Because of Childe's sudden intrusion, everyone froze.
The atmosphere on the entire platform instantly became extremely strange.
No one moved.
Everyone just silently stared at Childe, who lay sprawled on the ground after being blasted.
"Uh… what just happened?"
Paimon blinked.
It looked like someone rushed in, said one sentence—
and then immediately got blasted into the sky by an electromagnetic cannon?!
Was this a comedy skit??
"Uh… I think he came to save us?"
Lumine scratched her head in confusion.
Even she was stunned by what had just happened, and for a moment forgot about the Anywhere Door entirely.
Keqing: (⊙_⊙)
"N-No way… I actually hit someone?!"
Keqing's mouth twitched violently.
She swore she had only fired the railgun into the air as a warning shot!
Who could have predicted that someone would literally fly into its path?!
And the victim was… Childe?!
Good grief, is this man cursed or what…?
"Luckily it only hit the thing under his feet… he shouldn't be injured."
Keqing exhaled slowly.
Meanwhile Childe, face full of dust, finally regained his senses.
"W-What… what happened?!"
He sat up, stunned.
He had only wanted to swoop in on his skateboard and show off a little!
He hadn't even rescued anyone yet—
and he got blown up instead?!
Wait—
attacked?
Realizing something, Childe jolted upright and anxiously looked around.
He quickly spotted a pile of fragments on the ground— the pitiful remains of his solar-powered skateboard.
Only two mangled wheels remained intact.
Instantly, Childe understood.
The skateboard had taken the hit for him.
No matter how fast it was, it was still just a skateboard— obviously it couldn't withstand such a powerful strike.
"MY BOARD!!"
Childe's heart shattered.
He had just gotten this reward!
He had used it only once!
And now it was gone?!
He would rather the cannon had hit him— at least then the skateboard could've lived!
Thinking about the rewards he had obtained so far…
A fake Hope Star— powerful, yes, but it ran away.
And even awakened a freaking Vortex God at Guyun Stone Forest…
He gained no benefit whatsoever and even got framed for it.
Now his solar skateboard—
not particularly strong, but incredibly stylish—
was obliterated in a single outing.
Childe felt his soul leaving his body.
What kind of miserable luck was this…?
Seeing his devastated expression, Lumine actually felt bad.
He was trying to help them, after all…
"Are you… alright?"
she asked gently.
"M… I'm fine."
Childe finally forced out a response.
But when he saw the Traveler and Paimon, his spirits lifted—not much, but a little.
As long as he could help them escape, his plan could still proceed.
If he could eventually obtain the Geo Archon's Gnosis…
Then sacrificing the skateboard would be worth it.
"Don't worry. I'll get you two out of here."
He declared heroically, drawing a longbow.
Lumine & Paimon: "(⊙_⊙)…."
The two exchanged a helpless look.
They absolutely did not need saving.
They could leave on their own.
"Actually, we—"
Before Lumine could finish, a cold voice rang out:
"The Fatui Harbinger, Childe, attempted to rescue the assassins. Arrest him as well!"
Keqing's tone was icy.
Since Childe wasn't injured, she could now settle accounts properly.
She had never been able to catch him for the fake Hope Star incident—
but this time, she finally had a legitimate reason!
"Hmph. Try it if you can."
Childe sneered.
With a single step, he burst forward, forcing the nearest Millelith back.
"Don't worry, with me here, everything will—"
He turned around mid-boast— only to witness a shocking scene.
The Traveler had just taken out… a giant pink door??
What the heck?!
Was that… a shield??
"Lumine, get in! Hurry, or it'll be too late!"
Paimon had already slipped inside and was waving frantically.
"Coming!"
Lumine dashed inside as well.
She wanted to invite Childe in too— but at that exact moment, another electromagnetic cannon shot blasted toward them.
Lumine had no choice.
She shut the door—
while giving Childe a look that meant:
"Good luck, bro. You're on your own."
BOOM!!
The railgun struck the ground with a thunderous roar.
And the pink door vanished completely.
"Gone…?"
Keqing frowned.
So those two actually had such an ability?!
"That door should be the Anywhere Door. It appears often in the manga Doraemon."
Ningguang walked over and explained calmly.
She had read the manga, so she recognized the tool immediately.
"Ah… So it was one of Boss Han's manga items."
Keqing nodded.
Now that she thought about it, she finally remembered where she had seen those two girls before— the first time she visited the manga shop.
Her expression suddenly shifted.
"Then—doesn't that make it more likely they're connected to the assassination?!"
In Keqing's mind, Rex Lapis was far too powerful.
Ordinary people could not kill him.
The only possibility…
would be someone using one of Han Feng's tools.
"There's no need to worry. Acting Grand Master Jean contacted me earlier—The Traveler was headed for Liyue and asked that I take care of her. Those two should be the ones she meant."
Ningguang said gently.
She had only just remembered this herself—otherwise she would have stopped Keqing sooner.
"I see. Then… what about Childe?"
Keqing asked.
If the girls were the Traveler, their suspicion was much smaller.
Anyone capable of aiding Mondstadt against the Stormterror threat likely wouldn't assassinate an Archon.
Rex Lapis' death might have another cause entirely.
They would need to explain things later.
But Childe was different.
He had definitely attacked the Millelith.
"The opportunity didn't exist before, but now it does. Have him taken to the Millelith barracks for questioning."
Ningguang smiled faintly.
Keqing nodded and issued the order.
Childe watched the Millelith surround him and nearly fainted.
Wait—
He came here to SAVE the Traveler!
And they RAN AWAY without him?!
Leaving him alone to face an entire army?!
Not only did he lose his beloved skateboard, now he had to deal with the Millelith by himself?!
He felt an urge to punch something.
"Hehe… Brothers of the Millelith, if I say this is a misunderstanding… will you believe me?"
Childe forced a laugh.
"What do you think?"
the commander replied, staring at him as if he were an idiot.
You already attacked us, and now you say "misunderstanding"?
"…Fine. I surrender."
Childe sighed and raised his hands.
He glanced at Keqing, who very clearly looked ready to fire another railgun if he resisted.
Yeah… better not.
Who knows—he might get blasted into orbit next.
—------------------------------
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