Deep in the underground of the Delusion Factory, flickering flames cast ghostly shadows across the walls.
Lu Chen didn't want to alert the enemy, so he waited until La Signora and her group had left before slowly revealing himself.
The sudden appearance of several uninvited guests startled the Fatui guards.
By the time they reacted, Lu Chen had already ghosted into their midst like a phantom.
There wasn't much to say about the battle—it ended swiftly and silently. With overwhelming force, Lu Chen eliminated every Fatui present without making a sound.
"Lumine!" Gorou looked up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"We came to rescue you," Lumine replied, a bit reproachfully. "Why didn't you let me know something this important?"
Gorou sighed. "I came to investigate the evil spirit, but I didn't expect the Fatui to be involved. Two Harbingers are here—I stood no chance. And in the end, I lost too many of our men..."
Lumine found the keys on the Fatui corpses and opened the cell door. Gorou and the three wounded soldiers leaned on each other as they finally stepped out.
"Who are these?" Gorou asked, noting that Lumine wasn't with the Swordfish Second Squad but instead accompanied by strangers.
"They're my friends," Lumine said with a smile, introducing them. "This is Lu Chen, the companion I told you about. I thought he was dead, but it turns out..."
"He came back from the dead!" Paimon exclaimed dramatically as she floated over. "And now he's super, super powerful!"
"Didn't you just call me the 'tour chef' a moment ago?" Lu Chen shot her a glance.
"So you heard that..." Paimon instantly looked guilty, then quickly added, "Well, you're the super-talented tour chef who's also amazing at fighting!"
"Still just a chef, huh?" Lu Chen said dryly. "Then that makes you the gourmet-grade emergency food."
"Hey! Paimon is not food!"
Their playful bickering eased the tension. Gorou chuckled. "So you're the one who rescued people from Raiden Shogun... Lumine talks about you all the time—she's been really heartbroken. I'm just glad you're alive."
He then looked past Lu Chen. "And those two?"
"They're..." Lumine hesitated as she looked at Ei, who remained expressionless.
At first, she thought Ei might be Lu Chen's new companion or an ally of some sort. But now...
Lumine glanced suspiciously at the two of them. There was something off about the way they looked at each other.
Before she could speak, Ei reached out and took Lu Chen's hand like it was a declaration of ownership.
Lu Chen let out a helpless smile and returned the gesture. He didn't say anything, but the message was clear.
"?" Lumine's eyes widened.
"Ah! You two are...!" Paimon's eyes grew wide too.
Gorou didn't think too much about it. Seeing the couple's interaction, he sighed with a smile. "Looks like not only did Lu Chen survive, he even found someone special. That's great."
Lumine looked at Lu Chen in shock, a big question mark practically written on her face.
Lu Chen coughed lightly. "Anyway... now that we've rescued General Gorou, let's find an exit fast. The Fatui will be back any moment."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned to the silent Electrohammer Vanguard. "Is there another way out of the Delusion Factory? Show us—preferably a shortcut."
The Electrohammer Vanguard slowly raised his head, his expression full of dread.
"You won't escape... None of you will escape!"
"Both Harbingers are here..."
"I'm finished too... The punishment for traitors in the Fatui... is merciless. Especially under those two..."
He collapsed where he sat, despair weighing down on him.
Paimon floated closer. "He looks completely terrified."
He hadn't reacted like this when Lu Chen threatened him earlier. But after seeing La Signora, he completely fell apart.
"So that Fatui woman is really that terrifying to them?" Paimon asked curiously. "And there's another Harbinger too... I wonder who it is?"
Thinking of that other Harbinger, Lu Chen cast a sidelong glance at Ei.
If they crossed paths here... how would Ei react? Unlike La Signora, that guy would be far more difficult to deal with.
Lu Chen turned back to the Electrohammer Vanguard, his Traveler's Handy Sword subtly radiating a murderous aura.
"You've only got one life. You saw it yourself—General Gorou from the Watatsumi Army is here. If you turn over a new leaf, you'll survive."
But the man kept shaking his head, muttering nonsense. He had completely lost the will to live. Not even Lu Chen's threats fazed him.
"Don't lie to me! You're all doomed! Both Harbingers are here today—you idiots walked right into a trap! None of you are getting out of here! Hahaha..."
"What now?" Lumine frowned.
Suddenly, Ei turned to scan the darkness, sensing something.
"I feel... something watching us. Full of malice and resentment."
Everyone immediately went quiet and glanced around. But aside from the dark prison and the flickering firelight, nothing was in sight.
Only the Electrohammer Vanguard kept rambling, his voice grating against the silence.
"Quiet!"
Lu Chen sent a punch flying through the air—slamming the massive man into the wall with a crash. He didn't make another sound.
He turned to Ei, who shook her head. "It's gone now."
"Resentment?" Lumine asked. "Could it be a spirit? Or some leftover Archon residue?"
Ei shook her head decisively. "No. And that gaze... it felt strangely familiar."
"Familiar?" A vision flashed in Lu Chen's mind.
Somewhere, a certain someone was hiding in the shadows—twisted by resentment—silently watching the creator he couldn't bear to face...
"Lu Chen, why are you smiling?" Ei asked curiously.
"Uh..." Lu Chen suddenly realized he was smiling to himself.
"It's nothing." He waved it off. "Let's keep moving. Worst case, we just go back the way we came."
Everyone, Ei included, gave him puzzled looks.
Paimon pouted. "There you go again—talking in riddles!"
The group turned back the way they'd come.
But they hadn't gotten far when strange, scattered sounds echoed from the darkness. Lu Chen extended his senses—realizing they were surrounded.
"Get ready!" He tightened his grip on the Traveler's Handy Sword.
From both ends of the corridor, the sound of footsteps closed in. Within moments, more Fatui soldiers entered their view.
A mocking voice drifted through the air—La Signora had returned.
"Hehehe... You think you can come and go as you please? What do you take me for?"
Before her voice even faded, sharp Cryo spikes shot through the air like arrows, aimed directly at the group.