"Secretary General Richard, won't Minister Furina have any… thoughts about us meeting privately like this?" Yae Miko sat on the plush sofa, her full, shapely legs crossed tightly together without a trace of a gap.
Her bright, alluring fox-like eyes studied the man before her with amusement. His sudden request for a meeting had not surprised her in the least.
"Minister Furina is aware of this meeting, Lady Guuji Yae. There's no need for concern," Richard replied with an unreadable expression, his tone strictly professional.
"But does she know that the formidable Permanent Secretary of Fontaine's Municipal Office was once a civil servant in Inazuma centuries ago?" Yae Miko uncrossed her legs, a motion that inevitably parted her thighs slightly.
And as it happened, today she was wearing a shrine maiden's robe resembling a dress—a movement like this could very well risk exposing a glimpse of something unintended.
Richard knew full well she was doing this on purpose, yet he still fell for it. His gaze flickered downward despite himself.
Challenge: Don't Look There—Failed Miserably!
Yae Miko let out a mocking laugh. "You really haven't changed at all."
Richard withdrew his gaze. Not like there was anything worth seeing anyway, she was wearing safety shorts. How disappointing. These days, there was simply no trust left between people.
Faced with Yae Miko's sarcasm, Richard showed not a hint of shame. Instead, he calmly remarked, "Lady Guuji, the weather's turning cold. I'd advise dressing a little warmer, wouldn't want you catching a chill."
Yae Miko's smile faded, the warmth in her expression cooling instantly. "No need for your concern, Secretary General Richard. Just seeing your detestable face is enough to make my blood boil, hardly a risk of catching a cold!"
"Is that so? I had no idea my face had such an effect. One glance at me could keep you warm all day." A faint smile played on Richard's lips, the ethereal beauty of the elves evident in his features.
Without exaggeration, Richard could survive in Teyvat on his looks alone, even if he had no other skills.
If all else failed, he could always train for two and a half years and become a national idol in Mondstadt.
But such striking looks had no effect on Yae Miko—no, to be precise, they had the exact opposite effect.
"Save that charming smile for naive little girls who don't know any better! Get to the point."
Before coming here, Yae Miko had imagined how their reunion after all these years would play out. She had thought she could treat him with detached indifference, as if he were just another stranger.
Yet now that they were face to face, she found it impossible to remain so composed. She wanted nothing more than to knock him down, stomp on him a few times, then drag him behind a ship all the way back to Inazuma.
"I've never deceived naive little girls, Lady Guuji. I understand your prejudice against me, but that doesn't give you the right to slander me without basis." Seeing Yae Miko's emotional turmoil, Richard only relaxed further.
He shifted his posture, leaning back into the soft chair, his hands resting casually on his thighs. He even crossed one leg over the other, mirroring Yae Miko's earlier pose.
"Prejudice doesn't arise without reason, Mr. Richard. Does Lady Furina know about the things you've done in the past?" Yae Miko's voice was sharp.
"Pulling the strings in Inazuma, deceiving superiors and subordinates alike, preaching loyalty while never meaning a word of it, everyone was just a fool dancing in the palm of your hand."
"There's no need for such self-deprecation, Lady Guuji. Back then, you were merely a bit… naive. Besides, it was just a transaction. Why take it so seriously?" Richard corrected her.
Yae Miko had always been sharp-witted, far from a fool. But whether human or youkai, growth was inevitable. No one was born strong. Richard had simply done his part as a teacher, helping her mature during her more innocent days.
After all, experience was the best teacher. Richard got what he wanted, and Yae Miko gained wisdom.
A win-win.
Originally, the deal had been simple: Richard would use his intellect to help stabilize Inazuma's political situation, and in return, Raiden Ei would teach him martial arts, helping him turn potential into true strength.
But once Inazuma was stabilized and Richard had fulfilled his end, they tried to bind him to Inazuma forever.
Of course, Richard wanted no part of that. He packed his bags and fled overnight.
"Hah. A transaction…" Yae Miko let out a cold, ambiguous laugh. If it had truly been just a transaction, why would Ei have taught him so earnestly, tailoring training plans for him, pouring her heart out, and holding nothing back?
Back then, she had merely hinted that she wanted him to stay, that she could overlook his past deceptions, even subtly suggesting she could fulfill any of his desires. Yet he had bolted like a startled bird, vanishing without a word.
In truth, Yae Miko somewhat regretted it. She shouldn't have tested him at all. She should have immediately exposed his true nature to Ei and let her deal with him.
Then maybe Ei wouldn't have locked herself away in the Plane of Euthymia, escaping reality.
"Lady Guuji, I know what you're after. By my calculations, the Tatarigami's seal should be weakening. Producing Jade Steel requires its remnants…"
"You plan to mass-produce Jade Steel, using the Tatarigami's remnants as fuel, slowly eroding it bit by bit, like ants devouring an elephant. At the same time, this would boost Inazuma's economy."
"But with Ei here, even if the Tatarigami's seal weakens, it won't pose a major threat. So why are you in such a hurry? This isn't like you. Combined with Inazuma's recent Sakoku Decree… Let me think…"
Yae Miko's expression grew colder, her enchanting eyes devoid of warmth.
"If I had to guess… something's happened to Ei, hasn't it?" Richard spoke with certainty, exuding confidence, though he was only half right.
Ei had encountered problems, but Yae Miko's trip to Fontaine wasn't for that. The Tatarigami… if Lady Saiguu had been able to seal it, then Yae Miko, her superior successor, certainly could as well.
The Tatarigami was never the real issue. But Yae Miko saw no reason to correct him.
"You guessed right, but there's no reward." The fox envoy's voice was icy.
Then, a sudden realization struck her. He seemed to be deliberately steering the conversation away from something.
A bold speculation formed in her mind.
Narrowing her beautiful, fox-like eyes, she leaned forward slightly, her voice dripping with playful malice.
"Are you trying to change the subject? It seems the Hydro Archon means more to you than I thought."
"Whatever your goals are… the current you wouldn't want your true nature exposed to her, would you?"
"Richard, the scheming Secretary General."