, soft, and lacking sharpness. If it had been a plum blossom dart or a flying stone, that scoundrel would likely be dead by now."

While the continent of Teyvat had long-range weapons like guns, they typically used elemental ammunition and were large and noticeable.

What Lucas had used, his M1911 pistol, was fundamentally different. So, it was no surprise that Shenhe mistook it for a concealed weapon.

Still, the fact that this object could break bone? The person who wielded it was definitely formidable.

"Just helping where I can, nothing to thank me for," Lucas replied, laughing awkwardly when he realized Shenhe had noticed something unusual. "That thug was rude, but he didn't deserve death. A light punishment was enough."

Strange…

Shenhe couldn't help but feel suspicious. In her dream, this man had been a ruthless, cunning villain, completely different from the mild-mannered person standing before her.

Could she have been mistaken? Or was he simply putting on an act?

"You thought you could escape me?"

Suddenly, a familiar angry voice came from behind. Brother Hu had returned, bringing with him the two lackeys from earlier and a squat, bald man with beady eyes.

"Knife Brother, that's the guy who blindsided me!" Brother Hu pointed at Lucas, adding dramatically, "He wasn't just hitting me—he was slapping your face!"

Despite his unremarkable appearance, Knife Brother carried himself with a steady air, and hanging at his waist was none other than a bright red Vision!

Lucas couldn't help but grumble internally. How does a guy like this get a Vision?

"You're done for! Knife Brother is a big deal around Tiger Rock Street!" Brother Hu smirked, his face scrunched up in fury. "You're gonna get what's coming to you!"

As Lucas pondered how to handle the situation, he suddenly felt something soft. He turned and saw that Shenhe had wrapped her arm around his, holding that strange booklet in her other hand. Without expression, she read aloud, "He's my man. You dare touch him, and you'll answer to me!"

Is she reading from that booklet again?

Lucas was speechless. What kind of weird stuff did that booklet teach her?

In truth, with Shenhe's strength, these thugs were no more than pests. She was only acting this way to gauge Lucas's reaction.

"Hu, we could take them down, no problem, but we should avoid unnecessary conflict," Knife Brother said, squinting his eyes until they were nearly invisible. "How about this—pay us 500,000 Mora for medical expenses, and I'll let you go."

"But…" Lucas responded calmly, "What if I don't pay?"

"You're asking for it!" Brother Hu yelled furiously. "Knife Brother, teach him a lesson!"

"So be it! I'll show you the power of a Vision!" Knife Brother raised his hand, puffed out his cheeks, and spat out a stream of flames toward Lucas.

It was clearly meant to mimic a Pyro Vision skill.

But Lucas only smirked, walking through the flames to grab Knife Brother by the wrist, making him yelp in pain. A small plastic device slipped from Knife Brother's hand, which Lucas caught with ease.

"Did you think I'd fall for this?" Lucas toyed with the plastic device, laughing. "A cheap Sumeru fire starter, along with some high-proof alcohol—great for street performances, but trying to pass it off as a Vision? That's just sad."

Indeed, the fire trick was nothing but a cheap stunt. While it wouldn't fool anyone in Lucas's time, in the less technologically advanced Liyue, it could still deceive plenty of people.

Realizing his trick had been exposed, Knife Brother turned pale, pleading, "B-brother, we're just trying to make a living… Please, have mercy."

"Mercy? Sure. I'm not a bad guy." Lucas smiled coldly before shoving the fire starter into Knife Brother's mouth. "Just chew it up, and I'll let you go."

Knife Brother knew full well what chewing the device would do, but for some reason, the man before him seemed completely different now—his aura was darker, more menacing. That glint in his eyes… no one without blood on their hands could possess such a gaze.

Without hesitation, Knife Brother closed his eyes and bit down hard. With a loud "pop," the fire starter exploded, taking a few of his teeth with it.

"Hmph…" Lucas finally let go, laughing as he said, "Now scram."

As he watched the thugs stumble away in fear, a satisfied grin crept across Lucas's face. At the same time, the system's voice echoed in his mind:

[How does it feel to embrace the dark side? Isn't it nice?]

The system's voice instantly caused Lucas's smile to freeze on his face.

That's right—why was he feeling a sense of joy from doing something bad?

Not only that, but deep down, Lucas had genuinely felt a murderous urge when facing Knife Brother. If the man had resisted even a little, he might have crushed his throat without hesitation.

After all, in the simulator's immersive mode, the Lucas who had destroyed Mondstadt, invaded Natlan, and corrupted Snezhnaya had taken countless lives. Killing a petty thug was no more significant to him than squashing an ant.

Cold sweat began to drip down Lucas's forehead.

When had he become like this?

Could it really be, as the system suggested, that he was slowly and subtly becoming an evil person, influenced by the simulator?

Lucas wasn't the only one who noticed something odd. Even Shenhe, standing behind him, felt a moment of surprise from the scene she had just witnessed.

Though brief, both the man in front of her and the villain from her dreams exuded the same familiar aura—a menacing wickedness.

"P-please don't misunderstand!" Lucas quickly tried to explain. "I... I was just scaring them a little. I didn't think he'd actually..."

"What's the problem?" Shenhe replied calmly. "For such despicable scoundrels, this is the proper way to deal with them."

To Lucas's surprise, Shenhe didn't find his behavior problematic at all. She casually opened the notebook she had been carrying, flipping to the last page, and mumbled to herself while making a note, "Taught two villains a lesson... that leaves… hmm, ninety-seven… no, ninety-eight more."

"What are you talking about?" Lucas asked, puzzled.

Shenhe was referring to the tasks her master, Cloud Retainer, had given her before she left the mountains: defeat one hundred demons, teach one hundred villains a lesson, and perform one hundred good deeds.

"Nothing important," Shenhe replied nonchalantly. "Just a mission from my master."

"Master?" Lucas's eyes widened in surprise.

Whoa, she's really into this role-playing thing!

"N-no, I misspoke!" Shenhe's face flushed slightly as she quickly corrected herself. "I meant my teacher! I've spent most of my life in the mountains, and now I've come down to the city for training, following the tasks my teacher set for me."

Due to her experiences in the simulator, where she had been coerced by Lucas to call him "master", the word had slipped out naturally when she saw him. After all, in the simulator, Lucas had indeed acted as her "master", often assigning her various "little tasks."

"I see..." Lucas nodded. "While Liyue is mostly a peaceful place, there are still people with ill intentions. Miss Shenhe, since you're unfamiliar with the world, it's best to stay cautious."

