Before dawn, there was already some commotion in the theater.
Bai You was awakened by a very light footstep.
She opened her eyes and saw that Varesa beside her was already up and combing her hair in front of the mirror.
The sky outside the window was turning white; it was a rare sunny day.
"Awake?" Varesa turned around, smiling as she handed her clothes.
"Get up quickly, they're all downstairs."
Bai You quickly washed up and went downstairs.
In the living room, Odette, Columbina, and Sandrone were already prepared.
Three neatly arranged boxes stood beside him, and two small mechanical dolls brought by Sandrone waited quietly by the door.
Early morning, at the Snezhnaya.
The snow has stopped, and the sky is a clear, bright blue.
Bai You and her group of five, carrying their luggage, walked along the pier towards the berth of the " White Gull " ship, attracting the attention of many pedestrians along the way.
Apart from the white-haired girl being led by the hand, everyone else in this group was of increasingly higher status.
There are even two Harbinger.
( The Bai You has not been fully disclosed.)
When they reached the berth, everyone stopped.
A notice was pasted on the pillar, the ink still fresh:
[ The White Gull is undergoing routine maintenance and will not be operating today.]
"The flights are suspended?" Bai You was stunned. "Then what do we...?"
She glanced at Sandrone subconsciously; it seemed like she had said something like that yesterday.
Sandrone crossed his arms, completely unsurprised, and instead raised an eyebrow slightly:
"What did I tell you? ' White Gull,' I think it's doomed."
"But what do we do now?" Columbina asked softly.
Before he could finish speaking, a small commotion suddenly arose ahead.
The constables of the surrounding ports all stopped what they were doing and bowed in the same direction, some speaking in hushed tones with reverence:
"It's Lord Pantalone..."
Bai You raised her head.
A group of people were slowly approaching from the direction of the dam. The man in the lead was dressed in dark clothing, looking very meticulous.
His black hair gleamed coolly in the morning light, and his eyes behind his glasses held a smile, exuding an air of dignified composure.
It Pantalone Pantalone, the owner of the Northland Bank.
He actually came in person.
Bai You was both surprised and taken aback. " Pantalone? How come you...?"
" Bai You..." Pantalone stopped in front of her, nodded slightly, and spoke in a gentle and polite tone.
"Today you embark on a long journey; as colleagues, it's only right that I come to see you off."
Just then, his gaze inadvertently passed over Bai You's shoulder, and the composed smile on his face paused slightly.
There were two more people standing behind Bai You.
A man, holding a paper bag in his arms, with smiling eyes, was slowly surveying the harbor.
Another blonde with blue eyes crossed his arms, chin slightly raised, with an expression that said, "I'm just passing by."
Pantalone's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
"... Columbina?" His voice held genuine surprise, then his gaze shifted to another person, " Sandrone...?"
"What brings you two here?"
His mind raced with thoughts.
He carefully read yesterday's investigation report—it was written clearly in black and white:
Bai You was traveling with only one person, Varesa. How come overnight she suddenly had two Harbinger with her?
"What?" Sandrone crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"Do I need to report to you, Pantalone, where I'm going?"
"I wouldn't dare," Pantalone replied immediately with a beaming smile.
"I just didn't expect that you two, with your busy schedules, would actually find time to visit Mondstadt."
Columbina then slowly raised her eyes.
"I'm going to have fun," she said with a smile, her tone light and casual.
Then he took out a pastry from the paper bag, ate a bite, and mumbled something else:
"There's so much more delicious food."
Pantalone: "..."
He waited a moment, but nothing came of it, so he turned his attention back to Sandrone, waiting for a more plausible explanation.
"What are you looking at me for?" Sandrone scoffed, raising her chin even higher.
" Rosalyne is in Mondstadt now. I haven't seen her for a while. I'll go find her and have a tea party. It's that simple."
"A tea party?" Pantalone repeated, smiling.
"I see. So, Lord the Marionette is personally attending, and even accompanied by Lady Columbina —this tea party looks like it's going to be quite interesting."
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I have some personal matters to attend to. I'd like to speak with Bai You's colleague privately for a moment."
" Harbinger Bai You is quite capable." He smiled, his tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration.
"My two colleagues are so arrogant, how could you possibly get them to willingly come along on this trip?"
Pantalone admires him.
Bai You felt a little embarrassed by his words and waved her hand with a smile:
"They all came of their own volition; I didn't do anything."
"Doing nothing is the most valuable thing," Pantaro said, and then asked no more questions.
He knew how to keep things in check; he would only touch upon his colleagues' private matters when appropriate.
He continued, " The White Gull undergoing temporary maintenance, which may delay your journey."
"I am not very capable, but I have prepared a small boat that I would be happy to use for your transportation—please."