Everyone fell silent, then Uncle Anpu continued, “Before, people from the Akademiya tried to take the village guardians living here, but I refused, saying that the village guardians were part of the village. Now that I think about it… it seems to be the same goal as that mysterious person.”
Dehya: “So, it’s very likely that the Akademiya deliberately spread false information to trick the radicals into voluntarily handing over the village guardians to them. Hmph, they unilaterally sent people over, and now they’re trying every possible way to get them back… This isn’t their territory.”
Cyno: “…”
Lumine: “The news of King Deshret’s resurrection was spread by the Akademiya.”
Dehya: “Heh… they’ll do anything. But why did they take those village guardians?”
Cyno: “The Akademiya has always treated people as tools. This change is mostly because someone discovered a new ‘use’ for them. Regardless, the top priority is to find those village guardians.”
Candace: “Yes, Isaac is still waiting for news about his grandfather…”
Dehya: “We need to go out, leave the village, and look for clues everywhere.”
Cyno: “Then let’s pack up and get ready to go.”
Dehya: “No problem. Candace will stay to deal with these few people. The matters outside the village are up to us.”
Candace: “Alright.”
Paimon: “Then let’s meet back here later!”
Paimon and the others planned to go have a big meal first to fill their stomachs, but as soon as they left the village chief’s house, they ran into Alhaitham.
Paimon: “What are you doing sitting here?”
Alhaitham: “As you can see, just sitting here reviewing my deductions.”
Paimon: “You haven’t been around for a while, and suddenly you’re thinking here, it’s too strange! Where were you before?”
Alhaitham: “…”
Paimon: “Hey, why aren’t you talking?”
Alhaitham: “You never seem to think before you ask. I’m giving you time to make up for it.”
Paimon: “You! Ah! You’re making me so angry! I’m going to give him an ugly nickname! It’ll be… Sea Cucumber Bro!”
…
Meanwhile, Qixuan took Lumine aside while Paimon was chatting with Alhaitham.
Lumine: “Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Qixuan: “Do you feel like this incident really resembles the work of one person?”
Lumine: “Qixuan-jie… are you saying? No way, wasn’t he beaten by you into…?”
Qixuan: “That guy still has something similar to clones, and the ‘God-Making Project’ was created by him in collaboration with Balladeer and the Akademiya.”
Lumine: “Then what should we do?”
Qixuan: “He’s a guy who disregards life. Of course, the fact that he could become the Second Seat shows that the God of Snezhnaya thinks highly of him. Why don’t you call the old man over, and we go to Snezhnaya and beat up the Empress?”
Lumine: “…”
Qixuan: “Just kidding, just kidding. But you still need to be careful, especially when I’m not around.”
Lumine: “Okay, got it.”
…
Alhaitham: “Are you playing on a pun? Alright, I admit you have some knowledge, but not much.”
Paimon: “Ugh…”
Qixuan and Lumine walked over.
Alhaitham: “Getting back to the point, you plan to leave Aru Village and continue searching for the truth, correct?”
Paimon: “Of course! Staying here won’t give us any more information. Might as well go out and see.”
Alhaitham: “…”
Paimon: “Why aren’t you talking again?”
Qixuan: “Paimon, did you upset him?”
Paimon: “No way… I just gave him the nickname Sea Cucumber Bro.”
Lumine: “…”
Alhaitham: “No, it has nothing to do with that. I’m just surprised you have another companion.”
Cyno walked out from the side.
Cyno: “Alhaitham, you haven’t helped much since entering Aru Village, yet you dare to question our actions?”
Paimon: “Is this what they call talking without doing any work?”
Alhaitham: “While you were busy investigating, I also completed my work.”
Paimon: “Really?”
Alhaitham: “Frankly, we can’t really be considered a team. My actions are naturally not obligated to be reported to everyone. The advantage of splitting up is that I found important clues you missed.”
Paimon: “Huh? Are they clues from the village too?”
Alhaitham: “Yes.”
Cyno: “What kind of information?”
Alhaitham: “I’ll take you to meet someone shortly. But first, you need to be aware of their stance.”
Paimon: “Stance?”
Alhaitham: “What attitude do you think the people of Aru Village have towards what we are currently doing?”
Lumine: “…”
Alhaitham: “In other words, is all the information you’ve gathered true?”
Paimon: “Are you saying someone lied to us?”
Alhaitham: “Concealment isn’t necessarily lying. These people also have their own stance. As Candace said, the people living in Aru Village might not care who controls Sumeru. King Deshret or the Grass God, neither matters to them anymore. Everyone lives in their own disaster. Therefore, they won’t reveal all information, and that’s why you think there are no clues in the village.”
