Seeing their reactions, Kuki Shinobu tilted her head, puzzled. "Could it be that this is a very rare item?" she asked cautiously, glancing at the miko outfit in her hands. Her expression was subtle—she didn't truly think it was that rare; after all, it was just a miko outfit.
"You really… didn't wear it?"
Futsu Mitama felt a mix of envy, irritation, and disbelief. Opening the door wider, he let Kuki Shinobu in.
"How could I possibly wear it!" Kuki Shinobu snapped, her usual calm demeanor completely shattered as if a cat's tail had been stepped on. She tossed the miko outfit toward Aila.
Aila, walking behind them, instinctively caught it. Futsu Mitama could only shake his head slightly—Kuki Shinobu, always composed, now seemed uncharacteristically flustered over a single outfit.
Once inside, Futsu Mitama seated himself while Aila busied herself with brewing tea. Kuki Shinobu knelt across from him, eyes fixed.
"What is that Chat Group?" she asked directly. Curiosity was evident; the system reminded her faintly of Sumeru's Akasha Terminal, though far more advanced. Unlike the Akasha, which was largely useless outside Sumeru and limited to querying knowledge, this Chat Group allowed multi-person communication across distances, sharing images and information.
Not long ago, Futsu Mitama had tested its functions with Kuki Shinobu, and Sangonomiya Kokomi. Sangonomiya Kokomi had uploaded a unique pearl from Watatsumi Island, while Kuki Shinobu shared a freshly grilled violetgrass. Kokomi had praised Shinobu's cooking, sparking a shared curiosity about the Chat Group's potential.
"You ask me, who should I ask?" Futsu Mitama shrugged, indicating he didn't know either. Explaining his otherworldly origin or calling it a cheat seemed unnecessary—Kuki Shinobu would likely never fully believe it.
Changing the subject, Kuki Shinobu asked, "What are your thoughts on the Resistance and Sangonomiya Kokomi?"
As an Inazuman, she instinctively distrusted the Resistance. No matter how harsh the Shogun's decrees seemed, they represented the path of the Archon, the will the people were expected to follow. Under normal circumstances, any intelligence on the Resistance would have gone directly to Kujou Sara.
"My thoughts? The Resistance's emergence was inevitable," Futsu Mitama replied slowly. "The Sakoku Decree made life difficult for common people. The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions exploited it to amass unknown wealth. Then, with the Vision Hunt Decree, many Vision-wielders, even among different factions, were forced to relinquish their Visions. Formation of the Resistance is a natural outcome of these conditions."
Kuki Shinobu's gaze sharpened. "Are you implying that the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees are a scheme by the two commissions? You know these are policies from the Shogun, meant to achieve eternity."
Aila silently brought tea and refreshments, placing them gently before the two. She said nothing, merely observing their conversation.
"Thanks," Kuki Shinobu said to Aila, then looked at Futsu Mitama. "Or rather, have you noticed something?"
After years of working together, she trusted his intuition. Previously, Futsu Mitama had warned her that major changes were coming to Inazuma. But now, he simply looked at her over the tea cup and said, "It's not that I foresaw anything. It's just strange how everything seems to benefit the two commissions."
"After the Sakoku Decree, who benefited? After the Vision Hunt Decree, did the Vision-holders of the Kanjou or Tenryou Commissions, or their clans, hand over their Visions?"
Originally, Futsu Mitama had wanted only a quiet life. But with the Kamisato Clan targeted, passively enduring injustice wasn't his style, so he resolved to act.
Kuki Shinobu fell silent, then warned, "Don't do anything reckless. The two commissions may line their pockets, but the Shogun knows—and if she hasn't stopped it, she has her reasons."
Futsu Mitama's next words froze her in place. "What if I told you the Shogun currently in Tenshukaku is not the true Raiden Shogun?"
Futsu Mitama's words stunned Kuki Shinobu, and her expression became more serious than ever before. These weren't just casual words; one must know that the Raiden Shogun was the Archon of Inazuma.
Although Kuki Shinobu pursued freedom, her heart was still filled with gratitude towards the Shogun. After she gave up her miko outfit status, she obtained a Electro Vision, which made Kuki Shinobu feel that the Shogun's gaze was upon her.
And that the Shogun also approved of her dream.
Although the Vision Hunt Decree had now appeared, and her Vision, which represented her wish, had been handed over, Kuki Shinobu still felt there was no problem with it. Despite her inner doubts, she, like Kujou Sara, believed this was a necessary step in pursuing eternity. Although this path seemed endless, as a citizen of Inazuma, she had to trust the Shogun.
But Futsu Mitama's words immediately made Kuki Shinobu's expression turn serious. Questioning a god was not a good thing, or rather it was an extremely rebellious act. Even in the neighboring Mondstadt, which championed freedom, almost no one dared to speak ill of the Anemo Archon Barbatos, because he was a god! The god who protected them.
If Futsu Mitama's words were spread outside, it would probably not even wait until the next day; people from the Tenryou Commission would appear that very day and escort Futsu Mitama to prison.
