At the very least, she had no goodwill toward present-day Inazuma.
Kujou Sara remained silent.
Beidou spoke calmly:
"I came to Inazuma for only two reasons. First, to do business!"
"Second, to take the Liyue and Mondstadt merchants away."
"Kujou Sara, I respect your unwavering loyalty to the Raiden Shogun, but I advise you not to block me."
"Any being that dares to obstruct Liyue's path will be annihilated!"
"You don't want the Geo Archon to personally show up, do you?"
Hearing Beidou's words, the Liyue merchants in the distance became excited. Mondstadt merchants, though unsure why they were included, were also relieved—they could finally leave the off-shore island that had been exploited and guarded by the Kanjō Bugyō.
They immediately grew restless with anticipation.
Kujou Sara's voice was stern:
"The Shogun has commanded! Inazuma is under lockdown, and all external commercial activities are forbidden!"
Beidou waved her hand impatiently.
"That's your Inazuma business. Your laws don't apply to us."
"In Liyue law, Liyue people can do business wherever they want!"
Pausing briefly, Beidou fixed Kujou Sara with a deep gaze.
"Whoever dares to stop us… dies!"
The Liyue merchants, trapped on the island, had no idea what had transpired back in Liyue, nor did they understand why Liyue now acted so forcefully toward outsiders. It was as if they were defying all of Teyvat.
Still, no matter the reason, this was something to be proud of.
"Such audacity!"
Kujou Sara sneered.
"On Inazuma's land, the Shogun's orders cannot be disobeyed!"
"Interesting."
Beidou smiled lightly.
"Before I left, Tianquan Ningguang talked to me. In all of Teyvat, Liyue people only obey Liyue law!"
"Listen, Kujou Sara, I don't have time to argue with you. Whatever Liyue does, you have no right to interfere."
"We don't care about Inazuma's petty business. We take the merchants, complete our trade, and leave. I advise you to know your place."
Kujou Sara looked at Beidou, her expression shifting with uncertainty.
By invoking Tianquan Ningguang, the Alcor was no longer merely a private vessel. Any disturbance today would bring Liyue's army down in force.
Though she had great confidence in the Raiden Shogun,
Liyue's Geo Archon had been famous for over six thousand years. Inazuma itself was already struggling to manage its own affairs—if Liyue set its sights on them, trouble would be immense.
After a moment of silence, Kujou Sara said in a low voice:
"The merchants, you may take them! But your business must not involve dealings with the Resistance!"
Beidou let out a faint laugh.
"You're controlling too much. Who I do business with isn't your concern."
Kujou Sara narrowed her eyes, watching Beidou carefully. Judging by her demeanor, it seemed she might actually be planning to trade with the Resistance.
Kujou Sara spoke softly:
"Captain Beidou, are you aware that this already counts as interfering in another nation's internal affairs?"
Beidou leisurely sipped her wine.
"They pay, I deliver—how is that unusual? Isn't that just how business works?"
"If you don't want to buy, do you think others shouldn't buy either? Do you realize that's stopping Liyue from making money?"
"Anyone who stops Liyue from making money… dies. What do you say, Miss Kujou Sara?"
Kujou Sara waved her hand, and the surrounding Shogunate troops moved into position.
"It seems Captain Beidou insists on her own way. Interfering in another nation's internal affairs… even if this were brought before your Geo Archon, you wouldn't justify it, right?"
Beidou shrugged.
"Unfortunately, the Archon has abdicated. Liyue's management is now in human hands, under the new laws."
"Who Liyue does business with is entirely Liyue's choice."
Stretching lazily, Beidou's gaze fell on the approaching Shogunate soldiers.
"Chongzuo, prepare the gifts!"
At her words, mechanical whirring filled the air. Bullets rained down with a roar, cutting into the ground, sending stones flying with thunderous gunfire. The Shogunate troops panicked, not daring to advance another step.
Beidou smiled at Kujou Sara.
"I forgot to mention—so that we don't run into danger at sea, the Alcor is equipped with quite a few weapon systems."
"Kujou Sara, I have no interest in fighting you."
"But if you're reckless… within five minutes, the port will be bloodied; within half a day, the off-shore island will sink."
"You can try it if you want—see if what I say is true or not."
Beidou's Raijū Tamer's Staff pulsed in her hands, gathering surging lightning around her.
Yae also bolstered her presence. Six mighty dragons lifted their heads and roared, dominating the sky. Their fearsome heads dipped slightly, elemental energy coalescing into terrifying torrents in their mouths.
With a powerful flap of wings, a storm slowly blew through the port.
"Do not doubt Liyue's strength. If we wished, we could suppress all of Inazuma in a single day."
"Again, what Liyue does does not depend on your approval."
"Anywhere in the world, Liyue has enough autonomy to act freely."
"If you have objections, bring out your Raiden Shogun—you have no right to negotiate with us."
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