The hat he wore year-round was placed on the table. Scaramouche's fingers tapped rhythmically against the wood—a sound that wasn't particularly loud, yet in this silent room, it felt... bone-chilling.
This was because the person performing the action was the Harbinger who called himself Raiden Kunikuzushi. That changed everything.
In the past, many Harbingers had their own "Bai Luo."
The Doctor had the missionaries, Krober, and Bai Luo.
The Jester had Bai Luo.
The Rooster had Bai Luo.
The Regrator had Bai Luo.
La Signora had Bai Luo.
Childe had Bai...
Well, before Bai Luo became a Harbinger himself, it seemed he had worked under quite a few of them. Now, he had leaped to the same status as his former superiors, working directly for the Tsaritsa.
The man was resourceful and handled tasks beautifully. Even the notoriously picky Doctor admired him; Bai Luo was arguably the subordinate who had survived the longest under his command.
Every Harbinger had their own confidants, and Scaramouche was no exception. Even though the people around him were replaced frequently, one man had managed to stick by his side.
Unlike other Harbingers who prioritized utility, this man had survived for one reason only: his facial expressions were more vivid than anyone else's.
It was that simple. Scaramouche loathed noisy humans, but he enjoyed observing human terror and helplessness. Most Fatui soldiers were hardened warriors who wouldn't even grunt if they were stabbed, so finding such a "freak" was something Scaramouche cherished. He wasn't sure if he'd find a replacement if he killed this one.
"T-These... these are all bills sent from various merchants in Inazuma. They should all be... the Instructor's doing," the confidant said, kneeling on the floor and trembling violently.
He was terrified of being caught in the crossfire of the Instructor's antics. Even if the Instructor was known for having a "better" temper among the Harbingers, he wasn't someone a lowly subordinate could provoke. Being stuck in the middle was a nightmare.
The tapping on the table stopped abruptly. After a long silence, Scaramouche picked up his hat and stood up. The kneeling Fatui immediately pressed his forehead to the floor, not daring to look up.
"Where is the Instructor now?" Scaramouche asked.
"T-The Instructor is currently very close with Lady Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. According to our scouts, he should be at the shrine right now."
"..."
Hearing the names "Lady Guuji" and "Grand Narukami Shrine," Scaramouche's movements paused. Without absolute certainty, he would never choose to go head-to-head with that woman.
That kid Bai Luo ran off to the shrine at a time like this? Has he caught wind of something?
Thinking this, his gaze drifted to the subordinate on the floor. Feeling the weight of the gaze, the man shook like a leaf, afraid to even breathe.
"Deal with these bills. Notify me the moment the Instructor returns." Scaramouche ultimately decided not to kill the man. He left those words and prepared to leave.
"U-Um... what about the letter from Lord Jester?"
"Did you not hear my order?"
"Yes! Understood, sir!"
After Scaramouche left, the Fatui soldier let out a helpless sigh and stood up. As he sorted through the bills, he couldn't help but complain.
"The Instructor really knows how to enjoy life."
Indeed: hot springs, restaurants, souvenir shops... almost all the bills were from entertainment venues, and they were all for two people. It was hard not to think he was wooing a girl on the company's dime.
After filing the bills, he looked at the other letter. Swallowing hard, he carefully picked it up and placed it in a drawer. Unlike the others, this letter was from Lord Pierro in Snezhnaya. As the Tsaritsa's right hand, his letters often represented Her Majesty's will.
Is it really okay for Lord Scaramouche to just ignore it like this?
But that wasn't for him to worry about. Sigh, if only Lord Scaramouche were as easygoing as the Instructor, that would be great... (Krober and Igor would likely disagree vehemently with that sentiment).
***
Meanwhile, the man Scaramouche was so concerned about was not at the Grand Narukami Shrine, but near Amakane Island. Since he was collaborating with Yae Miko this time, he didn't bother hiding from the Yashiro Commission.
"Hmm... so just collecting and delivering letters?" Sayu read the small instruction card Bai Luo had prepared for her once again.
Initially, she had refused the card. She was a ninja of the Shuumatsuban; how could she fail such a simple task? But when she heard that the project was a joint venture between Bai Luo and Yae Miko, she buckled.
This wasn't a simple "one plus one" situation; this was a nightmare multiplied a hundredfold. Sayu did not feel she could survive that much "love and care."
"Yes. With your speed, you should finish quickly. You can spend the rest of your time as you please. But remember: the contents of the letters must never be leaked. And... don't go picking fights with the Cicin Mage who's working with you," Bai Luo lectured, waiting for Ksenia to arrive. When Sayu was reliable, she was amazing; when she wasn't, she made him want to spank her. He had to set the rules early.
"Do I get a salary?" Sayu realized that this wasn't just wandering around with Bai Luo; she was being assigned actual work. The content was easier than she expected, so the pay would probably be low, right?
Whatever, I don't have much to spend money on anyway. A few hundred thousand Mora as a gesture would be fine.
"Ten Sunsettias. Freshly picked. How does that sound?" Bai Luo gestured casually toward a nearby Sunsettia tree.
Under the sea breeze, the seven or eight fruits on the tree looked plump, fresh, and delicious. Normally, Sayu might have complained, but she wouldn't have refused.
But now...
"..."
After a moment of silence, Sayu tremblingly pulled her Mora pouch from her ninja bag.
"I have sixty-seven thousand Mora saved up in here. For the sake of this Mora, please... let me work for you for free! I beg of you!"
This wasn't just working for free; she was practically paying him to let her work. She wasn't joking. If Bai Luo really intended to pay her in Sunsettias, she would rather go into debt!
That taste... the kind that made the soul "ascend," the taste buds "evolve," and stomach acid retreat in terror... she never wanted to experience it a second time in her life. She'd rather be called a little tanuki for the rest of her days.
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