"Wait a minute!" Shenhe suddenly narrowed her eyes and asked, "How do you know… my name?"

Crap!

Lucas's heart skipped a beat. He had unconsciously called out her name.

"Be… because…" Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. Pointing at the book in Shenhe's hand, he said, "I saw your name written on the back of that book."

Shenhe flipped the book over, and indeed, there it was, neatly inscribed: "A Gift from Cloud Retainer to Her Disciple Shenhe."

For some reason, seeing those words gave Shenhe an inexplicable sense of disappointment. For a brief moment, she had nearly confirmed the man's identity.

"But calling someone by name without an introduction might be considered impolite," Lucas said, laughing awkwardly. "Nice to meet you. My name is Lucas."

Lucas!

Upon hearing those three words, Shenhe felt as though lightning had struck her. She instinctively clenched her fists but quickly relaxed them. Her lips, once tightly pressed, softened into a slight smile.

This was destiny presenting her with an opportunity!

As someone born under the fate of "Lone Calamity Star," Shenhe believed more than anyone in the concept of destiny. Those dreams she had experienced were likely premonitions, guiding her to punish this villain! Now, all she needed to do was catch him committing some evil act, and then she could bring him to justice!

Lucas, of course, had no idea why Shenhe was suddenly giving him such an odd smile. Feeling a bit awkward, he said, "Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be on my way…"

"W-wait a moment!" Shenhe instinctively grabbed his wrist and said, "Mr. Lucas, could you help me with one more small favor?"

Lucas was naturally a helpful person, and this was Shenhe asking, after all, so he nodded. "Of course. What do you need?"

[You've earned 500 Virtue Points!]

Besides, doing good deeds earned points!

"I just arrived in the city and don't have a place to stay. I was hoping to rent a house in Liyue," Shenhe quickly came up with an excuse. "Could you help me find one?"

This request seemed reasonable enough. Given Shenhe's apparent lack of worldly experience, she didn't seem like someone who could haggle over prices. In Liyue, where most people were skilled merchants, she might be taken advantage of.

"No problem. There's a real estate agency nearby," Lucas replied, leading the way. "Follow me."

In Liyue Harbor, where land was precious, property prices were sky-high. Many young people couldn't afford to buy homes, so the rental market was booming.

Inside the agency:

"Welcome!" the real estate agent greeted them warmly. "What kind of service can I offer you?"

"We're looking to rent a place." Lucas answered.

"Of course, of course!" The agent glanced at Lucas and Shenhe, smiling meaningfully. "We have many lovely homes perfect for couples. Take a look at this one, with a luxurious bath! And this one, this bed even has a vibration feature…"

"Ahem!" Lucas's face turned red with embarrassment. "You've got it wrong. We're not a couple. Just a single room will do."

"My apologies," the agent said, slightly embarrassed. "Do you have any specific requirements?"

"The requirements are simple," Shenhe suddenly spoke up. "The living room needs to be spacious, and there should be a large desk and a sofa…"

"Uh…" The agent was puzzled. "Are you looking for an office?"

Shenhe had described the layout of Lucas's student council office from her memory.

"What I plan to do with it is none of your business," Shenhe said coldly. "Just tell me if you have something that fits."

"Well, we do have places like that, but…" The agent rubbed his fingers together suggestively. "They'll be more expensive than a regular single room."

...

"How much?" Shenhe frowned slightly.

The agent pulled out a form and said, "The rent is 100,000 Mora per month, with a deposit of one month and three months' rent in advance."

"100,000 Mora?" Shenhe's eyes widened in surprise. "That's…"

"I know, it's a bit expensive," the agent shrugged. "That's why renting a regular house is a more economical option."

"Too cheap," Shenhe finished her sentence aloud, "If it's that cheap, there's no need to rent it at all. I might as well just buy it."

"Are you serious, Miss Shenhe?" Lucas asked awkwardly. "Buying a house is something that should be carefully considered."

Shenhe responded calmly, "It's fine. Before I left the mountains, my master told me that wealth is just an external possession. If it needs to be spent, don't hesitate."

"May I ask, how much of these 'external possessions' did your master give you?" Lucas asked, swallowing nervously.

"I didn't count exactly," Shenhe said nonchalantly. "Probably several tens of millions."

Lucas: "..."

Indeed, Shenhe's master, Cloud Retainer, was one of Liyue's ancient immortals and likely possessed a vast collection of valuable treasures. And being an old friend of Morax, Liyue's Archon of Geo, she would certainly never lack Mora.

After a brief negotiation, Shenhe directly bought the office.

The location wasn't too far, and due to Shenhe's "enthusiastic invitation," Lucas had no choice but to accompany her there.

For some reason, as soon as they entered the large office, Lucas felt a strange sense of déjà vu, especially seeing the spacious ebony desk in the center of the room. It stirred up many memories for him.

After all, this had once been one of the workplaces he shared with Shenhe.

Sometimes, while Lucas handled paperwork, Shenhe would silently do her own tasks at her station, helping to relieve his stress.

However, this office didn't have a privacy screen under the desk, which might be inconvenient...

Wait!

Why was he thinking about such inappropriate things again?!

Lucas quickly shook his head to clear it and casually asked, "This office is pretty big, but there's no bed. Miss Shenhe, where do you plan to sleep?"

"Where to sleep?" Shenhe sat directly on top of the desk, her long legs swinging slightly. Her eyes, not hidden by her bangs, stared straight at Lucas. "This desk is quite spacious. It should be fine to use it as a bed."

"Sleeping on a desk?" Lucas was puzzled. "Wouldn't it be a bit… too hard?"

"No worries, I actually prefer it harder," Shenhe said, patting the solid ebony surface. "It's more comfortable to sleep on."

These words didn't come from Cloud Retainer's handbook but were lines Shenhe had thought up, based on her memories from the dreams.

In the dreams, Lucas was a hypocrite who appeared gentlemanly but was secretly a beast. Faced with her provocations now, how could he remain unmoved?

As long as he showed any inappropriate intentions, she would immediately subdue him!

"Miss Shenhe…" Lucas stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

Gulp…

Seeing the familiar face in front of her, Shenhe suddenly felt a sense of nervousness.

Was it happening now?

Logically, she should feel angry, but for some reason, there was a strange hint of anticipation in her heart.

No, no!

What I'm looking forward to is bringing this villain to justice, not anything else!

Without saying a word, Lucas reached out, placing his hand on Shenhe's back.

The warmth and roughness of his palm made Shenhe's body tremble slightly.

Countless scenes from her dreams flashed through Shenhe's mind, each one vivid despite being mere dreams.

