Chapter 40: The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [40]
"Acting Grand Master, I've completed the task you assigned to me."
In Jean's office, Kaeya leaned casually against the wall, speaking with a sly smile. "The city's gossip has fully turned toward blaming the Fatui for stealing the Holy Lyre der Himmel. I have to say, I didn't expect you to take such a bold stance this time."
"It's merely taking advantage of the opportunity," Jean replied from behind her desk. "Besides, what I've done is nothing compared to what others have contributed."
Her head was lowered as she tackled the growing stack of documents on her desk. "I simply recalled the things I came to understand after fighting alongside Mr. Jax."
"It seems Jia Changjiang has left quite an impression on you," Kaeya remarked, his tone teasing. "Speaking of which… where is he? Wasn't this whole scheme his idea?"
"Mr. Jax has gone out on his own," Jean explained. "Apparently, to distract the Fatui and draw their attention away from Mondstadt."
But as she recalled the look on Jia Changjiang's face before he left, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was more interested in picking a fight with the Fatui than anything else.
At that moment, there was a knock on the office door.
When Jean saw who entered, she froze, her expression one of utter shock.
"Senior?! What are you doing here?"
---
Meanwhile, Jia Changjiang wandered near the Fatui's temporary headquarters in Mondstadt—the Goth Grand Hotel—his battle axe slung casually over his shoulder. He made no effort to hide his movements, hoping to provoke some unwitting Fatui agents into attacking him.
Unfortunately, after circling the area three or four times, no one took the bait.
Jia Changjiang sighed in frustration. His strength was well-known, and most lower-ranked Fatui operatives weren't foolish enough to pick a fight with him. Furthermore, strict orders had been issued to the Fatui stationed in Mondstadt: avoid causing trouble at all costs for the time being.
That left Jia Changjiang feeling more than a little disappointed. He couldn't exactly plant himself at the hotel's entrance and demand a fight.
Resigned, he headed to Good Hunter, bought some roasted meat skewers, and found a spot directly across from the Goth Grand Hotel. There, he sat down, eating while keeping his eyes on the hotel's entrance.
For thirty minutes, he locked eyes with the Fatui guard at the door, all while enjoying his meal. Eventually, the guard couldn't take it anymore and retreated into the hotel, likely to report Jia Changjiang's behavior.
A short time later, a female Fatui agent approached him.
"Mr. Jax, Her Excellency the Eighth Harbinger—the Lady—has requested an audience with you. Please, do us the honor," she said, bowing with the formal etiquette of Snezhnaya.
"Oh?" Jia Changjiang licked some leftover seasoning from his thumb, eyeing her with amused disdain. "The Fatui are inviting me? And what if I say no?"
He crossed one leg over the other, a mocking grin on his face. "What could you possibly do about it?"
The agent's composure didn't falter. "Her Excellency has made it clear that you are welcome to meet her at your convenience. She is eager to learn what kind of person the hero who defeated Stormterror truly is."
"Hah~?" Jia Changjiang stood, towering over the agent and leaning in close, his sharp gaze narrowing. "Does she want to meet me or deal with me?"
"The Fatui never reject those with talent," the agent replied evenly.
"Well then, I suppose I'll go see how the Lady views me." He picked up his axe with a grin. "Lead the way."
"Of course, Mr. Jax."
As he followed the agent into the Goth Grand Hotel, Jia Changjiang noticed the hostile glares from every Fatui operative he passed. He smirked but said nothing.
It wasn't long before he was led to the presence of the Harbinger herself—the Lady.
Her long, golden hair cascaded elegantly past her shoulders, with a mask obscuring her right eye. Her bold and striking attire matched her commanding aura.
Seated at a table, she sipped tea with practiced grace. The agent gestured for Jia Changjiang to sit opposite her.
When Jia took his seat, a cup of tea was placed before him.
"The Lady of the Fatui, I presume?"
Jia Changjiang sat casually, the head of his battle axe resting heavily on the floor with a thud.
"You must be Mondstadt's new honorary knight, Jia Changjiang—Lancelot," she said, her voice even. "I take it you're not originally from Mondstadt?"
"Where I'm from doesn't matter," Jia replied, leaning forward slightly. "What matters is that you must be pretty strong, right?"
He scanned her from head to toe, his fiery gaze unflinching.
"Eighth Harbinger of the Fatui… quite the title. It sounds impressive. Fighting someone like you would be… exhilarating."
The Lady raised a brow at his directness, then composed herself.
"You should already understand why I invited you here," she said, her tone calm yet firm. "Mondstadt is undeserving of your loyalty."
"The Fatui can offer you much more—power, influence… or perhaps strength itself."
She studied him closely. "You don't have a Vision, do you?"
"In recent days, you've appeared in Mondstadt, joined the Adventurers' Guild, and wielded that massive axe of yours. Yet even in your battle against Stormterror, there was no trace of elemental energy in your attacks." Resting her chin on one hand, she continued. "Am I wrong?"
"Looks like you've done your homework," Jia replied with a smirk. "So, what's the point? Are you here to convince me how great Visions are?"
"No," she said smoothly. "If you were to join the Fatui, we could grant you even greater power—elemental power included."
"And then what?" Jia asked flatly, his tone uninterested. "Is that all you've got to say?"
He stood abruptly, leaving the tea untouched. "If you're done, I'll be going."
"Helping Mondstadt will only bring you more trouble," the Lady warned as he turned to leave.
"Funny," Jia said over his shoulder with a grin. "The more trouble, the better—I enjoy it."
He glanced back at her, his smile sharp and challenging.
"Maybe next time, you can bring that trouble yourself."
"You're strong," he added, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Perfect to savor as an opponent. Don't hold back—let's have a real fight someday."
---
T/N: Signora: Why is there another Childe??!?
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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