After arranging matters, Shiki returned to Komore Teahouse, waiting for Komore Mio to bring Yurou out.
Half an hour later...
"Komore, is this what you call 'wait a moment'?" Shiki said helplessly. However, when her gaze fell upon the girl beside the shopkeeper, a flash of admiration couldn't help but appear in her eyes.
Honestly, Yurou looked quite pretty after changing into proper clothes. But then again, if she weren't good-looking, those traffickers wouldn't have targeted her in the first place.
The girl wore a plain kimono. Her originally messy long hair had been trimmed into a hime cut, revealing the delicate features that had been hidden before.
"Oh, this was to help remove the odor for you."
Komore Mio said, bringing out that black and white ōsode (large-sleeved kimono).
"Here, I washed it again to remove the smell and dried it a bit. But due to the time constraint, it's not completely dry."
Upon hearing this, Shiki took the ōsode and sniffed it. The soap had worked; compared to before, the bloody smell was much fainter now, though some residue remained.
"Forget it. Leave this outfit here for proper cleaning. Once it's done, send it to the Komore Teahouse."
"As for now... just give me any blue or white iromuji."
The feeling of damp clothes clinging to the skin was unpleasant. Shiki had experienced this deeply while repairing the wards on Yashiori Island.
Not to mention the lingering scent of blood.
In that case, it was better to let Komore Mio handle the thorough cleaning. As a kimono merchant, she was quite skilled in such after-sales service.
"No problem. That'll be one hundred thousand Mora. Fifty thousand for the clothes, fifty thousand for the cleaning."
"Once you deliver the clothes to the Komore Teahouse, they will pay you."
Shiki said, walking into the dressing room in the inner quarters, waiting for the attendant to arrive.
Seeing this, Komore Mio smiled wryly, then called over the middle-aged woman who was sorting accessories.
"Aunt Yuko, Lady Ryougi is in your care~"
"Is it that esteemed lady? I shall do my utmost."
With Aunt Yuko's skilled technique, Shiki was soon changed into a blue kimono.
"As expected of Aunt Yuko. Your skills have improved even more."
"Oh my, you flatter me too much. I'm just someone who helps people dress. I can't compare to a great talent like you."
Yuko shook her head with a bitter smile. The little girl who once modeled for her employer for money had now become a leading figure in Inazuma.
The change was simply too great. She wasn't just famous in Inazuma City; Inazuma City practically belonged to her now!
Shiki didn't deny it. Instead, she moved her shoulders slightly and then looked at a red leather jacket hanging on a clothes rack.
"What's that?"
"Uh... I think it's called a jacket? Apparently, the shopkeeper bought it from someone from Fontaine. You know she's always wanted to experiment with new things."
"Is that so? Then tell her later to add this jacket to the bill."
After saying this, Shiki draped the leather jacket over her shoulders.
Hmm, the classic original look, one might say.
Ignoring Komore Mio's dramatic protests, Shiki took Yurou to the Adventurers' Guild.
The Traveler frequented this place daily. She came to ask Catherine to pass on a message to the Traveler.
In this nation with backward communication, this was the only method. After all, the Traveler teleported everywhere; who knew where she was?
...
"So, the reason the captain of Swordfish II has returned is to help me complete the Watatsumi Sacred Rite?" Sangonomiya Kokomi said with a smile.
"Exactly! The Traveler and I are very curious about Enkanomiya!" Paimon rubbed her hands together, looking ready for a big adventure.
"Hmm... Unfortunately, you've come a bit early."
"The Watatsumi Sacred Rite will be held tomorrow, which means Enkanomiya won't open until tomorrow. You can't enter right now."
"Huh? Really?"
Paimon's expression fell. And here they had rushed back so quickly.
"It's alright, it's just one day."
The Traveler's reaction wasn't as strong. She had just sent Xinyan back to Liyue yesterday and also learned that the Moonchase Festival was about to begin.
However, the two didn't conflict. She could travel between Liyue and Enkanomiya using Anchor Points.
Besides, she hadn't done her daily commissions for today yet. She'd go to Liyue after finishing those.
Xiangling even said she was going to participate in the Masterful Chefs Competition and wanted the Traveler to be some kind of food consultant!
...
Evening, Town Commission (Prison)
"Sir! There must be some misunderstanding! I'm not called Kenta at all!"
A rather handsome young man, with a mournful face, was brought in by two Tenryou Commission officers. His vivid performance was so convincing that if they hadn't already investigated and gathered evidence beforehand, they might have almost believed him.
Hearing this, the Town Commission chief snorted disdainfully, his entire face written with disbelief.
"Kenta, real name Okamon Mitsufune. You are suspected of fraud and human trafficking. You are hereby arrested and detained pending sentencing. Do you have anything to say?"
"Of course, you have the right to remain silent, and anything you say from now on will be recorded as testimony."
Upon hearing this, Okamon Mitsufune immediately struggled, loudly denying, "I'm not! I didn't! I've been wronged!"
At this point, all he could do was stubbornly insist he had done nothing. After the Sakoku Decree, all those illegally staying in Inazuma were unregistered. As long as that woman wasn't here, these people couldn't do anything to him.
Because they were unregistered, they couldn't be traced. Because they couldn't be traced, there was no evidence. And convictions required evidence. Without evidence, he could walk out of here unscathed.
"Hah, wronged? Then how do you explain the large sum of Mora that suddenly appeared in your home? Did it fall from the sky?"
"And what about that girl you were dating? Where did she disappear to?"
The chief sneered, throwing the Mora found in the suspect's room onto the ground.
Seeing this, a flicker of panic flashed in Okamon Mitsufune's eyes, but he then shamelessly said, "That was an investment I secured! And we broke up. How would I know where she went?"
"You really can spin a tale. Looks like you won't admit it until you're faced with the consequences!"
The chief stood up with a slap on the table, about to order someone to teach this scoundrel a lesson, when he heard a sound approaching from afar.
Tap, tap, tap...
It was the crisp sound of geta (wooden clogs) on stone. To avoid unnecessary trouble, the Town Commission staff wore waraji (straw sandals).
Coupled with the message previously conveyed by the Okuzumeshuu, the newcomer must be...
The chief no longer paid attention to Okamon Mitsufune. Instead, he walked to the doorway and gave a slight bow.
Scum
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