As one of the Fatui spies, Nathan, like Igor in Watatsumi Island and Kseniya in Narukami Island, was among the earliest to arrive in Inazuma.
However, compared to the arrogant Igor and Kseniya—who hadn't even bothered to conceal her identity before coming to Watatsumi—Nathan was far more cautious.
After arriving in Inazuma, the only people he interacted with were members of the International Trade Association.
It wasn't until the Resistance rose up that Nathan, as a foreigner, joined their ranks.
Logically, as a foreigner in a faction mostly composed of Inazumans, it should have been difficult for him to cause trouble.
But Nathan precisely used this to his advantage, earning the trust of the Watatsumi forces, including Gorou.
Being a foreigner made his background easier to investigate. Apart from his pre-Inazuma history—which was untraceable due to the Sakoku Decree—his record in Inazuma was flawless.
He had come to Inazuma while traveling the world, been stranded due to the Sakoku Decree, and stayed with friends at the International Trade Association. Then, upon hearing of the Vision Hunt Decree, he resolutely joined the Resistance.
No matter how much Watatsumi investigated, this was all they could uncover.
To bury himself deeper, he even ignored pleas and messages from fellow agents.
Even if the other party held equal or higher rank within the Fatui, he dared to disregard their orders and remain hidden.
All to leave no traces.
At present, Nathan was likely the only spy in the entire Fatui—aside from Bai Luo—who had escaped Sangonomiya Kokomi's detection.
He could ignore orders from peers or even superiors.
But now, he couldn't disregard that cipher.
Because it was a code exclusive to the Fatui Harbingers. Even if ordered to stand in the courtyard and shout that he was a Fatui spy, he would have to comply.
Truthfully, Nathan had hesitated before coming.
Battousai, a Fatui Harbinger? Wasn't that a bit too absurd?
Nathan couldn't understand the Resistance's obsession with Battousai. As a native of Mondstadt, he didn't even hold Barbatos in high regard.
Only after joining the Fatui and pledging loyalty to the Tsaritsa did he gain a sliver of faith.
Just a sliver.
Yet Battousai's influence made him wary.
If Battousai truly resolved the Tatarigami ward incident, the mission he'd risked exposure to complete would become a joke.
But since only high-level intelligence operatives like him knew this cipher, it couldn't be wrong.
"Agent Nathan of the Fatui's Third Intelligence Division greets the superior! What are your orders?"
Being well-hidden also meant he had almost no contact with fellow agents. Even communications with superiors were limited to mission assignments.
Thus, in terms of intel, he knew less than Mikhail and Lyudmila, who idled around Mondstadt's teleport waypoints every day.
He only knew that the Fatui had gained a Twelfth Harbinger—not their identity, codename, or appearance.
That was also why he said "greets the superior" rather than "greets the Instructor."
So it's this guy.
Seeing Nathan, Bai Luo confirmed his suspicion.
After all, Nathan was the only foreigner in the Resistance.
But at least they'd made contact. From now on, tasks inconvenient for Bai Luo could be delegated to him.
"Whose subordinate are you?"
Rubbing a Sunsettia in his hand, Bai Luo asked.
"I serve under Lady Signora."
Nathan was one of Signora's early sleeper agents planted in Mondstadt. After Master Crepus Ragnvindr's accidental death due to the Ursa the Drake incident, he was bewildered when the Knights of Favonius exposed him.
Heaven's truth—the matter regarding Master Crepus had nothing to do with him! He was just an informant.
Mondstadt became untenable, so with the Fatui's help, he relocated to Inazuma to continue serving the Tsaritsa.
"Oh? Not Scaramouche's subordinate? Didn't he come here just days ago?"
Bai Luo was initially surprised but soon understood.
Signora was originally from Mondstadt, so recruiting subordinates there made sense.
This statement also dispelled Nathan's last shred of doubt.
Few outside the Fatui knew of Scaramouche's presence in Inazuma.
Moreover, when Scaramouche had come that day, he'd mentioned seeking another Harbinger.
So it must be this person before me.
"Lord Scaramouche only gave some instructions before departing."
"Instructions? About the Tatarigami wards? Was it really his arrangement?"
A contemplative look crossed Bai Luo's face.
If this truly was Scaramouche's doing, he'd have to consult him before stirring trouble.
After all, Scaramouche had just left—and had even courteously refrained from causing chaos in Watatsumi. For Bai Luo to act now... even his thick skin couldn't justify that.
"The Tatarigami ward incident was this subordinate's doing. It had nothing to do with Lord Scaramouche. He only instructed me to document the Electro ward system left by the Raiden Shogun and the potential effects of Oblivion leakage. One of the Harbingers was interested in these."
Unlike Igor, Nathan's experience in Mondstadt had taught him that flamboyance wasn't always beneficial.
Thus, unless Bai Luo asked, he wouldn't have volunteered this information.
His sole purpose in joining the Resistance was to incite war.
The Fatui's true terror lay not in combat prowess but in their cunning ability to divide and conquer, profiting from chaos.
Nathan excelled at this.
One could say that aside from preexisting hatred, Nathan's influence had fueled the ferocity of the conflict between the Resistance and the Shogunate.
A well-timed rallying cry could reignite the fighting spirit of those who had lost hope.
Reciting a Mondstadtian poem during rest could boost morale.
Far from arousing suspicion, this behavior made Resistance leaders trust him even more.
Destroying the wards was merely to escalate tensions after an unexplained ceasefire.
It might leave traces, but as his mission demanded, he had no choice.
"Oh~"
The drawn-out syllable carried layered meanings.
Having grasped the situation, Bai Luo pocketed the Sunsettia and issued his first order.
"Nathan, moving around this camp is inconvenient for me. There's something I'd like your help with."
"Your orders, superior?"
"Find a way to get me a set of clothes. Mm... follow the design on this sketch. Shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Bai Luo handed him a drawing.
"Understood, superior."
Just a set of clothes? Simpler than Nathan had expected. But upon seeing the design, he grew curious.
This was clearly women's clothing. Why would a Harbinger want this?
Some peculiar preference?
Ah, whatever... none of my business. Best not to ask.