When Kujou Sara saw the group arrive, she immediately straightened and saluted.
"Your Excellencies! Lady Lora!"
The three waved casually in response.
Paimon looked from Sara to the green-clad bard nearby and squinted suspiciously.
"Hey, tone-deaf bard… the suspicious foreigner they caught in the warehouse… that wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"
"Ehe? Judging from the current situation… it seems like it might be me."
The bard spread his hands with a cheerful grin before greeting the others.
"Yo-ho, long time no see, Lora. Makoto. Ei."
Sara shot him a stern look.
"Suspect, I believe I already told you—until the investigation into your suspected theft and illegal entry is complete, please refrain from speaking freely."
"Uh… illegal entry?" Lora asked. "When I came to Inazuma, I didn't fill out any paperwork either. Does that mean I entered the country illegally too?"
"Huh? That—"
Sara's stern expression instantly wavered as she looked at her in confusion.
"Y-Your case is…"
"Of course it doesn't count," Makoto said with a smile, gently shaking her head to ease the situation. "I personally invited her."
Sara immediately nodded, looking visibly relieved.
"Her Excellency is correct!"
"In that case, I'm not a stowaway either," Venti chimed in, raising a hand from the side. "I was personally invited by Kamisato Ayato of the Yashiro Commission. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced my invitation letter."
"I'm sorry, but even if you say that, you cannot produce the invitation, correct?" Sara replied sternly.
Lora spoke up.
"We can vouch for him. This guy might be unreliable, but sneaking across borders or stealing isn't something he'd bother doing."
She paused, then added calmly,
"Or rather, it doesn't matter which nation he wants to go to."
"Hm?"
Sara froze, turning toward her in confusion as she began speculating about the bard's identity.
"Because I'm a bard!" he quickly cut in with a bright smile. "Of course I travel all over Teyvat!"
"So, since you've come to Inazuma," Makoto asked with interest, "have you prepared any poems?"
He blinked and grinned.
"But I came here to drink."
Ei looked at him knowingly.
"A drunkard poet."
"Hehe…" Venti chuckled. "Given your status, the two of you should be able to get your hands on some excellent wine, right? It's been a long time since I last tasted Inazuman sake. I wonder if I'll have the chance this time."
"Of course!" Makoto said warmly. "You've come all the way to Inazuma. As hosts, we must treat you to the finest wine."
Watching the familiar way they spoke to him, Sara couldn't help forming a guess.
Could he… also be a god?
But…
A god shouldn't be someone she caught sleeping drunk in a warehouse.
In her mind, a deity should be like the revered Narukami Ogosho—dignified and majestic.
Or at the very least like Lora—perhaps not especially gentle, but undeniably imposing and powerful.
As for this bard…
She simply couldn't connect him with the idea of a god.
"But before that," Ei said, turning toward him, "we have a few questions."
"You said you fell asleep in the warehouse. Did you notice any unusual sounds or suspicious people?"
"Hmm… about that…"
Venti thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"I did hear quite a few footsteps, but none of them seemed particularly suspicious."
"What do you mean by 'not particularly suspicious'?" Paimon asked, looking confused.
After a moment of thought, Albedo spoke up.
"I believe what Mr. Venti means is that the footsteps sounded normal—nothing out of the ordinary. This is a warehouse, after all. People come and go frequently. Among the sounds he heard, there were no noises like rummaging through boxes or breaking locks."
Venti clapped his hands.
"Oh my, this young gentleman is quite clever! May I ask your name?"
"Uh… you can call me Albedo," Albedo replied somewhat awkwardly. Socializing wasn't exactly his strength.
"Oh! So you're the famous Mr. Albedo!" Venti said delightedly. "I've heard a lot about you!"
Lumine thought for a moment before speaking.
"If what Venti and Mr. Albedo said is correct, then whoever stole the books isn't an ordinary thief."
"They even had access to the warehouse keys?"
Albedo nodded.
"Yes. And it's very likely their target was specifically A Legend of Sword."
The lack of rummaging showed the culprit knew exactly what they were looking for.
Afterward, Sara discussed the next steps with the Yae Publishing House editor, instructing him to immediately inform the Tenryou Commission if any new information appeared.
Then she turned back to the Archons.
"Your Excellencies… with the Irodori Festival approaching, the Tenryou Commission's duties are becoming increasingly heavy. I must return to handle official matters, so I cannot accompany you. Please forgive me…"
Her voice carried a trace of reluctance.
If she had the choice, she wouldn't have left.
Being able to interact so closely with the Shogun was something she had always dreamed of.
Makoto smiled and waved it off.
"It's fine. Go take care of your work."
After Sara departed, Venti immediately perked up.
"So! To celebrate our reunion in Inazuma, where should we go for a drink?"
"Let's go to Tenshukaku," Makoto said. "I'll have someone bring us some good wine."
"Oh? Sounds wonderful!"
His eyes lit up.
"I've never drunk at Tenshukaku before."
Lora turned to Lumine and Paimon.
"So? Are you two continuing with Mr. Albedo, or coming with us to Tenshukaku?"
Paimon hesitated.
"I really want to go eat good food with you… but we still haven't finished our work. Maybe we should skip it this time?"
After weighing her options, she reluctantly chose to follow Albedo and continue investigating both the thief and artistic inspiration.
"That's fine," Makoto said with a gentle smile. "We'll be staying on Narukami Island anyway. If you need help, just come find us."
"If you can't find us at Tenshukaku," she added playfully, "just wander around the streets and grab Venti."
"That makes me sound like some homeless bard wandering the streets…" he complained.