"I only know this much. Oh, right, and this—" Windwheel Maru pulled a cylindrical object out of his pocket that looked suspiciously like a double-bang firecracker, reluctantly placing it on the table.
"Fireworks?"
"More visible and higher-reaching than ordinary fireworks. This is the emergency signal tool given to us by 'Robin'. Once launched, no matter how far away he is, he'll rush over to provide aid. Now that communications have completely collapsed, I'll leave this to you all..."
Kazuha gently shook his head. "A protective item like this, you should keep it for yourself."
"...If I really encounter danger, I won't last until help arrives. Ending this crisis early is the right way. I understand that."
After sending Windwheel Maru off, Beidou turned to Victor Wang. "That's the situation. You still seem to have some questions?"
"Who is 'Robin'?"
"Normally, I shouldn't disclose someone else's private matters—especially someone like him, who always changes attire, wears a mask, and hates to be known by his true identity. But since you have the right to know, I'll tell you.
"'Robin' is Kamisato Ayato, current head of the Yashiro Commission among Inazuma's three great Commissions. He joined the organization back then to save his clan, yet now this identity has become a ticking time bomb threatening his family's safety.
"I don't doubt his loyalty or ability. Normally, he manipulates the situation from behind the scenes and avoids revealing himself unless absolutely necessary. In the current state of affairs, he must be agonizing to death."
"It's actually him?"
Beidou was slightly surprised. "You know him too? Looks like you've really done your homework. Then you should also know his personality. If you ask me, he's practically Ningguang's copy—one of the types that gives me the biggest headache."
No, someone who delights in watching others struggle, willing to use any means to reach his goal—Ayato is more like Kaeya, if you ask me.
Grumbling in his heart, Victor Wang focused on the locations Windwheel Maru had marked on the map. "So, it's my move next. Honestly, couldn't Kazuha smell... sense a 'scent' or something like that?"
"I know what you're implying, but it won't work." Kazuha shrugged. "Even a dog needs to smell its target first before it can track it."
"Fair point. Looks like it's up to me."
"I suggest you head out tonight. The Alcor is far too conspicuous. As much as I'd like the enemy to come knocking, the Tenryou Commission is more likely to arrive first."
Beidou pointed on the map.
"Starting tomorrow, the Alcor will stay here for two days. Then, it'll shift to waters off Kannazuka, further from shore, and wait another three days. After that, we must deliver a shipment to Watatsumi Island—one trip will take four days.
"In other words, you only have five days to investigate. Take Windwheel Maru's signal flare with you. Whether you use it to call for aid or return to the ship, Kazuha and I are your backup. If you find nothing in those five days, then lay low for four days and wait for our return."
"Then I'll set out now."
"Good luck! Whatever your so-called 'to save yourself' means, once the organization recovers, getting you a special Tenryou Commission permit to travel freely across Inazuma won't be a problem at all."
Taking the modified firework, Victor Wang slipped into the crowd hauling goods under the cover of night and entered Chinju Forest.
Windwheel Maru's intel on the five missing people included their residences—Ritou, Konda Village, and Inazuma City...
He refused to land at Ritou, not just because foreigners are strictly monitored there. At this time, The Fair Lady was most likely on Ritou.
Hiiragi Shinsuke, head of the Kanjou Commission's Hiiragi Clan, had colluded with the Fatui, supplying crystal marrow to their Delusion factory, and under The Fair Lady's command, even tried to imprison Lumine on Ritou. Victor himself bore a grudge against her—if she discovered him, she would hardly show the same restraint she had for Lumine...
So, Ritou was out of the question. Only if no clues turned up elsewhere would he risk going there.
That left Konda Village and Inazuma City.
But Inazuma City was no safe haven either. Kujou Takayuki, head of the Tenryou Commission's Kujou Clan, had likewise allied with the Fatui. There was a chance The Fair Lady was already in the city. Without Zhongli's shield, if she spotted him, it would be a game of cat and mouse.
Weighing his circumstances, Victor Wang set his order of investigation: Konda Village first, then Inazuma City, and last Ritou.
"Hopefully, I won't run into The Fair Lady."
Avoiding to use flashy sword-riding, he relied on speed techniques, running for over half an hour before a slightly run-down village appeared ahead.
Even from afar, he could smell cooking smoke and food drifting in the night breeze. Compared to Qingce Village, the main street here was even more desolate, yet most of the low houses were lit, families gathered for supper.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
So, Victor Wang never expected someone to come greet him.
A handsome yellow dog barked furiously from the stone bridge at the south entrance of the village. From the nearest house, a boy rushed out curiously, staring at him.
