This world is not lacking in geniuses, nor is it lacking in researchers.
Mad geniuses and fanatical researchers, while relatively rare, are not nonexistent.
However, a scholar like Dottore—one who is both a genius and utterly mad, both powerful and extremely confident to the point of arrogance—is unparalleled across all of Teyvat.
A certain muscle-bound yet frail-looking scholar from Sumeru's Rtawahist once described Dottore as follows:
"…This is the folly and arrogance that lies at the end of the academic path."
Yet, Dottore cares little for how others perceive him. Call it folly or call it arrogance—it makes no difference to him.
Dottore does not act out of any urgent purpose. Just as he holds no particular interest in the results of his experiments, he simply enjoys the process of satisfying his insatiable curiosity.
.............
Time: Seven days before Su Yuan's first awakening.
Location: Pardis Dhyai, Sumeru.
Sumeru's god-making project had failed, but this outcome was already within Dottore's expectations.
As a scholar, Dottore naturally considers and respects every possible outcome.
This is his principle, as well as a fundamental quality required of any experimenter.
Before the final act could conclude, Dottore unleashed a soundwave that swiftly and effortlessly lured its targets into a dreamlike state.
In an instant, the Traveler and Paimon collapsed unconscious.
At last, Dottore had secured an opportunity to be alone with Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Dottore enjoyed conversing with intelligent individuals—because it spared him the trouble of tedious explanations.
After a period of conversation, Nahida spoke:
"A foreign Gnosis—keeping it in Sumeru would only invite disaster..."
"But this Electro Gnosis is a 'trophy' I obtained after defeating one of your fellow Harbingers."
"Now, if you wish to take this trophy from my hands, shouldn't the one responsible for all this pay an equivalent price?"
Hearing Nahida's words, Dottore's expression turned intrigued.
"A price? Interesting… What kind of price do you want me to pay?"
"…Erase all of your other 'segments.' How about that?"
Dottore fell into contemplation.
Producing segments was an exceedingly difficult process, but if it could be exchanged for an Electro Gnosis, it might not be such a bad deal.
Just as he was about to respond, he suddenly sensed something unusual—one of his segments had fallen into a bizarre state...
An eerie, unfathomable power, unlike anything Dottore had ever encountered, surged through that segment's body in an instant.
The rest of the segments immediately began discussing the anomaly:
"What is happening? I can sense an extraordinary force..."
"Mysterious, terrifying, eerie, ominous..."
"That segment seems to have lost its consciousness—we can no longer communicate with him..."
How many segments Dottore truly had—aside from himself, no one knew.
However, according to certain insiders, there was at least one segment of Dottore present in each of the Seven Nations of Teyvat…
As Dottore listened to the discussions among his segments and sensed the mysterious power coursing through the affected one, his gaze shifted to the Electro Gnosis in Nahida's hands.
At this moment, the so-called "Gnosis" no longer seemed all that enticing to him.
"God of Wisdom, if this is the price you wish me to pay, then I'm afraid I cannot accept it."
"Right now, I have found something far more intriguing—something that has truly piqued my curiosity."
"And my segments are far too important to simply erase them all here."
Then, under Nahida's incomprehensible gaze, Dottore turned and left Pardis Dhyai without hesitation.
"Is it the Mondstadt segment?" Dottore murmured to himself.
"Then I suppose I'll head to Mondstadt first and see for myself."
"I wonder how that red-haired brat from the Ragnvindr family is doing these days?"
...............
Time returns to the present.
As Su Yuan and his group entered the Opera Epiclese, "Focalors" was kneeling before the Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale, her twisted, crimson-stained face contorted in an expression that was impossible to decipher.
"Hahaha… So you've arrived…"
"Focalors" turned to look at them, but in the next instant, she witnessed something that utterly shocked her…
Right before her eyes, Su Yuan pulled out a small dagger and began stabbing Furina with wild abandon!
He angled himself just right, plunging the blade into his own hand—white in, red out—causing blood to splatter everywhere!
"Hahahaha! Furina!!!" Su Yuan burst into maniacal laughter.
"At last! You have finally died by my hand!"
Furina immediately took to the stage.
She let out a few weak, pitiful cries, then her body began to sway unsteadily.
Clutching her abdomen, she collapsed onto the ground…
"Su Yuan! What have you done?!" Wriothesley was the first to react, roaring in fury as he took a battle-ready stance.
The others followed suit, their expressions darkening as they prepared for a fight.
"No rush… I'll take my time, one by one!" Su Yuan grinned, convinced he looked terrifying.
"You're next!!!" He brandished the bloodstained dagger and lunged toward them.
"Focalors" stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her…
Ah…
Furina… died?
Just like that? So casually?
An overwhelming wave of sorrow surged forth, completely washing away the eerie aura that had surrounded her…
As it turned out, Su Yuan and the others had overthought things a little.
In reality, Focalors hadn't even bothered to analyze the details.
The moment she saw Furina collapse to the ground, she was already unable to contain her grief…
Slowly, Focalors rose to her feet and walked toward Furina.
She cradled Furina's "lifeless body" in her arms, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
"Furina… I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Hearing Focalors' words and feeling the warm teardrops falling onto her face, Furina knew—Su Yuan's plan had worked.
Focalors… she was back.
With that, Furina reached into her pocket and pulled out a small handkerchief, gently wiping away Focalors' tears.
"I'm even seeing illusions now… It's as if Furina isn't really dead, as if she's still here, wiping my tears away…"
"I'm not dead! Open your eyes and look at me!" Furina's eyes were already slightly red as well.
"Focalors, welcome back."
Focalors stared at Furina, who was smiling at her.
She froze for a moment—then, overcome with joy, she burst into tears.
"Thank the heavens… Furina…"
The others, noticing the change in atmosphere, also stopped what they were doing, watching the scene unfold in silence.
"Finally, it's a success…" Su Yuan let out a sigh of relief.
He had actually been a bit worried earlier—if he was pretending to be under the influence of something eerie, would he really be controlled by it?
But now it seemed he had overthought it…
However, the warm atmosphere didn't last long.
The sound of high heels clicking sharply on the floor shattered the calm…
At Su Yuan's signal, everyone had already prepared for this moment…
Had the eerie-controlled Arlecchino finally arrived?
Su Yuan gave Sigewinne a glance, and Sigewinne nodded.
She approached "Arlecchino," took a bottle of oral liquid from her medical kit, and held it out to her.
"This oral liquid has a sweet taste and can quickly replenish your body's sugar levels. Would you like to try it?"
Sigewinne flashed a cute smile.
"I specially prepared this just for you!"
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