Arrogance. Haughtiness.
In Kuki Shinobu's eyes, Dottore was nothing short of a madman. Gods meant little to him—so little, in fact, that he considered godhood itself an insult when applied to Futsu Mitama.
Instead, serving as his second-in-command and bearing witness to the so-called "Truth" was, in his view, the highest possible honor.
To be honest, Kuki Shinobu did not believe he possessed such overwhelming ability. But since he spoke with such certainty, he must have had confidence in his own means.
She understood well that there was always someone stronger in this world. Still, she felt Dottore had not yet reached that realm. Otherwise, he would not be the Second Harbinger of the Fatui—he would have already become a god himself.
Futsu Mitama, however, merely regarded Dottore calmly.
"I have no intention of becoming your second-in-command," he said evenly. "Give it up."
Why should he? There was no denying Dottore's ability. After all, no one lacking strength or competence could occupy the second seat among the Fatui Harbingers of Snezhnaya.
The second seat was not like Tartaglia's.
Tartaglia, despite his strength, was still young. Given a few more years to mature—paired with his extraordinary talent and unrestrained love for battle—his ranking would almost certainly rise.
Dottore was different. His position reflected not only power, but seniority—depth accumulated over time.
Even Tartaglia, who openly scorned Dottore's slices, still afforded him a measure of respect. The same was true for Signora and Scaramouche.
But Futsu Mitama was different.
Why should he show respect to a Fatui Harbinger? Or rather—why should a retainer of the Raiden Shogun bow to one? Would it not be better to become a guardian of eternity?
At the very least, such a path placed him under the joint protection of the Raiden Shogun and Raiden Ei—two beings who stood at the pinnacle of divine combat power.
Though only one could manifest in the outside world at a time, within the Plane of Euthymia—or the consciousness space left behind by Raiden Makoto—both could appear simultaneously.
At that point, even if the Tsaritsa herself descended, she would likely find little advantage.
"You refuse?"
Dottore smiled faintly, as though the answer were entirely expected. Had their positions been reversed, he would have made the same choice. After all, he had yet to offer anything tangible. How could he expect wholehearted allegiance?
Moreover, Dottore was arrogant—utterly convinced that once Futsu Mitama grasped his true value, agreement would be inevitable.
He merely required—a push.
"Yes." Futsu Mitama nodded. "I have no interest in being your second-in-command, nor in becoming a god. Being human is quite enough."
"I don't know what you seek," he continued calmly, "but my own goal is simple—to live an ordinary life. If you do not provoke me, I will not provoke you."
From the beginning, his stance had never changed.
If the Fatui had not targeted him—if Scaramouche had not acted with arrogance—if Signora had not resorted to force—then neither would have suffered such losses in Inazuma.
Look at Tartaglia.
He caused no trouble and lived freely—drinking, eating, fighting to his heart's content.
"Hahahaha."
Dottore rose from his seat, laughter echoing softly.
"So that truly is your answer," he said. "Very well. I have enjoyed this meal."
"I hope that when we meet again, you will have reconsidered. If possible, I would prefer not to stand as your enemy."
With that, he turned to leave.
What needed to be asked had been asked. What needed to be tested had been tested.
As intelligence reports suggested, Futsu Mitama was worth recruiting. He possessed wisdom—and more importantly, eyes capable of seeing the situation clearly. Even more intriguing was the fact that he was neither god nor Vision bearer. He had never received the gaze of the divine.
Had Futsu Mitama accepted the offer just now, Dottore would have spared no resource in cultivating him—and they would not have objected.
A pity.
But not an irredeemable one.
For now, he would simply refrain from acting. Tartaglia would be instructed to remain vigilant and observe closely.
At Xinyue Kiosk, Dottore had taken only a single drink. He cared little for the cost of the meal and made his way toward the exit.
"Wait."
Futsu Mitama's voice stopped him.
"Hm?" Dottore paused, turning slightly. "What is it?"
He was willing to listen.
