Aboard the newly christened Crux Fleet flagship, The Alcor...
Kaedehara Kazuha and Yae Miko, among others, were watching Lumine's livestream.
As the broadcast progressed, Yae couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
A single livestream had laid bare all of Inazuma's issues.
The Raiden Shogun's cold, authoritarian image had now gained additional labels in foreigners' eyes—"immature," "inflexible," and more.
Many comments in the chat were far from kind.
But could they retaliate just because the truth stung?
Weren't these criticisms grounded in reality?
Wouldn't lashing out only make them seem even more incompetent and petty?
Oh, my poor, foolish friend...
Yae shook her head internally.
Given their close relationship, she couldn't be too harsh with her words.
But the chat wasn't wrong.
Villains weren't the real problem—fools were far more terrifying.
If not for Ei's past merits in protecting Inazuma, the backlash would have been even worse.
Then there were the comments about her.
Lumine had hit the nail on the head.
Yae Miko bore no divine responsibility to care for humanity.
Frankly, what happened to humans was none of her concern.
Any help she provided stemmed solely from her status as the Narukami Shrine's head priestess and the Raiden Shogun's familiar.
Without those roles, she'd have slept far more soundly!
Yet precisely because of these duties—and her willingness to share Ei's burdens—her early years had been so arduous.
Behind Yae's ever-present smile lay sorrows she preferred not to dwell on.
Snapping back to reality, she noticed Kazuha and Gorou studying her.
"What? Surprised?" Yae arched a brow.
"Worried you might be upset," Kazuha admitted.
"Getting angry over a few comments? I'm not that petty," Yae scoffed. "Besides, the Traveler didn't insult me. She merely stated facts."
"It's just... to see Inazuma's affairs laid bare like this..."
Gorou's expression was complex.
He'd been unaware that the Shogunate's war with the resistance had been manipulated by Kujou Takayuki.
The Shogunate possessed overwhelming military superiority—they could have crushed the resistance outright.
No wonder the conflict had dragged on in a seeming stalemate.
It was all to prolong the war and embezzle more military supplies!
The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions were utterly rotten to the core!
Now that the true enemy was clear, Gorou's path forward felt sharper.
At the very least, Yae Miko wasn't his adversary.
"Kazuha, you've surprised me too," Gorou said, clapping the wanderer on the shoulder.
"I've surprised myself," Kazuha murmured.
All this time, he'd sought a way to reignite his friend's Vision—only to realize he'd already achieved it through his own actions.
Though it had lasted mere seconds during the storyline, reliving that moment through the game filled him with emotion.
So that's what I felt when I faced the Musou no Hitotachi...
His past words echoed in his mind:
"With the Vision Hunt Decree in effect, someone had to take a stand. And I was the most suitable candidate."
He'd always yearned to witness the Raiden Shogun's ultimate technique.
When the Vision Hunt began, his friend had chosen to duel before the throne.
It was a chance to behold the Musou no Hitotachi while using his death to ignite rebellion.
Kazuha's left hand brushed the dim Vision at his waist.
His right hand was bandaged.
When his friend fell in the duel, the Vision's blazing ambition had burned fiercely.
Unable to bear the thought of it being entombed within the cold Statue of the Omnipresent God, Kazuha had seized it bare-handed and fled.
The burns from that day, though not deep, left gruesome marks—hence the bandages to avoid alarming others.
Noticing Kazuha's gesture, Yae asked softly, "Do you resent her?"
Kazuha paused, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "I did. But I've come to understand."
When the Vision Hunt began, his friend hadn't been arrested or provoked the Shogun.
He'd invoked the ancient rite of a duel before the throne and accepted divine punishment upon defeat.
Witnessing the Musou no Hitotachi had been his dream—the duel was merely a means to kill two birds with one stone.
Kazuha had grieved.
But understanding brought acceptance.
His only curiosity remained: What expression did he wear in that final moment?
"That's all in the past now," Kazuha said quietly.
Yae's gaze lingered on his bandaged hand.
If the opportunity arises, I should have that treated.
Kazuha's friend hadn't died due to conspiracy or tragedy—just the Vision Hunt Decree and his own yearning to see the Shogun's blade.
Yae refused to dwell further.
She simply believed Ei's mistakes shouldn't harm those who loved Inazuma.
Wrongs must be acknowledged and rectified.
With Ei still secluded in the Plane of Euthymia, the task fell to Yae.
"After we return to Inazuma, I'll personally bring about change," Yae declared.
Kazuha gave her a surprised glance.
Yae might not cherish humanity, but she did cherish Ei.
She couldn't let Ei's errors continue.
Nor could she afford the slow machinations seen in the game's plot.
Once she obtained the cards from the shop, she'd return to Inazuma with a vengeance!
Letting others strike Ei would wound her pride.
No—this was a private matter between friends.
Behind closed doors, Yae would personally knock some sense into that blockhead!
Liyue - Northland Bank
"Damn it!"
While others focused on Inazuma's storyline—ending the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees, swaying Ei's resolve—Tartaglia's attention was fixed on Scaramouche!
"That bastard!"
"You're in Inazuma, aren't you?"
Tartaglia cracked his knuckles and immediately made calls.
"Bro, any leads on Scaramouche?"
"Negative."
"Is he in Inazuma?"
"That was the old plan. Current status unknown."
"Got it. Thanks!"
Further inquiries yielded nothing.
So is he there or not?
Tartaglia pondered.
He recalled that after befriending Zhongli in Liyue (and learning his true identity), the Tsaritsa had assured him his mission would succeed.
Because of this, La Signora had been dispatched early to Inazuma!
How do I contact her?
Flipping through his contacts, Tartaglia realized—he didn't even know if Signora had a phone!
