After discussing with Zhongli for a while, just as Kazuha had said, a sailor soon found them.
"The Crux is ready to set sail. Captain Beidou sent me to notify you."
The sailor's name was Hailong. Following his guidance, they successfully boarded the Alcor.
Seeing that everyone had gathered, Beidou strode to the bow and called out to the crew:
"Now that everyone's here, it's time to set sail—toward the eternal nation shrouded in thunder and storms!"
At her command, the crew sprang into action. Some carried cargo, others hauled up the anchor, and the machinery roared back to life as the colossal vessel awakened.
Kazuha, perched atop the mast, noticed the group and waved at them before turning back to relish the sea breeze.
Rover stood by the ship's railing, gazing at the calm sea in the distance. The experience of sailing reminded him of a fleeting memory.
…
Once, he had crossed the sea with a woman named Changli on their way to Mt. Firmament. Holding an umbrella, she looked toward the hazy silhouette of the mountains in the distance.
A thick fog blanketed the sea like a veil, obscuring the rays of the rising sun on the horizon. Changli lowered her head slightly, stirring the damp mist with her hand before offering him a faint smile.
"The journey to Mt. Firmament will be perilous. I will accompany you—as your guide, your ferryman."
After speaking softly, she gazed into the distance again. But her eyes no longer saw the indistinct scenery. Instead, they reflected a Weiqi board. She extended a finger, as if placing a piece, and ripples shimmered faintly at her fingertip.
"Where the final piece lands… will ultimately be your choice, Rover."
…
Rover stared at the dark ceiling for a long time before finally sitting up in bed. Clearly, he had dreamed of his first encounter with Changli. Back then, the situation at Mt. Firmament was unknown, Jinhsi and the Sentinel were missing, and everything felt as tense as the storm brewing over Inazuma.
"My choice, huh…"
He murmured to himself before his thoughts returned to the present.
Outside, it was noisy, and soon the ship began to sway. Though the rocking wasn't severe, Rover decided to get up and check the situation.
When he opened the window, he was met with a torrential downpour battering the ship. The sea had turned turbulent, waves crashing relentlessly against the hull.
The sky had darkened, and furious lightning flickered ominously, as if ready to strike at any moment.
Few ships could safely navigate such a blockade. But in the end, it was a false alarm. Under Beidou's skilled and precise command, the Alcor maneuvered like a vessel equipped with radar, narrowly dodging lightning strikes and towering waves.
It had to be admitted—Beidou truly had talent. Under her leadership, the Alcor successfully breached the storm and arrived in Inazuma, just as it always did.
Aether eagerly stepped onto the deck to take in the sight of Inazuma.
The sun had just risen, casting golden rays that painted the clouds in layers of crimson. Among the buildings, red maple trees dotted the landscape. In the distance, atop a high mountain, the glow of the Statue of the Seven shone brightly. Amidst the falling leaves, the comings and goings of Inazuma's people could be seen.
The group disembarked with Beidou, only to find a man idly tossing a gold coin nearby. When he noticed their arrival, his eyes lit up, and he quickly hopped off the crate he was sitting on, blocking Beidou's path.
"Hey, you're finally here."
Beidou stopped and introduced him to the others.
"This is Thoma—a well-connected local here. If you need anything, you can ask him for help. Oh, Thoma, let me introduce—"
Thoma shook his head, cutting her off.
"Your reputations already precede you. The Honorary Knight who resolved the dragon crisis and the hero of Liyue, right?"
He grinned. Beidou chuckled, relieved that introductions weren't necessary.
"We've got to set sail soon. After all, we've got a wanted criminal hiding on board."
At the mention of a "wanted criminal," everyone knew who she meant. Once Beidou departed, Thoma led the two into Ritou.
"By the way, since we're stowaways, we'll need the proper paperwork, right?"
Rover suddenly remembered something and glanced at Thoma, who nodded in confirmation.
"Yep. I'll take you to the inspection station to register. You don't have Visions, do you?"
Thoma studied them carefully before continuing.
"If you do, better hide them well. It's a sensitive time right now."
Aether and Rover simply smiled, signaling that it wasn't an issue. Thoma inwardly sighed in relief.
Paimon, however, hesitated and asked worriedly:
"But what about our identities…?"
Thoma picked up where he left off.
"Don't underestimate the Sakoku Decree. As long as you're in Inazuma, identity checks are unavoidable. So, we'll handle this… irregular situation in the most 'regular' way possible."
He shrugged helplessly before guiding them to the inspection station.
A woman named Kurosawa noticed the strangers approaching from the dock and began her routine checks.
"Hello. Please state your identities and purpose for visiting the island."
Rover glanced at Thoma, who promptly handed over the entry documents. After inspecting them, Kurosawa allowed them to pass.
"Where to next?"
Aether looked at Thoma in confusion. Without hesitation, Thoma pointed deeper into the town.
"The Kanjou Commission. This was just for entry permits. If you want to stay in Ritou, you'll need to apply for residency at the Kanjou Commission."
Paimon groaned.
"Ugh… this is way too strict!"
Rover pondered for a moment before concluding:
"Maybe it's because foreigners aren't welcome here. I'm curious—who came up with all these convoluted rules?"
Thoma, the local expert, answered:
"The Kanjou Commission, one of Inazuma's Tri-Commissions, manages Ritou. They're in charge of the nation's finances and trade."
He then gave them a brief rundown of Inazuma's customs, offering them a basic understanding of the region.
Upon arriving at the Kanjou Commission, they were met by Inspector Kageyama at the entrance.
"Applying for residency permits, hm… Three people?"
Rover nodded. The next second, Kageyama quoted a price.
"Please pay the processing fee—three million Mora."
Even Rover, who rarely showed emotion, was stunned.
Was this residency permit made of gold or silver? A million Mora each? At this point, just rob us outright! And if Abby popped out now, would it jump to four million?!
"Three million?! Just for paperwork?! Are you insane?!"
Paimon had never seen anything like this and immediately protested.
Kageyama tilted her head, speaking as if it were the most natural thing.
"Hm? Yes. One million per person, so three million total. Don't worry, I didn't miscalculate."
Rover's expression darkened. While Zhongli often spent extravagantly, at least what he bought was worth the price. But a residency permit costing a million Mora? That was a first.
Was Ritou's tourism value really that high?
"What exactly does this residency permit offer?"
He wanted to confirm the benefits, just in case he'd misjudged.
"The benefit is that you won't have to worry about inspections anymore. Is that so hard to understand? Or would you rather go to jail?"
Kageyama's tone was dripping with condescension, the kind reserved for those who looked down on foreigners.
"Good. Very good."
Rover's hand rested on the hilt of his weapon. People like this, who extorted money so brazenly, deserved to be cut down on the spot. Why waste words?
The tension grew palpable. Thoma quickly interjected:
"Ah, Miss Kageyama, these are my friends. How about cutting them some slack?"
Kageyama immediately softened.
"Fine. Four hundred thousand Mora per person, then."
Thoma grinned and haggled further.
"How about this—I'll treat you to a meal, and I'll cover their fees. Six hundred Mora per person, so eighteen hundred total."
Kageyama raised an eyebrow before nodding.
"Deal. Six hundred Mora each."
From three million to eighteen hundred Mora—the speed of the negotiation left everyone speechless.
At the same time, Rover felt a pang of sorrow. If they hadn't had Thoma, would these foreigners really have been fleeced so ruthlessly?
With a quiet sigh, he thought to himself:
It seems Inazuma's situation is even worse than Mondstadt and Liyue's.