The smile on Kamisato Ayato's face remained unchanged, but his tone carried a hint of helplessness, as if saying, 'How could you not understand?':
"Inazuma is currently undergoing drastic changes, and everything is waiting to be rebuilt."
"Most of the top-level officials have been purged, the middle management is unsettled, and the common people are in urgent need of reassurance."
"The Ritou Cooperation Zone has just been established, the Three Commissions need to be reorganized, and there's the coordination of aid from Fontaine, the distribution of supplies, the maintenance of order..."
"There are a thousand things to do, and every single one of them requires people."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Raiden Ei before returning to Yae Miko's face. His voice lowered slightly, carrying "sincere words" that only the two of them could hear:
"Inazuma especially cannot do without you, Lady Yae."
"You possess extraordinary wisdom, you are socially adept and deeply understand the human heart, and you are familiar with every inner working of Inazuma."
"In a situation like this, it is precisely the time when we need you to sit at the center, coordinate all parties, and stabilize the overall situation."
"If you were to leave at this moment, this vast Inazuma, relying only on me, I'm afraid..."
Kamisato Ayato did not finish his sentence; he merely sighed softly and shook his head, leaving everything unsaid.
The meaning was clear: Inazuma is currently a mess, there are very few people capable of working, and it was already unmanageable.
If even you, the clever fox strategist, run off, I, Kamisato Ayato, won't be able to handle it, and Inazuma will fall into great chaos again.
As for the Shogun... Kamisato Ayato's gaze drifted subtly toward Raiden Ei, who was seriously considering what to bring to Fontaine, and he silently added in his heart:
Given the Shogun's political abilities, whether she is present or not... doesn't make much of a difference.
Her desire to go to Fontaine for study and observation might actually be more beneficial for the future of Inazuma.
So, smart and capable fox, please stay and work.
Yae Miko: "..."
Listen to this! Just listen to this!
Is this even something a human would say?!
She looked at Kamisato Ayato's sincere expression of "all of Inazuma is counting on you," then looked at that idiot Ei beside her, who had already drifted off into space and was wondering if the desserts in Fontaine were delicious. A breath caught in her chest, nearly causing internal injuries.
Kamisato Ayato, that smiling tiger!
He's clearly just a lazy dog, deliberately exaggerating the consequences to tie her down with responsibility!
But unfortunately, these things truly could happen, and she couldn't refute them!
"..."
A fox's life is so difficult.
In her heart, Yae Miko's tears flowed like a river; her fox ears drooped weakly, and even her tail wilted.
She knew that this hat of "Regent of Inazuma" (self-proclaimed) was truly not coming off this time.
Yae Miko looked as if all her energy had been drained. She cast a mournful glance at the expectant Ei, then glared fiercely at the smiling but cold Kamisato Ayato.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and squeezed a sentence out from between them: "...I understand."
Kamisato Ayato immediately showed a smile of relief and bowed deeply: "Wonderful. With the Lady Guuji in charge, Inazuma is safe."
Raiden Ei looked at Miko's state with some confusion, but still said to her seriously: "Miko, I leave Inazuma to you. I will observe and learn well. Once I return, just watch me display my prowess."
Yae Miko looked up, seeing Ei's "reliable" (?) expression, and then thought about the mountain of paperwork and endless bickering she would face in the coming period... She slowly buried her face in her palms.
I'm tired, let it all be destroyed... Three days later, on a sunny morning, the deck of justice was a hive of activity.
King reclined comfortably on a lounge chair, an iced fruit juice in his hand.
He was wondering whether to sleep for three days and nights first upon returning to Fontaine, or to go play with Silly Furina for a few days.
Raiden Ei stood by the ship's railing, seriously explaining some "governance strategies" to Yae Miko that sounded very unreliable.
For example, "If the Shogunate budget is insufficient, consider sending the Oniwabanshū to the docks to move cargo to supplement the household income." Yae Miko's eyes twitched as she heard this, yet she had to maintain a smile.
Paimon flew around Lumine, counting the local specialties she had bought from Inazuma in her small backpack: "Dried naku weed, Sakura Mochi, Tanuki-shaped Konpeito... Hmm, seems like something is still missing? Lumine, let's go browse the city streets one more time! Just one more time!"
Lumine pulled her back with a helpless look: "I've already heard you say that three times. If we go again, the ship will sail!"
Amidst this harmonious (chaotic) atmosphere, an Oniwabanshū soldier hurried onto the deck and knelt on one knee: "Lord King, Shogun, someone at the docks requests an audience, claiming to be the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi."
"Eh, Kokomi?" Paimon was the first to cry out, her small face full of surprise. "Why is she here?"
Lumine also showed a look of confusion.
During her travels in Inazuma, Lumine had formed a deep friendship with that wise and gentle leader of Watatsumi Island.
She knew well that Sangonomiya Kokomi always acted with prudence and thoroughness.
If it weren't for something truly major, she would never have come here so urgently.
Yae Miko slightly furrowed her beautiful brows, her fox ears twitching imperceptibly.
She and Kokomi were effectively "pen pals," having discussed much of Teyvat's history and secrets through letters, and they admired each other's wisdom.
But recently, regarding Watatsumi Island... the several letters she had sent had all gone unanswered.
Kokomi's sudden appearance now was likely not simple.
Raiden Ei merely turned her head calmly, her purple eyes looking toward the docks, showing no expression.
Watatsumi Island... the people of Orobashi... regardless, they are all people of Inazuma now.
King put down his juice and nodded: "Let her come up."
Before long, a slender figure stepped onto the deck of justice.
Sangonomiya Kokomi was wearing her signature blue and white priestess outfit, her pink-blue hair tied back, the ends carrying a dreamlike gradient of colors.
However, she was different from the "strategist" in Lumine and Paimon's memories, who was always composed, elegant, and seemingly in control of everything.
At this moment, Kokomi's face was weary, and the dark circles under her eyes could hardly be concealed even with heavy makeup.
As she walked, her footsteps were even slightly and imperceptibly unsteady.
Even more strange was that she was followed by only two Watatsumi Army soldiers, who also had sickly complexions, carrying several simple wooden boxes that looked very cheap.
"Kokomi! It really is you!"
Paimon flew over, circled around Kokomi, and asked worriedly.
"You look so tired, are you okay?"
"Traveler, Paimon, it has been a long time."
Kokomi gave Lumine and Paimon a somewhat forced smile, then her gaze quickly swept over everyone on the deck.
When she saw the expressionless Raiden Ei and the complex gaze of Yae Miko, her slender body stiffened for an almost imperceptible moment, and her fingers instinctively curled up.
Clearly, Raiden Ei's presence was entirely unexpected to her.
This undoubtedly made her situation and what she had to do next even more tricky and awkward.
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