Bab 106: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [106]
Kamisato Ayato glanced at the slightly revealing tracksuit and couldn't understand.
What kind of trick did Luo Qing use to make his normally reserved and elegant sister wear something like this?
"I... I think I might like him a little..."
Ayaka lowered her head and whispered softly.
"Brother... I trust Luo Qing. He really isn't a bad person..."
"Hmm..."
Ayato responded thoughtfully, then slowly stood up, glancing at the clothing catalog on the table.
"Before Father passed, he told me that if you ever found someone you cared for, I should respect your feelings and not interfere too much...
So, Ayaka, the choice is entirely yours."
Ayato gently patted Ayaka's shoulder and spoke softly,
"No matter what, as your brother, I will respect your decision..."
"Brother..."
Ayaka lowered her head in guilt.
Her brother was always burdened with governmental duties, and as his sister, she should be helping ease his burdens.
But now, because of Luo Qing, she was adding to his worries.
Sigh, if only Luo Qing were from Inazuma...
...
Seeing Ayaka's silence, Ayato understood.
He needed to give his sister some space and time to think things over.
After giving a few brief instructions to Sayo, Ayato left the Komore Tea Room, heading back to the Yashiro Commission.
It wasn't that he was deliberately trying to prevent his sister from finding love. It was just that, with the Vision Hunt Decree in full swing and Luo Qing's identity being so sensitive, Ayato had to be cautious.
As the head of the Kamisato Clan and the Yashiro Commissioner, the weight of responsibility on his shoulders forced him to tread carefully, ensuring that the Kamisato Clan wouldn't fall into decline again.
As soon as he stepped outside, he spotted Luo Qing standing not far away at a small stall, holding two cups of bubble tea. Luo Qing waved him over.
After a moment of thought, Ayato walked over to him.
"Care for a cup of grass jelly bubble tea, Ayato? This place makes excellent bubble tea~"
"..."
Ayato looked at the cup of grass jelly bubble tea Luo Qing was offering, and a suspicion arose in his mind.
Did Luo Qing know he would come out and was waiting here on purpose?
Did he even know about his favorite drink?
"Thank you, Mr. Luo Qing."
Ayato smiled faintly, accepted the tea, and skillfully inserted the straw, taking a sip.
After all, this was the Shogun's territory. He didn't think Luo Qing would try to harm him here.
Hmm... the bubbles are indeed quite tasty.
After taking a sip, Ayato noticed Luo Qing glancing at the tea room and casually asked,
"So, you finished your talk with Ayaka?"
Ayato smiled slightly and probed, "Is Mr. Luo Qing curious about what we discussed?"
"Just a little curious."
Luo Qing shook his head and continued, "But there is one thing I'm especially interested in. Would you be willing to enlighten me, Ayato?"
"What is it?"
Ayato was puzzled.
"I was wondering... what are the Kamisato Clan's typical bride price requirements?"
"?"
[+1 Frustration Value from Kamisato Ayato]
In all his life, Ayato had never met anyone as bold as this.
He had spent so much time exchanging pleasantries with politicians and officials from the Shogunate that he was momentarily at a loss for words.
After thinking for a bit, he decided to feign ignorance.
"Why is Mr. Luo Qing suddenly interested in that?"
"Well..."
Luo Qing smiled tactically and replied in a calm voice,
"Take a guess~"
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Kamisato Ayato]
Now, Ayato finally understood.
Luo Qing was also a master of playing dumb!
How on earth did my sister fall for someone like this?
Judging by his skills in pretending to be clueless, there was no telling how many women he had charmed on the side!
After some thought, Ayato responded calmly,
"The Kamisato Clan has always valued mutual affection above all, and we've never had any formal bride price requirements. So, I'm afraid I can't answer your question."
"Ah, I see."
Luo Qing let out a sigh of relief and then, smiling again, asked,
"So, Ayato, do you think I still have a chance?"
"..."
Ayato smiled slightly and asked,
"Mr. Luo Qing, do you like my sister?"
At this point, he realized that the usual diplomatic responses he used in the political arena wouldn't work on Luo Qing.
The man was just as adept at reading people and playing to the situation.
So, Ayato decided to be as straightforward as Luo Qing had been earlier.
"Ayaka is so adorable, who wouldn't like her?"
