Chapter 404: Not a Normal Tree
Glenlivet scoffed, leaning back with a dismissive wave of his hand. "As for the people over at the Jade Chamber refusing to believe in the existence of 'Pandora'? Isn't that perfectly normal? They aren't even in the same department as that woman. Inazuma handles intelligence; sealing off a stray piece of information is child's play for them. Besides, thanks to that woman's ridiculous self-imposed isolation, the Inazuma branch hasn't communicated with the other departments in years. What could the fools at the Jade Chamber possibly know?"
Camus frowned, his expression twisting into one of utter incredulity. "How is that even possible? No communication for years? How could the Boss of the Teyvat Organization tolerate such blatant insubordination?!"
"Tsk!" A fleeting shadow of bitter unwillingness crossed Glenlivet's features. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "It's simply because they can't beat her in a fight."
It was a remarkably blunt, somewhat absurd justification—yet, in the cutthroat world of the underground, it was a perfectly reasonable explanation.
At the mention of Raiden Ei's self-imposed isolation, a rare, genuine smirk tugged at the corners of Glenlivet's mouth. "During that period, Inazuma was truly in dire straits. You had one faction actively planning a violent uprising, and another group desperately fleeing overseas as refugees. Honestly, thinking back on the sheer chaos of it all... I still find it highly amusing."
Gin's cold, predatory gaze locked onto the younger man's smirk. "You definitely had a hand in that," the silver-haired executive asserted, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "Adding fuel to the fire, no doubt."
Glenlivet's eyes widened a fraction before he let out a dark chuckle. "As expected of Gin. You're quite sharp," he praised, though his tone dripped with condescension. "However, it wasn't nearly as simple as me merely tossing a match into the tinderbox."
Bourbon stood quietly near the edge of the room, his mouth twitching slightly. Listening to the venom lacing the boy's words, it sounded as though Glenlivet harbored a deep, festering hatred for the mother who had abandoned him.
This realization only deepened Bourbon's internal confusion. Why would someone as volatile and resentful as Glenlivet willingly continue to assist the Teyvat Organization?, their elusive Boss didn't sound particularly impressive. A leader who couldn't even rein in a rogue subordinate department for years hardly seemed like the mastermind of a formidable syndicate.
"Although that woman is impossibly stubborn, entirely irresponsible, and loves to split hairs over the most trivial matters," Glenlivet continued, his jaw tightening as if the words physically pained him, "her combat power is... truly formidable." It was a concession he clearly loathed making.
"Stronger than you?" Bourbon asked, his voice smooth and intentionally provocative.
"So what if she is?!" Glenlivet snapped, his tone instantly turning venomous.
In his eyes, that woman possessed only that single, irritating merit. If she hadn't been an absolute monster on the battlefield, he would have found a way to march over there and personally teach her a lesson centuries ago. There would have been no need for all this convoluted scheming.
Bourbon cleared his throat, adjusting his posture to maintain a casual facade. "You mentioned that Miss Raiden has been in self-imposed isolation for hundreds of years. So, how is it that I've heard rumors of her finally coming down from the mountain recently?" It was incredibly rare to extract any concrete intelligence regarding the Teyvat Organization from Glenlivet, and Bourbon was not about to let the opportunity slip away.
"It's simple," Glenlivet replied, crossing his arms. "Because a certain blonde, with the help of a few meddlesome people, finally gave that woman a proper beating. After that humiliating lesson, she suddenly decided to change her mind."
Although he phrased it as a 'proper beating', Glenlivet knew the subtle truth of that clash perfectly well. Still, framing it as a humiliating defeat for Ei satisfied his petty vindictiveness.
He tilted his head, shooting a sharp look across the room. "As for who that blonde is... Bourbon, you should already have a few guesses, right?"
Bourbon offered a slow, measured nod, acknowledging the implication.
Piecing together the characteristics—the blonde hair, the familiarity with Raiden Ei, the high combat prowess, and the ability to rally others—the identity pointed directly to the long-lost sister Cointreau had just reunited with: Natsume Natsuki.
, the undercover detective's sharp eyes caught two crucial details. When Glenlivet delivered that last sentence, he had cast a highly meaningful, almost mocking glance toward Cointreau. In response, Cointreau's usually composed expression had darkened into something imperceptibly ugly for a fraction of a second.
That fleeting micro-expression was all the confirmation Bourbon needed. Cointreau not only knew exactly what Glenlivet was referring to, but he was also fully aware of the complex, dangerous connection between his sister and the mysterious Teyvat Organization.
Just how deep did this relationship run? Did Natsume even know her brother was operating so close to her in the shadows? Had Cointreau deliberately used Natsume to bolster his own standing with the Teyvat Organization? Could the elusive Boss's unusually favorable treatment of Cointreau be entirely because of Natsume's influence?
Countless questions flooded Bourbon's analytical mind, swirling into a complex web of conspiracy. But he could not afford to act rashly. He forced his features to remain placid, burying his suspicions deep within his heart for the time being.
"Get back to business. Stop wasting time on trivial matters." Gin's icy voice cut through the heavy atmosphere. The silver-haired assassin had zero patience for interpersonal gossip that had nothing to do with their mission. His singular focus remained locked on extracting information about 'Pandora'.
"Fine. You're the one who said you didn't want to know," Glenlivet retorted, his expression returning to a mask of bored indifference. He shifted his weight, steering the conversation back to the legendary gem.
"Anyway, I have no idea when that woman originally acquired 'Pandora', but it's an obvious fact that she has lived for an incredibly long time. Watching her friends wither and die while she remained untouched by time is exactly what drove her into that pathetic self-imposed isolation." Glenlivet let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "That's why I genuinely don't understand why so many fools obsess over immortality. What's so great about living long enough to become a decrepit old monster?"
Even now, he couldn't resist slipping in a sarcastic jab at the Organization's ultimate leader.
"I'm not entirely sure where the gem is physically hidden," Glenlivet admitted, brushing a stray lock of dark hair from his eyes. "But there's a high probability it's kept somewhere inside the Grand Narukami Shrine, where she spends all her time. If I had to guess, it's likely buried near the massive cherry blossom tree in the courtyard." He rolled his eyes, a look of deep exasperation crossing his face. "Seriously, though... what kind of normal cherry blossom tree naturally grows into the shape of a giant fox?"
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