Finally, you're revealing your true nature!

But to her surprise, Lucas suddenly squeezed her shoulder and said seriously, "Miss Shenhe, sleeping on hard surfaces for too long is bad for your health, especially your spine. I just checked, and your spine is already a bit misaligned. Have you been feeling occasional pain in your vertebrae?"

Thanks to his newly acquired [Medical Sage] talent and the knowledge and experience gained in the simulator, Lucas had become quite the skilled physician. Such minor issues were easily apparent to him.

"I… I have felt a bit of pain recently…" Shenhe said, her expression turning blank.

Wait… This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

Shouldn't he have taken the opportunity to embrace me, and then... 

"Good thing you met me!" Lucas's healer instincts kicked in, and he smiled. "Lie down, and I'll give you a quick massage to relieve your symptoms."

"W-wait, I…"

…

Half an hour later.

Shenhe lay on the desk, her face full of satisfaction.

This felt… too good!

After spending so long in the mountains training under Cloud Retainer, Shenhe had lived a spartan life—eating bland food and sleeping on cold, hard stone beds. Massage, something as indulgent as this, was completely foreign to her.

Now, she felt as if her muscles had been unlocked, her entire body reborn.

[You've earned 1000 Virtue Points!]

Lucas cracked his knuckles and said, "You should really buy a proper bed. I don't know what kind of life you've been living, but every now and then… you should be kind to yourself."

'Be kind to myself?'

Shenhe pondered over these words. Indeed, she had always been overly harsh with herself, even believing that any form of enjoyment was a sin.

Moreover, throughout the massage, Lucas's hands had been very professional—he didn't take advantage of her in any way.

Could it be that she had misunderstood all along? Was this man simply someone who coincidentally looked and acted like the villain from her dreams, but was actually a good person?

While Shenhe was lost in thought, Lucas's gaze unconsciously drifted to her figure sprawled on the desk.

This scene was so familiar.

And in his eyes, a glint of desire flickered uncontrollably.

[What are you waiting for? Don't hold back—do what you really want…]

The system's voice whispered, like a devil tempting him to release his true nature.

At that very moment, Shenhe turned her head, catching sight of Lucas's eyes, which were as deep and dark as abyss.

That deep, longing gaze and expression—already etched into Shenhe's very soul.

A person's actions, words, and even personality can be disguised. But instincts, they can never be hidden.

It's him! It's him! It has to be him!

Shenhe leaped off the desk as if she had been shocked by electricity, her expression tense. "You… are you alright?"

Lucas snapped back to reality, feeling a wave of intense heat rush through him as he looked at Shenhe.

The feeling was disturbingly similar to the one he had experienced earlier when bullying those two thugs in the alley. Both times, he had failed to control his dark thoughts. If Shenhe hadn't suddenly spoken up… the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Sorry, I… I'm not feeling too well…" Lucas, overwhelmed by the heat, quickly took off his jacket and placed it to the side, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I'll borrow the restroom for a moment."

Without daring to meet Shenhe's eyes again, he hurriedly turned and headed to the bathroom.

Splashing water onto his face at the sink, the cold sensation helped to cool the burning heat within him.

But as he lifted his head, he was startled to see the reflection in the mirror. Though it looked just like him, the man staring back was filled with malice, wearing a wicked grin.

"Who… who are you?" Lucas muttered.

"I am you," the reflection replied. "The real you—the evil within. Admit it, your so-called kindness is nothing but a pitiful façade. Only through committing evil can you feel true satisfaction and joy."

"Shut up!"

In a burst of anger, Lucas punched the mirror, shattering the glass. The sinister reflection disappeared along with the fragments.

Everything returned to silence.

His fist, sliced by the broken glass, bled briefly before healing at a rapid rate, thanks to his [Regenerative Factor] ability.

It was as though the whole ordeal had been a nightmare.

"What just happened, Xiao Xi?" Lucas asked, breathing heavily. "Was that… another one of your tricks?"

[This system does not interfere with the host. Its purpose is to test whether the host can maintain their moral compass after experiencing a life of evil.]

"So, that was… my own dark thoughts?" Lucas murmured. "Could I really have been influenced by the simulator?"

[Unfortunately, this system cannot provide an explanation for that.]

"So, if I fail this test," Lucas asked anxiously, "if I truly fall to my dark thoughts, what will happen to me?"

[Every life you live within the simulator serves as a reference.]

Of course, if the real-world Lucas were to succumb to evil, becoming a true villain, it would essentially be a live-action version of the [Villain Simulator]—except this time, instead of starting with just three talents, he had amassed numerous powerful rewards.

If he truly became a villain, the havoc he could wreak would be far worse than what the "Doctor" version of himself had caused in the simulator.

No. He couldn't let that happen.

Taking a deep breath, Lucas muttered to himself, "I absolutely… won't lose to my dark side."

...

Rewind to a few minutes earlier.

Watching Lucas rush into the restroom, Shenhe's suspicions hadn't faded in the slightest.

Could he be trying to hide something?

Ever since meeting Lucas, Shenhe's suspicions had been fluctuating wildly. Each time she thought he was a villain, he would do something good. But when she started to think he was a good person, he would show traces of malice and wickedness.

This constant back-and-forth had left the sheltered Shenhe thoroughly confused.

At that moment, her gaze fell on the jacket Lucas had left on the desk.

Maybe she could find some clues in his personal belongings.

Yes, if he truly was a villain, he might be carrying something incriminating.

Lacking much common knowledge about human interactions, Shenhe didn't realize that rummaging through someone's things was considered highly impolite. After all, in her mind, she was only doing this to punish a potential evildoer.

"Let's see…" Shenhe muttered as she began searching through the jacket.

"A few Mora… not much." To Shenhe, who had access to vast wealth, Lucas's amount of money seemed pitifully small.

"And this lump of iron… some kind of mechanism?" She put aside the M1911 pistol, not recognizing what it was.

Then her fingers brushed against a piece of paper.

"A picture…" Shenhe murmured, pulling out a photograph. "My master mentioned these are called photos."

But when she saw the image, Shenhe's pupils dilated in shock.

In the photo, Lucas was intimately embracing a beautiful blue-haired woman. The closeness of their relationship was unmistakable.

Not only that, but the woman's beauty and grace were extraordinary, to the point that even Shenhe, who was confident in her own appearance, felt a twinge of inferiority.

This woman… Could she be Lucas's lover?

Otherwise, why would they be so close, and why would he carry this photo so close to his heart?

