Genshin Impact: My Villain System Isn't Working Properly

"Oh? You mean to say that ridiculous drunk, that green-clad bard, is Mondstadt's Anemo Archon, Barbatos?"

At the Fatui outpost, the Debt Collector respectfully knelt before La Signora, reporting what he had witnessed today.

His voice carried excitement—this was quite an achievement.

La Signora's eyes filled with hatred and complexity, then she sneered:

"How laughable. Mondstadt's beloved Anemo Archon is nothing but a drunkard."

"Hah, even with Stormterror rampaging, he only plays the fool, avoiding his duties... To think he shares the same divine status as Her Majesty the noble Tsaritsa—what a disgrace."

La Signora's words were full of contempt for Venti, sparing no insult.

"Very well, you've done well with this matter. You may go now. We need to plan our next steps carefully."

La Signora's eyes flickered as she waved her hand.

The Fatui member bowed once more before disappearing.

"Bar... batos!"

La Signora's eyes burned with hatred and madness.

...

Jiang Ning had been meditating in the courtyard these past few days.

He had mastered Anemo elements well, though there was one thing he found disappointing.

He could only create Swirl reactions with his Cryo element, and as for Geo... well, those crystallize reactions, honestly, Jiang Ning didn't know what use they had.

Though, since it was designed in the game, there must be some utility or gameplay mechanic for it later?

Jiang Ning pondered silently.

However, these past couple of days, Senior Sister had been acting strange, constantly finding ways to cling to him.

In the end, she directly created a "defeat CG" on him.

And she seemed to never tire of it.

Jiang Ning found it puzzling, but since Senior Sister wanted to play, he was also quite excited.

Though he didn't understand why Sister Huixin looked at him like he was livestock, and somehow felt like he owed Senior Sister Shenhe something.

It was all very strange.

This morning, after waking up early, Jiang Ning was quite satisfied to once again collect the Ice Princess Shenhe's defeat CG before getting out of bed.

After finishing his cultivation practice, Jiang Ning went to the streets to shop, only to find the streets in chaos.

Upon asking, he learned that apparently a blonde person and someone dressed in green had stolen the Holy Lyre, and they were now being pursued and hunted.

Jiang Ning fell silent—the story had progressed to this point already... No wonder Lumine hadn't come to find him lately.

But Jiang Ning wasn't worried at all. They would eventually need to find him to purify Dvalin. He just needed to wait patiently until it was time to enter the boss dungeon.

"Hm? Is that Barbara?"

Barbara was sitting blankly in a corner of the Good Hunter restaurant, her favorite spicy dishes laid out before her.

But currently, Barbara's gaze was vacant, lost in thought.

"Barbara, what's wrong? No appetite?"

Jiang Ning sat down across from Barbara and asked.

Seeing it was Jiang Ning, Barbara's eyes gained a slight spark. Her lips trembled, and she spoke with a hint of helplessness:

"Jiang Ning... Lord Barbatos's Holy Lyre was stolen..."

Jiang Ning feigned surprise: "What? Someone was actually that bold?"

Barbara became indignant: "Right? Aren't they afraid of Lord Barbatos's punishment!"

Jiang Ning thought to himself, what if it was your Lord Barbatos himself who stole it?

Wouldn't that just be... punishing himself?

But outwardly, Jiang Ning consoled her: "Don't worry, the Knights of Favonius are pursuing the criminals, right? They'll definitely recover it."

But this made Barbara even more distressed: "The Knights... *sigh*."

Seeming to realize she was being impolite, Barbara didn't continue.

Jiang Ning: "..."

So even you Mondstadt people know how unreliable the Knights of Favonius are!

"Are there any clues?"

Jiang Ning suddenly wanted to play around and increase the pressure on Venti, that slacker.

[What if Lumine is already wearing the mask of suffering before Venti's difficulty is fully increased?]

The System mocked.

"Just tell me, do you want to see this show or not?" Jiang Ning thought.

[I do.]

The System got excited.

Barbara shook her head: "It's unclear, we only know it was someone with blonde hair, and someone dressed in green..."

Jiang Ning comforted her: "Well, having identifying features makes it easier..."

"But there are so many people with blonde hair and green clothes in Mondstadt!"

Barbara said.

The Adventurers' Guild, the bards, they all wore green, and as for blonde hair, there were plenty of those too.

Jiang Ning said: "Let's analyze this. Look, would a Mondstadt citizen steal this?"

