This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [8]

A full rendition of "Let's Learn to Meow" takes three minutes and twenty-nine seconds. Excluding the eighteen seconds for the intro and outro, there are three minutes and twenty-one seconds of actual singing.

Luo Qing's item card effect lasted for five minutes. If the target's mental resilience was weaker than his own, they'd end up singing the song twice.

But Yelan, known for being an elusive presence within the Ministry of Civil Affairs, possessed an extraordinary willpower. Luo Qing's item card only affected her for two minutes.

Yet those two minutes were more than enough for Luo Qing to do plenty~

In the upper floor of the Northland Bank's pavilion, at a square tea table made of refined sandwood, Luo Qing and Yelan sat facing each other.

As a newly captured Liyue "prisoner of war," Luo Qing was quite satisfied with his prize. He was ready to interrogate her, to forcefully extract the reason she was spying on him!

On the opposite side of the table, Yelan knelt with her hands and toes bound by thumb cuffs, her gaze locked onto Luo Qing with a mix of rage and frustration.

Never in her life did she expect to be captured by Luo Qing in such a humiliating manner, let alone be forced to punch the air with cat paws while singing such an embarrassing song...

Those two minutes were the most agonizing moments of her life.

"Speak! Who are you, and why were you spying on me?!"

Of course, Luo Qing knew exactly who she was, but he had to play the fool to avoid revealing his own knowledge.

Yelan remained silent in the face of his question, her fingers straining subtly against the cuffs, attempting to break free.

Noticing her movement, Luo Qing chuckled coldly.

"I wouldn't bother. The more you struggle, the tighter those cuffs will get.

If you keep this up, your slender fingers will be ruined from lack of blood flow.

And don't even think about using elemental energy — these cuffs block elemental power. I'm sure you've noticed that already."

Luo Qing stood and circled around Yelan, putting on an air of authority.

"So, why not just tell me who you are and why you were watching me? Maybe I'll even let you go if you're honest."

Finally getting a chance to play the villain, Luo Qing was going to enjoy it to the fullest.

Seeing Yelan's steadfast expression, as if she were ready to sacrifice herself for her mission, made his heart race with excitement.

Is this the thrill of being a villain?

Ah, it felt fantastic.

"So, still not talking? Impressive. Don't blame me, then!"

He waited, but Yelan remained silent, refusing to say a word. Luo Qing nodded slightly, then called out towards the door.

"If you three keep eavesdropping, I'll make you regret it!"

Suddenly, there was a scurry of footsteps outside the door.

"Natalia, you stay. Come in," Luo Qing commanded.

One set of footsteps abruptly stopped.

After a moment, the door creaked open, and Natalia, with her blonde hair and blue eyes, entered. She was just as tall as Yelan, wearing an awkward smile.

"Master Luo Qing, you... you called for me?"

"Come in. I have a task for you."

"Uh..."

Natalia hesitated, glancing at Yelan who knelt at the tea table, her posture revealing every elegant curve.

Wow, this Liyue woman's figure is stunning...

"Master Luo Qing, you could handle this on your own... Do you really need me here?"

"Hmm?"

"Y-yes, sir."

Regretting her decision to join the two men in eavesdropping earlier, Natalia reluctantly stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her.

Yelan's gaze shifted from the two of them, her eyes filled with defiance.

"Master Luo Qing, what exactly do you want me to do...?"

Natalia's nervous glance fell once more upon Yelan.

Does Master Luo Qing enjoy... threesomes?

Hiss...

"Stand behind her," Luo Qing ordered.

"Understood."

Natalia obeyed, moving to stand behind Yelan. Due to the thumb cuffs on her toes, Yelan's shoes had been removed.

"Now, I'll ask you one last time. Why were you spying on me?"

Luo Qing's voice was cold, his eyes sharp as he issued what seemed like a final ultimatum.

Even Natalia felt a chill down her spine — she had never seen Luo Qing so serious before.

But Yelan merely sneered, remaining silent.

"Fine, impressive determination. Natalia!"

"Yes, Master Luo Qing!"

"Tickle her feet."

"Y-yes, s—what?!"

Natalia froze, thinking she must have misheard.

"Did I stutter?"

"N-no, you were clear."

"Then hurry up and do it."

"Yes, sir!"

Natalia had been bracing herself for something much darker, maybe even a life-or-death situation, but Luo Qing's command was... to tickle?

Even after arriving in Liyue, it seemed that Master Luo Qing was still as quirky as ever.

Following orders, Natalia's cold fingers slowly reached Yelan's bare soles.

Despite Yelan's frequent fieldwork, the Vision granted her a perfect physique. Her feet were immaculate, soft and smooth, without the calluses of a normal warrior.

Luo Qing had already noticed this when he bound her toes.

And why didn't he do the tickling himself?

He feared Yelan would kill him someday for it.

Meanwhile, Yelan couldn't help but scoff internally. She'd never heard of a torture method involving foot tickling.

She'd survived countless perilous missions — this was nothing to her.

But the moment Natalia's fingers brushed against her sensitive soles, a wave of unbearable ticklishness shot through her body.

Before long, Yelan's expression began to change, her eyes twitching, glaring daggers at Luo Qing.

Some people are naturally immune to tickling, but Yelan was clearly not among them.

[Frustration Value from Yelan +1+1+1+1...]

"Master Luo Qing, is this pressure good?" Natalia asked, fingers gently working Yelan's feet.

"Perfect, keep going. I'll be right back."

Seeing that Yelan's face was already contorting, Luo Qing nodded in satisfaction and walked over to his pile of luggage.

As he rummaged through it, he casually added,

"Oh, and Natalia, try tickling her armpits too."

"Yes, Master Luo Qing!"

After a few moments, Luo Qing returned, cradling a Kamera in his hands.

He placed it on the tea table, not saying a word, simply watching Yelan's growing discomfort.

Around thirty minutes passed.

By now, Yelan's face was a study in strained emotion.

Struggling against the relentless tickling had left her cheeks flushed, sweat dripping from her brow, staining her thighs. Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes as she gasped for breath, chest rising and falling with each ragged exhale.

She still glared defiantly at Luo Qing, though.

"Not bad at all. You managed to hold out until now."

Luo Qing admired her resolve, nodding approvingly.

Tickling might sound childish, but it was a legitimate interrogation method. Prolonged tickling could lead to incontinence or even death by laughter if taken far enough.

"Alright, that's enough, Natalia. You can stop."

"Yes, Master Luo Qing... huh?! What happened to her...?"

Natalia stepped away, staring at Yelan's flushed and humiliated expression with shock.

She had only tickled her, so why did Yelan look like she had endured some kind of terrible torment?

"Perfectly normal. Smile for the Kamera."

Luo Qing gestured with his hand, holding the Kamera in front of Yelan's face before pressing the capture button.

A few seconds later, the device clicked, and a white-bordered photograph popped out.

Luo Qing examined the photo.

Yelan, kneeling at the tea table, her expression a mix of shame and rage, her eyes glistening — it was a sight of breathtaking beauty.

Perfect. A true collector's item.

"Execution's over. Let's go, Natalia. It's time for dinner."

Luo Qing pocketed the photo, shot a final glance at Yelan, and walked out of the room with Natalia in tow.

Once they had left, Yelan glared in their direction before turning to the tea table.

Amidst the porcelain teaware lay a small, delicate key.

She knew all too well what it was: the key to her cuffs.

With Luo Qing's skill, there was no way he could have accidentally left it in plain sight.

He must have done it on purpose.

Is he trying to help me?

Her mind raced with possibilities, but first, she had to get out and report everything to Lady Ningguang.

Whatever the case, her mission came first.