Chapter 26: Brewing Storm

[Ryuzu's POV]

Having met Livre at the door, I roused Carman from his slumber. Having spent the night pouring over designs and ideas for his Brass Wraith persona and other projects, he was understandingly hard to wake.

As soon as I managed to wake him, I quickly picked him up and carried him around the room, redressing him and tidying his hair. He was about to meet the Matron of the orphanage who still held Guardianship over him, it wouldn't do it his plans were sent awry because he gave the lady the wrong impression with his cleanliness.

Tossing his night clothes into a basket that I would wash later I carried him over to the door of the room and informed him that Livre was here to visit the Orphanage. I let him walk his way over to Livre, using the time to fix the bed. While Carman has repeatedly told me not to act like his servant, his unkempt nature often contrasts with my prerogative to maintain an orderly area in whatever space I call a residence.

After completing the bare minimum in keeping the bedroom tidy, I headed out of the door to see Livre and Carman waiting for me at the entrance. Calmly I followed behind them as they exited the building.

There is a charming air of this city I have found myself in. It's architecture resembles the buildings in the area of the world Y dedicated to the French. While it is not exactly the same, it still helps relive some of the homesickness I have felt of late. This world, Teyvat, the locals call it, is very similar to how my creator described Earth before it perished. The skies and the ground all have an energy I cannot describe and the wildlife is so vibrant compared to carefully breed flora Y had to use to popluate his masterpiece. It is unfortunate that when reconstructing the planet, certain things like biodiversity had to be sacrificed.

The people here people here seem just as happy in their ignorance as they did in my original world, blissfully unaware as horrible things happened to their neighbors, is that what makes them human? Being able to be happy only when unaware of the reality you live in or when ignoring the troubles of others when you yourself are not directly affected? Is that why so many cling to their ignorance and deny the truth even when it is staring them in the face?

Shaking my head from my musings, I focused on two presences I had detected tailing us since a few blocks back. Carefully, I manage to slip away from Livre and Carman without them realizing as they reached the entrance of the orphanage. Walking back with the crowd, I manage to circle behind our pursuers, as I saw their clothes I noted they were not dressed in a way that matched any of the groups Carman and I have fought in our evening personas, that likely ruled out the Drug distributers, especially since we didn't leave evidence towards our identities, meaning that we had an unknown party sending grunts to observe us.

Not giving them a chance as they climbed on top of a nearby building and were attempting to vault over the gap and into the side of the orphanage where there were some windows left open, I quickly caught up with them and rendered them unconscious while on the lookout for any backup they might have.

Thankfully it seemed to be just the two of these spies. While I may not know what organization they are from, but I could probably find out through figuring out their identities.

Lifing off the mask overing one of the spy's masks that covered their eyes and nose I stared blankly at the generic face that greeted me.

"....I have no idea who this is. "

I take note of a few symbols I could find on the pair's clothing, as well as their characteristics so I can recognize them later. I will draw the symbols to see if Carman knows what they mean later.

I dump the two on top of two separate buildings further into the city, that way if they woke up earlier than I expected it would take some time for them to regroup. Making my way back to the orphanage I noticed that there is another group of those people watching the exit of the orphanage.

Here we go again...

[15 minutes later.]

Taking off my Pale Lady disguise that Carman had gleefully prepared after hearing the rumors that started to circulate after I got spotted during one of my raids, I sigh in relief after once again scattering a group of those perculiar individuals throughout the city. To be honest it took more time to find a spot to change into my disguise than it did to take out and separate this group. One of the individuals this time had a badge or insignia of sorts etched out of a grey piece of stone, so I took it to show Carman.

Once again arriving at the orphanage, I was happy to see no more of those pests scurrying about. Unfortunately, it seems the meeting had already concluded, as Livre and Carman walked out of the building at a brisk pace, both of them looking around and scanning the crowd. It seems that my absence did not go unnoticed.

Walking up to them, I ask, "Judging from the new signature on the document Mr.Livre is carelessly waking around with, can I assume the meeting was effective at furthering the adoption process?"

Hearing the verbal jab aimed at him Livre carefully folded the document and put it into his jacket's inner pocket.

"Yes, and Ryuzu, why did you leave? I thought you wanted to meet Ms. Charlotte?" Said Carman

"I just came across an adverting team I had worked with previously, Mr. Bennett was wondering if I might be able to assist him in a escort mission his group had accepted from the guild." I replied

"Ah, while that is understandable, I thought we were all taking the day off to ensure the final stages of the process go as smoothly as possible?" Asked Livre.

"My apologies, Mr. Livre, but due to the amount of mora I received when assisting that party last time I did not think it wise to pass up the opportunity presented to me, especially with Carman now enrolled in the military engineering school, supplies for that are not cheap."

As I continued to converse with Livre I could see Carman take in the information I had just said. I am not sure why he chose it, but the name Bennett was a codeword he had told me to use in public when telling him plans had gone sideways.

As he digested the information I steered the conversation back towards getting the documents submitted at the clerk's office.

Livre conceding to my point lead the way to the Government building located at the northern point of the city.

Lagging behind slightly, I quietly inform Carman of the details of what has transpired, upon being handed the grey stone, his eyes widened slightly.

"Fatui" he whispered.

-to be continued.