【The good times didn't last long.】
【After the eccentric arrived in Tatarasuna, a new smelting technology brought by a Fontaine mechanic who called himself Escher was adopted by Danjo Hisahida.】
【This technology indeed improved the efficiency of the Mikage Furnace's processing of Crystalized Marrow.】
【But at the same time, the new technology also had side effects. It could maximize the activation of the evil forces within the Crystalized Marrow.】
【Specifically, strange black smoke would be produced when workers used the Mikage Furnace to process the Crystalized Marrow, causing their physical exhaustion and casualty rate to gradually increase, and the rate of increase was getting faster and faster.】
【Soon, workers began dying from the strange impurities in the furnace.】
【Danjo Hisahida, as the highest official, decided to temporarily suppress the news and send people to Tenshukaku to seek help.】
【However, perhaps due to the heavy rain, or perhaps because the Fatui were interfering.】
【None of the people who set sail for Tenshukaku to seek help returned. Fear began to spread among the residents of Tatarasuna.】
【The eccentric, knowing that Danjo Hisahida needed the help of the Electro Archon, ignored his own safety and braved the raging storm at sea to reach Tenshukaku to see the Electro Archon.】
【However, that year, Ei had used her own body as material to create the perfect puppet, while her own consciousness had secluded itself in the Plane of Euthymia.】
【Therefore, the eccentric's request to see the Electro Archon was repeatedly refused.】
【In a moment of desperation, the eccentric took out the golden feather that represented his identity.】
【The Tenryou Commission at Tenshukaku immediately recognized the golden feather. It was the Electro Archon's token.】
【“You are called the Eccentric? Please wait, I'll go inform the Archon at once!”】
【“The Electro Archon is very busy, I won't bother her. Just let me see Yae Miko.” The eccentric no longer insisted on seeing the Electro Archon, instead requesting to see Yae Miko, the Electro Archon's familiar.】
【Soon.】
【Yae Miko hurried over and met the eccentric who was already desperate.】
【The eccentric succinctly told Yae Miko about what was happening in Tatarasuna.】
【“I understand, I will immediately send people to Tatarasuna to deal with this matter.” Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Yae Miko made a promise.】
【But the eccentric, who had already lost all patience, ignored her. He thought that Yae Miko was just making a promise to appease him.】
【So, the eccentric, carrying the despair that the Shogunate had abandoned Tatarasuna, returned to Tatarasuna.】
Yae Miko: “This matter, I still have a faint memory of it. However, I don’t remember who came to tell me specifically. After that, I dispatched people to Tatarasuna to provide support.”
Yae Miko: “But when the Shogunate’s people arrived, they didn’t see a scene of devastation. On the contrary, many people didn’t know what had happened.”
Nahida: “So, the Mikage Furnace was emitting strange black smoke, leading to the death of workers. Was the culprit that mechanic from Fontaine, Escher?”
Nahida: “Escher? If his smelting technology was really famous, I should have heard of him, but I have no impression of this person.”
Paimon: “It’s normal that you haven’t heard of him, Nahida, because Escher was a disguise used by the Doctor!”
Nahida: “Paimon is right. In the unmodified memories of the World Tree, the Doctor, commissioned by the [Jester], came to Inazuma to create loopholes and allow the Fatui’s forces to infiltrate Inazuma’s operations.”
Doctor Dottore: “Oh… Seems like there was such a thing.”
Ei: “Hmph, you infiltrated Inazuma hundreds of years ago? If I wasn’t restricted by the Seven Nation's current situation, I really want to take my naginata and charge toward Snezhnaya.”
Yae Miko: “Oh my, now you don’t have to bother doing it yourself, Ei.”
Kamisato Ayato: “Speaking of which, since you know the new smelting technology brought by Escher has problems, why did you insist on using it?”
Traveler Lumine: “Because the Doctor’s technology was indeed initially effective in improving the efficiency of processing Crystalized Marrow. Later, Danjo discovered something was wrong and immediately stopped the smelting. He sent people to Tenshukaku for help.”
Paimon: “If you ask me, Scaramouche is deeply sinful, but the Doctor is even more despicable!”
Servant Arlecchino: “I completely agree with Paimon. Although Dottore and I are colleagues, I don't like him.”
Diluc: “Even your colleagues have a negative impression of you, which shows how much of a failure you are, Dottore.”
Doctor Dottore: “Hehe, no one in the world can be liked by everyone. I do what I have to do and I don’t care about other people’s opinions.”
Kujou Sara: “Since Yae Miko-sama had already sent people to support Tatarasuna at that time, and no serious consequences occurred, what happened later? What led to the destruction of Scaramouche’s childhood?”
Kujou Sara’s voice had just fallen.
The video footage on the giant screen suddenly stopped.
【Earlier, Tatarasuna.】
【After a few simple courtesies and polite exchanges, Escher said sincerely: “Inazuma’s forging industry is truly worth my admiration. It is my honor to become friends with you all.”】
【“But Mr. Escher, is this really the case?” Danjo Hisahida changed the subject and asked sharply.】
【He was about to be unable to bear Escher’s pretense.】
【Then, Danjo Hisahida continued: “Before today, I never connected everything, because I didn’t want to speculate like this, and I didn’t want to believe that things would develop to such a point.”】
【“By adopting new technology into practice, what have we gained? Strange black smoke, accumulated problems… The workers’ physical exhaustion and casualty rate have increased, and the rate of increase is getting faster and faster.”】
【“Until recently, as you know, someone died from the strange impurities in the furnace. We suppressed the news and kept it from outsiders, but you should know better than me.”】
【“None of those who went out to seek help returned. Our friend, the Eccentric, took the golden feather and went to Narukami Island to see the Archon. This is our last hope.”】
【“Even so, Mr. Escher, you must not be afraid of anything, right? Otherwise, why are you still smiling like this?”】
【Upon hearing this, Escher remained calm. He took two steps forward and said: “I’m just surprised that you have said such sincere words to me.”】
【“Such speculation, you must have harbored it for a long time in your heart.”】
【Danjo Hisahida said: “Lord Yoriyoshi might have also noticed the commonality behind these series of events… that is, you, Mr. Escher.”】
【“It’s just that Lord Yoriyoshi has always been upright and acts more cautiously than I do.”】
【Escher followed Danjo’s words and said: “It is said that Lord Yoriyoshi is the adopted son of the female demon Tiger Child who was executed by the Archon. He strives to wash away his family’s disgrace and acts cautiously. It’s only natural.”】
【“You even understand the ins and outs of this, yet you are just a mechanic from Fontaine. Isn’t that too much of a waste of your talents?” Danjo Hisahida said with a tone of doubt.】
Klorine: “It seems that this Mr. Danjo has begun to suspect Escher’s identity.”
Nahida: “Wait… Just now, the Lesser Lord of the Kusanali said that the Doctor ruined Scaramouche’s childhood. Coupled with this situation… I think I know the outcome!”
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