"Master Childe" before he even spoke, Kashiyama Ken's back was already soaked with cold sweat. The slight bow he usually kept out of habit bent into a full ninety degrees as he said with utmost respect, "I have an urgent matter to report to you…"
"Kashiyama Ken? What now?"
"'Master Childe'… I—I think we've all been played by that Yoshiyasu…"
"What about Yoshiyasu?" Tartaglia asked impatiently. He hated this kind of scheming and backroom plotting. In his command, things were simple—the strong held authority. That was why he'd always appreciated Yoshiyasu's honest way of working. Kashiyama Ken, on the other hand… it was only because he wasn't Tartaglia's subordinate that he'd been tolerated this long.
"You know, sir, Yoshiyasu and I were originally under Scaramouche. So, when you came to investigate matters concerning Scaramouche, it was natural for us to be the liaisons. Yoshiyasu has always been fiercely loyal to Scaramouche… but I never thought… I truly never thought he would dare deceive the entire Fatui for the sake of a defector among the Harbingers!"
"Deceiving the entire Fatui…" That was no small crime—it bordered on outright treason. Tartaglia paused for two seconds before asking, "You're saying Yoshiyasu knows where Scaramouche is?"
"Yes!"
Kashiyama Ken wiped at his sweat-soaked forehead. Even though he wasn't the culprit, he and Yoshiyasu were equals in rank. Watching a colleague deceive Master Childe and the other Harbingers for a whole month… no, if one counted from the time Scaramouche first vanished, it had been three months!
Under some of the more unreasonable Harbingers, that would've been enough to get him executed ten times over. Even under the stricter ones, being accused of negligence or dereliction of duty would be enough to make life unbearable.
Tartaglia's expression shifted between light and dark as he thought, then asked, "Do you have proof?"
"I do. Last night, something strange happened in Inazuma City. I ordered my men to investigate, but Yoshiyasu—who's usually the most diligent of us all—didn't move at all. I got suspicious and checked. He wasn't in the city. I dug deeper and found this letter."
Tartaglia took the letter Kashiyama Ken handed him. As he read, his expression darkened completely. "Yoshiyasu… Where is he now?"
"He's still in our base. It doesn't look like he plans to flee. I came here ahead of time to warn you, so you'd be prepared."
"…"
When they entered the Fatui stronghold, Yoshiyasu was indeed still at his usual desk, calmly going through his work.
"Master Childe."
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
"Before Scaramouche left, he told me he was going to carry out a secret mission. He instructed me to pretend not to know his whereabouts… and to obstruct anyone who came to investigate him."
"Ha! You expect me to believe that nonsense?!" Tartaglia roared.
"I knew Scaramouche was lying to me," Yoshiyasu said, unnervingly calm, as though his own fate were irrelevant. "But I had no choice. As long as he's alive, disobeying him means my death. On the other hand, if I obeyed his orders and he wasn't officially declared a traitor, I could claim I was just following my superior's command. Once his betrayal was confirmed, I planned to report everything myself."
"So now you admit he's betrayed us?!"
"I can't be certain. None of the other Harbingers have given an official verdict on Scaramouche's actions yet. But he's been gone too long. The letter Kashiyama Ken found—that was me trying to contact him."
"Heh… heheheh…" Tartaglia laughed bitterly, anger curling at the edge of his voice. "You've stalled so many of us for so long. If you reveal Scaramouche's whereabouts now, maybe I'll let you die quickly."
"Unfortunately, Scaramouche never told me where he was going. That's precisely why I dared to speak to you like this. I've only delayed your investigation, not withheld information."
"Then where was this letter supposed to go?"
"Snezhnaya. I've been trying to locate Scaramouche myself. All I can tell you is—he's almost certainly left Inazuma."
"Tch!"
…
Knock, knock, knock…
"Who is it?"
After Paimon's last unexpected visit, Victor Wang didn't dare to assume anything anymore. He figured it was safer to ask first, just to be mentally prepared. But the voice that answered made his heart skip.
"It's me, Kujou Sara."
"Kujou Sara?" Victor Wang hurriedly opened the door, trying not to get his hopes too high. "You're here for me—does that mean…?"
"It's from Her Excellency, the Shogun. She asked me to tell you: 'There's been progress regarding the previous matter.'"
"Really?!"
"Why would I lie?"
Victor Wang's breath caught, his hands twitching with excitement. If Kujou Sara weren't a woman, he might've grabbed her shoulders and shaken her in joy. "That's great news!"
He quickly locked his door and, before Kujou Sara could even process what she saw, leapt onto the Wentian Sword. In the next moment, he was a streak of starlight shooting toward Tenshukaku.
When he came to his senses, he was already standing at the gates.
"No, no, no… What if this 'progress' has nothing to do with the materials? What if it's just about the Shogun recovering her power? That'd still count as progress… oh no, please don't let it be that…"
He paced back and forth before the entrance, forcing himself to lower his expectations before disappointment could strike. Only then did he approach the Okuzumeshuu guards to request entry.
Inside, Tenshukaku looked exactly the same as he remembered.
The unchanged Raiden Shogun spoke first. "I can now purify your elemental essence."
So, it's just that after all… What were you hoping for, fool?
Victor Wang gave a wry smile and replied quietly, "Understood."
He didn't dare ask about the materials. As long as there was no final answer, there was still some hope.
"Additionally, I've learned of a material that can replace the Electro Dragon."
"That's goo—huh?! You mean there is something that can substitute for the Electro Dragon?!"
The Raiden Shogun nodded. "Long ago, Orobashi—the god worshiped as the Great Serpent of Watatsumi Island—once obtained a unique power known as Coral. This Coral was no ordinary substance. It was highly adaptable and, when merged with Orobashi, became incredibly potent. But it still lacked a trace of draconic essence."
"Draconic essence…"
"So, what you must seek," the Shogun continued, "is Coral that once coexisted with Orobashi and was later transferred onto a drake. If its name hasn't changed, it should now be called—'Bloodbranch Coral.' The Bloodbranch Coral carries the power of Orobashi, the Coral, and the drake. Though not pure, it will suffice."
"So Bloodbranch Coral actually has such power?!"
"There's no need to doubt it. This information comes from the previous Electro Archon herself. She would not deceive me."
"I don't doubt it at all—just… surprised."
"Good. One more thing—it must come from the Electro-element drake. Only then can it be used for your purpose."
"I understand. The previous Electro Archon… I'm deeply grateful to her!"
"…Her name was Makoto. And come to think of it—you may have been just another victim from five hundred years ago. Enough talk. Go prepare the materials. Watatsumi Island is not a place I can enter freely. I can't assist you there. Once you've gathered everything, return to me."