Chapter 114. Lady La Signora's Conspiracy
With a harsh bang, the office door was flung open.
Lady La Signora strode in uninvited, the hem of her attire stirring with icy frost as two Electro Cicin Mages followed closely behind her. Crackling arcs of violet light danced faintly around them, casting cold shadows across the room.
Outside the doorway, several Knights of Favonius stood with tense expressions, hands clenched and eyes fixed on her back. Their hostility was unmistakable—this was no polite visit, but a forced intrusion.
Yet hostility alone was meaningless.
Before an existence like Lady La Signora, ordinary Knights could only grit their teeth and stand aside. No one dared step forward. No one could stop her.
The reason was simple: the other party had immediately identified herself as a Fatui Harbinger and claimed to have important matters to report to the Acting Grand Master.
Yet to everyone's surprise, she had not come to deliver intelligence—but to provoke trouble.
This alone was enough to ignite the fury of the Knights of Favonius.
"Acting Grand Master, you must take responsibility for your words."
The Harbinger fixed Jean with an arrogant gaze, her tone haughty and accusatory.
"We, the Fatui, have been nothing if not devoted to Mondstadt. Not only have we brought economic trade, but we have also dispatched personnel to help guard against monster outbreaks and the Abyss Order. And yet, you turn around and suspect us. How utterly unjust."
With practiced ease, the Harbinger twisted the narrative.
It was true that the Fatui had committed no small number of misdeeds within Mondstadt, but she knew better than anyone that now was not the time to dredge up such matters.
Her goal was clear—to seize upon Jean's slip of the tongue and teach this young Acting Grand Master the price of careless speech.
"…"
Jean had not expected a Fatui Harbinger to appear at this moment.
Though the Knights of Favonius stood firmly opposed to the Fatui, the reality was that Mondstadt was stretched thin. In their current predicament, some degree of reliance on the Fatui was unavoidable. And yet, given the Fatui's history, trust was something Jean simply could not extend.
Without a word, Eula drew the greatsword from her back, its edge leveled at the Harbinger as she spoke coldly.
"This is not a place for the Fatui to run wild. Leave. Now."
A chilling aura spilled from her body, unmistakable proof of her anger. No matter what, the Knights of Favonius had been the ones to accept her—and Jean was her friend. She would not tolerate such insolence here.
"You bad woman!" Klee shouted as well, instantly branding the Harbinger an enemy. She hated her.
"Oh? You want to fight?"
The Harbinger sneered, utterly unfazed by either Eula or Klee.
"Speaking ill of the Fatui behind our backs, and now threatening violence? So this is the Knights of Favonius—the champions of freedom? Free enough to silence dissent with force?"
When it came to verbal sparring, the Harbinger yielded to no one.
Arrogant, yes—but not foolish.
She knew perfectly well that the situation favored her. Unless something went terribly wrong, the Acting Grand Master would be forced to pursue a peaceful resolution.
As for Futsu Mitama?
In her eyes, he was nothing more than someone borrowing the Raiden Shogun's authority—a fox riding a tiger's momentum.
It was rumored that he had gravely injured one of the Doctor's clones, even provoking Morax into delivering divine punishment.
But she knew better.
The Doctor's clones varied wildly in strength. A weaker one could not even defeat Childe—let alone her.
She understood Futsu Mitama's limits all too clearly and did not take him seriously.
Half a month.
That was all the time he had possessed the legacies of the Raiden Shogun and Rex Lapis. How much strength could one truly gain in such a short span? Did he really believe divine legacies were so easily digested?
Inside the Grand Master's office, the atmosphere grew unbearably heavy.
Eula knew that a fight was impossible here.
And yet, her fury burned so fiercely that she wished she could simply swing her blade and cut the Harbinger down where she stood.
"Clap. Clap. Clap."
At that moment, Futsu Mitama raised his hands in slow applause. A faint smile curved his lips as he looked at the Harbinger.
"Do the Fatui truly need people to speak ill of you behind your backs? You've already caused enough chaos in Inazuma and Liyue. Do you honestly believe your reputation still holds value?"
"In Inazuma, you attempted to control both the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission—while secretly supporting the Resistance."
