[With impeccably bad timing, Zhongli appears on the beach. But as he gets closer and sees a distinct lack of the forward team, he breaks into a brisk run. The only one left that he can see is Shroud on the ground, coming into sharp focus as Zhongli crosses the distance. He can see his face—and boy is it familiar—but he makes no remark about his identity and instead kneels beside Shroud in the sand. This close, "Shroud" might be able to tell that for some inexplicable reason he is wearing pizza heelies beneath his spotless dark brown coat and suit.]
What happened? Are you hurt?
[He searches over the Shroud's uniform for any open wounds, but doesn't see any. Then his eyes fall upon the fallen phone.
PAYMENT RECEIVED.
He feels something in him go cold and quiet, and then a little bit angry. He had expected, perhaps, that this team would be entering the Zodiac headquarters with an intent to infiltrate. And that in itself was dangerous-- that could constitute a sacrifice.
But this...
There are several sets of footprints captured in the sand, a fleeting memory that the man can read without trouble. All of the prints terminate within a few dozen meters of this spot on the beach, ground zero of the mission. One of them goes way, way farther than the others, and some are interrupted by another set of footprints, likely Shroud's.
It isn't hard for Zhongli to deduce what's happened, but he'll wait for the witness to speak.]
no subject
What happened? Are you hurt?
[He searches over the Shroud's uniform for any open wounds, but doesn't see any. Then his eyes fall upon the fallen phone.
PAYMENT RECEIVED.
He feels something in him go cold and quiet, and then a little bit angry. He had expected, perhaps, that this team would be entering the Zodiac headquarters with an intent to infiltrate. And that in itself was dangerous-- that could constitute a sacrifice.
But this...
There are several sets of footprints captured in the sand, a fleeting memory that the man can read without trouble. All of the prints terminate within a few dozen meters of this spot on the beach, ground zero of the mission. One of them goes way, way farther than the others, and some are interrupted by another set of footprints, likely Shroud's.
It isn't hard for Zhongli to deduce what's happened, but he'll wait for the witness to speak.]