Furina: "Th–that pressure…!!"
Furina: "Truly worthy of a top-tier villain!"
Furina: "Just now, I swear my heart almost jumped straight out of my body!!"
Inside the Palais Mermonia, Furina sat frozen, lips parted, a thin sheen of cold sweat gathering on her forehead.
Even through a video, the oppressive aura Sampo unleashed was enough to make her tremble.
"...This gentleman named 'Sampo' clearly isn't someone easy to deal with."
"Were I to meet someone like him during diplomacy… what should I do?"
Neuvillette stood beside her, silent and deep in thought.
As the Chief Justice of Fontaine, he had met all sorts of envoys and officials.
But none—not a single one—came close to Sampo's level of psychological pressure.
Even a fraction of it would throw most diplomats off-balance.
Seeing Sampo's manipulative finesse made Neuvillette realize something unsettling:
With his current diplomatic skill, he might actually lose in a negotiation with someone like Sampo—
and a loss like that could endanger all of Fontaine.
Meanwhile, atop the Jade Chamber—
Ningguang slowly exhaled, eyes bright with amusement.
"Marvelous. Simply marvelous."
"This Sampo fellow… His control of the situation is nothing short of masterful."
As a politician and businesswoman herself, she immediately recognized a fellow strategist.
He dismantled Xing's psychological defenses with gentle words and subtle pressure alone.
That level of finesse made even Ningguang feel a rare sense of appreciation.
In the corner, Yelan twirled a die between her fingers, lips curved faintly.
"Tch. Underneath all that polish, he's a dangerous one."
"Troublesome to deal with… yet the most interesting prey."
Klee: "Bad guy!! You're a big bad guy! Don't bully Sister Xing! Klee wants to blow you up!!"
Hook: "Yeah!! How dare you treat an honorary member like that! Hook wants to whack you with her drill machine!!"
Clara: "Please stop bullying Big Sister… Otherwise, Clara will bring Mr. Svarog."
Sampo's behavior had kids from both Teyvat and the Astral Express protesting in unison.
Boothill snorted.
"Hah! Even children can't stand you, corporate scum."
"If I were you, I'd slam my head into the nearest wall and put myself outta my own misery."
Firefly: "Heehee~ Little Peacock, the whole universe is roasting you now~"
Firefly: "How will you survive this? Are you crying already~? Boo-hoo, how pitiful… I'm totally crying for you~"
She rested her chin on her hands, grinning with wicked delight.
Xing, meanwhile, was seconds away from exploding.
"WHY am I in the video acting like such a pushover?!"
"I let him crush me the whole time? ME? The Galaxy Baseball Hero?!"
"This is slander! This is character assassination!"
"If that were the real me, I'd have already smashed his skull with my bat!!"
Her face was red with fury as she stomped around inside the train car.
She—the Galaxy Baseball Hero—had never once suffered such humiliation.
Youki: "Look. That's me coming to save her."
Youki: "Now do you finally believe I'm not a villain?"
Seeing her future self burst through the door, Youki crossed her arms proudly.
March 7th: "Just that one action is enough! I believe you now! You're a good guy!"
Xiangling: "Exactly! The only real villain here is Sampo!"
Xiangling: "He came to Penacony with bad intentions from the very start!"
Bronya: "His real purpose was to collect debts for the IPC… It reminds me of some unpleasant memories."
Topaz coughed softly. "Th-that was a misunderstanding! I'm nothing like him!"
Bronya nodded.
"I'm grateful we met someone reasonable like Miss Topaz.
If it had been Sampo… Belobog's fate might have taken a very dark turn."
"Truly… we were lucky."
Back to the Video
[Sampo: "...Your room?"]
Sampo blinked.
Then, realization dawned.
[Sampo: "Impressive, friend. You've only been here a short while and you're already inviting partners over."]
He raised a brow at Xing.
[Sampo: "Don't misunderstand. I was just here to remind you—this place is full of shady folks.
Remember to keep your guard up.