------

No wonder Lucas hadn't reacted at all to her subtle actions earlier. Of course, with a companion like that, how could any other woman catch his eye?

For some reason, as Shenhe thought of this, a bitter feeling welled up deep inside her.

Strange, why did she feel so upset?

But soon, that bitterness was replaced by surprise.

She noticed that the blue-haired woman in the photograph had black and red horns, and the style of her clothing was also quite similar to her own—likely crafted by Cloud Retainer herself.

Horns like a qilin, wearing frost and dew, with unparalleled beauty…

There couldn't be anyone else in Liyue Harbor who fit these characteristics.

"Lucas's companion…" Shenhe muttered to herself, "is Senior Sister Ganyu?"

Though Shenhe had never met Ganyu personally, Cloud Retainer had often mentioned her. Shenhe wasn't worldly, but she wasn't foolish either. Connecting the clues, it wasn't difficult to deduce Ganyu's identity.

"Sorry for the wait."

Just then, the bathroom door swung open.

Oh no!

Shenhe panicked, quickly placing the photo down and grabbing the M1911 she had tossed aside earlier, pretending to inspect it out of curiosity.

Her posture resembled that of a student caught off guard by a question in class, as if she were about to say, "Wow, this iron lump sure is… iron."

But when Lucas saw her, his gentle demeanor vanished, and he shouted, "Don't move!"

Startled by his sudden outburst, Shenhe dropped the M1911, and it clattered to the floor.

Lucas lunged forward, catching the gun mid-air, and only after ensuring the safety was still engaged did he let out a sigh of relief.

The reason for his reaction wasn't anger at Shenhe for messing with his belongings, but fear that she might accidentally harm herself. 

No matter how strong she was, a firearm at such close range was dangerous.

"Why did you touch my stuff?" Lucas scolded instinctively.

"I… I…" Shenhe, flustered by his anger, felt a pang of hurt. Her face flushed red as she struggled to respond, looking both aggrieved and confused. "I was just curious."

Seeing her expression, Lucas realized his tone had been too harsh, and he softened it. "This thing is dangerous. You shouldn't handle it carelessly."

"If something broke, I'd pay for it," Shenhe muttered with a pout, her lips trembling. "My master gave me plenty of Mora anyway."

"It's not about the money," Lucas said, his tone serious. "Taking something without permission is theft. If you had done this with someone else's belongings, they might have reported you as a thief."

"A thief?" Shenhe's face darkened. "Is it really that serious?"

Shenhe had never considered these things before. Her mission upon descending from the mountains was to punish evildoers, but now she herself had committed a petty crime. If her master found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Cloud Retainer had sternly warned that her disciples must never commit crimes. The punishment ranged from ten years of solitary confinement to being stripped of their powers and expelled from the sect.

"Yes," Lucas casually added, "You wouldn't want your master finding out that you've become a thief, would you?"

That sentence… it sounded so familiar.

Of course, in the dream, this man had used the same threat to blackmail her, leveraging Chongyun to control her!

It had to be him. They were the same person!

Shenhe assumed Lucas was using the same trick to threaten her now, just like in the dream.

So, that's it.

Leaving the coat out was bait to lure her into making a mistake.

This man wasn't just as wicked as in her dreams—he was just as cunning, too!

Shenhe, how could you let yourself be fooled by the same trick twice?

"So…" Shenhe asked cautiously, "Are you going to tell my master?"

"Of course not," Lucas said, surprised by the question. "What would I gain from that?"

Hmph, hypocrite!

Clearly, he was hinting that he expected something in return.

"I understand what you're getting at." Shenhe took a deep breath. "Please don't tell my master. I'll agree to any condition. Here, I'll even give you all the Mora I have left after buying the office, as long as you keep this secret."

Even after buying the office, Shenhe still had millions of Mora remaining.

"I told you," Lucas frowned, "I'm not going to tell your master."

It seems the offer wasn't enough.

Indeed, while this man was evil, he didn't seem to care much for money. But what could she offer to make him keep quiet?

That's right. This man's favorite thing…

Isn't it… tormenting her?

Does she have to, once again, throw away her dignity to please him, just like in the dream?

Unaware of what was going on in Shenhe's mind, Lucas simply assumed her guarded behavior was a result of her unfamiliarity with the world. 

"How about this," Lucas offered, sitting down in the office chair. "If you do me one favor, I'll promise not to tell your master."

Seeing him sit in that familiar chair made Shenhe instinctively gulp.

It was a conditioned reflex at this point.

"What… what kind of favor?" she asked, pretending not to know.

"It's simple," Lucas said, stretching his neck with a smile. "Just help me relax. You know how, right?"

He thought she would just give him a shoulder massage, like the one he had just given her.

But Shenhe completely misunderstood his request.

Of course, I know what you want.

"I understand," Shenhe replied bitterly. "But… could you cover your eyes?"

"Cover my eyes?" Lucas was puzzled, but figured she was just shy. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and tied it over his eyes.

"Alright," Shenhe said in a resigned tone, "I'll begin."

Lucas couldn't help but feel a little awkward.

Wow, you're really making it seem like helping me relax is the worst thing ever.

But soon, Lucas started to realize something was off.

Before he knew it, a familiar sensation, like a jolt of electricity, ran through his body.

It was just like the experiences from the "immersive mode."

The only difference was… this office didn't have a privacy screen.

Why is Shenhe… doing this?

Lucas wanted to stop, but his body stayed glued to the chair, unable to resist his base instincts.

…

Half an hour later.

The bathroom door creaked open as Shenhe stepped out, her face slightly flushed. She wiped the corners of her mouth and said, "That should do it, right?"

"Shenhe, I think…" Lucas's expression was complicated. "We need to have a talk."

"What's wrong?" Shenhe frowned. "You didn't like it?"

In the dream, you clearly liked it.

"It's not that I didn't like it... No! This isn't about liking or not liking!" Lucas quickly shook his head. "Why did you do that?"

If Lucas remembered correctly, the real Shenhe had trained under Cloud Retainer from a young age and wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience anything like that. 

It was just... exactly like the Shenhe in the simulator.

Impossible. Everything in the simulator was fake. And if this Shenhe had any connection to the one from the simulator, she should hate him, not... do something like that.

Lucas's question left Shenhe at a loss for words.

She couldn't exactly say she learned it in a dream, right?

Ah, right... her master had once told her that if she encountered problems after coming down the mountain, she should try to solve them herself. But if the issue was too difficult, she could simply mention her master's name!

And right now, this was certainly an awkward predicament.

"My... my master taught me!" Shenhe averted her eyes slightly, telling a lie.

