chsdbacks Chapter 55: Diluc’s Defeat
Chapter 55: Diluc’s Defeat
"Ausbilder..."
Diluc lightly grasped his right hand, where a gem-like object rested.
Although it resembled a Vision, in reality, it was merely an imitation—known by another name: the Delusion.
"Young master, sometimes knowing too much isn't a good thing," said Bai Luo.
Under the dim lighting, his mask appeared eerie, as if he had transformed into a different person altogether, losing the faint kindness of his previous smile.
His black attire now made him resemble the very embodiment of death.
"You recognized me?!"
Diluc was taken aback.
Even though Kaeya had hinted at it, hearing Bai Luo reveal his identity so effortlessly left him uneasy.
He had taken such great pains to disguise himself, yet it wasn’t enough.
Bai Luo leaped down from the stacked barrels, retrieving the dagger embedded in Krobber's corpse with the aid of a wire.
As he approached Diluc, he spoke casually:
"Mondstadt has many wealthy people with plenty of idle time, but few are both rich and free, with red hair, no less. As far as I know, there’s only one person like that—Young Master Diluc."
Diluc froze for a moment, instinctively glancing at his red bangs hanging before his eyes.
He had thought changing his hairstyle would be enough to avoid suspicion, but clearly, he had underestimated his opponent.
"What is the Doctor’s goal? Why are you here in Mondstadt?"
Realizing he’d been exposed, Diluc removed his owl mask and directly asked the questions he had been harboring.
He didn’t think Bai Luo was bluffing—after all, he had been open with Kaeya as well.
If sacrificing his own life could yield valuable information, it would be worth it.
"The Doctor's goal is the same as the Fatui's goal, and the Fatui's goal is the Tsaritsa's will. The Tsaritsa’s will isn’t something you or anyone else can comprehend," Bai Luo said as he casually walked closer to Diluc.
His eyes lingered on the Delusion in Diluc's hand.
"As for my goal... I truly came to attend the Windblume Festival. And if possible, lend the Doctor a hand. By the way, that Vision of yours is quite fascinating. I'm sure the Doctor would be thrilled to know about it."
"Hmph!"
As Bai Luo drew closer, the Delusion on Diluc's hand began to glow.
Whoosh—
Kaeya had assumed that Krobber wouldn’t be able to resist such temptation, but seeing Diluc’s troubled expression made him uncertain.
"The vermin and rats have been dealt with, but the real problem..." Diluc lowered his voice, glancing at the Fatui members who had already left the banquet.
"I suspect that the bait we thought we’d caught was actually part of their trap. And... that dragon, the most dangerous one, isn’t interested in wine."
"Heh, in stories, dragons usually prefer maidens and treasures," Kaeya replied, unfazed by his brother’s revelation.
He wasn’t surprised; the more he learned about Bai Luo, the more fearful he became.
After all, Bai Luo was one of the Fatui’s top Twelve Harbingers.
"I’ll report this to the Acting Grand Master. While the Ausbilder is in Mondstadt, you’d best keep an eye on him."
Though Kaeya had had a falling out with the Knights over past matters, this situation was far too serious to ignore. He needed to report it personally.
"You sure know how to delegate," Kaeya sighed, wiping a bead of cold sweat from his forehead.
Normally, he wouldn’t mind; after all, this was part of his job.
But dealing with Bai Luo...
The memory of their previous conversation sent a chill down Kaeya’s spine.
Bai Luo had a way of making you feel like he could see right through you.
Kaeya couldn’t shake the feeling that Bai Luo knew everything about his past, not as a mere suspicion, but a gut instinct.
"If you don't want to do it, I can send someone else," Diluc said, not pressing Kaeya.
He understood even better than his brother just how dangerous Bai Luo truly was.
"Come on, who else could handle this better than me?"
Kaeya knew that if even he found this difficult, there weren’t many others in Mondstadt capable of handling the Ausbilder.
Those "skilled hands" Diluc often referred to? They would just be lambs to the slaughter.
Sending them would only play into Bai Luo’s hands, potentially giving away valuable information.
No, this was something Kaeya had to handle personally.
"Kaeya."
"Hmm?"
"What do you think... if I dyed my hair blue?" Diluc hesitated before asking his question.
"...Should I ask the Spindrift Knight to lend you her Song of Broken Pines while we're at it?"