Igor always felt that everything was under his control.
Just like this return trip from Inazuma City on Narukami Island; he had assumed he had simply spent money to make a group of good buddies.
Little did he know that these "good buddies"—and those ordinary people in the convoy who seemed like they were just there to make up the numbers—were actually subordinates of his direct superior, The Regrator (Pantalone).
And their mission was to execute Igor at the appropriate time.
"Lord Harbinger."
After the Fatui agents drew their knives, they bowed respectfully to Bai Luo.
Upon arriving at the Resistance camp, Bai Luo had used Nathan's intelligence network to contact his subordinates over in Inazuma City.
When Igor withdrew 300 million Mora in The Regrator's name, The Regrator noticed the flow of funds.
He hadn't intended to make things difficult for his subordinate; he just habitually investigated where the money was going.
He might have been fine without investigating, but once he did, he discovered Igor's treacherous behavior.
Several important Fatui plans had been leaked by Igor to Watatsumi Island.
One of these plans even concerned whether The Regrator could control Watatsumi Island's economic lifeline.
And the purpose of withdrawing funds this time was actually to fund Watatsumi Island?
This... this was truly poking the hornet's nest.
When Bai Luo learned that The Regrator had dispatched men to deal with Igor, he naturally "borrowed" them to orchestrate this highway robbery scene.
"Find a random spot and dump him. Once he's rotted enough, he'll be of use."
Bai Luo glanced at Igor, who was now thoroughly devoid of life, and spoke.
He orchestrated this robbery not just for show; it had an important use later on.
"What about this Mora? Should we haul it back?"
The Fatui looked at the Mora on the carriage and asked.
After spending time ingratiating themselves with Igor, they had learned some things.
For example, although Igor appeared to be withdrawing the Mora in the name of their superior, The Regrator, it was actually all under Bai Luo's instructions.
But they didn't cry injustice for Igor, because before meeting Bai Luo, Igor had indeed done many out-of-line things.
"Send it to Watatsumi Island anonymously. Remember! It must be anonymous!"
"Understood!"
These subordinates didn't know what kind of scheme their Lord Harbinger was cooking up now, but as foot soldiers, they just had to follow his instructions peacefully.
After reorganizing the convoy, they continued towards the Watatsumi Island.
Only Igor's corpse was mercilessly thrown into the jungle, with a person specifically assigned to guard it.
According to Bai Luo, he was to be left to rot, and only retrieved when he was decomposed enough that one could barely recognize him as Igor.
After the convoy left, Bai Luo looked at the little Mujina Ninja beside him.
Only now, she had turned into a Daruma doll, and huffing sounds were coming from inside it.
Bai Luo's gaze didn't linger on the Daruma for long. A stark white mask appeared on his face, and in an instant, he transformed into the appearance of "Hei."
Why did he dare to reveal so much in front of Sayu so blatantly?
It wasn't because he was careless, but purely because the little Mujina Ninja beside him had long since been swapped for a substitute.
When he was carrying that substitute, he had checked it.
This substitute was simply fur and a tree trunk; aside from its substitution function, it had no extra eavesdropping capabilities.
He wasn't in a hurry to chase Sayu. Having been an assassin for so many years, there was one thing he knew very well.
True despair isn't the moment you face despair.
It's the moment when, after escaping despair, you are just about to reach out and touch hope.
His perception expanded rapidly. In Bai Luo's eyes, the figure rolling like a wheel using elemental power became incredibly clear.
At this moment, she was speeding toward the east of Kujou Encampment and was about to enter the small boat the Shuumatsuban ninjas had hidden on the shore.
As long as... as long as she reached that place...
Gurgle—
A black line opened above Sayu's head, revealing a bloodshot eye.
That eye stared straight at the rapidly rolling little Mujina Ninja, a hint of mockery seemingly present in its beast-like vertical pupil.
Pale blue specks of light formed Bai Luo's body. He descended from the sky, slamming his palm onto the rolling Anemo element.
"Mmph mmmph!"
With her face pressed into the sand, the little Mujina Ninja could only make muffled sounds, her limbs flailing ceaselessly like a drowning fish.
Her fingers were already touching the damp seawater; she was only a Lavender Melon's distance away from that small boat.
"Sorry, this road is closed."
Lifting the little Mujina Ninja by the back of her collar again, Bai Luo carried her into the nearby woods amidst her despairing gaze.
"I... I'll pretend I didn't see anything. Can you let me go?"
Her limbs swinging limply with Bai Luo's movements, Sayu tried to negotiate with him.
On her dirty little face, sand mixed with Lavender Melon juice, leaving patches of grime.
Perhaps because he was dressed all in black, and the light in the woods was dim, she actually hadn't noticed that Bai Luo's attire and aura had changed.
"Oh? You mean you accidentally learned something? Then I definitely can't let you go."
Holding Sayu up in front of his face, the sneer on Bai Luo's mask looked even more sinister and eerie.
"Eek—"
After being lifted face-to-face with Bai Luo, Sayu finally recognized who he was.
Wasn't this the Fatui Harbinger who had chased her from Ritou all the way to Chinju Forest?
In Sayu's heart, there was a list of people she absolutely must not provoke.
First was the Shrine Maiden sister, second was that woman, third was the Tengu General of the Tenryou Commission, fourth was the Clan Head, and fifth... was this Fatui Harbinger.
But according to the news she had heard, shouldn't Bai Luo have left Inazuma and gone to Mondstadt?
Why would he appear here on Yashiori Island? Could it be that the Clan Head sent the Shuumatsuban to investigate because of this [Instructor]?
Thinking of this, Sayu's expression immediately crumpled.
Does that mean she accidentally stole her seniors' work?
Not only did she discover this Harbinger, but she also accidentally infiltrated their inner circle?
Or rather, was infiltrated by the opponent?
Recalling the "Little Mujina Ninja Survival Guide" she had memorized, Sayu forced herself to calm down and pulled out the half-eaten Lavender Melon from her robes.
"Lavender Melon. It's delicious. Want a taste?"
Showing goodwill to the other party appropriately can increase survival chances—that's what the book said.
Bai Luo looked at the squashed Lavender Melon, then at the nearly dried juice around Sayu's mouth, and sighed slightly.
He fished around in his pocket and pulled out a Sunsettia.
"Sunsettia. It's sweet. Want some?"
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