Interesting people were worth time. Uninteresting ones—like Kuki Shinobu, whose knowledge she mistook for truth—were not.
That was Dottore's principle.
"Eight or nine years ago," Futsu Mitama said slowly, "a little girl was abducted in Liyue Harbor. Are you aware of this incident?"
He asked directly.
This matter could not be concealed. Information regarding Aila had surely crossed Dottore's desk long ago. The Fatui's attitude alone made that much clear.
Compared to Futsu Mitama, they feared Aila even more—the maid who killed without hesitation.
"..."
Dottore fell silent.
He turned his head, his uncovered eye fixing upon Futsu Mitama.
"Nine years ago," Futsu Mitama continued, "the daughter of a couple vanished. The Qixing searched. Even the Adeptus intervened. She was never found."
His gaze did not waver.
"Dottore—do you have any leads?"
Dottore grinned, amused.
"No," he replied lightly. "I do not. I've never kidnapped children."
Silence descended.
Futsu Mitama knew he was lying.
Dottore knew he knew.
Yet the smile remained—as if to say, believe what you wish.
"Very well," Futsu Mitama said at last.
There was no point pressing further.
To admit such a crime in Liyue Harbor would invite pursuit from the Qixing, intervention by the Adeptus—and worse still, the attention of Lord Rex Lapis himself.
This was Liyue, not Snezhnaya. Even Dottore understood the need for restraint.
Then, as if recalling something, he spoke again.
"A small reminder. Two or three years ago, a genius cultivated by me in Snezhnaya absorbed Demon God remnants and Abyssal power—and subsequently lost control."
"She slaughtered three squads of soldiers and vanished."
"If you encounter her," he said calmly, "return her to me. I require nothing else."
Without waiting for a reply, he opened the door and left.
Futsu Mitama watched his retreating figure, his gaze slowly sharpening.
"..."
Kuki Shinobu remained silent. After the door closed, Futsu Mitama looked at the untouched dishes and spoke evenly.
"It seems this matter cannot be resolved."
Kuki Shinobu nodded.
There could be no reconciliation. Aila was Futsu Mitama's soft spot. Anyone who threatened him would never be forgiven.
He was gentle, approachable—willing to reason whenever possible. Only when reason failed did he resort to force.
Scaramouche and Signora had escalated matters themselves.
Dottore was different.
He had offered a reminder.
What he wanted was not Aila—but the individual within her.
That alone was enough.
When they met again, there would be no words—only battle.
"Let's eat," Futsu Mitama said, regaining his composure. "The Fatui are paying. Afterward, we'll visit Guiyan Assembly and the Jade Chamber. Let's see how the materials are coming along."
No matter what awaited them, there was no reason to waste a meal.
They began to eat.
Meanwhile, Dottore returned to the Northland Bank, where Tartaglia awaited him.
"How did it go?" Tartaglia asked with a grin. "You didn't cause trouble. That's rare—I was already planning to keep my distance."
He had already reported the situation to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. If Dottore caused chaos, responsibility would not fall on him.
Liyue would give him face. More or less.
"Heh heh heh." Dottore was naturally well aware of Tartaglia's small precautions. His sneer carried a trace of disdain as he said, "Relax. The Rite of Descension is close at hand. Even I know better than to act recklessly."
"The Geo Archon, Morax, is not someone to trifle with. You need only wait in Liyue for Her Majesty the Tsaritsa's command."
For all his arrogance—and he possessed more than enough capital to support it—Dottore understood one thing clearly: Liyue was not a place where he could run rampant. If he truly crossed the line, Morax would never let him walk away unscathed.
Tartaglia's situation, however, was far less comfortable. Among the Seven Nations, Liyue was the most troublesome to handle. Even Her Majesty the Tsaritsa herself had turned her gaze here, choosing to negotiate in secret with the Geo Archon through a contract.
Whether the Gnosis could be obtained depended entirely on Morax's own will. Among the Seven, he was the most obstinate—and the most difficult.
