Under a crooked Sacred Sakura tree, Bai Luo and the wandering samurai sat facing each other, but what lay on the stone table before them was not wine, but tea.
Neither Bai Luo nor Scaramouche enjoyed drinking, and besides, now was not the time for it.
"A rather nice place, suitable for many things."
Even now, Scaramouche did not remove his wide-brimmed hat. He merely glanced around, as if praising the surroundings.
"Indeed, I quite like this fishpond. Usually, I can raise fish here, walk the dog—life couldn't be more comfortable."
As a Harbinger himself, Bai Luo understood better than anyone that when his colleague began complimenting a place, it meant he intended to stir up trouble there.
But how could Bai Luo possibly hand over a place he had his eyes on?
"Since you've returned, why not go to Inazuma City? I've been covering quite a bit of your shifts."
Not many knew of Bai Luo's return.
Tartaglia was one of the few in the know, but his thirty-nine-page letter was still drifting at sea, uncertain when it would reach Inazuma.
Even he believed Bai Luo had gone to Ritou, not Watatsumi Island. So even if the letter arrived, whether Bai Luo would see it remained unknown.
Truthfully, if not for Igor using the Regrator's name to request funds from the embassy in Inazuma, Scaramouche wouldn't have known Bai Luo had returned, let alone that the legendary Battousai was the Instructor.
Hm? Why did he know Bai Luo was behind the request when Igor had used the Regrator's name?
As a Harbinger, Scaramouche was well aware that the Regrator only gave money to his subordinates—he never let them ask for it, especially not three billion Mora.
While three billion wasn't a huge sum, it was enough to draw the Regrator's attention.
With Igor's temperament, he would never dare do such a thing alone—someone must have incited him.
So the question was: What kind of person could make Igor disregard the Regrator's intimidation and boldly demand money from Inazuma?
The method of requesting funds under someone else's name immediately reminded Scaramouche of Bai Luo.
The tales of Bai Luo and Tartaglia's "love-hate relationship" in Liyue had already reached him.
Not just him—even La Signora's desk now bore joint bills under Bai Luo and Tartaglia's names, though she didn't particularly care.
It was just a meal's cost. As long as her name wasn't used for anything strange, she wouldn't pursue it.
"I thought the fleet was heading to Ritou, but halfway, they came to Watatsumi Island. After arriving... I noticed something off here. I wanted to settle matters before leaving. Otherwise, our plans in Inazuma City might be severely affected."
"So you're saying I still have to cover your shifts?"
"Hard work deserves rewards. I'll treat you to Sunsettias later."
The fishing spot is prepped, the bait is hooked—just as I'm about to cast the line, you tell me to leave?
Dream on!
Even if your mother showed up today, I wouldn't budge!
This is the determination of an angler!
"I've already had Igor send the money. Just don't go overboard. I have my own matters to attend to—I can't keep covering for you indefinitely."
Bai Luo had expected to need more persuasion, but surprisingly, Scaramouche was quite accommodating. Or perhaps... he had his own reasons for staying in Inazuma. The way he pressed down his hat as he spoke seemed to conceal something.
"Relax, you know how I operate."
Bai Luo waved a hand dismissively.
Confidence was one thing, but Bai Luo never overestimated himself.
Even if the success rate was 99.9%, he would still give 100% effort for that remaining 0.1%.
Because that 0.1% variable could change everything.
Dusk settled over the treetops, heralding the arrival of starlight.
Scaramouche glanced at the sunset-dyed waters and slowly stood, as if preparing to leave.
"How are things at the Delusion Factory?"
Bai Luo lifted his teacup, where the faint purple leaves floating inside could no longer be distinguished from the fallen sakura petals.
His seemingly casual question made Scaramouche pause.
"Don't know. Same as in Inazuma City—I'm just covering shifts there too. If trouble arises, I go to suppress it. If not, I don't bother. I don't go all seven days of the week."
Scaramouche was telling the truth. Logically, this matter should have been Bai Luo's responsibility.
But as a new Harbinger, he was unfamiliar with many operations, which was why Scaramouche had been assigned to oversee the Delusion Factory.
Yet unexpectedly, this temporary arrangement had not only stuck him with factory duties but also piled Inazuma City's workload onto him.
Had I known, I wouldn't have come.
What a hassle.
"This fishpond is beautiful. I like it, so I don't want it tainted by anything unsightly. Understand?"
Swirling his teacup, Bai Luo always enjoyed shaking non-alcoholic drinks this way.
Perhaps he thought the motion looked cool. But to those who knew him, it was less about being "cool" and more about being infuriating.
A warning? Not exactly.
He and Scaramouche were equals in rank, with Scaramouche being his senior. He couldn't outright warn him.
He was merely conveying a message: Watatsumi Island is mine. Unless necessary, don't interfere.
"I told you, I'm just covering shifts. I'll try relaying your words to that person, but whether they'll spare your little toy is beyond me."
Scaramouche had no interest in getting involved in their games. He had his own matters to attend to.
Like making life difficult for his mother.
Scaramouche departed Watatsumi Island under the crimson sunset, the bloody light evenly staining his figure, sending chills down one's spine.
No one knew he had been here—just as no one knew two Harbingers had once conversed beneath an ordinary Sacred Sakura tree.
Apart from a few Watatsumi soldiers at the bridge being killed by Shogunate spies, Watatsumi Island remained largely undisturbed.
Only, Mirai was no longer seen by the stone bridge.
Not that Scaramouche had harmed her—Reirei, fearing the Shogunate spies might infiltrate Bourou Village, had placed her under house arrest.
The Crux Fleet and merchants from Liyue were also implicated.
Sangonomiya Kokomi knew this incident likely had nothing to do with the Liyue group—and must have nothing to do with them.
But to maintain morale, after consulting Beidou, she placed all Liyue merchants under house arrest.
Though called "house arrest," it wasn't much different from usual—these merchants typically only wandered around Bourou Village anyway, rarely venturing out.
As for Bai Luo, no one believed he was involved.
Many even assumed the Shogunate had sent spies to investigate whether Battousai was truly on Watatsumi Island.
Hmm... in a way, that wasn't entirely wrong.
It's just that this "spy" was a bit too high-ranking.