The next day we headed back to the crux fleet.
We started talking to Beidou and she greets us pretending we were late, and we set sail for inazuma.
The boat ride was long and grueling, we helped out the crew a lot along the way, and after passing through the storm engulfing inazuma we finally arrived.
Once we arrived at inazuma we were greeted with a guy called thoma from inazuma, "So you finally made it. you sure kept me waiting captain."
"And it appears we have a couple of stowaways, or prehaps I should say - honoured guests."
Beidou says, "Now then let me introduce everyone, this is thoma, a trading partner I've gotten to know recently. And thoma, these three are-"
Although she was cut off by thoma himself, "No need for inroductions, their reputation procedes themselves. Even the stormy seas, can't keep rumour of these outlander's deed at bay."
Aether nodds, "Nice to meet you thoma." I smirk, "Surely the rumour exaggerate" I say with mock humility. Paimon giggles, "Its sure nice to hear you say that~"
Beidou explains that thoma has lived in inazuma for quite some time, and that he's a 'fixer' around these parts.
Beidou nodds, "if you run into any problems here, just talk to thoma" then beidou leaves.
Once Beidou leaves thoma speaks to us, "Now then, first things first we need to go get you registered at the border checkpoint."
Paimon looked confused, "Paimon though we were supposed to be keeping things on the down low... Are we just gonna walk into the government's hands?"
Thoma laughs, "You wouldn't be able to avoid inspection even if you tried!"
Before registering at the border I head to the statue of the seven with traveler, and by touching the statue we got our electro powers, the only noticeable change being my new elemental skill, Stellar Shock, everything else stayed the same but just electro.
Thoma pulls out all the stops to get us registered at the border checkpoint and after that we go to the international trade association.
We find out the international trade association is experiencing difficulties with Kanjou commission, which have been imposing high tax rates, regulations, and now they have to pay their taxes with crystal marrow instead of mora!
We decide to help out and talk to the vendor that sells crystal marrow, but he doesn't feel like talking, but after we take him on a trip down memory lane he tells us everything.
He tells us about the scheme by the tax collection ashigaru. They start by overtaxing the merchants, then take the crystal marrow they receive and stockpile it.
Once the merchants run out of placed to buy crystal marrow, they get him to sell that crystal marrow back to the merchants at extortionate prices.
We collect some evidence of this little scam and show it to the international trade association. The Kanjou commission shows up and twisted the story, but thoma comes and saves us.
After this little confrontation thoma pulls us to the side and answers our questions, he explains he comes from the kamisato clan, and is an attendent of the shirasagi himegimi.
He tells us about kamisato ayaka, the shirasagi himegimi.
We head out to the Kanjou commission, and talk to Hiiragi Shinsuke, he praises us about our achievements, and he asks us to assist the kanjou commission.
He asks us to bring him 300 freshly pick Qingxin, but we can't do it, so he asks us to deliver 700 letters.
We see a young woman hiding behind a pillar looking at us, with a few gestures she asks us to help him with the task.
We leave, and are stopped by a guard who explains miss hiiragi has a letter for us, "She insists you read it immediately"
We read it and sees that she invites us to meet her tonight.
We waited until night and met miss Hiiragi Chisato, she introduces herself, "Ah you've finally arrived, I am Hiiragi Chisato."
"I've long marveled at your acomplishments and at last we have a chance to meet. The reason why I wanted to secretly meet you here is, well i feared that I might never have another opportunity to discuss this with you"
"I would like to ask for your help with delivering a letter. I was hoping that you would deliver a letter to narukami island. It's to be given to Kujou Kamaji of the Tenryou commission."
"My father has always forbidden me from communicating with him. He knows there are prospects for my marriage that would serve him better politically. But my heart is with Kamaji."
Paimon said, "Ahh Paimon gets the whole picture now"
Hiiragi continues, "Of course in doing so I will do everything in my power to help you leave Ritou. That is my promise."
I though about it for a while, "Seems like a reasonable deal."
Hiiragi continues explaining how her father has no intention of letting us leave Ritou. She explains her plan and says she'll be waiting for us at the border.
She leads us to the border where some goods are being sent to watatsumi island, she explains to the guards that we will be escorting the goods. And then we escort the good across the border.
We deliver the letter, and Hiiragi requests that we get a travel permit.
The next morning we head to Komore teahouse and are greeted by a woman we states that komore teahouse doesn't serve the general public.
Paimon exclaims, "Wait! we're not the general public. Here is our invitation letter."
She examines the letter, "Hmm the yashiro commission's seal, this must be from Mr Thoma. It seems there more to you than meets the eye. Welcome to the Komore teahouse."
We head inside the komore teahouse, and are met by a dog that seemingly started talking in Thoma's voice, "Who forgot their promise. I was beginning to think you'd forgotton about me!"
But thoma walks out from the back of the teahouse laughing, and he explains he will bring us to ayaka. Thoma brings us to the statue of the omnipresent god, that was under construction.
Then thoma brings us to the kamisato estate. Thoma exclaimes, "welcome at last to the kamisato residence honoured guests. Miss kamisato is delighted to finally meet you."
We hear the sound of someone clearing their throat from behind the partition, "please forgive my lack of courtesy for receiving you in this fashion... especially following such a long and wearisome journey over the sea."
"I have awaited your arrival with great anticipation, and thoma assures me that you do indeed posses the power to change the tide of the times"
"At present in inazuma, in the name of the Vision hunt decree, the people's aspirations are being senselessly trampled underfoot."
"A commision's power rises and falls with the trust of their people. Thus, we cannot remain indifferent to this situation without also remaining indifferent to our own fate."
"travelers lend us your powers and we can-"
Aether interupted her, "I'm just here to meet the Raiden Shogun, not to start a rebellion."
Thoma sighed, "see milady its just like I said... this will take us nowhere."
We turned to leave but kamisato ayaka called out, "No wait please don't go"
She sighed, "I will introduce you to the Raiden Shogun, on one condition... You must fulfill three small wishes on my behalf."
"They pertain to three whose vision were taken from them, prehaps once you've met them you will understand."
We listen as Kamisato Ayaka tells the story of the three visionless people.
Paimon repeats her words, "A warrior who guards a village, a former samurai who helped carry out the vision hunt decree, and a swordmaster determined to become the best in the world."
Kamisato replies, "Yes, please do all you can to help them I will await your return here."
We head to Konda village to seek out the first of these three people.