Chapter 55: The Defeated Diluc
"Ausbilder…"
He gently clenched his right hand. On the back of it was something that looked like a gemstone.
Although it looked very similar to a Vision, it was actually just an imitation of one.
It had another name—Delusion.
"Young master, sometimes knowing too much isn't a good thing."
Under the light, the mask on Bai Luo's face looked somewhat eerie.
With the mask on, he seemed like a completely different person from when he wasn't wearing it. The faintly friendly smile was gone, and the black cloak he wore made it feel as if the god of death had descended.
"You recognized me?!"
Diluc was surprised.
Even though Kaeya had warned him before, the Ausbilder exposing his identity in a single sentence was still hard for him to accept.
He thought he had disguised himself perfectly.
Bai Luo leapt down from the stacked wine barrels. Using a steel wire, he retrieved the dagger still embedded in Krupp's corpse. As he walked toward Diluc, he spoke:
"There are many rich people in Mondstadt, and many people with nothing to do. But someone who is rich, idle, and has red hair… seems like there's only one person—Young Master Diluc."
Diluc froze for a moment and subconsciously glanced at the red bangs hanging before his eyes.
Originally, he thought that changing his hairstyle slightly would be enough. He hadn't expected… such an oversight.
"What exactly is the Doctor's objective? Why did you come to Mondstadt?"
After being recognized, Diluc simply removed the mask from his face and asked directly, deciding to stop pretending.
He didn't think the other party was bluffing; otherwise, he wouldn't have said those words to Kaeya earlier.
If his life could be exchanged for some valuable intelligence, it would be worth it.
"The Doctor's goal is the Fatui's goal. The Fatui's goal is the Tsaritsa's will. And the Tsaritsa's will is something you people cannot possibly comprehend."
Walking slowly until he stood before Diluc, Bai Luo looked with interest at the Delusion on Diluc's hand.
"As for my objective… I really did come to attend the Windblume Festival. If possible, I'll also help the Doctor with a small favor. By the way, the Vision you're holding is quite interesting. If the Doctor knew about it, he would surely be very excited."
"Hmph!"
Seeing Bai Luo getting closer and closer, the Delusion on the back of Diluc's hand began to glow.
Clatter—
Ripples spread through the air, and blood-red chains burst out, piercing straight through Bai Luo's chest and nailing him to the oak barrels behind him.
Expensive wine poured out from the cracked barrels, flowing onto the ground and quickly staining it a deep red.
"Did it work?"
The Ausbilder hadn't dodged—something Diluc hadn't expected.
But since that power had pierced his chest, he should be as good as dead… right?
After all, this was a power even the dragon Ursa feared.
"Young Master Diluc, you're quite mischievous. That power isn't meant to be used like this."
What filled Diluc with terror was that the Ausbilder, whose chest had been pierced through, seemed completely fine. No blood flowed from the wound. Instead, faint blue particles flickered there.
Casually grabbing the chain that had pierced his body, Bai Luo gave it a strong pull.
Caught off guard, Diluc was yanked forward.
The pain he expected never came. The Ausbilder instead wrapped an arm around his neck like an old friend.
In that instant, Diluc didn't even dare breathe loudly. He knew that if the Ausbilder wished, he could snap his neck at any moment.
"The entertainment ends here. I'd advise you to use that thing less often. I'm sure neither Mr. Kaeya nor Miss Jean would want to see your gravestone in the cemetery behind the church."
He paused slightly.
"Next time we meet… I hope it's still me you run into and not the Doctor."
After the "kind" reminder, Bai Luo simply vanished right before Diluc's eyes.
It was truly without any warning at all—he just disappeared, as if everything that had all been an illusion.
If the Ausbilder hadn't breathed warm air by his ear while speaking moments ago, Diluc might really have believed he had been facing a phantom.
Diluc had fought the Pyro Debt Collectors several times before and had seen the methods they used to hide their bodies.
But compared to them, the Ausbilder's disappearance was far more complete. There wasn't even the slightest sign or hint. It was even more terrifying than the rumors suggested.
This only made Diluc's expression grow more serious.
After sending his trusted men to clean up the underground wine cellar, Diluc changed back into his formal attire and returned to the banquet.
"How did it go?"
Kaeya, who had been waiting by the stairs for quite some time, spoke when he saw Diluc coming down dressed again.
Perhaps there were still some unresolved issues between them, but at a moment like this, those trivial matters were no longer important.
"The vermin and rats that took the bait by ruining Father's treasured wine… were they dealt with?"
In Kaeya's view, that Krupp would never have been able to resist such temptation.
But seeing his adoptive brother looking so troubled, Kaeya wasn't entirely sure anymore.
"The vermin and rats were indeed cleaned up. But the problem is…"
Glancing at the Fatui who had already completely left the banquet, Diluc lowered his voice.
"I suspect the fish we hooked was actually bait laid by the other side. And… that most troublesome dragon of all doesn't seem interested in wine."
"Heh. In stories, dragons usually prefer beautiful women and treasure."
Kaeya didn't seem surprised by his brother's words.
"I'll report this to the Acting Grand Master. While the Ausbilder is in Mondstadt, you'll have to keep a close eye on him."
Although the incident years ago had caused him to fall out with the Knights of Favonius, this matter was too important.
And it had to be reported personally.
"You really know how to push work onto people."
A bead of cold sweat slid down Kaeya's temple as he complained.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have minded, since this was technically part of his job.
But this Ausbilder…
Thinking back to their earlier conversation, that feeling as if everything about him could be seen through made goosebumps rise on Kaeya's skin again.
He had the strange sense that the man had already uncovered the truth about his origins.
It wasn't an illusion.
It was instinct.
"If you're unwilling, I can send someone else."
Diluc didn't force him, because he understood better than Kaeya just how dangerous the Ausbilder was.
"Oh, come on. Is there really anyone more suitable than me?"
Kaeya knew that if even he found it difficult, then how many people in Mondstadt could actually handle a Harbinger? Those so-called experts Diluc mentioned?
If they went, they'd just be walking straight into a trap.
They might even get outplayed by the Ausbilder and end up leaking a lot of information.
In a situation like this, it was clearly more reliable to handle it personally.
"Kaeya."
"Hmm?"
"What do you think… would happen if I dyed my hair blue?" After hesitating for a moment, Diluc voiced the question that had been bothering him.
"…How about I borrow the Spindrift Knight's greatsword and let you try it first?"