Grand robes were decorated with blood-like gems, though the gems represented the will of the biting winter.
Was it blood? Or was it snow?
It no longer mattered. Perhaps only by being stained with fresh blood could that pure innocence of the snow be preserved. To be honest, this extravagant regalia was not suited for any place outside Snezhnaya—not because it would tarnish its nobility, but simply because...
It was way too damn hot.
"Three sets of top-tier lacquerware from Yayoi Lacquerware, premium Liyue fabrics selected by Ogura Textiles, a weapon hand-forged by Master Amenoma Tougo himself..."
Bai Luo sat in his chair, looking at the robe hanging on the wall while listening to his subordinate's report. Judging by the gifts they had procured, they were indeed extremely valuable.
For instance, Master Amenoma had long since retired behind the scenes; weapons personally forged by him were a rare sight on the market today.
However...
As expected, A-Qi and the others are still the ones who work most in sync with me.
These people simply didn't understand what he meant by a "heavy gift."
"Forget it. Prepare a formal visiting card and send it over. Tell them I will pay a visit in three days," Bai Luo said, shaking his head slowly.
The Fatui member responsible for procuring the gifts let out a sigh of relief. Bai Luo's reputation in Snezhnaya wasn't exactly stellar; compared to other Harbingers, he was more often associated with death.
But for the Fatui subordinates, if they had to choose which Harbinger they'd rather follow... the Instructor would definitely rank near the top.
The seemingly unreliable Instructor often had an uncanny way of resolving all matters perfectly and unexpectedly. Sometimes, while his subordinates were still nursing headaches over his disappearance, he would quietly reappear on the streets of Inazuma, casually bringing news that hit like an explosion.
Like this time.
The internal ranks of the Fatui knew that after leaving Liyue, the Instructor had returned to Inazuma through some unknown means. But none of them knew how he had returned. It wasn't until news related to the Instructor came from Watatsumi Island that they got a clue.
Just as they were trying to contact him to have him return and take over his duties from Lord Scaramouche, the man had quietly "taken" Watatsumi Island for himself.
Even some of the Fatui members who had been undercover on Watatsumi were left dazed.
What? Watatsumi was conquered? When?!
In summary, he was a Harbinger who caused a lot of worry, yet also one who required the least management. If one had the chance to make a name for themselves under him, the rewards were immense.
A-Qi of the Debt Collectors, Tatyana the Mirror Maiden, Ksenia the Cicin Mage... even that unnamed Fatui subordinate who used to look after Bai Luo's daily life in Inazuma—they all enjoyed excellent treatment within the organization.
Thus, after receiving this heavy responsibility, Georgiy, a Thunderhammer Vanguard, took it with extreme seriousness.
"Georgiy" meant "farmer." Like his name, he was a simple and honest peasant-turned-soldier. For someone like him with no status or power, the only shortcut to rising through the ranks was a path of no return: the Vanguard units.
Becoming a member of the Vanguard meant he would receive generous resources. Whether it was pay or weaponry, it was several—even dozens of—times that of an ordinary Fatui member. But at the same time, it meant being far from home and family, entrusting his life and his back to comrades he might have never even met.
Normally, as a soldier, his weapon would never leave his side. But since he was here to deliver a visiting card, carrying a weapon would be somewhat impolite. Thus, under the Instructor's suggestion, he had laid down the massive hammer that had accompanied him for years.
However, after putting it down, he realized one thing: some things are not so easily let go once you've held them for a long time.
***
Hirotatsu had been guarding the "two Xiaos high" boulder by the entrance for several days, following Kamisato Ayato's orders. Sensing the gravity in the Commissioner's tone, he had taken the task to heart.
Though he didn't know what was strange about this rock, he had stayed at his post even while eating and sleeping, not daring to relax for a second.
To others, this might have seemed stubborn. To him, it was the obsession of a warrior.
"Hmm?"
While he was staring intently at the rock, a flash of purple caught the corner of his eye. It was a man with a resolute face whose appearance didn't look Inazuman.
He wore thick clothing, and though parts of his heavy armor had been removed, the military feel of his outfit was unmistakable.
"Halt! This is the Kamisato Estate. State your purpose!"
His hand was already on his hilt as Hirotatsu issued a sharp, wary warning. If the man had been heading for Mount Yougou, Hirotatsu wouldn't have stopped him. But the man was heading straight for the estate. In that case... Hirotatsu could not pretend he hadn't seen him.
Georgiy didn't provoke a conflict. He knew he was only here to deliver a card, which was exactly why his superior hadn't let him bring his weapon.
"You're someone who can speak for the house, I assume?" Georgiy asked, looking Hirotatsu up and down.
Compared to ordinary soldiers, Hirotatsu was not only more robust, but his weapon wasn't a standard pike—it was a rare Tachi. Georgiy, who had spent years dealing with Shogunate soldiers, judged Hirotatsu's status instantly.
"Fatui?"
Hirotatsu also judged the man's identity based on the emblems on Georgiy's person.
"Yes. This is my Lord Harbinger's formal visiting card. My superior ordered that it must be delivered personally into the hands of your Lord Commissioner," Georgiy said, producing the card.
In those words, Hirotatsu keenly caught the title "Harbinger." This title had been appearing frequently from the Commissioner's mouth lately. According to his understanding, this was a very troublesome character.
"Please hand the card to me. I will personally deliver it to the Commissioner," Hirotatsu said, lowering his combat stance and stepping forward to receive the card. However, his right hand never left his hilt; he understood better than anyone how terrifying the Fatui could be.
"My superior said I must deliver it personally to your master's hand!"
Hirotatsu thought he understood the Fatui reasonably well from his dealings alongside the Yashiro Commission. But he didn't understand that the Fatui were far more rigid about superior orders than even his "warrior's obsession." If his superior's command was to hand it over personally to the head of the Kamisato clan, then he had to go inside personally.
"Apologies. I cannot allow you to approach the Lord Commissioner."
As an acting official of the Yashiro Commission, how could Hirotatsu allow such a dangerous individual to get close to Ayato? On the surface, Kamisato Ayato presented himself as an ordinary man who knew a bit of swordplay. Letting a massive brute from the Fatui near him was far too risky.
Battle was on the verge of breaking out.
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