Chapter 358: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [358] [40 PS]
Sumeru — Akademiya
Following an order from one of her mistresses, Bu'er, Rosalyne set aside her duties as a housemaid. She finally swapped out her black-and-white lace maid outfit—worn for nearly half a year—and donned the elegant robes she once wore as a Fatui Harbinger.
Utilizing the teleporting toilet, she returned to the Akademiya in Sumeru, a place she once knew well.
"Lady Bu'er," Rosalyne greeted respectfully.
Although Bu'er technically ranked after Makoto, Rosalyne addressed both as "Lady" to avoid upsetting Bu'er.
"You're here," Bu'er said with a soft smile.
"Wait in the Akasha Terminal network for now. Luo Qing will join you shortly."
"Yes…"
Rosalyne nodded, placing the Akasha Terminal on her ear.
The next moment, her surroundings shifted as her consciousness was uploaded into the Akasha's virtual network under Nahida's divine power.
"This place…"
Rosalyne glanced around the unfamiliar digital landscape.
Before she could fully process it, a pale green light coalesced into Luo Qing's form in front of her.
"Rosalyne."
"Master…"
Rosalyne bowed deeply, her demeanor filled with unwavering reverence.
"I need you in Fontaine," Luo Qing began. "You'll have to deal with Arlecchino. Can you manage that?"
"Fontaine…"
Rosalyne's voice hesitated slightly.
"If it's your will, Master, I have no objections."
"Good." Luo Qing nodded.
"Return and prepare for departure as soon as possible."
"Master, about Lady Bu'er and the others…"
Rosalyne trailed off.
Luo Qing hadn't permitted Nahida and the others to accompany him to Fontaine. Now that she was being summoned there, it was hard not to anticipate some resentment from the mistresses left behind.
"As of now, they can't join us," Luo Qing replied. "Once I've established a new teleportation anchor, I'll arrange for them to come."
"Yes, Master…" Rosalyne nodded.
"What is my mission there?" she asked.
Though she'd shared a relatively amicable relationship with Arlecchino among the Harbingers, Rosalyne was no fool. She knew Luo Qing's directives were never as simple as they seemed.
"Oh, just this…" Luo Qing chuckled lightly.
"I heard you two were close in the past. Go and persuade her to stop opposing me."
"This…"
Rosalyne couldn't hide her surprise.
Although Luo Qing's tone was casual, the mere mention of "opposition" hinted at significant tension.
Was her master planning to compete with Arlecchino for the Hydro Gnosis?
"Yes, Master. I'll prepare immediately for my trip to Fontaine."
Rosalyne nodded without hesitation. As his devoted servant, she had no choice but to obey any command he gave her.
"That's all—go get ready."
With that, Luo Qing's figure dissolved from the virtual network.
"Arlecchino…"
Exiting the Akasha, Rosalyne murmured the name to herself.
As an old comrade, she knew Arlecchino well, including her objectives in Fontaine.
But returning to confront her as a presumed "dead woman"?
That was… curious indeed.
---
A Few Days Later
At the break of dawn, Luo Qing was summoned once again to the Palais Mermonia.
Ever since he rescued Furina that night, her attitude toward him had grown more trusting, their bond noticeably closer.
Meanwhile, Arlecchino had seemingly vanished without a trace—no further interference, no signs of her presence. It was as though she'd evaporated from the mortal realm.
With Arlecchino out of the way, the promotion of the Akasha Terminal network proceeded smoothly.
Through Luo Qing's honeyed words, Furina had even agreed to host several livestream sessions to help advertise the system.
After a few rounds of product marketing, the Akasha Terminal had become a status symbol among Fontaine's elite. As an accessory personally endorsed by Lady Furina, owning one was seen as a mark of prestige and a way to feel closer to their Archon.
This odd sense of superiority reminded Luo Qing of certain brands of smartphones from his past life.
Still, he didn't mind. The more people used the terminals, the more control he gained over Fontaine's information flow.
---
Early Morning
At Furina's request, Luo Qing arrived at the Palais Mermonia to assist her with her first early-morning livestream.
Her plan was to hold these streams regularly, strengthening her connection with Fontaine's citizens and bolstering her presence in their lives.
And for this "historic first," Luo Qing had been roped into setting up the equipment.
"Are you seriously going to read all this on stream?" Luo Qing asked, holding up the script Furina had prepared.
Most of it consisted of mundane local news from the Steambird: minor crimes, the opening of a new dessert shop, and so on.
Combined with the early broadcast time, it felt more like a morning news show than anything else.
"What's the problem?" Furina replied nonchalantly.
"Didn't you suggest this? Reading the news in the morning to build rapport and relatability with the citizens?"
"…"
That was a joke. Couldn't you tell? Luo Qing thought to himself.
"Fine. Whatever," he muttered. If Furina was dead set on this, he wasn't about to argue.
"Alright, it's almost time! Let's get started!" Furina said excitedly, glancing at the clock on the wall. She eagerly took her seat, her legs swinging impatiently beneath her.
"First, stop acting like an overexcited little girl," Luo Qing said dryly.
"Oh, right."
Furina nodded, propping her head lazily on one hand and adopting the poised demeanor of a highborn lady.
"Alright, we're live."
With a thought, Luo Qing activated the system.
The screens on the Akasha Terminals worn by Fontaine's citizens flickered, and to their surprise, Furina's face appeared.
"Lady Furina?!"
"It's really Lady Furina?!"
The citizens were astonished. Previously, her livestreams had only been displayed on the grand screens of the Vasari Colonnade. This was the first time they were broadcast directly to the Akasha Terminals.
"Good morning, citizens of Fontaine," Furina greeted, deliberately adopting a languid tone to project an air of noble elegance.
The people watched in awe as Furina, the Hydro Archon herself, lowered her gaze to the script on her desk…
…and began to read.
---
"Gar~de! Voir voir."
- Gardevoir
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