Lumine: “Are you saying the clue is with someone we’ve already met?”
Alhaitham: “I’m glad you noticed. Among the people you spoke with, there is an informed person who concealed information. In fact, she paid attention to your every move as outsiders because… yes, for someone who wants to live peacefully, any external factor can be a variable.”
Lumine was silent.
Qixuan: “How is it? Still haven’t thought of who it is?”
Lumine: “Shani?”
Paimon: “Oh right, when we asked her, her tone and expression were very nervous.”
Alhaitham: “That’s because she knows there are King Deshret’s followers in the village, and a slight mistake could bring disaster upon her. Also, I confirmed with the village chief that this time the ‘village guardians protected Aru Village’ happened late at night, which means that lady was not asleep at the time.”
Paimon: “Why would she lie?”
Alhaitham: “Getting involved with outsiders implies a certain possibility of being targeted. As for why she cares so much about this place… why don’t we talk directly with her?”
Cyno: “Wait, I won’t go. According to what you said, the other party is very afraid of me. So… I’ll leave it to you.”
Paimon: “Leave it to us!”
Everyone arrived at Shani’s doorstep.
Alhaitham: “Miss Shani, as I said before, I’ve brought some helpers.”
Shani didn’t come out, but her voice came from inside.
Shani: “Mr. Alhaitham, I understand your stance, but… can your friends truly be like you?”
Paimon: “Huh? What does that mean… do we need to express some stance?”
Qixuan: “Go, Lumine.”
Lumine: “Okay.”
Lumine walked to the door.
Shani: “May I call you Traveler?”
Lumine: “You may, Miss Shani.”
Shani: “Hello, Traveler. I want to ask you a question. Do you think… King Deshret’s resurrection can truly bring a turning point for Sumeru?”
Lumine: “No.”
Shani: “Why?”
Lumine: “That would bring war.”
Shani: “Your statement is very similar to Miss Candace’s. I know you are friends, and that’s why, although I had reservations, I was still willing to talk to you.”
Shani: “In the past, I wouldn’t even dare to ask these things. Traveler, do you think our lives in Sumeru will get better?”
Lumine: “I can’t guarantee it, but I’m working towards it.”
Paimon: “That’s right! Although we’ve traveled here from other nations, it’s normal for you not to trust us. We… can’t even be considered residents of any nation, right?”
Qixuan: “Miss Shani, King Deshret’s resurrection will bring no benefit to Sumeru. I know the Desertfolk are having a hard time now. Don’t worry, we have the ability to change some things, right, Lumine?”
Lumine: “Yes, we’ve helped the local authorities solve many problems in other nations.”
Shani: “I… believe what you say.”
Shani walked out.
Shani: “I’m very sorry for talking to you as if I was interrogating you. To be honest, I never expected you to come to me for information before. It really startled me.”
Paimon: “Alhaitham said you had your difficulties, and we understand! No need to apologize!”
Shani: “To tell you the truth, I… am actually a half-blood of Desertfolk and non-Desertfolk. Perhaps I am the most unwelcome person in Sumeru.”
“Some people believe in the Grass God, some believe in King Deshret, and I belong to neither side. So, to people on both sides, I am very superfluous.”
Paimon: “Speaking of which, those radicals also mentioned… they hate traitors the most. Maybe, half-bloods are also considered traitors.”
Qixuan: “Paimon?”
Paimon: “Ah, I’m sorry, Miss Shani, I didn’t mean it that way.”
Shani: “It’s alright. You’re right. Bloodline and faith can be very narrow-minded at times. No matter what I say or what attitude I show, it will be seen as having other intentions. Slowly, I stopped saying anything, pretending not to hear or see, just hoping to live peacefully…”
“However, misfortune struck. The village guardians who helped me mysteriously disappeared, but I didn’t dare to tell anyone about it… until today.”
Alhaitham: “You can tell them. I believe Traveler will also keep your secret.”
Shani: “Alright, I will tell you everything I know. Actually, my hearing is better than ordinary people’s, so sometimes I hear strange crying at night.”
Paimon: “Huh? Is it a ghost?”
Shani: “Haha, perhaps. But it was indeed faint crying… drifting from a very, very distant place, carrying strong emotions. The crying used to be clearer and more frequent, but ever since you entered the village, the sound has become much fainter, and the occurrences have decreased. I have to concentrate to barely hear it.”
