"Psssh——"
From the dense, intricate network of pipes, scorching, blistering steam erupted.
The Fatui researcher clutching a notepad swallowed hard and quickened his pace.
He knew that if he got lost in these ruins, his master would absolutely not spend any time looking for him.
After all, The Doctor's time was more precious than anything.
He was currently inside some ruins in Liyue.
Although The Doctor's enthusiasm for many things lasted only about three minutes, anything that caught his eye was inevitably... toyed with by him.
Like these ruins.
After realizing their connection to the Ruin Guards, he had remodeled the place, turning it into his own [Toy Research Institute].
Looking at those war machines held fast by giant steam claws, the researcher couldn't help but shudder again.
The Doctor certainly wasn't afraid of these so-called Ruin Guards, but the researcher himself was a genuine academic.
Dealing with "test subjects" in the lab was one thing, but facing these things head-on... he'd rather not.
He cleared his throat and continued reporting the recent situation to his master.
"The K423 specimen has shown some instability again recently, but we've done our best to resolve the issue."
"Mhm."
"Progress in Sumeru hasn't been smooth. It seems... someone is deliberately targeting us."
"Mhm."
"Watatsumi Island has reached an agreement with the Fatui. Her Majesty the Tsaritsa is already making arrangements to station the advance troops on Watatsumi."
"Mhm... Mhm?!"
Originally somewhat inattentive, The Doctor seemed to recall something. His previously hurried footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
The subordinate behind him almost crashed into his back.
"What did you just say?"
The Doctor turned around, his tightly furrowed brow making it easy to guess his mood.
The Doctor
He must be very displeased right now.
"Su... Sumeru, about..."
"I'm not asking about Sumeru! I mean Watatsumi Island!"
Watatsumi Island reached an agreement with the Fatui?
How was that possible? Weren't they supposed to be locked in an irreconcilable struggle with the Fatui?
Could it be that the lofty Narukami Ogosho, the Raiden Shogun, had finally made her move?
"Well... The Instructor took decisive action. He secured the current Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island in a single night and swiftly reached a consensus with her, leading Watatsumi to accept Her Majesty's protection."
The specific details of how Bai Luo secured Watatsumi Island weren't widely known.
After all, the person who sent back the news was Bai Luo himself; he could fabricate the process however he saw fit.
"Bai Luo? That does sound like something he would do."
His furrowed brow gradually relaxed, but the researcher waiting beside him didn't dare to even breathe loudly.
Because this Doctor was notoriously mercurial. If you accidentally angered him... you might end up transformed into a mindless monster.
Why had the Fatui never managed to secure Watatsumi Island before?
Was it really, as The Fair Lady claimed, because there was nothing of value to extract there?
Or was it simply to let it harass the Shogunate's forces, creating chaos to infiltrate Inazuma City?
Actually, neither.
Judging by the fact that the Fatui had consistently left that incompetent Igor stationed on Watatsumi, it was clear they hadn't truly ignored the place, as it might seem on the surface.
The Fatui had simply treated Watatsumi Island—a place without the protection of a deity—as their own experimental grounds.
If it resisted the Fatui, then the Fatui taking action against it would seem a matter of course.
But if it submitted to the Fatui... then The Doctor could no longer continue targeting it.
Even plans already formulated would be stillborn as a result.
After all, distributing those untested Delusions recklessly on Watatsumi would give the nations already cooperating with them a reason to shake off their influence.
This was not something The Doctor wished to see, nor was it something the Tsaritsa wished to see.
That's why The Doctor's reaction had been so strong.
If the ones who had done this were The Balladeer or Tartaglia, The Doctor would definitely go and have a... word with them.
Because if those two did something like this, it would be purely stirring up trouble for no reason.
Especially Tartaglia.
Everyone knew he was a battle maniac. It was entirely possible he just found the title of the Divine Priestess too impressive, went to challenge her, and accidentally ended up conquering Watatsumi Island.
But if it was Bai Luo...
Then The Doctor had to consider other angles.
He hadn't forgotten the incident in Mondstadt; after all, he'd lost two subordinates there.
Although they were insignificant pawns, they were still suitable test subjects.
But after seeing the report submitted by his subordinate, his initial dissatisfaction was completely dispelled.
Even more surprising to his subordinates, he personally opened a bottle of Fire-Water and happily poured himself a thimbleful.
One must know that The Doctor disliked drinking this sort of thing while working more than anything.
Everyone only saw how Bai Luo had disrupted Her Majesty's plans and limited the Fatui's influence in Mondstadt.
But only The Doctor noticed two things.
First, the girl burdened with the residue of a fallen god.
To others, it seemed Bai Luo was excessively doting on a girl of unknown origin.
But to The Doctor, he was merely conducting some kind of experiment; the so-called doting was just a convenience for writing his observation logs.
Second, and this was something no one else noticed:
A Vision.
According to the subordinate's report, when the girl was first discovered by Bai Luo, she didn't possess any Vision at all.
Apart from the power of the fallen god's residue, she possessed no other supernatural abilities.
But later, when Bai Luo sent her to Sumeru, the girl had a Dendro Vision on her.
Which meant... that guy Bai Luo had never given up his research on Visions. He had even exceeded expectations and figured out a method to make someone obtain a Vision.
Considering these two points, Bai Luo's conquest of Watatsumi Island was worth pondering deeply.
Had he discovered something else there? Or had he made new progress regarding Visions?
If it weren't for the fear of disrupting Bai Luo's research, and the fact that Inazuma was rather difficult to enter lately, he would have rushed to Watatsumi Island immediately to have a good, long discussion with Bai Luo about the relationship between Visions and Delusions.
"Any other recent developments on Watatsumi Island?"
After understanding the full picture, The Doctor inquired of the researcher behind him.
"Uh... The main difficulties are probably funding and supplies. Due to the war between the Shogunate and Watatsumi, Watatsumi can only purchase weapons, equipment, and provisions from the International Trade Association. There's also some support coming from Liyue."
The researcher wiped the sweat from his brow and described Watatsumi's current situation.
"Under my name, withdraw a sum of funds from the Northland Bank and send them over, along with the newly acquired instruments for the institute. Also... halt the conscription plan on Watatsumi Island for now. Without my order, no one is to lay a finger on anyone there."