Chapter 71. Cooperation
Tighnari agreed.
He was a smart person, not one of those hot-blooded fools who would immediately join a cause after hearing a few stirring words.
He clearly understood what Futsu Mitama's words represented, and no one understood the current situation of the Akademiya better than he did.
Although he trusted Futsu Mitama and Cyno, and although the message had supposedly come from Greater Lord Rukkhadevata herself, the Scholars of the Akademiya would never think the same way.
To put it bluntly, most Scholars within the Akademiya today were arrogant.
It was not that arrogance itself was a flaw. If they truly possessed unparalleled talent and accomplishments, a certain degree of pride would be understandable.
But the current Akademiya was different.
How should one put it?
Far too many Scholars believed that simply because they possessed "wisdom," they stood above everyone else.
Those who traveled beyond Sumeru often learned humility after witnessing the vastness of the world. However, the Scholars who remained within Sumeru City—
Tighnari did not wish to speak too harshly about his former colleagues, but the reality was exactly as he saw it.
He trusted Futsu Mitama.
He trusted Cyno even more.
Yet the Great Sage and the other Scholars would almost certainly not trust either of them.
The reason was simple.
If Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had truly sent down a divine oracle, then why would she choose to contact Futsu Mitama, the successor to the Electro Archon?
Why would she choose Cyno?
Why would she not contact the Akademiya directly?
Why would she not contact the Sages who claimed to be her most loyal followers?
To the Scholars of the Akademiya, this would be completely illogical. In their eyes, the Akademiya was Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's most faithful servant.
Therefore, Futsu Mitama and Cyno must be lying.
The so-called divine oracle must be fabricated. Everything must be a deception.
Once that conclusion was reached, the situation would inevitably spiral into conflict.
Those Scholars would never allow such claims to spread freely throughout Sumeru. Because the moment the people learned that Greater Lord Rukkhadevata still cared about the fate of her successor—
And the moment they learned that Lesser Lord Kusanali had remained confined within the Sanctuary of Surasthana for five hundred years—
The prestige of the Akademiya would collapse completely.
The Sages who constantly proclaimed themselves the closest followers of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata would be drowned beneath criticism and infamy.
In simpler terms, if Futsu Mitama's and Cyno's claims were acknowledged as truth, then everything the Akademiya had built over the past five centuries would become a joke.
A joke not only within Sumeru, but in the eyes of every nation across Teyvat.
And that was something the Akademiya would never allow.
Therefore, Tighnari understood very clearly what this decision meant.
The moment he chose to stand beside Futsu Mitama, he would no longer merely be opposing a handful of Sages.
He would be placing himself on the opposite side of the entire Akademiya.
The weight of that decision was not something to be taken lightly. Yet after arriving at that conclusion, Tighnari still chose to agree.
Not because he was reckless. Not because he was driven by emotion. And certainly not because he had failed to consider the consequences.
Rather, it was because he had considered them all.
The Akademiya had already been walking down the wrong path for five hundred years.
Five hundred years ago, perhaps there had been reasons.
Five hundred years ago, perhaps there had been circumstances unknown to later generations.
But five hundred years had passed already.
No matter what justification once existed, it could no longer excuse the present. The mistakes of the past could not continue indefinitely.
If no one stepped forward now, then those mistakes would simply continue for another five hundred years.
For Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
For Lesser Lord Kusanali.
For the future of Sumeru.
Why shouldn't he do it?
Therefore, after weighing everything, Tighnari ultimately chose to assist Futsu Mitama and the others.
"Phew~"
Collei also let out a quiet sigh of relief, though concern quickly appeared on her face.
Her intelligence was not low. On the contrary, she understood very clearly what her master's decision represented.
The Akademiya was not some ordinary organization. Within Sumeru, its authority was comparable to the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt.
To stand against such an enormous institution—was it really safe?
Thinking this, Collei quietly glanced at Futsu Mitama.
Then she blinked.
Almost instantly, the anxiety in her heart eased considerably.
She had been so worried about her master that she had nearly forgotten who was standing right beside them.
Futsu Mitama. The successor acknowledged by the Electro Archon herself. The future Raiden Shogun.
With someone like him present, perhaps things would not be as hopeless as she had imagined.
"Actually, it isn't anything too complicated," Futsu Mitama said. "We simply want to infiltrate Sumeru City, and we need your help."
Futsu Mitama's plan had always been to enter Sumeru City in secret.
Although Nahida was theoretically confined within the Sanctuary of Surasthana, her consciousness could travel throughout Sumeru.
Whether in the rainforest or the desert, traces of her presence could be found almost everywhere. Even so, most of the time, Nahida's attention remained focused on Sumeru City.
Therefore, entering the city was still necessary.
First, he needed to find Nahida.
