After finishing the song, Lisa looked at Valerius with pitiful eyes.
I've sung the song already…
You should let me go now, right?
"Hehe… you actually sang it."
"W-What do you mean? Didn't we agree that if I sang, you wouldn't eliminate me right now?"
"That's right."
Valerius nodded.
"I did say I wouldn't eliminate you immediately."
"But… you actually believed me?"
"Y-You're cheating!"
"How is that cheating?"
"I only promised I wouldn't eliminate you immediately."
"But I've already caught you."
"If I untie you now, you'll definitely run away."
"Then who am I supposed to catch?"
"I won't!"
Lisa hurriedly shook her head.
"I promise I won't run."
"I'll stay right here and wait for you."
"You already agreed."
"You can't go back on your word."
"That's true."
Valerius nodded seriously.
"I'm an honest and trustworthy gentleman."
"I can't lie."
"Fine."
"I'll let you off this once."
"But the next time I see you…"
"I won't show any mercy."
"Deal."
Finally relieved, Lisa stretched after the ropes were removed.
A sly smile appeared on her face.
Hmph.
Next time you won't catch me so easily.
After loosening up, she noticed Valerius had turned his back to her.
Without hesitation…
She prepared to make a run for it.
After all…
He'd said he'd only eliminate her the next time they met.
So what was there to hesitate about?
Just run!
Unexpectedly…
Valerius suddenly turned around.
"Oh?"
"What a coincidence."
"We've met again."
"Y-You…!"
Lisa's eyes widened.
So that's what you meant by "the next time we meet"?
"I'm running!"
There was no misunderstanding now.
Valerius clearly had no intention of letting her go.
The only option left was to sprint.
As long as she made it around the corner…
She'd activate her Invisibility Cloak immediately.
She refused to believe Valerius could still find her.
"Huh?"
"Why are you running this way?"
Hu Tao, who had been happily watching the show, nearly jumped in fright.
Lisa was heading straight toward her hiding place!
If Lisa came over…
Wouldn't Valerius discover her too?
She quickly pulled her head back.
She had to leave.
There was no way she could afford to be caught now.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Seeing Lisa about to disappear around the corner…
Valerius swung the cowboy lasso several times before throwing it.
Whoosh!
The loop landed perfectly over Lisa.
He gave it a sharp tug.
The rope instantly tightened around her.
Lisa: "...…"
She wanted to cry.
She already knew Valerius was shameless.
She just hadn't expected him to be this shameless.
She'd sung his ridiculous song…
And he still intended to eliminate her.
Even worse…
She was now standing right at the corner…
Face-to-face with Hu Tao.
There was no need to think about it.
Hu Tao had definitely heard her singing earlier.
"I was…"
"So close…"
Freedom had been only a few steps away.
Yet she'd fallen at the final hurdle.
Lisa was thoroughly unwilling to accept it.
She glanced back at Valerius, who was reeling in the rope.
Then looked at Hu Tao.
"Take this…"
"It can turn you invisible…"
"There are still…"
"Two uses left."
Since her elimination was inevitable…
Lisa simply took out the Invisibility Cloak and tossed it to Hu Tao.
If she couldn't win…
At least she could contribute something for the Teyvat players.
"For me?"
Holding the cloak, Hu Tao blinked in surprise.
She hadn't expected Lisa to be so kind.
She was actually giving away such a valuable item.
Big Sister Lisa is a good person!
In that instant…
Lisa's image rose tremendously in Hu Tao's heart.
Watching Lisa get reeled back by Valerius…
Hu Tao quietly stepped backward before slipping into the table tennis hall.
Since Lisa had been discovered here…
She had every reason to believe Valerius had already searched this area thoroughly.
That meant…
Hiding here now would actually be very safe.
She entered the building…
Opened a random storage room…
And slipped inside.
After glancing around…
She quickly spotted an excellent hiding place.
Sports equipment was piled everywhere.
Especially the heap stacked in the corner.
It was practically the perfect hiding spot.
Without hesitation…
Hu Tao rushed over and began moving the objects blocking the entrance.
"Huh?"
"Sigewinne?"
Once the obstacles were cleared…
She realized someone was already hiding inside.
It was Sigewinne…
The same person who had run away earlier.
"Shhh!"
Sigewinne had thought Valerius had found her.
Seeing it was Hu Tao instead, she quickly raised a finger to her lips.
"Oh!"
"Right, right…"
"Shhh!"
Hu Tao immediately understood.
Valerius was still outside.
They absolutely couldn't make any noise.
She crouched down…
Squeezed Sigewinne farther inside…
Then carefully pulled all the equipment back into place around them.
[Attention: Player Lisa has been eliminated.]
At that exact moment…
Lisa's elimination notification echoed throughout the arena.
"Perfect."
"With an invisibility item…"
"I can definitely win."
Now that she possessed Lisa's cloak…
Hu Tao's confidence soared.
She already had a pretty useful item from her own completed mission.
Adding Lisa's gift…
She couldn't imagine how she could possibly lose.
The livestream chat erupted once more.
[Jean: Sigh… Lisa still got eliminated. What a pity.]
Although she said it was a pity…
There was unmistakable satisfaction in her tone.
Serves you right.
You exposed all my secrets.
Now it's your turn.
[Keqing: At least she passed her item to Hu Tao before being eliminated. That's admirable.]
[Klee: Lisa… big sis… is a good person.]
[Xiangling: Yep! Big Sister Lisa is a good person.]
[Ningguang: If I remember correctly, Hu Tao's own item was a Random Teleport Card. Combined with the Invisibility Cloak… she should be able to escape Valerius's pursuit.]
[Jing Yuan: I wouldn't count on it.]
[Xinyan: Why not?]
[Fu Xuan: Because she's hiding beside Sigewinne.]
[Chongyun: So?]
[Jade: Sigewinne's location is currently revealed. Which means… Valerius will be led directly to Hu Tao as well.]
Earlier…
Three players had their locations exposed after Sparkle reflected the Position Reveal Cards.
Sigewinne was one of them.
Now Hu Tao had chosen to hide beside Sigewinne.
The outcome was obvious.
[Keqing: This is bad!]
[Beidou: She's done for…]
The Liyue players immediately began worrying for Hu Tao.
Their hiding place was certainly well concealed…
But it was also a dead end.
If Valerius found them…
Hu Tao would almost certainly have to use her Random Teleport Card to escape.
Which meant…
Only the Invisibility Cloak would remain afterward.
[Xiangling: Hu Tao~~~! Run! That place isn't safe!]
Xiangling was frantic.
No matter how she looked at it…
Hu Tao was already trapped.
If she didn't leave now…
She'd definitely suffer a miserable defeat.
[Ningguang: Don't panic. Hu Tao's own position hasn't been exposed. The Invisibility Cloak is still extremely valuable.]
[Albedo: I strongly recommend Hu Tao kneel and thank Lisa if she wins.]
[Kaeya: Exactly. We from Mondstadt helped you. Liyue, you know what to do next time there's a game.]
[Xingqiu: Please take it up with Hu Tao.]
[Yanfei: Please take it up with Hu Tao.]
[Chongyun: Please take it up with Hu Tao.]
What a joke.
Why should they repay a favor that Hu Tao owed?
If anyone wanted repayment…
They could go find Hu Tao themselves.
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