Chapter 244: Scaramouche's Plans
"I'd love to, but compared to that, there's something far more important I need to do."
Bai Luo's gaze turned toward Inazuma City as he spoke.
Was he just fooling around these past few days?
On the surface, yes. Everything about him screamed that he was simply flirting and bickering with Yae Miko, finding every excuse to mess around with her.
But there's one thing you mustn't forget—
The Raiden Shogun's Gnosis is currently in Yae Miko's possession.
Now that he finally had the chance to get close to her, how could he possibly let it slip away?
Perhaps Yae Miko herself never even imagined that, aside from her and Ei, there was someone else who knew the exact whereabouts of the Gnosis.
"You're right. Things in Inazuma City must be even busier for you than they are for me."
Was she disappointed?
Not at all.
If Bai Luo was busy, it meant he was thriving within the Fatui—rising quickly, making a name for himself. That was a far better future than delivering letters with her. In fact, she was happy for him.
"Later, I'll find a proper teammate for you. If anything troublesome comes up, seek out Sveta on Watatsumi Island—she'll help you out."
The reason he came here in person this time was largely to arrange work for Ksenia. He didn't trust anyone else with the task.
If some loose-lipped fool ran their mouth in front of her, blurting out something like, 'I'm here under direct orders from Lord Bai Luo, the Ausbilder!'—that would ruin everything.
For now, he didn't want Ksenia to know his true identity.
"I can handle things on my own."
Ksenia's original intention was to share part of her profits with Bai Luo anyway. But if someone else joined in, wouldn't that slice get even smaller? No wonder she sounded reluctant.
"That may be so, but without official backing from the Shogunate, it'll be hard to get past their checkpoints smoothly. And I won't risk your safety."
The Fatui had already sunk their claws deep into the Kujou Clan, true. But Kujou Sara herself—she was not someone so easily swayed.
If she ever caught wind of Ksenia's unusual identity, she would never turn a blind eye like the others.
That's why arranging a suitable partner for her wasn't just formality—it was a necessity.
And Bai Luo already had the perfect candidate in mind.
After a brief exchange, Bai Luo watched Ksenia set off on her courier's path.
As for him… his attention turned to the other side of Kannazuka.
Because over there was an old acquaintance of his.
He deliberately chose not to use his ability—even though the cooldown was over. Instead, he walked step by step toward the cliff.
It wasn't that he was worried about startling his colleague— Well, no, actually, that was exactly it.
His colleague's heart was far too fragile.
No— That wasn't quite right either.
Because that colleague didn't have a heart at all.
A tattered banner bearing the Raiden Shogun's three-fold tomoe swayed in the sea breeze, the cloth flapping with a dry, lonely rustle.
At the cliff's edge sat a boy who called himself a wandering vagrant. No one could tell what thoughts weighed on him as he stared off into the distance.
Almost reflexively, Bai Luo reached for his pocket.
—Ah. No Sunsettias today. Then how was he supposed to break the ice?
"Only a few days back in Inazuma, and already that dead-silent city has grown noisier… As expected of you, Bai Luo."
Scaramouche had sensed his presence long before, yet he didn't rise to greet him. Instead, he kept his gaze on the endless sea before them, as though searching for something he had long since lost.
And indeed, that was exactly what Bai Luo was like.
A single drop of water falling into boiling oil—wherever he went, the world around him sizzled and roared to life.
Mondstadt.
Liyue.
Inazuma.
Even Watatsumi Island hadn't been spared his meddling.
"Well, I can't help it. I was born to stir things up," Bai Luo replied with a wry grin, glancing down at the base of the mountain.
If he remembered correctly, a certain place lay hidden below.
The Shakkei Pavilion.
The very spot where this so-called "vagrant" had once slumbered.
So this was a homecoming, was it?
Or… was Scaramouche planning to deal with the barrier shrouding Tatarasuna?
"I hear you've already taken Watatsumi Island?"
Scaramouche didn't know Bai Luo all that well. But he'd heard enough stories.
The man might look frivolous, always joking, always playing the fool… yet when no one was paying attention, he was constantly weaving unseen threads into the world around him.
Sometimes it was a single offhand remark.
Sometimes just a simple order.
But those threads, sooner or later, would always tighten into something far greater than anyone could have imagined.
It reminded Scaramouche of someone—Yae Miko.
His wariness toward her was deeper than even his caution toward Inazuma Archon.
That fox could see through heaven and earth, pierce through the illusions of the mortal realm, and glimpse truths others could never hope to perceive.
In other words—she had foresight.
Not as overwhelming as the late Kitsune Saiguu's perhaps, but sharp enough to always prepare her moves long before the board was set.
And Bai Luo's habit of scattering hidden threads everywhere… was eerily similar to hers.
That thought lingered in Scaramouche's mind. Could it be that Bai Luo…?
"Things that belong to you… are best kept firmly in your own hands."
Bai Luo opened his palm, then slowly clenched it shut. A quiet reminder to Scaramouche.
A warning: don't meddle with Watatsumi Island.
His control over the island was already exactly as he'd intended.
From the reports he'd received, not only had Pantalone pulled back, but even the Dottore—that obsessive schemer—had abandoned his designs on the place. He'd even gone so far as to send funds and equipment, practically offering them up to Bai Luo for free.
Out of respect for an old subordinate? As if.
Bai Luo didn't believe that for a second.
Most likely, the Dottore saw Watatsumi the same way he did: just another toy. Something to be played with, stripped for secrets, and discarded the moment it lost its shine.
If he borrowed the words of a certain comrade he once trusted with his life, Bai Luo would have thrown them back at the Dottore without hesitation:
"Boring. Useless. Worthless."
"…Yeah."
Scaramouche's hand drifted to his chest, the wide brim of his enormous hat casting a shadow that hid his expression. Whatever he was thinking remained unreadable.
Yes, he had gained the heart he so desperately longed for.
But in truth, it was nothing more than a tool of lies and deceit.
One day, though… one day he would hold what was truly his, grasped firmly in his own hands.
And when that day came, even this false body—this patchwork shell—would ascend to claim dominion over the world.
Yet, for now, the greatest obstacle standing in his way was the man before him—this supposed "colleague," this inconvenient upstart at the bottom of the Harbingers.
Should he exploit Bai Luo's power, use it to reclaim what rightfully belonged to him?
Perhaps… the smarter move would be to find a way to trick him into leaving Inazuma altogether.
Speaking of which—The Jester had contacted him not long ago. Told him to prepare to hand his current affairs over to the Ausbilder. Said he'd be assigned to another mission.
…Hmm. Maybe he could make that mission Bai Luo's problem instead.
If The Jester himself was taking an interest, it wouldn't be something simple. Far from it.
And by the time the dust finally settled, perhaps he would already have seized the heart that was truly his.
When that moment came… nothing else would matter.
. . . . .
If you want to see more chapter of this story and don't mind to pay $5 monthly to read till the latest chapter, please go to my Patreon[1]
Current Chapter in Patreon: Chapter 297: Void: Lover's Veil[2]
Link to the current chapter: https://www.patreon.com/posts/145673047?collection=174425[3]
https://www.patreon.com/collection/174425?view=condensed[4]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/174425?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/145673047?collection=174425
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/145673047?collection=174425
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/174425?view=condensed