Chapter 13: Enthusiastic Thoma

Chapter 13: Enthusiastic Thoma

Compared to the more reserved and stiff demeanor of typical Inazumans, this foreigner stood out like a warm flame in a cold room.

He wasn’t just good with people—he was brilliant at it.

In just a few casual exchanges with the soldiers guarding the gate, he had them cracking smiles. No one could quite tell what sleight of hand he'd used—maybe slipped them something discreetly—but soon, those stiff-faced guards who usually treated outsiders like plague started laughing like old friends.

Before long, the man had blended right in, chatting and joking as if he were one of them.

A rare sight on Ritou, indeed.

Foreigners here were usually nothing more than walking coin purses, slowly bled dry by soldiers who treated exploitation like a job perk.

Not companions. Not equals.

So when Bai Luo strolled up the path from a distance, it was inevitable that he’d catch their attention too.

The blond man whispered something to the soldiers, and pulled something from inside his coat.

The guards made a show of refusing—like they still had some kind of dignity—but they quietly accepted the gift with practiced indifference.

And just like that, Bai Luo became invisible.

To the guards, he simply didn’t exist anymore.

With the soldiers out of the way, the blond man strode right up to him.

“You heading into Ritou, friend?”

He shone brightly—like his golden hair, like his red-accented battle outfit. There was something radiant about him, something that made people feel like they were basking in sunlight.

His entire presence seemed to whisper, You can trust me.

But Bai Luo wasn’t buying it.

He knew exactly who this man was beneath that easy smile.

Thoma.

Born in Mondstadt, now a retainer of the Kamisato Clan, the most influential family under the Yashiro Commission.

He wasn’t just some friendly fixer—he was Kamisato Ayato's closest aide. His shadow. His voice.

Bai Luo had assumed that once he arrived in Inazuma, he’d be immediately targeted by that scheming fox over at the Grand Narukami Shrine.

But to his surprise, the fox had made no move.

Instead, it was the Yashiro Commission—Kamisato Ayato’s clan—that was already playing its hand.

First the tiny little ninja from last night…

And now his most trusted confidant.

‘Tch. Keep this up and I’ll just steal your precious little sister out from under you.’

“Something wrong, friend?” Thoma said with a casual grin. “Don’t worry. I’ve already smoothed things over. Just follow me in.”

His warmth felt genuine. His words flowed naturally.

It didn’t feel fake, not even slightly.

But that was just Thoma.

He is Mondstadt-born—his mother from the City of Freedom—and he carried that spirit with him in everything he did.

Even wrapped in formal, traditional Inazuman attire, his energy made the stiff lines feel bold and inviting instead of repressive.

He made charisma look effortless.

And that was why so many people gravitated toward him.

Who could resist someone like that?

“…Thanks,” Bai Luo said plainly.

He wasn’t overly friendly, but he wasn’t cold either.

Just polite enough to be normal.

Then, without further words, he followed Thoma through the gates of Ritou.

. . . . . . . .

Along the way, Thoma acted as though he had no idea who Bai Luo truly was.

He spoke like they were just two travelers seeing the island for the first time.

“Legend says, a few hundred years ago, Hiiragi Hirotsugu, a head of the Kanjou Commission, miraculously turned a desolate island into a bustling trade hub. Even the Shogun was impressed. That’s the place we now call Ritou,” Thoma explained as they walked.

“And it wasn’t just Ritou—across the water, even Konda Village grew wealthy off the dye trade because of it.”

His voice was steady, but at that last part, it faltered slightly.

“There was even a proposal to build a great corridor connecting all of Ritou to the mainland. A dream to unite commerce, culture, and people.”

But at that, he stopped speaking.

Because both he and Bai Luo knew… what came next in that story wasn’t something you could talk about lightly.

During the days of the Sakoku Decree, the lights within the Kanjou Commission’s estate still burned bright—while the merchants from distant nations had all but vanished, leaving only a hollowed silence where once there had been clamor and commerce.

