Finally! They finally found them! No one could understand the pressure they had been under all this time.
The Lady had practically given a death order: if they couldn't find the poisoner, they would be eliminated. Several brothers had already died at The Lady's hands, turned into ice.
They had almost given up hope, but then they found a clue in Springvale, learning that a girl in very elaborate clothing had bought laxatives from him a while ago.
Although they didn't understand how a girl managed to go to the Fatui's gathering place to administer the medicine, this was the only effective clue they had found during this time.
No matter what, they had to bring Durandal before The Lady. Whether she did it or not, they believed The Lady would find a way to make her confess.
Most children facing Fatui members were terrified. The Agent had even seen a few children cry from fright.
But Durandal showed no fear at all. She stood calmly, watching him.
It made sense. She had just very easily detected him while he was invisible. She was very likely a Vision holder. If she didn't have some ability, it would have been impossible to sneak into the Goethe Grand Hotel and poison it without anyone noticing.
"Pay the price? How interesting. You Fatui act recklessly in Mondstadt without punishment, but when something happens to you, you want to arrest and punish people. What do you take yourselves for? Or do you think your people are more precious?"
During this time, she had learned about the Fatui's covert activities through animals living in Mondstadt City, and almost none of them were good deeds.
These people committed all sorts of evil, but when someone did something to them, they got so agitated? They really thought they were so great.
"Hmph! The Fatui act as they please; they don't need others to comment. So what if you have a Vision? Come back with me obediently, and you'll suffer less physical pain."
"Oh? Is that so? But can you really take me away?"
Durandal smiled, "Haven't you noticed the changes happening in your body? You're quite impressive, to be able to last this long."
The Agent frowned. He had thought Durandal was bluffing, but then he suddenly felt very uncomfortable, an itch all over his body, as if insects were biting him.
But he was fully armored, with only a small amount of skin exposed. How could mosquitoes bite him, and with such intensity?
He had an ominous premonition. He took off his glove and found purple spots appearing all over his skin, increasing at a visible rate.
"W-what is this? What did you do to me?!"
"Didn't you say it? I'm the one who poisoned you. Since it's poisoning, what I did to you is naturally poisoning."
"Poisoning? How is that possible! How could you have had a chance to poison me! Until just now, we hadn't even met!"
"Hmm, you're right. Until just now, I didn't know you, human. But did you forget an action I made when you were quietly approaching me?"
Durandal made an action? At this moment, the Agent's head was spinning, and various parts of his body were in unbearable pain, but to understand what was happening, he forced himself to concentrate and recall the scene.
The only action Durandal had made towards him was that seven-shaped hand gesture, but what was the meaning of that gesture?
Wait, besides that gesture, there was also a purple energy that shot from her fingertip and landed near his shoulder.
He looked at his shoulder. Because most of his outfit was black, he easily found where the energy ball had landed.
"Just that little bit? What could such an attack do?"
"Against humans, that little bit is already enough. No matter how much you train yourself, your internal body is just as fragile."
Durandal came before the Agent, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "The moment that drop landed on your clothes, it already permeated your body, entering various parts of your body through the blood, destroying your body, making you riddled with holes from the inside."
"Logically, this amount of time should have been enough for your brain to also be attacked by the Virus, but your body is quite good; you actually held out until now. However, you've reached your limit."
The Agent's brain also began to be attacked. Although he wasn't sure to what extent it would be attacked, he would soon lose consciousness.
Despair, deep despair. He had originally thought it was just someone reckless challenging the Fatui's authority, but he hadn't expected such a terrifying existence.
Just a small movement had sealed his doom; he was beyond saving.
Durandal summoned her great scythe, preparing to reap his life. The moment she swung the scythe, a voice appeared.
"Acting within Mondstadt City can easily become an excuse for the Fatui to attack. If you truly wish to do this, it's best to take him outside Mondstadt City before acting."
