The next evening, as agreed, Lumine and her group were supposed to meet Setaria at the Akademiya's entrance to retrieve the confidential documents.
However, before they set out, Lumine sensed an unsettling stillness in Sumeru City.
"It's unnaturally quiet around here," she remarked.
Paimon scoffed, "It's the middle of the night, of course it's quiet! Are you starting to see ghosts everywhere?"
Nahida: "I think she's right. The streets around here seem noticeably emptier. I'm not sure if this is happening all over Sumeru City, though."
Paimon: "Ehh... you don't think it's just a coincidence, do you? Could Setaria have some trick up her sleeve? Not only did she lure the guards away, but she somehow got everyone in the city to go to bed early, clearing the way for us?"
Nahida stepped out from behind the Adventurer's Guild counter, folding her arms.
"I haven't figured out the cause of this strange feeling either... but since we're already here, we should go to our rendezvous."
Paimon: "Mm! It's reassuring to have you with us, Nahida!"
Chu Xi joined Lumine and Paimon.
The four quickly arrived at the Akademiya's entrance, where they were astonished to find a massive crowd cheering and waving at them, as if they had gathered specifically to await their arrival.
"Why are all these people here?" Paimon wondered, her head spinning with confusion. "We're supposed to be meeting secretly, so why is this such a big show?"
As they drew closer, the cheering gradually subsided, and a figure wearing a half-mask appeared at the Akademiya's entrance.
"A welcome befitting returning heroes—is this grand enough for you?"
Nahida's expression instantly turned cold.
"You're... an Exile of the Akademiya!"
The man Nahida called the Exile descended with steady steps, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Indeed," he replied. "But these days, they usually call me... 'The Doctor'."
The screen zoomed in on The Doctor, accompanied by an introduction:
[Fatui Harbinger, Second Seat—The Doctor, Dottore.]
This version of The Doctor looked nothing like the round-faced character from the original comic. Instead, he resembled the handsome figure from the A Winter Night's Lazzo trailer, his features sharp and refined.
[Already at the Second Seat?]
[Damn, we fell for his trap!]
[His voice is so nice~]
[Seriously, you upstairs...]
[A power rivaling the Gods themselves... This doesn't look good at all.]
-
Sumeru, Akademiya Gate.
"If you're looking for that female researcher, she's already in the Confinement Room. She didn't even notice the listening device on her—she lacks the meticulousness required of a true Scholar."
The citizens of Sumeru City were acting strangely, as if they were being controlled.
"What have you done to them?!" Lumine demanded.
"Merely modified the Akasha Terminal," Dottore explained. "Now it can project information directly into their subconscious minds. The enthusiastic masses now believe that this Traveler is the hero who just saved the world."
The crowd began closing in on Lumine, who slowly retreated.
"Heh... The experiment was a resounding success. And now, it seems they're about to lose control of their emotions."
The actions of people driven to extreme emotional states remain an eternal mystery. These rapidly approaching residents had become dangerous elements.
But they were just ordinary citizens. Lumine couldn't bring herself to strike them down.
Just as she was struggling with this dilemma, Nahida stepped forward, placing herself between the three travelers and the crowd. "You three, get out of the city first!"
Paimon: "But... that's a Fatui Harbinger! How can we abandon you here...?"
Nahida: "And I can't abandon the people of Sumeru City!"
Green light emanated from Nahida's hands, causing the blue Akasha nodes in the residents' ears to glow green as well. Their previously excited expressions vanished, replaced by closed eyes and bowed heads.
Nahida: "It's alright. We'll meet outside the city."
With no better options, Lumine heeded Nahida's advice, taking Paimon and Chu Xi and fleeing the scene.
"Oh? It seems you've... used your consciousness to seize control of their minds. Such a formidable consciousness... You must be the God of Wisdom, then?"
Dottore approached Nahida, who was occupying Katheryne's body, a confident smirk playing on his lips, as if he had everything under control.
Lumine led the group out of the city.
The Doctor's sudden appearance caught everyone off guard. Though Silaya had warned Lumine long ago, she hadn't expected to encounter him so soon.
"Setaria mentioned earlier that an exiled Scholar has returned to the Akademiya," Lumine said. "Even the Sages fear him. That must be the Doctor she was referring to."
"We underestimated the scale of this affair and its complexity," Lumine continued. "This isn't just the Akademiya plotting something—the Fatui and the Akademiya must be collaborating on something major."
Chu Xi quietly observed and listened to Lumine and Paimon's speculations, aware of how little information she possessed.
Since Nahida was a God, she should be able to handle the Doctor without much trouble. Lumine's greatest concern remained Silaya's warning that there might be more than one Fatui Harbinger operating in Sumeru.
Besides the Doctor, who else might be lurking here?
Unfortunately, Silaya had already left, and Chu Xi, who remained, seemed completely unaware of the situation.
Lumine suddenly remembered that the Akademiya had sent people to Avidya Forest to invite Tighnari to participate in some plan. After a brief discussion, the group decided to head there first to find him.
With Chu Xi joining them, Lumine and Paimon decided against using teleportation and instead traveled under the cover of night.
However, they were ambushed by Eremite bandits along the way.
These Eremites were under the Doctor's command. How could he have predicted their route to Avidya Forest to find Tighnari?
The Eremites were no match for Lumine, and even Chu Xi's protective shield proved impenetrable.
After dealing with the Eremites, the group continued toward Avidya Forest.
There, they encountered Collei.
Chu Xi greeted Collei warmly upon seeing her.
"Oh, it's Chu Xi! And the Traveler and Paimon!"
Collei didn't look well, but she was visibly cheered by seeing her friends, her complexion brightening noticeably.
After learning from Collei that Tighnari was no longer at Avidya Forest, Lumine, Paimon, and Chu Xi immediately prepared to head to Pardis Dhyai.
Before leaving, Collei asked Chu Xi about Silaya's whereabouts. Honoring her promise to Silaya, Chu Xi simply said that Silaya was busy working on her thesis.
"Collei, take good care of yourself. I'll come back with Silaya to see you after this period passes."
Collei nodded eagerly.