When Ayaka saw Lumine and Paimon volunteer to rescue Master Masaru, a hint of joy appeared in her heart, and then she looked at Yuto with expectant eyes.
Since Yuto could secretly send the investigation report to the Tenshukaku and retreat unscathed without being discovered by the Raiden Shogun, it meant he was a top infiltrator. If such a person could help, the chances of rescuing Master Masaru would greatly increase.
However, Yuto still maintained an appearance of being engrossed in eating hotpot, not at all looking like someone who would actively take on such troublesome matters, which disappointed Ayaka. But her disappointment only lasted for an instant, as she then thought that this Traveler was also quite capable, so the rescue should still go smoothly, right?
"Of course, we won't completely dump this matter on you alone. If you are ready, go to Hanamizaka. There's a fireworks shop there called Naganohara. You'll find someone who can help you. As for who that person is, they are very easy to recognize. You'll know when you get there."
Although Lumine and Paimon were a bit confused, they still chose to go to Hanamizaka first. As the two were about to leave, they noticed that Yuto, who was beside them, showed no signs of moving. Paimon quickly reminded him, "Yuto, why aren't you leaving yet? Aren't you going to rescue Master Masaru?"
"Isn't it enough that you two and the helper from Naganohara are going? It's a bit too wasteful to use so much manpower just to rescue one Master Masaru. I have other plans later."
Ayaka, who was present, frowned slightly when she heard Yuto's words, but she didn't say anything. Lumine and Paimon had no choice but to go to Hanamizaka on their own. Soon, only Ayaka and Yuto were left in the Komore Teahouse room.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became awkward. Yuto continued to eat meat, while Ayaka, kneeling opposite him, looked a bit unnatural, with an expression of wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Miss Ayaka, if you need to use the restroom, please feel free. There's no need to hold it in."
Ayaka's expression was first bewildered, then her cheeks flushed, and she quickly explained, "Ah? No, no, no, I don't need to use the restroom. I just feel that Mr. Yuto seems to have some different views on me, on the Kamisato Clan, and on the Yashiro Commission, so I wanted to ask for your guidance."
"There's nothing to ask for guidance on. I just don't like your actions, that's all."
"Don't like? You mean…"
"Of course, I'm referring to your approach to resisting the Vision Hunt Decree, which makes me suspect that your Yashiro Commission is equivocating. On one hand, you defy the Raiden Shogun's decree, but you don't dare to openly oppose it; on the other hand, you secretly fund the resistance on Watatsumi Island.
Honestly, I'm a bit confused whether you want to be loyal subjects of the Raiden Shogun or heroes of Watatsumi Island?"
"We, of course, support Her Excellency the Shogun. It's just that Her Excellency's assertiveness, mercilessness, and indulgence of the Vision Hunt Decree made us realize that with our own strength alone, we cannot make Her Excellency change her mind, so…"
"So you plan to use me and the Traveler to accomplish this?"
"Yes, due to my identity as part of the Yashiro Commission, once exposed, it would implicate the entire Kamisato Clan, so I can only seek external help."
"What I detest is your approach of wanting both reputation and being a harlot. What if the Traveler and I hadn't come to Inazuma? Would you have just kept waiting? Would your Yashiro Commission only act when the consequences of the Vision Hunt Decree became unbearable?"
Ayaka fell silent for a long time, then said, "If there truly is no one who can help, then our Yashiro Commission will ultimately choose to support Her Excellency the Shogun, support the Vision Hunt Decree. Those resistance fighters on Watatsumi Island are simply not worth mentioning in the face of Her Excellency's lightning. The deity worshipped by Watatsumi Island's people still lies as a corpse on Yashiori Island."
"That's why I look down on you noble families. You might as well have chosen to support the Vision Hunt Decree from the beginning. If the three Commissions of Narukami Island had united, the Shogunate Army could have wiped out the resistance on Watatsumi Island in one fell swoop, ending the war as quickly as possible. In that case, the situation wouldn't be as bad as it is now.
Those people you helped before ran to Watatsumi Island and joined the resistance, greatly strengthening their forces and making the Sangonomiya people believe that the time for rebellion had come, ultimately leading to a back-and-forth battle with the Shogunate Army.
I'm telling you, this kind of drawn-out battlefield causes the most DMG to soldiers and civilians. If you're bored, you can go to Nazuchi Beach and see how alluringly the Dendrobium bloom there!
These vibrant plants, which you nobles record in your poems as Lycoris, were once extinct across the Inazuma archipelago, but now they've reappeared. These flowers are nourished by human blood and corpses. Have you ever considered how many people must have died on the battlefield to see so many Dendrobium on Nazuchi Beach!
And Higi Village on Yashiori Island, a perfectly good village, due to the war, the warding stones scattered across the island were left unattended, causing the Tatarigami to run rampant, and only a handful of people in the entire village survived."
Ayaka was rendered speechless by Yuto, her face pale, tears welling up in her eyes, and her body trembling uncontrollably. She had never imagined that her kind intentions and actions would lead to the current tense situation in Inazuma.
"But… but the Vision Hunt Decree is indeed a misguided policy."
"Ridiculous. For a ruler, besides considering right and wrong, there are also advantages and disadvantages. As one of the three Commissions, as one of Inazuma's high-level rulers, you in the Yashiro Commission know in your hearts whether the Vision is beneficial or detrimental to your rule."
With that, Yuto also lost his appetite for hotpot. After wiping his mouth, he stood up and was about to leave the room.
Ayaka, whose thoughts were already in disarray, quickly asked, "Mr. Yuto, where are you going?"
"Didn't I just say? I have other matters to attend to. Since it has come to this, I can only clean up your mess, abolish the Vision Hunt Decree as soon as possible, and stop this farce. As for your Yashiro Commission, just continue to linger on with this equivocal attitude!"
After speaking, Yuto pulled the door curtain shut, separating himself from Ayaka, as if creating two different worlds.
After Yuto left, Thoma, who had been keeping watch outside the teahouse, quickly entered the room. Upon entering, he saw his Demoiselle looking distraught, with two tear marks already on her beautiful face, which frightened Thoma into rushing forward and asking, "Demoiselle! What happened to you? Did that Mr. Yuto trouble you? I'll go settle the score with him right now!"
"Wait, Thoma, it's not Mr. Yuto's fault. Did we, the Kamisato Clan, really make a mistake?"
"What mistake?"
"Thoma, please help me look up information about the Dendrobium plant. Then, I want to go to Nazuchi Beach to see it."
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