Several Shogunate soldiers turned their heads, spotting a young girl with purple hair in a kimono sitting on the ground. She was pointing at them, shouting angrily.
"What's the matter with you all? You tripped me, and you think you can just walk away without paying compensation?"
"I'm telling you, unless you hand over at least a million Mora today, you won't be leaving!"
"This is outrageous! Shogunate soldiers bullying a little girl in the middle of the street!"
A rapid-fire barrage of accusations left the soldiers with massive question marks above their heads.
Seeing the girl's confident demeanor, they almost started to believe they might have genuinely knocked her down.
Confused for a while, the lead Shogunate soldier finally came to his senses, realizing that Theresa was deliberately causing trouble. He sternly rebuked her.
"Where did this wild brat come from? Get lost, or we'll take you away too!"
But the next moment, Theresa got up from the ground, dusted off her clothes, and shouted.
"Fine, I'm leaving!"
With that, she sprinted away in her wooden sandals, vanishing in a flash.
Once she disappeared from the soldiers' view, Theresa quickly returned to Luo Qing's side, proudly reporting.
"Sir, how was my distraction this time?"
"..."
It was a decent distraction. Please, don't do it again.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Naganohara Fireworks Shop, the moment the Shogunate soldiers' attention was diverted by Theresa's fake stumble, Yoimiya seized the opportunity. She swiftly tossed aside the Vision in her hand and pulled a new one out of her pocket.
To cope with the Vision Hunt Decree, she always kept a fake Vision ready.
Who could have guessed that the soldiers would show up right when she was using her Vision to make fireworks?
They had been watching her too closely; there was no chance to swap the Vision in her hand with the fake one.
"Yoimiya, don't play any tricks! Hand over the Vision now, or we won't be so polite!"
The Naganohara Fireworks Shop had a good reputation in Inazuma City. If not for the Vision Hunt Decree, the soldiers wouldn't have wanted to make things difficult for Yoimiya.
"Ugh... Alright, alright."
Yoimiya pretended to reluctantly take out the Pyro Vision from behind her and slowly extended it towards the soldiers.
Her expression of painful hesitation, looking like she was about to cry, almost made their hearts soften.
"Thank you for cooperating, Miss Yoimiya."
Seeing that she handed over the Vision, the soldiers didn't push any further. They exchanged glances and began heading towards Tenshukaku.
Every Vision they collected had to be embedded in the statue, so they needed to deliver it quickly.
Once the soldiers were far enough away, Yoimiya's previous sorrowful expression disappeared, replaced by her usual bright and cheerful demeanor.
She scanned the street, catching Luo Qing's gaze from where he was sitting a bit further away, enjoying a dessert.
She smiled, waved at Luo Qing, and ran over to him, thanking both him and Theresa.
"Phew... Thank you both for distracting them earlier."
"Gulp... Ah, finally finished..."
Theresa pounded her chest, having just swallowed the last bite of a dango.
"Miss, thank you for drawing their attention!"
Seeing that Theresa was ignoring her at first, Yoimiya moved closer and gave a slight bow.
"Huh? Oh, I was just following orders. If you want to thank someone, thank him."
"Oh, alright. Sir, thank you for your assistance. I'm Yoimiya, the current owner of Naganohara Fireworks."
Yoimiya gave a bow to Luo Qing, her smile radiant and healing.
"It was just a small favor, Miss Yoimiya. No need to mention it."
Luo Qing waved it off and continued, "By the way, those Shogunate soldiers... Could they really not tell that your Vision was a fake? If they noticed, it could have been dangerous for you."
"They won't."
Yoimiya shook her head and laughed. "A Vision can only be used by its owner. In someone else's hands, it's just a pretty stone. They won't find out."
"Speaking of which, are you two from Inazuma City?"
As one of Inazuma's social butterflies, Yoimiya had a good memory of most residents in the city.
Luo Qing wasn't particularly unusual, but the purple-haired, purple-eyed Theresa beside him, with her distinctly foreign face, would have definitely left an impression if she were a local.
"We're from Snezhnaya, traveling to Inazuma for trade."
"Oh, I see."
Listening to Luo Qing's explanation, a hint of doubt arose in Yoimiya's heart.
Very few people knew about Master Masakatsu's counterfeit Visions, and if Luo Qing and his companion were foreigners, how did they know about her fake Vision swap?
But since they had helped her, Yoimiya felt it would be rude to pry further.
"Miss Kamisato mentioned the matter of Visions to me, Miss Yoimiya. No need to worry about it."
