Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Journey to Inazuma
"Have you heard? The Instructor has been sent to Inazuma."
"Inazuma? Is that true?"
Near Wolvendom, inside a carriage bearing the insignia of the Fatui, two emissaries whispered to each other. Their conversation revolved around recent news from Snezhnaya.
Indeed, Bai Luo had been dispatched to Inazuma.
Despite his deep reluctance, this was not something within his control.
The only consolation he found was in the companion assigned to him on this journey.
"Instructor."
When this impeccably elegant woman stood beside Bai Luo, he suddenly felt that this trip might actually be worth it. Although she was quite tall—Bai Luo had to look up at her when they stood together—who could refuse such a fair-skinned, beautiful older sister?
She was none other than the Mirror Maiden.
Considering it was Bai Luo's first mission abroad, the Rooster had assigned him an assistant due to his lack of experience. The Mirror Maiden was deemed the most suitable candidate.
As a soldier in the special ceremonial guard of Snezhnaya, her loyalty was beyond question. Even if she wasn't entirely satisfied with this newly appointed Twelfth Harbinger, she still followed his orders without question, for this was the will of the Tsaritsa.
Upon reaching the port with the Mirror Maiden, they found only a solitary sailboat waiting for them. Bai Luo had been somewhat displeased when he first learned that this small vessel would be his means of transportation to Inazuma. After all, he was a Harbinger now; how could they send him off in such a manner?
But when he heard that Tartaglia had walked to Liyue on foot...
Fine, at least he didn't have to swim there.
After everyone boarded, and at Bai Luo's command, the ship, flying the flag of Snezhnaya and bearing the Fatui insignia, finally left the cold nation, heading towards the land known as The Islands of Thunder and Eternity
Despite his admiration for the Mirror Maiden's beauty, Bai Luo wasn't so depraved as to abuse his authority to take advantage of her. After dismissing her, he sat by the window, examining the Delusion in his hand in the sunlight. He also took out a fake Vision he had purchased from Inazuma.
At first glance, the two items appeared almost identical, with only slight differences in design due to their origins in different nations. The Delusion, however, looked somewhat darker.
But...
"Why on earth did the Jester give me a Dendro Delusion?"
Staring at the green Delusion, Bai Luo couldn't help but feel like complaining. It wasn't that the Dendro element was weak, but rather the word "grass" had certain ambiguous connotations. It always felt like an insult.
Moreover, how was he supposed to use this thing?
Although the Jester had mentioned that the Delusion functioned just like a Vision, Bai Luo had no idea how to use a Vision in the first place. After all, his so-called Vision was a fake.
Since arriving in this world, Bai Luo had privately investigated information regarding Visions, even using the name of the Second Harbinger, the Doctor, Perhaps the reports he submitted were helpful to the Doctor, as he had turned a blind eye to Bai Luo using his name.
From the data Bai Luo collected, it appeared that in this world of Teyvat, when people gained the favor of the gods, they would receive a Vision, an organ that channeled elemental power.
No one could explain how Visions came into being; they simply appeared out of nowhere, leaving countless unworthy aspirants searching in vain.
Empty Vision shells, left behind after their owners' deaths, contained no elemental power and had no specific method of reactivation. There was only a slim chance that they might resonate with someone, and repeated attempts by multiple people were not allowed.
Bai Luo had considered obtaining a real Vision, but the exorbitant cost made him settle for a glass bead from Inazuma instead.
He had also looked into how Vision bearers used their elemental powers. According to them, the Vision was like an organ, and once one possessed it, they would instinctively know how to use it—like speaking or walking, an innate ability.
He had no choice but to give up.
"This thing might be sinister, but that could turn out to be an advantage."
He hung the original Anemo fake Vision at a hidden spot on his waist, while the Delusion, which could actually resonate with the elements, was prominently displayed on his right arm. At least compared to the fake Vision, this Delusion was more intimidating.
"Beidou, there's a ship ahead!"
Aboard the Alcor, a sailor in the crow's nest called down to Beidou, who was drinking at the bow. This was a woman with jet-black hair, her left eye covered by bangs, seemingly hiding an eye patch. Though her crimson eyes showed signs of intoxication, they were as sharp as ever. She wore a traditional Liyue qipao paired with over-the-knee high-heeled boots. A massive blackstone broadsword was casually slung over her shoulder with one hand.
"Is it a passing merchant ship?"
Putting away her wine flask, Beidou called up to the lookout. Since this voyage had a specific purpose, she hadn't brought the entire Crux Fleet, only sailing on the Alcor. Unless there was a special reason, she preferred to avoid conflict.
"Beidou, it looks like... a Fatui ship."
After carefully observing, the lookout gulped and lowered his voice, "The Fatui are well-known throughout Teyvat, though not for good reasons."
Given their notoriety, it was no surprise the lookout reacted this way.
"A Fatui ship?"
Climbing to a higher vantage point, Beidou gazed in the direction the sailor had indicated, and indeed, she spotted a sailboat. But what could a ship like that be doing here at such a sensitive time? What were they up to now?
"What should we do, Beidou? Should we avoid them?"
The sailor could see that the other side had noticed them as well and was signaling for them to yield. But as just a sailor, he deferred to Beidou's command.
"Of course not."
Taking a big gulp from her wine flask, Beidou addressed the lookout, "Why should we avoid them? We didn't see a Fatui ship, just a merchant vessel. Pirates attacking a merchant ship—isn't that a normal occurrence?"
In fact, the Crux Fleet wasn't a pirate organization but a well-armed force from Liyue. However, at sea, who could tell whether they were pirates or something else once their flag was down?
Attacking Fatui ships was something the Crux Fleet had done more than a few times.
"But..."
The sailor was about to argue when an older, one-eyed crewman stopped him.
"New here, right? Just do as the Captain says. If she says it's a merchant ship, then it's a merchant ship. The sea is our territory, and whatever it is, it has to be at our mercy."
As he spoke, the crew sprang into action, loading cannonballs and moving the cannons into position, ready for an assault in no time.
"Lower the flag! Fire!"
At Beidou's command, all cannons fired simultaneously, aiming directly at the lone sailboat.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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