Barbara shook her head: "No way. This belongs to Lord Barbatos—anyone who reveres Lord Barbatos and has lived in Mondstadt for a long time would never do something so outrageous."

"Then doesn't that narrow it down? A blonde foreigner, and someone from the Adventurers' Guild or a bard who's only recently appeared in Mondstadt..."

Barbara fell into thought, then her delicate, flawless face suddenly changed: "Could it be!"

"What did you think of?" Jiang Ning asked, already knowing the answer.

Barbara gritted her teeth: "I know who it is! The Traveler and that person called Venti!"

"No wonder I kept seeing those two recently, and after the Holy Lyre was stolen, they disappeared!"

"Really? They don't seem like people who would do such things, could it be a mistake?"

Jiang Ning was laughing internally, but outwardly continued to make excuses.

"It's very suspicious! They came to the Cathedral this morning asking to borrow the Holy Lyre, the sister said so... Thank you! I'm going to report this to the Knights right away!"

With that, Barbara slightly lifted her long nun's dress and ran off quickly.

Jiang Ning leisurely began eating his breakfast.

"Want to go to the Knights of Favonius later? I want to see Jean's reaction."

[Yes!]

"See? Isn't it fun following me?"

[It is.]

It would be even more fun if we could keep our secret stash.

...

After finishing his meal, Jiang Ning went to the Knights of Favonius headquarters. As usual, no one announced him or questioned him—he directly knocked on Jean's office door.

Upon entering, he saw a worried Jean and a smiling Lisa.

"Jiang Ning... it's you. May the Anemo Archon protect you... What brings you here?"

Jean said.

Jiang Ning said: "Well, I heard Lumine and Venti stole the Holy Lyre?"

Jean held her forehead with one hand: "Yes... Barbara told you, right? This matter is a bit complicated, actually..."

Jean explained that they needed the Holy Lyre to summon Dvalin in an uninhabited area, which would be better than having the final battle in Mondstadt.

This would minimize casualties.

Jiang Ning nodded: "I see... I thought Lumine and Venti might be bad people..."

"Since you're here, we've been collecting Dvalin's tears for purification to replenish the Holy Lyre's power. When the time comes, please join us at Starsnatch Cliff."

Jiang Ning nodded: "Alright, no problem."

With business concluded, Lisa finally could interject:

"It's been so long since we've met, cutie. Haven't you had time for big sister's invitation? I did invite you for afternoon tea."

Lisa was very curious about this young man who could use multiple elements.

Jiang Ning said: "Um, I've been accompanying Senior Sister."

His words made Lisa give him a coquettish look.

Was this little one really not getting it?

Such a direct answer.

However, it was rare to find someone who piqued Lisa's curiosity, and she wasn't one to give up easily.

"Then today, do you have time..."

Just as Lisa was about to extend an invitation, Jean decisively said:

"Lisa, we haven't finished collecting Dvalin's tears yet, there's no time for fooling around."

Lisa gave Jean a resentful look: "I know... Really, you all go out having fun while Eula and I deal with all these documents."

Jean also felt a bit embarrassed: "Lisa, you know that I..."

Lisa waved her hand: "Alright, go do your thing, don't mind me."

Lisa herself knew that due to her constellation and the nature of her power, the more she used her powers, the more severely it would drain her life force.

That's why Lisa remained a librarian, spending her days leisurely and lazily—this was an arrangement everyone tacitly accepted.

Of course, when the time truly called for it, Lisa wouldn't hesitate to use her power.

"Cutie, once this business is done, big sister will invite you again."

Lisa said.

Jiang Ning nodded: "Mm-hmm. Next time for sure... So how are you handling Venti and Lumine's situation?"

Jean said: "For now, we'll keep up the wanted notice, but we'll keep them in a safe place. When it's time to act, we'll go out directly, and once everything's resolved, all suspicion will be cleared."

Mainly because Barbara had sent word through the Knights, and somehow, in just one morning, everyone knew who the suspects were.

Then they all clamored for punishment.

If they had been wrongly accused, Jean could have simply thrown the evidence of their innocence in everyone's faces.

The problem was, they really did steal it.

They could only put on a show for now.

Jiang Ning secretly laughed: "Alright, where are they? I want to go see them."

Jean said: "At Master Diluc's place, Angel's Share. It's temporarily closed."

Lisa added: "And the people of Mondstadt are quite unhappy about it. The Cat's Tail alone isn't enough for all the drinkers."

Jean: "Lisa!"

There was no need to mention that!

Jiang Ning said: "Mm, okay, I'll go see them."

----

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