Hu Tao was extremely satisfied with the spear.
Although it wasn't the grand prize, its effect was incredible.
In the future, whenever she encountered a troublesome opponent…
One thrust would settle everything.
As for the luck requirement…
As long as she wasn't too unlucky, it shouldn't be a problem.
Happily storing away the spear, she stepped aside.
"Your turn."
"Come on."
Now that Hu Tao had finished drawing, it was finally Sparkle's turn.
"My turn already?"
She casually flipped the coins in her hand before tossing them all into the machine.
Clack… Clack…
The machine rumbled once more.
Then—
A rainbow-colored light burst forth.
"Whoa! Rainbow light!"
Hu Tao instantly felt miserable.
They had both exchanged eight points.
Why had she only received an ordinary reward…
While Sparkle had directly drawn a Rule Skill?
"Hehe."
"Looks like my luck isn't bad after all."
Although she still didn't know what the skill was…
Sparkle already knew she'd struck gold.
The livestream immediately erupted.
[Sampo: Why?! I'm so jealous!!]
[Keqing: Another rainbow reward… Aren't there getting to be way too many Rule Skills?]
[Ruan Mei: I'm looking forward to seeing it. I'm rather interested.]
Ever since Rule Skills began appearing…
Ruan Mei had become fascinated by them.
Even if they weren't hers…
Simply observing them was worthwhile.
[Sunday: Sparkle with a Rule Skill… Somehow that doesn't sound like a good thing.]
[Aventurine: Now that you mention it…]
[Topaz: Oh no… I can already picture myself getting scammed.]
Although Penacony's team had finally obtained a Rule Skill…
The owner was Sparkle.
That alone made everyone on their side feel uneasy.
The rainbow light faded.
A glowing orb floated into the air.
"Valerius! Valerius!"
"Hurry and tell me!"
"What is it?"
Sparkle's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
She desperately hoped it would be something amazing.
After all…
There were countless Rule Skills.
She couldn't guarantee this one would actually suit her.
Valerius examined the light sphere.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
To everyone in the Star Rail universe…
Good luck.
He coughed lightly.
"Ahem."
"This skill…"
"…is called…"
'Fellow Daoist, Please Stay.'
"'Fellow Daoist, Please Stay?'"
Sparkle blinked.
What kind of skill was that?
Did it simply force someone to stop walking?
What use was that?
"Don't underestimate it."
"It's incredibly powerful."
[Fellow Daoist, Please Stay]
Whenever you say these words to someone, you can persuade them to do you one favor.
The better you are at fooling people, the stronger the effect becomes.
After hearing the description…
Sparkle's eyes lit up.
"Any favor?"
"That depends on your persuasion skills."
"But generally speaking…"
"…yes."
The moment those words left Valerius's mouth…
Sparkle's eyes shone even brighter.
This is amazing.
With this ability…
She'd be able to stir up all kinds of trouble.
"…Valerius."
"Is it really that strong?"
Hu Tao couldn't help feeling both surprised…
…and slightly jealous.
There weren't even any obvious restrictions?
"It really is."
Valerius nodded.
After all…
In Investiture of the Gods…
Shen Gongbao's famous line—
"Fellow Daoist, please stay."
Had practically wiped out Jie Sect.
One after another…
People had rushed to their own doom like gourds lining up to rescue Grandpa.
Sparkle immediately absorbed the glowing sphere.
Then…
Her eyes drifted toward the crimson spear in Hu Tao's hands.
"Fellow Daoist…"
"…please stay."
"Hiss!"
Hu Tao instinctively took a step back.
"What are you trying to do?"
She already knew Sparkle was about to cause trouble.
Her instincts screamed at her to leave immediately.
Yet…
For some reason…
She couldn't make herself go.
She wanted to hear what Sparkle was about to say.
"Could you lend me your Noble Phantasm for a bit?"
"In your dreams."
Sparkle froze.
Then looked toward Valerius in confusion.
"Your skill doesn't work."
"You've got to persuade them yourself after stopping them."
