บท 5: The Wily Fox, Yae Miko, Arrives
"Of course, the main reason I came is to see how you're preparing to execute the plan," Noah said, his eyes fixed on the visibly anxious Ei.
As the new Heavenly Principle, Noah had taken it upon himself to oversee this critical task. Naturally, his subordinates would feel the pressure of their "boss" personally visiting their domain.
Adding to the tension was Ei's glaring flaw—she wasn't exactly the sharpest when it came to governance. If it was about charging into battle, she could obliterate anything in her path. But running a nation? She was hopeless.
He could almost see her returning to Inazuma and throwing the responsibility onto the Tri-Commission without a second thought.
That wouldn't do.
The Yashiro Commission under Kamisato Ayato might still be useful, but the Kanjou Commission and Tenryou Commission had long since rotted to the core.
If those corrupted officials were allowed to get involved, the Demon Slayer world would undoubtedly be ravaged beyond recognition.
These were people who exploited Inazuma's own citizens without remorse. They wouldn't hesitate to do the same to the people of another world.
"So, what are your preparations for the plan?" Noah asked.
"I was going to summon the leaders of the Three Commissions, the Shuumatsuban, and the Grand Narukami Shrine to Tenshukaku to discuss the execution of the plan," Ei replied without hesitation.
"As I thought…" Noah sighed. "Good thing I came along. Otherwise, you would've ruined the first world-annexation plan entirely."
"Why do you say that?" Ei blinked in confusion, her face blank as she struggled to understand his criticism.
"Do you think Inazuma has remained as prosperous as you imagine since you sealed yourself away and left everything to the Shogun?"
Behind Noah, the Primordial Ring of Law materialized, its light radiating authority.
"You underestimate the greed of humans."
"Gods like us can exist for eternity, and five centuries are but a fleeting moment. But mortals? They only live for a few decades. Perhaps the first generation of nobles who held power governed responsibly under the Shogun's oversight. But as time passed, and generations of officials tasted the sweetness of authority, they rotted from within."
"They've mastered the art of deception, presenting Inazuma as a land of eternal stability while twisting the truth to serve their own ends. They've even turned the Shogun into a tool for maintaining their dominance."
"If you let them participate in the plan, it's guaranteed to fail. And with that failure, Teyvat will lose its one chance to reverse its decline."
The golden light of the Primordial Ring intensified as Noah's gaze turned stern, his eyes glowing with divine authority.
"That's impossible. The Three Commissions have always governed impartially, and I have personally reviewed every report submitted to my desk. Under my leadership, Inazuma has been at peace, and the people are living fulfilling lives," the Raiden Shogun's voice took over, her tone solemn and unwavering.
"Peace and prosperity? Then take a good look at what's truly been happening in Inazuma over the past five centuries. Compare it to the idyllic image those officials have painted for you," Noah replied, his tone laced with faint amusement.
With a wave of his hand, the Primordial Ring of Law emitted seven-colored light, activating the power of time.
Scenes from Inazuma's past five centuries materialized before Ei and the Raiden Shogun, playing like a movie.
Although the Ruler of Time, Istaroth, had not been seen for ages—even Noah didn't know which fragment of time she now slumbered in—the power of time had largely been reclaimed by Phanes before her demise.
Now, it was Noah's to command.
However, the power of time in Teyvat had limits. It could not rewrite history, rewind time, or access the future. At most, it could slightly alter the course of minor events.
The display showed the gradual decline of Inazuma.
For the first century under the Shogun's rule, the Three Commissions had performed admirably. But after that, greed seeped into their ranks. By the second century, they had begun seizing wealth from the commoners.
By the fourth century, the situation had spiraled out of control. The Commissions ruthlessly confiscated land, manipulated food prices, and left Inazuma's citizens starving.
In the final fifty years, the rot had reached its peak. The Commissions had allied with the Fatui, exploiting the populace with impunity. They even neglected vital duties such as maintaining the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual that anchored the Ley Lines and suppressed corrupted remnants, allowing calamities to spread unchecked.
Worst of all, they sold materials meant for the Mikage Furnace, leading to its collapse. As a result, the once-fertile lands of Tatarasuna were poisoned, becoming uninhabitable.
Watching these scenes unfold, Ei and the Raiden Shogun could no longer deny the truth.
The Raiden Shogun, normally composed, now trembled with rage. The divine fury of a god caused the skies above Narukami Island to darken, black clouds roiling and thunder crashing violently.
