Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

Though neither of them said a word, the tension in the air was palpable, like sparks about to ignite.

"I suppose…" Signora said coldly, narrowing her eyes, "you're planning to claim all the credit for yourself, aren't you?"

Childe blinked in momentary surprise but then broke into a hearty laugh. "How could that be? Obtaining the Gnosis is clearly a victory we both share, isn't it?"

Standing to the side, Lucas caught this remark, and a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes.

As expected, to these two esteemed Harbingers, he—the Tianshu—was nothing more than a tool. Forget about claiming a share of the credit for acquiring the Gnosis; that was clearly out of the question.

"Then allow me to take it," Signora said with a slight squint of her eyes. "I will personally present this Gnosis to Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa."

Although the success of obtaining the Gnosis was indeed a joint effort, in the end, the person who physically handed the Gnosis to the Cryo Archon would undoubtedly gain the most recognition.

"Oh?" Childe raised an eyebrow, his tone faintly challenging. "And why should it be you?"

Those three words were like gunpowder, intensifying the tension even further.

"Because I am the Eighth Harbinger, while you are merely the last," Signora said, her disdain unmasked. "When I became a Harbinger, you were still waiting to be born in some woman's womb. Even without you, I could have easily obtained the Gnosis on my own."

"Esteemed Harbingers, please, calm yourselves!" Lucas interrupted, feigning alarm. "This is no time to quarrel. We should focus on securing the Gnosis and leaving as quickly as possible…"

Before he could finish his sentence, however, Lucas suddenly coughed violently, spraying a mouthful of blackened blood into the air.

This unexpected scene stunned both Childe and Signora. Lucas clutched his chest, his bloodshot eyes glaring at the two of them as he muttered, "You… You poisoned me…"

With that, he staggered back a few steps, lost his footing, and tumbled into the ocean of Mora behind him with a loud crash.

From such a height, hitting the dense, solid Mora below would surely result in death, even without the effects of the poison.

After all, to the two Harbingers, Lucas's strength was no more than that of a slightly above-average mortal. Without even a Vision to his name, how strong could he possibly be?

Yet, just as Lucas fell, both Harbingers suddenly felt a sharp pain radiating from their chests. The sight of Lucas's "demise" immediately planted suspicion in their minds: had the other poisoned them to eliminate witnesses and take all the credit for themselves?

Given the circumstances, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion.

The Fatui, though united as an organization, were rife with internal conflict among the eleven Harbingers. Rivalries, grudges, and even outright animosity were commonplace. Signora, with her arrogance, and Childe, with his combative nature, had clashed countless times before and had been mutually disdainful of one another for quite a while.

Moreover, infighting over credit for accomplishments was nothing new. In Snezhnaya, a nation that revered power above all else, such competition wasn't just tolerated—it was often encouraged.

But poisoning a fellow Harbinger? That was an unforgivable crime. Now convinced that the other had tried to eliminate them, both Harbingers resolved to kill their opponent without hesitation.

Childe was the first to strike, conjuring dual hydro blades and lunging at Signora with deadly precision. In response, Signora summoned a barrage of sharp ice spikes to counter his attack.

Meanwhile, Lucas had long since slipped into a hidden corner, watching the two from the shadows with quiet satisfaction.

That's right. The poisoning, the act of "dying," and even the vague accusations were all carefully orchestrated parts of Lucas's plan.

Although his abilities had significantly improved thanks to the "Rise to the Top" talent, Lucas knew he couldn't take on two Harbingers at once. And though the Geo Archon had promised to assist him, Rex Lapis would not intervene directly in this battle.

Thus, the best strategy was to turn the Harbingers against each other.

Before the meeting, Lucas had secretly spiked their drinks with a slow-acting poison. It wasn't a strong toxin—ordinary poisons would have little effect on beings as powerful as Childe and Signora, and anything too potent would have been detected early.

This poison only activated under specific conditions: when emotions ran high, and their blood pressure spiked, the effects would suddenly flare up.

The earlier symptoms they'd experienced were the poison taking hold.

The fight between the two Harbingers was nothing short of spectacular. Childe unleashed his Foul Legacy transformation, while Signora transformed into her Crimson Witch of Flame form. Their clash sent shockwaves throughout the Golden House. If not for its sturdy construction, the entire place might have been destroyed by the battle.

Ten minutes later.

Perhaps due to the poison spreading through their systems, both Harbingers began to tire after an intense, prolonged fight. They withdrew from their transformed states, panting heavily.

"Something… isn't right!" Childe muttered, his brows furrowed in realization. "I think we've been tricked."

"Hmph…" Signora sneered, her voice cold and mocking. "What's the matter? Have you realized you can't beat me, so now you're trying to beg for mercy? You're the one who poisoned me, weren't you?"

"No, I was poisoned too," Childe replied, a sudden understanding dawning on him. "I see now… it was him!"

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The sound of slow, deliberate applause echoed through the Golden House.

Lucas stepped out from behind the Exuvia, the remains of the Geo Archon, holding the Gnosis in his hand.

"It seems my plan wasn't flawless after all," Lucas said with a sly smile. "You've figured it out, haven't you? Yes, esteemed Harbingers, you've both been played by me."

"Damn you!" Signora snarled through gritted teeth, though a cruel smile still tugged at her lips. "Don't think you can walk away unscathed just because we're both weakened. Do you really think you can take advantage of us?"

To the Harbingers, Lucas's strength was laughable. Even in their exhausted state, if they worked together, they were confident they could crush him in an instant.

"Why would you do this?" Childe asked, his voice calmer but laced with frustration. "You should know… it's the Fatui who gave you this second chance at life."