[Genshin Impact] A world where only travelers are alone.

Chapter 40 The Bet

After a brief self-introduction, the large delegation from Melushin headed towards Petersburg in a grand procession.

The starting point was Fontaine. On the way to Irie Island, Melousin, who was visiting for the first time, asked curiously about the inside of the Mello Petersburg.

As the main person in charge of this event, Ventara did her best to introduce it to them.

Leosley had been worried that she wouldn't adapt to the job, so he came with her. After all, judging from her daily life, Ventara wasn't a talkative person, and could even be described as having low emotional intelligence, saying things that were never pleasing. But now it seems that he had been making a stereotype.

Ventara was surprisingly well-suited for this kind of work.

Her voice wasn't high-pitched like other women her age; instead, it was rather low, making it perfect for introducing things to others. She was also very patient with the chattering questions from the girls, answering each one politely and appropriately, a stark contrast to when she argued with him.

Leosley couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

So, was that low emotional intelligence behavior simply because he was too lazy to deal with him?

But he soon came to terms with it. Wasn't it love if Ventara was only willing to be perfunctory with him?

The Duke stated that he would not accept any other answers.

Ventara sneezed and inexplicably felt a chill down her spine.

She rubbed the goosebumps that had risen on her arms, feeling as if someone was talking about her behind her back.

Leosley, the culprit, was completely oblivious to the fact that the wind on the patrol boat was too strong, so he took off his coat and draped it over her.

The wind was indeed strong on the patrol boat. Today, she was still wearing the clothes that Leosley had prepared for her in advance at the manor: a red and black dress that just reached her knees.

For work convenience, Wintara usually wears only the simplest tops and pants. It's been a long time since she's worn a skirt like this, and the coolness underneath makes her feel a little uncomfortable. But this jacket is just right for her.

Thinking this through, she didn't refuse and whispered a thank you.

Seulgi took in the whole scene, and as if she had thought of something, her eyes lit up.

The rest of the journey was quiet. We arrived at Mélo Petersburg smoothly via the elevator behind the Opikley Opera House, where the head nurse, Siegwen, was already waiting.

"Duke, Ventara, and everyone, good morning!" Siegwen looked very happy to see her fellow tribesmen, and even her greeting was full of energy.

The naturally enthusiastic Melusens responded cheerfully and quickly formed a circle around.

After delivering the person, Leosley and Ventara's mission was complete. The head nurse would then explain to them what to pay attention to next.

Feeling that everything was alright, Ventara was about to leave with Leosley when she was suddenly called back.

"Ventara," Siegfried said, ending her whispered conversation with Serge, "could you come here for a second? I have something to tell you."

Ventara glanced at Siegwen's expectant face, then at Leosley's knowing expression, as if he knew something, and walked over, completely bewildered.

As soon as she walked up to Siegwen, she was surrounded by the Melusens.

Seulgi, in the middle, coughed lightly, feigning seriousness. She seemed a little embarrassed about what she was about to say and hesitated for a moment before awkwardly standing still.

But at that very moment, the opportunity to speak was snatched away by the impatient Siegwen.

The head nurse grasped Ventara's hand, her eyes pleading, "Ventara, can you do us a favor?"

"Um?"

Ventara was bewildered.

Higewen eagerly pulled a sticker from her pocket and handed it to her. The design on it was simple, probably homemade, and was a simple sketch of herself.

"Hehe, it's kind of a little game between us Melusin," Siegwen said, scratching her head sheepishly. "We made a bet to see who could secretly stick more stickers on the Duke."

"Does the Duke know about this?" Ventara subconsciously looked in Leosley's direction, only to find that the man had left sometime earlier. He must have already anticipated that Siegwen and the others were going to talk about this, and thus refrained from disturbing them.

Sure enough, Seulgi gave her a positive answer.

"The Duke knows everything! And he even promised to grant the winner one wish, but—" Sergei's tone shifted, becoming quite resentful, "It's like he has eyes in the back of his head. Every time we sneak up, he spots us immediately, giving us no chance to put stickers on us!"

Although, in order not to spoil their fun, Leosley would randomly pick one lucky person each time and turn a blind eye to letting her stick one on her coat.

The Merus are a kind and simple race, and their wishes are often very simple. He doesn't mind fulfilling their wishes.

Oh, except for the head nurse.

Higgin always made him try all sorts of nutritious milkshakes, which made him completely afraid to let her win.

"This is so boring," Seulgi complained.

As the sole victim, Siegfried nodded in agreement: "So this time we want to have a serious showdown! I'm going to make sure the Duke gets to drink my latest flavor of milkshake!"

