"General Kujou has returned!"
These words were like the winter sun or a spring of fresh water to the parched, lifting everyone's spirits. They all turned their excited gazes toward the estate's gate.
"Father!" Kujou Sara entered the room. When she saw the kneeling samurai and the bloodied soldier, her brows furrowed slightly, but she didn't say much. Instead, she respectfully addressed Kujou Takayuki as "Father."
"Sara, you've returned." Seeing his adopted daughter safe and sound, Kujou Takayuki also breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly rose from his seat and personally went to greet her.
"Tell me, what exactly happened?"
Hearing this, Kujou Sara shook her head slightly.
"Father, this matter isn't something that can be explained in a short time. The person who kidnapped me was a Fatui Harbinger. They intended to act against the Shogun. I need to meet with the Raiden Shogun immediately to report this."
"A Fatui Harbinger? Which Harbinger kidnapped you?" Kujou Takayuki frowned. He had heard of the Fatui Harbingers, and as far as he knew, one was currently stationed in the Kanjou Commission—La Signora, if he remembered correctly. Could it be that she was the one who kidnapped Sara?
But the Kanjou Commission had already reached an agreement with her. Why would she do such a thing? Could it be that the Kanjou Commission was behind this?
"It was a male Harbinger. He called himself the Sixth Harbinger—Scaramouche."
"I see." Learning that the kidnapper wasn't La Signora, Kujou Takayuki's furrowed brows relaxed slightly. "I understand, Sara. You should go and report this to the Shogun. Hurry along."
"Yes, Father." Kujou Sara bowed respectfully and then left the Tenryou Commission's headquarters. Watching his daughter's retreating figure, Kujou Takayuki muttered to himself, "Scaramouche... Scaramouche... There does seem to be such a person among the Fatui Harbingers, but this name..."
...
On a sunny, cloudless beach, a silver-haired young man lay lazily on a simple lounge chair, legs crossed. A closer look revealed he was holding a glass of iced raspberry juice, wearing a pair of exaggerated mosaic sunglasses, and exuding an aura that felt... out of place in Teyvat.
"Ah, being alone is so boring. I should've kept Columbina with me. Having someone by your side is so much better." After a while, Yun Fan glanced at his now-empty glass and sighed wistfully.
Indeed, after the girl left, Yun Fan was once again alone, tasting the loneliness of solitude. After all, humans are social creatures.
Just as Yun Fan was sighing to himself, a group of soldiers approached from not far away. However, these soldiers were different from the Shogunate soldiers he had encountered before.
Shogunate soldiers wore blue armor, while these soldiers wore red. The Shogunate soldiers were disciplined and well-trained, but these red-armored soldiers seemed more lax, like a bunch of rookies.
"General Gorou, there seems to be someone over there." A sharp-eyed soldier spotted the situation from afar and immediately reported to his superior.
"A person?" Gorou followed the soldier's pointing finger and saw a silver-haired young man lying on an unfamiliar chair, leisurely sipping juice, looking completely at ease.
Seeing this, Gorou's mouth twitched slightly.
This was the front line of Watatsumi Island, the area closest to the battlefront with the Shogunate at Tatarasuna. How could this guy be so relaxed? Was he foolish, or just that carefree?
"General Gorou, could this person be a spy sent by the Shogunate? Should we capture him for interrogation?" A staff officer whispered to Gorou, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Clearly, in his eyes, this was an easy merit to claim.
Seeing his subordinate like this, Gorou shook his head in disappointment. His men were still too green. Although he didn't know who this silver-haired young man was, the fact that he dared to act so carelessly in such a dangerous area meant he must have some backing. Otherwise, wouldn't this just be suicide?
"We don't know his capabilities, so let's approach him politely first. Don't be rude, understand?" Gorou instructed his subordinates earnestly, then walked toward Yun Fan.
"Yes!" The staff officer pursed his lips. In his eyes, General Gorou was being overly cautious. That guy didn't look like he had any combat ability. Why bother?
As the soldier grumbled inwardly, Gorou had already reached Yun Fan. He waved politely and greeted him.
"Hello, sir."
"Hmm?" Hearing someone call him, Yun Fan removed the oversized mosaic sunglasses and looked toward the source of the voice.
When he saw who was calling him, his expression froze. The person before him had a pair of fluffy, tan ears, lean yet powerful muscles, and a large, unmistakable tail swaying behind him.
"Miss Hina?" Yun Fan blurted out.
"Huh?" Hearing this, Gorou was momentarily stunned. He looked around, but aside from himself and his soldiers, there was no one else around—let alone the Miss Hina Yun Fan mentioned.
"Sir..." Gorou looked at Yun Fan, unsure how to respond, hoping for an explanation.