Among the Harbingers, only he and Arlecchino had openly visited the shop. Whether others came incognito was unclear.
But obtaining a phone was trivial for a Harbinger.
No coercion needed—just have underlings purchase and deliver one.
Tartaglia messaged the Tsaritsa directly.
Minutes later, she replied with a string of digits—a device ID.
"I knew it! Signora might be an idiot, but not that much of an idiot!"
He dialed.
The line connected after a few rings.
"Who is this?"
That icy voice was unmistakable.
"Signora, right?"
"Oh. It's you. What do you want?"
"Is Scaramouche with you?" Tartaglia cut to the chase.
"No. And I can confirm he's left no traces in Inazuma. Anything else?"
Not in Inazuma?
Has he not arrived yet?
Then where is he?
"Look, I'm not jinxing you, but a friendly warning—don't get too cocky in Inazuma."
"You're referring to my death at Tenshukaku, I presume?" Signora's voice dripped with disdain.
"My conscience is clear. Do as you please."
Tartaglia hung up.
Signora's death wouldn't grieve him—he'd just regret missing the funeral feast back in Snezhnaya.
Wait—has Signora even clarified her current objectives?
He mused.
Once news broke, most would learn Inazuma's Gnosis was actually with Yae Miko.
After a moment, Tartaglia shook his head.
Why am I even thinking about this?!
Am I losing it?!
This was just Harbinger instincts kicking in.
The priority was locating Scaramouche!
"Gotta keep grinding Genshin. If he's not in Inazuma, where else?" Tartaglia grabbed his phone.
"Next region's Sumeru... Isn't The Doctor there?"
He spat.
Another rotten apple ruining the Harbingers' reputation.
"If I get the chance, I'm taking that unethical freak down too!"
Outskirts of Fontaine's Court
A picturesque locale.
Lu Heng had brought his four companions for an outing.
During lunch, he checked his phone and stumbled upon Lumine's livestream.
Watching for just thirty seconds left him stunned.
What kind of natural-born streamer is this?!
He had to admit—Lumine was entertaining.
No wonder her fully-clothed stream pulled over 100K viewers.
But Lu Heng's expression turned odd.
Lumine seemed to have two personas.
Fanworks aside, the general impression of her was a sweet, kind, helpful heroine.
Now?
She'd fully embraced her chaotic gremlin side!
You call this a gentle sweetheart?
Wrong!
This was a full-blown meme queen!
"Her stream's hilarious!"
Navia leaned in to watch, then blinked. "Huh? Her ideal type is you!"
"Can't be helped. This is the burden of being handsome."
Lu Heng sighed theatrically. "When you're this good-looking, powerful, and charismatic, stealing hearts is inevitable."
"You're impossible!"
Navia pinched his arm, then gestured to the spread. "Stop watching! The food's ready—it'll get cold!"
"Come eat!" Furina called.
"Coming!"
Being hand-fed by four beauties, Lu Heng could only marvel at life's luxuries.
Grinning, he declared: "This is the protagonist lifestyle!"
Mondstadt - Angel's Share
Venti was mooching drinks when the livestream notification popped up.
His eyes widened.
Since when was streaming this profitable?!
100K+ viewers? The mora potential was staggering!
"Livestreaming's a goldmine!"
"But what would I stream?"
He scratched his head.
Drinking on camera?
I'd have fun, but what about the audience?
To earn, you had to entertain them first.
After much deliberation, Venti decided to consult Zhongli for ideas.
Though the Knights were arranging his pension, who'd refuse extra mora?
The Abyss Order
Aether nearly jumped when he learned Lumine was streaming.
What kind of people streamed online these days?
Borderline softcore content!
Though his rebellious sister infuriated him, he couldn't let her stray down that path.
Need mora? I'll earn it for you!
Entering the stream, he relaxed upon seeing her modest attire.
But minutes later, a new shock replaced the first.
Where's my sweet, gentle little sister?!
Who was this doppelgänger with her face but the soul of a chaotic jester?!
This can't be real!
Aether's face contorted through the entire stream.
When viewers asked Lumine's ideal type, he shot upright like electrocuted.
His focus sharpened—
—only to hear her describe Lu Heng.
Aether knew exactly who that was.
When Abyss forces got wrecked by those cards, his subordinates had reported everything.
Aether's phone had been purchased through an elaborate ruse—disguised as a disabled villager "coincidentally" meeting a kind stranger who helped buy it.
(He'd even overpaid the confused good Samaritan before sprinting away, miraculously cured of his "crippling" injury.)
Thus, while Aether had never met Lu Heng, he'd seen the man's ubiquitous online presence.
Lumine's description matched perfectly.
"Does she... like him?"
Aether's emotions were indescribable.
His sister having feelings for someone stirred conflicting emotions—protective big brother anxiety mixed with relief that she might stop harassing him.
Part of him wanted her happily married; another part couldn't bear the thought.
She's my only family!
Any doting older brother would feel this tension—
—fearing their sister would never find love, yet dreading the day she did.
If her partner truly cherished her, fine. But what if she suffered?
Aether's turmoil was palpable.
"Your Highness, might this simply be her streaming persona?" an Abyss Herald suggested.
Aether paused.
After a long moment, he nodded vigorously. "Yes! It's just an act! Definitely an act!"
He didn't know Lumine's true feelings.
But accepting this as performance art soothed his anguish.
Hah!
She's just joking—don't take it seriously!
"Quick! Get mora loaded into my account! As her brother, I must support Lumine's stream!"
"Oh, and tell our forces to gather mora—peacefully. No more strong-arming!"
Aether knew the times had changed. If the Abyss Order resorted to old methods, they might face a card-wielding crusade.
Online discussions already speculated about multiple 5-star gold card wielders.
Aether had no desire to be their next target!
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T/N:
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