This one's god-tier

The atmosphere in the Akademiya's council chamber was oppressive. The sages, led by Azar, argued endlessly over how to deal with Xingsu.

"Grand Sage, the envoy from Snezhnaya has arrived."

No sooner had the words fallen than Scott, the envoy representing The Doctor, pushed open the doors. Haughty and overbearing, he interrupted the sages' dispute without the slightest courtesy.

"All these sages and grand sages, and you're sitting here quibbling over some insignificant Xingsu? You should be looking further ahead."

Scott raised his chin, his voice brimming with worship and flattery. Every word elevated Dottore and belittled the Akademiya.

"The god-creation plan Lord The Doctor conceived is destined to reshape all of Sumeru, and even the Seven Nations. Your narrow-minded fixation on this lousy Akasha can't begin to compare."

He rattled on about Dottore's grand designs: splitting the power of the Gnosis, gathering the scattered remains of fallen gods, using Irminsul's foundations to nurture a new god, and breaking the shackles of life, death, and disease.

"Tell me, who else in this world dares to touch the taboos of the divine realm? Only Lord The Doctor possesses such resolve and unparalleled intellect. Every stuffy scholar in your Akademiya and all their knowledge amount to nothing but sheets of wastepaper before his revolutionary, magnificent vision."

The sages looked displeased, but since he had been sent by The Doctor, they could only swallow their anger in silence. Azar's brows knitted tightly. Unhappy though he was, he knew they could not afford to offend Dottore yet. He could only endure it for now.

After a speech as devoid of substance as a school administrator's address, Scott seemed to grow more confident with every word. He was practically ready to kick the King of Law and tear Nibelung apart with his bare hands.

"Where's that Xingsu fellow now? Watch me put him in his place without breaking a sweat. What's a mere librarian going to do, turn the world upside down?"

A calculating glint flashed through Azar's eyes. Seizing the opportunity, he offered directions.

"He should be in the House of Daena at the moment."

Having obtained his location, Scott sneered, turned, and strode out.

"That insignificant Xingsu! I'll show him who's boss, make him turn over a new leaf and beg for mercy on his knees!"

The doors and windows of the workshop behind the House of Daena stood open. Disassembled communicator mechanisms lay scattered across the desk alongside neatly arranged radio-frequency circuits. Xingsu was recording calibration parameters with his head lowered. When heavy footsteps stopped at the door, he set his work aside and looked up.

The visitor wore a Snezhnayan Fatui uniform. His expression was arrogant, his chin slightly raised, his brazen manner practically announcing that he was a dog throwing his master's weight around.

Xingsu spoke first, his tone calm and entirely free of hostility.

"Is there something you need?"

"Ahem, I think I need to say a few words.

I've only glanced at a few books here,

and I've already found three problems."

"First, as a librarian, why aren't you managing the books? What are you doing tinkering with things here?"

"Sorry, I..."

"Second, I just flipped through a few Kshahrewar books. Why are there so many foreign symbols mixed into your math books? There's something wrong with your knowledge!"

Xingsu: ?

"Third, I want to borrow this book. Young comrade, why aren't you registering it for me?"

"Oh, there's a registration sheet on the front desk. If you want to borrow something, just fill in your information."

"Then may I ask what the point of having a librarian is?

It's like going to a restaurant, only for you to refuse to serve me and tell me to go into the kitchen and cook a couple of dishes myself.

If I go shopping at a supermarket and you won't check me out, how am I supposed to take my things?

If I finish my daily commissions and you won't give me my rewards, how am I supposed to leave?"

"All right, you just want to borrow a book, don't you? I'll register it for you. That settles it, right?"

"Now, young comrade Xingsu,

that's not the right thing to say.

This is the House of Daena. You have an obligation to register the books I borrow. That's my right, understand?

You should thank the great Scott for not stooping to petty theft.

One person doesn't register, and you lose one book. Ten people don't register, and you lose ten books. A hundred people, and you lose a hundred books.

With so many people in Sumeru, how many books would you lose?

Hmph, enough. I feel my words have already touched your soul.

I won't say any more. Lord The Doctor will tell you."

Seriously, was there something wrong with this guy?

Xingsu finally understood. This man had definitely come to pick a fight.

But looking at his face... why did he feel so familiar? It was as though this was exactly the sort of character he was supposed to be. Anyway...

"You're deliberately looking for trouble, aren't you? Are you borrowing a book or not?"

"If the knowledge in your books is guaranteed to be true, of course I'll borrow one. But what if it isn't?"

"If it isn't, I'll correct it myself. Satisfied?"

"Find me one."

"Fine."

Xingsu looked at the materials science books nearby and casually picked one up. "How about this?"

Scott flipped it open at random and pointed at the text. "Here, csgo. What's this about?"

Xingsu took one look. "That fucking says cesium (Cs), 90%! If you can't read it, stop pretending you know what you're talking about!"

"I don't care whether it's sexy or not. As an Akademiya librarian, you're openly discussing pornography. Is the Akademiya no longer capable of keeping you in line?"

"..."

Xingsu was at a loss.

It felt like the helplessness of suddenly discovering that the person you had secretly loved for years was Azar, and that he also had hemorrhoids.

"Well, well, well, speechless already? It's been so long, and now you're this pathetic?"

"Get out!"

Xingsu felt that this was his best practical application of classical mechanics since he had begun studying it.

After using his knowledge of physics to "see Scott off," Xingsu sat in his chair and thought over their conversation.

He knew me. Or rather, he knew me in my previous life.

That was something Xingsu could establish with certainty.

From that, he could deduce a great deal of useful information.

First, he worked under the Harbinger known as The Doctor. As a Harbinger's lackey, he was very likely closely connected to the Fatui. And since he knew me, and knew me well, that meant I might also have worked for the Fatui.

And when The Doctor came up, my body instinctively felt... fear? Why?

Then there was what I'd discussed with Lin before: I had been very powerful in my previous life.

Considering that even now I could pin Scott to the ground and beat him up, my position in the Fatui couldn't have been very low.

...Had I been one of the Fatui in my previous life?

The instant that thought settled, fragmented memories of Collei curled up in a laboratory cage surged uncontrollably into his mind.

The perpetrators of all those atrocities were none other than the Fatui.

Xingsu unconsciously released the calibration wrench in his hand. The metal tool dropped lightly onto the wooden desk with a dull thud.

If I had once been a member of the Fatui, had I also caused suffering?

The firmer his determination to help Collei, the more agonizing it became after recognizing his own past. Xingsu stood frozen, bewilderment clouding his eyes. For a moment, he had no idea how to define who he was now.