Seeing Yoimiya's brief flash of doubt, Luo Qing decided to offer a slight explanation to boost her trust in him.
"Oh, so you're friends with the Princess of the White Heron. No wonder you're so kind-hearted!"
With her doubts dispelled, Yoimiya beamed once more.
"As a thank-you for your help, if you ever need fireworks, please come to Naganohara Fireworks! I'll provide them for free!"
"Thank you, Miss Yoimiya."
...
Meanwhile, on Ritou.
At the Commissioner's residence, Nagamasa heard the sound of heels clicking against the wooden floor outside and quickly went to greet the visitor.
The wooden door gently slid open, and a woman in a luxurious gown entered, flanked by two teams of Fatui elites. Their imposing aura even surpassed that of the Shogunate soldiers outside.
"Thank you for your hard work on the journey."
Nagamasa bowed respectfully.
"As for the task you entrusted to our agent, I have already started preparations. I believe our cooperation will be as smooth as before."
"I'm not interested in these trivial matters."
The woman snorted coldly. "I asked you to keep an eye on a particular situation. How is it going?"
"Well..."
Nagamasa hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.
"Ever since Mr. Luo Qing arrived, up until your arrival, there has been no sighting of the traveler from Liyue that you mentioned at the harbor."
"Hmph, it seems they haven't arrived yet."
The woman scoffed. "When that traveler arrives, make sure they remain on Ritou. Don't let them leave. And remember, don't let them realize you're behind it, and do not harm them. Understood?"
"Yes... I understand."
Nagamasa nodded, then timidly asked.
"And about the matter of the taxes that the lord mentioned earlier..."
"Hmph, as long as you cooperate sincerely, benefits will naturally come your way."
"Understood..."
...
Inside a side hall.
A girl peeked out from behind a door, observing Nagamasa's conversation with the mysterious woman.
She didn't understand why her usually stern father acted so deferentially in front of that woman.
And that traveler...
Wasn't it the same Mr. Luo Qing who had asked her to help the traveler escape before?
Wasn't Mr. Luo Qing allied with that woman? So why did he want her to help the traveler leave?
---
T/N: YOIMIYA!! She's one of my faves!! <3<#3#<#<3
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]
Bonus Chapter!
---
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Yoimiya, Luo Qing and Teresa eventually took their leave.
It was their first meeting, after all. No matter how good Luo Qing's first impression of the bright and cheerful Yoimiya was, it wouldn't do to go overboard on their first encounter.
He didn't want to be seen as some kind of lunatic.
After wandering around for a while, Luo Qing returned to his resting place. Suddenly, he heard the chirping of birds from outside the window. He opened it to find that familiar owl fluttering in, landing right on his tea table. In its beak was a letter sealed with a red moth emblem, and it tilted its head, staring at him.
As soon as Luo Qing took the letter, the owl spread its wings and flew off the windowsill.
It left a deposit of bird droppings on his table as a parting gift.
[Frustration Value +1 from Luo Qing]
"Teresa, come in and wipe the table."
He called out to the outside, and soon enough, Teresa came running in with a cloth, her wooden sandals clacking against the floor.
Luo Qing unfolded the letter and began reading.
The content was simple.
Rosalyn had already arrived in Inazuma. Before heading to Inazuma City, she had some business to handle on other islands and instructed Luo Qing to inform the Shogunate ahead of time. The message was clear: a Snezhnayan envoy was coming, bearing the will of the Tsaritsa, to negotiate with the Raiden Shogun. They were to prepare a proper welcome.
Emphasize that haughty attitude.
"Tch, still thinking she can negotiate with the Shogun..."
Luo Qing shook his head, his mind wandering back to his earlier speculation.
It seemed Rosalyn didn't really know who held the Gnosis.
Otherwise, why would she keep insisting on negotiating with the Raiden Shogun?
That woman had dedicated herself to a path of emotionlessness. Even someone with a favorability rating of 37.5, like Luo Qing, had nearly been cut down by her.
Given Rosalyn's usual disdainful attitude, it would be a miracle if she didn't end up on the receiving end of the Shogun's blade.
But thinking about it...
Rosalyn's arrival meant that the time for Lumine and Paimon to arrive in Inazuma wasn't far off.
And since the last encounter, he had only accumulated ten Frustration Value draws—still a long way from obtaining the Guardian Angel's Resurrection Armor.
There was no giant creature like Osial in Inazuma that he could squeeze for Frustration Value. Gathering it here was just too slow.
"Who can I use as a Frustration generator...?"
Luo Qing stared blankly at Teresa, who was crouched down, wiping the table. His thoughts drifted.
