"So, Signora, your defeat wasn't unjust."
"After those six strikes, your ice cocoon split outward from the initial breach, forming a cross."
"At the very center of that cross was the weakest point."
"This method is known in Snezhnaya as the Cross Ice-Breaking Technique."
"And then, combined with the Melt reaction between ice and fire, plus the final heavy blow…"
As he spoke, Tartaglia shook his head. There was no need to elaborate further.
"You were too arrogant. You gave Bai Ge enough time to act freely."
"Sometimes, human strength really isn't something to be underestimated."
In the end, with a hint of emotion and subtle admonition, Tartaglia said this to Signora.
"..."
Hearing his words, Signora fell silent.
After receiving the explanation, her unstable state seemed to calm considerably.
Then, with a strange, quiet composure, Signora moved her long legs and walked toward the exit.
That tall, fair-skinned, long-legged mature beauty—
with her usual alluring and graceful demeanor—was leaving.
It seemed that today's conflict had finally come to an end.
But suddenly, Signora stopped.
Because a casually extended hand, loosely holding a wine bottle, blocked her path.
"Why not give it a try?" Bai Ge asked with a faint smile.
"Dandelion wine."
Seeing the long-unseen bottle of dandelion wine held out before her, hesitation appeared in Signora's eyes.
"Old traces always need something new to cover them."
"And sometimes, the hardest thing for a person is making peace with themselves."
"There's a saying—one drunk can dissolve a thousand worries. Why not try?"
Bai Ge persuaded her.
In front of him, Signora remained silent.
Just when Bai Ge thought he hadn't convinced her—
A slender hand reached out and took the bottle of dandelion wine from his grasp.
Holding the wine, Signora walked away.
Seeing this scene, everyone present—Tartaglia included, as well as the ordinary Fatui—was utterly shocked.
"My gods… Lady Signora actually accepted something from someone else! Is this really Lady Signora?"
"I've never seen Lady Signora like this!"
"Yeah, me neither! She's always been incredibly proud in my memory!"
"More than that—we've never seen her put that pride down!"
"Some people even say Lady Signora is basically the Tsaritsa with reduced authority!"
"This is unbelievable…"
The Fatui's murmurs filled the teahouse.
Whispers echoed through Heyu Teahouse.
In Bai Ge's player memories, those notoriously troublesome enemies—
the Anemo Boxer, Cryo Gunner, Geo Caster, Pyro Gunner,
and even the Electro and Cryo Cicin Mages who always liked to bring friends—
were all gossiping like ordinary people now.
Yet while gossiping, all of them cast the same look of awe toward Bai Ge at the front.
"This… is all because of that man!"
"Yeah, he's incredible—even Lord Childe admires him!"
At some point, Bai Ge had firmly established an image of being overwhelmingly powerful in the Fatui's minds.
At the same time, Tartaglia looked at Bai Ge—who had defeated Signora yet still sat calmly in his chair, his presence as steady as a deep abyss and towering mountain—with a probing gaze.
Seeing Signora like that had shocked him deeply.
Childe wanted to have a deeper talk with Bai Ge—about Signora, or perhaps even arrange a sparring session someday.
But looking at Bai Ge now, he felt he couldn't quite seize the initiative.
Still, having witnessed such a high-quality fight, the battle-hungry instinct within him stirred.
In the end, Tartaglia made up his mind—
so what if he had to be a little thick-skinned?
And so, he walked toward Bai Ge.
But at that moment—
"Cough, cough, cough—"
Several crisp coughs rang out from the stage that everyone had been unconsciously ignoring.
Only then did Tartaglia remember—
He had come here to watch an opera.
At this moment, a young woman with a beautiful stage appearance, dressed in intricate and gorgeous opera attire, was already standing on the stage.
She looked at the crowd.
Behind the delicate face paint, a pair of orange-red eyes gleamed with clear displeasure.
Following her gaze, Tartaglia looked around.
Although Bai Ge and Signora had restrained their power, just a few minor AoE effects were more than enough for the teahouse to suffer.
At this point, aside from the floor still being intact, the second floor of Heyu Teahouse was in complete disarray—tables and chairs everywhere.
For someone who was supposed to perform here, and who had likely been waiting for quite some time, dissatisfaction was only natural.
For a moment, Tartaglia actually felt a bit embarrassed.
"Honored guests," the woman on stage said calmly,
"may I begin singing now?"
"Or do the two of you still wish to spar a bit more?"
"Should I give you the stage instead?"
"You fight—
and I'll watch?"
From the stage, Yun Jin spoke softly.
Yet within that calm voice, thunder seemed to brew.
Clearly—
She was very unhappy.
—------------------------------
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