In a certain space, Jiang Mumu finally had some free time.
After days of hard work, she had finished editing the new PV.
All the Fatui Harbingers, plus the Regulator and her as the Adjutant, were finally going to appear together. With the players currently in a story lull, Jiang Mumu planned to release the PV and see how it was received.
Since Rosalyne hadn't died, the original A Winter Night's Lazzo PV couldn't be used. Besides, nothing particularly significant had happened in Snezhnaya recently that would require all the Harbingers to assemble.
In that case, she might as well just depict the future directly.
The Harbinger who originally sacrificed themselves would be changed from Rosalyne to Angie.
Although Angie wasn't a Harbinger, in the eyes of the other Harbingers, her status was no different. Plus, aside from Scaramouche, The Rooster, The Doctor, and Regrator, Angie got along well with the rest of them.
Even La Signora, with whom her relationship had been somewhat strained, had warmed up to her considerably lately.
Although this was an early spoiler, revealing Angie's sacrifice to the players ahead of time, it was only a slight jump forward. Once the Sumeru and Yuna storylines concluded, players would likely figure it out anyway—that the "Person of Pure Soul" sought by the Abyss was someone they could never protect.
Angie's main storyline was still to come, so revealing her fate a little earlier or later wouldn't make much difference to the overall plot.
Besides, knowing Angie's ending early would make players develop a strong fondness for her even before they had much interaction with her.
Additionally, Jiang Mumu added some combat scenes and used the Fatui's theme music to intensify the PV's oppressive atmosphere.
In Jiang Mumu's understanding, among all the official factions of Teyvat's seven nations, none could match the Fatui.
That sense of overwhelming pressure had to be conveyed.
More than ten days had passed since the release of Genshin Impact's "The Morn a Thousand Roses Brings" quest series.
Based on the updated quests, Mihoyo had been periodically releasing character-exclusive PVs on their official website, such as one for Tighnari. After the System's code upgrades, the quality of these PVs was exceptionally high.
One day, a new PV suddenly appeared on Mihoyo's official website. The moment it was posted, it attracted a massive wave of netizens and players who had been closely following Mihoyo's updates.
Currently, Genshin Impact was an undisputed hit. Both in China and abroad, its popularity left other games miles behind.
One key reason was its accessibility. Unlike many other games, Genshin Impact wasn't demanding on hardware. Despite its top-tier graphics and models, it could run smoothly even on very ordinary devices. Its optimization was so ridiculously good it seemed to defy logic.
This led to Genshin Impact being even more popular in many countries than in China itself.
For example, in a certain island nation, the release of Inazuma had sparked an absolute frenzy.
The PV was over ten minutes long. Just moments after its release, the comment section had already surpassed a thousand entries, filled with netizens who commented before even watching.
[New PV! The Fatui's full power on display! Holy crap, it's finally here! I've been waiting for this!]
[Ten minutes? Another massive PV!]
[The Fatui... is this mysterious organization finally stepping into the spotlight?]
[Right now, the only Harbingers we really know are [Tartaglia], [La Signora], and [Scaramouche]. Angie counts too, but we don't know her rank.]
[Ooooh!]
The PV was released at 7 PM, a prime time for streamers. The moment it dropped, major streamers who were live immediately clicked in to watch.
Jiang Mumu blended in with the viewers, simultaneously scrolling through the new comments under the PV and watching various streamers' reactions.
Multitasking like this had long become second nature to her.
Chen Xiyao also streamed during this time slot when there were no new story quests or versions.
"What? Mihoyo released a new PV?"
She immediately opened the official website and clicked the relevant link.
"A Winter Night's Lazzo..."
The video began with Mihoyo's iconic logo, then transitioned into the main content.
On the screen, a snowy night in Snezhnaya unfolded. Delicate snowflakes fluttered from the sky, accompanied by the Damselette's hummed rendition of a Fatui ditty.
Each Harbinger had their own musical theme upon their introduction. In Jiang Mumu's design, her theme closely resembled those of Rosalyne and Scaramouche, with only a brief variation in the middle.
Inside the Zapolyarny Palace, Old Man Pierro was the first to appear, accompanied by a text explaining his identity:
Director of the Fatui, Pierro the Jester.
Standing before a chessboard, he spoke in a deep, resonant voice:
"The Sages pride themselves on their supposed omniscience, but it is we who understand the true meaning behind their folly."
"In war, there are no expendable pieces."
"For this game, checkmate is not the end."
On the black-and-white chessboard, the Gnosis of the seven Archons were laid out, serving as crucial pieces in the game.
The Pyro Archon's Gnosis moved across the board, knocking over a black piece. The toppled piece immediately froze solid, and then...
[This music is giving me goosebumps.]
[Seven Gnosis!!!]
[Wait, all seven Gnosis are already here?]
[This PV seems to be showing future events, right? Like the "Travail" trailer?]
[The Fatui still has a Director? Didn't they say the top three Harbingers already possess power comparable to the gods? Then wouldn't the Director have Archon-level combat power?]
[That's a lot of information!]
The scene abruptly shifted to a grand hall where the Fatui Harbingers, cloaked in their signature overcoats, gathered around an Ice Coffin.
A young girl lay atop the coffin, her eyes closed, her lips moving slightly as if singing. The ethereal melody filling the hall seemed to emanate from her.
Behind her head, she wore a Six-Winged headdress, her long hair cascading down her back.
[The Fatui Harbinger, Third Seat: Columbina, the Damselette.]
The scene changed again, this time showing a frail, elderly Elf.
"We are gathered here today to remember our dear comrade Angie. In honor of her sacrifice, all work should halt for half a day as the nation mourns her passing."
[The Fatui Harbinger, Fifth Seat: Pulcinella, the Rooster]
A man with half-frame glasses, bearing a striking resemblance to Baizhu, clasped his hands together.
"Hehe, merely half a day...? People say the Northland Bank's true currencies are blood and tears..., But Mayor, even speaking as a banker, that sounds a little unconscionable"
[The Fatui Harbringer, Ninth Seat Pantalone, the Regrator]
"If you wish to argue under these circumstances, stay behind after the meeting. I'll keep him entertained."
[The Fatui Harbinger, Eighth Seat: Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, The Fair Lady.]
"Angie died in a foreign land while fighting the Abyss... But you heartless businessmen and dignitaries, always with a convenient excuse to remain in the comfort of your homeland.... You couldn't hope to understand, So why don't you keep your mouths shut! We don't want to make the children cry..."
[The Fatui Harbinger, Fourth Seat: Arlecchino, the Knave.]
Tartaglia sat motionless to the side, his hair disheveled, eyes bloodshot, and dark circles heavy beneath his eyes. He remained silent, uttering not a word.
[The Fatui Harbinger, Eleventh Seat: Tartaglia, Childe.]