The more emotionally unstable the target, the easier it was to provoke frustration, and the stronger the target, the higher the Frustration Value gain.
There were only a handful of top-tier combatants in Inazuma.
Ei and the Raiden Shogun both practiced the path of emotionlessness, seeking eternity, and were generally indifferent. It would be hard to squeeze much Frustration Value out of them.
Even though Ei could cry her eyes out reading a light novel, Luo Qing had rarely managed to gain any Frustration Value from her.
As for the Raiden Shogun? That was an even bigger no-go.
Luo Qing was terrified that if he pushed her the wrong way, she might actually take up her blade and slice him in two.
Extracting Frustration Value from her was simply too dangerous.
As for the pink-haired fox at the Grand Narukami Shrine... She was clearly a cunning manipulator, and getting Frustration Value from her wouldn't be easy either.
Which left only one option.
Luo Qing's mind wandered to a short young man with a round-brimmed hat, a penchant for snide remarks, and an attitude that got under everyone's skin.
Didn't that brat mouth off to him last time?
Maybe he could start with him.
"Lord Luo Qing?"
Seeing Luo Qing staring off into space, Teresa waved the cloth she'd used to clean the bird droppings in front of his face.
The smell brought Luo Qing back to reality.
"What are you doing?"
"Umm... Just wiping..."
"...???"
...
The Next Day.
Time was short. Since Luo Qing had decided to make Scaramouche his new source of Frustration Value, he needed to act quickly. Before Lumine arrived in Inazuma City and faced off against the Harbinger, he had to gather enough Frustration Value to draw that resurrection item.
Early in the morning, Luo Qing set out for Hanamizaka, buying a huge bag of sweets. He then made a stop at Yae Publishing House, purchasing all the trending light novels from the female demographic.
Once they were safely stored in his system inventory, he made his way to Tenshukaku.
Perhaps the Raiden Shogun chose to ignore him, or perhaps she couldn't sense him—Luo Qing used Time Zero several times within the vicinity of Tenshukaku without drawing her attention.
His actions grew bolder. He no longer bothered with the front gate, now boldly scaling the tower to the upper levels to find the Raiden Shogun.
At noon, inside Tenshukaku.
Kujou Sara, dressed in her military uniform, stood with her head bowed before the high platform, reporting recent developments in the war with the Resistance to the Raiden Shogun.
Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed from above. Startled, Kujou Sara looked up, and her eyes widened.
Beside the Shogun stood the very man she had been ordered to apprehend!
"Uh... Seems I came at a bad time?"
Seeing the two in the midst of a report, Luo Qing felt a wave of awkwardness.
He had assumed that the Raiden Shogun's chambers would be empty, so he'd jumped in through the balcony without a second thought.
"General... He..."
Kujou Sara's confusion deepened as she saw the Raiden Shogun remain expressionless, not seeming to care about the intruder. Was this man secretly one of the Shogun's agents?
"It's fine. You may leave."
After a long pause, the Raiden Shogun's lips moved ever so slightly.
"Yes, General..."
Kujou Sara bowed deeply before respectfully withdrawing.
Although her mind was still full of unanswered questions, the thoughts of a servant were not for their lord to decipher.
"Breaking into Tenshukaku... Do you think I wouldn't dare to cut you down?"
The Raiden Shogun turned her gaze to Luo Qing, an unusual hint of disdain flashing across her face.
"My bad, my bad..."
Luo Qing scratched his head in embarrassment. He had to admit, he was in the wrong.
"Hmph. Why are you here again?"
The Shogun, uninterested in his excuse, returned to her seat.
"I'm here to see Ei. Can I go in for a bit?" Luo Qing asked tentatively.
The Raiden Shogun's brow furrowed.
"Do you think I'm your doorman?"
You think you can just come and go as you please?
What do you take me for?
"Ahem, I really have something urgent to discuss with her!"
"Hmph. What is it? Speak, and I will listen."
"It's about your brother."
"...?"
The Raiden Shogun froze for a moment.
"Heh, are you curious?"
Luo Qing teased.
"If you let me in, when I come out, I'll tell you~."
"..."
The Raiden Shogun's frown deepened.
She felt there was more to this than met the eye, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.
Whatever it was, this scoundrel was clearly toying with her.
Just as she was about to draw her blade to teach him a lesson, a voice echoed in her mind—Ei's voice.
Left with no other choice, the Raiden Shogun suppressed her irritation, gave a cold snort, and tossed Luo Qing into the Plane of Euthymia.
---
T/N: Is Culvers good?
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]