Next Assigment

"It was a crass gift" Allen answered coldly.

"I see... I wanted you to be received by known people." Pantalone nodded "See if you choose to let your past behind or drown in it."

"But I truly did not expect that cold reaction. I thought that your time with Tomoki had left you more sentimental, but I suppose that if it is about Ellen you really are merciless" That gained him a cold glare from Allen.

"Anyway" Pantalone hummed "I want to personally congratulate you for your work at Inazuma. The Vision Hunt Decree was a good idea, it would weaken the favor of the Shogun and we will be able to make use of it, even more thanks to Watatsumi Island. Moreover, I can see that you've become stronger, even creating your constellation. You are really approaching your objective."

"Thanks, I suppose" Allen answered "I want to ask you something, how strong was Tomoki compared with the other Harbingers?"

"Tomoki as Tartaglia had quite the potential and he could have become quite strong, but if we are talking about his actual strength, he could easily be the weakest Harbinger" Pantalone explained. "Even I would have been able to win against him."

'So that great strength was the weakest of them. The Harbingers are truly monsters' Allen thought.

"As each Harbinger has its own specialization and style, it will be difficult to compare their strength as there's some that could win against a lower number but would lose against another higher." Pantalone explained "That's why rather than their strength, their number represents their seniority. But don't take it wrong, the work of a Harbinger is dangerous, to be able to maintain the position for hundreds of years is nothing easy, so you should be wary of the lower numbers."

"How is it that you are explaining this now?" Allen inquired.

"That would be because the Tsaritsa's present for you, Allen." Pantalone answered "For your constellation and your achievement, you will be permitted to participate in the next year's Purge"

"Purge?"

"The Purge is a kind of rite. Every 4 years, the ones accepted by the Tsaritsa can challenge any of the Harbingers for combat. If they are able to win, they will take their position, becoming a Harbinger. All of it, with the Harbinger's ban to kill the challenger."

'So this is my opportunity to become a Harbinger...' Allen thought "So I can challenge any Harbinger?"

"The only exemption will be me" Pantalone answer "My position is quite important, making me quite necessary that is why I train my own inheritor. If someone wanted to take my position as a Harbinger, they will need to obtain more money than me, the richest man of Teyvat." Pantalone smiled "You will have a greater opportunity challenging another Allen. I assure you."

'I'll need to investigate them and challenge the most according one' Allen thought.

"Seeing your face, you must be thinking about who to challenge" Pantalone sighed "You should not worry about it. As you are now the possibility of you winning against any of them is zero."

"I know" 'If master was the weakest there's no way for me to win "But you said it was every 4 years, which means that the Purge after this one that is after 5 years, would be my last try to become one before the extension of the trial ends. Learning directly beforehand how strong one of them is will help in the future."

"That's where I wanted you to reach, Allen" Pantalone nodded "With how are you now, don't think about winning, you will even be unable to learn anything from them. You not only lack strength, but even your mentality is lacking."

"Yes, for your sister or when your life is in danger you can force yourself to kill, but would you be able to kill without any doubt innocents? Even Tomoki, while his mind could waver, his hands were firm. You lack that killing intent." Pantalone said "And I will say more, even your will to become a Harbinger had lowered, no? You had thought about your sister and the true danger behind it."

'Is he talking about the Tsaritsa's interest being for Ellen?' "I have decided to become one, I won't go away" Allen said decided 'Yes. I had decided at that time at Inazuma, this is my own path.'

"That would be your brain, Allen" Pantalone pointed at Allen's heart "But has your heart been really convinced?"

'Thinking about it, my drive might have lowered, I'm even thinking that I have enough time, going for the limit of it.'

"I have prepared a work for you that would not only train you to become stronger but will also train your mind. Of course, all of it with the danger behind it, being easy to lose your life and even easier your mind." Pantalone announced passing a piece of paper to Allen.

"An investigation to the Abyss?" Allen's eyes went wide.

The Abyss, a mysterious region of endless darkness located both beyon and beneath Teyvat that could be described as an entirely different world from Teyvat. An unknown region with an unknown power that could corrupt physically and mentally any being from Teyvat.

"I'm not sending you to your own death, Allen" Pantalone explained seeing his shock "You will only investigate the outer layers and you will be following a Harbinger, so the risk is not so high, but nevertheless, is quite risky and you could change and be corrupted by the Abyss' power."

"Can I choose otherwise?" Allen asked while reading the inform.

"Yes, this is not an order nor a necessity, it's an opportunity" Pantalone explained "You can take it and grow with it to challenge the Purge the next year or you can continue in your own way. I will not intervene with your training any longer, find your own way and risk everything to the Purge after this one."

Allen thought about it "What Harbinger would I be following?"

"Is that really important?" Pantalone answered "All of them had experienced the Abyss at least once and can survive it. If your choice depends with whom, it would be better for you to give up, do not try to create excuses."

'If I want to become strong and bound to face the Abyss Order at some time, so why not now experience their power?'

'I don't trust Pantalone's intentions, but I really doubt that he wants my death as there would be better ways.' Allen thought 'In the end, I reached my actual strength thanks to his opportunities, even the meeting with master being his part.'

"Okay. I'll go" After a minute, Allen finally answered. 'I'll become stronger. I won't regret it!'

"Good" Pantalone nodded.

*Bang!* Suddenly the door of the room opened with a bang, an angry young man angrily entered it. He had a short stature and a youthful and beautiful face with indigo hair and eyes.

"What the fuck this means, Pantalone!" The young man shouted angrily. "Working at the outer layers with a kid? I'm a fucking babysitter now! Especially with that kid! You are courting death!"

"Good timing" Pantalone kept his cool, completely ignoring the young man's rumblings. "Allen, I present you who you will be following, the 6th Harbinger, Scaramouche."

'I might regret it a little'