Chapter 2: Baoyu

Today, Ye didn't plan to go to the Opera Epiclese to watch the trial. After what happened in his dream last night, even though it was just a dream, he still felt a bit awkward when he saw Furina. So, although he boarded the Navia Line aquabus, he headed to the Grand Cathedral behind the Opera Epiclese instead. The Grand Cathedral, like the Opera Epiclese, was built under Furina's orders. It was one of the few achievements from the period when Furina was still actively governing and hadn't completely delegated power to Ye and Neuvillette. The relocation of the opera house and the construction of the Grand Cathedral provided a large number of jobs for Fontaine at the time. The constant influx of building materials also brought lucrative contracts, allowing many workshop owners to live comfortably and invest their savings into other commercial ventures. The workers, in turn, received salaries that allowed their families to live without worry. Thus, Fontaine overcame its most difficult period, and the economy began to grow rapidly. As for the funds, they were raised by the nobles under Furina's firm orders. Since it was a contribution to the Hydro Archon, no one dared to refuse—Furina was truly wise and capable back then. Unlike now... "Didn't I already say it? Send these documents to Ye." "Didn't I already say it? Send these documents to Neuvillette." "Didn't I already say it? Send these documents to Ye." "Didn't I already say it? Send these documents to Neuvillette." "Didn't I already say it? Send these documents to Ye." "Didn't I already say it? Send these documents to Neuvillette." The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He really owed her. ...Come to think of it, when he first arrived in this world, he had accidentally fallen into Furina's bathtub. She had hidden him in her room and taken care of him for ten years until he woke up. Alright, he really did owe her. Putting those thoughts aside, Ye entered the Grand Cathedral. "Your Excellency, the Supreme Archbishop." "Your Excellency, the Supreme Archbishop." As Ye walked into the Grand Cathedral, the clergy members greeted him respectfully. The Grand Cathedral had been standing for over four hundred years, and Ye had worked here for just as long, establishing a certain level of authority. In present-day Fontaine, aside from the Hydro Archon Furina, who remained aloof and focused solely on performances while delegating all governance, the actual administration was handled by Ye, the Supreme Archbishop, and Neuvillette, the Chief Justice. Neuvillette usually worked in the Palais Mermonia, while Ye handled affairs in the Grand Cathedral. Their responsibilities were also divided. Neuvillette focused more on trials and national defense, directly managing various law enforcement departments and defense agencies. Ye, on the other hand, was more involved in finance and diplomacy. How to make Fontaine wealthier and how to establish foreign relations were largely his decisions. Of course, Furina hadn't strictly divided their duties. Ye could also command law enforcement and defense agencies, and Neuvillette could have a say in financial and diplomatic matters. For major decisions, although Furina didn't involve herself, the three of them would often hold meetings to discuss them. However, such major matters were rare, so today, Ye went about his usual duties in the Grand Cathedral. Of course, he didn't start working immediately. Instead, he sat in his office chair and finally called out to Baoyu, whom he had ignored last night. "You've finally remembered me, Master." The golden-haired loli appeared out of thin air, sitting cross-legged in the air and looking at Ye with a resentful expression. "Is 'lewdness' really more important than power? But I can provide that too, you know? Was it really necessary to forget about me because of her?" "It's not about lewdness; it's about stress relief." "Isn't playing games stress-relieving?" "All I remember is that playing games raises my blood pressure. Besides, aren't I the one being played now?" "A high-level hunter often appears as the prey. Let those players cheer for you, thinking they're playing you, when in reality, you're the one playing them—isn't that stress-relieving?" "...Fine, you make a good point. So, what version are we on now?" "The version that's about to launch. It's the perfect time for you to make your move, Master." "I can't leave Fontaine right now. I guess I'll have to wait a few years." "Why not use an alternate account? You'll get half the popularity from the alternate account, and the other half can only be used to strengthen it." "An alternate account? I've always only played female characters." Well, controlling a girl and peeking under her skirt is much more enjoyable. Who wants to control a guy? "I don't provide male characters either." Baoyu clapped her hands twice, and a white screen appeared before Ye. "This is the beginner's gift pack. You can give it a detailed setting, and it will automatically generate an alternate account template—it's a five-star character, though it's in the standard banner." "The standard banner is the most expensive, you know? Do you know how much I spent to get Keqing to C6?" Although she came to me out of love, time and time again, to reach C6. But if you calculate it, getting Keqing to C6 cost me tens of thousands! And that's with good luck. With bad luck, you could get everyone else to C6 before pulling a single Keqing. So, the standard banner is the most expensive! But as for the design... a C0 standard five-star, but with each constellation being a game-changing upgrade. That's how you create buzz, hype, and popularity, right? And let's also design a signature weapon. Ye tapped the armrest with his fingers. Anyway, let's give it a try. "For the appearance, let's go with white hair, red eyes, a loli, barefoot, with black ankle and wrist cuffs, and a red-black thigh ring on the left leg. The facial features should be delicate and fragile. As for the background... she's a candidate for the captain of the Hydro Archon's personal guard, appointed by the Supreme Archbishop of Fontaine. She's about to undergo her final trial, and once she completes it, she'll take over as captain and become the Hydro Archon's guardian knight. To prepare for this, she embarks on a journey across Teyvat." As Ye spoke, the white screen displayed the illustration of the white-haired, red-eyed loli he had imagined. Her outfit also matched Ye's vision. A thin, off-shoulder, backless dress with a diagonal white cape, and a Hydro symbol mark on her snow-white back. "How do I control this alternate account?" Baoyu smiled. "Master can control the alternate account as if it were your own body. Controlling your main body and the alternate account is like using your left and right hands—there's no sense of incongruity. The only slight issue is... just as it's difficult for someone to draw a circle with one hand and a square with the other at the same time, controlling both the main body and the alternate account to perform different actions and dialogues requires multitasking, which can be a bit challenging—but it shouldn't be a problem for you, Master, right? Of course, if you find it too troublesome, you can also set it to auto-mode." "Auto-mode?" "Think of the alternate account as the Raiden Shogun. As long as you give it a detailed personality setting, the alternate account will act according to that personality while in auto-mode." "If that's the case, then set the personality to be timid in normal situations, fearful of combat, and only mustering courage to fight in certain moments." It sounds simple, but setting all the details was quite time-consuming. By the time he finished, it was already lunchtime. "Let's stop here for now. As for the detailed settings for the character's talents, constellations, and signature weapon, we'll deal with those this afternoon."