"How should I explain it to you?" Looking at Kuki Shinobu's serious expression, Futsu Mitama naturally continued, "You know the Shogun once said that Inazuma is currently pursuing eternity, right?"
Kuki Shinobu nodded; this was something all of Inazuma knew. Just like Mondstadt's freedom, Liyue's contracts, Sumeru's wisdom, Fontaine's justice, and so on.
What Inazuma pursued was naturally eternity.
"So, as the Shogun who pursues eternity, what would she do?" Futsu Mitama asked Kuki Shinobu with a smile.
This question stumped Kuki Shinobu, because how could she possibly know what the Shogun, who pursued eternity, would do?
However, since she was a god, the Shogun must have her own ideas.
But Kuki Shinobu dared not speculate wildly about a god's thoughts, and at the same time, she looked at Futsu Mitama to see what he thought.
"For eternity, the Shogun created a puppet to handle various affairs of Inazuma on her behalf, while she herself hid in a certain place, engaging in... hmm... meditation?"
Originally, Futsu Mitama wanted to say that Raiden Ei was hiding in the Plane of Euthymia in self-isolation, but considering that saying so might displease Kuki Shinobu, she changed her phrasing.
But even with Futsu Mitama saying this, Kuki Shinobu was still very shocked, because she was not stupid; on the contrary, her many certificates proved her intelligence.
By combining the information Futsu Mitama provided with her past suspicions, Kuki Shinobu uncovered a terrifying truth.
Kuki Shinobu looked at Futsu Mitama, somewhat disbelievingly saying, "You mean, the Shogun Puppet only has basic thought processes, but as long as the Tri-Commission operates normally, Inazuma would still be the Inazuma of old."
"The eternity that the Shogun pursues would also be realized one day in the future, but now this path...."
Kuki Shinobu didn't continue, but even if she didn't say it, Futsu Mitama and Aila understood what she wanted to say. Because this path had been twisted by the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission, or rather, the Kujou Clan and the Hiiragi Clan, and it was because of this that the current Inazuma was created.
"So that's it... so that's how it is... if that's the case, then everything makes sense."
Even a calm person like Kuki Shinobu couldn't help but be momentarily lost in thought, expressing considerable shock at this information. Because if this was the case, everything would make sense: why the Shogun issued the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, and why the Kujou Clan and the Hiiragi Clan became so powerful in a short period.
"You don't doubt what I'm saying?" Futsu Mitama looked at the contemplating Kuki Shinobu, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "You trust me that much?"
Although Futsu Mitama and Kuki Shinobu had known each other for a long time, for something like this, even close friends would start to wonder where the other party obtained this information, and whether this information was true or false.
Kuki Shinobu looked at Futsu Mitama, her pale purple pupils reflecting his figure. She nodded and calmly said, "I don't think you would joke about this matter."
"Although I say that, I can't completely trust what you've said, after all, this matter is truly too unbelievable."
Futsu Mitama smiled. Although Kuki Shinobu said she couldn't completely trust him, she also didn't question him. Just from this, Futsu Mitama knew that Kuki Shinobu trusted what he had said.
"What do you need me to do?" Kuki Shinobu looked at Futsu Mitama. She knew that he must have something to ask of her by telling her all this.
As for what it was, Kuki Shinobu asked directly. As long as it didn't involve her going to the Grand Narukami Shrine, everything was negotiable.
"I need you to accompany me for the next few days." Futsu Mitama also understood Kuki Shinobu's personality, so he directly asked her to accompany him for a few days.
"?"
Kuki Shinobu looked at Futsu Mitama strangely, with a hint of doubt, "Accompany you? What's wrong? Did you encounter something tricky?"
"If it's a tricky matter, what is there that the two of you can't solve?"
Clearly, Kuki Shinobu approved of Futsu Mitama and Aila's competence. In all of Inazuma, only a handful of people earned her approval. Kujou Sara was one, Arataki Itto was another, and now Futsu Mitama and Aila also possessed strength not inferior to the two of them.
What kind of tricky matter was it that the two of them couldn't solve?
Futsu Mitama looked at Kuki Shinobu and said, "Recently, Aila and I need to frequently leave Inazuma City for Ritou. The International Chamber of Commerce there just received a batch of wine that Aila and I brewed together."
"If Aila and I are targeted recently, the International Chamber of Commerce might run into some trouble, so I need you to handle it."
Regarding legal issues, Futsu Mitama had great trust in Kuki Shinobu, and as someone who proactively handed over her Vision, she also had certain connections within the Tenryou Commission.
As Futsu Mitama of the Yashiro Commission, he could not interfere with matters on the Kanjou Commission's side. Therefore, to prevent any accidents that would lead to his money ending up in the Kanjou Commission's, or rather, the Hiiragi Clan's, pockets.
Futsu Mitama contacted Kuki Shinobu for help. With her, it was almost like having Yanfei in Inazuma. If any legal matters arose, seeking her help was definitely the right choice.
"Is that so? I understand." Kuki Shinobu nodded, indicating her agreement.
This made Futsu Mitama smile. As long as Kuki Shinobu agreed, there was basically nothing in Inazuma that she couldn't handle.