"Zhongtuo, Zhongtuo, did you add something strange to the milk tea? Why are the Whopperflowers all withered?"
In the evening, Su Bai passed by the kitchen and caught a whiff of something burning. Worried that Wangsheng might catch fire, he poked his head in for a look. What he saw startled him. The once lively Whopperflowers were all withered, some even completely blackened. The milk tea simmering on the stove had long since dried up.
Su Bai's words drew Azhdaha and Zhongli over from the main hall. They peered into the kitchen and saw the same sight. The Whopperflowers lay motionless on the ground, completely lifeless.
"I sent a photo to Albedo and Albedo Junior. They should get back to us soon."
Su Bai furrowed his brows. Through his adeptal senses, he could feel the Whopperflowers' life force rapidly draining away. This was definitely not a defect in Albedo Junior's creations. Zhongli also fell into thought. Could someone be sabotaging Wangsheng's milk tea business?
"Until we know more, let's not touch these Whopperflowers. If they're poisonous, we could be in trouble."
Keqing, who had come to Wangsheng with Lumine to try the milk tea, blocked the kitchen entrance, keeping the curious Klee and Mona out. With years of investigative experience, she could tell this was no small matter. Someone was likely behind this.
"Albedo and Albedo Junior both replied. Albedo Junior confirmed that his Whopperflowers have no inherent defects and told us to check if someone poisoned the area."
"Albedo, on the other hand, told us to check the milk tea itself. He suspects it's poisoned."
Su Bai dropped an Illusion Mushroom, which was sensitive to its surroundings, into the milk tea. It turned black before their eyes. Everyone's expressions shifted.
Hu Tao immediately grabbed her Staff of Homa, ready to hunt down the culprit and offer them Wangsheng's finest services. If Su Bai hadn't stopped her, the front door would have needed replacing.
"I think I know where the problem is."
"Good thing we didn't sell any milk tea today, or we'd be in serious trouble."
Mona pinched a few tea leaves. These were ordinary ones bought at the market that morning. They should have been dark green, but after a day, a layer of white frost had formed on them. Keqing now knew where to start her investigation.
...
"Boss, are we really going through with this? That's the site of the Liyue cooking competition. Even if we could get in, the experts there are way out of our league."
Inside a hidden cave, over a dozen Fatui agents were fiercely debating orders from above. The squad's vice-captain slammed the table, his face flushed with anger.
"Sending us to sabotage the cooking competition? That's just sending us to our deaths. Captain, you accepted this mission. Are you leading us all to die?"
"The entire city is hunting us down. We've been hiding in this cave, barely surviving. Is this worthless mission really worth throwing our lives away?"
"Captain, we've followed you through mission after mission, and I've never questioned your judgment. But today, if you don't give me a good reason, I'm not taking this mission."
The vice-captain's roar echoed through the empty cave. Most of the agents were shocked by his sudden outburst. In their memory, their vice-captain always charged ahead in every mission. For someone so fearless to question an order from above caught everyone off guard.
"If I remember right, the vice-captain is an orphan like us, isn't he?"
"Yeah. Is he about to betray the Tsaritsa?"
"Silence!"
The squad captain cut off the murmurs. No one knew his subordinate and friend better than he did. His vice-captain was more loyal to the Tsaritsa than anyone realized.
"I didn't want to tell you this, but since someone asked, I'll be straight. This mission is mandatory."
"I tried to turn it down, but Lord Pantalone refused. So we have to go."
The captain's face was resolute. Though he didn't want to sacrifice his men, a Harbinger's orders were absolute. Even as a squad leader, he had no authority to refuse.
"Lord Pantalone personally gave the order..."
The vice-captain hesitated, then steeled himself. He signaled to the two agents behind the captain, who quietly stepped forward and restrained him.
Caught off guard, the captain momentarily forgot to resist. He never expected his brothers-in-arms to turn on him.
"Have you lost your minds? If you're afraid of dying, I'll go alone. You can change your names and live out your lives in Liyue. Why attack me?"
"Captain, your daughter is three years old now, isn't she?"
The vice-captain crouched in front of him, his tone filled with emotion. The captain nodded, unsure where this was going.
"Three years old. If something happened to you, she'd end up an orphan like us."
"I grew up an orphan. No one understands that pain better than I do. Captain, you've always protected us. This time, let us protect you."
As he finished, applause echoed from outside the cave. A finely dressed elderly man walked slowly toward them, clapping.
"I didn't expect such loyalty among the Fatui. Truly impressive. Captain, rest assured. Once your mission is complete, I'll give you enough Mora to live comfortably for the rest of your life."
"Ha. Someone as ruthless as you? I doubt you'd keep your word. Here to replenish your poison supply?"
"Sharp as always, Vice-Captain. You guessed correctly."
The old man smiled, his tone casual as he spoke words that disgusted even the vice-captain.
"With Rex Lapis dead and the Qixing grinding Liyue into dust, all we wealthy folk want is to reduce casualties."
"Spare me the pretty words. You're just bitter because you can't compete with the Tianquan in business. How hypocritical."
The restrained captain scoffed. As a Fatui combat squad leader, he had nothing but contempt for this old man's power grab. True victory came from facing enemies head-on. The old man merely smiled.
"I've learned that several Qixing members will be tasting dishes at the cooking competition. And I happen to have a skilled chef on my payroll. One more packet of that poison, and both our goals will be achieved."
"Tsk, old man. After all these years, have you put all your energy into scheming? That's why I prefer honest evil over hypocritical justice."
"Who's there?"
The Fatui agents and the old man turned toward the cave entrance. Millelith soldiers and young Geovishaps had surrounded the entire area. Standing beside Su Bai, the famous fox adeptus of Liyue Harbor, was a young woman with a spear, glaring furiously at the group inside.
"It's all a misunderstanding, Adeptus Su Bai! The Fatui made me do it. Yes, they forced me!"
The old man dropped to his knees the moment he was caught, trying to shift the blame onto the Fatui. The agents inside were so infuriated they laughed. The old man had approached them seeking cooperation. How dare he pin it on them now?
"Truly shameless. I've always respected my elders, but you, old man, are clearly not on that list."
Hu Tao walked toward the old man, clenching her fists. As she drew closer, she recognized him. This was the same man who had once tattled on her to the Qixing. Ningguang had shown Hu Tao his photo during their last meal together.
"So it's you. Looks like we have old and new scores to settle."
"No, no, you've got the wrong person. It wasn't me!"
Hearing the old man's screams, Su Bai sighed inwardly. Why didn't he just stay out of trouble? Now he'd be spending the rest of his days in jail. Su Bai turned to help the Millelith deal with the Fatui.
Raising his hand to electrocute the agents, Su Bai saw them getting thoroughly beaten by the Millelith and Geovishaps. He lowered his hand again.
It seemed there was nothing left for him to do. With the Geovishaps' help, the Millelith had tied up the agents without breaking a sweat. The fact that their captain had been restrained by his own men also made things much easier.