Second, he needed to determine how far the Akademiya's cooperation with the Fatui had progressed, particularly regarding the God Creation Project.
"Infiltrate Sumeru City?"
Tighnari stroked his chin thoughtfully. Then he looked at Futsu Mitama and asked,
"You mean to enter Sumeru City without revealing your identities? With your status, even if you entered openly, nothing should happen, correct?"
Tighnari found this somewhat puzzling.
After all, Futsu Mitama's position was extraordinarily special. As the successor to the Electro Archon, his status was effectively equal to that of an Archons.
Tighnari already understood the situation in Sumeru.
Lesser Lord Kusanali likely was imprisoned.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was presumed trapped somewhere beyond reach.
In practical terms, Sumeru currently lacked the direct protection of its Archon.
Under such circumstances, someone like Futsu Mitama should be able to walk openly through Sumeru City without anyone daring to harm him.
"Yes." Futsu Mitama nodded. "I could enter Sumeru City openly without encountering any immediate danger."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"But I would also be watched very carefully."
Tighnari immediately understood.
If Futsu Mitama entered publicly, the Akademiya would undoubtedly welcome him with the highest level of courtesy.
At least on the surface. Yet that same courtesy would become a cage.
Every movement would be observed.
Every action would attract attention.
Every investigation would become difficult.
"I see."
Tighnari fell silent for a moment. Then, as though something had occurred to him, he asked,
"Is entering Sumeru City secretly your only request?"
Futsu Mitama nodded.
As long as they could successfully enter the city and establish contact with Lesser Lord Kusanali, everything afterward would become much easier.
No matter what happened next, finding Nahida remained the highest priority. Only after contacting her and explaining the current situation could they begin planning how to free her from her imprisonment.
"In that case, the solution is simple."
A faint smile appeared on Tighnari's face. Looking at Futsu Mitama and the others, he said calmly,
"You can disguise yourselves as Eremites and enter Sumeru City."
"Eremites?"
Kuki Shinobu blinked. Her expression became slightly strange.
"You want us to disguise ourselves as bandits?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi blinked as well. With a hint of curiosity, she asked,
"Is Sumeru really that... open-minded? Even bandits can enter a city protected by a god?"
In Kuki Shinobu's and Sangonomiya Kokomi's understanding, Eremites were little different from bandits.
They were similar to the Treasure Hoarders of Liyue or the Nobushi of Inazuma.
And groups like those would never be allowed to enter a major city openly. If they appeared, they would be arrested immediately unless they concealed their identities.
Otherwise, walking into a city openly would be no different from provoking the authorities.
"No." Tighnari smiled and shook his head. "It's different."
"Not all Eremites are bandits. The security within Sumeru City is currently maintained by a group of Eremites known as the Corps of Thirty."
"As long as they don't possess a criminal record and haven't been blacklisted by the Akasha, Eremites can generally enter and leave the city without much difficulty."
Tighnari paused briefly before continuing.
"Of course, you'll still need disguises. And you'll need to present yourselves as devoted followers of King Deshret. The more convinced others are of that identity, the less attention you'll attract."
His calm explanation left Aila, Black Aila, Kuki Shinobu, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Shenhe momentarily stunned.
The reason was simple.
What exactly did the Eremites have to do with King Deshret?
And weren't the Eremites essentially a group of bandits?
What about the people who had attempted to rob them earlier?
Since none of them were natives of Sumeru, even Futsu Mitama's understanding of the Eremites was fairly limited. He only knew that their behavior resembled that of mercenaries.
As for the details, he knew very little.
Although all of them were called Eremites, the difference between individual groups was enormous.
Some accepted commissions and faithfully protected their employers until the very end. Others robbed their employers, extorted travelers, committed fraud, and ambushed passersby.
Seeing the confusion written across everyone's faces, Tighnari and Collei exchanged a glance before beginning to explain further.
The Eremites were, in essence, a loose collection of mercenary groups originating from the golden desert.
As long as sufficient payment was offered, they were willing to work for almost anyone.
In reality, "Eremite" was merely a general term used by outsiders.
Among them existed independent mercenary groups, wandering tribes, and various organizations with entirely different structures.
The desert people were descendants of those who once believed in King Deshret.
However, King Deshret had long since passed away. The desert people of today, just like the Eremites, no longer possessed the protection of a god.
That was precisely why Tighnari suggested disguising themselves as Eremites. Because among all available identities, it was one of the least likely to attract suspicion.
"But why do we need to pretend to be fanatical followers of King Deshret?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi tilted her head slightly, unable to hide her confusion. To be honest, she found the suggestion somewhat difficult to accept.
As the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, her position and faith had long been intertwined with Orobashi no Mikoto.
When she inherited the title of Divine Priestess, she had effectively dedicated her life to serving Watatsumi Island and its god.
