The next day, around three in the afternoon—
Click… click…
In Fiore's room, the young girl in the wheelchair sat before a computer, brows faintly furrowed as she operated the webpage. Her slender fingers tapped against the keyboard at a slow, steady rhythm, like the ticking of a clock's second hand. Her typing posture was hardly standard, using only her index and middle fingers to press the keys clumsily.
On the screen, words appeared in the input box one by one. Occasionally, typos and misspellings popped up, and each time she would hurriedly backspace to erase them.
Though Fiore's skills at using the machine were clearly unpracticed, it did nothing to lessen the Shogun's look of deep curiosity and astonishment as she stood beside her, eyes fixed on the strange device.
"What is this?"
Her tone carried urgency as she asked.
"Eh? Ah… this is a computer… Shogun, have you never seen one before?"
Fiore stopped her hands and looked softly at her Servant.
"Com…puter?"
The Shogun frowned, repeating the unfamiliar word.
"Mhm… it can connect to the internet to look up information, or be used for other things. But… I don't really know how to use it well either. Usually, Caules helps me with it."
Fiore gave a shy smile. Though her room had a computer, she hardly touched it, and in truth, she was not good at handling such things.
"'Internet'… what is that?"
Once again, the Shogun looked puzzled. These words were all foreign to her.
"Eh? The internet is… um… a 'bridge' that connects information across the whole world, I guess? I… I'm not really sure myself… but it's something like that."
Fiore's voice faltered awkwardly. This sort of knowledge was completely outside her depth.
The Shogun lowered her gaze, propping her chin lightly with the back of her hand, lost in thought. Though fragments of modern knowledge had entered her mind upon arriving in this world, seeing such strange contraptions firsthand never failed to astonish her.
"This thing… computer? Is it powered by Electro?"
She pointed at the machine before Fiore, asking again.
"Electro? You mean electricity? Pfft… well, yes. Without plugging it in, it won't start up."
Fiore chuckled at the Shogun's innocent question, answering her with indulgent warmth.
"So then… with Electro as its energy, this device can connect to the 'internet'? And from there, it can access information from other nations?"
"M-More or less…"
Fiore nodded quickly.
The Shogun's mind began turning…
Perhaps such a system could be established in Inazuma. If it was powered by Electro, then nothing could be more suitable.
"Then… could you demonstrate it for a while? Let me see its capabilities."
The Shogun pulled up a chair beside her Master, signaling toward the computer.
"Um… okay."
Fiore's cheeks flushed lightly as she felt the Shogun's warmth and faint fragrance so close, nodding softly.
A few minutes later…
"..."
Fiore's face was growing redder and redder. Aside from simple typing and searching, she knew nothing else. And with the Shogun sitting right at her side, staring intently at the screen, she felt so embarrassed she wanted to vanish into the floor.
"How is it?"
Noticing the girl's inactivity, the Shogun turned her gaze and asked softly.
"Um… I'm sorry… I-I don't really know how to use computers. These few things were just what Caules taught me. Beyond that, I can't do anything."
She lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, slender fingers fidgeting over her lap. Her usually delicate voice now carried a fragile, apologetic tone.
The Shogun stared blankly at the girl in the wheelchair for a moment, then let out a faint sigh with the hint of a smile.
"It's fine… I understand. In that case, there's no need to force yourself."
"Shogun…"
Fiore peeked up at her cautiously.
"Don't mind it… Everyone has things they're not good at. That's normal."
Just like someone I know who can't cook… The Shogun thought with a trace of mischief.
"Mm… hehe…"
Hearing this, Fiore let out a shy laugh. She knew the Shogun was comforting her, and her heart felt warm.
Step, step… Just then, footsteps approached.
"My sister is really terrible with computers… I had to teach her many times before she memorized just these few steps."
Fiore's younger brother—Caules—entered the room just then. Having overheard their conversation, he spoke up with a tone of exasperation.
"Caules?"
Fiore was clearly surprised… Why had he come?
"Sister… you're trying to look into Jack the Ripper's killings over the past few days, aren't you?"
It was as if Caules could see through her thoughts. After all, his sister was known for being thorough in her work.
"Mhm… Did you come to help me with the computer?"
"Yeah… I figured you wouldn't be able to find much. Just look at what you typed—it's all wrong."
