Undercover in Snezhnaya, My Teyvat Spy Life [43]

Krupp set off, brimming with excitement, to prepare for the assassination of Crepus.

In his eyes, a Crepus without a [Delusion] was no better than a small fry.

After all, Krupp himself had received physical modifications from The Doctor. He wasn’t as powerful as a Fatui [Delusion] wielder, but taking down an ordinary man—especially one already weakened by [Delusion] backlash—was something Krupp felt supremely confident about. One versus two wouldn’t even be a problem.

As for whether he’d be exposed after killing Crepus—Krupp wasn’t worried in the slightest.

And if he was discovered? So what?

Some foreign merchant dares “offend” a Snezhnayan deputy envoy like myself? Kill him, and Mondstadt will probably beg me not to make an incident out of it.

The thought brought a crooked smile to Krupp’s lips.

That was Snezhnaya’s confidence. That was the backing his master, Dottore, gave him.

Watching Krupp’s retreating figure, Artem Vetrovski grinned as well.

In high spirits, he left the Goth Grand Hotel and made his way outside the city.

His destination: the Lawrence family estate.

Calling it an “estate” was generous—it was really just a sprawling, ancient castle.

From the finely crafted ornaments and the quality of the doors and windows, it was clear this place had once known real splendor.

But after a thousand years of wind and frost, no matter how magnificent the surface, everything inside had rotted away.

He barely stepped closer before the stench of decay hit his nose.

People actually live here?

Artem pinched his nose and continued forward, doubts swirling in his mind.

“Get out!”

“The Lawrence family does not welcome members of the Knights of Favonius!”

“Get off our land!”

He hadn’t even reached the door when a clamor burst out from inside.

Hearing “not welcome, Knights of Favonius,” Artem’s heart skipped a beat.

Don’t tell me that’s Eula in the middle of all this?
These old fossils—have they really lost it to this degree? They’d drive out even the most promising member of their own bloodline!?

With that thought, he hurried his pace.

Fortunately, the Knight at the center of the shouting wasn’t Eula, but a young man in a blue-and-white hooded coat with long, sandy blond hair.

“Albedo?”

What’s he doing here?

Artem blinked in surprise.

According to Fatui intel, Albedo had only recently shown up in Mondstadt—he’d been quickly appointed Chief Alchemist. The Fatui classified him as a “technical asset,” [Geo Vision] holder, no known combat record, actual power unknown. His importance rating: six stars—even higher than Varka.

That was all thanks to his unparalleled expertise in alchemy.

It wasn’t an exaggeration: Albedo had singlehandedly dragged Mondstadt’s backwater alchemy scene up to the pinnacle of Teyvat.

The reports said Albedo usually kept to himself. When he wasn’t holed up in his lab, he was with Alice and her family, or off conducting experiments on Dragonspine. He rarely mingled with the rest of the Knights—let alone with the Lawrence family, who had nothing at all to do with him.

So what was he doing here, getting yelled at by the Lawrences?

Despite their shouting, Albedo’s expression stayed completely neutral.

“I’m just looking for Eula Lawrence,” he replied calmly. “The scouts said she’d taken a long leave, so I came here to find her.”

Looking for Eula?

Artem’s unease grew.

What does Albedo want with her? He came all this way just for her?

As Artem’s mind raced, the Lawrences were already shooing Albedo out the door again. The people of Mondstadt might hate the Lawrence clan, but the Lawrences returned that same scorn to the Knights of Favonius. Every time they saw a Knight, they’d pick a fight if they had the guts for it.

Albedo, rebuffed, didn’t insist. With the Lawrence family refusing to say more, he simply turned and left.

He’d barely stepped outside when he ran into Artem.

“Fatui envoy?”

“Chief Alchemist of the Knights?”

They spoke in unison—
“What are you doing here?”

Artem gestured politely. “You first.”

Albedo raised an eyebrow, but didn’t waste words or seem put off by Artem’s Fatui status.

“There was a battle yesterday on Starsnatch Cliff. There were traces left by all seven elements.”

“What’s strange is, there was only a single set of footprints found at the scene.”

“That’s why I’m curious—what kind of person could wield so many elements alone?”

“The last person to do something like that was Eroch, after he turned traitor. I heard he used you Fatui people’s [Delusions].”

Before he could finish, Artem cut him off, tone impatient. “I asked why you are here, not for a lecture! Quit rambling.”

His words were blunt as ever, but inside, Artem felt a sudden jolt.

He’s here for me.

I slipped up! I thought clearing out three Abyss Mages by myself wasn’t a big deal—didn’t bother to hide my tracks. Now look: I left such an obvious hole.

Even after Artem’s outburst, Albedo didn’t seem fazed.

“I asked every member of the scout squad,” he continued, calm as ever. “They have no idea who could wield seven elements. The only one I haven’t asked is Eula Lawrence—she was the one away the longest, so I thought maybe she’d found some clue.”

Then Albedo’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Artem. “Since I’ve run into you instead, mind if I ask you a question?”

