Less than a day later, Raiden Ei returned to Tenshukaku with Kujou Sara.
She was dragging someone behind her.
Without ceremony, she threw the person onto the floor in front of Signora before walking over to Raiden Makoto with a dark expression.
"Scaramouche!"
Signora's pupils shrank.
He'd actually been caught red-handed!
Was the woman who looked exactly like the Electro Archon really this powerful?
Wait…
Could she be the real Electro Archon?
"What happened?"
Makoto looked puzzled.
Why had her sister returned looking so gloomy?
"Uh… well…"
Ei looked rather embarrassed.
She couldn't exactly admit that the troublemaker was the puppet she'd created herself.
The more she looked at Scaramouche, the more annoyed she became.
She immediately took out a piece of candy and popped it into her mouth.
Her irritation eased almost instantly.
It was one of Kujou Sara's rewards.
No matter how angry someone became, it could calm their emotions.
She'd eaten quite a few along the way.
There weren't many left now.
"I should've asked Valerius for more…"
The candy was wonderful.
It tasted good and soothed her emotions.
She regretted that when she'd asked Valerius for sweets before, she hadn't requested these instead.
Makoto smiled helplessly.
"Honestly…"
"As if Lord Valerius would simply give you reward items."
"Valerius…"
Hearing that name, Signora narrowed her eyes.
Had she heard correctly?
The Electro Archon had just addressed him as 'Lord Valerius.'
Someone worthy of such respect…
Just who exactly was Valerius?
Makoto ignored Ei's complaint.
Now that those responsible for the Delusion Factory had been captured…
It was time to hear the Fatui's explanation.
"Fatui Harbinger, Signora…"
"Would you care to explain yourself?"
"I… I don't know anything."
As if she'd admit it.
She was here as an official envoy.
Everything else had nothing to do with her.
"So you're still trying to deny it?"
Ei had never liked Signora to begin with.
With a cold expression, she drew her blade and stood up.
I'm dead.
Every hair on Signora's body stood on end.
Death felt incredibly close.
What do I do?
She had a feeling…
If she couldn't think of a convincing excuse…
She'd be dead before the day was over.
"Wait!"
"I know Valerius!"
Suddenly…
She remembered Ei mentioning Valerius earlier.
She didn't care anymore.
She'd borrow his name first and figure things out later.
"Hm?"
Ei stopped in her tracks.
She stared directly at Signora.
"You're telling the truth?"
"Naturally."
Although she'd only met Valerius once…
Signora briefly described his appearance.
She even emphasized how she'd given him Mora back then.
"Oh?"
"So Valerius was the one who sent people to stir up trouble in Inazuma?"
Ei immediately became furious.
"It's one thing to mess with me during games…"
"But sending people to cause trouble in real life too?"
She instantly opened the livestream and began calling Valerius out.
[Raiden Ei: Valerius! Get out here! Explain why you sent people to cause trouble in my Inazuma!]
[Kamisato Ayaka: ??????]
[Yae Miko: What…? Let me see.]
Still at the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko looked confused.
Valerius sent someone to cause trouble in Inazuma?
This sounded juicy.
She immediately set off toward Tenshukaku.
She wasn't missing this gossip.
[Kuki Shinobu: Valerius… sent someone… to make trouble in Inazuma?]
She couldn't make sense of it.
That didn't sound like Valerius at all.
[Tingyun: Mr. Valerius causing trouble in Inazuma…? That doesn't seem right.]
She practically saw Valerius every day.
How had she never heard about this?
[Bronya: Lady Electro Archon… could there be some misunderstanding?]
[Raiden Makoto: Ei… don't jump to conclusions… I don't think Mr. Valerius is involved.]
She felt utterly helpless.
The woman had merely said she knew Valerius.
How had Ei immediately concluded Valerius was the mastermind?
[Raiden Ei: Huh…? Oh… right. Valerius, come quickly. This Fatui says she knows you.]
[Arlecchino: ??????]
[Tartaglia: I think I know what's happening.]
Tartaglia couldn't stop laughing.
So Signora had been caught in Inazuma.
The moment Makoto returned, he'd known Signora wouldn't have an easy time there.
Sure enough…
She'd been captured almost immediately.
But claiming to know Valerius…
That was hilarious.
Valerius hadn't acknowledged her at all.
She was simply trying to borrow his reputation.
[Valerius: What are you talking about? Since when did I send anyone to cause trouble?]
Valerius was completely baffled.
Had he ever done such a thing?
No.
[Raiden Ei: I misspoke. She says she knows you.]
[Valerius: Knows me? Who is it? Hold on, I'll come take a look.]
Valerius became curious as well.
Among the Fatui Harbingers, he only really knew Arlecchino and Tartaglia.
So who was currently in Inazuma?
Scaramouche…?
Or Signora…?
"It should be Signora."
Valerius chuckled.
He'd already guessed what had happened.
She was probably about to get killed by Ei and was desperately trying to use his name as protection.
He stood up and looked toward the people around him.
"I'm heading to Inazuma."
"Anyone coming?"
"I'm not."
Jingliu answered without hesitation.
She had no interest in interacting with anyone who wasn't a player.
Phantylia, however, became interested.
She had never visited Teyvat before.
"Lord Valerius…"
"May I come and have a look?"
"Sure."
As for Shenhe…
She had already silently walked to Valerius's side.
Her intentions were obvious.
She was coming too.
Taking out the Anywhere Door…
After confirming the destination…
Valerius stepped through with the two women.
"Hm?"
The moment they arrived inside Tenshukaku…
Valerius immediately spotted something amusing.
Scaramouche lay miserably on the floor.
Signora stood beside him, visibly anxious.
Raiden Makoto and Ei occupied the seats above.
Meanwhile…
Yae Miko stood leisurely to one side.
Something kept flying up and down in her hand.
"…A Gnosis?"
Seeing what Yae Miko was casually tossing, Valerius almost burst out laughing.
Now that you've got backing, you're really going all out, huh?
She was openly tossing the Electro Gnosis around…
Right in front of two Fatui Harbingers.
That was psychological warfare at its finest.
"Valerius, you're here."
"She says she knows you."
The moment Valerius appeared…
Ei immediately walked over and pointed at Signora.
"Uh…"
Signora froze.
She'd only wanted to borrow Valerius's reputation.
She'd never imagined he could literally appear here.
Weren't you in Liyue just now?
How did you get to Inazuma instantly?
Her heartbeat quickened.
This man is an absolute powerhouse.
I really played with fire this time.
Since Valerius was already here…
She could only brace herself and greet him.
"Mr. Valerius…"
"We meet again after our farewell in Liyue."
Trying to get close now?
Valerius looked at her with amusement.
You've got some nerve.
"Weren't you told to stay away whenever you saw someone with a braid?"
"I…"
Signora wanted to cry.
"You only said to stay away from braided women."
"You never said which braided woman!"
"When I met the Electro Archon, I specifically checked."
"She wasn't wearing braids."
"How was I supposed to know another Raiden would suddenly appear?"
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