Katarina watched Kael's face flicker in the firelight, bright for a moment, then swallowed by shadow. The heavy air pressed down between them.
"Kael…"
"Katarina, I'm sorry. Can you let me be alone for a while?"
"…Alright."
She knew this wasn't the moment to be stubborn, so she quietly slipped away.
Kael walked alone into his parents' bedroom.
The room felt hollow without them, the furniture still in place but the warmth gone. Everything else had already been packed away by his mother.
His gaze fell on the luggage sitting beside the bed. A dull ache pulsed through his chest.
Just one more day.
They only needed one more day together, and they could have returned to Liyue as a family.
Kael scanned the room, and suddenly his eyes stopped on a wooden box sitting on the table.
Drawn toward it, he walked over and slowly lifted the lid.
Inside, arranged neatly in rows, were ten Mr. Cyclops toys.
He picked one up. The cold metal pressed into his palm.
His fingers tightened until they turned white. The edges cut into his skin, and warm blood slid down his hand, dripping into the carpet.
Rage and hatred churned behind his eyes.
The Fatui.
In previous life simulations, Kael had been killed by them before. But this… this was the first time he felt such raw fury.
Those earlier deaths were different. Back then, he had only followed the story, letting things play out so he could collect the rewards.
But this time, he'd genuinely wanted to save the family he'd met in this simulation.
These parents had done nothing but work hard to give their children a better life.
What crime had they committed to deserve this?
"Mom… don't worry. I'll take care of my sister. And I'll avenge you and father."
The next morning, Kael sat in the living room with dark circles under his eyes after a sleepless night. In a child's small body, the exhaustion made him look like he'd been through a serious illness.
Katarina, who had been hiding anxiously in the shadows, finally stepped forward.
"Kael, maybe you should rest a little… You still have to take the ship back to Liyue today. If you keep pushing yourself, your body won't hold up…"
Kael let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
"Back to Liyue? No. We're not going anywhere."
"What do you mean?"
Before Katarina could make sense of it, the same financial officer they'd met the previous day walked in with a group of men.
He wore a guilty expression as he spoke.
"Master Kael… I'm sorry. These people are our creditors. They heard the madam passed away and think the chamber of commerce won't be able to repay the debt, so they came to collect… I tried to stop them, but… I failed."
He hesitated before adding,
"Your and the young lady's ship tickets to Liyue were canceled by them as well…"
Kael lowered his gaze to hide the glint of cold mockery.
"What… what are they planning to do?"
"They want to repossess the residence and sell anything of value. Master Kael, don't worry, I'll try to keep as much of your assets as possible."
Keep something?
If Kael relied on him, even the dust in this house would be scraped clean.
He already knew this would happen.
The Fatui never left loose ends. Once they made a move, they devoured everything.
The debt collectors tore through the rooms, overturning boxes, slamming drawers, growing increasingly angry when they found nothing.
The mother had already sold most valuables trying to fill the financial hole left by their father. There was nothing left to take.
"There's nothing in this house! They must have moved the money! If this keeps up, we'll get nothing! How are we supposed to recover any debt?!"
One of the men stormed toward Kael.
"Kid, tell me where your parents hid the money."
Facing their menacing looks, Kael remained completely calm.
"Our family is drowning in debt. Of course all the valuables were sold. If you want details, ask the finance officer. He knows everything."
"Impossible! Your fam—"
He was cut off as the finance officer quickly stepped in.
"Don't say unnecessary things to the young master. If there's an issue, we'll discuss it privately."
Suspicion rippled across the room. All eyes turned toward the finance officer.
"This isn't what you told us. Did you pocket everything yourself?!"
Their anger shifted instantly, all of them closing in on him.
The finance officer went pale.
"I—I don't know what you're talking about…"
The room dissolved into chaos.
Then footsteps echoed from the doorway.
A woman stepped inside, short white hair brushing her shoulders, a white cloak trailing behind her. Red eyes swept across the room with chilling indifference.
"What are you all yelling about?"
Silence fell instantly. Every face froze in disbelief.
"Lady Harbinger?"
Kael also recognized her at once.
One of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers.
Arlecchino, the Knave.
Well. Things just got livelier.
Even a Harbinger had decided to show up.
Kael wondered what kind of performance the Knave intended to put on this time.