People really shouldn't be mentioned carelessly. Just moments ago, they were talking about Scaramouche, and now he's actually here—not just him, but Signora as well.
The matter of discussing strategies with the Kujou Clan was supposed to be Signora's responsibility, while Scaramouche was in charge of the factory affairs. However, after reading the first act of the book and learning that the Raiden Shogun herself would attend the Vision Hunt Ceremony, he came specifically to witness it.
Lumine watched Scaramouche and Signora warily. With her current strength, she could handle either of them alone, but facing both at once would be difficult.
To make matters worse, it wasn't just the two of them—more and more Fatui agents were closing in from all sides.
The only silver lining was that there were no traps here, so Lumine wouldn't pass out.
Her resistance to dizziness had always been zero, even worse than Jing Yuan from the neighboring world, who was terrified of being 'elbowed.'
On the opposing side were two Fatui Harbingers and a group of Fatui soldiers, while her side consisted of Yoimiya, Thoma, and Sayu—oh, and let's not forget Paimon, who was more of a liability. The power balance was completely uneven.
Lumine gave up on staying alert and directly dropped her combat stance, opting to just go with the flow.
"Traveler, we meet again," Scaramouche said.
At this point, the Traveler hadn't met Teppei yet, and Teppei hadn't died, so Lumine didn't feel particularly emotional upon seeing Scaramouche.
It was the same as when she last encountered Signora—because many events hadn't happened yet, Lumine was surprisingly calm.
In fact, if they kept meeting like this, they might as well become 'old friends.'
Especially Signora, who had been 'chasing' the Traveler since Mondstadt. Who knew if she'd keep it up in the nations to come?
If Lucian knew Lumine's doubts, he'd tell her: No, because the chase would turn into a memorial service.
Ignoring Scaramouche's words, Lumine directly pulled out the communication device Lucian had given her.
"Hey, I'm surrounded. Help," Lumine mimicked Paimon's tone.
"Haven't you finished yet? I've been waiting so long the flowers are wilting." This was a line Lumine had picked up from playing cards with Lucian.
She usually didn't talk much, but when she did, she immediately borrowed from both Paimon and Lucian, proving herself just as 'quick to learn' as Paimon.
She was waiting for Lucian, while Lucian was waiting for Kujou Sara, who hadn't even finished putting on her armor yet.
This wasn't because Kujou Sara was slow—it was mainly because Lumine had acted too quickly. By the time she messaged Lucian, she had already infiltrated the prison.
Lucian had only just notified Kujou Sara when Lumine had already finished dealing with the Fatui. She was absurdly efficient.
"Still in the mood to chat?" Scaramouche said coldly, waving his hand to signal the Fatui soldiers to advance.
"Coming, coming," Lucian replied, indicating he was ready.
Paimon shouted, "Wait a minute!"
Scaramouche raised his hand, stopping the Fatui soldiers, and frowned at Paimon.
Though they did have the upper hand, the combat power on the Traveler's side wasn't to be underestimated. He was curious about what this little white creature had to say—did they still have an ace up their sleeve?
For a moment, both Lucian and the Fatui paused, waiting to hear Paimon's words.
"The one about to teleport here is Lucian, the Prophet. Scaramouche, Signora, do you know what that means?" Paimon placed her hands on her hips proudly.
"Teleportation again…" Scaramouche recalled his encounter with Mona.
Signora was also surprised. So the Prophet could teleport to them directly?
The Fatui's intelligence knew that Lucian had the ability to teleport people instantly, which was why they'd never considered capturing him.
Lucian shouldn't be called Lucian—he should be called a loach, impossible to catch.
Like a rabbit, you never knew where his next hole would be.
But their intel had always assumed Lucian's teleportation was fixed-point teleportation. They hadn't expected him to teleport directly to someone's side?
It made sense that the Fatui didn't know—Lucian wouldn't give Teleport Waypoints to the Fatui, so they remained unaware that the key to teleportation was the Portable Waypoint.
Scaramouche and Signora were wary. It wasn't so much about Lucian's strength—it was the uncertainty of who he might bring along with him!
"What does it mean?" One of the Fatui soldiers couldn't resist asking.
Just as everyone expected Paimon to say something threatening to persuade them to surrender, Paimon lifted her head triumphantly and declared:
"It means this is a pass (Lucian)!"
"..."
"..."
The scene fell into silence. What had been a tense situation suddenly became much calmer.
Lucian teleported over immediately, grabbed Paimon, and—instead of refining her—gave her a vigorous head-rubbing.
"You really love copying me, huh? Even my bad jokes?" Lucian 'menacingly' tousled Paimon's face.
"Mmph—! Help—!"
No one paid Paimon any mind. Kujou Sara and Yae Miko, who had arrived with Lucian, faced the Fatui directly.
"Fatui! The head of the clan… He really has betrayed the Shogun." Kujou Sara clenched her teeth.
She had respected Kujou Takayuki deeply, but he had betrayed someone she revered even more.
Being forced to choose between the two was the last thing Kujou Sara wanted, but now she had no choice.
"Hah, betrayal?" Scaramouche sneered. "That idiot's actions don't even deserve to be called betrayal."
Scaramouche declared: No one understands betrayal better than I do.
"Enough talk!" Kujou Sara drew her blade.
Scaramouche summoned crackling lightning in his palm. The battle was on the verge of erupting—until…
"Wait a minute!" The familiar phrase rang out again, though this time it wasn't Paimon who shouted it, but Lucian, who was still pinching Paimon's cheeks.
The Prophet's words carried significant weight, so everyone paused once more.
This battle, which should have been a bloody storm, now felt like an exercise in 'edging'—every time they were about to 'do it,' they were interrupted.
Everyone waited to hear what profound insight the Prophet had to offer. Only Lumine watched Lucian warily.
This guy had a track record—was he about to drop another terrible joke? The same trick wouldn't stay funny forever!
Fortunately, Lucian wasn't planning to tell a joke. When he was serious, he was very serious.
"Fatui, I'm here to negotiate," Lucian said.
It wasn't that he feared the Fatui—it was just that they still had their uses later.
"What are your terms?" Scaramouche frowned.
Lucian pulled out a 'chess piece'—the 'Bishop,' which was none other than Ei's Gnosis.
Yae Miko had given it to him, as Lucian had mentioned earlier that negotiations would require it.
The condition for obtaining the Gnosis was that Lucian guaranteed Inazuma's future, with a minor, non-critical stipulation being that he would later write stories for Ei and Yae Miko.
Raiden Ei trusted that Yae Miko would handle the Gnosis properly and not get shortchanged.
Yae Miko trusted that Lucian would handle the Gnosis properly and not get shortchanged.
Lucian trusted that the Tsaritsa would handle the Gnosis properly and not get shortchanged.
Everyone had a bright future ahead.
"Want it?" Lucian dangled the Gnosis teasingly.
Scaramouche's eyes locked onto the Gnosis like a cat fixated on a toy, unable to look away.
"Your terms?" Scaramouche demanded directly.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice: Scaramouche — About Lucian
"Him?… Don't get too close. Watch out, or you'll end up in his schemes."