The four rushed back to Pardis Dhyai.
Port Ormos was quite far from Pardis Dhyai. Lumine and Paimon could teleport there using the Teleport Waypoint, but Dehya and Chu Xi couldn't.
Eager to assess the situation quickly, Lumine and Paimon teleported ahead.
"Let's hurry too!" Dehya and Chu Xi sprinted back the way they had come.
When Lumine and Paimon arrived, they found nothing amiss. They had arrived too quickly; the Fatui hadn't even begun their operation yet.
Lumine and Paimon entered Pardis Dhyai and found Tighnari, telling him their suspicions.
After waiting a while longer, the Fatui still hadn't appeared.
So the two began to search the surrounding area.
As they circled Pardis Dhyai, they spotted a Fatui patrol heading their way.
Lumine stood in the only path leading into Pardis Dhyai, blocking the Fatui's advance.
"We're here to gather medicinal herbs. What do you want by blocking our way?"
"Gather herbs? I think finding someone is your real objective!"
"I've already made it clear. Our superiors have authorized us to search Pardis Dhyai and collect the medicinal herbs required by the research institute."
"The Fatui haven't been in Sumeru for just a day. Why only come to Pardis Dhyai for herbs now? Doesn't that seem a little too deliberate?"
Tighnari stepped forward, standing beside Lumine and Paimon.
The Fatui officer continued trying to persuade Tighnari and Lumine, but knowing their true intentions, neither of them would allow the Fatui to enter.
With negotiations broken down, a fight was inevitable.
"Paimon, find a good hiding spot."
Paimon flew behind a nearby tree, peeking out with her tiny head.
The battle was about to erupt. Lumine stood at the front, while Tighnari provided support from the rear.
As a Forest Ranger, Tighnari was not only skilled with his bow but also remarkably agile.
"Quick! They're already fighting! Let's join the fray!"
Just then, Dehya and Chu Xi finally arrived, having sprinted all the way. Dehya drew her Claymore and plunged into the battle.
Chu Xi gasped for breath, her stamina no match for Dehya's. Instead of immediately joining the fight, she staggered behind Paimon's tree, clutching its trunk to steady herself and catch her breath.
"Are you alright, Chu Xi?" Paimon asked anxiously.
Too winded to speak, Chu Xi waved her hand to reassure Paimon that she was fine.
A cunning Anemo Boxer Vanguard approached their tree, charging up a powerful punch.
"Aah!" Paimon shrieked, instantly ascending higher into the air.
Chu Xi frantically raised her shield.
With a resounding boom, the Fatui Anemo Boxer Vanguard was knocked back. Just as he prepared to resume his attack, ice crystals suddenly froze his feet, trapping him completely immobile.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... No wonder you're one of the Doctor's subordinates."
Angie sauntered out with a cat-like grace, Tartaglia and Ailina following close behind.
Seeing the newcomers, the Fatui officer immediately ordered his soldiers to retreat, backing up himself to join Angie and Tartaglia.
"Lord Childe, Lady Angie! You're in Sumeru too!"
The officer's tone betrayed his displeasure.
The rivalry between the Captain's adjutant and the Doctor was no secret within the Fatui, and he was well aware of it.
Angie glanced at the officer. "Take your men and leave. I'll handle things here."
The officer wanted to protest, but the sight of Childe's face turning utterly cold silenced him instantly.
As the Fatui squad withdrew, the officer mouthed three words to Angie without speaking aloud.
The Fatui squad was surprisingly large. Lumine and her companions, who had braced for continued combat, remained silent and watchful as the scene unfolded.
Only after the Fatui squad had completely withdrawn did Paimon finally jump out.
"Damn it! You scared Paimon half to death! That guy just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I wasn't prepared at all! Oh, right, Chu Xi, are you okay?"
Chu Xi shook her head. "I'm fine. Don't worry, Paimon."
Paimon crossed her arms. "Cryo Fruit, who knew you'd actually be useful in a pinch?"
Angie laughed. "Ha ha! When haven't I been useful?"
Unlike the others who trusted Angie and her companions, Tighnari remained wary. He had noticed the Fatui officer whispering something to her just moments ago.
Angie saw Tighnari's caution and calmly explained:
"He was just talking about Haypasia. Their target is Haypasia. My name is Angie, this is Tartaglia, and this is Ailina. We're not your enemies."
Lumine also vouched for Angie and her companions, explaining their unique circumstances to Tighnari. With Lumine's assurance, Tighnari gradually lowered his guard.
Afterward, the group entered Pardis Dhyai. Haypasia lay to one side, her breathing even. When Lumine touched her, Scaramouche's consciousness invaded her mind, and a spectral Scaramouche appeared before her.
Only Lumine could see Scaramouche. Tighnari and Paimon, who had entered with her, only saw Lumine speaking to thin air.
Scaramouche spoke at length to Lumine. Finally, he glanced outside.
"You actually managed to persuade those two to help you. Quite impressive. I wonder what you promised them. Angie doesn't strike me as the type who's easy to deal with."
Lumine remained silent. Is Angie really hard to deal with? she wondered. I thought she was rather nice.
"Heh, only you would think that."
Scaramouche could read Lumine's thoughts. Having nothing more to say, his form dissolved, preparing to depart.
But before leaving, he decided to leave a parting gift.
The once-clear sky suddenly darkened with gathering storm clouds, and several bolts of lightning crashed down.
Angie immediately evaded, her movements swift as a phantom.
Strangely, though several people stood outside—Tartaglia, Ailina, and Dehya—the Electro bolts relentlessly targeted Angie alone, striking wherever she ran.
Fortunately, Angie was incredibly fast, consistently staying one step ahead of the lightning.
Tartaglia and Ailina were deeply worried, but they relaxed when they realized the lightning couldn't hit Angie.
"Hey, Scaramouche! You coward! Stop hiding and come out to fight!" Angie shouted at the sky. Her taunt seemed to infuriate someone; the lightning strikes intensified, forming such a dense barrage that it made their scalps tingle.
Angie pushed herself to the limit, moving even faster, but the lightning still couldn't catch her.
Gradually, the Electro bolts diminished in frequency, as if the attacker had lost patience and simply vanished.
Tartaglia immediately rushed to her side. "Little Sister, are you alright?"