First stop in Inazuma: the off-shore islands.
This place was supposed to be where all foreign merchants doing business in Inazuma settled.
It should have been a commercially thriving island.
But now, the off-shore islands were cold and deserted.
Of course, it wasn't entirely empty. At least, the harbor was bustling.
The harbor was densely guarded by the Shogunate forces. Armor and long blades reflected the sunlight, producing a dazzling gleam.
A sense of deadly seriousness hung over the entire port.
Especially when the Alcor came into view, the Shogunate forces' tension grew even more palpable.
Clearly, they had been waiting for the Alcor.
In a corner, Tohma crouched anxiously behind a large crate, peeking at the approaching ship.
"Miss! You can't disembark here!"
"Damn it! Those scoundrels of the Kanjō Bugyō! So damn infuriating!"
"Where is the head of the house? Why isn't he here yet?!"
"This is bad… Are we about to go to war with Liyue?!"
The Shogunate troops on the off-shore island had been summoned by the Kanjō Bugyō after Beidou had forcibly taken Kazuha and the others away last time.
After all, they had been humiliated by Beidou—it was necessary to show some attitude.
If it were just the Shogunate and the Kanjō Bugyō, it might not have been a huge deal.
But, for some reason, Kujou Sara herself had arrived.
Kujou Sara was a top general under the Raiden Shogun. Her personal arrival meant she was acting under direct orders from the Electro Archon.
If this escalated, the off-shore islands could erupt into battle at any moment.
Inazuma was already embroiled in rebellion; if they clashed with Liyue as well…
It would be catastrophic!
"Move! Hurry up, Big Sister Beidou!"
Watching the Alcor cutting through the waves, Tohma broke out in a cold sweat.
Not far away, Kujou Sara received word, emerged from her tent, and calmly surveyed the approaching warship.
Behind the Shogunate soldiers stood merchants from various nations, each with a worried expression.
Liyue's merchants, in particular, were filled with righteous indignation.
The Alcor had become the fuse for potential conflict.
But Beidou and her crew didn't care in the slightest about the numerous Shogunate troops on the island.
Admittedly, the Alcor had barely a hundred crew members, while the Shogunate numbered close to a thousand.
It seemed extremely dangerous.
But Beidou didn't believe they dared to start a fight; she didn't even think they'd touch their weapons.
Even if a fight broke out…
Beidou glanced at the ship's machine gun turrets, then at the TNT-and-redstone cannons.
No matter how many people the enemy had—even double their numbers—if the Raiden Shogun didn't intervene, the entire off-shore island could be bloodied within five minutes, and not a single crew member of the Alcor would be harmed.
Even with Kujou Sara, a top-tier Original God, present…
Beidou wouldn't need to intervene. One dragon alone could suppress her.
The Liyue people, when abroad, never cared whether their opponents were strong; aside from divine law, no one was stronger than them.
Ayaka nervously grabbed Beidou's arm.
"Big Sister Beidou…"
"Relax, it's nothing. They won't start a fight."
Beidou chuckled, reassuring them, then shouted:
"Prepare to dock! Chousa, get the machine gun turrets ready!"
Chousa grinned.
"Understood, Big Sister! Should we deliver a gift first?"
Beidou laughed and scolded him.
"Are you a pirate? We're here to do business, not rob anyone!"
Chousa scratched his head and signaled the crew to operate the ship's cannons.
Finally, the Alcor approached the dock of the off-shore island. The massive ship carried an unprecedented sense of intimidation, making everyone on the island break out in cold sweat.
Beidou led the crew onto the deck, smiling as she faced the eyes of all below:
"Such hospitality… so many people to greet me? Inazuma really is a hospitable country."
Seeing Beidou's confident expression, Shinsuke Hiiragi remembered the fear he had felt when she had pointed a cannon at him before.
But surrounded by the Shogunate troops and with Kujou Sara nearby, he felt reassured enough to speak.
Angrily, he shouted:
"Captain Beidou of the Alcor! You are harboring Inazuma fugitives! You've taken the Miss of the Kamisato family out of Inazuma without permission!"
"You are in violation of the Shogun's lockdown order. Surrender immediately, or we will go to war with you!"
Beidou raised an eyebrow, glancing at Choukei with mild amusement.
"Did you hear that? This guy actually says he wants to go to war with us? Brave, isn't he?"
Choukei covered her mouth, laughing softly.
"The Kanjō Bugyō must never have been sane, Big Sister."
The crew of the Alcor burst into laughter.
Shinsuke Hiiragi, enraged, pointed at Beidou:
"You—!"
Before he could finish, Beidou raised her gun and fired, severing his arm at the elbow.
"You dare point at me? Next time, this gun will be your life!"
Staring at his severed arm on the ground, Hiiragi froze for a moment before pain hit him, and he fell to his knees wailing.
Kujou Sara frowned slightly.
Although she disliked Hiiragi and despised this man who exploited the people and lied to his superiors, he was still the head of the Kanjō Bugyō.
And this was Inazuma's off-shore island. Beidou's action was a direct slap to Inazuma's face.
She waved her hand, signaling for someone to take Hiiragi away.
Kujou Sara's expression darkened as she coldly stared at Beidou:
"Captain Beidou, this is Inazuma—not a place for you Liyue people to run wild!"
Beidou stood tall, hands on her hips, grinning at Kujou Sara:
"I'm curious… how dare you say that to me? In all of Teyvat, there's no place Liyue cannot reach!"
"What, you want to go to war with Liyue? Fine, Liyue was looking for someone to sharpen their blades anyway. Why don't you try?"
In the distance, the Liyue merchants watching couldn't help but feel vindicated.
Heaven knows how much suffering they had endured being trapped on the off-shore island; they held no love for Inazuma.