“Is it really possible for someone to use seven [Delusions] at once?”

Artem narrowed his eyes, staring back.

This guy’s got sharp instincts. Varka was convinced the assassin was Eroch, and yet Albedo’s still digging for the real culprit. What a pain.

No way I’m telling him the truth about this.

He smirked. “Of course there is. In the Fatui, there’s someone who can wield all seven [Delusions] at once.”

“But that person isn’t in Mondstadt. Sorry to disappoint.”

Albedo’s eyes lit up, and he pressed on, “Who is it?”

“Why should I tell you?” Artem shot back. “You’re Mondstadt’s Chief Alchemist, I’m Snezhnaya’s envoy. I have no reason or obligation to answer.”

Albedo paused, stumped by the logic.
He’s got a point. Still… if only I could just rough him up a little—he’d talk for sure.

“If that’s all, I’ll be on my way,” Artem said, taking advantage of his diplomatic immunity to swagger a bit in public.

He’d only gone a few steps when Albedo called him back.

“Wait. How about a trade?”

With that, Albedo pulled out a spherical object.

Artem’s eye twitched the moment he recognized it, and his half-healed wounds started to ache again.

Why does everyone have one of Alice’s bouncy bombs these days?

But after a moment’s thought, he agreed.
Bouncy bombs might be dangerous, but in the right moment, they could save his life.

Still, he had to keep up appearances.

“That’s some powerful Pyro energy,” he said coolly. “It’s good stuff. But you want to trade all that information for just one? Not quite enough.”

Without a word, Albedo fished out two more.
“How about now?”

“Still not enough.”

Albedo nodded, took out two more. “Now?”

“Not enough.”

This time, Albedo produced five at once, frowning. “That’s all I have.”

“Hmph. Fine. Deal.”

Artem accepted the full haul of ten bouncy bombs without batting an eye, then said, “Listen carefully.”

“The one who can use all seven elements...”

“Is the Fatui’s Second Harbinger.”

“Dottore, The Doctor.”

Albedo mouthed the name to himself, then lowered his head in deep thought.

Seeing that, Artem brushed past and strode into the Lawrence estate, leaving Albedo lost in contemplation and forgetting entirely to ask what Artem himself was doing there.

Unlike the rough way he’d handled Albedo, when the Lawrence family heard Artem was a Snezhnayan envoy, they immediately rolled out the red carpet.

Of course, “highest honors” here meant little more than a bigger parlor and a slightly better pot of tea than usual.

Even the person greeting him was now the current head of the Lawrence family.

Artem looked around at the ornate furniture, then glanced up at the ceiling, where half the plaster had fallen away.

And in front of me—a bunch of so-called nobles who do nothing but drone on about etiquette.

If I ever had high hopes for the Lawrence family, it’s time to lower them even more.

Useless. Better off gone. The sooner the better.

I thought “doesn’t work, doesn’t produce, all talk” was already as bad as it could get. Turns out calling them society’s dead weight isn’t an exaggeration.

All these people—hundreds, a huge family—except for Eula, every last one of them sits in this decaying castle, perched on expensive chairs, spouting hot air.

Their minds are completely rotted. No wonder Varka’s generation gave up on the Lawrences entirely. There’s just no point. If not for Eula, they’d have all starved by now.

—Poor Eula.

Artem sighed inwardly, then got straight to the point.

“Mondstadt’s Lawrence family, are you willing to bask in the glory of the Tsaritsa?”

As expected, his words caught the family’s immediate, undivided attention.

A thousand years ago, when the old aristocracy ruled, it was Barbatos and the Lionfang Knight Vennessa, leading the people and the Gunnhildr Clan, who overthrew them.

Which meant the Lawrences, unlike the people of Mondstadt, had never worshipped the Anemo Archon. On the contrary, even after a millennium, their hatred for that meddling god still burned.

So with Snezhnaya’s Cryo Archon extending an olive branch, their excitement was palpable.

All thoughts of Artem’s lack of noble manners were forgotten.

Especially when Artem finished by promising to help the Lawrence family reclaim Mondstadt, to see their banner flying once again over the Knights’ headquarters.

The entire Lawrence clan broke into cheers.

They agreed on the spot, swearing by the Lawrence name that they’d help the Fatui overthrow the Knights with everything they had.

After a noisy discussion, Artem and the Lawrences struck a deal:

Schubert Lawrence, their best public face, would draw up the city’s defense plans. The Fatui would supply the force needed to breach the Knights’ defenses.

When the war was done and the Lawrences ruled Mondstadt again, they would swear allegiance to the Tsaritsa.

With this done, Mondstadt would become part of Snezhnaya’s domain.

After working out the details, Artem left the Lawrence estate—a pack of fools missing a few screws—waving goodbye to Schubert and the others, who watched him go with starry-eyed admiration.

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This is a fan translation of 提瓦特之我在至冬做臥底 by 曉風殘月聽荷 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!