Paimon: What should we do?
Alhaitham: Faced with this situation, what countermeasure would Lesser Lord Kusanali have?
Lumine: It's in Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's consciousness.
Paimon: Are you talking about that phrase you dreamt of in Daocheng Forest, 'The world… forgets me'?
Alhaitham: The Grass God is crucial, but before that, I want to go inspect my Installation.
Led by Alhaitham, everyone returned to the Eremites' stronghold.
Paimon: Why are these two guys here?
Alhaitham: I had them do some technical work here.
Qixuan: You had them research Forbidden Knowledge?
Alhaitham: Not exactly; I just had them adjust some equipment, and then have the Traveler input some knowledge into it.
Lumine: Me?
Alhaitham: Yes, I understand your feelings, but this is necessary right now.
Qixuan: Don't worry, I'm here.
Lumine: Okay, I'm ready.
Lumine put on the device and input the knowledge Alhaitham requested.
Paimon: But what was the point of what we just did? I don't understand at all…
Qixuan: Targeting the Akasha? A very good idea.
Alhaitham: All right, now I'm going to carry out a small Installation; you can go to Caravan Ribat to help with the next step of preparations.
Paimon: Okay.
… … … … … … …
Paimon: Huh? Why are you two arguing?
Rahman: Sigh, Cyno opposes our plan.
Cyno: During the meeting, we said to come up with a method, and the specific execution would be left to you, who are most familiar with the local environment, but you asked Alhaitham for advice… If I had known he would give this kind of advice, I would have opposed it.
Rahman: You know very well that we are already companions.
Cyno: Mercenaries value friendship with each other, but also do not fear sacrifice, right? But I'm sorry, here and now, I cannot endorse your principles.
Rahman: You seem to know the Desert very well.
Cyno: Paimon, you should know about this too. Rahman's plan is for me, as a matra, to cooperate with the Caravan Ribat guards to arrest them and escort them to Sumeru City.
Qixuan: You want to bring troops into the city?
Rahman: Sigh, people like us can't easily cross that wall. Caravan Ribat would never allow such a large number of unregistered Eremites to go to Sumeru City. This plan can both eliminate suspicion and arrange for a large number of people to enter the city at once. Besides this, I have no better method.
Cyno: It sounds like the person who told you this plan said the same thing.
Paimon: Alhaitham knows this plan is very dangerous, right?
Rahman: Oh, so he told me this: 'A foolproof method certainly doesn't exist, but if it's just about completing the plan, this method is feasible.'
He also said that with the help of matra Cyno and the Traveler, the success rate of the plan would greatly increase. I don't blindly trust anyone, but my judgment of people has always been good. He was right; trusting you was my own choice.
Cyno: If it were just me carrying out the arrests alone, I could still control it, but the Caravan Ribat guards might not. There would inevitably be resistance then. If they were enemies, I wouldn't show mercy, but if they're from the same faction, it's unnecessary.
Rahman: Haha, I really didn't expect a matra to care about our lives. Living a life on the edge of a knife, I haven't seen many people like you.
Cyno: I always show respect to my companions.
Rahman: This is difficult.
Paimon: Hey! Let's do something too!
Lumine: Actually, I can…
Qixuan reached out and interrupted Lumine.
Lumine: ?
Qixuan: Just leave this to me. Don't worry, Rahman's people won't get hurt.
Cyno: … … … …
Paimon: If Qixuan-jie speaks, things will be much simpler.
Rahman: Haha, I trust you all.
Cyno: … … All right.
Lumine: What are you planning to do?
Qixuan: Don't worry, by then, they'll all be on our side.
Paimon: I'm a bit confused.
Cyno: Then let's proceed according to the plan. Don't do anything out of line. Ensuring your own safety is key to the plan's success.
Rahman: Good, for this great ambition, let's act!
… … … … …
After Rahman left, everyone asked Qixuan what her method was, but she only said to have Cyno gather the guards.
… … … … … Thirty Member Group …
Gaet: Grand Scribe?! How… how did you appear here?
