Chapter 192: Redundant People and Matters
Upon hearing Albedo's words, Ran Mouri blinked, the offer taking a few seconds to register. She then began waving her hands in a flustered flurry, anxiously explaining that she had only done what anyone would have and certainly hadn't expected any sort of reward.
Only after Albedo's calm and repeated insistence did she shyly relent, accepting his token of gratitude.
Ran and Sonoko exchanged a curious glance before taking the painting from Albedo's hands. Conan Edogawa, his interest piqued, also crowded in next to Ran, standing on his tiptoes and craning his neck to get a better look.
Seeing the boy struggle, Ran canted her body slightly and tilted the canvas down toward him, allowing him to finally relax his feet back to the ground.
Conan fixed his gaze on Albedo's work. The background was the very same maple forest they had just been admiring, but now two figures graced the center of the woods: Suzuki Sonoko and Mouri Ran.
In the painting, Sonoko was on her tiptoes, reaching up to tie something to a maple branch. Beside her, Ran gently pulled the bough lower, making it easier for Sonoko to secure a red handkerchief to the limb. The faces weren't rendered in photorealistic detail, but a single glance was enough to convey the hopeful yearning for love in Sonoko's posture and the warm, supportive well-wishes in Ran's gentle smile for her best friend.
Conan had to admit it was an exceptional piece of art. It had perfectly captured the essence of Sonoko and Ran's expressions, a fact proven by how neither of them could seem to tear their eyes away from it.
However, Conan felt the painting had one glaring flaw: why wasn't he in it?
He had been standing right there, practically glued to Ran's side. So why was there no trace of him in the painting Albedo had presented to her? Since that lovesick Sonoko was included, surely it wouldn't have been much trouble to add him in, too.
While Ran and the others were engrossed in admiring the artwork, Kaeya leaned toward Lisa and whispered, "Lisa, I still don't quite get it. How on earth did you come up with that kind of potion?"
"That kind of potion? Kaeya, darling, I think you're letting your mind wander to some rather impolite places~" Lisa replied, her voice a low purr as a teasing smile played on her lips.
Seeing Kaeya's gaze dart away in discomfort, a flicker of a blush on his cheeks, Lisa's smile widened in satisfaction. "It was just a byproduct of an experiment," she explained. "Albedo and I were originally trying to develop a potion that could change the color of fabric without leaving any residue. This was just an accidental, if interesting, result we stumbled upon during the process."
Albedo gave a slight nod, confirming her words. Kaeya finally seemed to accept the explanation. "So that's how it was. Did you ever succeed in developing the original one?"
"We did," Albedo answered, his voice a slow, thoughtful murmur. "And we discovered that using both potions in tandem produces an even better effect. It can effortlessly alter a person's entire attire, which could prove very helpful for infiltration or disguise."
He fell silent, his thoughts drifting. While the people of Teyvat might not have much need for such a thing, it could be a godsend for someone in the Black Organization.
As far as he knew, ever since Alhaitham had learned that the operative codenamed Cointreau was, in fact, the Traveler's brother, his already scarce enthusiasm for his work had evaporated completely. He had been slacking off for some time now—outwardly, he appeared diligent during work hours, but he would be the first one out the door the moment his shift ended. The fierce dedication he'd shown when he first joined the organization was gone, and he hadn't produced any significant research results in a long time.
Although the boss hadn't said anything, it was clear that both Gin and Rum were growing dissatisfied. According to Kaeya, Alhaitham was planning to put on a show of effort for a while, to cobble together some random results to prove he hadn't been idle.
This new potion, then, was perfect. Albedo could simply give it to Alhaitham to pass off as his own recent work, buying him a little more time.
His train of thought was suddenly interrupted by Conan Edogawa approaching him. The group instinctively quieted their previous conversation; Albedo could always speak with Alhaitham privately later.
He turned to face the small detective who had walked up to him and asked softly, "Conan? Is something the matter? Does Miss Mouri not like the painting?"
"Ah, no, not at all!" Conan shook his head quickly, then asked with a touch of bashfulness, "Brother Albedo, could you… add me to the painting, too?"
"No," Albedo refused, his tone decisive and immediate.
"Huh? Why?" Conan's eyes went wide, his expression freezing into a comical state of shock. He had never expected such a blunt refusal without a moment's hesitation.
"Because this painting focuses on the bond between Miss Mouri and Miss Suzuki," Albedo explained patiently. "Adding anyone else would ruin the atmosphere of the scene."
In short, Albedo simply felt that inserting the fake child, Conan Edogawa, into a work primarily depicting the friendship between two young women would be somewhat redundant.
"If you would like a painting, Conan, I can create a separate one for you later," Albedo finally added, a token gesture of comfort.
"No, no need to trouble you, Brother Albedo." Conan deflated. Forget it. He had wanted to be in the painting because he wanted to be in the same frame as Ran. There was no point in troubling Albedo for a portrait of just himself.
"Exactly! You're just an elementary school student, what do you need a painting for?" Suzuki Sonoko called out, having walked a short distance ahead. She waved a dismissive hand, signaling for the brat not to bother people.
At that moment, Mouri Ran, with Noelle's help, had finished carefully stowing away the painting Albedo had given her.
"Conan, don't just disturb people like that," Ran added, her gaze also one of gentle disapproval.
"Okay, Sister Ran…" Conan replied helplessly, drawing out the syllables in a long, resigned sigh.
Just then, he noticed Albedo and the others were looking past him. He turned, and sure enough, saw a man walking purposefully toward their group.
"Um… you are all here enjoying the maple leaves, right?" the man said once he was near, his words sounding slightly confused. He offered an apologetic bow. "I'm so sorry. The fact that today's events turned out like this… it's all my fault."
While this man, who claimed to be a staff member from the "Winter Maple Red" production crew, began to explain the situation to Conan and the others, a different sort of drama was unfolding far away, within the Black Organization's base. The agents there were busy with the fallout from their recent cooperation with Ningguang.
Although the organization stood to profit from the deal, rumor had it that Rum was far from satisfied. He believed the profits Curacao and Camus had negotiated were insufficient. Worse, the other tasks he had assigned them had not only been left uncompleted but had also been discovered.
The situation escalated after Gin found out and took the opportunity to mock Rum a few times. This stoked Rum's fury even further. Deeming them incompetent, he had severely punished both Curacao and Camus.
When Cointreau learned of this, he had added his own thoughts to the organization's action group chat, arguing that the primary responsibility for the failure lay with Rum himself. As long as the main cooperation was successfully negotiated, that was enough. Why meddle with redundant side tasks?
His post drew a surprising round of agreement from others in the group, including Chianti and even Vermouth.
After Rum somehow caught wind of this digital dissent, his anger had reportedly reached a boiling point.
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