"In Liyue, you excavated divine ruins, shattered seals left by Rex Lapis, released Demon God remnants, and coveted the relics of his companions."
He met her gaze steadily.
"And now—what is it you intend to do in Mondstadt? Don't tell me you plan to seize the City of Freedom itself."
With ruthless clarity, Futsu Mitama laid bare the Fatui's transgressions across two nations.
Each one alone was damning. Together, they painted a picture of reckless interference and unrestrained ambition.
Jean and Eula listened in stunned silence. These were matters they had never heard of—and it was only natural.
The Rite of Descension in Liyue had only recently concluded, and even now, ancient ruins were still being unearthed.
As for Inazuma, the Sakoku Decree remained firmly in place. How could Mondstadt possibly know what transpired beyond closed borders?
"Heh." The Harbinger sneered, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Futsu Mitama. "I did not seek you out, yet you walk straight into my trap."
"Enough of the theatrics," Futsu Mitama replied calmly. "You and I both know we are enemies. You didn't come here to exchange pleasantries with Acting Grand Master Jean."
"You came for me. You Fatui Harbingers truly have a problem. Wherever I go, you follow."
He was not wrong.
Scaramouche had sought him out.
Il Dottore had sought him out.
Even Childe had approached him—seeking cooperation.
He hadn't gone looking for trouble. Yet trouble kept finding him.
"Following you?"
The Harbinger laughed—a cold, piercing sound.
"You've offended the Fatui. Did you truly expect mercy? Last time, the Raiden Shogun protected you. This time, in Mondstadt, you'd best hide inside the city like a coward."
"Otherwise, I will kill you. Do not expect such fortune again."
With that, she turned and departed, the two Electro Cicin Mages following at her side.
Her purpose had been fulfilled—a warning delivered. As for fighting?
She had no intention of doing so within the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
Even with many of Mondstadt's elites absent, there were still formidable individuals present.
The Acting Grand Master.
A Lawrence descendant.
Two dangerous figures stationed at the library and the cathedral.
And the Darknight Hero—who, despite opposing the Knights from the shadows, would never allow Mondstadt to fall.
The Harbinger left without further delay.
The Knights of Favonius watched her retreat, hands clenched.
They wanted to stop her—to remind her that this was not a place she could enter and leave at will.
But Jean gave no order.
And they all understood—they had no authority to detain a Fatui Harbinger.
Glaring at her departing figure, Eula ground her teeth.
"I'll remember this grudge."
This was no empty phrase.
She meant it.
"Bad woman!" Klee shouted after her. "Klee's going to use the bombs Mommy gave her and blow you up!"
She was furious.
Everyone in the Knights of Favonius treated her kindly—and the Harbinger had trampled on everything she cherished.
This, to Klee, was unforgivable.
And the bombs her mother had given her were far stronger than anything she herself could make.
They were her ultimate punishment for bad people.
"!"
Jean froze, then immediately crouched down in alarm.
"Klee—don't! Absolutely do not use the bombs Ms. Alice left you!"
Even Eula stiffened.
She had never met Alice, but she knew the legends.
The author of the Teyvat Travel Guide.
The source of countless tales across Mondstadt.
Klee's love of explosives was inherited straight from her mother—and according to veteran Knights, what Klee did now was only a fraction of Alice's devastation.
That alone was enough to make Eula uneasy.
If Klee was already this destructive. What kind of chaos had Alice unleashed?
Even Futsu Mitama was stunned. He stared at Klee, deeply shaken.
Those bombs were clearly no ordinary weapons.
This wasn't protection.
This was a child holding a weapon akin to a natural disaster.
"Eh? Not use them?"
Klee pouted.
"Alright… if Acting Grand Master Jean says so, then Klee won't use Mommy's bombs to blow up that bad woman."
"Phew."
Jean finally exhaled, relief washing over her. She gently stroked Klee's head.
"Leave this to me."
"Klee—your share will be delivered. I promise."
The Harbinger's brazen intrusion had enraged Jean as well. But she knew better than to act on anger now. The Dragon Crisis remained unresolved.
Elemental flows were unstable.
The Abyss Order was unusually active.
