"Alright~" Hiiragi Chisato nodded and flew down with Akio.
In front of the Sangonomiya Shrine, on the massive coral structure, Sangonomiya Kokomi was enjoying a rare moment of leisure. She sat atop the coral, gazing at the beautiful scenery below, though a hint of worry lingered on her face.
Suddenly, Kokomi seemed to sense something. She quickly looked up and saw Akio and Chisato descending from the sky.
"Lord Akio! Commissioner of the Kanjou Commission!" Kokomi hurriedly stood up to greet them.
"Kokomi," Akio smiled warmly and pulled her into a hug. He hadn't seen her in a while and had missed her dearly.
"…" Kokomi's face flushed slightly as she glanced at Chisato, who was also smiling.
"No need to call us 'Lord' or 'Commissioner.' We're all sisters here," Chisato said with a laugh.
"Sister Chisato…" Kokomi nodded softly.
"Chisato mentioned you've prepared the Mora, so we came to collect it," Akio said with a smile. "I had some free time today, so I thought I'd come see you as well. How's Watatsumi Island been lately?"
"Everything's been fine recently," Kokomi replied. "Ever since you performed that miracle, reversing the soil degradation, your reputation on Watatsumi Island has reached unprecedented heights. The people here now revere you."
"Oh? Is that so? What about Orobashi?" Akio asked with interest.
"It's been hundreds of years. The people now only hold a vague belief in the Great Watatsumi," Kokomi explained. "They live their lives day by day, and their faith in the divine isn't as pure as it once was. They've never even seen the Great Watatsumi, so how could their faith be firm? For them, whoever can provide them with a stable and happy life is whom they'll believe in."
Kokomi sighed, lamenting the fact that the people of Watatsumi, despite being the descendants of the Great Watatsumi, had lost their strong faith.
Yet, she was also relieved that the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven could now protect Watatsumi Island, ensuring it wouldn't be left without divine protection.
"Ah, let's head to the shrine first. I've prepared the Mora there," Kokomi suddenly said.
Though she was now Akio's woman and considered Chisato a sister, she still maintained a clear distinction between public and private matters. The Mora owed to Inazuma had to be paid in full, no exceptions.
However, the 250 billion Mora had taken her a long time to gather, and handing over such a large sum would undoubtedly strain Watatsumi Island's economy. Not to mention, they still owed Inazuma an additional 350 billion Mora…
Following Kokomi into the shrine, they entered a room filled with gleaming piles of Mora.
"This is the 250 billion Mora," Kokomi said, turning to Chisato. "Sister Chisato, please verify it. This is the most Watatsumi Island can offer at the moment. Any more, and our economy would collapse."
"It's fine. We wouldn't push Watatsumi Island to such extremes," Chisato replied, shaking her head. She extended her hand, and a golden light enveloped the Mora.
Using the authority of the Herrscher of the Void, Chisato instantly confirmed that the amount was indeed 250 billion Mora, not a single coin short.
"Watatsumi Island has been through a lot with the soil degradation. It's a difficult time," Akio mused, stroking his chin. "How about this? The Tianquan of Liyue, Ningguang, and the Yuheng, Keqing, are currently in Inazuma. They're both my women. You could try negotiating with them to establish diplomatic relations."
"But, my dear Kokomi, whether or not you can establish those relations depends on whether you can offer them something enticing," Akio continued.
"I may not understand the intricacies of economics, but I know that merchants seek profit, and the same goes for nations. Liyue is the wealthiest of the seven nations. If you want them to cooperate with you, you'll need to show them your potential."
"State affairs are state affairs, and personal matters are personal matters. Even though they're my women, I can't ask them to abandon their national interests for your sake," Akio said seriously. "So, whether or not you can establish relations with them depends on your abilities."
"Really? Lord Akio!" Kokomi's eyes lit up with excitement at his words.
The Tianquan of Liyue! The most powerful and wealthiest merchant in all of Teyvat! Establishing relations with her was something countless organizations dreamed of.
Kokomi looked at Akio with gratitude. Given Ningguang's status and position, as the representative of Liyue, a small island like Watatsumi wouldn't even have the standing to negotiate with her.
As for what Akio said afterward, Kokomi agreed wholeheartedly. The fact that Akio was willing to facilitate this connection was already an immense honor. How could she ask for more? Greediness wasn't in her nature.
…
After storing the Mora in the Imaginary Space, Chisato and Kokomi went to handle the formalities.
Akio, meanwhile, sat in Kokomi's private chambers and activated his bracelet, initiating a video call with Ningguang.
The call connected quickly, and Ningguang appeared on the screen, seemingly just waking up.
She lay in her bed, dressed in a silk nightgown that accentuated her stunning figure. Her white hair cascaded down her back, giving her a lazy, yet captivating beauty.
Without any makeup, Ningguang looked even more breathtaking. She stretched and smiled at the screen. "Akio~ Why are you calling me now?"
"The sun's already up, and the Tianquan is still in bed?" Akio teased. "I thought the Tianquan was always busy, up early handling affairs."
"I'm finally on a break, so I'm giving myself some time off. Who wants to work all the time?" Ningguang pouted.
"Hahaha, fair enough," Akio laughed. "By the way, my dear, there's something I want to discuss with you."
"Go ahead" Ningguang nodded.
Akio explained Kokomi's situation to her.
"Oh? So she's one of my sisters now?" Ningguang pondered for a moment. "I've heard about Watatsumi Island's situation. It's indeed quite impoverished…"
"How about I directly assign her one of my projects? It's quite profitable," Ningguang suggested.
"No need, my dear," Akio shook his head. "I won't let anyone compromise for the sake of others, even if you're sisters."
"I'll have Kokomi present her strengths, like a bidding process," Akio continued. "If you think it's worth it, you can help. But if it's going to cost you, there's no need to force it."
A/N: Enjoying the story? Read 60+ chapters ahead on Patreon! Your support helps: Patreon.com/nneol