Mount Yougou.
The dried-up lakebed.
The final location of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual quest.
"Did my brother sleep too long and damage his brain? Why did he have to meddle in the affairs of the Inazuma executives?"
Lumine was truly speechless.
The information from Enjou stated that the Raiden Shogun was collecting the one-hundredth Vision.
Then, Thoma, Kamisato Clan's housekeeper, foolishly became the last sacrifice.
Hmm, that's not important.
What's important is that, judging from the information Enjou deduced, Aether was suspected of planning to disrupt the Raiden Shogun's ceremony.
Don't you have any idea of your current strength?
Kamisato Ayaka and Kamisato Ayato, the two heads of Kamisato Clan, haven't even shown their faces.
Why are you in such a hurry?
"There's still some time, so there's no need to worry too much."
Holding her six-star exclusive weapon, Lumine watched out for any unexpected occurrences.
The Sacred Sakura's massive roots, entwined with corrupted energy, rapidly flowed into a certain location.
And there, a Miko stood, dressed in white and red, with a fox mask covering her face.
Kitsune Saiguu… no, Hanachirusato would be more appropriate.
A being born from the Ley Lines and the Abyss disaster, inheriting part of Kitsune Saiguu's memories and personality.
As the corruption from the tree roots was absorbed by Hanachirusato, the oppressive and repulsive aura in the area around the Sacred Sakura roots gradually disappeared.
The Sacred Sakura roots, symbolizing Inazuma's faith, emitted waves of fresh fragrance and radiated a sacred glow.
Hanachirusato, still wearing her mask, walked up to Lumine and bowed deeply:
"Thank you very much for your help, Princess."
"Princess?" Lumine narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Hanachirusato for a moment. "Did you see any information related to me from the Sacred Sakura?"
"Yes, Your Highness, the Princess of the Abyss Order."
"So, are you Hanachirusato or Kitsune Saiguu now?" Lumine continued to press.
"Kitsune Saiguu's mission is complete; I am now Hanachirusato, but I hope you will permit me to bid a final farewell to my friends in Inazuma."
"Afterward, I will serve you wholeheartedly."
Looking at Hanachirusato, who was kneeling, Lumine was silent for a moment before saying, "Alright, I'm going to Inazuma City soon anyway; you can follow me for now."
"Yes, Your Highness, thank you for your understanding."
...
At this moment, outside Inazuma City.
"What the hell, why hasn't Her Highness arrived yet?"
Enjou had transformed into the appearance of an Inazuman merchant, stomping his feet incessantly, a look of anxiety on his face,
"Could she be off somewhere enjoying herself?"
According to unreliable rumors circulating within the Abyss Order, 500 years ago, Her Highness the Princess traveled through the Seven Nations, charming both men and women, from eighty-year-old elders to babbling infants; she was loved by everyone and brought joy wherever she went.
"Am I supposed to save the Princess's brother by myself?" Enjou shivered.
Are you kidding me?
How could a weak clerk like me contend with one of the Seven Archons?
Although I've been modified by that great being's Abyss power, it's only useful for concealing my identity and making me harder to detect, and for a slight increase in strength.
Saving someone?
Pulling teeth from the Raiden Shogun's mouth—that's a life-threatening endeavor that might not even succeed!
Orobashi's skeleton is still lying on a certain island, not yet disintegrated.
It's all too vivid!
Inazuma's Raiden Shogun is not like Mondstadt's drunken bard or Liyue's street wanderer.
She draws her blade at the slightest disagreement.
Buzz!
Sensing the Abyss aura, Enjou quickly looked behind him.
After the Abyss Portal opened, two people emerged from it.
One of them was Her Highness the Princess, whom Enjou had been thinking about just now.
The other was the Princess's... paramour?
No, no, I shouldn't think that.
"Your Highness, Inazuma's Vision Hunt Decree, the ceremony for collecting the last Vision, is about to begin."
"I know. Let's go to Inazuma City first," Lumine said after thinking for a moment. "We can make further arrangements later."
...
Near Tenshukaku.
Lumine, Hanachirusato, and Enjou stood in a good vantage point, observing the scene in front of Tenshukaku.
Thoma was tied up and being escorted by two guards to the main entrance of Tenshukaku.
At this moment, Lumine was streaming live, but she wasn't paying attention to the stream's content.
"Enjou, try to stop my brother without exposing your identity. You can come up with any reason you like."
"Uh, do you mean...?" Enjou was a bit confused.
"Hmph, there are no Yashiro Commission members nearby. What a good plan. Even if something goes wrong, they won't be caught red-handed."
Thoma was a pawn, and Aether was also a pawn.
If he succeeded, that would be great, and perhaps there would be further manipulation.
Kamisato Clan also had connections with the resistance, just as predicted before; perhaps Aether would be recommended to the resistance.
If he failed, it would have nothing to do with the Kamisato clan.
A housekeeper dies, an unknown traveler dies—if they die, they die.
And the Raiden Shogun also collected 100 Visions, so everyone was happy.
"Yes, I'll go now."
Enjou was knowledgeable and quickly understood the reasons behind it, then left Lumine's side.
To be honest, Lumine understood Aether's thought process less and less.
You want to meet the Raiden Shogun? How simple is that?
Go back to Mondstadt, go to Liyue, find the Anemo Archon or the Geo Archon, get a certificate.
Then use a waypoint to fly back. The round trip, plus the time to find someone, would take at most half an hour.
Then enter Tenshukaku. Who would dare stop you?
Even as a last resort, finding the official authorities of Mondstadt and Liyue to get a diplomatic credential might be difficult for others, but for you, isn't it a simple matter?
Do you really have to work for others?
Just for a few Primogems?
If you wanted some, just say so; I'd have Enjou bring you several boxes immediately.
"Ei..."
Hanachirusato's soft whisper pulled Lumine back from her thoughts.
At this moment, in the Chat Group, the group members saw the Raiden Shogun's appearance through the live stream.
She wore a purple kimono embroidered with gentian flower patterns and black and gold shoulder armor on her left shoulder.
A purple braid hung down her back, her purple eyes were slightly deep, and there was a tear mole at the corner of her right eye.
[Uchiha Madara: "Is this woman Inazuma's Raiden Shogun? She certainly gives off a strong oppressive feeling. I wonder how she compares to Liyue's Morax?"]
The moment Raiden Shogun stepped out of Tenshukaku, the originally clear sky darkened.
From the live stream, it appeared that all of Inazuma, and even the broader area outside Inazuma City, was shrouded in dark clouds.
Within the clouds, flashes of lightning flickered intermittently, sending chills down one's spine.
[World's No. 1 Princess: "Her overall strength is not as good as Morax's. If only martial arts are considered, it's hard to say. What you are seeing now is not the Electro Archon herself, but merely a puppet she created from her divine body."]
Unlike a street wanderer like Morax, Raiden Ei is a recluse—oh no, in closed-door cultivation for 500 years. Did you really think she was inside reading light novels and eating dango?!
[Kumoko: "A puppet? What does that mean? Is it not a real person?"]
[World's No. 1 Princess: "I said it's a puppet, so of course, it's not a real person. The true Electro Archon is hidden within this body in a soul form, cultivating. It's equivalent to the separation of body and soul."]
Beryl explained the relationship between Raiden Ei and the Raiden Shogun to the group members.