And with Grand Master Varka leading the elite forces on expedition, Mondstadt's defenses were stretched thin.
Had that not been the case, Jean would never have been forced into such a passive position.
"I apologize for letting you witness something so unsightly," Jean said quietly, embarrassment coloring her expression.
She had invited Futsu Mitama as a guest—only for him to see this.
As Acting Grand Master, she felt deeply ashamed.
"There's no need," Futsu Mitama replied calmly, shaking his head.
"I'm used to it. In Inazuma, she was just as arrogant—though she never dared act so boldly before Her Excellency."
"Tomorrow, I'll find an opportunity to meet her outside the city. And see whether I can deal with her."
He intended to eliminate the Harbinger.
Beautiful as she was, with her striking figure and presence, she was clearly unhinged. Once she fixated on someone, there was no telling how much trouble would follow. It was better to act first.
Tomorrow.
The day the Raiden Shogun would personally instruct him.
Seven days had passed. The weekly trial had reset.
She would come for him once more.
He had questions about Musou no Hitotachi. And now that his strength rivaled that of the Adeptus, he wanted to know—
How wide was the gap that still separated him from the Raiden Shogun?
"Deal with her?!" ×2
Jean and Eula stared at him in shock.
This was no small matter.
They had both felt the Harbinger's power.
Each Harbinger bore the authority of the Cryo Archon—a fragment of divine might.
Even Jean lacked confidence in defeating her outright unless she wielded the Aquila Favonia to its fullest. And even then, victory did not guarantee death.
If a Harbinger fell within Mondstadt's borders, the diplomatic fallout would be catastrophic.
And frankly—
Jean did not believe Futsu Mitama could kill her.
Not because he lacked strength—
But because the Harbinger would never fight alone.
"Please, calm down," Jean said, rubbing her temple.
She truly had a headache now. No matter who was harmed, it would spell disaster for Mondstadt.
"Calm down?"
Futsu Mitama studied her helpless expression and seemed to understand.
"Don't worry. The Fatui won't dare act recklessly. Because if that Harbinger shows herself tomorrow…"
"She may well be cut down by Her Excellency's blade."
Silence fell.
If she took the bait, she would attend her own funeral.
If not—
He would spar with the Raiden Shogun, refine his power, and further temper Musou no Hitotachi.
Either way—
He would benefit.
"Eh?" ×2
Shock.
Then, even deeper shock.
Jean and Eula froze in place.
At Futsu Mitama's understated words, both of them stared at him, momentarily at a loss for how to react.
Shogun?
Did he mean the Raiden Shogun—the Electro Archon who ruled over Inazuma?
She was coming to Mondstadt?
How was that even possible?
Futsu Mitama seemed to sense their confusion and quickly realized that Ningguang had not mentioned this matter in her letter.
That, at least, was understandable. After all, few people would casually write in a letter that the Raiden Shogun had personally visited Futsu Mitama once while he was still in Liyue. At the time, that meeting had even drawn the attention of Rex Lapis and the Adepti. Even the Liyue Qixing had been alarmed by it.
Klee, on the other hand, remained silent. She was far too busy in the Chat Group, enthusiastically chatting with everyone.
Seeing this, Futsu Mitama explained once more.
"Actually, before I left Inazuma, the Raiden Shogun told me…"
He then explained that the Raiden Shogun would come to guide him once every seven days. If he remained in Inazuma, he would go to Tenshukaku to receive her guidance.
If he was not in Inazuma, then the Raiden Shogun would leave Inazuma herself and fly out to find him.
As for how she would locate him—Futsu Mitama bore the authority of the Electro Archon. That authority itself functioned as a locator. As long as he did not leave Teyvat, the Raiden Shogun would be able to find him without difficulty.
And if one calculated carefully, tomorrow would be the day she arrived to guide him.
After hearing this explanation, Jean and Eula's expressions became subtly complicated, as if neither of them knew what to say for a moment.
However, Jean quietly let out a sigh of relief. If the Raiden Shogun were to intervene personally, then all of her previous worries would become unnecessary.
The intervention of a god represented divine judgment. Regardless of who stood in opposition, instinct alone would compel submission.