Caules gave a wry smile, then turned and began typing rapidly across the keyboard with practiced ease. His typing speed was worlds apart from Fiore's earlier fumbling.
The Shogun watched his expert movements closely, unable to hide her astonishment. It was truly impressive.
Click-clack, click-clack…
On the screen, webpages switched back and forth at lightning speed. In no time, he had pulled up all the cases and reports.
[To set up something like this in Inazuma would be sheer fantasy… don't you think, Shogun?]
'Indeed.'
[Even setting aside the creation of such devices, the difficulty of operation alone would already overwhelm our people. And more importantly—]
'This machine seems to require more than just Electro. Inside, there appear to be all sorts of intricate mechanisms. Electro simply serves as a means to power them. In other words, Electro isn't the decisive factor here.'
In her mind, the "computer" resembled an electronic book, one born of Electro, carrying countless forms of knowledge.
[Exactly… and I doubt the internet is as simple as that girl described. It must rely on support from many nations and places, with… stations?… forming the information network.]
'Like the principle behind our Statues of The Seven. Except instead of elemental energy, this world uses…'
[True technology.]
During this time, she and Ei exchanged thoughts one after another, speculating on the principles and technology behind such a device. As gods of eternity who ruled over mortals, their intelligence was undeniable.
'Which means… bringing such technology to Teyvat may not be possible at all.'
[How fascinating… Since the fall of Khaenri'ah, I've scarcely seen anything related to technology. Today is truly an eye-opener.]
She could feel the faint excitement and delight in Ei's tone. There was a reason she had said scarcely. She hadn't spoken in absolutes, because the "Shogun" standing here was herself a pinnacle of technological craft on Teyvat. But as for computers… those she had never seen. Then again… did the Shogun herself count as a "computer"? AI, perhaps? The thought made her pause.
Meanwhile, Caules had finished his work, showing Fiore the neatly listed reports now arranged on the screen.
"As I thought… Assassin has killed many people already. We need to put a stop to this quickly."
Fiore frowned slightly as she whispered, her eyes lingering on the censored crime scene photos.
"Sister…"
Hearing Caules call, she looked up at him.
"Please let me go with you!"
Caules stepped forward, gaze resolute, earnestly pleading with her.
"..."
Fiore froze slightly at those words. She pressed her lips together as she gazed into her brother's eyes, the same color as her own.
"You can't. This mission is for Saber and me alone. Caules, you'll remain here at the castle."
Her delicate voice turned heavy as she averted her gaze.
"Sister!"
Caules protested, raising his voice.
"Caules… no means no."
Fiore's tone lifted as well, her reply firm. It was nothing like how she usually spoke to the Shogun. Now, she gave off an aura of calm authority that brooked no refusal.
"…I want to be there to support you, Sister! I can't relax otherwise!"
Caules still refused to yield. He had his reasons.
"I have Saber by my side. You don't need to worry about me… And besides, this is Uncle's order, isn't it?"
Fiore's lips trembled as if she wanted to say more, but she swallowed it back and gave another cold response to the boy before her.
"Si—"
"Caules!"
"!"
Her sharp call, laced with a trace of anger, finally silenced him.
"…"
Fiore's blue eyes trembled, her lips pressed tight as though enduring something.
"…I understand."
Caules clenched his fists, lowered his voice, and turned to leave the room.
"Haa…"
The moment he left, Fiore exhaled heavily, her emotions tangled. Her small fist, once clenched tight, slowly loosened. She turned toward the Shogun, who had been silently observing the entire exchange.
"Um… I'm sorry you had to see such family matters, Shogun… Caules, he… haa…"
Fiore let out another deep sigh, still hesitating.
"If it troubles you, there's no need to say it. Some things can only be resolved by oneself."
The Shogun rose from her chair and walked to the window, gazing at the blue sky outside. Her calm voice reached Fiore's ears.
"Only by oneself…"
Fiore fell into thought at those words. In truth, the only reason she had refused her brother was fear. She was afraid he might be in danger. She was afraid of losing him.
"Let's go. It's time."
The Shogun turned back and reminded her softly.
"Mhm… Let's go."
Fiore shook her head slightly, casting aside her worries. Determination filled her once more. This was to be her first mission alone with the Shogun—she could not afford any mistakes.