Lumine and Paimon were met with rejection at the guard station.
"What do we do now, Lumine?"
As she walked, Lumine pondered, "Since the Yashiro Commission has investigated us, perhaps the Kanjou Commission has done the same."
"You mean… we should go meet the Kanjou Commissioner himself?"
Lumine nodded.
Paimon didn't have any better ideas.
"…Even though we have issues with his subordinates, it seems we can only try this."
"What if he's a huge fan of ours? Hehe."
It wasn't yet time for evening rest, so Lumine figured they could still catch the Kanjou Commissioner at his residence.
With that in mind, she took Paimon to the Kanjou Commission headquarters—the Hiiragi Estate.
However, they were stopped the moment they arrived at the entrance.
"Halt! This is the Kanjou Commission headquarters. Outsiders are not permitted!"
[Instant karma.]
["What if he's a huge fan of ours?"]
Paimon felt a little awkward—the rebuke had come far too quickly.
"We're here to see… uh… the Kanjou Commissioner!"
The guard's expression darkened further.
"The Kanjou Commissioner does not receive foreigners under normal circumstances. Leave now! Or else we'll—"
Just then, an elderly man with graying hair happened to pass by in the courtyard and noticed the commotion.
He hurried over. "Ah, wait, hold on…"
The guard immediately changed his tone. "Ah, Commissioner!"
So this was the Kanjou Commissioner.
He scolded his subordinate, "These two are esteemed guests who have come from afar. Drop the old formalities."
Then, he turned to Lumine with a welcoming smile.
"Please, come in. If you have business, let's discuss it inside."
Paimon couldn't resist taunting the guard. "Hmph, hear that?!"
"M-my apologies…"
The two followed the Kanjou Commissioner into the courtyard.
As they walked, he introduced himself.
"I am Hiiragi Shinsuke, head of the Hiiragi Clan and Kanjou Commissioner. It's an honor to meet you both."
Lumine found him rather amiable—seemingly different from his subordinates.
"Hello."
"Hehe, nice to meet you too!" Paimon grinned. "We came to see you because we wanted to…"
Hiiragi Shinsuke gestured for Paimon to hold on.
"Now that we've finally met the renowned travelers, why rush into business?"
"Hehe, so we really are famous, huh?"
This was exactly the kind of talk Paimon loved to hear—even though her main role was just cheering Lumine on.
Hiiragi Shinsuke's face showed genuine admiration.
"Of course! How many mortals in this world can defeat Stormterror and suppress the Vortex God?"
Paimon was practically preening.
"That's right! Absolutely, mhm!"
Hiiragi Shinsuke continued eagerly.
"And… foiling the Fatui's schemes in Liyue Harbor, defeating one of their Harbingers in a duel…"
Paimon gasped. "Wow, you even know about that?! It's all true, of course!"
Unlike Paimon's simple-minded excitement, Lumine sensed something off.
How did he know about her fight with Childe in the Golden House?
The incidents with Stormterror and Osial were massive—front-page news material.
But her battle with Childe? Aside from 'players' like Zhongli and Ningguang, almost no one should have known.
Was the Kanjou Commissioner's reach really that far?
Just as Lumine began to wonder if she was overthinking it, Hiiragi Shinsuke absentmindedly stroked his beard.
"Mmm… as expected…"
[Wait, this old man doesn't seem like a good guy.]
[Look at those scummy Kanjou Commission guards—you think their boss is any better?]
[No way, is someone actually getting swayed by flattery like Paimon?]
[Oh no, I'm at the same table as Paimon now.]
Lumine frowned—there was definitely something fishy going on.
"Is something wrong?"
Hiiragi Shinsuke waved his hand. "Ah, no, no. This old man simply admires you both deeply."
"Having you grace Ritou with your presence is an honor for our island."
Seeing the hesitation on his face, Lumine urged him to speak freely.
Hearing this, Hiiragi Shinsuke seemed relieved.
"I've long heard of your kindness. Might I trouble you to assist the Kanjou Commission with a small matter?"
Already floating on cloud nine from the flattery, Paimon immediately agreed.
Lumine, however, wanted to see what game this old man was playing and asked for details.
Hiiragi Shinsuke's request was for three hundred freshly picked Qingxin flowers—plucked just moments ago.
Even Paimon could tell something was off.
Qingxin was a specialty of Liyue, typically growing on mountaintops.
To gather them, they'd have to return to Liyue.
And three hundred, freshly picked?
Lumine narrowed her eyes. "By the time we finish picking three hundred, the first ones won't be fresh anymore."
"Are you sure about the number?"
Hiiragi Shinsuke feigned surprise. "Ah? Is it too troublesome… Hmm, I see."
After a moment's thought, he offered an alternative.
"Then, perhaps you could help deliver some letters on the island?"
Paimon crossed her arms. "That's more like it."
"There are seven hundred and nine in total."
Another tedious and troublesome task.
Now even Paimon was suspicious.
"Hey! What's going on here?! And is this really something you need us for?"
"Ah, my apologies. We're a bit short-handed this morning…"
"That excuse is so cliché!"
Just then, Lumine noticed someone hiding behind a pillar near Hiiragi Shinsuke—a woman in traditional Inazuman attire.
The woman nodded firmly, as if urging Lumine to agree.
Figuring the old man was just trying to stall them, Lumine decided to hear what this woman had to say.
So, she accepted Hiiragi Shinsuke's request.
After leaving the Kanjou Commission headquarters, they indeed received a letter—inviting them to a secret meeting late at night.
Of course, Hiiragi Shinsuke knew nothing about this.
Satisfied, he headed to his meeting room, having completed the task assigned to him by "The Fair Lady."
This had been far too easy.
Who knew the Traveler would be so gullible—even agreeing to such an absurd request?
Eager to report the news to The Fair Lady, he pulled open the door—only to find that, aside from her, there was also a man in red inside.
The red-clad man lounged arrogantly in his chair, his face mostly obscured by a peculiar mask resembling strings of ancient coins.
Hiiragi Shinsuke met his gaze and felt as though he wasn't looking at a "person," but something far more eerie—unnerving him to the core.
Still, the old man was somewhat used to it.
The Fatui weren't exactly known for being normal.
He turned to The Fair Lady. "My lady, who is this?"
The Fair Lady frowned. "Isn't this your subordinate?"
"I… I've never seen him before?"
Hiiragi Shinsuke was baffled—he had assumed the man was brought by The Fair Lady.
She scoffed.
"Hmph. Even a rat can sneak into your secret meeting place. It seems I overestimated the Shogunate's forces."
With that, a whip of flames lashed out at lightning speed toward the man's coin-covered mask…