Sending Tartaglia to Liyue was, in truth, not an affirmation of his abilities, but a calculated decision. Once Her Majesty the Tsaritsa and Morax reached an agreement, Tartaglia would simply act as the courier who received the Gnosis. Dottore understood this perfectly, yet he had no intention of spelling it out.
"Hmph. You don't need to worry about that," Tartaglia replied coldly, his expression far from pleasant. Even if Dottore had not caused trouble outright, his very presence had already disrupted Tartaglia's arrangements.
On one hand, it further damaged Liyue's already-tense perception of the Fatui. On the other, Tartaglia had only just managed to gain Futsu Mitama's goodwill, enough to make him owe a favor.
Today's meeting between Dottore and Futsu Mitama had ended without Tartaglia's involvement, a neutral stance that still left him uneasy. Several of his plans required Futsu Mitama's assistance—particularly to establish contact with the Qixing—so that the Fatui could formally intervene.
Without Futsu Mitama, Tartaglia would not even know whom to approach.
What frustrated him most was the irony of it all. The Fatui were meant to be Liyue's partners, yet now the harbor bristled with suspicion toward them. If not for Futsu Mitama's appearance, Tartaglia's path forward would have been far narrower.
"And one more thing," Dottore added calmly, turning his gaze toward Tartaglia. "If nothing unexpected occurs, that 'individual' who caused chaos in Snezhnaya—who slaughtered three squads of soldiers before being injured and repelled by Arlecchino—will likely find her way to Liyue."
"After all, her 'body' is here."
Tartaglia's brows knit together. "What did you do?"
Arlecchino—the Knave—was no ordinary Harbinger. Tartaglia disliked her deeply. To her, betrayal was merely another option should it prove profitable. Her loyalty to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa was not born of reverence, but of alignment. Madness flickered in her eyes.
As for that 'individual,' Tartaglia knew only fragments. When chaos erupted in Snezhnaya, he had been fighting within the Abyss. By the time he returned and was assigned to Liyue, the matter was already classified.
He knew only that she was an experiment abducted from Liyue by Dottore, and that both Dottore and the Knave paid her unusual attention.
If she truly appeared in Liyue, there was a real chance Arlecchino herself would follow. The thought alone gave Tartaglia a headache. Higher-ranked Harbingers were not people he wished to deal with—especially when he already carried an Archon-level mission.
"I did nothing," Dottore replied lightly. "She merely wishes to reclaim what she lost. So she returned to her old home. I'm only informing you that she will seek out Futsu Mitama. Her body is beside him—the maid who remains at his side."
"To be honest, I was surprised she survived. But that no longer matters. If you encounter her, capture her and bring her back. I'm quite curious what she has become."
With that, Dottore rose to leave, as though his visit had been nothing more than a casual notification.
Tartaglia did not stop him. He watched Dottore's retreating figure, his expression darkening. "Are you returning to Sumeru, or to Snezhnaya?"
"Who can say?" Dottore's voice drifted back from beyond the doorway.
Tartaglia's mood worsened. Those words made it clear—Dottore intended to remain in Liyue for some time. Worse still, he was acting independently, following plans he had no intention of sharing.
Such a variable was dangerous.
"Lord Tartaglia—what should we do?" one of the Fatui asked quietly.
The concern was well-founded. If Dottore lingered, and if his subordinates arrived, Liyue's Fatui would soon be divided between two voices.
This had happened before.
In Inazuma, Scaramouche had taken charge and been gravely injured. The Lady had returned from Mondstadt only to be defeated by the Raiden Shogun. During that period, three Harbingers had issued conflicting orders, throwing the Fatui into chaos.
Remembering that, a chill crept into the room.
"I'll report it," Tartaglia said at last. "Let Her Majesty and the others see exactly what he's planning."
He paused, gaze cold as steel. "But if that 'fellow' goes too far—then even a mere slice is insignificant before Her Majesty the Tsaritsa's will."
The Fatui around him stiffened. The implication was unmistakable.
