Sandrone’s sarcastic jabs received no response from Daigan, who was only halfway through reading the long title description.
In his eyes, these Fatui Harbingers who currently carried no active quests were nothing more than background NPCs in the hall without any interaction options.
He was completely immersed in the system’s overly verbose introduction of his new title.
Watching Sandrone’s irritation and Daigan’s stoic apathy, Capitano asked with quiet intrigue, “Does Miss Marionette mean…
Mr.
Daigan will be attending as well?”
“Who would welcome that freak!” Sandrone crossed her arms, a look of utter disdain on her face.
“Last time, he barged in out of nowhere without saying a word and just sat right down in Rosalyne’s seat!
No chair was prepared, no tea was served—who could possibly like someone like that?”
Though she complained loudly, her tone softened almost imperceptibly, as if offering herself a way out.
“Still, we are fellow Harbingers after all.
If he really feels he has nowhere warm to go, I suppose I wouldn’t mind letting him into my factory just to get out of the cold for a bit.”
Unable to contain himself any longer, Tartaglia enthusiastically leaned in right up to Daigan’s face and said, “Daigan, you should come to Marionette’s tea party too!
There’ll be rare cakes and sweet tea—my little brothers and sisters love them!
Yeah, cheesecake!
Sea Salt Caramel Tempest Cheesecake!”
Getting more excited by the second, he immediately added, “And after eating, if you want to digest your food, we can have a duel!
Capitano is coming this time too!
We can borrow Marionette’s factory and have a thrilling three-way spar!
How about it?”
He grew so thrilled he even gestured animatedly, shaping imaginary Hydro blades with his hands.
Yet he failed to notice that Daigan hadn’t blinked even once from start to finish.
Those eyes remained as still as stagnant water, utterly devoid of emotion.
“Hmph, ignore that freak!” Seeing Daigan ignore everyone completely, Sandrone let out an even more annoyed huff.
“Even if he wanted to come, he wouldn’t be welcome!”
Hearing this, Tartaglia looked back at the unresponsive Daigan.
He scratched his head in disappointment, though he was well used to Daigan’s cold detachment.
He turned to Capitano and asked in a hushed, curious tone, “Capitano-senpai, now that Daigan is the Sixth Seat, does that mean he inherited Scaramouche’s codename as well?”
Capitano pulled his gaze back from Daigan as well.
After a brief silence, his voice rang low and deep.
“I think not.
Every codename Her Majesty bestows upon us carries meaning.
Even if stripped of his seat, Scaramouche’s name has not vanished.”
He looked at Daigan once more.
Ever since their first meeting, he had noticed it—that state of absolute mental stillness was something ordinary mortals could never achieve in a lifetime.
Yet Daigan maintained that state constantly.
“Besides…
Daigan has his own codename.”
“Codename?” Tartaglia asked, even more intrigued.
“What codename?”
Capitano did not answer.
He knew Her Majesty would naturally assign him a fresh codename befitting his identity.
…Or, of course, she might just be too lazy to come up with a new one and let him keep using the old one.
Just then, Pantalone finished consulting with Arlecchino and walked over, asking attentively, “Lord Capitano, do you require any financial assistance?”
Capitano first glanced over at Arlecchino, who was finalizing the time for the tea party with Sandrone nearby.
Only then did he politely lay out a few essential supply requests to Pantalone, taking no advantage of the offer to ask for extra.
Pantalone looked slightly disappointed at this restraint.
Meanwhile…
In a corner ignored by everyone, Columbina watched as Sandrone asked Capitano, asked Tartaglia, and then asked Arlecchino—yet left her out entirely.
She lowered her head in disappointment, her aggrieved mood evident to anyone looking at her despite her eye-covering blindfold.
Suddenly, a spark lit up in her mind.
She fluttered over to Daigan and stared at the man, who resembled a statue.
“Hello.”
Standing opposite him, she received no reply from Daigan.
Columbina wasn’t discouraged.
Her lips curved upward, deciding to tease this strange man.
