The next morning, Victor Wang returned to Vimara Village. After just one night, only a single Withering Zone had naturally grown back. Compared to the previous days, the sudden drop in workload left him feeling oddly restless.
But that night, the Fatui resumed their activities. By the third day, the Withering had grown back densely, and then Victor Wang and Kuiyuan split it up and handled it.
"Hey, how long are you all planning to stay in Vimara Village?"
"Until the Withering is truly eradicated."
"Truly eradicated?"
Victor Wang repeated it unconsciously. For the Withering to be truly eradicated, it would have to wait until the existence of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was erased from Irminsul. The North Wing venerated Celestia, so they likely weren't bluffing.
"Don't ask too much. I don't get it either. Boss says the Withering is a kind of passage. Until all the passages are closed, we have to stay in Vimara Village to prevent someone from opening them."
Kuiyuan's answer sent Victor Wang into deeper thought.
A passage…
If they meant forbidden knowledge, then the one studying how to open the passage using the Withering would be the Doctor. The Mirrormaster could divine things—maybe she really did know something. So the North Wing had really gone head-to-head with the Doctor?
Could he retire now?
Wait—did this mean the Mirrormaster foresaw the Doctor coming to Vimara Village personally?
Victor Wang didn't know whether to feel relieved or anxious. He had originally planned to return to Sumeru City early today to take a look at the renovated Zubayr Theater—but now there was no way he could leave Vimara Village unattended.
…
"Medicinal herbs that can help Grandpa Amadhiah's eyesight get better, and huge mushrooms that can make Sister Rana energetic and not tired—don't you want them?"
"But… but Sister Rana said there are lots of bad people outside watching us… and Marana is out there too…"
"It's fine. I'm with you this time. The herbs, the mushrooms—everything you couldn't get before—we'll go together and definitely get them this time!"
"But…"
Kavus and Sudabeh were already persuaded, but Iotham still resisted.
Alphonso sighed deeply and played the emotional card. "Iotham, you've seen the village's situation lately. Grandpa Amadhiah is the village chief, Rana is a forest ranger, and I… everyone in the night patrol—we patrol in the day and again at night. We hardly dare rest for a moment. We're so tired…"
Thinking about the Fatui corpses he alone had seen, Iotham felt panic rise in his chest. But hearing these words, the hazy memories of being abandoned by his birth parents in Vimara Village contrasted sharply with Alphonso—the brother he felt he'd finally found. That trust, that affection, was precious… and it made him hesitate.
"Brother Alphonso…"
"It's rare that I'm not on duty tonight. I want to collect some high-quality Starshrooms to help everyone recover. I want Rana to not work so hard… Come with me. I swear on my life—I won't let anything happen to you."
"…Okay."
"Good! Follow quietly. Don't let anyone see us. When we come back with full baskets, we'll give them a big surprise!"
The Fatui's mission in Vimara Village seemed simple on the surface—but in truth, it wasn't.
First, they had to ensure no one else could rescue the children—yet the Aranara must be able to rescue the children.
This required secrecy, and even while being secretive, they had to leave enough time to ensure the Aranara realized the children were in danger. After all, these three seemed to be the only children who could attract the Aranara. Lose one… and that child would be lost forever.
Second, they could not see the Aranara.
The Fatui once tried locking the children directly in their camps, but the Aranara rescued them without alerting anyone. Only when the children appeared inside a Withering Zone, protected by a green barrier, could they confirm the Aranara were around them. Thus, the Withering had to be planted.
Caught in the middle of this, Alphonso had no choice but to cooperate from within. After years of infiltration and trust-building, he continuously lured the children toward the dangerous Withering-infested areas.
A few years ago, when he first came here, the Doctor had not yet issued this mission. Back then he was just a regular undercover agent like the others. Now, the years in Vimara Village had become a major portion of his life. Carrying out this mission exhausted him body and soul.
But it would end tonight. His identity would soon be torn apart, and he would never have to stay in Vimara Village again. He would leave… as long as this plan succeeded.
No—with that lord here, this plan would definitely succeed.
He knew the night patrol's routes like the back of his hand. He knew every road and path of Vimara Village. Taking advantage of the night, Alphonso led the three children out. But the moment they left the village, that outsider youth—who had been practicing archery on the opposite side of the village the last two nights—had inexplicably moved to this side tonight.
"It's late. Where are you all going?"
"Out to gather mushrooms."
Alphonso answered faintly and turned to leave.
"Stop."
"What we're doing has nothing to do with you."
"It doesn't."
Though he said that, Kuiyuan drew an arrow from his quiver. Seeing this motion, Alphonso immediately shielded the three children behind him and shouted, "He's a bad guy! Run!"
Kavus and Sudabeh didn't doubt him and immediately ran in the direction Alphonso pushed them—straight toward the forest, away from Vimara Village.
Iotham had met Kuiyuan before and hesitated, frozen in place—not running, but also not stopping his friends.
Kuiyuan dipped the arrowhead into a nearby oil lamp until it was saturated. When the flame flared, he shot it into the air. As it rose, the bowstring twanged repeatedly—an invisible force broke the burning arrow into a shower of sparks mid-air.
"Who are you signaling?!"
"Aren't you running?" Kuiyuan asked as he pulled the bow again.
Having heard his comrades describe Kuiyuan's strength, Alphonso panicked. He shoved Iotham. "Go! I'll hold him off!"
"I don't hurt kids," Kuiyuan said. "There's no need for him to run."
Iotham could no longer understand anything happening. He looked at Alphonso, then at Kuiyuan—speechless, motionless.
"Run, Iotham! Run!"
"…Sister Rana is coming."
Iotham finally raised a hand and pointed toward a cluster of torches in the distance.
Alphonso sighed. The concealed dagger in his sleeve slid free, and he pressed it against Iotham's neck, snarling at Kuiyuan, "Don't attack. Don't chase. Otherwise, this kid dies!"
"Brother Alphonso…?"
"Sorry."
But Kuiyuan wasn't buying it. "I don't hit kids. But if he dies, you're the one killing him. What's that got to do with me?"
"You—!"
"Heh. I'm not acting because if everyone arrives and sees your corpse, it'll cause unnecessary misunderstandings about me."
Alphonso released the trembling Iotham. Realizing he couldn't escape, he looked back—suddenly regretting sending Kavus and Sudabeh running into the forest. He wanted to call them back… but with that lord present, maybe it didn't matter. If that lord took action, the entire Vimara Village might be in danger.
But in Kuiyuan's eyes, Alphonso's hesitation looked different. "Don't bother looking. Someone's blocking your escape up ahead. Your plan won't succeed."
"You don't understand. Ahead there's… forget it. I am the good among evil, the poison among medicine, the wolf among lambs, the fool among gold. My name is Snezhevich. Even without the slightest chance of victory, I will fight to the end. Come!"
===BREAK===
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