What?! Your master really teaches that kind of thing?

"Really?" Lucas asked, still skeptical.

"She said that if I ever met a man I liked, I could use this method to... please him." Shenhe lowered her head, staring at her toes (which, of course, she couldn't see) as her face turned red. "Your behavior earlier... I thought you were hinting at me."

So... it was my fault?

Lucas wore an expression that was both amused and exasperated. Admittedly, given what had just happened, it was understandable that Shenhe might have misunderstood.

But this misunderstanding was way too big.

"And besides," Shenhe continued, lifting her gaze to meet his eyes, "you didn't exactly stop me, did you?"

I wanted to stop... but you were just too good!

"Ahem... anyway, your master got one thing right: something like that should only be done with someone you care about," Lucas awkwardly shifted the topic. "So, in the future, you shouldn't do that with anyone else, understand?"

"I fully understand now..." Shenhe nodded thoughtfully, though still somewhat confused. "What you're saying is... you want to have me all to yourself?"

"You clearly don't understand at all!" Lucas facepalmed. "What kind of strange education did Cloud Retainer give you?"

This wasn't going well. Given Shenhe's beauty and innocent personality, if some bad person took advantage of her, she'd definitely suffer.

I have to protect her!

Maybe it was because Lucas wanted to prove to himself that he hadn't been corrupted by evil thoughts, or perhaps he just felt guilty toward the Shenhe in the simulator. Either way, he found himself determined to protect this woman.

Wait a minute!

Lucas quickly opened the system interface and used his accumulated virtue points to exchange for two Transmission Stones.

Yes, the very same ones from the simulator, which could be used like a communicator.

Although their function was simple—essentially acting like a walkie-talkie—they could only support communication between two specific individuals.

When Shenhe saw the familiar stones in Lucas's hands, her eyes widened again.

In the simulator, Lucas had used these very stones to summon her at his whim.

Could it be… he's going to do the same thing again?

"This is called a Transmission Stone," Lucas explained. "Using it, you can contact me anytime. This may not be anything special for an adeptus, so you should know how to use it, right?"

Know how to use it? Oh, I know very well!

Shenhe nodded shyly.

"Great," Lucas handed her one of the stones and said earnestly, "If you ever run into trouble, use this to let me know right away. While I may not be as powerful as Cloud Retainer, I can still get there quickly to help you."

[You've earned 1,000 Virtue Points!]

Help me with my problems?

I bet you just want me to "solve your problems!"

And quickly, huh? You really can't wait, can you?

------

'Hypocrite! You're such a hypocrite!'

Though Shenhe inwardly criticized Lucas, the cold Transmission Stone in her hand seemed to radiate a warmth that reassured her.

"You..." Shenhe's expression was complex as she asked, "Why are you being so kind to me?"

Could this be part of your trap? A way to lure me into your gentle snare, step by step?

"Though it may sound a bit embarrassing, I..." Lucas patted his chest and said, "I want to be an ally of justice!"

An ally of justice?

Hearing those words, Shenhe was momentarily stunned. Then, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, "You're such... an idiot."

"Yeah, maybe I am a bit of an idiot," Lucas scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed. "But I have to say, you really are prettier when you smile."

"What, do I look ugly when I'm not smiling?" Shenhe immediately stopped smiling.

"No, that's not what I meant!" Lucas quickly waved his hands. "In any case, if you ever run into any trouble, just contact me right away. And remember, never do what you did earlier with anyone else. Got it?"

Only with you, then?

Shenhe nodded lightly.

"It's getting late; I should head out." Lucas gathered his belongings, seemingly unaware that Shenhe had already seen the photo of him and Ganyu. "Until we meet again."

"Until... we meet again."

As she watched Lucas leave, Shenhe felt a swirl of conflicting emotions.

The evil Lucas, the kind Lucas... Which one is real?

'It seems like I can't jump to any conclusions yet. I need to keep observing him, to see through his true nature. If he's truly as irredeemable as he was in the dream, then I'll be the one to end his sinful life... again.'

"But..." Shenhe subconsciously stuck out her tongue and licked the corner of her mouth, muttering to herself, "That strange taste... it's exactly the same."

(AN: Shenhe so lewd)

...

Meanwhile, in Snezhnaya, far from Lucas's departure.

In the luxurious and solemn Queen's palace, a handsome youth dressed in the style of Inazuma stood staring at the murals on the wall, his face showing a thoughtful expression as he murmured to himself:

"That strange dream... what on earth was that?"

Despite the youthful appearance, this was none other than Scaramouche, the Sixth Harbinger of the Fatui, a figure feared by many.

Behind his seemingly innocent appearance lay a cold, ruthless heart. One moment, he could be smiling at you, and the next, a blade might already be piercing your heart.

However, at this moment, Scaramouche wore a rather complex expression.

Something strange had happened recently—he had dreamt.

Yes, the content of the dream aside, the mere fact that he, a "puppet," had dreamt at all was strange enough.

What made it even more bizarre was how long and realistic that dream had felt.

Unlike in the simulator, in the real world, Scaramouche didn't have a clear sense of his gender identity due to his unique existence.

"Yo, little pipsqueak, you're here early." 

A voice from behind interrupted Scaramouche's thoughts, causing him to frown slightly.

Turning around, he saw a tall, cold woman with a sneering expression. "Do you always wear those Inazuma clothes because you think the geta make you look taller?"

"So, Signora," Scaramouche retorted, pinching his nose mockingly, "do you spray yourself with perfume every day because your body odor is so bad? Too bad my sense of smell is too sharp, even your perfume can't mask the stench."

Indeed, this platinum-blonde hair woman was La Signora, the Eighth Harbinger of the Fatui.

"You!" Signora glared at him with fury.

This guy is just as detestable as he was in the dream.

Yes, like Scaramouche, Signora had also been affected by the system, dreaming of the events from the simulator.

However, she only dreamt about her time as "La Signora," and her memories of being "Rosalyn" were quite vague.

Because of their personalities, Signora and Scaramouche had never gotten along in reality, and now, after the events of their dream, they found each other even more unbearable.

But neither of them had any suspicions about the real-world "Doctor."

And the reason was simple...

"You two are still making such noise in the Queen's palace?" A crisp but arrogant voice interrupted them. "How... ungraceful."

A woman with short pale hair and an exaggerated outfit entered the room, hands on her hips. "You should learn from me if you want to earn the Queen's favor."

The woman looked to be in her late twenties, with a fairly attractive face, but her exaggerated smile and cunning eyes made it hard for anyone to feel much warmth toward her.