Cyno: Keep your voice down, this is a secret operation. I will be leading troops here to apprehend a large criminal group. According to the Akademiya's 'Secret Operation Guidance Regulations,' I have the right to request cooperation from Caravan Ribat.
Gaet: Of course, of course! Lord Cyno's command is the Akademiya's command, we will certainly cooperate. However, who are you going to arrest next, and what is the size of the opposing force? We will decide whether to report to our superiors based on the scale of the operation.
Cyno: The opposing force is a splinter unit of the Eremites, roughly similar in scale to The Eye of Ahernar active in Port Ormos, and is linked to the Akademiya's internal material theft and resale chain.
Gaet: The scale of The Eye of Ahernar! I believe this operation should be classified as a joint arrest.
Cyno: I suggest you report it as soon as possible and arrange for personnel to follow me according to the high standards of Desert armed operations.
Gaet: Yes! Please wait a moment, I'll contact them immediately!
Two guards went to report.
Lumine: So efficient.
Cyno: That is my demeanor towards outsiders.
Paimon: Hehe, Cyno's tone is much nicer to me now.
Cyno: You are companions.
Paimon: Phew, I was so scared just now.
Qixuan: Should any abnormal situation occur, I will act immediately.
Lumine: Just don't embed people in walls again; I don't want to have to dig people out again.
Qixuan: … … … … …
Paimon: Ah, they're back.
Rosenbaum: Grand Scribe, it's a pleasure to see you here. I am the security officer of the Great Red Sand Desert region. Just call me Rosenbaum.
Cyno: Hmm, these two are my assistants. They will act with me. The one flying next to us is a mechanical device for work.
Paimon: Quack quack—beep beep—ding ding.
Rosenbaum: It's a pleasure to meet you two, and this amazing… hmm, new Akademiya technology?
Cyno: What is your conclusion?
Rosenbaum: The situation is serious, of course we will cooperate with your operation. In fact, I have always longed to carry out a mission with an important figure like you…
Cyno: Enough with the pleasantries. Take your most elite squad and accompany me to the eastern Desert for a secret operation.
Rosenbaum then brought a map, and Cyno marked the operation location on it.
Cyno: Two days from now, we will battle the Eremites led by Rahman there and 'capture' them in one fell swoop. Do you understand the time and place?
Rosenbaum: No problem.
Cyno: Good, we'll rendezvous then.
Two days later… … … … … Eastern Desert.
Paimon: Someone's already here.
Cyno: Let's go.
Gaet: Lord Grand Scribe! Lord Assistant!
Cyno: You've arrived very early.
Rosenbaum: It represents our Pay attention to of this operation.
Cyno: Good… Then…
As Cyno was talking, Qixuan moved her fingers, and threads formed from imaginary energy were injected into the bodies of the Thirty Member Group, taking over their consciousness. Cyno watched them suddenly stop moving, realizing that Qixuan had succeeded.
Lumine: This feels a bit familiar.
Qixuan: I don't have Nahida's hobby of body snatching.
Paimon: So now?
Cyno: Let's depart now.
East… … … …
Rahman: Oh? Such an enthusiastic display, what do you gentlemen want to do? Swords and guns don't look like a good business.
Cyno: Rahman, your and your gang's smuggling activities have been discovered by the Akademiya. If you don't want bloodshed, don't resist.
Rahman: You are? A matra from the Akademiya? Ha, you came all the way here to catch us.
Cyno: I'm not here to chat with you.
Rahman: … … Hmph, since becoming a mercenary, no one has been so 'enthusiastic' with me. In response, brothers! Water our blades with their blood! Let them know the Eremites are not to be trifled with!
Just like that, the two teams began to fight back and forth, but because Qixuan controlled the Thirty Member Group with imaginary energy puppet strings, the scene unfolded like this.
You attack, I block; you chase, I dodge. There was even an Eremites member who fought three people at once without taking any damage. Rahman, who was sparring with Cyno, said to him, "Brother, as expected of you, so powerful, acting so well."
