["General, this isn't the time to dawdle!" Seeing Jing Yuan's leisurely demeanor, Fu Xuan grew anxious. "The Ambrosial Arbor…"]
["No need to search for it—it's the Stellaron," Jing Yuan had already deduced. "The traitor planted it in the delve where the Ambrosial Arbor resides, causing it to regrow. Look, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus finally couldn't hold back."]
[Seeing Jing Yuan's calm tone, Fu Xuan gradually steadied herself. "A crisis is also an opportunity. Knowing the problem's source makes everything manageable."]
[With that, Fu Xuan looked toward the distant Arbor, ready to follow the General's next orders.]
[But after waiting a moment, she noticed Jing Yuan standing with one hand on his hip, smiling faintly as he looked down at her.]
["…It's up to me to come up with a plan again?"]
["Indeed, I knew Fu Qing would have a strategy," Jing Yuan said, his eyes narrowing slightly, his deep golden pupils hiding unreadable thoughts.]
[Having been fed grand promises by Jing Yuan for years, Fu Xuan was used to such scenes.]
["…Fine, let's call it a test before succeeding as General."]
[Convincing herself, Fu Xuan rested a hand on her chin, quickly thinking. "In my view, the priority is to muster the Cloud Knights, head to the delve where the Arbor is rooted, remove the Stellaron's corruption, and halt its resurgence."]
["Well, well, Fu Qing's keen insight is surely the fastest way to solve this," Jing Yuan praised before pivoting. "But sometimes, the fastest isn't the best. Guess why, knowing the Stellaron's location, I've held back?"]
[Prompted by the General, Fu Xuan sensed something amiss and lowered her head to think again.]
[Suddenly, Master Diviner Fu seemed to realize something, snapping her head up, her round amber eyes glaring at him. "General."]
[Jing Yuan's smile widened. "Well?"]
["You scoundrel!"]
Liyue, Luhua Pool.
"Hahaha, this Master Diviner Fu is so amusing—her scolding sounds like flirting!"
Rainwater from the previous night pooled on the weathered greenstone bricks. Childe sat by some collapsed ruins, gleefully watching Fu Xuan's adorable expression on the celestial screen.
So engrossed was he that he completely ignored the Fatui officers kneeling cautiously before him.
They had no interest in the screen, not even daring to wipe the sweat from their chins, merely holding up their hands like statues, presenting the hard-earned intelligence on Liyue.
After a while, Childe reluctantly tore his gaze from the screen, his expression slightly surprised as he looked at them.
"Hm? Why are you still kneeling? Come on… you don't need to be so formal with me. I'm not the Captain or the Rooster—I don't care about these details."
"But, Lord Childe, we failed to gather more information…"
"No need to blame yourselves. That Tianquan Star lady is a tough one… It's not your fault."
As Childe spoke, his eyes suddenly darkened, and he quickly made a shushing gesture. "—Enough, stop there. Someone's coming."
Sure enough, crisp footsteps approached rapidly.
The atmosphere grew tense. The lead Fatui Skirmisher's dagger barely peeked from his sleeve when a childish voice cut through, instantly dominating everyone's attention.
"—Big Brother!"
A boy, about seven or eight years old, poked his head out from the bushes.
The Fatui wiped the sweat from their foreheads… Was it their imagination, or did Lord Childe's face pale at that call?
Teucer ran up to Childe, his eyes shining with admiration. "Wow! Is Big Brother selling toys to the Fatui uncles? So cool!"
"Uh, yeah… sure, Teucer. But why are you here?" Childe managed a strained smile.
"A Millelith uncle brought me. He said Lady Tianquan knew where Big Brother was selling toys, so he took me here."
Tianquan Ningguang? Childe's head snapped up, noticing a fully armed Millelith standing not far behind Teucer, staring coldly at them.
Tch…
That woman even pinpointed my location?
Teucer looked around, his admiration growing. "Selling toys in such a remote place—Big Brother is so awesome!!"
"Y-Yeah, Teucer… Big Brother, the best toy salesman in Snezhnaya, is discussing the latest toys with these uncles." Watched closely by the Millelith, Childe felt his toes curling enough to dig a hole in the Tsaritsa's palace.
"Do the Fatui uncles play with toys too?"
"Of course, Teucer! Toys aren't just for kids—they're for adults too. Like that uncle…" Childe's finger wavered before pointing at the lead Pyro Agent. "That fiery uncle loves Master Diviner Fu Xuan's plush toys."
"And that uncle with the big hammer loves General Jing Yuan's plastic figurines."
"And that chubby uncle with the ice spear…"
"I love Big Brother Jing Yuan and Sister Fu Xuan too!" Teucer's eyes sparkled. "Big Brother, when you make their toys, can you give me one?"
"Sister Fu Xuan's plush toy—make it so it says something when you squeeze it… like 'General, you scoundrel!' That line's the best!"
Childe scratched his head, forcing a smile. "Uh… sure, Teucer, I can do that. But first, I need to discuss toy details with these uncles—it's Big Brother's job. Why don't you go back with the Millelith uncle?"
"Okay! Don't forget Teucer's toys!"
Watching Teucer leave, Childe's tense body finally relaxed, letting out a long breath.
"Lord Childe, about… pfft, the toys…" Despite their efforts, a few Fatui couldn't help but snicker.
"Withdraw a million Mora from the Northland Bank and have Fontaine's toymakers custom-make a few," Childe said, unperturbed, glancing at them. "As for the Fu Xuan plush requirements… I don't need to repeat myself, do I?"
——
["Hahaha, to kill the weeds, you must pull out the roots." Jing Yuan laughed heartily. "Wait a bit longer. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus choosing to act now shows the Cloud Knights have the situation under control. The traitors couldn't hold back, giving us a legitimate reason to wipe them out in one fell swoop."]
["Just sitting here idly—what if something goes wrong? How will you bear the consequences, General?!" Fu Xuan thought this was far too risky.]
[Jing Yuan didn't rush to refute her, only smiling faintly. "Fu Qing, oh Fu Qing, I still have a surprise force up my sleeve."]
[As he spoke, both Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan's gazes turned to the side.]
[No sooner had Jing Yuan finished than the Astral Express crew arrived… though the scene felt oddly familiar, like it had just happened at the Divination Commission.]
["At a time when we need all hands on deck, since the Stellaron Hunters intended for the Express to forge ties with us, I won't hold back," Jing Yuan said.]