Several weeks have passed since the Duke last agreed to drink it, and her milkshakes have gone through several iterations, each requiring the Duke to provide valuable tasting experience!

The head nurse's strategy was to use Ventara, who was closer to Leosley, to secretly stick the sticker representing herself on when he wasn't looking.

Seulgi initially wanted to say the same thing, but she was too late and could only watch helplessly as she clutched her sticker.

The same applies to other Meluxin products.

Having taken the lead, Siegwen was confident of victory and began to think about how to make her wish so that she could trick the Duke into drinking all the milkshakes.

However, her wish was shattered the next second.

"I'm sorry, Siegwen, I can't help you." Ventara ruffled the head nurse's hair. "If you want to have a serious competition, you can't call in outside help."

The other Melos nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, Senior Siegwen can't go back on her word!"

"Well……"

Higewen lowered her head in disappointment and had no choice but to give up. But the next second, she heard Ventara say in a serious tone, "Besides, I would also like to join your game."

"Huh?" Everyone was shocked.

Ventara calmly asked them for the tools to make stickers: "This game is quite interesting, isn't it?"

Siegwen was exasperated. Your expressionless face doesn't look like someone who finds this game interesting at all...

But despite her thoughts, she still gave her the tools.

Ventara casually sketched the shape of a puppy on a piece of paper, and the onlookers, including Melusin, immediately recognized it as the Duke, somewhat incredulously: "Is this the Duke? The ears are exactly the same! But why make so many stickers? One would have been enough."

According to convention, only one sticker could possibly land on the Duke with his cooperation.

"No," Ventara said, biting her pen, her eyes full of confidence, "they will all fall where they belong."

*

Nearly an hour had passed by the time Ventara returned to the Duke's office, and even the black tea that Leosley had prepared for her had gone cold.

He casually poured himself another glass: "Why are you back so late?"

"Hmm... I've discovered something interesting," Ventara replied vaguely.

Leosley already guessed what she was talking about and remarked, "Ha, they really have a lot of fun sticking those little things all over me."

"You don't like it?" Ventara thought he actually enjoyed teasing Melusin.

"I don't hate them, and I've never found them bothersome," Leosley chuckled. "The Melosens are all adorable, and the way they secretly compete for the outcome of this bet is even more adorable."

Ventara knew he was simply indulging in a wicked sense of humor, and of course, she was too.

She touched the sticker in her coat pocket, eagerly anticipating Leosley's expression when he discovered he was also involved in the game.

Leosley noticed her subtle movements and teased, "You really like my coat? Didn't you say our relationship was a secret? Aren't you afraid people will gossip about you walking around outside like this?"

"They wouldn't dare." Ventara glanced at him, as if asking him how he could think that after such a show of force, anyone would still dare to gossip about her.

Speaking of which, I think I saw Duer when I came back.

She had already spoken to Elward, the owner of the shabby bone shop, and was willing to pay double the price for anything Duer wanted to buy, which meant that the guy still hadn't been able to buy a single denture and could only wander around with an empty mouth.

She's a living, breathing signboard, a blatant threat; I bet no one in all of Mero Petersburg dares to mess with her now.

However, she remembered what Leosley had told her: bad things shouldn't be talked about, so she didn't elaborate and instead answered another question: "Your coat is very comfortable; I really like it."

Leosley was surprised by her words, so he simply pulled her into his arms and sat her down: "Trust me, my embrace will definitely be more comfortable than this thin coat."

Words are a means to an end, and Ventara knew this well.

"Then I'll trouble the Duke to lend me his embrace." She didn't refuse; instead, she softened her voice and agreed.

A docile tongue can lower the guard of the "enemy," and if this is combined with docile actions—

Ventara quietly took the stickers out of her pocket, hid them in her sleeve, and then unbuttoned her coat and draped it over Leosley.

Due to the limitations of her current posture, the movement was somewhat difficult. She had to wrap her arm around Leosley's waist to drape the heavy coat, which was covered with many ornaments, over him, but that was exactly what Ventara wanted.

She placed a sticker representing herself on the back of the man's waist.

Everything was accomplished silently, without Leosley noticing at all.

He simply adjusted the position of the coat so that the decorations wouldn't poke the person in his arms.

Ventara liked his thoughtfulness, so she rewarded him with a kiss.

Of course, she also took this opportunity to put a sticker in another hidden place.

Well, the honey trap has always been a tried-and-true tactic—

(End of this chapter)

The author says: Ventara, a wicked beauty—