If someone asked her to show respect toward the Raiden Shogun, she would not object. After all, many events of the past had already proven that Watatsumi Island and Orobashi no Mikoto had committed mistakes that could not be ignored.
But King Deshret?
She barely knew anything about him. Pretending to be a loyal believer for strategic reasons was possible.
Still, it felt rather strange.
Kuki Shinobu and Shenhe nodded slightly as well.
The former believed in the Electro Archon.
The latter respected the Geo Archon.
Among everyone present, perhaps only Aila and Black Aila could remain completely indifferent.
To them, Futsu Mitama came first. Everything else came afterward.
"Because of the Akasha Terminal."
The moment Tighnari spoke those words, his expression became noticeably more serious.
"If you enter Sumeru City normally, people will insist that you wear one. If you refuse without a convincing reason, you will immediately become suspicious."
"Then you'll face two possibilities."
"Either you'll be forced to wear an Akasha Terminal. In that case, your actions, movements, and much of your daily activity will fall under the Akasha's observation."
"Or you'll be detained for questioning."
"Neither outcome is beneficial for your mission."
Tighnari then carefully explained the current situation surrounding the Akasha Terminal.
Within Sumeru City, it was almost impossible to avoid.
For ordinary citizens, it was an extremely useful tool. With its assistance, many tasks became far more convenient.
But for Futsu Mitama and the others, who intended to conceal their identities and investigate matters in secret, the Akasha Terminal was practically the last thing they wanted to wear.
Upon hearing the explanation, Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kuki Shinobu exchanged glances. Both of them had joined the Chat Group relatively early.
They still remembered how, shortly after joining, Yae Miko had once mentioned that Sumeru's Akasha possessed certain similarities to the Chat Group.
That statement alone had sparked everyone's curiosity.
After all, the Chat Group itself was already an unbelievable existence. What exactly was this Akasha that could even be compared to it?
Although Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had later stated that the Akasha was nowhere near the same level and that comparing the two was inappropriate, their curiosity had never completely disappeared.
Perhaps after the situation in Sumeru was resolved, they would finally have an opportunity to experience it themselves.
But for now, following Tighnari's plan was clearly the wiser choice.
As long as nothing unexpected happened, disguising themselves as Eremites would allow them to enter Sumeru City smoothly.
"I have a question."
At that moment, Black Aila suddenly spoke. Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward her. She looked directly at Tighnari and asked calmly,
"What if they insist on making us wear the Akasha Terminal? Or worse, what if they decide to arrest us? Should we fight our way out? Should we attack first? Or do we have another contingency plan?"
Her voice remained calm, but everyone understood why she was concerned.
As someone who had once been relentlessly hunted by the Fatui and forced into the depths of the Abyss, Black Aila was exceptionally sensitive to situations like this.
She knew perfectly well that with their strength, escaping by force would not be difficult. In fact, it would probably be very easy.
But it would also be the worst possible outcome.
Because defeating enemies was simple.
Controlling the aftermath was not.
Once conflict erupted, the Akademiya and the Fatui could easily seize control of public opinion.
Even if the truth emerged later.
Even if Lesser Lord Kusanali was eventually rescued.
Certain stains, once attached, were difficult to erase completely.
The Fatui themselves were the perfect example. Today, no matter which nation one visited, people's attitude toward the Fatui could be summarized in two words.
Distrust and disdain.
Sometimes, incidents caused by the Abyss Order were blamed on the Fatui. Sometimes, the Fatui themselves had no idea what people were accusing them of.
Yet they rarely bothered to explain.
Because the Fatui were too large.
Because the Harbingers were too unpredictable.
Who knew whether one of them had actually done something outrageous?
Black Aila understood this very well.
She did not want Futsu Mitama to help save Sumeru's Archon, only to become the target of endless accusations afterward.
Especially when their opponent this time was Dottore.
A man exceptionally skilled at manipulating both information and people.
"This is indeed troublesome."
Tighnari nodded slowly. For perhaps the first time since the discussion began, his expression grew somewhat troubled.
He understood exactly what Black Aila meant.
"If I were personally in Sumeru City, I could likely help you deal with such situations. But currently, I am still the Forest Watcher of Gandharva Ville."
"I can prepare identification documents for you. I can help create suitable identities. But if something truly happens inside Sumeru City—"
Tighnari fell silent.
A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.
Then, as though he had suddenly remembered something, he looked toward Futsu Mitama and the others.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"There may be a solution. You can remain in Gandharva Ville for a short while. I'll head to Sumeru City first and meet an old senior of mine. If she is willing to help—"
Tighnari's tone became noticeably more confident.
"Then unless the Sages themselves personally issue an order, no one in Sumeru City will be able to stop you."
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