Sangonomiya Shrine, while perhaps not the most beautiful place in Teyvat, can certainly be called the most dreamlike.
According to the "Sangonomiya Chronicles," written by the famous historian of the Shogunate and one of the "Three Kujo Heads," Kujo Michizane: "Sangonomiya was originally a sea abyss. Later, a great serpent came and coiled itself, rising to form a whirlpool and shaping the coral into an island."
Just as the book describes, Sangonomiya Shrine is entirely composed of coral and giant seashells, with a color palette of pink leaning towards purple.
Compared to the Tenshukaku of the Raiden Shogun, this place lacks a certain solemnity but possesses an extra touch of mystery.
Coupled with the bubbles rising from the coral and the strange elemental creatures that sway in the air like jellyfish, it gives one the illusion of being underwater. It is truly an excellent place for sightseeing.
Sangonomiya Kokomi understands people well. She knows what those men of the sea like.
So that evening, the Watatsumi resistance members stationed on the island held a bonfire party at Bourou Village to entertain the sailors who had come from afar.
As for Captain Beidou and her high-ranking officers, as well as the merchants who had come from Liyue to do business, they were naturally invited to a banquet at Sangonomiya Shrine.
This place was quieter and offered strong confidentiality, so discussing more secretive matters would not be subject to eavesdropping.
"A simple meal, please forgive our humble hospitality. But this is the best Watatsumi Island has to offer. I hope you will all be understanding."
After the shrine maidens brought out the food for the banquet, Sangonomiya Kokomi gave a slight bow and spoke with a hint of apology.
Just as she said, compared to the food in Liyue and Inazuma City, the food on Watatsumi Island was truly a bit... how should one put it?
In a word: Hu Tao's specialty—barren.
However, the cooks had done their best, trying to make these seemingly ordinary ingredients look like something one couldn't afford.
After the shrine maidens brought the food, they withdrew from the banquet.
They had only been called in temporarily by Sangonomiya Kokomi. Because this banquet was very important, Sangonomiya Kokomi did not trust others and had arranged for these confidants.
"You are too kind, Lady Sangonomiya. For rough folks like us who drift on the sea, we often go hungry one meal and full the next. To have a bite to eat is already a blessing. How could we dare to be picky?"
Beidou returned the bow and said with great magnanimity.
For her, as long as there was wine and meat, she could eat happily even if she were sitting in the middle of nowhere.
After Beidou spoke, the merchants present quickly echoed her sentiments.
No matter how young Sangonomiya Kokomi was, she was at least the leader of Watatsumi Island, and certainly not someone they, as mere merchants, could put on airs with.
Only Bai Luo, looking at the caviar before him, fell into deep thought.
"This is caviar, made from fresh fish roe. It is a technique taught by a friend from Snezhnaya before the Shogun's Sakoku Decree. Now, in all of Inazuma, only Watatsumi Island has this authentic caviar."
Noticing that Bai Luo was observing the caviar, Sangonomiya Kokomi enthusiastically introduced this unique delicacy to him.
"Thank you for the explanation, Lady Sangonomiya. It's just... nothing."
Caviar. It wasn't that Bai Luo had never eaten it before.
In Snezhnaya, it was a delicacy popular among many nobles. But to see it in a place like Watatsumi Island felt a bit strange.
Those who know, know.
"Alright, everyone. Today is a banquet to welcome you all. Let us not talk about state affairs or business. We need only enjoy this banquet."
After the banquet began, Sangonomiya Kokomi ignored the glances from the high-ranking officials of Watatsumi Island beside her. She properly raised her wine glass and spoke with confidence and composure.
She appeared somewhat carefree, but in Bai Luo's view... she was probably just low on energy and was afraid that a confrontation with the merchants from Liyue would deplete her energy, causing her to go missing tomorrow.
She was truly in a difficult position.
Sangonomiya Kokomi's words also made the several high-ranking officials of Watatsumi Island who were accompanying them look at each other in confusion.
This wasn't what they had planned, was it?
A few of them were even secretly exchanging coded messages.
For example, the one who casually touched his foot was saying: "Should we go out and discuss our strategy?"
And the one who looked meticulous and had neatly stacked his chopsticks was responding: "Let's just wait and see."
But one person thought otherwise.
The seemingly older high-ranking official of the Watatsumi resistance gently stroked his graying beard twice, clearly responding to the first person: "Why don't the two of us go out and talk first?"
Alright, let's go talk.
And so...
Three people stood up simultaneously at the banquet. After making their excuses to the others without a trace, they quietly left the scene and walked out of Sangonomiya Shrine.
And one of them... was Bai Luo.
Bai Luo was all too familiar with the coded language these three were using, because he had participated in compiling this set of codes back in the day.
That's right, this was a coded language developed by the Fatui's intelligence organization.
And the identities of the few who were using this coded language... were already self-evident.
"Gentlemen, going to the latrine? Shall we go together?"
"Lord... Lord Battousai is also going to the latrine?"
Seeing Bai Luo follow them out, the two Fatui spies seemed a little nervous.
Judging by the timing of Bai Luo getting up, it was just a coincidence.
But the two of them had come out purely because they had important matters to discuss, not to relieve themselves.
But at this juncture, even if they didn't have the urge to urinate, they had to brace themselves and go along.
At worst, they could use the excuse of having a weak kidney and stand there for a while longer.
If that didn't work... they could just find another opportunity to come out later.
They would never dare to rashly attack this Battousai. Everyone knew that this was a ruthless man who could even injure a god. He had even slain a follower of a demon god on his way here. He was not someone they could easily deal with.
"How long have you two been at Sangonomiya Shrine?"
Holding his reverse-blade sword, Bai Luo asked softly.
He was the only one, besides Captain Beidou, who was allowed to enter Sangonomiya Shrine with a weapon.
To be able to injure that high and mighty god with a reverse-blade sword, in the eyes of others, he could probably use a pair of chopsticks as a deadly weapon. So they decided to be generous and let him bring it in.
"I have grown up on this Watatsumi Island since I was a child. I am a native resident of Watatsumi Island."
The old man with the graying beard gave a slight bow and replied.
Inazuma was a nation where the strong were respected, so even though the old man looked to be of a higher generation, he still had to bow to Bai Luo.
"Like you, Lord Battousai, I was once a ronin. I have been settled at Sangonomiya Shrine for some time now."
The slightly younger spy said so.
These things were not secrets. They could be found out with a little inquiry, so they did not hide them.
And with just these words, Bai Luo had already determined which of the two was the spy and which was the traitor.
So...
He quietly rolled up his sleeve, showed it to the slightly younger spy, and, with his back to the older man, slightly lifted his mask.
"Guess who I am?"
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