While internal conflict among Harbingers was forbidden, defying Her Majesty's will was grounds for execution.
Dottore was different. This was not his main body—only a slice.
If that slice interfered with Tartaglia's mission in Liyue, then killing it would not be hesitation, but duty.
Unaware of the tension within Northland Bank, Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu had already finished their meal at Xinyue Kiosk and headed straight for Guiyan Assembly.
Nearly four days had passed since the Primo Geovishap scale had been entrusted to the Shopkeeper's Daughter. By now, most of the materials should have been gathered.
Guiyan Assembly was unusually lively. Well-dressed merchants came and went in steady streams, attendants in tow. Some left satisfied, others frustrated.
"Oh?"
The Shopkeeper's Daughter, mid-discussion, spotted Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu and immediately excused herself.
"You're here?" she said warmly, calling over a waiter. "Please escort these two to a private room. Good tea and pastries."
Then she frowned slightly. "Where's that maid? Not with you today?"
There was genuine disappointment in her tone—not from idle curiosity, but because she remembered Futsu Mitama mentioning armor he intended to forge for Aila.
"She didn't come," Futsu Mitama replied evenly, glancing at the merchants nearby. "I'll explain later."
Understanding his meaning, the Shopkeeper's Daughter nodded. "Go ahead. I'll join you once I'm done. The materials are nearly complete—I'll bring everything together."
They followed the waiter inside as curious merchants whispered among themselves, puzzled by the attention these Inazuman guests received.
The Shopkeeper's Daughter, however, had no intention of explaining. Through the Qixing, she already knew Futsu Mitama's true identity—a retainer of the Raiden Shogun.
That alone placed him beyond ordinary mortal standing.
And now, with the Primo Geovishap slain by an adeptus and its remains destroyed, the hatchling scales had become priceless. Merchants flocked to Guiyan Assembly not for need, but for investment.
As time passed, Futsu Mitama read quietly while Kuki Shinobu studied talisman techniques shared by Yae Miko and Zhongli alike, their strengths steadily growing.
More than an hour later, the Shopkeeper's Daughter finally arrived, apologetic yet smiling.
"I only sold a small portion," she said. "About fifteen million mora."
The silence that followed spoke volumes.
After all, the Primo Geovishap was already dead. This legendary beast of Liyue had met a tragic end at the hands of an adeptus.
The proof of its existence scattered in different hands—its scales rested with the Shopkeeper's Daughter, its blood with Ningguang, a portion of its flesh with Xiangling, and another portion preserved by Futsu Mitama. As for the most precious treasure within the Primo Geovishap, the Juvenile Jade, it had likewise been taken by Futsu Mitama.
To the merchants of Liyue, however, only one thing was clear: the Shopkeeper's Daughter and Ningguang possessed materials that could no longer be obtained. And so they flocked to them, eager to purchase whatever remained.
With business flourishing and the Rite of Descension approaching, the Primo Geovishap scales should, in theory, have fetched an even higher price. Unfortunately, because the Shopkeeper's Daughter had received secondhand information, she had sold a portion at a lower value. That, more than anything else, was the reason behind her helpless sigh.
"No, no, no—this is enough, truly enough." Though Futsu Mitama knew that Primo Geovishap scales and blood were valuable, he had never expected them to sell for such a sum.
Fifteen million mora.
What kind of concept was that?
With that amount, he could likely purchase a fine residence in the central district of Liyue Harbor. At the very least, it meant he could be far less restrained when acquiring forging materials.
Should he buy Aila several different styles of maid outfits, then?
Come to think of it, ever since becoming a maid, Aila had never wanted to wear anything else. That was rather strange.
And Kuki Shinobu had helped him greatly as well. Perhaps he should buy her high-quality talisman paper—or see if she lacked any daily necessities.
Now that he had come into such an unexpected fortune, it would be wrong not to spend some of it on them.
His thoughts drifted endlessly, completely dazed by the weight of fifteen million mora.