“Look at you…”
Using her voice to draw Daigan’s attention, a ripple of spatial energy rose around her, and her figure vanished instantly.
The next second, she materialized behind Daigan and gave his shoulder a sharp slap, trying to startle him.
“Look behind you~”
Yet, despite the sudden shock, Daigan acted as though he hadn’t felt a thing.
His body remained entirely motionless, and his eyes didn’t flicker with even a hint of surprise.
Columbina leaned in to inspect Daigan closely.
Finding that he truly showed zero reaction, she walked off in disappointment.
“Boring.”
This strange man was even less fun than she had imagined.
By now, Sandrone and Arlecchino had agreed on a time.
Sandrone walked over and said to Capitano and Tartaglia, “The tea party will be tomorrow afternoon, then.
Don’t be late.”
She turned her head to Columbina and added, “That goes for you too, Columbina.”
Upon realizing she was invited after all, Columbina brightened immediately.
She skipped over to Sandrone’s side and asked cheerfully, “I thought Sandrone didn’t like me and wouldn’t let me come to the tea party!”
Already used to her antics, Sandrone looked bewildered at her words.
“What?
Why would you think that?”
“Sandrone asked Capitano, asked Tartaglia, and asked Arlecchino, but never asked me, even though I was standing right next to you…” Columbina muttered in a low voice.
“They’re leaving on missions soon, so of course I had to coordinate with them first!” Sandrone explained testily.
“Aren’t you idle with nothing to do all day anyway?
What was the rush!”
To this, Columbina pouted with slight dissatisfaction, “But I do have things to do.
I have to sing lullabies to Sandrone at night.”
“Columbina!
Who asked you to come to my room and sing at night!” Sandrone snapped instantly, exasperated.
“But if I don’t sing lullabies, Sandrone can’t fall asleep, and the window lights stay on all night,” Columbina said innocently.
“That’s because I wasn’t sleeping at all!”
Columbina nodded blankly, then smiled bright and sunny.
“Oh!
Then I’ll come sing lullabies for Sandrone during the day.”
“Columbina!!!”
*Snap!*
Right then, the interface floating before Daigan finally stopped scrolling.
He finished reading through all the descriptions regarding the Harbinger title.
However, due to the time perception gap, although he hadn’t spent much time reading from his perspective, a considerable amount of real time had passed in reality.
Without any warning, he shoved his chair back, stood up, and dashed out of the building, moving as fast as a shadow.
Off to the side…
“Hmph, what a freak,” Sandrone muttered displeasedly, seeing Daigan leave without acknowledging anyone.
“Sandrone,” Columbina said, watching Daigan’s disappearing back with curiosity.
“Why is he in such a hurry?
Is he off to do something important?”
“Who knows what kind of craze that guy is on every day,” Sandrone replied with disgust.
“All he does is chase down and beat up our local Abyss monsters and wild beasts.
He’s practically hunted them to near extinction!
The ones he doesn’t kill are left to run off, and the ones he does kill, he leaves behind!
They all end up being picked up by the hunters following in his wake.”
Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Columbina’s eyes, and she said excitedly, “Then Sandrone, if I help him fight monsters, will he be happy?”
“Huh?
Why would you help him?” Sandrone could hardly believe her ears.
“If I help him, he’ll help me.
Then I can get him to attend Sandrone’s tea party, so Sandrone won’t be unhappy because no one showed up,” Columbina said matter-of-factly.
“Are you out of your mind?!” Sandrone leaped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
“Would his coming to my tea party make me happy?!
Has idling around for so long rusted your brain?!”
“But…”
“I forbid you from going!”
Scolded so sharply, Columbina slumped her shoulders in disappointment.
“Okay…
I’ll listen to Sandrone.”
Seeing Columbina look downcast, Sandrone’s tone softened despite herself, and she added, “Besides, doesn’t your power deplete every time you use it?
Why waste it on that freak?
If you have time to kill, you’d be better off helping me test my new mechs.”
“Okay, I’ll listen to Sandrone.” Feeling needed once again, Columbina brightened up once more.