"Is this your dog?"
"This is a stray in the village. Who are you?"
"I'm looking for someone. Can you get this dog to stop barking?"
"It doesn't bite. Don't be scared."
Barking like this at night... isn't that a nuisance?
The dog kept barking, and neighbors began to peek from their doors. Victor Wang compromised, pretending to search his pockets before producing a sausage from Inner Space and tossing it to the dog. Sure enough, it stopped.
"Phew... Kid, do you know Kasano Yuichi and Kasano Koji?"
"Grandpa says we can't talk to strangers. Especially not in the middle of the night."
"It's not even midnight yet..."
"If you're a friend, then I can talk to you."
Victor Wang caught his meaning and pulled out some bubblegum from Inner Space. "My name's Victor. Take these sweets. Now we know each other, right?"
"Fine, fine. I'm Konda Soushi. The two people you mentioned—I've never heard of them. Are you sure they're from our village? This is Konda Village. Don't get lost."
"You've never heard of them?"
Based on his theory of the Hungry Ghost's power, its memory manipulation must have limits—likely only affecting a certain range. That explained why only companions of the missing forgot, while others still remembered them.
If Konda Soushi didn't know the Kasano brothers, it meant the Hungry Ghost had been here.
Recalling the detailed address Windwheel Maru provided, Victor Wang headed deeper into the village, trailed by the boy and the dog. After unlocking the teleport waypoint at the village center, he pointed across the street. "That road to the west, past the chief's house—that's the village chief's home, right?"
"Yeah. Are you looking for those two people's place? I'll take you."
At the end of the road stood a dark, unlit courtyard.
"Do you know who lived here?"
"No one's lived here in ages, I think. I don't remember."
Yet the lock had no dust at all.
After questioning neighbors, he got different answers from Soushi. They all claimed the house belonged to the Shinnosuke brothers, who left before New Year's to seek work and never returned.
There was no mistake—their memories had been tampered with. The Kasano brothers had disappeared in Konda Village.
The Hungry Ghost had even thoughtfully rewritten the neighbors' memories, though Soushi's family lived further away, so the manipulation wasn't as thorough.
"What are you doing?"
"If no one lives here, then it's abandoned, right? These people owed me money. I'm just checking if there's anything valuable inside."
Making up an excuse to appease Soushi, Victor Wang climbed through the window. Thanks to good sealing, the furniture was relatively clean, though the kitchen contained rotting lavender melons and sunsettias. Clearly, the house hadn't been lived in for a while.
If... if Kazuha were here, could he really sniff out the missing by scent?
Inspired, Victor Wang picked up two clearly used cups from the living room table and hopped back out.
"Konda Soushi, can your dog track?"
"If there's food, sure."
The yellow dog sat obediently, tongue out, tail wagging, still craving sausage.
After another bribe, Soushi sighed. "I meant food for me. I've never had candy like this before. It's fun."
"..."
"Alright, alright. You want him to find the owner of these cups, right? Here, sniff!"
At the command, the dog circled the house twice, then bolted west out of the village. But before leaving completely, it doubled back to bark furiously at a small, unremarkable fox statue.
"Found it this easily?"
"No, this is Toratarou's bark for strangers. But... this is just a statue, isn't it?"
"Stranger..." Victor Wang pressed against the statue, attempting to store it in Inner Space. As expected, he couldn't. It carried spiritual energy.
There were two common fox statues in Inazuma's wilds: large Sky statues and smaller Earth Kitsune. Legends said they were once messengers of Kitsune Saiguu. After she perished in the Calamity five hundred years ago, they became statues, storing their power, awaiting her return.
This one was an Earth Kitsune—small, but still nearly a meter tall.
The Hungry Ghost's second clue mentioned a fox statue. But would it really show itself in such an unguarded form?
Not wanting the statue to flee, nor to reveal his elemental powers before Soushi, Victor Wang steeled himself and hoisted it onto his shoulder.
"So heavy..."
Whether by coincidence or not, the moment he said that, the statue grew heavier.
"You're really strong!"
"Tell Toratarou to stop barking. Let's keep tracking."
"He'll need more food."
"...He's already eaten two sausages!"
"Can't help it. That's Toratarou's principle."
"...Fine."
Victor Wang reluctantly handed over another sausage.
"Good. Toratarou, sniff! Stupid mutt! Forward, not back to the village!"
The dog sprinted after the scent trail again, running far out before being stopped short—by the endless ocean.
"They crossed the sea? Tch, troublesome... Take Toratarou back. I won't be joining you. Thanks for your help."
"No need to thank me. We're friends, right? Next time you need something, come find me again!"