And… lock the door."]
[Sampo: "Well then, I'll be off. Have fun, Xing."]
Seeing Youki glaring daggers at him, he immediately judged that it was no longer the right time to push Xing.
He excused himself and left.
Keqing: "What kind of reverse thief logic is this? 'Watch out for suspicious people'? Is he… describing himself?"
Paimon: "He's so shameless!! Doing bad things with full confidence!"
Pela: "He probably doesn't have a conscience."
Paimon: "…Yeah, that makes sense."
Inside the Room
After Sampo left, only Xing and Youki remained.
[Xing: "Have we met before?"]
She stared at Youki for a long moment.
The woman felt extremely familiar.
Then Xing remembered—
the strange, vivid dream she saw earlier.
[Youki: "..."]
[Youki: "Why haven't you left yet?"]
Xing blinked.
"Huh?? This is MY room??"
[Youki: "Why aren't you leaving?"]
She emphasized each word.
But then, upon seeing Xing's confused face, her expression flickered.
[Youki: "…Did I go to the wrong room?"]
[Youki: "That can't be. I checked the room number several times…"]
Then she muttered:
[Youki: "Or maybe… the floor? Or the wing? This hotel is too large.
The decor is too similar. A moment of carelessness and you lose your way…"]
Xing stared.
Her instincts whispered something odd.
[Xing: "Something feels… strange."]
[Youki: "Well, you're unharmed. That's enough. I should return to my own room now."]
But just before leaving, Youki paused.
[Youki: "Before I go… may I ask you something?
It may sound strange, even rude, but—
Have we met somewhere before?"]
The familiar question made Xing's heart skip.
[Xing: "Maybe… in a dream."]
[Youki: "Right. The 'dream.'
On my way here, I had a strange dream… and I think you were in it."]
[Youki: "Xing—this is your name, correct?
It's a pleasure to meet you."]
[Xing: "You remember me?"]
[Youki: "Someone mentioned your name a few minutes ago. I'm forgetful, not hopeless."]
[Youki: "I am Youki, a Taleweaver of the Sea—at least, that's what people call me."]
She paused, meeting Xing's eyes.
[Youki: "One last piece of advice.
Some people have an unwavering will—but they don't use it for good.
Your friend Sampo… had that look."]
[Youki: "A man who holds a blade must eventually cut something.
A gambler who is cornered will always go all-in.
Remember that before making your choice."]
And with that, she left.
Hu Tao: "So she was helping!?"
Chongyun: "But she also seems like she just… went to the wrong room."
Zhongli stroked his chin.
"Not necessarily. Her words were vague, but her intent seemed clear."
Sampo: "Talking to Youki is exhausting."
Firefly: "Riddlers are always like that~ You'll get used to it."
Furina: "Just one glance and she saw he was a villain! Such sharp intuition!"
Paimon: "She called him a gambler. True Doctor ALSO called him gambler.
Does that mean Sampo loves gambling??"
Venti laughed.
"Nope~ It's describing his style."
True Doctor: "Correct."
Back to the Video Again
Xing stretched, finally ready to sleep.
[Xing: "…Okay. That was chaotic, but at least now I can finally enter the dream realm."]
But then—
Footsteps approached.
Youki… came back.
[Youki: "..."]
[Xing: "Wow, we're meeting again really fast..."]
[Youki: "…Sorry. Could you… tell me how to get back to the lobby?
The hallways here are far too similar…"]
Xing: "…"
She silently pointed the way.
Youki thanked her repeatedly before hurrying out again.
Xing: "Youki… is a directionally challenged wanderer??"
Youki coughed lightly.
"My apologies. How embarrassing."
Hu Tao: "Now it REALLY looks like she was lost the whole time!"
Zhongli: "By common logic… that is certainly possible.
But..."
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"So many coincidences…
A mysterious shared dream,
a perfectly timed entrance,
cryptic words of warning—
Can all of that truly be accidental?"
And with that, Zhongli fell deep into contemplation.
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