Valerius laughed.
Did she really think saying those words automatically forced people to obey?
If she couldn't convince Hu Tao…
Why would Hu Tao ever agree?
"Oh right."
"I have to sweet-talk people."
Sparkle immediately changed tactics.
"Don't misunderstand."
"I just want to help you test whether your Noble Phantasm is really as powerful as he says."
"Think about it."
"Your spear depends on luck."
"If you don't test it now…"
"What if it doesn't work when you really need it?"
"…That's true."
Hu Tao nodded thoughtfully.
Sparkle continued immediately.
"Besides…"
"If you test it yourself…"
"How can you compare the results?"
"Our luck is different."
"If two different people use it…"
"Wouldn't you immediately know how much luck actually affects it?"
"…Makes sense."
Hu Tao nodded again.
Sparkle really had a point.
The best way to test the Noble Phantasm…
Was indeed to compare two different users.
She herself had spent eight points on an ordinary reward.
Sparkle had drawn a Rule Skill.
Logically…
Sparkle's luck should be much better than hers.
"Alright."
"Go ahead and test it."
Without another thought…
Hu Tao handed over Gáe Bolg.
"Hehe."
"It actually worked."
Sparkle nearly burst out laughing.
She'd only made up a few excuses…
Yet Hu Tao had believed every word.
The livestream stared in disbelief.
[Zhongli: Is that really the skill's effect… or is Director Hu just that trusting?]
He genuinely couldn't tell.
Was Hu Tao really this easy to fool?
[Valerius: She was simply persuaded.]
[Xiangling: But… Hu Tao isn't usually this gullible…]
[Valerius: Once someone falls under the skill's influence… their intelligence drops dramatically.]
[Keqing: What a terrifying ability…]
Now everyone in Teyvat became worried.
Sparkle's Rule Skill was absurd.
They could already imagine future games…
Where Sparkle casually convinced them to eliminate their own teammates…
…and they actually did it.
[Jane: This feels like the kind of skill that becomes terrifying at crucial moments.]
[Miyabi: I need to start training my resistance against scams.]
[Nicole: Pfft… You? Don't bother. Even training won't save you.]
[Zhu Yuan: Miyabi… please stop by Public Security sometime. I'll personally give you an anti-fraud seminar.]
[Lucy: Please bring Caesar with you.]
[Miyabi: Don't worry. I'm not the same person I used to be.]
[Valerius: I wouldn't be so sure.]
Valerius couldn't help laughing.
Not the same as before?
He could confidently say…
Miyabi was even easier to fool than Klee.
She was probably on the same level as Raiden Ei.
After all…
The very first time Nicole ever scammed someone…
It had been Miyabi.
"…Huh?"
A realization suddenly struck Valerius.
Nicole's first victim…
…was Miyabi.
And Miyabi's first time getting scammed…
…was by Nicole.
What a remarkably well-matched pairing.
Shaking off the thought…
Valerius noticed Sparkle quietly preparing to run away while carrying Gáe Bolg.
He immediately blocked her path.
"Looking at it is one thing."
"But were you seriously planning to run off with it?"
"Hehe…"
"Fine."
"I'll give it back."
She'd actually planned to bring the spear back to the Star Rail universe…
Just to see Hu Tao's reaction.
Unfortunately…
Valerius wasn't someone she could fool so easily.
Reluctantly…
She returned the weapon.
"…Y-You…"
"You were actually going to steal my spear?!"
Only now did Hu Tao finally realize what had happened.
She shivered.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
She simply couldn't understand…
How she'd so willingly handed her precious Noble Phantasm over to Sparkle.
Looking back now…
Everything Sparkle had said had been complete nonsense.
How had she ever believed it?
"Gasp…"
"I-I'm leaving first!"
The more she looked at Sparkle…
The scarier she became.
Hu Tao decisively chose to return home.
If Sparkle used "Fellow Daoist, Please Stay" on her again…
She was afraid she'd end up getting tricked out of even more of her belongings.
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