"Didn't I already say?"
"I want you to fight me again!"
After playfully freezing Bai Ge's clothes once more, Signora finally let him go.
"Fight again?"
Having just experienced a mage blinking right into his face and fully realizing the gap between their strength, Bai Ge had calmed down.
He calmly pointed at the damp patch over his chest—left there like a teasing mark—and looked at Signora in confusion.
"With a gap this obvious, do we really need another round?"
Bai Ge possessed a Sword Heart—something like instinct, almost a natural intuition.
And it hadn't reacted at all.
That meant Signora's silent, traceless cryo blink had completely surpassed his level. It was outright suppression.
"No, no, no! Of course we do! Don't lose confidence—show me the spirit you had at Heyu Teahouse!"
Signora covered her lips lightly with her slender hand and laughed charmingly.
"So why are you so fixated on fighting again?" Bai Ge asked, utterly puzzled.
"Hehe. Yesterday's cause, today's result. I'll be honest—I think what you said at Heyu Teahouse was right."
"However, there's still the faintest trace of unwillingness left in my heart. So I need to fight you once more."
"Didn't I say before? Truth must be proven with strength."
As she spoke of her transformation, Signora's playful expression faded, turning serious.
Bai Ge opened his mouth, feeling helpless.
You just said truth must be proven by strength—so isn't it obvious you're the one who's right? With this kind of gap, fight a thousand times and the result won't change.
Seeing his expression, Signora seemed to read his thoughts.
"I'm using the Tsaritsa's divine power right now. I won't be this strong later," she reassured him.
"At the same time, I'll allow you to call for help. Form a four-person team. Including you, you may find three more."
She raised three fingers with a playful gesture, a faint smile curling on her beautiful lips. From the outside, the elegant, mature beauty looked almost mischievously cute.
But Bai Ge was completely dumbfounded.
She claimed she still had lingering unwillingness and needed a fight—yet she was letting him bring reinforcements?
Was this self-deception? Giving herself a way out?
If she could rationalize it like this, what difficulty was left in convincing herself fully?
"I don't understand. Can I refuse?"
Bai Ge shook his head bluntly.
"Oh my, that's troublesome…"
Signora tapped her lips lightly with a jade-like finger, appearing to think.
Her words were half true, half false.
The unwillingness was real. Using the Tsaritsa's divine power was false. But it was also true that she hadn't been this strong on the day of their decisive battle.
And wanting Bai Ge to bring others—that was also true.
Because she intended to accomplish something through this fight.
"Speaking of which, I watched the opera you and Yun Jin adapted. Not bad."
"How about treating this as compensation for using my story without the original owner's permission?"
But Bai Ge, unable to read her intentions, refused to take the bait.
"Regarding copyright and portrait rights, Liyue has complete legal statutes. You may pursue your claims through proper channels. I can pay compensation."
Signora tried again.
"Do you not want to know what Childe seeks from you? Or what arrangements the Fatui have made around your home?"
Bai Ge's expression shifted slightly.
The Fatui had specific arrangements around his house?
That alone was valuable intelligence. The rest could be investigated later.
He shook his head again.
Seeing how unmoved he was, Signora pressed a hand to her forehead, seeming distressed, occasionally letting out soft, pleasant sighs.
Yet Bai Ge could clearly see the amusement in her eyes.
After a moment, Signora seemed to have another idea.
"Since I've reconciled with my past and been reborn, the old traces need to be covered by new ones."
"Let the present you shape the new me. And I'll offer myself as the reward. How about that?"
She stepped forward gracefully, returning to stand before him, smiling brightly.
"A sweet romance to sever the bitterness of the past… wouldn't that be nice?"
At that moment, Bai Ge's heart wavered.
Her implication was obvious.
But this felt like a honey trap. Or some new kind of scam. However enticing it sounded, he still couldn't understand her logic.
Without understanding her motives, he refused to agree.
So Bai Ge prepared to drop a Falling Star.
In Liyue, this was the ultimate method of calling for backup.
The aftermath explanations would be troublesome—but Rex Lapis was far more trustworthy than the unfathomable woman before him.
Sensing his firm refusal, Signora added lightly:
"I imagine… you wouldn't want the Tsaritsa to learn that you possess three elemental powers. Or perhaps even more?"
Bai Ge's expression changed drastically.