"Is it really enough?" Seeing his expression, the Shopkeeper's Daughter quietly let out a breath of relief. She had been genuinely worried that he might question why the price was so low.
After all, the information she had received stated that two Adeptus, together with an individual from Inazuma, had slain the Primo Geovishap.
That individual could only be Futsu Mitama—the Raiden Shogun's retainer—who had personally dealt with the calamity threatening Liyue.
For a fleeting moment, she even wondered whether, after hearing her say the scales would not sell for much, he had chosen to kill the Primo Geovishap outright, thus driving up the value of its remains.
But judging by his expression now, it was clear he had never considered such a thing. She had overthought it.
"Oh, right." The Shopkeeper's Daughter looked between Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu, curiosity surfacing once more. "Where did that maid go? Did something happen to her?"
The question lingered from earlier.
Before, the three of them had been inseparable. Three days ago, Kuki Shinobu had been left behind; today, even the maid was gone. For a moment, the Shopkeeper's Daughter even suspected that next time, it would be Kuki Shinobu and the maid who arrived together—while Futsu Mitama vanished instead.
"Ah, that." Futsu Mitama did not conceal the truth. "Aila has become an adeptus disciple. She's currently learning adeptal arts and won't be able to come for a while. However, if you wish to see her, you should be able to during the Rite of Descension."
As he spoke, his gaze lingered on the Shopkeeper's Daughter. From the first time he had seen her, she had struck him as faintly familiar—bearing a subtle resemblance to Aila.
At the time, he had dismissed the thought. It was only after Zhongli recounted Liyue's past that he became certain the Shopkeeper's Daughter was indeed Aila's relative.
Whether that relation was close or distant, elder or younger, he did not yet know. His visit to Guiyan Assembly was not solely for materials, but also to learn more about Aila's family—at the very least, to understand who remained besides her parents.
"Adeptus disciple?" The Shopkeeper's Daughter's eyes widened in surprise, followed by unmistakable envy. "That maid—became an adeptus disciple? What extraordinary luck. For us natives of Liyue, even knowing the Adeptus exist doesn't mean we have any affinity with them."
She sighed softly. Everyone in Liyue knew of the Adeptus, yet how many could truly meet one, earn their recognition, and gain adeptal affinity?
That Aila—someone she had found oddly familiar—had accomplished such a thing was astonishing.
No wonder she had only seen the Inazuman ninja that day. It turned out Aila had already become an adeptus disciple, and Futsu Mitama, as the Raiden Shogun's retainer, had likely accompanied her to the adeptus's abode.
"Yes…very good luck," Futsu Mitama echoed quietly, uncertain himself whether Aila's fortune was a blessing or a curse.
Blessed, perhaps, to have met them, to become Cloud Retainer's disciple, to gain the favor of the Liyue Adeptus, and to have Lord Rex Lapis—who was very much alive—standing behind her.
Cursed, perhaps, to have been abducted in childhood, her fate stolen, her memories erased until only her name remained. And now, her "other self" sought to seize her body and claim everything she had.
Dottore had already set his sights on that individual. The storm was gathering.
"Speaking of Adeptus—" The Shopkeeper's Daughter seemed to recall something and sighed. "An uncle of mine—his daughter went missing eight or nine years ago."
"At the time, it caused an enormous stir. The entire harbor knew. The Qixing took over the case, but no clues were ever found. In the end, out of desperation, my uncle brought out our ancestral talisman of everlasting morality and went to Qingyun Peak to seek the Adeptus—"
She spoke slowly, recounting events nearly identical to what Zhongli had once described. Yet beneath her words lay a trace of resentment. Even beings as revered as the Adeptus had failed to find a single child.
In the end, her uncle and aunt sold most of their assets, leaving behind only an old house in Liyue Harbor, and set out across the nations in search of their daughter.
At least they had gone to look for her.
Her own parents, on the other hand, had left their child behind in Liyue Harbor, uncared for—all for the sake of travel.
The thought made the Shopkeeper's Daughter clench her teeth, anger burning in her eyes.
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