Scaramouche did not force Bai Luo to accept the mission.
It wasn't that he had given up; he simply didn't want to have a fallout with Bai Luo just yet.
"There is still a long time before the deadline for this mission. If you change your mind, you can find me at any time."
Pressing down on his massive hat, Scaramouche departed, leaving Bai Luo sitting alone at the table, lost in thought.
Scaramouche might appear to be a hot-headed brute, but in reality, he was a veteran in the game of power and manipulation.
After all, the "friendly" exterior he wore was merely a vessel for a sacrificial offering—one filled with selfishness, hypocrisy, cunning, and curses.
At some point, it began to rain. The downpour washed over the moss-covered cobblestone paths, yet it failed to clear the filth within the city. While the residents scrambled for shelter, Bai Luo alone walked calmly down the street, holding a red oil-paper umbrella.
In the gloomy, lifeless suburbs, even the pink cherry blossoms seemed to carry a scent of decay. Only the red umbrella in Bai Luo's hand brought a flicker of color to the scenery. Lightning flickered above, but the reflection in the eyes of the Inazuman citizens was not one of reverence or respect—only endless fear.
One wondered what the Great Narukami would think if she could see the eyes of her subjects now.
The puppet Shogun, currently enthroned within Tenshukaku, wished only to grant her people a dream of Eternity. She never considered that Eternity brings not only happiness and stability, but also pain.
"Instructor!"
After Bai Luo made a subtle signal, an unremarkable old man taking shelter from the rain in a corner shed his lethargy and hurried to Bai Luo's side.
"Prepare a generous gift. I am going to pay a visit to Lord Commissioner Kamisato of the Yashiro Commission."
"Yes, sir!"
"Remember, it must be a heavy gift!"
"...Yes, sir."
The Fatui member looked at his superior with a hint of confusion. What exactly did that emphasis on "heavy" imply?
***
"Lady Sangonomiya, please take a look."
On Watatsumi Island, Tatyana handed a list to a still-dazed Sangonomiya Kokomi.
Over the past few days, supplies from the Tsaritsa, instruments gifted personally by the Doctor, and equipment diverted by Bai Luo from Inazuma had essentially all arrived.
The harbor of Watatsumi Island, which had been gathering dust, was now packed to capacity. Under the protection of the Fatui vanguards, no pirate dared dream of touching these goods or ships.
Medicine, weapons, armor, food, technology...
Not only was everything mentioned in the contract delivered, but even items never written down were sent by the Fatui. Yet, the more they provided, the more uneasy Kokomi felt.
It wasn't that she thought this was bad; the more supplies Watatsumi had, the better. Even the stubborn "old guard" factions had gradually fallen silent after seeing the sheer volume of resources. But... why were the Fatui being this good to Watatsumi?
She thought back to that morning, and the sight of herself... completely unclothed.
"..."
Was nothing truly done to me? Then why does this feel so much like a son-in-law sending betrothal gifts to his father-in-law?!
"Lady Sangonomiya?"
Noticing Kokomi's distraction, Tatyana spoke up to remind her.
"Ah? Yes, what is it?"
"You must sign first, otherwise we have no authority to move these supplies onto the island," Tatyana explained patiently.
"Right. One moment."
After taking a deep breath, Kokomi reviewed the contents of the list once more before signing her name. Even if the events of the past few days felt like a dream, she hadn't remained in the dazed state she was in when she first woke up.
Her duty as the Divine Priestess told her that regardless of the circumstances, she had to be responsible for the people of Watatsumi.
"Ms. Tatyana, may I ask you something?" Kokomi spoke as Tatyana handed the signed list to a subordinate.
This woman, who was significantly taller than an average person, was currently the highest-ranking Fatui on Watatsumi Island.
Even if there were officers in the new vanguard units with higher official ranks, she was the person-in-charge personally appointed by the Harbinger. Unless another Harbinger arrived, everyone followed her lead. (And knowing Bai Luo had claimed this territory, most other Harbingers would stay far away out of professional courtesy.)
"Lady Sangonomiya, please speak. Before the Instructor left, he mentioned that we should cooperate with any questions you have, provided they do not conflict with Fatui interests."
Tatyana clasped her hands over her stomach and gave an elegant bow. Compared to their first meeting, her aggressive edge had vanished completely.
"Regarding conscription... I would like to know the details of your recruitment requirements and the arrangements for the families of those who enlist."
This was currently the most fiercely debated topic on Watatsumi. The older generation felt that this "conscription" was one of the few landmines hidden within the contract.
In Inazuma City, there had been cases of ordinary residents enlisting in the Fatui. For the first few months, they would send letters and local specialties home. But soon after, they would vanish entirely.
Rumors said the Fatui sent non-Snezhnayan recruits to the most dangerous battlefields to serve as cannon fodder. Kokomi could agree to let those who volunteered serve the Fatui, but she did not want her people to become fodder for another's conquest.
"Regarding this matter, please rest easy, Lady Sangonomiya," Tatyana replied meticulously. "After the Instructor consulted with Lord Doctor, a decision has been made: conscription on Watatsumi Island will be temporarily suspended."
"Temp... temporarily suspended?!" Kokomi looked at Tatyana in surprise.
In this whole deal, the only real benefit the Fatui stood to gain was recruitment on Watatsumi. Why would they give that up?
"The Instructor's view is that Watatsumi's population is not as large as other regions. Furthermore, Watatsumi is currently at war with the Shogunate. To conscript during wartime would be akin to 'pulling the firewood from under the cauldron'—it would undermine the island's stability. Therefore, all conscription matters will be postponed for further discussion until after the war ends."
Tatyana personally agreed with Bai Luo's logic. If conscription led to the collapse of Watatsumi's government, the contract between Bai Luo and Kokomi would be worthless. All the resources the Fatui had poured into the island would simply be "money skipped across the water."
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