"The gods are about to awaken? Is that true?" Yae Miko's expression shook after hearing Makoto's words.
Ei and the Shogun both nodded. "That's right."
Scaramouche looked at Yae Miko and said, "I hate to break it to you, but it's true. A second Archon War is about to begin. Fox, if you're scared, beg me and I can protect you."
"Who said I was scared?"
Yae Miko frowned. She glanced at him and said, "You, on the other hand... a real Archon War is far crueler than you imagine. I heard that when you were in Sumeru, you even wanted to recreate a corner of the Archon War..."
"That's already in the past," Scaramouche said with a frown.
Yae Miko laughed. "I hope you won't disappoint us once the real war begins. After all, you couldn't even defeat Lora..."
After hearing that, Scaramouche said in a low voice, "Then tell me, how many people can defeat her?"
"Stop arguing, you two..."
Makoto was somewhat helpless. She looked at Sangonomiya Kokomi and asked, "Well, Divine Priestess, have you considered it?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi was silent for a long time. She looked at Makoto and asked, "May I ask, Your Excellency, can this matter... be guaranteed?"
"Of course." Makoto nodded.
"I am willing to trust Your Excellency, but if the Shogunate army is to take full control of Watatsumi Island, it may be somewhat difficult..." Sangonomiya Kokomi looked at her and spoke carefully.
Although the people of Watatsumi Island were no longer opposing the Shogunate army, allowing the Shogunate to station troops on the island would still draw objections. Some would inevitably worry that problems might arise.
"Perhaps we can use another method," Kujou Sara suddenly said to everyone. "The Shogunate army does not have to station troops directly on Watatsumi Island. Instead, commanders can be dispatched into Watatsumi Island's army to bring its forces into the Shogunate's command system."
"That is also an option." Makoto nodded in agreement.
"If you're afraid someone will object, I'll go to Watatsumi Island with you. Whoever objects, we kill," Scaramouche then said to Sangonomiya Kokomi, offering a very Fatui-style solution.
"Uh..."
Sangonomiya Kokomi stared at him in shock and quickly shook her head. "That won't be necessary! If it is only a matter of dispatching commanders, there should not be much opposition."
"Why?" Scaramouche asked.
Sangonomiya Kokomi said, "Because Lady Lora once created a water mirror above Watatsumi Island. That water mirror directly punishes anyone with malicious intent. It is precisely because of its existence that suppressing those ambitious people became very easy, and that is why Watatsumi Island has remained so stable."
After hearing her words, everyone came to a realization.
"Ah... so there was something like that! I haven't even gone to Watatsumi Island to see it." Makoto was a little surprised. She had not expected Lora to have left a water mirror behind on Watatsumi Island for surveillance.
In a way, that had helped Inazuma a great deal.
"Yes. In addition, Lady Lora also has a shrine on Watatsumi Island. If we tell the people that accepting the Shogunate's command is Lady Lora's will, it will be much easier," Sangonomiya Kokomi continued.
On Watatsumi Island today, nearly anyone could say a few words like, "May the great Sovereign of the Sevenfold Tides bless you with Amrita."
"That's good." Makoto smiled, nodded, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"All of you from the Commissions must also heighten your vigilance. We do not know when or where the next Archon War will begin, and precisely because of that, your task is extremely difficult. You must guard against sudden incidents across all of Inazuma. Do you understand?"
"For the sake of Inazuma, we will follow Your Excellency without hesitation!"
The representatives of the Tri-Commission all bowed to Makoto and expressed their loyalty.
...
Liyue after Lantern Rite was extremely peaceful, with no sign at all that a terrifying war would soon awaken upon this land.
Zhongli sat by the sea, a fishing rod propped up by a rock in front of him.
The waves gently lapped against the shore, making the fishing line sway.
From where he sat, Guyun Stone Forest could be seen amid the clouds and mist.
A gust of Anemo carrying a mixed aura appeared behind Zhongli. Xiao stepped out from within it and said, "Rex Lapis, I have confirmed that the god remnants throughout Liyue are beginning to stir. The abnormal changes in the Ley Lines have strengthened their power considerably."
"The god remnants left in Liyue today are only a small portion. The gods who once moved across this land numbered far more than this," Zhongli said slowly to Xiao as he gazed out over the sea.
"The other adepti have also begun to act. Even if those gods awaken from the Ley Lines, we will do everything in our power to protect Liyue!" Xiao's expression was extremely solemn as he gave Zhongli his assurance.
"I have always believed in all of you," Zhongli said softly.
"You may trust us forever!" Xiao looked at Zhongli's back and unconsciously straightened his chest.
"Xiao, if the people of Liyue learned that the Rex Lapis who died before them had in truth staged his own death, what do you think they would feel?" Zhongli looked in the direction of Liyue Harbor and asked.
"I think... they would be very happy," Xiao said after thinking for a moment.
"Happy?" Zhongli asked after hearing his answer. "What makes you say that?"
"Because the person the people of Liyue revere most is you. If they learned that you were still alive, they would certainly be happy. And they would definitely understand the reason behind what you did back then," Xiao said, looking at him.
In Lora's words, all of Liyue was full of Rex Lapis devotees.
Upon learning that he was still alive, who would think first about the deception instead of feeling joy?
Perhaps some people would even proudly say that they had known all along Rex Lapis could not have been killed so easily. Sure enough, he was still alive.
A contract spanning three thousand seven hundred years was not something that could be ended so easily.
"What about the Liyue Qixing?" Zhongli asked again.
"The Liyue Qixing are all ready. The formal meeting has been set at the Jade Chamber," Xiao answered.
Zhongli slowly rose, turned to Xiao, and said, "Then let us depart. Once more, let us burn for Liyue."
"I obey Rex Lapis's command!" Xiao lowered his head to Zhongli, then left with him.
Inside the Jade Chamber, the Liyue Qixing all wore solemn expressions.
Although Ganyu had already told them about this meeting in advance, the thought of facing the God of Geo left even them unable to remain calm.
Although Ningguang knew that the so-called assassination back then could never truly have killed the God of Geo, she only knew that he had not died. As for who he actually was, she did not know.
This would be their first official meeting with Rex Lapis.