In the past, desert people thought the Dendro God and the Akademiya shared the same attitude and ideas, but now they know that's not the case at all. Now desert people have begun leaning toward the Dendro God.
Of course, the current leaning is only in attitude, not in faith.
Back to the story: Cyno has obtained the intelligence he wanted. After threatening the two not to leak information, he doesn't make things difficult for them.
[Paimon pats her chest: "That scared me to death just now! Cyno is so terrifying..."]
Cyno has no reaction to Paimon's evaluation, just calmly nodding.
[Paimon continues: "He didn't refute at all, like he's used to it. Has he been told this by many people..."]
See, Paimon is quietly badmouthing again. Usually little Paimon loves using the "party mic" to gossip with the Traveler.
However, they seem to have forgotten that Cyno is now a teammate too—the "party mic" Cyno can hear as well. Now he reacts.
[Cyno: "I heard that."]
[Paimon immediately apologizes: "Sorry!"]
[Traveler follows: "Sorry."]
The reactions of the two little cuties make people want to laugh, but Cyno is stunned for a moment.
He even wonders if he's been too fierce—why are they panicking and apologizing like this?
Cyno didn't intend to scare them. Thinking about it, Cyno still explains:
["...The work and duties of a Matra are just like this."]
Yes, Cyno is only in this state as "General Mahamatra Cyno"—under other identities, he's not like this.
It's just that readers at this moment still don't know Cyno's usual appearance, truly thinking he's some cold male god.
Whether weapon, personality, or height, readers at this moment feel he has some similarities with Xiao.
When Cyno "reveals his true form" later, everyone won't have this feeling anymore—completely unimaginable Xiao telling cold jokes! Just thinking about it is already very cold!
Imagine if Xiao had Cyno's personality—on Sea Lantern Festival day, would he tell a cold joke to liven the atmosphere?
In Zhongli and Venti's eyes, wouldn't that be a fly gathering honey—pretending to be crazy (bee)?
The two selling foolishness, Xiao accompanying in pretending crazy—it's reasonable, but the awkwardness of the scene might transfer from Xiao to the readers.
Anyway, in the story, everyone has found some clues, but it's not enough. Cyno and the Traveler plan to check the mad scholars' homes again—this requires asking Isak.
Perhaps because he was just sharply rated "fierce" by Paimon, when asking Isak, Cyno's voice is especially gentle—one can tell he's really listening.
Isak knows the mad scholar's residence and immediately leads the way to the mad scholar's dwelling.
Here there are only a few tents—let alone sheltering from wind and rain, not being blown down by wind is already good.
Here the Traveler smells a familiar scent—the incense that knocked her out when she first came to Sumeru.
Absurdly, this incense scent—besides the Traveler—no one else smells it. It's practically a special attack on the Traveler.
[Paimon immediately concerned: "Are you okay?! Any dizziness, are you alright?"]
Paimon really cares about the Traveler, so the Traveler also pampers her, not allowing anyone else to bully her.
Not to mention Paimon—even Cyno, with quite sensitive smell, didn't detect this scent. One can only say the Traveler is really too sensitive.
But after the Traveler's reminder, Cyno starts focusing on smell and then detects the scent.
From this, one can see the Traveler's sensitivity level—just the type who can't handle a breath in the ear.
[Paimon explains to Cyno: "This guy was knocked out by this scent before, later saved and woken by Tighnari, and did related special training for a long time..."]
What Cyno hears: XXXXXXXX, Tighnari, XXXXX.
[Cyno: "You actually know Tighnari."]
Upon learning the Traveler knows Tighnari, Cyno's trust in the Traveler skyrockets.
Since it's someone Tighnari has already vetted, Cyno feels the Traveler is completely trustworthy—if not trusting the Traveler, trust Tighnari.
Now trust between both sides is rising, but now isn't the time to build bonds—the priority is still investigating nearby for clues.
Finding clues isn't the Traveler's strong suit, but Cyno is very skilled.
Even tiny traces covered by sand Cyno can discover—he soon finds footprints of an adult male leaving.
Only one person's footprints—meaning Isak's grandpa left on his own.
Just like luring Paimon with food, someone used incense to lure away Isak's grandpa.
Seeing this, Furina laughs—this little Paimon is just lame, actually getting kidnapped by food.
In the story, everyone has found clues—next is sharing intelligence with the group. Candace and Dehya are having girl talk, only Alhaitham is nowhere to be seen.
No need to mind Alhaitham—he's a top-tier free spirit. Others just share intelligence.
Just as everyone shares intelligence, in the distant grass, one person hides eavesdropping.
Dehya actually discovered this person's existence, but she doesn't expose it, continuing to chat.
After mentioning the tavern people talking about the Scarlet King's revival, Dehya says she knows those people too.
["Isn't it just 'Round-Eye Butcher' Ungur, 'Pockmarked Thief' Deliwati, and 'Bearded Scimitar' Jebrail? These few are famous."]
Readers furrow brows—three people? Could this be the three magi?
Jebrail furrows brows—me? I'm also a radical? Since when?
Jebrail's wife furrows brows—secretly joining radicals behind my back? We already don't make money—if you risk your life too, what then?!
And "Bearded Scimitar"! Where's the beard, where's the scimitar?! Tonight I'll pluck all your beard!
His wife is very angry, planning to properly teach her husband a lesson—we can be poor, but can't be reckless with life!
Jebrail is truly tearful—Dehya, you've ruined me!
Dehya doesn't know—Dehya continues:
["The common trait of these people is being short on money. The worse off they are, the more willing to believe in the Scarlet King. For them, the Scarlet King's revival is the only chance to overthrow the Akademiya."]
Jebrail's wife listens and feels more and more like it's true—the family is indeed short on money. No, must teach him a lesson!
After reading Dehya's sharp comment later, other readers' guesses about them being the three magi vanish completely—probably not this low.
Magi pilgrimaging because they're broke—this is too lame?
Dori has a different opinion on this idea—her "pilgrimage" reason really is for money. She's Sumeru's unique Geo Archon "believer."
For Mora, Dori don't say pilgrimage—even living in a villa she's willing.