"We're here."
At Yaoguang Shoal, two streaks of light descended and took shape as Ganyu and Miko.
They looked around.
A camp had been set up by the sea, lively chatter and laughter drifting over on the wind.
"Perfect. Mr. Taro and the others are still here."
Seeing everyone still gathered, Ganyu quietly breathed out in relief.
"Miko, now we just—"
"She…"
Miko's expression twisted with a hint of bitterness.
She lifted a hand and pointed toward a purple figure in the camp.
"That is…"
Ganyu narrowed her eyes, then froze.
"The Electro Archon of Inazuma."
"So she's already arrived?"
"…"
That's not Ei.
Miko pressed a hand to her forehead. A heavy sense of dread welled up in her chest.
That wasn't Ei. That was the Shogun.
The two of them looked identical in every way, but Miko could still tell at a glance who was who.
If even the Shogun had come to Liyue, then that could only mean one thing—
Things had developed all the way to the worst outcome.
Ei had lost.
Her authority suppressed, control over the godly body seized.
And on top of that, the Shogun had come to Liyue.
The disaster was already at their doorstep.
Miko felt her vision go a little dark.
"Miko, what's wrong?"
Sensing something off, Ganyu gave her a puzzled look.
"Ganyu-nee…"
The pink fox forced a small smile, pressing down the panic in her heart.
It wasn't time to nail the coffin shut yet.
She still had a chance to turn this around.
"You're still hiding something from me, aren't you?"
Seeing Miko's expression, Ganyu immediately knew something was wrong.
Her own face gradually grew serious.
"Please, let me explain."
"It's… like this, and then like that…"
Miko leaned close to Ganyu's ear and, using a whispering transmission technique, briefly outlined the situation.
Strictly speaking, this was Ei's private affair.
But this was no time for secrecy.
If she didn't explain things now, the whole of Inazuma could be finished.
"…"
After listening, Ganyu blinked her long lashes, stunned.
Huh?
That was… a thing?
No, no, this wasn't the time to get stuck on that.
…Were they really going to walk over there?
According to Miko, that Shogun was extremely dangerous.
But from here, she just looked like she was quietly sitting in her spot, not doing anything at all.
"Well, we're already here~"
Ganyu nodded lightly toward Miko.
"With Mr. Taro present, there's no need to worry."
"Come with me."
As long as Taro was here, she didn't think the Shogun could stir up any serious trouble.
Even if the Shogun was a god—
Relationships still had different levels of closeness.
Fanan and Yingda were her sworn sisters.
This was Liyue, their home turf.
Ganyu simply didn't believe this "Shogun" would dare to act rashly here.
Besides, judging from the scene… the Shogun actually looked a bit… dazed?
"…"
Miko forced down the anxiety in her chest and dragged her suddenly heavy legs to follow Ganyu.
Just as Ganyu had said—
They were already here.
What else could they do?
She couldn't hide; the problem still had to be solved.
She had to face the Shogun sooner or later.
She could only hope that, for Ganyu's sake, Mr. Taro would look after this little fox and keep an eye on things,
so she wouldn't be cut down on the spot the moment they met.
Ei would never cut her.
But the Shogun… absolutely would.
The puppet was an emotionless blade.
Back when Ei was hiding from her, Miko had made a scene at Tenshukaku demanding to see her.
She'd come within a hair's breadth of being slashed by the Shogun on the spot.
After that, she never went back to Tenshukaku again.
The Shogun was her natural predator—utterly unforgiving.
"Ganyu, over here~"
Yingda was the first to spot Ganyu and waved her over.
"Too bad you're a bit late. If you'd come earlier you could've grabbed a meal. Look at you, all skin and bones."
"You're definitely not eating properly."
In the past, Ganyu had been pleasantly rounded, her cheeks soft and chubby—
super cute.
Now she was skinny, skinny, skinny.
"Here, aaah—"
As she spoke, Yingda pinched a piece of fruit between her fingers and held it up to Ganyu's lips.
"This… really isn't necessary, is it?"
With everyone staring, and Yingda insisting on hand-feeding her, Ganyu's cheeks flushed faintly red.
"Aaah."
Yingda refused to be denied and pushed the fruit closer.
"…"
Ganyu had no way out. She could only part her lips and accept the small fruit, cheeks puffing as she chewed before finally swallowing.
It was very sweet… the sugar content was clearly over the limit.
But it was delicious.
"Good, right?"
Yingda raised a brow.
"Very. Thank you, Yingda."
Ganyu nodded, her smile undimmed.
"All right, enough teasing me. I actually came on serious business today."
"Serious business?"
Yingda's gaze instantly shifted to the pink-haired fox standing behind Ganyu.
"And this is…?"
"Mm."
Ganyu nodded lightly.
"Retainer of the Narukami—Yae Miko."
"She's come on behalf of Inazuma's Archon to make a deal with Mr. Taro."
"…Huh?"
Yingda blinked.
She looked at the Shogun, then back at Miko.
Wait, wasn't the deal already done?
What was this fox doing here?
Hold on… in that guy's list of payment, besides the puppet, did it also include this pink little fox?
Absolutely outrageous.
"A deal?"
Fanan, overhearing this, was caught off guard as well.
"Yae Miko, here to negotiate on behalf of the Narukami?"
"Ganyu, can you tell us what the deal is about?"
"Ah?"
Ganyu blinked.
"It's related to the previous Electro Archon…"
"Right…"
Yingda scratched her head.
"In that case, you're probably late."
"Not long ago, Inazuma's Ei already came by. Makoto has been revived. They've probably already gone back to Inazuma by now."
"Mr. Taro already told Fanan to send the information out. Didn't you see it?"
"Information? What information?"
Ganyu rubbed her chin, shaking her head.
"No… when I came out, I hadn't received anything."
"Then you missed it," Fanan said softly.
"It was sent to Minu. I'm guessing he forgot to mention it to you."
"…"
Ganyu's expression went blank. She turned to look at Miko.
Good little sister, what exactly are you doing?
Your elder sister is very busy, you know.
I squeezed time out of a packed schedule to help you and this is what I walk into?
"I really didn't know…"
"Sorry, Ganyu-nee. This one's on me."
Right now, Yae Miko's face was pure embarrassment. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
She had no idea how to explain this mess.
Ei, what are you doing?
You came all the way to Liyue—why didn't you at least send me a message?
And you even brought Makoto back to Inazuma.
Why didn't you take me with you while you were at it?
Forgot?
Ouch.
Wait, no, that wasn't right.
If Ei had gone home, did that mean the Shogun had… been sold?
…Had Ei sold her as well?
The more she thought about it, the more Miko felt it all made terrible sense.
Of course Ei hadn't told her.
No way… right?
"Shogun."
To confirm her suspicion, Yae Miko turned her gaze toward the puppet.
"Miko? What is it?"
The Shogun, who had been sitting with her eyes closed in thought, looked up at the fox.
"Did Ei sell you off?"
"Yes."
"And me?"
"…"
The Shogun tilted her head slightly.
Under everyone's watchful eyes—and under Miko's particularly tense stare—she silently nodded.
She was lying.
Or rather, she was teasing the fox.
Watching Miko's expression crumble as if the sky had fallen,
the Shogun suddenly realized—
Human emotions were… kind of fun.
In that moment, somewhere in the depths of her core,
a strange sense of delight stirred.
Amusing.
Very amusing.
(End of Chapter)
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