[The Yanguo Jiansi is an organization under the jurisdiction of the Kanjou Commission.]
[Anyone coming to Ritou for business, events, deliveries, or shipping goods must first register at the Yanguo Jiansi.]
[It's basically the entry procedure for the island.]
[This procedure was originally free, but under the Sakoku Decree, the Kanjou Commission imposed a registration fee on outlanders.]
[But everyone local knows this fee is just a scheme cooked up by the Kanjou Commission themselves.]
[There's not even any standardization to it.]
[The collected fees don't go into Inazuma's national treasury—they're all split among the Yanguo Jiansi and Kanjou Commission folks.]
[The registration fees are outrageously inflated.]
[For foreign merchants stuck in Inazuma who are honest and submissive, they straight-up demand millions of Mora.]
[If the outlander has a local acquaintance with them, it's just a few hundred Mora at most—or even free.]
[Anyway, the Yanguo Jiansi's income isn't legitimate revenue that affects Inazuma's civilians, so I just went ahead and raided it. Consider it travel funds.]
[Too bad this operation only netted a million or so Mora.]
[From the documents in their treasury, I learned that the Yanguo Jiansi tallies the day's earnings before closing and sends the bulk off to the Kanjou Commission.]
[Fits the whole corrupt hierarchy perfectly.]
[No big deal—a million Mora will last me a while. Next chance I get, I'll raid the Kanjou Commission itself.]
The women: "!?"
The women scattered across the other nations were dumbfounded by Su Xuan's stunt.
Especially high-ranking figures in their own lands like Acting Grand Master Jean, Tianquan Ningguang, and superstar Furina.
They felt an inexplicable tightness in their chests.
Turns out, all the Mora Su Xuan looted from the Yanguo Jiansi came from the citizens of *their* nations.
"I've heard Inazuma's enforcing the Sakoku Decree—not banning outlanders from entering Inazuma, but forbidding Inazumans from leaving."
"So this is just luring outsiders in to slaughter them."
"The Kanjou Commission's so brazen with their corruption—doesn't Inazuma's Archon care?"
"If these guys fell into my hands, I'd ship them straight to Meropide Fortress to keep company with the Wriothesley for life."
Even through the diary, Furina could feel the grievances of outlanders stranded in Inazuma.
Just registering some info, and the Yanguo Jiansi demands a million Mora? More than her Water God debut performance fees.
Utterly outrageous. Unforgivable.
Naganohara Fireworks Store.
Yoimiya stared blankly at the thick stack of Mora on the table before her—easily a few hundred thousand at a glance.
She figured Su Xuan had split the loot from the Yanguo Jiansi with her fifty-fifty out of gratitude.
"Eek!" Yoimiya shivered all over. "Doesn't that make me an accomplice?"
"No wonder he never named me in the diary—just kept calling me 'the kind girl.'"
"He's protecting my identity."
"Does he know his diary will be seen by others?"
"Wait, something feels off no matter how I think about it."
The Naganohara Fireworks Store was in Inazuma City, while the Yanguo Jiansi was on Ritou.
Getting from Inazuma City to Ritou meant passing through the White Fox Wilds and Konda Village.
Su Xuan had set out at night, crossed the White Fox Wilds and Konda Village to reach Ritou, then hit the Yanguo Jiansi.
Half the night wasn't even enough to traverse the White Fox Wilds—how could he possibly make a round trip between Inazuma City and Ritou, with a raid in the middle?
"Even if he unlocked that so-called power, that's impossible, right?"
"If he really did... how insanely strong would he have to be..."
Yoimiya's head throbbed.
Now that she thought about it, her good deed last night might've connected her with someone extraordinary.
A flash of golden light streaked by.
Yoimiya snapped back to attention, glanced at the gleaming pile of Mora on the table, and hurriedly stashed it into her Vision's storage space.
"No one can know about this Mora."
"If I get the chance to see Su Xuan again someday, I'll return it."
"But..."
Thinking of Su Xuan about to set off on his journey, Yoimiya sighed wistfully. "Fate's like fireworks—here one moment, gone the next. Who knows if we'll meet again."
"At least with this diary, I can keep track of his every move."
"Hope his future travels bring him good moods every day."
Yoimiya lingered in uncharacteristic sentimentality for a moment. When her eyes fell back on the diary, they widened in shock.
[That's pretty much what happened last night.]
[Today is a brand new day.]
[I was planning to leave Inazuma straight away, but while overlooking Tenshukaku in Inazuma City, a immature little idea popped into my head.]
[I recalled a saying that's long circulated across Inazuma's lands.]
[There are always mortals who dare to face the thunder's mighty light.]
[Perfect timing—before setting off, I want to test my unlocked power with the Musou no Hitotachi.]
[So...]
[The big-braided girl hiding in the Plane of Euthymia, hurry up and wash the white off and step out.]
[Let me try my blade on you!]
[...]
Yoimiya: "!?"