When they reached the island where the Adeptal artifacts had been stored, Tartaglia and Viktor, the Fatui Debt Collector who had led him there, both froze.
Viktor especially.
He rubbed his eyes carefully, terrified that he had seen wrong.
The island was completely empty. There was nothing there.
Where were the shelves?
Where were the books?
Where were the artifacts?
No, even the awning that had been there to block the dust and smoke was gone?
I remember the things being kept here!
Viktor nearly cried.
What kind of world was this?
Tartaglia was also stunned for a moment when he saw the situation.
"Did The Doctor bring me here specifically to make a joke?"
He spoke with a smile at the corner of his lips, but Viktor did not feel relaxed in the slightest.
"No, no, no. Lord Doctor definitely left something behind. He..."
Viktor was too nervous to continue.
He truly could not understand why.
"If he wasn't amusing himself at my expense, then was it you?" Tartaglia stepped closer to Viktor and narrowed his eyes at him. The immense pressure bore down on Viktor, making his legs tremble as he collapsed to the ground.
"Though my temper is better than that Doctor's..."
He paused there. Viktor waited nervously for Tartaglia to pass judgment on him.
"I don't like being made a fool of!"
As Tartaglia spoke, a Water Arrow shot from his hand, streaking toward Viktor's right side.
I don't know how you infiltrated this place, but I know you're my enemy.
Tartaglia thought to himself.
At first, he had been annoyed, feeling that The Doctor had made a fool of him. But on second thought, The Doctor was not so bored that he would joke with him like this. After a brief observation, Tartaglia noticed something strange here. So while talking to Viktor, he had also been searching for signs of movement.
The moment he found an opening, he fired an arrow.
However, his expression changed as soon as he released it.
The sound of the Water Arrow striking its target was not the sound of it hitting a human body.
He hurriedly rolled away.
Just as he rolled aside, a crossbow bolt grazed his clothes and shot past.
The Fatui Debt Collector Viktor, who was not far from him, was not so fortunate. A crossbow bolt pierced both his calves and nailed him firmly to the ground.
At that moment, Bai Ye emerged from the other side with a Handheld Crossbow in hand.
He put away the Handheld Crossbow and looked at Tartaglia.
"Pretty quick reflexes."
Bai Ye spoke in a teasing tone.
Facing Tartaglia, the Fatui's Eleventh Harbinger, he did not believe he was inferior.
"Still not as good as your cunning."
Tartaglia replied with a smile as well.
As he spoke, he continued sizing Bai Ye up.
The youth before him looked not much older than his younger sister Tonia, yet he possessed enough strength to contend with him.
It was truly unexpected.
"So, can you tell me who you are and why you came here?"
Tartaglia silently adjusted himself into the optimal state for battle.
"Of course, I'm here to arrest someone."
Bai Ye pointed at Viktor.
"What Fatui Debt Collectors do in Snezhnaya, how you kill people, isn't my concern. But in Liyue, you will obey Liyue's laws."
"Then you'll have to defeat me first."
Tartaglia smiled.
At the same time, he lowered his body and charged straight at Bai Ye.
What he had destroyed earlier was an automaton.
Tartaglia judged Bai Ye to be a master of the Art of Automata, so closing the distance was the best choice in battle.
Watching Tartaglia approach, Bai Ye fired both Handheld Crossbows at once, unleashing a continuous barrage at him.
The Anemo Element Genshin Eye activated, and five or six Handheld Crossbows fired at Tartaglia with Anemo Elemental power.
The wind prevented him from getting close to Bai Ye for the moment.
Tartaglia dodged left and right, not particularly anxious.
The crossbow bolts would run out eventually. Once they did, what other methods would Bai Ye have?
Seeing Tartaglia evade with ease and even continue to close in on him, Bai Ye narrowed his eyes and said:
"Since you can defend against ground-to-ground attacks, how about air-to-ground?"
As he spoke, Bai Ye shook his lapel, sending five or six wooden kites flying out.
Tartaglia narrowed his eyes, considering how the wooden kites would attack him.
Then,
he saw several chains emerge from the wooden kites' tails.
Bai Ye grabbed the chains.
Using the Anemo Element Genshin Eye again, he was lifted into the air by the wooden kites.
At the same time, the wooden kites flew toward another island.
"Bye now!"
Bai Ye smiled as he bid Tartaglia farewell.
He had already achieved his objective. While fighting Tartaglia, he had notified Ganyu to launch the attack.
With all the items taken away and the Debt Collectors unlikely to escape, Bai Ye had no reason to risk his life fighting Tartaglia.
If he truly forced Tartaglia to bring out both his Fatui Delusion and Foul Legacy, fighting him to the death would be far too dangerous.
He had no intention of pulling chestnuts from the fire.
Taking the goods and running was the best choice.
Bai Ye left swiftly, the wooden kites and Anemo Elemental power granting him tremendous speed.
Tartaglia watched him, initially intending to chase after him on foot.
But the moment he moved,
he saw Ganyu charge into the entrance of the base in the distance.
Tartaglia had learned of Ganyu, the Seven Stars' secretary, while carrying out missions.
Now that he saw her enter, Tartaglia began considering retreat.
Even in a one-on-one fight, Tartaglia felt that neither Bai Ye nor Ganyu was weaker than him.
Two against one,
he would definitely lose.
He loved battle,
but he was not brainless.
He gave Bai Ye a deep look.
Fine. I'll remember this grudge for now.
Right now, I need to prepare to seize Rex Lapis's Gnosis. Once I successfully obtain Rex Lapis's Gnosis, I'll come settle the score with you properly.
Tartaglia immediately retreated toward a hidden cave entrance.
Before leaving, he looked at the Fatui Debt Collector Viktor lying on the ground, reached out to scoop him up, and took him away.
Bai Ye arrived on another island.
Ganyu had already used her arrows to pick off and bring down the Fatui Debt Collectors one by one.
Ganyu was very happy to see Bai Ye return safely.
"These people really are much stronger than ordinary Debt Collectors. Luckily, I kept observing the enemy's situation from my side. Otherwise, they really would have caused us quite a bit of trouble. Bai Ye, do you know what's going on?"
Bai Ye removed a Debt Collector's hood and pointed at the headband.
"These guys have combined Fatui technology with Adeptal arts."
"Then can the Fatui mass-produce them?"
Ganyu considered a possibility and frowned.
"Probably. There's a good chance."
Bai Ye answered.
At the same time,
he swung his Handheld Crossbow and knocked down several Fatui members.
At that moment, Ganyu thought of something and asked Bai Ye.
"Right, where's Hu Tao?"
The moment Bai Ye heard that, he slapped his forehead.
"I completely forgot about her."
Inside the maze map, Hu Tao hummed as she walked through the maze.
"Big Hilichurl got sick, Little Hilichurl came to see..."
As she sang, she felt that she was about to be released.
She immediately perked up.
Is it finally my turn to make a move?
Before you continue