At the Fatui camp on Dragonspine, the once quiet encampment was suddenly filled with waves of agonized howling. The sheer intensity of the screams was enough to make the Fatui stationed there proactively head out to "carry out missions," just to avoid being anywhere nearby.
"Hey, brat, take it easy! I'm made of flesh, not iron—ow!"
The moment they returned to their own territory, Hammer Guy completely dropped the act. His cries of pain never stopped. Seeing their captain like this, Pyro Gunner Guy and Geo Staff Guy were too embarrassed to show their faces and could only stay holed up inside the tent.
Meanwhile, Fist Guy—who was calmly wrapping bandages around himself—watched his old comrade suffer with a wide grin. After more than ten years together, this was the first time he had ever seen Hammer Guy acting so dramatic.
If Hammer Guy knew what Fist Guy was thinking, he might have jumped up and smashed him with a hammer. Damn it all—if his body hadn't been as tough as it was, he might actually have died back there.
"By the way, Captain," Pyro Gunner Guy asked, "weren't we supposed to be searching Dragonspine for that bastard who played with your daughter's feelings? This mountain's huge—how are we supposed to find him?"
"You're asking me? Who do you think I'd ask?" Hammer Guy snapped. "I never worked under Lady Signora. All I know is that the kid operates on Dragonspine, has a scar on his face, and he's a Debt Collector."
"Tsk, l-l—"
A sharp pain flared at Hammer Guy's wound, and he was just about to curse when a thought struck him.
Wait.
There was a Debt Collector right next to him.
"Kid," Hammer Guy said, glaring at the man treating his wounds, "aren't you the boss of the Dragonspine Debt Collectors? Let me ask you—do you have anyone under you with a scar on his face who's always sending letters to Inazuma?"
"That's not something you can ask me," the Debt Collector replied calmly. "Debt Collectors all have separate areas of operation. And we wear masks—we don't recognize each other by appearance. I don't know who you're talking about."
His hand trembled slightly as he treated the wound, but the excellent training drilled into him back in Snezhnaya allowed him to regain composure almost instantly. His flawless acting prevented anyone in the tent from noticing anything unusual. After a few complaints about how incompetent he was as a 'boss,' the matter was dropped.
"Boss! Your letter arrived—it's from your girlfriend in Inazuma," one of his subordinates said, waving an envelope. "She even sent some Naku Weed seeds. But… with how icy it is here, can they even grow?"
Damn it.
Seeing the envelope in his subordinate's hand, the Debt Collector could only laugh bitterly inside. With Fist Guy already blocking the tent entrance, he awkwardly turned to Hammer Guy, who was lying on the cot.
"H-Hello, Father-in-law! You look really healthy, haha… haha…"
"You're the little bastard who ran off with my precious daughter?!"
"Father-in-law, Father-in-law, you can't move yet—your wounds aren't treated!"
Hammer Guy instinctively reached for his hammer, ready to show this Debt Collector the might of a veteran with ten years of service. Unfortunately, Su Bai had already taken the hammer with him—otherwise, the tent might truly have turned into a crime scene.
"Old friend," Hammer Guy barked, "aren't you my daughter's godfather? Get him. Hit him for me too."
Fist Guy looked at the Debt Collector's pitiful expression. In the end, the fist he raised slowly lowered again.
This brat might have stolen away the most precious thing in his life—but he was not a bad person. Leaving his goddaughter in this kid's hands… he could accept that.
"That's enough," Fist Guy said. "Stop yelling. Kid, keep treating his wounds. Relax—you're not getting beaten today."
He patted the Debt Collector on the shoulder, prompting a long sigh of relief. Thank the Tsaritsa—his earlier performance must have gone over well.
"But," Fist Guy added, "from now on, you're part of our squad."
"…Huh?"
"What are you confused about? Can't bear to give up your position as a Debt Collector leader?" Fist Guy grinned. "After we finish our Liyue assignment, we're heading to Inazuma. Don't you want to see your beloved? Otherwise, I might just have a nice chat with my goddaughter about this."
"No, no!" the Debt Collector hurriedly replied. "Vice-Captain—no, Godfather—I'm willing! Thank you, Godfather! Thank you, Father-in-law!"
Fist Guy nodded in satisfaction and shot him a look. The Debt Collector instantly understood, picked up the forceps, and resumed treating Hammer Guy's wounds—this time with noticeably gentler hands.
"Alright, old friend," Fist Guy said, "don't be so sour you freeze solid. Your daughter's grown up—she's going to marry someday. And my goddaughter's a Mirror Maiden. She and this kid are a good match."
With Fist Guy's persuasion, Hammer Guy finally let out a helpless sigh. Beating up the Debt Collector would have to wait.
"Fine. Brat, you'll come to Liyue with us first. When we get there, I'll explain things to Lord Childe. For your own survival, stay far away from Lady Signora—she's not exactly known for her patience."
Outside the Debt Collector camp, snow continued to fall—but his heart was warm. Among the Fatui Harbingers, Lord Childe was one of the more… normal ones. Becoming his subordinate was something he had only ever dreamed of.
---
Meanwhile, the atmosphere on Su Bai's side was very different.
The trio parted ways with him at the bridge outside Mondstadt. Razor returned to Wolvendom to help the wolves hunt, and Bennett followed him there. Fischl, who had planned to share a meal with Su Bai, was immediately intercepted by her mother at the Adventurers' Guild.
"Oh, Little Amy, you've really gotten bold," her mother said coldly. "Sneaking off to accept a Dragonspine commission without telling us? Do you have any idea how well your father's newly bought Liyue belt—'Seven Wolves'—fits your backside?"
"M-Mom! I know I was wrong! Please forgive me!"
"And Dad wouldn't actually hit me anyway—you're just trying to scare me!"
Just as Fischl tried to plead her way out, Oz stabbed her in the back with his deep, magnetic voice.
"Forgive my interruption, Queen of the Night, but this morning, Miss deliberately spilled half her milk. Perhaps this matter also deserves your attention."
"Oz! You traitor to this Prinzessin!"
Watching Fischl being dragged away by the ear while being lectured, Su Bai silently prayed for her for three seconds. This really wasn't her mother's fault—after all, the storms on Dragonspine had yet to subside, and the mountain remained extremely dangerous.
After receiving the Mora from Katheryne, Su Bai split it into two piles. As agreed, he was only entitled to half. Fischl's share could wait until their next meeting—assuming the poor girl wouldn't be grounded indefinitely.
"Ah, well. I'm just a little fox," Su Bai muttered. "Probably best not to interfere in how other people discipline their kids."
"Since I've earned so much Mora, I might as well spend some at the tavern."
"Last time, I didn't even get to finish my dandelion wine before the Knights of Favonius hauled me away. What a waste."