"Wait a moment, Grand Sage Idris…"
As they passed by the massive construct, Yae Miko suddenly stopped.
"Inside this Shouki no Kami… isn't there something else hidden?"
"As we walked past it, I sensed a very familiar presence."
"Oh?"
Hearing her words, Idris halted as well. He followed her gaze toward the colossal mechanical god and smiled faintly.
"There's nothing like that," he said calmly.
"This Shouki no Kami is a creation of Sumeru—nothing related to Inazuma."
"How could there possibly be something inside that feels familiar to Lady Yae?"
Yae Miko snorted softly.
"Grand Sage, you know very well that I'm the Raiden Shogun's most trusted confidant."
"I'm intimately familiar with her aura."
"There is definitely something inside this Shouki no Kami that's connected to the Electro Archon."
Idris nodded.
"Alright. Since you're so certain, I won't bother pretending anymore."
"There is someone inside."
"He calls himself a puppet. Formerly the Sixth of the Fatui Harbingers."
"His name is Scaramouche."
"Does that name ring a bell, Lady Yae?"
Yae Miko froze for a moment—then nodded slowly.
"Of course it does."
"He didn't always go by that name."
"He was once a puppet created by the Shogun herself… Raiden Kunikuzushi."
"He was abandoned."
"I never imagined he'd end up in your hands."
"Oh?" Idris chuckled.
"So quite a few people are connected to him."
"Previously, Snezhnaya complained that I killed their Harbinger."
"They said they'd come settle accounts with me."
"But the Fatui haven't arrived yet—meanwhile, you came first."
Idris sneered inwardly.
Compared to the so-called Traveler, Scaramouche felt far more like the real protagonist.
Ties to three nations.
Enemies—and connections—everywhere.
Meanwhile, the blond "camera" barely left a trace.
In Idris's world, Scaramouche had no future left to ruin.
He would remain sealed inside the Shouki no Kami forever—nothing more than a puppet.
As for the Fatui?
Scaramouche's "death" had caused a stir at first.
But over time, even they seemed to have decided to forget him.
No funeral.
No mourning.
Just that one theatrical scene—A Winter Night's Lazzo.
Unlike La Signora, who at least delivered two Gnoses before her death, Scaramouche died accomplishing nothing.
He even lost the Electro Gnosis—forcing Dottore to pay a steep price just to retrieve it.
And the Dendro Gnosis?
It was still with Nahida.
From the Fatui's perspective, Scaramouche's existence was an embarrassment.
Revenge could wait.
What they wanted now was a deal—one that wouldn't completely anger Idris.
Those were matters for later.
Turning his attention back, Idris asked calmly,
"So, Lady Yae—now that we've clarified your connection to Scaramouche…"
"Are you here to reclaim him?"
"If so, I'm afraid that's impossible."
"He's already my puppet."
"And he's consumed a Soul-Binding Pill—his three souls and six spirits are gone."
"The only thing left is obedience."
Yae Miko shook her head.
"No, you misunderstand."
"I only brought it up because I was surprised he was here."
"That's all."
"Let's move on."
Idris nodded and led her into the Akademiya's office atop the Sacred Tree.
Once seated, Yae Miko glanced around and smiled.
"Grand Sage Idris… I don't see Greater Lord Rukkhadevata anywhere."
"Of course not," Idris replied lazily.
"What are you plotting? You think I don't know?"
"And that story you told earlier—it was fake."
Yae Miko laughed lightly.
"As expected of the Grand Sage. Nothing slips past you."
"Then why bring me here alone?" she teased.
"Just the two of us… a lonely man and woman, you know."
She cast him a sultry smile.
A honey trap.
Unfortunately for her, she had chosen the wrong target.
Idris's expression remained utterly calm.
"Lady Yae," he said flatly,
"state your terms."
"Beyond restoring normal diplomatic relations, you clearly have another purpose."
Yae Miko nodded.
"Very well."
"There's one thing I wish to ask."
"Was it truly you, Grand Sage Idris, who revived Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
"If you think anyone else in Teyvat could do that," Idris replied,
"then there's no need to ask me."
"Good."
Yae Miko straightened slightly.
"Then I'll be direct."
"If we request your help in reviving a god—"
"What price must we pay?"
Idris smiled faintly.
"Why ask such a thing? Your nation's god is still alive, isn't she?"
Yae Miko proceeded to explain—
about Raiden Makoto,
about her lingering remnants within the Sacred Sakura and Musou Isshin,
and about her own late mentor, Kitsune Saiguu.
After listening, Idris leaned back indifferently.
"So you want to revive the Raiden Shogun's elder sister."
"Let me be clear."
"Reviving a god requires immense preparation."
"And I cannot revive just anyone."
"The target must still possess residual soul fragments."
"And a vessel must be prepared—without a body capable of housing them, resurrection is impossible."
Yae Miko nodded immediately.
"That won't be a problem."
"The Shogun herself will prepare the vessel."
Indeed—
if reviving Makoto required sacrificing the puppet Shogun's body, Ei would not hesitate.
Idris continued calmly.
"Then let's discuss the price."
"First—rare medicinal ingredients."
"Each must be prepared in triplicate."
"These are required to refine the resurrection pill."
He handed her a formula.
Yae Miko's brow twitched.
Many of these materials cost millions of Mora per set.
And Idris wanted three.
A blatant lion's share.
"And second," Idris added,
"the refinement process itself."
"Even I cannot guarantee success."
"And my personal fee… is expensive."
Yae Miko nodded grimly.
"Name your price, Grand Sage."
"Mora isn't the priority," Idris replied.
"I need workers."
"You heard earlier—I intend to build roads."
"Sumeru's workforce is currently occupied, and population growth hasn't caught up yet."
"If Inazuma is willing to send ten thousand workers to Sumeru to assist with construction—"
"I'll refine the pill."
"Ten thousand?!"
Even Yae Miko's expression darkened.
That number rivaled Liyue's mobilization capacity.
She shook her head firmly.
"Impossible."
"Inazuma doesn't have that many workers to spare."
"At most—two thousand."
Idris stood.
"Then please return home."
"Refining a god-reviving pill for only two thousand workers?"
"That's a loss for me."
"And don't bother involving Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
"She won't persuade me."
"Even if she comes."
Yae Miko's smile twitched.
Then—she leaned forward, posture alluring.
"Grand Sage Idris… can't you reconsider?"
"Our nations are geographically close—there would be many conveniences in the future."
"Or perhaps…"
"We could offer a suitable noble lady from Inazuma as a marriage alliance."
"What do you say?"
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito