Chapter 261: He Really Does Know Everything
Just like the Kamisato siblings were trying to read Bai Luo's intentions, at that very moment, Bai Luo was also trying to figure out what the Kamisatos were up to.
The Shuumatsuban's loyalty to the Kamisato household could only be described as absolute.
Even though the Fatui never managed to infiltrate their ranks, that didn't stop them from tracking the group's movements.
So when Bai Luo received reports that the entire Shuumatsuban had been mobilized, even he couldn't help but take notice.
But after finishing the report that had been handed up to him, his expression turned rather strange.
"Have the Shuumatsuban gone insane?"
According to the intel, the ninjas were running around Inazuma like madmen, day and night, searching for a certain kind of flower.
At first, Bai Luo assumed it had to be something like Naku Weed or Amakumo Grass.
If not those, then maybe Scarlet Quartz or even Bloodbranch Coral.
But when his careful subordinates actually delivered one of the flowers in question to him—
Bai Luo was utterly dumbfounded.
"...Isn't this just a normal wildflower?"
Come to think of it… when he teleported to Mt. Yougou that time, didn't Kamisato Ayato have this same little flower with him?
Could it be… that this was what he and Yae Miko had been discussing back on that mountain?
Bai Luo narrowed his eyes at the wilted blue blossom in his hand, unable to make heads or tails of it.
"Send this thing over to Watatsumi Island. Have the research corps there analyze it."
He decided to let his subordinates handle the headache. There was no way he could've imagined that Yae Miko and Ayato had mistaken this tiny blue flower for the medium of his teleportation.
With that issue off his shoulders, Bai Luo turned his attention back to planning the very first Ms. Hina handshake event, while also instructing his men to prepare for an official visit to the Kamisato estate.
The moment word spread that the Ausbilder himself was going to pay the Kamisato clan a visit—every Fatui agent in Inazuma was shaken.
Was the ever-slacking Ausbilder finally about to take something seriously?
After all, while the Fatui had indeed infiltrated Inazuma's Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission, that had nothing to do with him.
All of those accomplishments belonged to the advance teams who had arrived long before Bai Luo ever set foot in the nation.
The only Commission that remained out of reach was the Shuumatsuban-guarded Yashiro Commission, run by the Kamisato siblings.
Naturally, everyone assumed that Bai Luo's upcoming visit meant the Eleventh Harbinger was finally making a move on them.
Some agents even thought their colleagues were joking when they first heard the news, dismissing it as a made-up rumor.
That was, until three days later, when three wagons stacked high with lavish gifts rolled out of the city gates.
At that point, no one could deny it any longer.
Inside one of those swaying carriages, Bai Luo let out a sigh as the wheels jolted beneath him.
"I really miss Anemo Slimes…"
Sure, they were slow. But at least they were smooth—smooth enough that you could set a glass of water on the table and it wouldn't spill.
Unfortunately, tame Anemo Slimes weren't exactly easy to find around Inazuma, and the wild ones only frightened horses. So he had no choice but to endure a bone-rattling ride all the way to the Kamisato estate.
After passing beneath the endless rows of torii gates of Chinju Forest, the view suddenly opened wide before him.
And there, already waiting as his sister had instructed, Kamisato Ayato stood with a full retinue of retainers.
The wagons bearing the Fatui crest came to a slow halt, creaking to a stop.
The door opened with a long, groaning squeak.
And stepping out, face hidden behind a pale mask—was the Ausbilder himself.
"Lord Commissioner. It has been a while."
Bai Luo hadn't bothered with the heavy ceremonial robes.
Yes, they were specially tailored to keep him cool even in the heat of summer, but to him it still felt no different from wearing a down coat in the middle of July.
Anyone would look like an idiot like that.
Still, as a diplomatic envoy of Snezhnaya, he knew better than to appear too casual. So he'd at least swapped out his usual black overcoat for a simpler formal suit.
Although the formal suit was still troublesome to wear, compared to Snezhnaya's heavy fur-lined coats, at least it didn't make him look like he was boiling alive.
"Ausbilder-dono, you honor us. The banquet has been prepared—please, come inside."
At Kamisato Ayato's signal, retainers stepped forward and began unloading the wagons of gifts from the Fatui. As for the Fatui attendants who had accompanied Bai Luo, the Kamisato clan butler naturally stepped in to make arrangements for them.
Compared to the Tenryou or Kanjou Commissions, the Yashiro Commission clearly had a more refined touch.
Etiquette, traditions, ceremonial procedure—everything was observed far more thoroughly than the other two houses.
The Kanjou Commission wasn't even worth mentioning. As for the Kujou clan of the Tenryou Commission, their idea of entertaining guests was throwing together a casual meal at the Uyuu Restaurant.
Usually when they drank together, it was all rowdy games of dice and shouting matches over cards. With Bai Luo at the table, though, they couldn't loosen up at all.
That was why Bai Luo had always brushed off their invitations with some excuse or another.
Well… if it were Kujou Sara personally inviting him, he might not refuse.
After the initial formalities, Bai Luo followed Ayato deeper into the Kamisato estate.
Once he had changed into the geta sandals presented by the house servants, the guest of honor was finally ushered into the main hall.
"The wine and dishes have all been specially arranged through the International Trade Association," Ayato explained with an elegant smile. "The wine is Mondstadt's dandelion vintage, and the food—Liyue cuisine. I trust they'll be to Ausbilder-dono's liking."
Clearly, Ayato had investigated Bai Luo's tastes and background beforehand.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to put together such a meal.
Back in Liyue, Bai Luo had once borrowed Childe's name to dine at the prestigious Liuli Pavilion.
The flavors might not have been as down-to-earth as Wanmin Restaurant's, but the pomp and grandeur had certainly been worth it. If you wanted to impress someone, Liuli Pavilion was the place.
Looking at the spread before him now, Bai Luo had to admit—the dishes did look like Liyue cuisine.
But only at a glance.
The resemblance was shallow—form without substance.
They'd clearly learned a few tricks and tried to flaunt them abroad, only to be cut off by the Sakoku Decree, never able to go back and refine their craft.
Bai Luo's lips twitched. He remembered now—Uyuu Restaurant and many other restaurants in Inazuma had boasted that their food was "just as good as Liyue's."
'...Don't tell me this is the culprit behind all that?'
The two men sat opposite each other.
And then, only after a deliberate pause, did Ayaka finally arrive—folding fan in hand, her steps measured and graceful. She sat by her brother's side, in the seat that had clearly been prepared for her.
"Ausbilder-dono, allow me to introduce—my younger sister, Kamisato Ayaka. She is—"
"The Shirasagi Himegimi, heir to the Inazuma Kamisato Art Tachi Jutsu. Your reputation precedes you."
Before Ayato could even finish, Bai Luo had already spoken the words himself.
Ayaka froze.
Her hands, holding the fan, trembled ever so slightly.
That gaze… the way this Ausbilder looked at her—
It was as though every secret she carried had already been laid bare before him.
Her mind flickered back—back to the moment she had carried that flowerpot home in secret, to the words she had whispered without thinking:
"I'm Kamisato Ayaka of the Inazuma Kamisato Art Tachi Jutsu. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
He knew.
He really did know everything!
. . . . .
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