"Do you really have to go?" Qiqi asked Lars who smiled sadly at her, patting her head.
"Sorry, Qiqi. But yes, this commission is very important." Lars replied. He had just took a very important B-rank commission, which was to deliver prized artifacts to the Guild Post in Mondstadt.
Then he was to complete another B-rank commission, to enter domains and gather as much artifacts as he could before returning to Liyue Harbor. All and all this would move him up the ranks and solidify his position as a trusted adventurer, earning him a chance to potentially rank up to an A-rank adventurer.
"I'm very strong too, papa. You know it, so there's no reason for me not to go." Qiqi argued with a dull tone, her hands on her waist. Lars laughed nervously.
"Well, completing two B-rank commissions is one thing, but I actually have a super secret mission assigned to me by Ningguang herself."
"What? So you're a spy now?" Qiqi tilted her head. Lars nodded.
"Yup, but I can't tell you the details just yet. It is a super secret mission after all. When it's all over, then I'll explain everything to you okay?"
"Okay... Be careful papa." Lars chuckled and knelt down before her. He hugged her, before leaning down and lovingly kissed her forehead.
"Of course, Qiqi. I'll keep that in mind. You have to work hard too. Complete your commissions, train hard and when I come back, show me how strong you got okay?" Qiqi nodded his head as Lars stood up, picking up the white suitcase full of artifacts.
"I'll be off now. Make sure to tell Hu Tao and Yanfei I said hi if you get the chance." Lars waved without looking back as he exited the gates of Liyue Harbor. Qiqi stared silently as he slowly disappeared from her view.
She turned back, noticing that Hu Tao was approaching her. "Ugh, he left already?" She grumbled, crossing her arms. Qiqi nodded.
"Man... What a bummer... Didn't even get the chance to say goodbye. Well, I guess I'll just have to be there when he comes back! Hehehe!"
.....
As Lars walked, his mind went back to the secret meeting he had with a certain Tianquan of the Qixing. It was a week and a couple of days after he had adopted Qiqi. It was going smoothly, life seemed to be more colorful than ever.
But a few hours after he accepted the two B-rank commissions, he them received a letter with no trace of the sender's identity, telling him to meet in an alleyway during nighttime. He did so, thinking he was about to enter a fight only to be met with Ningguang leaning against the wall.
"What's this about, Ningguang?" Lars questioned the Tianquan who got out of her position, now standing in front of him, crossing her arms.
"You are preparing to travel to Mondstadt in a few days, yes?"
"Oh so you're stalking me now? Didn't take the Tianquan for an obsessed stalker." Lars raised an eyebrow at her, smirking im amusement. Ningguang's huffed a little at the accusation.
"No. I simply have eyes and ears everywhere for security reasons, even the slightest details won't escape me. Your commission taking just so happens to be heard at exactly the right time."
"You have heard of the Fatui before, yes?" She asked without giving Lars the chance to speak up. Lars nodded.
"Then I shall spare you the details of their morality. Recently, they have been really active for some strange reason. Almost half of the Fatui diplomats and agents stationed at Liyue Harbor have all been reassigned to Mondstadt."
"If you were in the dark, the Fatui's tactic to increase their influence in Mondstadt has been to incite or take advantage of disturbances to offer their assistance in a way that puts the Knights of Favonius in an awkward position. And now, their agents are gathering there. Something big is happening and I don't like it, not when Liyue Harbor could be next."
"I'm assigning you an S-rank commission to find out what the Fatui is planning and bring the information back to me."
"Well why not just send your spies to do your job?" Lars questioned.
"Simple, because then we'd have to create fake backgrounds and alibis for them. You already have the perfect alibi, the perfect reason to be in Mondstadt. You'd blend in naturally. And ask for what's in it for you if you help me protect this country, well..." Ningguang smiled.
"A 5 star apartment for you and you daughter, a promotion to an A-rank adventurer, 1 million Mora transferred to your bank account, a black card each for the Bank of Liyue and Northland Bank, and unlimited access to the Jade Chamber. And let's not forget about this..." Ningguang summoned a long object wrapped by a black cloth.
"I promised you that day at Bubu Pharmacy that I'd get you something new, something unbreakable. Well, today's the day I fufill that promise..."
Lars stared at the covered object with a serious gaze, before looking back at Ningguang smiling at him.
"A small price to pay, no? A few weeks of espionage and your life would be changed forever. It's a win-win situation for the both of us."
"What happens if our cover is blown? Let's say by a third party? Then they start threatening and act against the country and stuff." Lars questioned, remembering a certain incident that would most certainly change the whole plan. He wasn't sure if it would happen then, but he has to prepare in advance.
"I'm sure they won't risk the downfall of their whole economy and diplomatic immunity in other countries just to stop one man. Don't you agree?"
'Geez, I stand corrected. This woman could be a dictator, she just chooses not to.' Lars cleared his throat as Ningguang continued, placing a finger under his chin.
"So, what's your answer Lars? Yes or no?"
....
"I sure hope I don't regret this in the future..." He muttered, arriving at Guili Plains, resting near the Geo Archon's statue before continuing on with his journey.
He passed by the famed Wangshu Inn, ignoring it completely, though making a note to bring Qiqi here one day. He walked for an hour more before he arrived at a familiar place.
"Dawn Winery...This sure is nostalgic in a way..." He muttered to himself. Lars immediately felt the surroundings around him change dramatically, not just the scenery and the fauna, even the wind smells different. He then spotted the Anemo Archon's Statue not far away.
" Well well well, time to get me some new abilities.... You know what's worse than a Lars that can create spikes from thin air? It's a Lars that can fly while creating spikes from thin air...."
To be continued.....