Not long after Hu Tao left, a new group of customers entered the manga shop.
"So this is the manga shop you spoke of?"
The Doctor cast a glance around the place, looking unimpressed.
For all the praise Signora had lavished upon it, he had expected something extraordinary.
Yet aside from the shop being somewhat spacious and oddly decorated, he saw nothing remarkable.
Hardly as interesting as his experimental specimens.
"I didn't expect Boss Han's store to change so much."
Ignoring the Doctor's remark, Signora curiously examined her surroundings.
The shelves of manga character figurines especially caught her eye.
"Takanashi Rikka, the Dark Flame Master of another world!
Conan, the harbinger of Death!
Have you crossed dimensions at the shopkeeper's call, to meet me here?"
Recognizing the characters before her, Signora slipped into her "chuunibyou" mode again.
These sudden new figurines delighted her.
"Dark Flame Master? Harbinger of Death? Crossing dimensions?"
The Doctor frowned.
What nonsense was this woman spouting?
Why did she sound so bizarre?
"Welcome! Would you like to read manga?"
Noelle stepped forward politely, at the same time discreetly assessing the newcomers.
She already knew Signora—after all, the woman and her subordinates had visited yesterday.
But this masked man gave her an unsettling feeling.
Still, it hardly mattered to her.
As Boss Han always said: anyone was welcome so long as they came to read manga.
If they caused trouble… Boss Han would see to the consequences.
"Yes, Miss Noelle. Please take care of us."
Signora quickly composed herself, remembering her purpose.
The young maid before her was quite famous in Mondstadt.
As a Fatui diplomat, Signora naturally had access to her information.
Before, she wouldn't have cared—no matter how much fame this maid held.
But now that Noelle served as Boss Han's maid?
That changed everything.
As they said in Liyue: When one rises to the heavens, even chickens and dogs ascend with them.
The Fatui had always been like this—
backed by the Tsaritsa and the might of Snezhnaya,
they could rampage across the Seven Nations unchecked.
This maid was the same.
Her backing was even stronger.
So Signora's attitude toward her was exceedingly courteous.
This was exactly why Venti, Kaeya, and Jean felt Noelle had found a place where she could truly flourish.
"It's no trouble. Please, come in! After choosing a manga, you can read in the Quiet Zone over there, or in the Discussion Zone."
Noelle smiled warmly.
Signora nodded, leading her subordinates toward the counter.
The Doctor followed in silence, his cold eyes watchful.
Though arrogant, he had not become a Fatui Harbinger by being a fool.
If it were only Signora showing such deference to a maid,
he would have dismissed it as incompetence.
But he recognized several familiar faces already seated in the shop.
"Liyue's Tianquan and Tianheng… Mondstadt's Acting Grand Master… and even one from the Abyss?
How interesting."
The Doctor's lips curled into a thin smile.
As a Harbinger, he naturally had access to the profiles of these high-ranking figures.
Even Aether's concealed identity did not escape his notice.
For all these busy, powerful individuals to gather here…
this shop was clearly no ordinary place.
Could it be that what Signora said was true?
As he pondered, Signora stepped up to the counter.
"Boss, here's 500,000 Mora."
She placed a heavy pouch upon the counter.
To prevent the Doctor from rashly offending Boss Han, she made sure to handle it herself.
Though it puzzled her somewhat that the Doctor had behaved so quietly behind her,
his restraint was a blessing nonetheless.
"There are four manga left—on that shelf over there."
Han Feng accepted the Mora and pointed.
"Thank you, Boss!"
Signora inclined her head.
Four books for five people wasn't quite enough,
but it would do.
She and the Doctor would each take one,
while her three subordinates shared the remaining two.
She walked to the shelf and casually picked up Journey to the West.
Her perspective had changed since before.
With more and more customers coming in,
simply having something to read was good enough.
No need to fuss over selection.
"You choose one too."
She told the Doctor curtly.
He said nothing, scanning the shelf.
The remaining titles were Digimon Adventure (Part 1),
Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious,
and Mr. Vampire.
"A man with great power who's still overly cautious? Another useless coward."
The Doctor sneered, full of disdain.
Those with power should display it proudly—
as the Fatui did across the Seven Nations,
demanding respect wherever they went.
He had no interest in a so-called "cautious hero."
Nor was he intrigued by Mr. Vampire.
So he picked up Digimon Adventure.
The three subordinates exchanged glances,
then took the two remaining books.
In silence, the group followed Signora into the Quiet Zone.
Their imposing presence quickly drew attention.
"It's him!"
Jean's eyes widened in shock as she recognized the Doctor trailing behind Signora.
There wasn't a single member of the Knights of Favonius who didn't know him—
or didn't loathe him.
Years ago, the Doctor had come to Mondstadt.
To trap Mondstadt into his debt,
he had planted a mechanical bird upon Crepus' carriage,
inciting a rampage by the draconic beast Ursa.
Crepus, father of Diluc,
died in the battle after using a Delusion to repel the beast.
After the Doctor subdued Ursa,
he leveraged the incident to coerce Mondstadt into conscription.
Those conscripted soldiers?
Turned into his human test subjects.
It had been a performance, start to finish—
leaving Mondstadt scarred, indebted,
and robbed of many children, kidnapped for experimentation.
The hatred between them ran deep.
"This time… no matter what, I won't let you go."
A sharp glint of murderous intent flashed in Jean's eyes.
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