Luo Qing waved his hand and added,
"Alright, Ayato, I have some things to take care of, so I'll leave for now. We'll talk again sometime."
Without waiting for a response from Ayato, Luo Qing turned and waved at the second-floor window of the tea room, where Ayaka had been secretly watching. He said his goodbyes to her and walked off toward his own resting place.
He knew full well that dealing with someone as politically shrewd as Ayato meant he couldn't follow the usual playbook. Otherwise, he'd quickly fall into one of Ayato's traps.
But he had conveyed the message he wanted to deliver.
Now, he'd leave the rest to Ayato to figure out.
...
Ritou Port
A large fleet of ships had, after several days of navigating through storm clouds, finally broken through the blockade and arrived at the port of Ritou.
The traveler from another world and her floating companion finally set foot on the land of Inazuma.
Taking advantage of the docking time, the two stood on the deck, gazing at the beautiful islands of Ritou and chatting.
"Wow, we're finally in Inazuma! I wonder what delicious food they have here!"
"Why are you always thinking about food? Don't forget why we came here!"
"Hehe, filling your belly is part of the adventure! Besides, what's the point of visiting a new land if we don't try the local delicacies?"
Paimon rubbed her belly, her mind wandering back to the word "purpose."
"Speaking of which, you did bring that thing Ganyu asked us to deliver to Luo Qing, right?"
"You mean the red ribbon she and Shenhe asked us to bring? Why did you suddenly think of that?"
"Ah, I was just looking at the port and got this weird feeling, like that guy Luo Qing has been here before!"
"But didn't he return to Snezhnaya? We're in Inazuma now; we're not likely to run into him here, right?"
"Hmm... I guess you're right. Maybe it was just my imagination?"
Paimon scratched her head, looking a little puzzled.
"Alright, stop thinking about it. The ship's docking. Let's go."
"Yeah..."
As the Alcor docked, the two, under Beidou's guidance, finally set foot on the land of Ritou.
As soon as they disembarked, a young man with golden hair and dressed in red, who had seemingly been waiting for a while, hurried over to greet them.
"Finally! The big boss from Liyue, and two stowaways... oh no, I mean esteemed guests!"
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Bab 107: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [107] [30 PS]
Bonus Chapter!
---
The month-long training had finally come to an end, and Luo Qing's days of accumulating Frustration Value had concluded.
Thanks to his special guidance for the male trainees, he hadn't fallen behind in his progress.
As of today, he had gathered enough pulls—eighty in total—just enough to draw the item he had been eyeing: the Resurrection Item.
A few days ago, he had received a letter from Liyue, knowing that Lumine had arrived in Inazuma. Based on the timeline, she would likely arrive at any moment.
Unless absolutely necessary, Luo Qing didn't want to reveal himself to Lumine too soon.
Today was the last day of training, and as a final test of Luo Qing's teaching over the past month, Raiden Shogun had ordered a final exam. She would personally reward and appoint those who had successfully mastered the Thunder Breathing technique.
Thus, Luo Qing planned to step back and remain behind the scenes after today, limiting his contact with Kamisato Ayaka.
At dawn, Luo Qing had gathered all the trainees at the training ground.
A bolt of lightning flashed, and Raiden Shogun appeared before the trainees.
"Shogun, shall we begin now?"
Luo Qing respectfully asked the Shogun.
Although he usually acted relaxed and casual in her presence, in front of so many people, he knew he had to show the proper decorum.
"Hmm..."
Raiden Shogun glanced at the crowd below, her eyes flashing with a hint of confusion.
Wasn't this supposed to be a final exam? Why were they all dressed so oddly?
Luo Qing waved his hand grandly and shouted to Teresa, who was standing beside the phonograph, "Music!"
Teresa nodded seriously and pressed the play button.
The next moment, a bizarre tune echoed through the training grounds of the Tenryou Commission.
[+1 Frustration Value from Raiden Shogun]
[+1 Frustration Value from Ei]
Watching the trainees below as they began dancing to the rhythm, Raiden Shogun frowned and looked toward Luo Qing.
Her gaze seemed to ask: This is the result of your month-long training?
"Don't be impatient, this is just the opening ceremony,"
Luo Qing said casually, his attention still focused on Kamisato Ayaka within the crowd.
Since Kamisato Ayato's visit, the quiet time he had shared with Ayaka in the Komore Tea Room had disappeared entirely.
