Igor always felt that everything was under his control.
Just like this time when he returned from Inazuma City on Narukami Island, he had always believed that he had spent money to make a group of good buddies.
Little did he know that these so-called good buddies, as well as the ordinary people in the convoy who seemed to just be there for show, were actually subordinates of his superior, the Fatui Harbinger known as "Regrator."
And their mission was to execute Igor at the appropriate time.
"Harbinger."
Several Fatui drew their knives and bowed respectfully to Bai Luo.
After Bai Luo arrived at the rebel camp, he had contacted his subordinates in Inazuma City through Nathan's intelligence network.
After Igor withdrew 300 million Mora in the name of Regrator, Regrator's noticed the flow of funds.
He hadn't originally intended to trouble this subordinate of his, but out of habit, he investigated what the money was to be used for.
It would have been fine if he hadn't investigated, but once he did, he discovered Igor's betrayal.
Several important Fatui plans had been leaked by Igor to the Watatsumi Island faction.
One of these plans was even related to Regrator's ability to control Watatsumi Island's economic lifeline.
And this time, the purpose of withdrawing funds was actually to support Watatsumi Island?
This time... he had truly stirred up a hornet's nest.
After learning that Regrator had sent subordinates to deal with Igor, Bai Luo naturally borrowed them and orchestrated this roadside robbery act.
"Just dump him somewhere. Once he's rotted enough, he'll be of use."
Bai Luo glanced at Igor, who had completely lost all signs of life, and spoke.
This roadside robbery wasn't just a simple act—it would serve an important purpose later.
"What about this Mora? Should we take it back?"
The Fatui looked at the Mora on the carriage and asked.
After spending time building a relationship with Igor, they had learned some things.
For example, while Igor appeared to have withdrawn the Mora in the name of their superior, Regrator, it was actually all under Bai Luo's orders.
But they didn't plead for Igor's innocence, because before encountering Bai Luo, Igor had indeed done many outrageous things.
"Send it anonymously to Watatsumi Island. Remember! It must be anonymous!"
"Understood!"
These subordinates had no idea what their Harbinger was scheming this time, but as mere soldiers, they only needed to follow his instructions faithfully.
After reorganizing, the convoy continued toward Watatsumi Island.
Only Igor's corpse was mercilessly thrown into the woods, with someone specifically assigned to guard it.
As Bai Luo had said, he was to be left to rot, and once he was barely recognizable as Igor, he would be retrieved.
After the convoy left, Bai Luo glanced at the little tanuki ninja beside him.
But by now, she had turned into a tumbler doll, with angry grumbling sounds coming from inside.
Bai Luo didn't linger on the tumbler for long. A pale white mask appeared on his face, and in an instant, he transformed into "Hei."
Why did he dare to casually reveal so much in front of Sayu?
It wasn't because he was careless—it was purely because the little tanuki ninja beside him had long been replaced by a decoy.
When he picked up the decoy, he had inspected it.
This decoy was just simple fur and wood, with no additional eavesdropping capabilities beyond its function as a stand-in.
He wasn't in a hurry to chase Sayu. After so many years as an assassin, one thing was clear to him.
True despair wasn't the moment despair struck.
It was the moment after escaping despair, when hope was just within reach.
His perception rapidly expanded, and the figure rolling like a wheel after using elemental energy became crystal clear in Bai Luo's eyes.
At this moment, she was speeding eastward from Kujou Encampment, about to reach the small boat hidden by the Shuumatsuban ninjas along the shore.
Just... just a little further...
"Gurgle—"
A black line unfolded above Sayu's head, revealing an eyeball filled with blood vessels.
The eyeball stared straight at the rapidly rolling tanuki ninja, its beast-like vertical pupils carrying a hint of mockery.
Pale blue light particles formed Bai Luo's body as he descended from the sky, pressing a hand into the swirling Anemo energy.
"Ugh—!"
With her face pressed into the sand, the little tanuki ninja could only let out muffled cries, her limbs flailing like a drowning fish.
Her fingers had already touched the damp seawater—she was just one eggplant away from reaching that small boat.
"Sorry, this path is closed."
Once again grabbing the little tanuki ninja by the scruff of her neck, Bai Luo carried her into a nearby grove under her despairing gaze.
"I... I'll pretend I didn't see anything. Can you let me go?"
Her limbs dangling weakly as Bai Luo moved her, Sayu tried to negotiate.
Her dirty little face was smeared with sand and eggplant juice, leaving streaks of grime.
Perhaps because of the dark clothing and the dim light in the woods, she hadn't noticed that Bai Luo's attire and demeanor had changed.
"Oh? So you accidentally learned something? Then I definitely can't let you go."
Holding Sayu up to face him, the sneer on Bai Luo's mask looked even more sinister.
"Eek—!"
Once she was face-to-face with Bai Luo, Sayu finally recognized who he was.
Wasn't this the Fatui Harbinger who had chased her from Ritou to Chinju Forest back then?
In Sayu's mind, there was a list of people she absolutely must not provoke.
At the top was the shrine maiden sister, second was "that woman," third was the tengu general from the Tenryou Commission, fourth was the clan head, and fifth... was this Fatui Harbinger.
But according to the rumors she'd heard, Bai Luo had left Inazuma for Mondstadt, right?
Why was he here on Yashiori Island? Could it be that the clan head had sent the Shuumatsuban to investigate because of this "Instructor"?
Thinking this, Sayu's expression immediately fell.
So... she had accidentally stolen her seniors' mission?
Not only had she discovered this Harbinger, but she had also accidentally infiltrated their ranks?
Or had he infiltrated hers?
Recalling the "Little Tanuki Ninja Survival Guide" she had memorized, Sayu forced herself to stay calm and pulled out the half-eaten eggplant from her pocket.
"Eggplant. Tasty. Want some?"
Showing goodwill appropriately could increase survival chances—that's what the book said.
Bai Luo looked at the crushed eggplant, then at the dried eggplant juice around Sayu's mouth, and sighed softly.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sunsettia.
"Sunsettia. Sweet. Want some?"