Did they really think he wasn't the petty type?
How naive.
Bai Luo, who's sitting in Igor's seat and browsing through the affairs he had handled while enjoying the cool breeze from the window, is completely at ease.
What constitutes as a good plan?
A good plan isn't just doing bad things and making your enemies grit their teeth in hatred—that's just being reckless.
Nor is it doing good deeds while ruining your superior's plan in the process—that's just being an idiot.
Back in Mondstadt, even though he sabotaged the Doctor's plan, he had the Tsaritsa's support. In a way, he was merely assisting her with a few tests.
A true villain is someone who does evil while gracefully making the victim grateful—like a decorative fish trapped in a tank.
Not only does the fish not hate him, but it even appreciates the space he gave it to live in and the tasty feed he provides.
Unaware that the person who took it from the sea and confined it was actually the same "savior" who put it in the tank.
That kind of cruel irony—it's downright thrilling.
Shifting his attention back to the documents in hand, a playful smirk tugged at Bai Luo's lips.
No wonder Sangonomiya Kokomi was reluctant to get rid of Igor.
Perhaps trying to gain her trust, Igor had managed everything meticulously—his workload far exceeding that of others.
It's no surprise he felt like he controlled all of Watatsumi Island. After all, Kokomi entrusted him with affairs tied to the island's very lifeblood.
To win more trust, he used his position within the Fatui to preemptively resolve problems that might have arisen. He even went as far as gathering intelligence from Inazuma City to help Watatsumi Island through countless crises.
He was even willing to betray the Fatui—just to accelerate his "control" over the island.
But in his mind, that wasn't betrayal. He believed any losses were merely stepping stones toward success.
And to encourage him to work even harder, Kokomi turned a blind eye to his secret placement of informants in "key" areas.
As for whom those spies work for, that was another story.
After all, Igor's most trusted aid—Rikou—was a double agent for both Snezhnaya and Watatsumi Island.
While Igor smugly thought he held the reins, he never realized he'd been working for Kokomi for free all these years.
What a pitiful fool.
It's no wonder she earned the title of Divine Priestess at such a young age and was even praised as a Pearl of Wisdom. It wasn't just thanks to her genius strategist Gorou—she had real skills of her own.
If Bai Luo didn't have so many advantages and insider information, taking down Kokomi might not have even been possible.
But the world isn't built on "what ifs," and the day of eating the fish delicacy was getting closer and closer.
. . . . . . .
The Otogi Tree was a tree species native to Inazuma, and on Watatsumi Island, it was quite common.
Its purplish leaves blended in well with the island's environment, making it seem less unique.
Most of Watatsumi Island's vegetation was purple or blue, with a smaller portion in green. Ironically, green plants were so rare here, they stood out instead.
At that moment, Mirai was still by that small bridge, crouched next to a waterfall. She was using the falling water to rinse a handful of sea ganoderma.
This species, which resembles a type of fungus, is actually formed from the secretions of certain soft-bodied organisms.
In the folktales told in a certain land, these mouthless, noseless creatures are the transformed souls of children who died young. As a form of punishment, they must spend endless years absorbing the elements within the sand and sea using their fragile bodies, piling them up and forming "Sea Ganoderma."
In truth, this rare substance fetches a high price in the outside world.
Whenever Mirai has free time, she gathers Sea Ganoderma and sells it to Miss Kiyoko in the village, earning a little money for her daily needs.
Afterward, she always returns to wait at the village entrance for her brother.
But just like every other day, her brother still didn't return.
Even though he had only recently left, as a little sister, she still hoped to see him every single day.
. . . . . .
Through the mist kicked up by the waterfall, a figure gradually approached, becoming clearer as it drew near.
That silhouette…. it looked a bit like her brother.
"Big Brother!"
Mirai didn't even bother with the Sea Ganoderma she had placed nearby. She jumped up with excitement and ran forward.
But, to her disappointment, it wasn't her brother at all—but a wandering samurai, dressed in luxuriously ornate clothing.
Mirai had seen many ronin pass through, driven from their homes by the Vision Hunt Decree to settle in Bourou Village.
But aside from that Mr. Himura and Mr. Kaedehara, most of them looked travel-worn and weary, their clothes tattered—at most, only their swords still looked new.
But this man…
From his robes to the trinkets on his body, everything screamed elegance and refinement.
His delicate, flawless features gave the illusion of a lifelike doll.
And yet, there was no weapon on him.
She couldn't fathom how he'd managed to pass through the battlefields of both the Shogunate and the Resistance to arrive here on Watatsumi Island.
Rather than a Ronin, he was more like some young noble out experiencing life.
"Big Brother? You've got the wrong guy, kid."
Perhaps it was because she'd called him "Big Brother" that the man didn't get upset. Instead, he seemed mildly amused.
"S-Sorry!"
Mirai bowed deeply, knowing that regardless of who he was, he was not someone she could afford to offend.
Perhaps sensing that her apology wasn't enough, she took out a Sunsettia she had received from Miss Kiyoko, and nervously held it out to him.
"Would this work as an apology? I was going to give it to my brother…"
She was just a country girl—what did she know about status or etiquette?
All she knew was that whenever she was upset, her brother would use sweet Sunsettias to cheer her up.
To her, this small fruit meant everything.
The ronin had intended to leave, but when he saw the fruit in her hand, he paused.
"I'll accept your kindness. If you ever need help with something… ah, never mind. You probably won't be able to find me when the time comes anyway."
He lowered his hat slightly as he took the fruit, his words vague and enigmatic.
Still, Mirai understood the gist: he wasn't angry.
Tossing the fruit lightly in his hand, the ronin ignored Mirai's curious gaze and continued walking toward the nearby Bourou Village.
Mirai didn't think this man would cause any harm. After all, every entrance to Watatsumi Island was tightly guarded by the Resistance.
Anyone trying to enter would be thoroughly questioned.
Not just the gates, even Bourou Village itself was under watch.
As the Resistance's logistical hub, the village had many soldiers stationed throughout.
Just near the rope bridge not far from the stone bridge, a few guards from the Watatsumi army stood watch.
From where she was, Mirai could see their upright, motionless silhouettes.
Strangely, they, who usually like to walk around, actually stood straighter than they ever were.
. . . . .
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/174425?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/128924511?collection=174425
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