In recent weeks, there had been no private interactions between them, not even during daytime training sessions. Ayaka was careful around him, and the joyful moments they once shared were no longer.
Luo Qing understood that Ayaka was once again caught in a dilemma. So, he wasn't in a hurry. He was willing to wait for her to make her own choice.
After a while, the trainees finally finished their dance. They changed into their kendo uniforms and stood in neat rows at the training grounds again.
Luo Qing stepped to the front and called out to the crowd, "Alright, the exam officially begins now. I will call your names, and you will take the stage in order. First up, Kujo Kaiko!"
"Present!"
A young boy stepped out of the crowd, his face filled with nervousness as he walked onto the stage.
"Alright, begin your demonstration!"
"Yes!"
At Luo Qing's command, Kujo Kaiko gripped his long sword tightly, assuming the stance of a sword draw. He focused on the training dummy ahead of him, then slowly closed his eyes, concentrating.
In the next moment, his sword left its sheath, accompanied by a faint crackling sound as a deep cut appeared on the dummy.
This was today's exam content.
The better they could perform the First Form of Thunder Breathing: Thunderclap and Flash, the better their exam results would be.
As one of the most advanced techniques of the Thunder Breathing Style, it wasn't something that could be easily learned.
The fact that Kujo Kaiko had managed to produce a thunderous sound when drawing his sword made him one of the top trainees.
"Next, Komaru Zaitsu!"
...
Meanwhile.
Thanks to Beidou's help, Lumine and Paimon had finally escaped from Ritou. After several days of travel, they arrived in Inazuma.
Following Thoma's directions, they made their way to the Komore Tea Room. After handing over their invitation to the hostess, Sayo, they were granted entry.
The two glanced around the counter, finding no one except for a Shiba Inu with a headband tied around its head.
"Uh... where's Thoma?"
"I'm right here."
A voice came from behind the counter.
"Huh? Who said that? Was it you?"
Paimon stared at the Shiba Inu on the counter, scratching her head in confusion.
"It's me, Thoma."
Paimon was shocked. "Wait, it was really you talking?!"
"Come on, Paimon. Thoma's just messing with you,"
Lumine shook her head, thinking how can Paimon be this clueless sometimes?
"Heh, you always see right through me, Lumine."
Thoma chuckled as he stepped out from behind the counter.
"Lumine, Paimon, you've finally arrived. Those tests from earlier were just a necessary formality. They were to determine whether I could let you meet my lady, and whether we could become allies."
"So, can we meet the White Heron Princess now?"
"Of course. But before that, there's somewhere else I'd like to take you."
"Somewhere else? What place?"
"It's something everyone on Narukami Island cannot ignore—the giant statue under construction, the Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God."
...
A while later, the group made their way through the commercial street of Hanamizaka, arriving in front of the imposing statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God.
"Whoa... such a solemn statue. I thought it would be like Mondstadt's Statue of the Anemo Archon... What are those things embedded in it?"
"Visions."
Paimon was shocked. "Visions! So all the confiscated Visions are embedded in that statue?!"
Thoma smiled faintly. "My lady's prediction was spot on. It seems you've already learned about the Vision Hunt Decree..."
Lumine asked curiously, "Why did the Shogun issue the Vision Hunt Decree?"
"Just as Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, and Liyue is the City of Contracts, Inazuma is the Nation of Eternity..."
Thoma then explained in detail the concept of Eternity and Raiden Shogun's will to the two of them.
"By the way, the Shogun is holding a swordsmanship exam at the Tenryou Commission today. The Kamisato Clan has participants in the exam as well. I can take you to catch a glimpse of her~"
Thoma suggested casually.
This wasn't just a random idea of his—it was Ayaka's instruction.
By letting the traveler witness Raiden Shogun's will for herself, she would understand just how cold the Vision Hunt Decree truly was.
Of course, Thoma wasn't going to mention that Ayaka was also participating.
Their meeting would come later, not now.
This exam allowed family members to observe, and Thoma had already hidden his Vision, so there was no need to worry about being discovered.
After explaining their intentions to the guards at the Tenryou Commission, the group was allowed inside.
As family members, they were only allowed to watch from the sidelines.
From behind a thick crowd, Lumine and the others looked toward the stage.
Suddenly, Lumine noticed one of the figures on the stage.
That person... looked familiar...
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
238 Power
stone 
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