Jean's earlier hesitation in allowing Futsu Mitama to act rashly stemmed from a simple concern: if he directly clashed with the Lady, the Fatui stationed in Mondstadt would undoubtedly intervene.
At that point, what would the Knights of Favonius do?
Stand by and watch Futsu Mitama be beaten?
That was clearly impossible.
Futsu Mitama's assistance to the Knights of Favonius—especially his indirect role in destroying one of the Doctor's slices—was more than enough to place Mondstadt in his debt. Yet if the Knights made a move, the Fatui were not enemies to be taken lightly either. Once both sides were drawn into conflict, it would be impossible to resolve matters swiftly.
And if things escalated to that degree, who would handle the mysterious giant dragon of unknown origin outside the city? Who would suppress the monster riots, the Abyss Order's movements, and the increasingly chaotic elemental flows?
It was precisely these unresolved threats that had made Jean so hesitant, to the point where she appeared overly cautious—perhaps even cowardly.
But now, everything was different.
If the Raiden Shogun truly killed the Lady, then Snezhnaya and the Fatui would be left wondering just what the Lady had done to provoke the Electro Archon into flying all the way from Inazuma to Mondstadt and cutting her down in a single stroke.
Inside the Knights of Favonius headquarters, the atmosphere immediately relaxed, the awkward tension from the Lady's earlier intrusion completely dissipating.
At the same time, Futsu Mitama seized the opportunity to ask Jean about Mondstadt itself—where the fun places were, where the best food could be found, and which wines were worth drinking.
Jean responded patiently.
For meals, she recommended the Good Hunter restaurant, noting that Mondstadt also had many delicious local snacks.
As for wine, both Angel's Share and the Cat's Tail Tavern were excellent choices.
Most of Angel's Share's wines were of high quality, while Cat's Tail Tavern required ordering directly from the bartender Diona, whose specially mixed drinks were said to be exceptionally delicious.
And so, Jean continued explaining Mondstadt's cuisine and restaurants to Futsu Mitama.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Knights of Favonius headquarters in an exceedingly high-profile manner, the Lady returned directly to her hotel.
The arrogance on her face faded, replaced by a calm indifference—as though what had just occurred was not worth her concern.
"Lady, wasn't that… somewhat improper?"
One of the Electro Cicin Mages spoke up. As the Lady's trusted subordinate, she possessed a certain degree of authority and courage.
The other Electro Cicin Mage remained silent, but she shared the same unease. Bursting directly into the Knights of Favonius headquarters had been extremely aggressive.
Would that not prompt Acting Grand Master Jean to openly assist Futsu Mitama?
After all, the enemy of one's enemy was often a friend. And everything Futsu Mitama had said was true—Liyue and Mondstadt were not far apart. With even minimal investigation, what had happened in Liyue would come to light.
At that point, the Fatui's operations in Mondstadt would only become more difficult.
"Improper?"
The Lady sneered at the question as she walked upstairs.
"This is exactly what I wanted. To bind the attention of the Knights of Favonius and Futsu Mitama—so that neither of them can focus on that Dragon."
"The Knights of Favonius may not recognize who that Dragon truly is," she continued coldly, "but I still remember him."
Yes. The Lady had acted deliberately.
She had intentionally caused such a commotion to draw the attention of both the Knights of Favonius and Futsu Mitama, hoping to make them focus on her rather than investigating the Dragon's true identity.
Because this was a stage already set.
The Lady knew that the Abyss Order stood behind this play. Though she did not know their exact objective, their actions were beneficial to her own plans.
That alone was reason enough to assist them.
"?" ×2
The two Electro Cicin Mages exchanged glances, completely unable to comprehend her meaning.
But since the Lady had spoken, neither dared to object.
The wisdom of a Harbinger was beyond their understanding. Their role was merely to carry out orders.
"Watch carefully," the Lady said slowly, as though recalling something. "Barbatos—the Anemo Archon who has not appeared for a long time—will surely reveal himself for the sake of his people. And Barbatos, who has remained absent from Mondstadt for thousands of years, must have suffered an unimaginable decline in strength."
