"You didn't really think the Geo Archon could be assassinated, did you?" Akira sneered. "Rex Lapis, known as the God of War, is someone no one in Teyvat could kill without a trace."
"..." Lumine's face flushed slightly as she looked at Akira's malicious smile. She realized how foolish it was to believe such a ridiculous rumor.
"Wait... is this the Northland Bank?" Lumine stared in confusion as Akira led her to the Northland Bank.
"Do you think I'd harm you?" Akira said. "Let's go.
Akira pushed open the doors of the Northland Bank and walked in with Lumine.
"You call this cooperation between Harbingers? Even if it is, you should at least share information!"
As soon as they entered, Lumine heard Tartaglia's voice filled with complaints.
Standing in front of Tartaglia were La Signora, an old acquaintance, and Zhongli.
"Zhongli?! What are you doing here?" Paimon flew over, shocked.
"It seems she still doesn't know your true identity, Morax, the Geo Archon," La Signora said with a smirk.
"Morax? Zhongli... you're the Geo Archon?"
Paimon stammered, her words stumbling.
"You? La Signora, what are you doing here?"
Lumine glared at La Signora, her voice cold.
"Seems your memory is quite sharp. Just one meeting in that bard's city, and you remember my name," La Signora glanced at Lumine, indifferent to her tone. But when she looked at Akira, her expression became uneasy.
"Tartaglia! We shouldn't have trusted you!"
Paimon crossed her arms, glaring at Tartaglia.
"Don't say that. Didn't Mr. Akira beat me up pretty badly too?" Tartaglia chuckled awkwardly, waving his hands. "Besides, I'm also a victim. Mr. Zhongli and La Signora tricked me quite thoroughly."
"Zhongli tricked you?" Lumine was stunned.
"Enough, stop wasting time, Tartaglia. You can chat and catch up after I finish my business," La Signora interrupted.
She then turned to Zhongli. "As per our agreement, I've come to collect your Gnosis, Morax."
"Indeed," Zhongli nodded. "The contract is fulfilled. As you wished, I grant you the promised item."
With that, a luxurious, chess piece-like golden Gnosis appeared in Zhongli's hand.
"Hmph... such a condescending tone," La Signora snorted.
"Now that I have the Gnosis, Tartaglia, we'll return to Zapolyarny Palace to report to the Tsaritsa," La Signora said, holding the Geo Archon's Gnosis. Now, she had two Gnoses in her possession.
"Fine, I'll be a bit later. I don't want to travel with you," Tartaglia nodded.
"Suits me just fine," La Signora shrugged, ignoring everyone as she turned and walked out.
"You all chat," Akira nodded to Zhongli. "Lumine has some questions for you. I'll take my leave."
Under everyone's gaze, Akira walked out of the Northland Bank.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw La Signora standing in a nearby alley. She had dismissed the Electro Cicin Mage who had been following her.
"Well, aren't you obedient this time," Akira walked over, teasing her.
"Akira! What will it take for you to let me go?" La Signora suppressed her anger, her voice icy.
"Let you go?" Akira sneered, pinning her against the wall and lifting her delicate chin. "Do you think that's possible?"
"Rosalyne, I'll tell you an unfortunate truth-you can't escape," Akio said calmly.
"Actually, I'm saving you," Akira smiled faintly.
"Saving me?" La Signora laughed bitterly, glaring at him. "You call this saving? This is coercion!"
"Don't put it so harshly," Akira waved his hand.
"Don't put it so harshly," Akira waved his hand.
"When it comes to coercion, I think no one understands it better than the Fatui, right?"
"..." La Signora stared at him, her eyes filled with rage.
"After you return to Zapolyarny Palace and hand over the two Gnoses, you'll head to Inazuma, won't you?" Akira smiled faintly.
"If I'm not mistaken, you've already started making moves in Inazuma, haven't you?" Akira stared into her eyes, and her expression shifted from anger to fear.
"Quite the masterstroke, corrupting two of the three commissions," Akira's soft words made her eyes widen.
"But this isn't entirely your fault. If they had remained loyal, serving their country and people instead of being blinded by greed, they wouldn't have been so easily swayed by the Fatui," Akio leaned closer, whispering into Rosalyne's ear.
"I despise traitors more than anything. I'll hunt them down one by one, strip them of their flesh, and cast them into eternal damnation."
"I'll make them experience the most excruciating pain, so they understand that betrayal is unforgivable."
La Signora's face turned pale as she looked at Akira.
"As for you, one of the architects of Inazuma's suffering, after Inazuma, you'll stay by my sid and atone for your sins," Akira's eyes were icy. "But I'll offer you redemption-not just physical salvation, but spiritual as well."
Akira's voice, like a demon's whisper, shattered La Signora's mental defenses. She stared at him, dazed.
"Before that, allow me to collect a little interest," Akira said, his gaze falling on her crimson lips. He leaned in slowly.
"Mmm..." La Signora didn't dare resist, closing her eyes and remaining silent. She wanted to cry, but her tears had long since dried up.
"Alright," Akira stood up after a while, looking at her beautiful face. "Now, I'll allow you to return to Snezhnaya."
"You must come to Inazuma. Don't even think about running away," Akira said calmly.
"Understood?"
La Signora nodded mechanically, and Akira, satisfied, turned and left.
"..." La Signora's eyes were vacant, devoid of her usual arrogance, as she turned and walked out of the alley.
"Damn, I was acting like a total creep just now," Akira muttered as he walked away, rubbing his forehead.
But Akira believed he was right. He was saving Rosalyne from being reduced to ashes under the Raiden Shogun's blade-wasn't that redemption? Making her heart belong only to him, freeing her from her past pain-wasn't that redemption?
"I'm such a good person," Akira nodded in satisfaction.
"As for Scaramouche," Akira snorted. "In my eyes, even if you've suffered three betrayals, or even ten, you'll still die."
"Though by now, the Shouki no Kami should already be under construction, right?" Akira rubbed his chin. That false god's mech was probably mostly complete, and Scaramouche was already scheming to get his hands on the Electro Gnosis.
"Should I let Scaramouche pilot? Give him a sliver of hope, then crush it?" Akira pondered. "Forget it, I'll just go back and get the Electro Gnosis."