"Well done, everyone," Reisen Riou said, appearing at the camp. He flicked out several Thunder Elixirs, which orbited the samurai before sinking into their bodies. For the next half-month, the elixirs would release healing energy, mending their wounds.
The samurai saluted—those from Reisen Island called him "Lord Divine," those from Narukami Island, "Lord Reisen." The four Khaenri'ahn defectors stood awkwardly, unsure. Bankaku Nisei's promise about their families? Reisen was already on it, hiring the freed Northern Continent intelligence boss to smuggle them out of Khaenri'ah. Smuggling was their specialty, though they'd steer clear of Inazuma after their recent bust. The deposit? A cool million Mora.
"Lord, our families…" one knight ventured, hope in his eyes.
"Taken care of," Reisen assured. "Expect news within six months."
The knight nodded, anxious but relieved Reisen wasn't planning to cut them loose—or worse. Promises kept? That'd depend on their families' safe arrival.
Reisen left after comforting the samurai. Khaenri'ahn spies had joined Inazuma's pirates, many fleeing local crackdowns, stirring minor chaos across the islands. Reisen's exposé of Khaenri'ah's unauthorized digs in Teyvat's ruins triggered global backlash. Nations investigated, condemning Khaenri'ah, who lost personnel, data, and opportunities. Worse, they faced ransom demands—exorbitant ones. Khaenri'ah's royalty was livid.
Sumeru stayed quiet, but their ruins had already chewed up Khaenri'ahn Tillers and personnel. The Akademiya blocked further exploration, citing "forbidden knowledge." If not for Khaenri'ah's covert Red King tech gains, their royalty would've ditched Sumeru's "eat-you-whole" scholars—especially those sly Bayi clans, part merchants, part academics.
"Lord Reisen, all set?" Raiden Makoto asked as he returned. She nudged her dozing sister.
"Tsurumi's clear of Khaenri'ahns," Reisen replied, eyeing leftover constructs he'd handle later.
Cradling a groggy Raiden Ei, he pinned documents in the air, Electro sparking as he processed them, also handling Makoto's itinerary as Archivist.
"You two, always so clingy," Yae Saiguu teased, joined by Chiyo, Reisen Anko, and Kageyama Tengu, all peeking in.
"Not tired of it yet," Reisen grinned.
Ei, half-awake, spotted the crowd and buried her face in Reisen's chest, ostrich-style.
"Ha! Come on, Ei, join us," Reisen chuckled. "You need to learn this stuff. Can't keep napping through paperwork like today."
He was determined to sharpen Ei's governance skills—not to make her a sage ruler, but to avoid being duped. Her original timeline was too tragic; he'd fix that. Cooking was a lost cause, but statecraft? She had potential.
"Take this case," he said, picking a document. "A caravan on Yashiori Island, wiped out. The merchant lord reported it. What do you see?"
"Uh… brutal enemies?" Ei ventured.
Reisen sighed. "Let me break it down. The merchant's Yashiori's top grain trader, backed by local magistrate vassals—strong enough to deter small-time bandits. Yet, thirty-plus guards, all LV10+, were slaughtered. That's no ordinary raid. The killers silenced everyone to delay news and took all goods, so they're numerous. The Tenryou Commission found no bandit traces nearby, requesting a nationwide hunt. That means pros, skilled enough to dodge Doushin. Given Inazuma's climate, these aren't bandits—they're starving Khaenri'ahn spies."
He continued, "Yashiori has seven or eight small ports, most village-controlled. That leaves two or three hidden spots for escape. With their numbers, they can't flee at once—our patrols would catch them. A Tenryou search in those spots will flush them out. Got it, Ei?"
"Zzzz…"
--------------------
Want to read ahead? Early chapters on: patreon.com/ShadowKage