Diluc appeared on the city wall, carrying a greatsword. He glanced at the Agent lying on the ground and said to Durandal.
"Finally willing to come out? I thought you wanted to keep hiding in the shadows and observing me, like at the tavern."
Durandal reached out and grabbed the Agent's back, extracting most of the Virus from his body.
Doing this wasn't to save the Agent, but simply to prevent him from dying too quickly. Currently, the amount of Virus in his body would keep him in a state of not dying, at least for about a day.
Durandal no longer cared about the Agent. She was more interested in this red-haired human, the human who had been secretly following her from the beginning.
"You noticed early on? I thought I was being discreet enough."
"Perhaps, but for me, it's far from enough. So, what do you want to do now that you've come out? Do you want to rescue this fellow from my hands?"
"I have no interest in that. I simply don't want the Fatui to use this fellow as an excuse to cause trouble. If you don't mind, I can help dispose of him. It's not the first time I've done this, and I'll make sure it's done cleanly."
His conflict with the Fatui had lasted for many years, and he knew very well how to handle such matters. Just leave it to him, and he guaranteed satisfaction.
Durandal shook her head and clapped her hands. The Agent's shadow suddenly deepened, as if turning into a swamp, and his body gradually sank into the shadow.
In less than ten seconds, nothing was left there, not a trace. Even the most skilled trace removal Expert couldn't achieve this level.
Diluc raised an eyebrow, his gaze on Durandal, who was only a few meters away, wondering if he should slightly increase the distance between them.
But retreating a few steps at this moment would only make him look pathetic. At such a time, presence was very important. No matter what was lost, he absolutely couldn't lose in terms of presence.
"This is more convenient, and I don't like owing people favors."
"This isn't a favor. I don't want to see the Fatui get any excuse to cause trouble. It's less about helping you and more about helping myself."
Is that truly the case? She felt that the reason he was doing this was simply to get closer to her.
Durandal tilted her head, observing Diluc. It was difficult to discern his thoughts through his expression. Compared to ordinary people, he seemed very adept at hiding his emotions.
But what did that have to do with her? Durandal had no interest in Diluc. Since he had no animosity towards her, she wasn't going to trouble him either.
"Would you like to come to my winery for a while?"
Diluc asked, "You wanted to drink at the tavern earlier, didn't you? If you'd like, come to my winery, and I'll treat you, how about it?"
"Didn't you say I couldn't drink?" Durandal retorted.
"The rule is not to give alcohol to minors, but are you a minor?"
She only looked like a minor. According to Diluc's observation, Durandal definitely exceeded that range, possibly to a very terrifying extent.
Since Durandal wasn't a Children, Diluc giving her alcohol wouldn't be breaking the rules.
"...What do you want to talk about with me? Human."
"There are many things I want to understand. If you're unwilling to answer, I won't force you. Let's just consider it making a friend, and let me treat you to a drink, how about it?"
Diluc understood hospitality very well. With an existence like Durandal, it was better to be on good terms with her than to antagonize her, otherwise, he would ultimately be the one to suffer.
Durandal scrutinized Diluc from head to toe, her eyes narrowed, seemingly lost in thought.
She smiled, "Bringing someone you don't know the background of to your own place, don't you think that's too dangerous?"
"This way, you can feel my sincerity even more, can't you?"
Diluc said calmly, "Being timid doesn't suit my style. Since I've decided to invite you, I naturally have to give you the best hospitality."
"...Very well, I feel your sincerity, human. Let me see what your best hospitality is like."
"You won't be disappointed."
Besides being a warrior, Diluc was also a socialite. In terms of entertaining people, he would not lose to anyone.
Diluc believed he could certainly satisfy Durandal, so he maintained a calm demeanor from beginning to end, from inviting Durandal to her Dawn Winery, all the way until he poured her his carefully concocted drink.
Durandal finally got the wine she was curious about. She curiously picked up the glass, took a sip, and then, under Diluc's gaze, put the glass down and said.
"It tastes bad."