"Hey, did you hear? The news about the twelfth Harbinger..."
"The one where he was stationed in Inazuma right? Is the news true?"
On a carriage heading towards Mondstadt at the Snezhnaya border, there were two Fatui envoys named Mikhail and Lyudmila. They were discussing the recent announcement made by the Tsaritsa. The twelfth seat of the Fatui's Harbingers, which had been vacant for a long time, finally had a new member.
However, the unexpected choice for the twelfth seat left everyone surprised.
He was known as the "Ausbilder," a former Fatui Agent and instructor of the Fatui's special forces.
He taught them combat skills and handled debt collection affairs.
It was said that he passed down the ability to conceal their presence to every Fatui Agent.
But for some reason, he was promoted to the twelfth seat, causing controversy in Snezhnaya.
The reputation of the Fatui Agents, including the Ausbilder, wasn't well-regarded in Snezhnaya or throughout Teyvat.
This led to public criticism of the Ausbilder himself.
However, nobody dared to defy the orders of the Tsaritsa, and Bai Luo, the Ausbilder, was still confused.
He wondered why he was chosen when the Harbinger was supposed to be the strongest among the Fatui.
As he looked at the imposing palace behind him, resembling the Tsaritsa herself, Bai Luo's heart pounded.
He wasn't enamored by the Tsaritsa's cold beauty but rather terrified.
Unlike the other eleven Harbingers, he was completely unprepared for this new position thrust upon him.
It felt like a dream until the original Fatui Harbinger, the Jester, personally bestowed upon him the Delusion symbolizing his new position.
Only then did he realize that he had truly become the twelfth Harbinger.
His name, resembling those born in Liyue, revealed that he wasn't originally from this nation.
Perhaps, to be more accurate, he wasn't even from the continent of Teyvat. In his world, Mondstadt was simply a country from a video game he had played.
One winter, while passing by a river, he noticed a child drowning. He didn't see himself as a hero, but he couldn't stand by and watch the child drown in the freezing water. So, he decided to dive into the cold river and save the drowning child. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the cold and exhaustion and sank beneath the icy surface. When he woke up, he found himself in the mystical land of Snezhnaya.
Because of his brave act of saving a child's life, someone he didn't even know, he gained the favor of the Fatui and was unexpectedly included among their ranks. As rumors had it, he was later appointed as the instructor of the special organization known as the Fatui Agents, thanks to his unique ability to turn invisible.
However, his invisibility ability was different from that of the other Fatui Agents. It was even more special, similar to a character named Hei from the series "Darker than Black." Although his ability was similar to Hei's, it had slight differences.
To conceal his special abilities, he even obtained a fake Vision from a peddler during a walk. The vendor claimed that the fake Vision, which he purchased, had come from the distant land of Inazuma. Its craftsmanship was so exquisite that even those with genuine Visions couldn't easily distinguish between the fake and the real ones. And this "Vision" of his belonged to the Anemo element.
With his unique ability, he was chosen to join the Fatui and performed well enough to ascend to the position of one of the Harbingers, just like the previous eleventh seat, Tartaglia, who was promoted due to his exceptional combat capabilities. However, in his case, besides turning invisible and teaching the Fatui Agents how to do the same, he didn't do anything particularly remarkable.
It couldn't be that the Tsaritsa took an interest in him, could it?
"What are you thinking?"
Bai Luo was taken aback when a hand suddenly slapped his back. As someone with heightened senses, it was rare for anyone to approach him without his awareness. But he immediately recognized the person behind him by their distinctive fur-lined cloak: Lord Rooster, the fifth member of the Fatui's Harbingers.
Bai Luo instinctively bowed and called out the person's code name.
Indeed, he was the fifth Harbinger of the Fatui's, known as "Rooster."
"We're colleagues now, no need for formalities. Follow me, I have a new mission to assign to you."
Wiping the sweat off his forehead, Bai Luo had not yet fully accustomed to his new position.
Pulcinella, The Rooster... He wasn't really familiar with this person.
Mainly because in his previous position, he only had dealings with "Child" Tartaglia at most.
He hadn't encountered the fifth seat yet.
Now, it seemed person was not so bad.
At least, unlike others, he didn't have eyes that looked like they wanted to devour Bai Luo.
Especially the eleventh seat, Tartaglia.
After the Jester gave him the Delusion, Tartaglia had already started issuing challenges to Bai Luo within the palace.
If it weren't for the Tsaritsa resolving the situation in time, there might have been a "duel in front of the court."
Accompanying Lord Rooster to what seemed like an office, Bai Luo was presented with a piece of paper adorned with chicken feathers. Perplexed, he asked, "What is this?"
Lord Rooster clarified, "It's an appointment letter. Starting tomorrow, you'll be representing Snezhnaya as an envoy to Inazuma, handling all matters concerning our relationship with them."
Bai Luo had been about to accept this so-called appointment letter, but upon hearing Rooster's words, his heart sank.
Inazuma?! You are sending me to that Neet land!?
He hadn't forgotten how terrible La Signora's fate in the game was when she landed in Inazuma. She got slapped around by the Traveler and then turned into ash by Raiden Shogun's lightning blade, with her ashes scattering across the continent of Teyvat.
"Lord Rooster, I feel that I am not yet capable enough to undertake such a significant task!"
Bai Luo knew that he couldn't directly refuse the mission.
Just as he had taken office, refusing the very first assignment given to him would likely result in him being eliminated by the Tsaritsa.
Right now, he seemed to only have two options.
The first one is to be eliminated by General Raiden.
While the other one is to be eliminated by the Tsaritsa.
"Nonsense! Don't underestimate yourself, Ausbilder. The fact that you became a Harbinger proves you're capable of handling this mission." The short-statured Rooster sat resolutely in his chair, determined about the matter. No matter what challenges lie ahead, Bai Luo had to go to Inazuma.
"Can I instead go to Mondstadt then?"
Being an envoy in Mondstadt would be nice, at the land ruled by Venti, there are various adorable creatures such as Klee and Diona. has the adorable Klee and Diona.
Most importantly, it's safe there. He wouldn't have to worry about getting killed by Barbatos.
"Mondstadt is the place that La Signora has taken. Are you sure you want to compete with her for the right to be placed on that land?"
This time, the Rooster didn't refuse his request, but rather asked with a playful expression.
Although La Signora wasn't the strongest fighter among the Fatui's Harbingers, she was definitely not someone the current Bai Luo could defeat in combat, not without much sacrifice at the very least.
"Then... What about Liyue? While Morax may be one of the longest-surviving Archons, I believe I can give it a try."
Bai Luo wouldn't refuse to be sanctioned into Liyue either. Who could resist the charm of Keqing the lightning cat girl?
Although there were a few immortals living there that protected that place, as long as he acted carefully and not definitely caused some trouble to the locals, there shouldn't be much of a problem.
Moreover, he originally hailed from Liyue in this world, so him wanting to go to Liyue was a perfectly legitimate reason.
"For that, you'll have to negotiate with Childe."
The Rooster smiled as he said that.
By now, everyone in the Fatui's knew that the Harbinger Childe wanted to clash with the newly appointed twelfth Harbinger, the Ausbilder.
If Bai Luo went there now, it would be like a sheep walking into a tiger's den.
"According to our investigation, Inazuma is currently in a state of isolation, and the condition of the God of Eternity in the Thunder Sakura Court is also unstable. Currently, Inazuma is one of the weakest nations among the other six nations, making it the most suitable nation for you."
"That means, ... I don't have a choice?"