Cyno: … … … …
Qixuan, watching the show from the side, was having a blast.
Paimon: How about… we stop playing for now? I see their stamina is almost giving out.
As Paimon said, everyone in the distance was starting to sweat profusely.
Qixuan: All right, Lumine, go put them all to sleep one by one.
Lumine: … … … …
Lumine, with one hand, condensed Anemo element and knocked out the Eremites one by one, ending this 'exhilarating' battle. After the battle, Qixuan withdrew the threads from their bodies.
Gaet: What happened to me?
Rosenbaum: You should remember things more often. We came to help Lord Grand Scribe catch criminals.
Gaet: Oh, right, right. But it seems to be over already?
Cyno: You all did very well.
Rosenbaum: (Did we do anything? Never mind, never mind.)
Gaet: My shoulders feel so tired.
Rosenbaum: All right, all right, tie them all up and take them back! Send them to the Akademiya as Lord Grand Scribe instructed!
Gaet: Yes!
The guards escorted Rahman and the others away.
Rosenbaum: Then, Lord Cyno, I'll head back first. If you have any further instructions later, just find me at Caravan Ribat.
Cyno: Good.
Rosenbaum returned.
Paimon: He's gone.
Qixuan: All right, let's talk somewhere else.
… … … … … … …
Paimon: It seems this part was very successful!
Cyno: Yes, all thanks to Qixuan.
Qixuan: Actually, we could have fought a bit longer.
Lumine: … … … …
Cyno: All right, I will arrange for them to safely enter Sumeru City later. At this time, I guess Dehya is waiting for you.
… … … … … … … …
Paimon: Dehya, we're here!
Dehya: You finally made it? Didn't you say our part was the most important? But you guys are so slow. In the meantime, I've wandered around five times, had seven drinks, and even bought a few new clothes.
Paimon: Uh… Is there anything good to eat?
Lumine: Oh my god…
Qixuan: Hahaha…
Dehya: Haha, of course there is, but you'll have to wait until the plan succeeds, won't you?
Paimon: Where should we start?
Dehya: Remember? Our job is—to ascertain the status of the Fatui Harbinger 'Dottore,' eliminate risks, and ensure he doesn't interfere with our rescue of Lesser Lord Kusanali. Although Qixuan has already severely injured him, isn't it said that he has that…
Lumine: Clones.
Dehya: Oh right, I've observed recently that he barely shows his face, making him very difficult to track.
Paimon: Like an unkillable cockroach, so resilient.
Dehya: Haha, don't worry. According to the plan, we're going to Gandharva Ville to find Tighnari. With the information channels of Alhaitham and Cyno, we can confirm that Tighnari currently still has the Akademiya's trust.
Paimon: Find Tighnari?
Dehya: Yes, he can get us the latest intelligence on 'Dottore,' and then we'll adjust our action steps based on that information. Currently, the city is full of the sages' informants, so I'll act as your bodyguard, even though you don't really need another bodyguard like me.
Lumine: Will there be a Reward?
Dehya: Hmm… Since you're familiar faces, I'll give you a discount. How about a smile?
Lumine: Huh?
Paimon: Wow~~~
Qixuan: (Oh no, my concubine!)
Dehya: Haha, I haven't seen you smile happily much lately. I think someone like you should look very cute when you smile.
Lumine smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you, Dehya."
Dehya: Hmm, not bad. I hope this smile can be our talisman. Let's go, we're going to Gandharva Ville.
Gandharva Ville… … …
Paimon: Tighnari!
Tighnari: Hmm? Lumine, Paimon, Qixuan, and… this person?
Lumine: Long time no see. She's our friend Dehya, a mercenary.
Dehya: Hello there.
Tighnari: Bringing a mercenary to see me, hmm… I have a feeling this will be a big deal.
Lumine: Tighnari, there's something I wanted to ask you about.
Paimon: Right, right, it's very important, you must help us!
Tighnari looked deeply at everyone, but unfortunately, he couldn't discern anything, then said, "It seems I can't refuse. Follow me."
… … … … …