Alhaitham: “Regarding this, I also confirmed with the village’s night watchmen. One of them has particularly sensitive ears and has also heard similar sounds. This is the Desert. Compared to ghosts, he’d rather believe it’s the cry of a wild beast.”
Lumine: “Can you determine the source of the sound?”
Shani: “There’s nothing noteworthy nearby… except, not far from the village, there’s a hospital?”
Alhaitham: “That place seems to be for treating Eleazar… but it’s been abandoned for many years.”
Lumine: “We need to go to that hospital!”
Paimon: “Then let’s go.”
…
Everyone arrived at the abandoned hospital. It had been deserted for a long time, and many monsters had bred there. After Qixuan cleared them all with a burst of Anemo, everyone entered.
Paimon: “Is this it? It’s all abandoned and so run-down, with sand everywhere.”
Alhaitham searched for a while, then activated a mechanism, and everyone went inside to search.
Paimon: “Hey, Alhaitham, there’s nothing here! Are you sure we didn’t come for nothing?”
Alhaitham: “No need to rush. Shani said there’s crying only at night. Let’s wait a bit. Before that, let’s rest.”
Alhaitham casually found a spot to sit down and then took out a book to read.
Paimon: “He just sat down so confidently!”
Paimon leaned over to look at the book Alhaitham was reading, but unfortunately, she stumbled over the words.
Lumine: “It’s time to improve your cultural knowledge.”
Paimon: “Hey, I’m your Teyvat tour guide, I’m very cultured!”
Qixuan, meanwhile, had already set up a tent nearby.
Qixuan: “Let’s rest for a bit first. We still have action tonight.”
Lumine: “Okay.”
…
Time quickly came to night.
Paimon: “Ugh, I’m about to fall asleep…”
Suddenly, a cry came.
Qixuan: “There it is.”
Paimon: “Ah! What was that sound?!”
Alhaitham: “It’s coming from that direction. Let’s go, let’s go in and see.”
Everyone walked in and then discovered a cellar. Alhaitham went ahead, and then everyone followed.
Alhaitham: “Hmm, there’s a hidden building structure.”
Paimon: “Ugh, it looks like there’s another hospital hidden beneath the hospital.”
Qixuan: “There seem to be mechanisms too.”
Qixuan’s eyes emitted a faint light, and then she swept them around. She raised one hand and waved it, simulating Dendro. The Dendro mechanisms outside were activated, and then the barriers disappeared.
Qixuan: “Let’s go, let’s go in and see.”
Alhaitham: “There seems to be someone there.”
Lumine: “Be careful.”
Everyone walked over and saw that person squatting on the ground with their hands over their head, making grunting and whimpering sounds.
Alhaitham: “You are…”
Unfortunately, that person didn’t answer and remained in that state.
Paimon: “He can’t speak at all, and his eyes are unfocused, but he doesn’t look old enough to be someone’s grandfather at all. And, there’s only him around here?”
Alhaitham: “I never thought I’d meet you here.”
Paimon: “You know him?”
Alhaitham: “This person’s name is Razak. He was my senior at the Akademiya.”
Paimon: “Another scholar? Is he one of those people who go into the forest to practice in a daze?”
Alhaitham: “No, that’s precisely the problem. Razak never practiced that way. He never went into the forest to cultivate, let alone reach the stage of forest-dwelling madness.”
Lumine: “Then how did he end up like this?”
Alhaitham: “Regardless of the cause… his solitary appearance here means we arrived a step too late. It seems the other party has already evacuated everyone. As for this one, he was probably left behind here for some reason or simply couldn’t be moved in time.”
Then Alhaitham carefully examined the marks on the ground.
Alhaitham: “Hmm, there are drag marks on the ground. Near the entrance, the marks become very deep, indicating that someone was forcefully dragging carts loaded with heavy objects.”
Paimon: “Could what was on them be… people?”
Qixuan: “It should be. If they were in a great hurry, they would do something like this.”
Razak: “Ah…Woo、Woo woo…”
Alhaitham: “Completely consistent. It seems he is the living ‘evidence’.”
Paimon: “Huh? Why do you say that?”
Alhaitham: “Don’t you find his current behavior very familiar?”
Lumine: “Exactly like the person who absorbed Divine Canned Knowledge.”
Alhaitham: “Yes, the Akademiya is the mastermind behind all of this.”
Paimon: “But what use are these people to the Akademiya?”
Qixuan walked to a nearby panel and looked at it for a while, then looked at the instruments.
Qixuan: “I think I know the Akademiya’s purpose.”
(Qixuan: Actually, I knew without looking.)
…