"Smash it for me!"
Just as Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kuki Shinobu, two talented women, were discussing how to deal with these Fatui soldiers with minimal cost, Arataki Itto pulled out his large rock club, his eyes burning with fervor as he leaped down from the hillside and roared, smashing towards the Fatui soldiers.
"Oni's Carnival!"
In Arataki Itto's eyes, all those Fatui soldiers were glittering Mora.
Strike first, strike last, and you won't even get the broth. Arataki Itto declared that whoever dared to snatch this Mora from him would face his wrath!
Arataki Itto displayed his might, wielding his large rock club, facing multiple opponents without fear.
"Regroup, regroup immediately!"
"Is this guy trying to get himself killed?!"
"He's charging over, stop him quickly!"
"......"
Facing Arataki Itto, whose eyes glowed red, the Fatui soldiers were filled with terror, their screams incessant.
Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kuki Shinobu, standing on the hillside, watched Arataki Itto slaughtering them below in a one-sided battle, frozen in place, speechless.
'Is this guy really that brave?'
'The Boss has gotten impulsive again, rushing out without considering the consequences...'
Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kuki Shinobu were bewildered by the wind.
Arataki Itto's actions made their previous discussion seem like a futile effort.
"Sigh~ Let's go down and help out too."
Feng Yi sighed softly, feeling helpless with such a teammate.
Arataki Itto, who was swinging his club below, noticed Feng Yi and the others coming down out of the corner of his eye. He thought they were here to steal his kills and his heart sank.
'This Mora is mine! No one's stealing my kills!'
Arataki Itto instantly went berserk, unleashing his full power. His eyes burning with intensity as he stared at the Fatui soldiers preparing to retreat. He chased them, muttering, "Mora, don't run, just once! Let this great me get rich once!"
"Madman, this guy is a madman! Retreat immediately..."
"For Snezhnaya, for the Tsaritsa! Retreat now, preserve your strength!"
"......"
"Trying to run? Did you ask my club first?"
Arataki Itto, holding his large rock club, chased the Fatui soldiers with a look of desperate longing. Seeing them about to retreat, he was anxious. How could he let the Mora he almost had slip away?
"A'Chou, quick, go stop them!"
Arataki Itto charged up and threw A'Chou, an unaffiliated member of the Arataki Gang, in front of the fleeing Fatui soldiers, creating a pincer movement.
A'Chou: Moo moo... (You old trickster, throwing me out to die, I'm truly impressed!)
A'Chou looked at the Fatui soldiers with hostile eyes and turned to run. How could he possibly be a match for these Fatui soldiers?
The result was that A'Chou ran at the front, pursued by the Fatui soldiers behind him, while behind the Fatui soldiers, Arataki Itto was in pursuit.
Arataki Itto was at the very top of the chase chain.
It was only later that Feng Yi and the others arrived, helping A'Chou block the fleeing Fatui soldiers, and Arataki Itto rushed over to snatch the kills.
"Moo moo..."
"Hahahaha... A'Chou, don't be angry, we're the best partners. I know your strength, that's why I called you out to help. In return, after I get my reward from Boss Feng Yi, I'll treat you to the most tender and juicy pasture grass..."
A'Chou was sulking, and Arataki Itto quickly went to comfort him, finally successfully gaining A'Chou's forgiveness with the promise of delicious, juicy pasture grass.
"Boss Feng Yi, hehehe, look..."
Arataki Itto casually leaned beside Feng Yi, pointing at the fallen Fatui soldiers on the ground with a grin, his unspoken meaning clear.
"Here, this is your reward for this mission."
Feng Yi understood instantly and tossed him a money pouch.
"Hahahaha... It's so much easier when smart people talk to each other. With this much money, I should be able to do nothing for many days, right? No, I have a proper job now and can't slack off. All this money will be used to buy lollipops!"
Arataki Itto weighed the money pouch in his hand and roared with laughter, having already planned how to spend the money.
A'Chou: Moo moo... (What about the pasture grass you promised?)
Compared to Arataki Itto, who only cared about Mora, Sangonomiya Kokomi and Kuki Shinobu had already briefly inspected the camp.
'I didn't expect the Fatui to use a Hilichurl camp as a cover to station themselves here secretly for so long. What is their purpose? Could it be true, as the soldiers claimed, that they have colluded with the Tenryou Commission?'
Doubt arose in Sangonomiya Kokomi's heart.
"Lady Sangonomiya, I've found some merchant's goods here. Please come and inspect them."
At the same time, Kuki Shinobu's voice came from not too far away.
"Let me see... Indeed, these should be the things the merchant lost. Food, medicinal herbs, farming tools... all things desperately needed after the war. He's hoarding them, likely to sell them at a high price..."
Sangonomiya Kokomi inspected everything and found no anomalies worth noting.
"The Tenryou Commission wouldn't be short of these things. It's unlikely a merchant would transport these goods to the Tenryou Commission. In my opinion, this is most likely a profiteering merchant, not as exaggerated as Matsuda and Uchimura claimed..."
Considering all factors, Sangonomiya Kokomi made a decision.
"Lady Sangonomiya sees clearly. The matter is resolved, and the merchant is clearly innocent. May I ask if these goods can be returned to that merchant?"
Although Kuki Shinobu also disliked this opportunistic merchant, he was their employer after all.
As long as these goods were returned to the merchant, their commission would be completed.
"Of course, these goods must be returned to their rightful owner. However, since he is conducting business within Watatsumi Island, he must abide by the laws and regulations of Watatsumi Island. According to the latest [Post-War Provisional Decree], there is a price cap on these essential items, and they must be sold at a reasonable price..."
Sangonomiya Kokomi nodded. She didn't have a good impression of that merchant either.
"Lady Sangonomiya's consideration is indeed thorough. This is for the best."
Kuki Shinobu agreed with Sangonomiya Kokomi's decision.
"These explosive barrels are unstable and dangerous. They shouldn't be left here. It's best to collect and control them all... Forget it, it's not that troublesome. I'll take them with me directly!"
Feng Yi had intended to ask Kokomi to arrange for soldiers to collect these explosive barrels to prevent them from becoming a safety hazard on Watatsumi Island.
Mid-sentence, Feng Yi suddenly remembered that Ningguang might have a use for these things. It would be better for him to take them and give them to Ningguang when he returned to Liyue.
Saying that, Feng Yi took out the Serenitea Pot...