In the real world, Lumine furrowed her delicate brows.
She couldn't quite figure it out—was there something seriously wrong with the Fatui Harbingers?
"Good thing we haven't reached Liyue yet. We need to be careful around this guy!" Lumine said solemnly to Paimon.
Paimon nodded vigorously in agreement.
This Tartaglia didn't look like a good person at all!
Must stay far away from him!
[Kaeya]: @[Tartaglia] Why are you wearing an Abyss Mage's outfit?
[Venti]: You're on fire!
[Gu Chen]: Good grief, Tartaglia, are you planning a collab with the Abyss Order?
[Tartaglia]: I don't know, I don't know! I said I don't know! (Collei · No Response)
Northland Bank.
Tartaglia was utterly dumbfounded.
What the hell was his past self up to?
He couldn't make heads or tails of it!
"Can you figure out what my past self's deeper intentions were?" Tartaglia turned to Andrei, the manager of the Northland Bank.
Andrei blinked, then shook his head firmly. "No clue."
"Sigh, can't count on you then." Tartaglia sighed.
He could only hope the video would provide some answers.
According to the plan, there was no need for him to pull off something like this!
At the same time, within the Abyss Order.
Aether breathed a sigh of relief, patting his chest. "Phew, as I thought—how could there be such a tall Abyss Mage in the Order? He looks more like an Abyss Apostle... This Tartaglia sure has some tricks up his sleeve, dragging the Order into the mud..."
Hah!
Aether sneered coldly.
Everyone knew the Abyss Order wasn't anything good—did that make the Fatui saints?
Neither side was good, but pulling him in as a scapegoat? That was downright unethical!
"Shameless!"
Aether spat out his verdict.
The Abyss Apostles and Abyss Mages around him nodded in unison.
In the video.
Liyue Outskirts.
A silver-white spear materialized in Gu Chen's hand as he eyed the man warily. "Sir, what do you hope to achieve by framing us like this?"
"Haha, obviously to drag you into the game!"
Tartaglia laughed, his youthful face lit with a smile under the sunlight that made him seem far from irredeemable.
But his actions didn't match that innocent face at all!
"We have no interest in stirring up this mess." Gu Chen's expression darkened slightly.
"That's not up to you."
Tartaglia shook his head with a grin. "Gu Chen, I know who you are. I've heard about what happened in Mondstadt, so I've been keeping an eye on you, Honorary Knight. My plans always need pawns, and you showed up perfectly at the Rite of Descension today... Rumor has it you're incredibly strong—even went toe-to-toe with that East Wind Dragon. I'm dying to see just how powerful you really are."
As he spoke, excitement lit up Tartaglia's face. He clearly craved a fight with Gu Chen.
"Is this guy's head on straight?"
Paimon whispered.
"Maybe got caught in a door," Lumine pondered for a second before replying.
[Lumine]: I agree with my past self—Tartaglia doesn't seem normal at all!
[Paimon]: Who normal does something like this! (Count Rabbit · Get lost)
[Tartaglia]: Sorry, I think I get my past self now, but don't worry—in the real world, I definitely won't pull anything like that.
[Kaeya]: After all this exposure, no one would fall for it anyway! (Hehe)
[Tartaglia]: Hahaha.
[Ningguang]: @[Tartaglia] Mr. Tartaglia, I hope your side causes fewer disturbances in Liyue. These are turbulent times—if you do anything out of line... you'll bear the consequences!
[Tartaglia]: Relax, relax. As a show of sincerity and to prove the Fatui's innocence, I can responsibly tell everyone: the Fatui have no plans to assassinate Rex Lapis. Everyone knows the Geo Archon's strength is unmatched—why would the Fatui overreach like that?
[Keqing]: You better mean that!
[Tartaglia]: Believe it or not. But my past self is about to clash with Mr. Gu Chen—can't wait! (Xiangling · Starry Eyes)
Bang!
In the video, Gu Chen and Tartaglia collided without warning.
Instinct honed from battle made them sense this moment from their very first glance.
Gu Chen's spear tip danced like relentless raindrops, leaving countless afterimages before Tartaglia.
Tartaglia lived up to his title as the Fatui's youngest Harbinger—his combat instincts razor-sharp, dodging attack after attack by a hair's breadth.
"Go for it, Gu Chen!"
Paimon hovered nearby as cheerleader, shouting encouragement.
"Don't distract him," Lumine said worriedly, swatting at Paimon.
"Oh, right!"
Paimon belatedly floated back to Lumine, watching tensely.
Over a dozen exchanges passed in a blur of shadows.
After a backstep, the water-element daggers in Tartaglia's hands shattered. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he said gravely, "Mr. Gu Chen, you're not even going all out, are you?"
[Tartaglia]: What?! Not even full power yet? (Tartaglia · Whale-munching Shock)
"I'm wondering—should I kill you and hand you over to the Qixing, or dig into your plans first before deciding?" Gu Chen replied calmly.
"Hahahaha!"
Tartaglia burst into laughter, his face twisting ferociously. "Mr. Gu Chen, you really think you can kill me?!"
In the next instant, a sinister power erupted.
Powerful Electro energy crackled through the air, sending chills down spines.
Electro-wreathed armor formed around Tartaglia, while Gu Chen remained unflappable, watching coolly.
[Venti]: Time to transform?
[Neuvillette]: Why not interrupt him?
[Tartaglia]: Mr. Gu Chen, you're way too cocky!
[Gu Chen]: That year, hands in pockets, I didn't know what an opponent was!
[Rosaria]: Such arrogance from that Thoma!
"That's it for the warm-up!"
In his Foul Legacy Transformation, Tartaglia's aura grew even more vicious.
His speed surged to the naked eye's limit, but Gu Chen parried every move with ease.
Dodging an attack, Gu Chen twisted and hurled his spear.
Pfft!
It pierced Tartaglia's lower back without resistance. Gu Chen closed in, yanking the spear back to pull Tartaglia toward him, then clenched his right fist and smashed forward.
Bang!
The punch landed solidly on the Foul Legacy armor, cracking it apart. Shards scattered everywhere.
Tartaglia's face drained pale as paper, impaled on the spear in agony.
Gu Chen reached out with his right hand toward Tartaglia's head.
[Tartaglia]: Bro! Stop hitting me! I'm gonna die if you keep this up! (Thoma Kneeling · Please!)
[Signora]: Good riddance!
[Tartaglia]: We're colleagues—why the cold words! (Tartaglia · Damn it)
Gu Chen twisted his wrist mid-reach, grabbing Tartaglia by the collar instead. "Unfamiliar turf—killing you might stir up too much trouble... Now, care to explain your purpose?"