"You're a merchant from Liyue?" Elliot asked in a friendly tone.
"Yes. My ship was wrecked in a storm, but luckily I met my savior, Miyagi. Otherwise, I'd be dead by now."
Yide turned to Miyagi with a look of genuine gratitude.
His words sounded flawless, yet Elliot caught a faint trace of fear in his eyes.
This man was afraid of him.
And yet, in the middle of the night, he had deliberately come to approach him.
The combination was puzzling.
There were plenty of possible explanations—perhaps he had come last night intending to kill him, but for some reason hadn't acted.
Maybe he was worried that moving too soon would draw suspicion from the villagers.
After all, if Elliot was alive and well before this man arrived, but ended up dead the very day he set foot on the island, suspicion would be unavoidable.
If that was the case, perhaps all he needed was more time before making his move.
Elliot almost wanted to see what kind of trick he would try.
"I see... what rotten luck," Elliot sighed.
"Yes. Without Miyagi, I'd be just another corpse drifting at sea," Yide agreed with a rueful smile.
"Don't thank me," Miyagi cut in. "Anyone would have done the same. I just happened to be there."
Miyagi was straightforward—his words clean and to the point, his manner refreshingly direct.
"Do you need to return to Liyue? I can help arrange it," Elliot offered.
"Thank you for your kindness, but for now, I'd like to stay and help my savior," Yide declined politely.
"I see. That's fine. If you do decide to return, come find me at the cabin on the hillside."
Elliot pointed toward the wooden house halfway up the slope.
"Alright. Thank you."
"Then I won't keep you."
...
After parting ways, Elliot mulled it over.
It had definitely been this man who came last night, but what he couldn't figure out was—why was someone who feared him enough to flinch still bold enough to come to his door in the dead of night?
He hadn't done anything particularly terrifying lately, had he?
Could it be that word of him slaying Orobashi—and killing a large number of humans—had spread all the way to Liyue?
That would be ridiculous.
Granted, killing so many people was bound to inspire fear. That part made sense.
What didn't make sense was why someone who was supposedly afraid of him would sneak into his home at night.
It was like being terrified of snakes yet going out of your way to grab one by the tail—a sure way to get yourself killed.
Maybe the man had simply wanted to confirm whether the "Sasayuri" Miyagi mentioned was the same one he'd heard about.
That was a somewhat reasonable guess… but it still didn't explain why he thought breaking into someone's house at night was a good idea.
No matter how Elliot looked at it, something about the whole thing felt off—but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Pushing those thoughts aside, he returned home and resumed training.
...
In the days that followed, the man never came by again.
Instead, he seemed content to stay on Watatsumi Island, going out fishing with Miyagi every day and getting along well with the villagers.
"A perfectly good merchant, and instead of earning Mora, he settles down here…" Elliot muttered, baffled.
Just then, a familiar figure appeared in front of him.
"Lord Sasayuri!" The man spotted him as well, and called out excitedly before hurrying over.
This was Kinta—a subordinate Elliot had personally selected.
Whenever Elliot was away from Narukami Island, Kinta held the highest authority in the Tenryou Commission.
"Kinta? What brings you here?" Elliot asked.
"Raiden Shogun sent me to tell you—next week is Lady Kitsune Saiguu's birthday, and also the day Yae Miko will take human form."
"That little fox is finally transforming?" Elliot's eyes lit up.
Well, well. He could finally witness the moment the little fox turned into that sly "fox lady" herself.
He'd have to go back for that.
Kitsune Saiguu's birthday…
He would need to prepare a gift.
"I understand. I'll be there," Elliot promised.
"Sir, aren't you going back now?" Kinta asked.
"I want to harvest this batch of crops first," Elliot said, glancing toward the nearly ripe fields.
Kinta followed his gaze to the wide patch of farmland. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
The mighty head of the Tenryou Commission… farming and fishing on a remote little island.
Was that even reasonable?
"Well… alright then. I'll take my leave."
"You're leaving already?" Elliot said in surprise.
Kinta paused, then asked respectfully, "Do you have any other orders, sir?"
"You came all the way out here just to deliver that one message?"
"Yes."
"Want to stay for a meal before heading back?"
"I still have matters to attend to, so…"
"Alright, alright. Safe travels."