Luo Qing's recruits felt they must have committed some serious misdeeds in a past life to end up training under him.
What kind of instructor made their recruits dance to plaza tunes every morning?
And not just dance — they had to sing along, too!
It was pure torture.
After squeezing another 70 Frustration Points out of his recruits, Luo Qing, feeling merciful, finally decided to get serious about training.
Luckily, he still retained the memories of this body's previous owner, so training the recruits wasn't particularly challenging.
The original owner of this body had been an orphan from Liyue, taken in by the House of Hearth. He had followed Lady Arlecchino across Teyvat on various missions, earning considerable achievements.
Later, he retired from fieldwork and became a training instructor for new Fatui recruits.
But a month ago, after a night of heavy drinking, he collapsed on the road while heading home.
In the frigid cold of Snezhnaya, a single night was enough to freeze someone solid.
When he woke up again, his soul had taken over the body of Luo Qing.
Back in his office, Belov, having also finished training his recruits, was already seated and resting.
"Hey, the notice is out. The selection is happening tomorrow."
Belov handed a piece of paper to Luo Qing with a calm expression.
Luo Qing took the paper and scanned it. It listed the candidates for the Trainee Harbinger selection.
Thirty-two names in total, all accomplished young officers. Luo Qing's name was among them.
Since Childe was overseeing the selection, the method was straightforward — a knockout competition. Each match was one-on-one, and the last person standing would become the new Trainee Harbinger.
"Looking at it so carefully... Do you actually think you have a shot?"
Belov lit a thick cigarette, took a drag, and chuckled.
"Don't get your hopes up. Look at the names — Jeros, Avtof, Yekaven... Those guys have been Childe's close followers for a long time. It's probably just a matter of picking one of them."
"But it's a 32-person elimination, not a direct pick by Childe. Why can't I make it?" Luo Qing asked, puzzled.
"That's the problem... you know how it is."
Belov glanced around, making sure no one was eavesdropping, and then lowered his voice.
"Childe's mind is only set on fighting. His subordinates are all battle maniacs with extensive combat experience.
Most of us used to handle espionage, so we can't really match them in a head-to-head fight."
Belov, like Luo Qing, was once an orphan taken in by the House of Hearth, and they had been good friends with the original owner of this body.
Even after Luo Qing's sudden personality shift a month ago, Belov still remained close to him.
"Who knows? Maybe there'll be a miracle."
"Heh, there's no way the two of us will make it," Belov scoffed, taking another puff.
If the selection was based on a broader skill set, like intelligence work, Belov figured they might have a chance.
But a pure combat competition put them at a disadvantage compared to those who specialized in direct combat.
"How about a bet, then?" Luo Qing suddenly leaned forward.
"Oh? What's the wager?" Belov's interest was piqued.
"If I get selected, you have to steal a pair of Lady Arlecchino's black stockings for me."
"?"
"And if you don't make it?"
"I'll steal a pair of Miss La Signora's white stockings for you!"
"Are you sure you want to take it that far?" Belov asked seriously.
"Afraid?"
"Ha! Me, afraid? I'm in!"
The Next Day
Snezhnaya Combat Arena
For the Fatui soldiers, today was a special day.
They would witness the birth of the next Trainee Harbinger, and the selection method was simple: one-on-one elimination.
For the battle-hardened people of Snezhnaya, it was the perfect format.
The enormous arena was already packed, filled with Fatui military personnel.
Among them were fresh recruits and seasoned veterans alike, all eagerly awaiting the selection's start.
Watching these intense duels was meant to ignite the soldiers' fighting spirit, so Childe had ordered all available Fatui soldiers to attend, hoping to inspire them.
"Lord Childe, here's the match schedule. If everything is in order, you may begin the announcement."
From the central viewing platform, a staff member handed Childe the schedule.
Thirty-two contestants, and five victories would decide the next Trainee Harbinger.
To simulate the unpredictability of real combat, Childe had compressed the selection into a single day.
Which meant, to become the Trainee Harbinger, one had to win five consecutive matches in a single day — a severe test of endurance and battle skills.
Childe took a glance at the schedule. Everything was in order, so he stepped to the front of the central platform and announced loudly,
"Comrades, the selection begins now!"
There was no need for a grand opening speech. The audience, all military men and women, preferred the action of combat to any flowery rhetoric.
"Round One, Match One: Jeros versus Luo Qing!"
The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers.
Down below, Luo Qing, who had just arrived at the arena, was stunned to hear his name called first.
"Well, congrats, Luo Qing. Looks like you're about to be eliminated in the first round."
Belov clapped Luo Qing on the shoulder, unable to suppress his grin.
"Don't forget Miss La Signora's white stockings. I want the authentic pair!"
Jeros, his opponent, was one of Childe's handpicked warriors. He had fought Abyss Heralds before and had a wealth of combat experience.
Belov doubted Luo Qing could last ten rounds against someone like Jeros.
"Heh, just watch closely," Luo Qing sneered, shoving Belov's hand aside as he stepped onto the arena. On the opposite end, Jeros hoisted his massive thunder hammer and strode to his position.
Jeros towered over Luo Qing, nearly two heads taller. It was like an adult facing a child.
From the viewing platform, Childe watched his own warrior, Jeros, enter the arena with a satisfied smile, eagerly awaiting the match to begin.
"Heh, little guy, I'd suggest you surrender now. One swing of my hammer, and you might not survive," Jeros taunted, eyeing Luo Qing's slender frame.
"Jeros... have you ever truly laughed from your heart?"
Luo Qing casually walked over to the weapons rack by the arena's edge, selecting a standard-issue spear.
He took a quick look at the "Loud Laughter Item Card" in his system inventory and spoke to Jeros with a strange glint in his eye.
"Of course. And you're about to see it."
Jeros tightened his grip on his thunder hammer, ready to strike.
The referee, seeing both combatants prepared, shouted, "Let the selection begin!"
Jeros reacted instantly, lunging forward with his hammer as soon as the word "begin" left the referee's lips.
Meanwhile, Luo Qing remained perfectly still, his gaze calm as he watched Jeros charge. He mentally activated the "Loud Laughter Item Card."
[Loud Laughter Item Card: Forces the target into uncontrollable laughter for five minutes (Note: Effect varies based on the target's mental strength).]
Mid-run, Jeros suddenly felt an overpowering urge to laugh.
He wanted to howl with laughter.
And to the spectators' astonishment, he burst into uncontrollable laughter, charging at Luo Qing with his thunder hammer while laughing hysterically.
The audience erupted in confusion.
"Why is he laughing so hard when he hasn't even won yet?"
"Yeah, yeah, celebrating halfway through is bad luck. But Jeros shouldn't lose, right...?"
From the platform, Childe watched Jeros's behavior with a deep frown.
Laughing during a fight could disrupt one's flow of energy, severely weakening the impact of attacks. Why would Jeros make such a rookie mistake?
Just as Childe pondered this, Jeros, midway through his charge, stumbled. His grip on the hammer faltered, and he tripped.
He eventually tossed the hammer aside, collapsing onto the ground, rolling around while laughing uncontrollably.
The audience was left dumbfounded. The duel wasn't over, so what was so funny?
As the spectators struggled to comprehend Jeros's hysterical laughter, Luo Qing's voice suddenly boomed across the arena.
"Endless longing, endless loyalty! Unyielding love, beyond all bounds! First strike, Lovesickness!"
---
T/N: That's uhhh... a long attack name.