“This is only the first point.”
“The second... please look at the big screen.”
Lin Mo’s voice fell.
Under the gaze of countless eyes from across the continent of Teyvat, the picture on the giant screen changed.
【Venti, Traveler Lumine and Paimon, just came out of Mondstadt Cathedral, they were ambushed by the Fatui. 】
【Whoa!】
【The Signora snapped her fingers, cryo elemental power roared, Traveler Lumine was thrown into the air, Paimon was frozen into instant food. 】
【Even Venti was covered with ice and snow on both legs, restricting his movements. 】
【“Venti!”】
【Traveler Lumine wanted to help, but was pressed to the ground by two debt collectors. 】
【“Oh, finally, I got the hamster back home.” The Signora, with two Electro Cicin Mages, walked toward them slowly with arrogant yet elegant steps. 】
【“Nibble on the wooden stakes, bite on the rice bags.”】
【As she spoke, Signora had already come in front of Venti. She grabbed his chin and sneered, “You caused so much trouble for Mondstadt...”】
【“You’re talking about a rat, not a hamster...”】
【Slap!】
【Venti couldn't finish his words before he was slapped in the face by Signora. 】
【“It’s not your turn to speak now, rude bard.”】
【Immediately, a powerful Anemo elemental power swept out from Venti. The ice and snow covering his legs were being blown away. 】
【“Heh... the god who gave up ruling Mondstadt only has this much power?” Seeing Venti struggling for a while without breaking free, Signora couldn't help but mock. 】
【“Oh? Are you laughing at my capital, the power borrowed from the Tsaritsa?”】
【“Hmph, smooth-talking.”】
【Signora moved, instantly closing in and striking a powerful blow to Venti’s chest. 】
【Cryo elemental power pierced through Venti’s body and formed a torrent of ice and snow behind him. 】
【When Signora withdrew her palm, the God of Freedom’s heart was already in her hand. 】
【Signora admired the God of Freedom’s heart in her hand, sneering, “Is this the God’s heart? Hmph, it’s far less impressive than my treasured ornate chess pieces.”】
【“That’s probably because your aesthetics... are really bad?” Venti, like a dog, lay on the ground, retorted. 】
【“Hmph.”】
【Signora turned around and kicked Venti, causing him to roll on the ground several times. 】
【“Venti——!” Traveler Lumine struggled to get up, but was held down by two debt collectors. 】
【“Forget it, anyway, the God’s heart is already in hand.”】
【“Let’s go, before the Knights of Favonius arrive, don’t leave any evidence behind.”】
【Before leaving, one of the debt collectors gave Traveler Lumine a chop to the neck, knocking her unconscious. 】
Up to here.
The video image stopped abruptly, and Lin Mo reappeared on the giant screen.
“Barbatos, looking back at this scene four years ago, do you have anything to say?”
“This...”
Venti stammered, not knowing what to explain.
What kind of rhetoric is this, giving up ruling Mondstadt, leading to weak divine power? It’s just enough to fool others.
To deceive Celestia?
Just forget about it.
Leosly: “Is it not my bro? Is Mondstadt’s Anemo Archon so abstract?”
Leosly: “If I remember correctly, the Signora in the video footage seems to be just the eighth of the Fatui Harbingers?”
Klorinde: “It’s too fake. A national god was actually humiliated by the eighth of the Fatui Harbingers. He even lost the God’s heart?”
Jean: “Mr. Venti, you...”
Yelan: “I can’t tell whether Mondstadt’s Anemo Archon is acting or he really has only this much power.”
Cloud Retainer: “How could he only have this much power. Anemo Archon Barbatos, his power may not be the top among the seven Archons, but it’s definitely not just the level of the eighth of the Fatui Harbingers.”
Sano: “From his performance just now, his strength can be said to be far inferior to the eighth.”
Cloud Retainer: “You’re right, it was this Cloud Retainer who misjudged.”
Diluc: “A drunkard who gave up ruling Mondstadt and hangs around asking for drinks all day. You say he only has this much power, I don’t doubt it at all.”
Paimon: “Uh... Diluc seems to be very dissatisfied with Venti.”
Diluc: “If he could do something right, Celestia wouldn’t have specially called him out to ‘praise’ him publicly today.”
Traveler Lumine: “Now that I think about it, I seem to have been played by Venti back then!”
Lisa: “Oh? My dear, what do you mean?”
Traveler Lumine: “When I was traveling in Inazuma, I defeated the Signora. If he’s even weaker than her, doesn’t that mean I can beat Venti up now?”
Paimon: “......That makes sense! I knew this street performer was unreliable!”
Frunina: “Pfft... little Paimon, what do you call Mondstadt’s Anemo Archon? A street performer?”
Paimon: “He is a street performer! I didn’t get it wrong!”
Zhongli: “Hehe, little Paimon is still as good as ever at coming up with nicknames.”
Kaeya: “So, the conclusion is that Mr. Venti back then was deliberately doing this? But even the God’s heart was taken away. I don’t understand.”
Traveler Lumine: “I don’t understand either. He should have been able to keep the God’s heart, right?”
Klorinde: “Then there’s only one explanation, he did it on purpose.”
Jean: “Why? Isn’t the God’s heart the symbol of the god?”
Kaeya: “Don’t worry, I think Celestia will give us an answer.”
...
“Don’t want to say?”
Seeing Venti stammering for a long time without giving an explanation, Lin Mo continued, “Then let’s take a look at another clip from the past.”
Then, the picture on the giant screen changed again.
【“I will——challenge you to a duel in front of the court!”】
【In the Tenshukaku, in front of the Raiden Shogun, Traveler Lumine, with a face full of anger, challenged Signora to a solemn and cruel duel in front of the court. 】
【“Hmm.” The Raiden Shogun nodded slightly, indicating her agreement with the fairness and legality of this duel in front of the court. 】
【“There’s actually this trick... You’ve also learned to use the rules of this country? To barely put us on equal footing.”】
【“I admit, it’s a bit unexpected, but the loser... will die, right? Have you thought it through?”】
【Traveler Lumine didn’t speak. Her extremely firm gaze had already given her answer. 】
【“Hehehe...”】
【Signora laughed, “Then let me condescend to dance a waltz with you, until one of us... reaches the end of our life!”】
【“To interpret the authority and elegance of the Harbinger as you wish!”】
【Just like that. 】
【Under the witness of the Raiden Shogun, the duel between Traveler Lumine and the eighth of the Fatui Harbingers, Signora, began in the Tenshukaku!】
......