"The Watatsumi Misogi Festival will be held tomorrow, and the path to Enkanomiya will open then. Assuming the passage lasts for seven days, Watatsumi Island should pay you 7 billion Mora."
Shiki: "…"
"You call these ornamental fish? These are koi, aren't they? Is Watatsumi Island that rich? Throwing out 7 billion without even blinking an eye?"
Looking at the silent girl, Sangonomiya Kokomi asked with some confusion, "Is there a problem? I can pay in cash, or is seven days too long?"
"No… nothing, let's sign the contract…"
"Alright! I'll go prepare right away!"
After Sangonomiya Kokomi finished speaking, she ran to the end of the study, then took out a blank piece of paper and began writing on it.
Shiki, meanwhile, slumped in her chair, doubting her life. Was she too poor, or was Watatsumi Island too rich?
What Shiki didn't know was that as Teyvat's sole pearl supplier, 7 billion Mora was truly no different from a drop in the bucket for Watatsumi Island.
Although income had decreased significantly due to the Sakoku Decree, it was still richer than the Inazuma Shogunate.
The 20 billion Mora confiscated from the Kanjou Commission was quite a lot, wasn't it? Yet, Watatsumi Island's net monthly income was even more than that.
The two of them haphazardly drafted and signed the contract. Sangonomiya Kokomi didn't know how poor Inazuma was now, and Shiki didn't know how rich Watatsumi Island was now.
Sangonomiya Kokomi: 'A 10,000-man army only needs 1 billion Mora a day. Miss Ryougi is truly a good person, deliberately quoting such a low price.'
Shiki: 'The 1 billion I quoted was the total price, but Sangonomiya Kokomi thought it was a daily fee, and the key is she actually agreed!'
"Ahem, the army will arrive at Watatsumi Island the day after tomorrow. Remember to prepare for their reception."
"No problem, and thank you, Miss Ryougi, for sending troops to aid us!"
Sangonomiya Kokomi said with a smile. Shiki could only let out a dry laugh in response, then took hurried small steps to leave the Coral Palace and teleported back to the Kamisato Estate.
How cloyingly sweet, all thanks to the Balladeer, Hiiragi Clan, and the Kanjou Commission!
...
"Welcome home, Shiki. Dinner is ready."
In the living room, a white-haired girl in a light blue yukata stood gracefully before Shiki. From the lingering floral scent and the yukata, Ayaka must have just finished bathing.
One cannot always wear the same clothes; for various reasons, they must eventually change.
That dress armor was one of Ayaka's usual outfits for going out, but she hadn't gone out today. Plus, she had just taken a hot bath, so she changed into a yukata.
Yes, it was the one that Shiki had conjured at last year's festival.
Ayaka had always wanted to see that gentle woman again, so she would occasionally wear this yukata in front of Shiki, hoping to make the other person appear.
However, it seemed this approach was futile. Since their first meeting at the festival last year, they had not seen each other again.
Perhaps it should be said that Ayaka had not seen her again; the latter had always been watching Ayaka.
"It's great to have food ready when I get back!"
Shiki said, stroking Ayaka's unbound white long hair. The cool, smooth feeling was like fine silk, causing the girl's cheeks to flush slightly.
You say you want to eat, but you're stroking her hair. Which 'meal' do you actually want to eat?
"Behave yourself; Ayato brother is home today too."
"Is the Kamisato Clan head also home today? That truly is a rare occasion."
So far, Shiki had only met Kamisato Ayato once, which was when she originally planned to take Ayaka to Yashiori Island to cleanse the Tatarigami.
But it hadn't been that long, only a little over a month.
"What do you mean, 'rare occasion'? Ayato brother comes home quite frequently; it's just that you both happen to miss each other."
"Is that so?"
Shiki rubbed the girl's small head upon hearing this. She, however, felt that this Kamisato Clan head was like he had disappeared, whether in the game or in reality.
He was nowhere to be seen all day; she truly didn't know whose house this was.
"Mmm… don't rub!"
Ayaka puffed out her cheeks, looking exactly like a hamster, utterly adorable.
Yosh yosh yosh yosh yosh
Shiki really wanted to do that, but she ultimately gave up.
She wouldn't force the girl to do things she didn't like. For head-rubbing, a quick fix was enough.
"Alright, alright, no more rubbing…"
Shiki reluctantly withdrew her hand. Then, she felt something cool pry open her palm, and Ayaka's fair hand intertwined with hers.
"Let's go, we'll eat in the dining room."
"Mmm."
Led by Ayaka, Shiki arrived at the dining room. As soon as she entered, she saw Kamisato Ayato seated at the head of the table.
But should one call him dedicated or a workaholic? He didn't even forget to hold a document and read it while eating.
"Brother…" Ayaka softly prompted.
"Oh, you're here. Everyone, please sit."
Kamisato Ayato said, putting away his document. Shiki and Ayaka also didn't stand on ceremony, directly taking seats on one side of the table.
"Miss Ryougi, since the Yashiori Island incident, we haven't met again. I heard you've recently been working on the Seirai Island reconstruction project. Is it going smoothly?"
"Strictly speaking, this should be our second meeting. As for Seirai Island… thanks to the Shogun, everything is proceeding according to plan," Shiki said.
"Haha, it's good that everything is going smoothly. Also, I must thank you for taking care of my sister during this time."
Kamisato Ayato chuckled softly. His white-bluish short hair and the mole at the corner of his mouth made him appear quite gentle.
But if one were to underestimate him because of this, they would suffer a great loss.
Don't forget, a person who could stabilize the Kamisato Clan's position among the Three Commissions and restore its prosperity during adolescence after a family upheaval cannot be that simple.
At the very least, he was on the same level as Sangonomiya Kokomi, and perhaps even higher.
After all, Kamisato Ayato's voice… hmm… was simply too similar to that of the Overseer.
Although Shiki didn't play much of the Honkai series, she knew that Otto had orchestrated many conspiracies, or rather, plans.
Even if it meant offending Koko, Shiki still felt that Kamisato Ayato's ability to cause trouble was very strong.
Additionally, it's worth noting that Kamisato Ayato's Vision is also Hydro. That sky-blue gem hangs at his waist, emitting a soft glow.
Indeed, Hydro users are all very wealthy, except for a certain someone…
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