This was the reason neither Scaramouche nor Signora associated the "Doctor" in reality with the one in the dream—the real-world Doctor was a woman.

Not only that, her personality was vastly different from the Doctor they had encountered in the dream. The dream Doctor was calm and composed, while the real Doctor was arrogant and self-centered.

More importantly, in terms of both technology and personal strength, the real Doctor was completely outclassed. While this Doctor was still conducting basic human experiments, the Doctor in the dream had already built an army of undead.

No comparison, no harm.

With this in mind, both Signora and Scaramouche suddenly regarded the real Doctor with a subtle hint of disdain.

"What's with those looks?" The Doctor frowned. "It's really unpleasant."

"You'd better get used to it," Signora said coldly. "By the way, why has Her Majesty summoned just the three of us?"

"How should I know?" The Doctor shrugged. "But if I had to guess, it's probably to reward me for my recent research achievements. Honestly, being so favored by Her Majesty makes me feel both honored and humbled."

"Doctor," a maid suddenly appeared from the inner chamber, bowing slightly. "Her Majesty summons you."

"See? Only me," the Doctor said smugly, casting a proud glance at the other two. "Don't be too jealous now."

With that, she strode into the chamber, head held high, as if she had a tail wagging behind her.

But less than three minutes later, angry shouts echoed from within, and the Doctor, who had just been beaming with pride, returned with a face drained of color.

"Tsk tsk," Scaramouche sneered. "I wonder what grand reward Doctor received this time?"

"I can't believe this..." the Doctor muttered, her face clouded with frustration. "Her Majesty scolded me... for no reason..."

Yes, after she had entered Tsaritsa's office, she was scolded for something trivial—because she stepped in with her left foot first.

Even though the Doctor felt wronged, as a subordinate, there was no room for resistance, so she had to endure the scolding.

Seeing the smug expressions on Scaramouche and Signora's faces only added to her frustration. "Don't laugh too soon. Her Majesty is in a foul mood today. You'll be getting your share of scolding soon enough."

Sure enough, the maid quickly returned to summon Scaramouche and Signora.

Inside the office, Tsaritsa sat on her throne. Given that her current form was that of a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, she had to sit on a stack of books to raise her height.

As expected, the Queen, who was usually emotionless, now looked sullen, her brow furrowed.

If Signora and Scaramouche were the protagonists of Lucas's villain simulator, then Tsaritsa was undoubtedly the "final boss."

While not all characters from the simulator reflected into their dreams, those who interacted closely with the protagonist "Lucas" had a higher chance of having their experiences reflected in their dreams.

Thus, although Tsaritsa had also been affected by the simulator, her dreams were vague. All she could remember was being betrayed by the Doctor... and being turned into an tree...

As the ruler of a nation, Tsaritsa naturally couldn't deem her subordinates guilty based on a strange dream. However, that dream had still left her with a significant psychological shadow.

Thus, she summoned the Doctor, both to confirm if there was any connection between the dream and reality and also to find an excuse to vent her frustration.

Poor Doctor, who had no idea what was going on, ended up taking the blame for a crime committed by Lucas, whom she had never even met.

Perhaps due to Tsaritsa's final moments of madness and brutality in the dream, both Scaramouche and Signora felt a bit nervous.

Tsaritsa seemed to sense their unease and softened her expression slightly, saying, "No need to be tense. The reason I've summoned you is different from why I called the Doctor. You're aware of the 'Gnosis Collection Plan' I've been working on, right?"

Indeed, whether in dreams or reality, Tsaritsa had never abandoned her goal.

Both Signora and Scaramouche exhaled in relief and nodded.

"Recently, I sent Tartaglia to Liyue to gather information on the Gnosis, but the progress has been too slow," Tsaritsa gestured to the large map of Teyvat on the wall behind her and continued, "So I've decided to send both of you to Mondstadt next to carry out a similar mission."

"What?" Signora and Scaramouche exclaimed in unison, their voices overlapping, "With this narcissist/tiny runt?"

"That's right," Tsaritsa said sternly. "Snezhnaya has already established a foothold in Mondstadt, so your operations should proceed more smoothly. This mission allows no room for failure."

Upon exiting Tsaritsa's office, both Signora and Scaramouche looked even more displeased than the Doctor had earlier.

"This was supposed to be a task I could easily handle on my own, and now I have to drag along a deadweight," Scaramouche crossed his arms, glaring coldly. "You better not hold me back."

"I'll return the same words to you," Signora retorted haughtily, "This time, I won't let you beat me to it!"

As Signora gracefully walked away, Scaramouche frowned, puzzled.

Strange... why did she say 'beat me to it "again"?

...

In Liyue Harbor, inside Keqing's office.

Lucas was recounting everything that had happened—how he delivered the letter to Yuehai Pavilion, helped Shenhe out of trouble, and assisted her in finding a place to stay.

Of course, he conveniently left out certain "small details".

"I didn't expect you to encounter so many things while running such a small errand," Keqing said thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. "Still, for the disciple of Cloud Retainer to descend from the mountains and come to Liyue, it seems I should pay her a visit when I have the time."

"More importantly, the issue of public order is significant," Lucas commented. "Those thugs might not commit any major crimes, but they're causing quite a bit of trouble for the people."

"You make a good point," Keqing nodded with a smile. "You're efficient, and you seem to have some good ideas. It seems hiring you was the right decision."

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Keqing." Lucas chuckled. "I'll keep doing my best."

Wait, why am I praising him?

Keqing's mind churned. She wasn't entirely sure whether Lucas's nature was good or evil yet. Clearly, more tests were needed.

With this in mind, Keqing's expression became serious. "In that case, I have another task that needs doing. You'll have to take a trip to Mondstadt. Travel expenses are covered, and there's a reward afterward. Are you interested?"

Mondstadt?

Though Lucas had never been to Mondstadt in reality, he had lived there for a time in the simulator.

Given that life in Liyue Harbor had been a bit dull lately, a little trip sounded appealing.

"Of course, I'm willing," Lucas nodded. "What's the task?"

"You've probably heard about it—Mondstadt has been dealing with attacks from the Stormterror Dragon for centuries. In recent years, the attacks have become more frequent, causing significant damage."

Keqing took out a wooden box and placed it on her desk. "To help defend against Stormterror, Jean, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, ordered a batch of weapons from Liyue, crafted by our Keqing Manor. Your job is to escort the shipment to Mondstadt tomorrow and ensure it arrives safely."

It sounded more like a paid vacation than a job.