Perhaps this was the perfect portrait of mortal ambition.

What flourishes in a single night… can just as easily fall in a single day.

And yet, those who suffer most… are always the ones at the bottom.

“Let’s not dwell on that,” Thoma said, his voice returning to its usual warmth. “Even if Ritou has lost much of its former glory, the crimson maples and blooming sakura still offer breathtaking views. If you're interested in exploring more, I’d be happy to show you around—I know all the best hidden spots.”

Before he even realized it, Thoma had subtly assumed the role of host.

In a way, he had taken the initiative completely.

“Appreciate it, but no—I’m here to find someone.”

Bai Luo’s gaze drifted—subtle but sharp—toward the Vision hanging from Thoma’s hip, his words cool and measured.

If Thoma were just a friendly and passionate guy, Bai Luo wouldn’t have minded striking up a friendship.

Unfortunately… this man was here for information.

If it had been anyone else, the atmosphere might’ve turned awkward right then and there.

But not Thoma.

“Oh? I see. Well, feel free to reach out if you ever need anything. I have… a little bit of pull around here,” he said with a small chuckle.

Thoma had clearly sensed something.

And he didn’t push.

That was what made him dangerous.

The reason Thoma had built such an expansive and intricate web of connections in Inazuma wasn’t just because of his easy charm.

He was a master of reading people—knowing exactly when to push, and more importantly, when to back off.

The second he realized Bai Luo wasn’t interested, he retreated before the atmosphere could sour.

It was a tactical withdrawal. One that kept the door open for future contact.

He understood the value of slow, steady gain.

And once he’d disappeared down the alleyway, a second figure silently emerged beside Bai Luo.

Ah Qi.

Truthfully, he’d been following them ever since Bai Luo returned to Ritou.

But aside from Bai Luo—who had marked him earlier—Thoma hadn’t noticed a thing.

“Sensei,” Ah Qi said quietly, “should I investigate him?”

He didn’t ask where Bai Luo had gone last night.

He didn’t say any unnecessary words.

He went straight to the point—asking for orders.

Because he too had sensed something off about that man from Mondstadt.

“No need. I know enough about him already.”

As far as Bai Luo was concerned, he had a full grasp of the Yashiro Commission and Kamisato Ayato.

They, on the other hand, knew nothing about him.

Sending Ah Qi to dig deeper might just stir the hornet’s nest needlessly.

After all, Thoma possessed a Vision.

He wasn’t some ordinary civilian.

“Understood,” Ah Qi replied.

But even after that, he hesitated—clearly wanting to say something more.

“…What is it?” Bai Luo asked calmly.

He always noticed these things.

As one of his closest confidants, Ah Qi had never been good at hiding his emotions from him.

“…Sensei,” he finally said, “we received word last night—Scaramouche is coming to Inazuma.”

Scaramouche.

The Sixth of the Fatui Harbingers.

Undoubtedly Bai Luo’s senior within the organization.

But despite serving under the same banner, Bai Luo had never once seen the man during his time in Snezhnaya.

Even when Her Majesty the Tsaritsa herself had appointed Bai Luo as the newest Harbinger, Scaramouche hadn’t shown up.

“…Didn’t Her Majesty say Inazuma was my jurisdiction?”

Ah Qi had braced for anger—maybe even fury—but instead, Bai Luo’s expression didn’t show irritation.

If anything… he seemed pleased.

Openly, blatantly pleased.

“Lord Scaramouche has other objectives. He won’t interfere with your assignments—he merely hopes you’ll cooperate with him when necessary.”

“Tch. That so?”

Now that Bai Luo knew Scaramouche wasn’t here to take his place, he instantly lost interest.

If anything, Scaramouche was better suited for Inazuma.

Not just because this was his homeland.

But because…

Well, when you're the Shogun’s son, no one’s going to stab you in the back, no matter how irritating you are.

…Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to mess with him a little.

Maybe he can convince that shota to do him a few things