Although the Lady harbored resentment toward Futsu Mitama for humiliating her, she remained keenly aware of one thing—
She had come to Mondstadt with a mission. Completing that mission took precedence above all else.
She was not like Scaramouche. Her goal had always been singular: to fulfill her task.
As for Scaramouche…he was nothing more than a pitiful existence, desperate for recognition. The Lady despised such a being from the depths of her heart.
Unfortunately, Scaramouche was stronger than her. There was nothing she could do about it. At most, she could mock him behind his back—and that was all.
Hearing the Lady's words, the two Electro Cicin Mages lowered their heads, their admiration deepening.
They had initially believed that her rash intrusion stemmed from anger clouding her judgment. Now it was clear that this had been a calculated move.
As expected of the Lady—she had achieved with ease what they could not.
A trace of anticipation stirred within the two Electro Cicin Mages. If the Anemo Archon truly appeared… and if the Lady successfully seized the Gnosis…
Wouldn't that mean—
They would become the first to obtain a Gnosis and fulfill the Tsaritsa's command?
The thought alone filled them with reverence.
The Fatui's segment came to a temporary close, and the perspective shifted back to Futsu Mitama.
After learning where the good food was, he naturally went to eat immediately—just as he had gone straight to Wanmin Restaurant upon arriving in Liyue.
Futsu Mitama, Eula, and Klee set out together, heading toward the renowned Good Hunter.
"Oh? A rare guest!"
The waitress at the Good Hunter, a woman named Sara, warmly greeted Eula and Klee.
"Klee-chan, and our Splash Knight—back from outside?"
"And…who is this gentleman? I don't think I've seen you before."
Sara was fairly well-known in Mondstadt and naturally recognized both Eula and Klee. However, she looked at Futsu Mitama with curiosity. She knew most of Mondstadt's men, yet this one was unfamiliar.
Judging by his attire…
Could he be from Inazuma?
But hadn't Inazuma enacted the Sakoku Decree?
Most Inazumans were gathered in Sumeru or Liyue. How could one have come to Mondstadt?
Even if there were exceptions, they would either have settled long ago—or she would have seen them before.
"He is—"
Eula was about to introduce Futsu Mitama.
After all, Sara was one of the few people who acknowledged her. Even if it was thanks to Amber, Eula still remembered that kindness.
Futsu Mitama's status was special. Though he was polite, he was still a retainer of the Raiden Shogun. To prevent Sara from offending him unintentionally, Eula felt it necessary to explain.
"I am an Inazuman noble, currently touring the Seven Nations," Futsu Mitama said politely. He then added, "I was introduced by Acting Grand Master Jean and Eula. They said the food here is delicious. I rushed here from Liyue and haven't had proper gourmet food in quite some time."
His manner was courteous, and paired with his handsome appearance, it left a good impression.
Sara smiled. "In that case, what would you like to order?"
If it were only Klee and Eula, she would have prepared their usual favorites without asking. After all, they were old acquaintances, and she knew their preferences well.
But with an additional guest, she asked politely.
"Hmm…"
Futsu Mitama pondered briefly—though in truth, he was consulting Zhongli, Kuki Shinobu, and Albedo in the Chat Group about whether they were coming.
After learning that only Kuki Shinobu was on her way, he said, "Then I'll order first. Sweet Madame, Crab Roe Tofu, Sweet Madame, and Mondstadt Hash Brown."
Sara blinked in surprise. "That much? Can you really finish all of it?"
Eula was equally startled. Sweet Madame alone was nearly enough to fill her.
And he had ordered two.
"Another friend is coming," Futsu Mitama said with a chuckle, noticing their reactions. "If nothing unexpected happens, she should arrive after the dishes are served."
"Mhm!" Klee giggled quietly.
With the Chat Group, everything felt more interesting.
Albedo and Zhongli were busy. Kuki Shinobu was on her way.
"Ah… alright then."
Sara said no more. She ruffled Klee's hair affectionately before heading inside. After confirming Klee and Eula's orders, she began cooking.
Meanwhile, Futsu Mitama and Eula chatted casually.
Eula mentioned that after the meal, she would likely leave the city again. There was still much to handle outside Mondstadt. The Abyss Order had grown active once more. Monsters roamed the wilds in greater numbers. And most importantly, the Dragon Crisis required careful investigation.