Keqing opened the box, revealing a finely crafted sword inside.

"This sword is called 'Lion's Roar,' one of the finest in this batch," Keqing handed it to Lucas. "I noticed you don't have a weapon of your own, so consider this a gift."

Lucas drew the sword from its sheath. The blade was simple yet elegant, with a dragon-head design on the hilt. As he unsheathed it, the sword emitted a clear, melodious hum that lingered in the air.

"A fine sword" Even Lucas, who wasn't well-versed in weaponry, couldn't help but praise it.

[Lion's Roar]

[Grade: B]

[Effect: Increases damage dealt by Pyro and Electro elements by 20%.]

The weapon's effects were somewhat different from what he had encountered in the game.

However, since only Vision holders could use elemental damage, this B-tier weapon, for Lucas, was merely a sharp sword.

Despite that, Lucas was looking forward to his trip to Mondstadt. Unaware of what awaited him there.

...

Late Night.

After going through such a long and exhausting journey in the simulator, Lucas felt quite relieved. While the extended scenarios in the simulator provided richer rewards, it was undeniably draining. 

It seemed he should mix things up with shorter and more concise simulations occasionally, just for a change of pace.

[Simulator cooldown has refreshed and can be started at any time.]

"I'm not doing it today, I need a break," Lucas sighed contentedly, lying on his bed. "You keep pushing me like this, be careful, or you might end up hanging from a lamppost."

But before his eyes were even closed for a minute, he shot up in bed, his brow furrowed. "Damn, I forgot something! What if Shenhe runs into trouble while I'm in Mondstadt?"

In Liyue, he could rush to her aid, but being far away in Mondstadt wouldn't allow him to get there quickly enough.

[Complete one more simulation to unlock the achievement reward: Pocket Waypoint. This item allows you to place an anchor point at a designated location for instant teleportation.]

"No way! I just happen to need something like this, and the system conveniently offers it as a reward…" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "You're not doing this on purpose, are you?"

[This is called a 'flexible reward.' If citizenship can be flexible, why can't rewards be?]

"I knew it…" Despite knowing it was a trap, Lucas couldn't resist. "Fine, as long as I can finish the simulation. No big deal—let's go for a quick one this time."

[Thats what she said]

"....."

[Acknowledged. Life Simulator is starting.]

[Please select three abilities from the following list. After the simulation ends, one will be randomly retained as a permanent talent.]

- [Chicken You Are Beautiful (Blue): You are naturally gifted in singing, dancing, rap... and playing basketball.]

- [I've Got Stronger (Blue): You have an immense talent for combat, but you'll be bald forever. (If you hide your baldness, your combat power will be greatly reduced.)]

- [Born with a Silver Spoon (Green): You will be born into a wealthy family.]

- [Monster Hunter (Green): You deal 10% more damage to non-human monsters.]

- [Wolf's Jaw (Green): You are born with an ugly, wolf-like face, but possess a powerful bite force.]

- [Puppet Master (Blue): You possess a lifelike puppet and can transfer your soul into it, temporarily acting as the puppet.]

- [Idol Master (Green): You are a natural manager, skilled in grooming idols.]

- [Rain Man (White): It is highly likely to rain whenever you go out.]

- [Wizard's Honor (Green): If you remain virgin until the age of 30, you will receive a Vision (attribute of your choice).]

- [World's Largest (White): You are born the size of a toothpick.]

Once again, a selection of odd talents.

The most advantageous seemed to be [I've Got Stronger], but the cost of perpetual baldness was way too steep. He didn't have the guts to embrace being bald like Saitama from One Punch Man.

[Wizard's Honor] also looked good, but Lucas doubted he could keep his purity intact within the simulator.

After such an overwhelming simulation last time, he wanted something more laid back this round.

"I'll choose [Chicken You Are Beautiful], [Puppet Master], and [Idol Master]," Lucas mused. "Maybe I can just be a regular idol manager this time."

No fighting, no killing, just working with cute girls—sounded like a nice change of pace.

---

[The Life Simulation begins.]

[Age 0: You were born into a middle-class family in Mondstadt. Your mother is a dancer, and your father is a pianist.]

A pretty nice start! 

It was like the origin story of a shoujo manga protagonist.

Even Eden Academy's headmaster would say, "How elegant!"

[Age 1: Even before learning to speak, you could hum along to your father's piano melodies.]

[Age 2: Mondstadt suffered an attack from the Stormterror Dragon. Fortunately, your family remained unharmed.]

[Age 3: Your father began teaching you the basics of music and discovered your remarkable talent (Talent: Chicken You Are Beautiful) activated.]

[Age 4: The birds in the trees were drawn to your voice during your morning vocal practice.]

[Age 5: Your father developed a rare hand condition, causing stiffness in his fingers. You were young, but even you could hear the small mistakes in his music.]

[Age 6: While in Mondstadt Square, you heard a traveling bard performing. Without thinking, you joined in and sang along, attracting a large crowd.]

[Perhaps because you helped him earn more tips, the young bard gifted you an apple. After eating it, you felt much lighter.]

[Achievement unlocked: Anemo Archon's Gift]

[Talent gained: Blessing of the Anemo God]

[Effect: Agility increased by 20%.]

What a nice surprise! It was indeed you, Lord Barbatos!

Considering Barbatos's love for music, it wasn't strange to cross paths like this. After all, Mondstadt and music were practically synonymous.

Of course, if Barbatos knew that this boy with a lovely singing voice had, in another timeline, destroyed his country, who knows what he would think?

[Age 7: The second daughter of the Gunnhildr family was born. Your father was invited to perform at the celebration, but during the performance, his condition flared up, leading to a mistake. One of the nobles from the Gunnhildr family mocked him for it. Deeply hurt, your father left in silence, refusing to accept any payment.]

[Age 8: After that event, your father didn't touch the piano for an entire year and became increasingly depressed. To lift his spirits, you practiced music even harder, but nothing could make him smile.]

[Age 9: One morning, your father dressed formally and sat at the piano with great ceremony. You eagerly awaited the return of his music, but all you heard were discordant notes.]

[His stiff fingers and broken spirit meant he could never again play the beautiful music he once had.]

[Age 10: Your father passed away. When you went to wake him up in the morning, you found his feet hanging in the air. You realized that his fingers had frozen before his body.]

[Many people came to mourn at the funeral, including members of the Gunnhildr family—those same adorable sisters you'd seen before. Despite your young age, you harbored resentment against them, believing that the mockery from three years ago had caused your father's death.]

Reading through the unfolding story, Lucas started feeling a growing sense of unease.

