Stepping out of the camp, what greeted Albedo was a man dressed in what could only be described as peculiar attire.
Of course, for Albedo, who had seen Yu Jin, Balladeer's clothing was quite easy to accept.
At this moment, Balladeer was looking up at the massive Golden Tree behind Albedo, seemingly awestruck by its enormous size.
Seeing this, Albedo wisely kept a certain distance from Balladeer, quietly waiting for him to snap out of it.
Timaeus and Sucrose had reacted similarly when they first arrived here; it was quite normal. His own first reaction wasn't much different.
Soon, Balladeer lowered his head. He took a deep breath and, with a smile, asked, "Did you plant this big tree?"
Albedo looked at Balladeer's smile and, for no reason, frowned. Because his smile, to Albedo, carried a hint of disdain.
"No, I'm just someone interested in it, researching it nearby," Albedo shook his head, casting away his impolite thoughts.
"Hmph—, as expected. I also thought you couldn't plant something so unique." Balladeer, upon hearing Albedo's words, sneered, his arrogant demeanor clearly evident.
It seemed his intuition was quite accurate. Albedo's expression immediately turned cold. Although Balladeer's words were factual, the offense within them was truly unpleasant.
Naturally, Albedo felt no goodwill towards someone as rude as Balladeer. He only wanted to end the conversation quickly and continue his research.
As for Balladeer, he could do whatever he wanted, as long as he didn't disturb him.
With that thought, Albedo responded expressionlessly, "Indeed, that's why I must work harder on my research. Goodbye."
With that, Albedo walked back to his camp without looking back.
However, Balladeer had no intention of stopping there. With a curious expression, he followed behind Albedo, looking around.
Returning to the camp, Albedo washed his hands, ready to proceed with the next step of his research.
But then, the sound of rummaging suddenly came from within the camp. Albedo's frown deepened. He sighed, then walked over to Balladeer.
"Others are not welcome here. If you're bored, I have a few fairy tale books here. You can take them and read them," Albedo said sternly, pulling his research notebook from Balladeer's hand and pointing to several brightly colored fairy tale books on a nearby bookshelf.
His manner was almost like scolding a child.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't be so angry, alright?" Balladeer, however, seemed completely oblivious to the change in Albedo's tone. He maintained his frivolous demeanor.
Casually walking to Albedo's bookshelf, Balladeer glanced over it, seeing only books with obscure-sounding titles and notebooks without covers. The only books he could understand were the few fairy tales on the shelf.
"So, you're still a great alchemist, huh?" Although Balladeer didn't know the contents of the books, by their titles, he could infer that the man in front of him, here in the snowy mountains, was an alchemist.
And probably one with profound expertise.
Balladeer's smile widened. It seemed he had truly stumbled upon a treasure without even searching for it.
Wouldn't this mission be accomplished then?
"I wouldn't dare claim that. If you don't leave now, don't blame me for 'inviting' you out," Albedo narrowed his eyes. This was the first time he had ever wanted to throw someone out.
"Haha, it seems we're on the same page. I also want to invite you out."
Balladeer laughed several times, then bowed to Albedo and said, "Fatui Sixth Seat, Balladeer."
"If you're sensible, I hope you'll hand over all your research findings on that great tree. If you really force my hand, I might not want to bother with those complicated notes."
"And if you can't tell me then…" Balladeer waved his hand, and a bolt of leaping lightning shot out.
But to Balladeer's surprise, neither his identity as a Harbinger nor his recent threat could make the man in front of him show any fear.
"Knights of Favonius, Investigation Team Captain, Albedo."
Balladeer was met only with Albedo's cold, brief introduction, and a Sword slashing towards him.
"Clang!"
Balladeer had not expected Albedo to preemptively strike, and in his haste, he could only raise his arm to block.
"Hmm?" Looking at the Sword sparking, Albedo was somewhat surprised. The feel of Balladeer's arm when struck was definitely not what a human's should be.
If anything, it was somewhat similar to a Ruin Guard.
"Hmph!" Balladeer let out a cold snort. He suddenly twisted his arm down, seizing Albedo's Sword, then delivered a front kick that sent Albedo flying.
"Bang!"
Albedo, sent tumbling, immediately kicked up a large cloud of dust on the ground, obscuring what had happened.
"Just a Knights of Favonius Captain, you should just obey," Balladeer said disdainfully, flexing his wrist.
That nearly self-destructive move, for Balladeer, who was a puppet, only left a few scratches on his arm and hand.
"Cough, cough, cough! That was unexpected," Albedo said, dusting himself off as he emerged from the cloud of dust.
"Not knocked unconscious?" Balladeer looked at Albedo, who was merely a bit dirty, in surprise, secretly astonished.
His kick just now wasn't light; even with a Vision, taking that kick would at least leave one sprawled on the ground unable to move, if not unconscious.
He hadn't expected Albedo, a researcher, to be completely unharmed? This Investigation Team Captain had some skill.
Balladeer's Delusion emitted a bright purple light. He couldn't be careless now.
"A Delusion? Do puppets also need Delusions? No, it should be asked, what do puppets use to pay the price for a Delusion?" Albedo pondered, holding his weapon in one hand and stroking his chin with the other.
He looked as if he didn't take Balladeer seriously at all.
"Has no one ever told you, don't say things that shouldn't be said!" Balladeer's expression turned ferocious upon hearing the words "puppet," as if he wanted to devour Albedo whole.
"Oh?" Albedo snapped back to attention. He raised an eyebrow, looking at Balladeer. That look, it was somewhat familiar.
"Escapism is useless. Face your uniqueness. This is advice from someone who's been there." As a special alchemical creation, Albedo had also experienced Balladeer's state.
However, in the end, strong rationality and a passion for research helped Albedo overcome it.
"Boom!" Albedo's response was a flashing purple light.
"So fast!" Albedo was secretly shocked. He then sidestepped and slapped, dodging the purple light while also leaving a flower-like carving of Geo element on the ground.
The lightning flashed, leaving a scorched mark on the ground.
Before Balladeer could emerge from the lightning, Albedo charged forward with his Sword.
"You'll regret this!" Seeing this, Balladeer gathered the elemental power swirling around him into his hands. He was ready to show Albedo the power of a Harbinger.
"Boom!"
Leaping lightning and flashing light appeared simultaneously, sending both Balladeer and Albedo flying.
"Damn it! When did this happen!" Balladeer's face twisted as he felt the Geo element power surging wildly within his body.
Even as a puppet, he couldn't withstand the chaotic elemental flow.
"When you passed through the Solar Isotoma."
Albedo stood up from the ground. His condition wasn't much better, covered in scorched marks from head to toe. It seemed the elemental power Balladeer had gathered had caused considerable DMG to Albedo.
But Albedo's face didn't show the same distortion as Balladeer's, because he was an alchemist and had many contingencies.
"Pop!"
A healing potion was drunk, insulating potion was applied to his body, and a Geo element oil was smeared on his Sword… In a short moment, Albedo transformed into a "rainbow man."
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