By the time Ji Ming slipped back into the Goth Grand Hotel through the hidden tunnel, the sky outside was completely dark.
Dinner with Jean had gone long — conversation with her flowed easier than expected.
Despite being born into one of Mondstadt's old noble families, Jean was surprisingly approachable.
She even broke the noble rule of "don't speak while eating."
Instead, she was the one leading the conversation.
Of course, she avoided any classified matters — but even so, Ji Ming managed to extract useful information with the practiced ease of someone who'd survived Liyue's back-alley politics for years.
But first — the report.
The underground corridors were pitch-black. No torches. No lamps.
Ji Ming had to move with one hand trailing along the wall, relying on memory to avoid the misdirection routes.
When he emerged into the Gothic hotel halls, the corridors were silent.
Doors shut. No guards. No servants.
Everyone in the Fatui diplomatic mission was already asleep.
Ji Ming lifted his hand and knocked.
"Miss Signora, are you awake?"
After a long moment, the door opened—just slightly.
Signora appeared in the narrow gap, wearing a face mask.
Even with half her face hidden, the hostile aura rolling off her was unmistakable.
She stared at him, expression unreadable.
"…What?"
"Oh! You're still awake?"
Ji Ming grinned.
A flawless ice-cold executioner…
Secretly doing skincare at night.
Signora said nothing—just radiated pure killing intent.
Ji Ming instantly corrected himself.
"Alright, alright. My bad. I actually have business. Let me in first."
He stepped inside. Signora shut the door without a word.
The instant she turned, her gaze froze on the glowing Vision at his waist.
"…Explain."
Ah. There it was.
Ji Ming spread his hands.
"You ever heard of networking? Turns out Barbatos and I are… spiritually aligned."
Signora's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"You met Barbatos?"
"Nope. Why would a god personally visit someone who can't even pay off his debts? I just prayed for ten minutes and boom, Vision."
Signora paused.
As much as she despised the Anemo Archon, she knew the truth — most Visions weren't given consciously.
They manifested on their own, rarely, unpredictably.
Still… she didn't like the implications.
"You were thinking something disrespectful just now."
Ji Ming shook his head violently.
"Absolutely not. My mind is pure and noble."
Signora gave him a look.
"…Say what you came to say."
Ji Ming leaned back with a smug smile.
"I had dinner with a woman."
A blood vessel in Signora's forehead bulged.
"I do not care who you eat dinner with. Even if you share a bed with some Mondstadt girl, it is irrelevant."
"Oh? Then guess who she was."
Signora hesitated — because she was curious.
Ji Ming wouldn't come here just to brag.
"…Who?"
"Jean," Ji Ming said lightly. "Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."
Signora's fingers stopped mid-air.
She didn't question the truth.
Ji Ming wasn't stupid enough to lie about something that could be easily verified.
This was why she had insisted on bringing him to Mondstadt.
Not strong, not noble — but frighteningly adaptable.
Street-taught intuition that could slip into any environment.
Morality flexible enough to bend in any direction.
Connections built without effort.
Exactly the kind of knife the Fatui needed — one no one saw coming.
"…What did you learn?"
"Jean's exhausted. Monster activity is spiking outside the city. That means the Darknight Hero isn't affiliated with the Knights."
If the Darknight Hero were a Knight, Mondstadt wouldn't be overwhelmed outside the walls.
Which meant:
He operated alone.
Signora tapped her finger in thought.
"Anything else?"
"No. People like her don't discuss state affairs with random strangers. What we talked about was just personal life stuff."
Ji Ming stretched lazily.
Signora narrowed her gaze.
"Then what exactly did you talk about?"
Ji Ming smirked.
"I thought you didn't care if I dined or even slept with Mondstadt women?"
Signora's expression did not change.
But the temperature in the room dropped several degrees.
"That woman is not just 'some Mondstadt woman.' If seducing her would grant us Mondstadt's military secrets, I would tell you to go warm her bed right now."
Ji Ming blinked…and recoiled like he had seen something horrifying.
"…Are you insane?"
"I'll have you know—I am a very self-respecting person."
Signora stared.
A… self-respecting street delinquent.
This idiot… sometimes she genuinely wondered if his brain was attached correctly.
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