It seemed like this time, the Gunnhildr sisters—likely Jean or Barbara—would be the targets of his ill will. However, he wasn't sure which one just yet.

[Age 11: Fortunately, your family was well-off. Your mother was a strong woman and soon recovered, determined to help you achieve greatness.]

[Age 12: With your angelic voice, you joined the choir at the Church of Favonius, where your singing quickly captivated everyone. A young, blonde girl with twin pigtails began to idolize you—Barbara Gunnhildr, the younger of the two sisters you had seen before.]

Barbara, no longer part of the Gunnhildr family, now went by a different name: Barbara Pegg. Her father was Simon Pegg, the Cardinal of Dawn and a key figure in the Church of Favonius.

[Barbara sang a song for you and asked for your feedback. Your evaluation was:]

1. ["Wow! Your singing is incredible—like the voice of an angel!"]

2. ["It's a bit rough, but I think you have great potential."]

3. ["If that can be called singing, then a butcher slaughtering pigs must sound heavenly!"]

Finally, a long-awaited GALGAME-style choice appeared.

Without a doubt, based on how the system works, choosing a kind response would probably lead to nothing good. Since he didn't select the [Try Again] talent this time, it was better not to take any risks.

"I choose… the third option..."

Sorry, Barbara!

[You coldly glanced at little Barbara and mocked, "If that can be called singing, then a butcher slaughtering pigs must sound like heavenly music!"]

[Your response instantly filled Barbara's once hopeful eyes with tears. Watching her cover her face and cry, a strange sense of revenge satisfaction welled up inside you.]

[Just then, a blonde girl suddenly punched you to the ground. Despite being three or four years younger than you, she easily overpowered you. That's right—it was Barbara's sister, Jean Gunnhildr. Her beautiful eyes were now filled with fury: "If you bully anyone from the Gunnhildr family again, you're dead!"]

Wait a minute...

Lucas suddenly realized—Barbara's surname was still "Gunnhildr"!

According to the game's storyline, Barbara's father should have parted ways with her mother, severing ties with the Gunnhildr family...

Could it be that the plot had changed? In this world, Barbara's parents never divorced, and because her father married into the family, she retained the family name?

[Age 13: Thanks to your connections and outstanding talent, you were sent to Fontaine's top art academy to study music. Before leaving Mondstadt, you performed in the choir one last time, but Barbara did not appear. Since the day you mocked her, she never attended choir again.]

[After the performance, Jean approached you once more. She had grown even more beautiful in the past year, but the hatred in her eyes toward you had not changed. She told you that Barbara had been deeply depressed ever since your harsh words, to the point where she no longer dared to sing. She demanded that you apologize to Barbara. Your response was…]

[1. "I'm very sorry. I'll go back and apologize sincerely."]

[2. "I was just being honest."]

[3. "My father was mocked the same way by your family."]

---

"The third option."

---

[Upon hearing your response, Jean suddenly remembered who you were, and her face showed a complex expression. She didn't press you to apologize further and left in silence. You knew that your revenge on the Gunnhildr family was far from over.]

[Age 14: You officially enrolled in Fontaine's art academy. Thanks to your angelic voice and extraordinary talent, you quickly became a rising star.]

[Age 15: You formed a band with some classmates, and it caused quite a sensation.]

[Age 16: A song you wrote and composed topped the music charts.]

[Age 17: In just two years, you created numerous popular songs, gaining fans not only in Fontaine but across all seven nations.]

[Age 18: At the peak of your fame, you unexpectedly retired from performing and moved behind the scenes. Many were disappointed and confused by your decision, but only you knew that this was all part of your plan.]

[Age 19: After graduating, you founded an "idol agency" dedicated to discovering and managing idols.]

[Age 20: Drawing on your past experience, connections, and personal talent, your agency quickly produced a successful idol group (Talent: Idol Master activated).]

---

So, he actually became an idol producer?

Lucas smiled wryly. After all, the concept of idols didn't really exist in Teyvat.

In the game, Barbara only knew about idols because Klee's mother, Alice, brought an idol magazine from another world.

So, packaging a group of girls into popular idols using effective marketing strategies naturally yielded quick success.

[Age 21: You began to expand your business, and your agency soon established itself in Fontaine.]

[Age 22: You directed your first film, The Stained Stage Costume, which received high praise. Although some critics saw it as a mediocre work riding on the popularity of idol actors, it still performed well at the box office.]

[Age 23: You heard troubling news about Mondstadt. The "Dragon Disaster" had escalated, and Mondstadt was struggling to survive. The Knights of Favonius and the Gunnhildr family had to send many troops to fight. After a brutal battle, they finally defeated Dvalin.]

[However, the battle took a heavy toll on both the Knights of Favonius and the Gunnhildr family. Acting Grandmaster Jean Gunnhildr was gravely injured and bedridden.]

[Upon hearing this news, you believed the time was ripe. After settling your affairs in Fontaine, you decided to head to Mondstadt and open a branch of your agency there.]

[Age 24: Although you occasionally visited Mondstadt over the years to take care of family matters, this time, when you returned, the city had changed drastically. Ruined buildings lined the streets, and the faces of the people no longer bore smiles. The city, once a symbol of freedom, now seemed cold and gloomy.]

[Yet you felt no sadness, as your memories of this city were not fond ones.]

[You went to visit the Gunnhildr family. Given your status and reputation, this was easy. Once a grand and luxurious estate, their home now stood desolate. The family, once strong, had sacrificed many of its young members in the fight against the Stormterror Dragon.]

[The Gunnhildr family was now a shell of its former self. You learned that even maintaining Jean's expensive medical treatments was a heavy burden on them.]

[You entered Jean's sickroom. After not seeing her for over a decade, she had grown into a beautiful woman. Sadly, due to her injuries, she remained unconscious, like a dandelion scattered in the wind.]

[Her sister, Barbara, had been tirelessly caring for her. Barbara, now as beautiful as her sister, had a face filled with worry.]

[To your surprise, Barbara immediately recognized you. Her eyes filled with suspicion, yet when you handed her a check, she hesitated before accepting it. At that moment, you spoke:]

[1. "How pitiful. The once-proud Gunnhildr family has been reduced to nothing more than beggars."]

[2. "I can turn you into a popular idol. You don't want to see your sister wither away like this, do you?"]

[3. "I'll pay you a million mora for your most precious thing. Hand it over to me right here, in front of your sister."]

Looking at these three options, Lucas once again fell deep into thought.

The first one was the simplest form of revenge, but it felt a bit too plain.

As for the third one…

---