After returning from Inazuma City, Lin Yide's life returned to its previous rhythm. He spent his days in his "battle-worn style" office, engrossed in handling Fudé Port's official duties. This kind of life was monotonous and boring for him; he didn't like it. However, the newly built Fudé Port had many matters that required his personal attention. From planning to implementation, every step needed his control.
Fortunately, Dottore's segments' unexpected assassination attempts always arrived on schedule, like a seasoning that made his days less monotonous and boring. In the fierce battle with the Raiden Shogun and Ei, Lin Yide deeply experienced the practicality of the Kitsune Intent Cultivation Secret Art. Therefore, he used the [Number] experience points gained from defeating Raiden Ei to upgrade the level of the Kitsune Intent Cultivation Secret Art, advancing it from mastery to the pinnacle of perfection. The direct benefit of this upgrade was obvious—whenever a Dottore segment entered his hundred-meter radius, he could immediately sense it.
What made him slightly regretful was that the experience points he could now gain from defeating a Dottore segment had dropped to just 200 points. However, he did not tell the Fatui to stop the assassination attempts. After all, a little is better than nothing.
Just as Lin Yide was fully focused on reviewing official documents, a ripple suddenly appeared in the space within the office. Immediately after, two elegant figures came into view. Lin Yide was not surprised by their appearance. Dressed plainly but capable of spending a fortune to buy a luxurious villa, this was enough to attract the special attention of West Factory's operatives. In fact, he had already learned of their arrival last night.
"Lord Yide, it has been a long time," Yae Miko greeted warmly, her eyes smiling. Raiden Ei, beside her, remained distant. After all, he was her enemy not long ago. Lin Yide's face showed a gentle smile. "May I ask what important matter brings the two of you here?"
Yae Miko smiled lightly. A piece emitting a faint purple light appeared in her hand, and she then tossed the piece towards Lin Yide. Lin Yide caught it steadily. Looking closely, it was indeed the Electro Archon's Gnosis. His heart stirred. He tentatively asked, "Guuji Yae, what is the meaning of this?"
Upon hearing this, Yae Miko lightly "Hmph"ed, saying somewhat displeasedly, "Director Yide, with your cunning and treachery, could you possibly not guess my intention?"
Of course, Lin Yide understood her intention. The true orchestrator behind Inazuma's Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree was the Fatui. They were previously afraid of the Musou no Hitotachi and dared not demand it openly. Instead, they intentionally stirred up the situation in Inazuma to seize the Gnosis. But now, Raiden Ei's strength had significantly declined. The power of her Musou no Hitotachi was far less than when she defeated Orobashi. If the Fatui were to seize this opportunity to demand the Gnosis, Yae Miko and Raiden Ei would be in an extremely passive situation, with no room to negotiate. It would be better to give this Gnosis to Lin Yide and instead gain more benefits.
Lin Yide couldn't help but admire Yae Miko, this fox's shrewd calculations. He genuinely sighed, "Guuji Yae, Raiden Makoto should have let you succeed as the Shogun back then."
Yae Miko giggled. "This humble one feels the same."
Lin Yide toyed with the Gnosis in his hand. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Since you have given me this Gnosis, what do you hope to receive in return?"
Yae Miko gently propped her chin with her fair, jade-like fingers, posing as if in deep thought. "For now, this humble one truly can't think of anything specific I want. How about, this favor will just be owed for now?"
Lin Yide disliked owing favors, especially to this cunning fox. Just as he was thinking about how to settle this favor, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him, and he remembered a certain side quest in Inazuma from his previous life. So, the corner of his mouth curved slightly, and he asked Yae Miko, "Guuji Yae, have you ever heard of the 'Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual'?"
...
Snezhnaya, the Tsaritsa's Palace. A Fatui Harbingers meeting was convened again, and this time the topic was still related to Yide.
Pierro said in a deep voice, "With the change in Inazuma, all our previous arrangements in Inazuma have now fallen through. To obtain the Electro Archon's Gnosis now, we will certainly have to go through Yide." Capitano, beside him, turned to look at Dottore opposite him and questioned, "Dottore, I don't understand why your assassination attempts have been delayed and haven't succeeded?"
Dottore's face was already gloomy, and now it looked even worse. "That fellow has mastered some method that allows him to sense my presence within a certain range. Furthermore, he seems to know my every assassination plan in advance. I suspect there is a traitor among us." Saying this, he suddenly pointed at Arlecchino, "And this traitor is you!"
Arlecchino let out a cold laugh. "Blaming failure on others is just a cloak for incompetence. Don't you find your current look of impotent rage quite ridiculous?" Dottore's face turned livid with anger, but he was speechless.
"Hehe."
At this moment, a clear laughter, like silver bells, echoed within the palace. Everyone simultaneously turned their gaze towards the source of the laughter—Columbina. Columbina paused, becoming the focus of everyone's attention making her slightly nervous. She explained somewhat awkwardly, "I... I just think, well... it's really quite funny."
Her explanation undoubtedly poured another bucket of oil onto Dottore's anger. He felt like a clown being mocked by everyone, his inner rage surging like a tide. He clenched his fists tightly, secretly swearing that one day he would make those who mocked him pay the price.
Pierro lightly tapped the conference table, making a "thump-thump" sound, drawing everyone's attention back. "What we need to discuss now is, how do we obtain the Electro Archon's Gnosis from Yide?"
Capitano said proudly, "Since Yide can defeat the Raiden Shogun, he is worthy of a battle with me. Let's solve the problem with combat!"
Pierro immediately rejected this suggestion. He shook his head. "Yide is not a pure warrior. It's unlikely he will accept your challenge. We must find another way."
Arlecchino offered her opinion: "Negotiate with him, just like last time. With sufficient benefits, he will hand over that Gnosis." As soon as her words fell, Columbina eagerly interjected, "Let me go to Fudé Port to negotiate with him." Having said that, she turned to look at Pantalone, who was sitting in the back row. "Give me another Northland Bank card with one billion Mora."
Hearing this, Pantalone felt as if his heart was bleeding. He said with a pained face, showing some reluctance, "Columbina, you must understand, Northland Bank is not very wealthy right now."