"Well?"
Seeing that the two were nearly overwhelmed by his divine pressure, Yun Fan retracted his overwhelming aura and returned to his usual harmless, clear-eyed demeanor.
"Huff... huff... huff..." Gorou and Kokomi gasped for breath, beads of cold sweat dripping down their faces.
"Mr. Yun Fan, we..." Kokomi forced a smile and began to speak, but Yun Fan raised a hand to stop her.
"No need to rush your answer. Take your time to think it over. I'll be staying on Watatsumi Island for the next few days, so..." Yun Fan paused here. "I'll have to trouble Miss Sangonomiya to continue showing me around."
"You're too kind." Seeing that Yun Fan wasn't pressuring her, Kokomi breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, her opinion of Yun Fan rose significantly.
"Mr. Yun Fan, you can call me Kokomi. Calling me Miss Sangonomiya feels a bit too formal."
'In truth, we're not that close, are we?' Yun Fan thought to himself. "In that case, just call me Yun Fan. No need for 'Mr.'"
"Alright, Yun Fan." Kokomi smiled sweetly, her voice soft and gentle as she called his name.
Meanwhile...
Our dear General Gorou watched their interaction, stroking his chin. He couldn't help but feel a bit out of place.
——————
"That's the situation. Feel free to share your thoughts openly. Speak your mind."
That night, after Yun Fan returned to his guest room to rest, Kokomi wasted no time. Following her decisive work ethic, she quickly gathered the high-ranking officials of Watatsumi Island to hold a meeting that would determine their future.
"Lady Sangonomiya, are you saying that the divine pressure and the power that altered the heavens earlier today were not the Raiden Shogun's doing, but that of the Liyue adeptus you invited?" A middle-aged officer stepped forward, respectfully seeking confirmation from Kokomi.
"Yes, I can guarantee as the Divine Priestess that everything I said is true. Additionally, General Gorou can also testify. The adeptus was someone he encountered during a patrol." Kokomi assured them, then glanced at Gorou, who stood nearby. The others followed her gaze.
Under the watchful eyes of the officers, Gorou nodded. "I can vouch for Lady Sangonomiya. The Immortal Phoenix's divine power is boundless. With a mere gesture, he can accomplish feats beyond the reach of ordinary people."
With Gorou's confirmation, the officers finally relaxed. It wasn't that they were disloyal, but what had happened today was simply too unbelievable. The raging thunder in the sky, the terrifying pressure that made their souls tremble—they never wanted to experience it again.
"Liyue truly is an unfathomable nation! If even an ordinary adeptus possesses such power, how strong must the legendary Geo Archon have been?"
"I'm more curious about the person who assassinated the Geo Archon. What kind of figure could that be?"
"Bah! I say, even without the Geo Archon, Liyue remains one of the most powerful nations among the seven. Haven't you heard? The Divine Lord, who emerged out of nowhere, can crush a powerful god from the Archon War with a single hand!"
"That's just ridiculously overpowered!"
"I think he's definitely stronger than the Raiden Shogun..."
...…
The officers' discussions echoed through the Sangonomiya Hall, turning the once-quiet shrine into a bustling marketplace filled with noise.
"Silence!" An elderly man with a cane suddenly spoke up. His voice was not loud, but it had a calming effect, like an anchor in the storm.
The chattering officers immediately fell silent, waiting for the old man to speak.
"Lady Sangonomiya." The old man opened his eyes, his cloudy gaze filled with wisdom.
"Elder Kurage, please speak." Kokomi gestured politely. Since her birth, this old man had been the resistance army's chief strategist, second only to her in rank. When she first became the Divine Priestess and took control of Sangonomiya, it was with his help that she secured her position. Thus, she held great respect for Elder Kurage.
"Very well, I shall speak." Elder Kurage nodded.
"You mentioned that to gain the adeptus's help, we must offer something of equal value in exchange. So, what must Watatsumi Island give to secure his assistance against the Raiden Shogun?"
The officers nodded in agreement. Indeed, this was a question worth pondering. In their earlier discussions, they had completely forgotten about this crucial point.
Think about it. In terms of wealth, the adeptus clearly had no shortage. A man who could casually hand out one billion Mora as a tip wouldn't be lacking in funds. And even if they wanted to offer money, did they even have enough?
As for resources, Watatsumi Island was just that—an island. Its mineral resources were nearly nonexistent, and the soil was heavily affected by sacred erosion, leaving little land suitable for farming. Their food production was minimal, and Liyue, with its vast resources, certainly didn't lack such things.
Thinking about it this way...
"If the Immortal Phoenix is willing to help us, why don't we convert to worshiping him?" A younger officer timidly suggested.
"..." "..." "..."
The moment these words were spoken, the hall fell dead silent. No one spoke, no one uttered a word. The officer who had spoken seemed oblivious to the atmosphere and continued, "Look, the Immortal Phoenix is immensely powerful and has a good relationship with Orobashi. If we worship him, Orobashi wouldn't mind..."
"Silence!" Before the officer could finish, Elder Kurage slammed his cane on the ground with a loud thud.
"If it weren't for the great god Orobashi bringing our ancestors up from Enkanomiya, we would still be living in that sunless prison to this day. How dare you forget your roots and spread such heresy? Your heart deserves punishment!" The old man's eyes burned with fury.
"Guards! Take him away and give him fifty lashes, then expel him from the army!"