The Knights of Favonius were not yet clear on the Dragon's true nature. They only knew that a massive silhouette occasionally streaked across the skies near the city.
Its roars—filled with pain and resentment—left the citizens terrified and uneasy.
At the same time, ley lines and elemental flows had become increasingly unstable. Even the air itself felt heavy.
As the captain of the Guerrilla Company, Eula bore the responsibility of protecting Mondstadt's people—even those who spoke ill of her.
But simply for the sake of the Knights of Favonius members who treated her kindly, she felt it was worth it.
"You really work hard."
A calm female voice spoke as Kuki Shinobu took a seat naturally beside them.
She looked at Eula and said evenly, "You're the fifth person I've met who works this diligently."
"Diligently?" Eula immediately understood that this was the friend Futsu Mitama had mentioned earlier.
Yet she had been beside him the entire time and couldn't help wondering how he had known Shinobu would come.
"Yes, diligently." Seeing that the food had not yet arrived, Kuki Shinobu continued chatting.
"Working like this reminds me of four others. One is the Shirasagi Himegimi. As the princess of the Yashiro Commission, she's busy every single day."
"Then there's the leader of the Inazuman Resistance—the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island. She works overtime until her mind grows hazy, spending every day either busy or on her way to be busy."
"And then there's Keqing of the Liyue Qixing, and Ganyu, the secretary of the Qixing. For both of them, overtime is simply routine."
As she spoke, Kuki Shinobu looked at Eula.
In some sense, she felt Eula was similar to Kamisato Ayaka.
Both devoted themselves to duty. Even without resting for half a day, Eula was already preparing to leave Mondstadt—to investigate the Dragon Crisis, deal with the Abyss Order, and handle monster threats.
"I see." Eula nodded slightly. "Although I don't know them, if we speak of diligence, Acting Grand Master Jean must be mentioned. Compared to her, I'm truly not that busy. Right now, I could even be considered rather free."
Klee nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Acting Grand Master Jean is super busy. I've seen her fall asleep at her desk more than once!"
"Though I'm somewhat reluctant to admit it," Eula said seriously, folding her arms, "Acting Grand Master Jean is indeed extremely hardworking. She fulfills her role as Grand Master earnestly and has helped many people."
"Even if, in my opinion, those trivial matters restrain her—since she finds joy in them, enduring hardship is only natural."
Kuki Shinobu blinked. She studied Eula and wondered whether she shared a temperament similar to Cloud Retainer.
Sharp-tongued, yet kind-hearted.
Her words sounded harsh, but upon reflection, they were filled with goodwill.
At that moment, Sara brought out the dishes.
Her gaze paused on Kuki Shinobu, surprise flashing in her eyes once more.
Another Inazuman?
Today was truly unusual.
And dressed like a ninja, no less.
For a moment, she wondered—
Was this woman the young man's companion?
Or his bodyguard?
"Come, let's eat first."
As the dishes were finally served, Futsu Mitama spoke without hesitation. Hunger had already set in, and there was no reason to let the food grow cold.
"Alright."
Eula did not stand on ceremony either. Although her own dish had yet to arrive, the short time they had spent together was enough for her to lower her guard toward Futsu Mitama. She naturally joined them at the table.
Klee, of course, was even less restrained. In her eyes, Brother Futsu Mitama was a good person, Miss Shinobu was a good person, Sister Eula was a good person, and even Sister Sara was a good person.
Good people should eat together.
At the table, the atmosphere appeared harmonious and warm. Everyone ate with relish, chatting and laughing as if nothing weighed on their minds.
Yet beneath that surface calm, the Chat Group was already buzzing with discussion.
[Kuki Shinobu: "After arriving in Mondstadt and splitting up with you all, I went to look for housing and gather information. Later, I realized I was being watched again. It's probably the Fatui."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Only the Fatui would be bored enough to start watching me the moment I entered the city. But…their reaction this time feels unusually fast."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Back in Liyue, it took them quite a while before they made a move."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "The Fatui again…"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Why are the Fatui everywhere? Are they truly omnipresent?"]
[Keqing: "The Fatui again."]
[Albedo: "I haven't been watched here."]
[Zhongli: "Albedo and I are currently researching the special husk doll. We've discovered that most of its materials are exceptionally refined—and extremely rare. Many of them are already extinct. Moreover, much like condensed resin, the husk doll requires a mysterious core material."]
[Guizhong: "Even you don't know, Mr. Zhongli?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "That is indeed unusual. I didn't expect even you, Mr. Zhongli, to be uncertain."]
[Azhdaha: "Isn't that normal? Zhongli is respectable, but he's not omniscient. What a pity Maha Rukkhadevata cannot appear. As the God of Wisdom, she would likely recognize the material."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "I truly apologize. I'm not even certain my current state can be considered 'alive.' If I were to rashly take possession of such a valuable item, I might simply lose it."]
[Guizhong: "Haha~ I'm merely a lingering consciousness as well. I can hardly be called alive. The items I signed for have already been entrusted to Futsu Mitama and Mr. Zhongli for safekeeping."]
[Futsu Mitama: "@Kuki Shinobu You're being watched by the Fatui? I'm being watched by the Signora."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "The Signora? She came to find you? There wasn't a fight?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "No fight. But after she appeared, she didn't assign anyone to watch me. Instead, they're watching you. That's…strange."]
[Aila: "Could it be that they're only monitoring Shinobu?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "That doesn't align with the Fatui's usual methods. If they were acting, they would monitor both of you."]
[Yae Miko: "Indeed. The Fatui either watch everything—or nothing at all. And when will this cursed storm finally end?"]
[Albedo: "The Guuji is already on her way."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Is there really anything about me worth watching? Though…I did visit a tavern called Angel's Share to inquire about housing and Fatui-related intelligence."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "That was where I sensed someone observing me."]
[Klee: "Angel's Share?"]
[Albedo: "Ah, that place. There is…a rather extraordinary presence there. But why would he observe you?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Even if you ask me, I wouldn't know. Still, if it's not the Fatui, then things are easier to deal with. It may simply be a misunderstanding. If it were the Fatui, I would have prepared to act tonight, depending on the situation."]
[Albedo: "Act depending on the situation? Be cautious. His strength is not weak, Miss Shinobu. Mr. Zhongli and I are still studying the husk doll."]
[Albedo: "Later, I'll search for traces of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. I'll inform you if I find anything."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Understood."]
Seeing Shinobu's messages, Futsu Mitama's expression grew slightly subtle. It was fortunate that he learned this information in advance.
Kuki Shinobu had been watched after leaving Angel's Share—but it almost certainly wasn't the Fatui.
At present, the Fatui's priority target was himself. Since they hadn't even begun monitoring him properly, there was no reason for them to focus on Shinobu instead. Moreover, inside Angel's Share, there was only one likely observer—
Mondstadt's righteous man.
The Darknight Hero.
Diluc.
As for why Diluc would watch Kuki Shinobu, Futsu Mitama believed there was only one explanation.
The Electro Delusion she carried.
That Delusion had been seized from a Kanjou Commission samurai. It was originally obtained by the head of the Hiiragi Clan through dealings with the Fatui.
Because Shinobu's Vision had been confiscated during the Vision Hunt Decree, she had been unable to wield elemental power and was forced to rely on the Electro Delusion instead. Thus, unless something unexpected had occurred, the one watching Kuki Shinobu in Angel's Share was almost certainly Diluc.
It was… rather interesting.
On his very first day in Mondstadt, he encountered the strongest combatant on the surface—Acting Grand Master Jean.
Soon after, Kuki Shinobu drew the attention of Mondstadt's strongest figure in the shadows—Diluc.
If Rosaria and Lisa appeared next, then he would have practically met all of Mondstadt's remaining top-tier combatants.
As for Kaeya?
A mining expert.
There was no need to worry about him.
Though Kaeya's strength was respectable, he rarely displayed it openly and could only be considered average in direct combat.
His true talent lay in strategy rather than battle.
And if a situation ever arose that required Kaeya to fight at full strength—
Then Mondstadt would already be standing at the brink of destruction.
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