The people of Inazuma City paused to glance up, startled for a moment before returning to their routines. Such tempests were common in their land.
But the truth kept coming.
The corrupted officials, fearing threats to their power from outside influences, had falsified reports and manipulated the Shogun into issuing the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree.
By the time the scenes concluded, Ei was shaking with anger. She wanted nothing more than to march out and obliterate the deceitful officials who had poisoned her land.
But the revelations didn't stop there.
The Fatui's manipulations had incited war between the Tenryou Commission and Watatsumi Island, spreading chaos across the land.
Worse, the corruption had led to the destruction of the Narukami Pillars on Yashiori Island, unleashing the cursed remnants of Orobashi. The island's people had been driven to madness, infected by the Tatarigami, and died in droves.
Even when disaster struck, the Tenryou Commission prioritized covering up their negligence rather than aiding the people. They slaughtered fleeing villagers, blaming their deaths on Watatsumi rebels.
The final scene froze on the Tenryou Commissioner, Takayuki Kujou, presenting a falsified report to the Shogun just days ago, claiming Inazuma was a land of peace and prosperity.
The bitter irony was palpable.
By now, Ei was trembling uncontrollably. Her divine will swept across Inazuma, revealing the true state of the nation.
Far from a land of peace, it was riddled with suffering. Beyond the capital, fields were littered with corpses, Ley Lines were in disarray, and corrupted entities roamed unchecked.
Her people resented her deeply.
In stark contrast, the corrupt officials indulged in every conceivable luxury, exploiting the people for their own gain.
"Do you know why I summoned only four Archons to the assembly at Celestia?" Noah asked.
"Because their nations are in even worse condition than yours. In Sumeru, the ruling class has imprisoned their god. In Snezhnaya, the Tsaritsa has been reduced to a puppet of the Fatui."
His voice softened slightly.
"If it were Phanes, she would have already sent a Divine Nail to obliterate Inazuma. If the Ley Lines destabilized, the entire nation would have been doomed."
"You're lucky. All Inazuma needs is for those corrupt officials to be dealt with, and the nation can be set back on the right path. Compared to Sumeru and Snezhnaya, your task is far simpler."
"That's why I allowed you to join the assembly."
Inazuma's upper echelons may have rotted extensively, but for Ei, this wasn't an insurmountable problem.
With her divine authority, she could single-handedly set Inazuma back on the right path. In Inazuma, the word of the god was absolute, beyond question or challenge.
Moreover, Ei still had dependable forces—the Yashiro Commission, Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission, the Grand Narukami Shrine, and the Shuumatsuban—all of which would unquestionably obey her.
By contrast, look at Sumeru.
Five hundred years had passed, and Noah didn't believe for a second that the sages of the Akademiya hadn't realized their god was imprisoned. Yet not a single soul had stood up for five centuries.
Even Alhaitham's rescue of the Dendro Archon wasn't born of duty to Sumeru; it was merely because his own life had been inconvenienced.
Sumeru was a nation thoroughly rotten from top to bottom.
"Inner self, I'm going to kill them. I'll cut down all these vermin. They are the enemies of eternity," Raiden Shogun growled, her murderous intent surging as she reached for her naginata, ready to annihilate the deceitful officials who had mocked and betrayed her.
"Killing them outright is too merciful," Noah interjected, golden light gleaming in his eyes as the authority of the Primordial Ring of Law stopped the enraged Shogun in her tracks.
"As a ruler, you must announce your will to the people of Inazuma and publicly pass judgment on these vermin. Only then will you dispel the resentment of the people."
Noah's gaze sharpened. Slaying a few corrupt officials wouldn't solve the problem. Entire families would need to be purged.
What would be the point of executing Takayuki Kujou if another Kujou heir stepped in to perpetuate the cycle of oppression?
Such hereditary privilege was absurd. Just because the Kujou clan had fought alongside Ei in the past didn't mean they deserved eternal prosperity.
"I suggest you consult your trusted retainer. She will provide valuable advice. Additionally, summon the head of the Yashiro Commission. After purging the corruption, he can address the pressing needs of the common people and guide Inazuma back on track."
"Once Inazuma stabilizes, I'll establish the gateway to the Demon Slayer world at the Grand Narukami Shrine," Noah added.
As for the chaotic Ley Lines, rampant corruption, and corrupted remnants plaguing Inazuma, these issues would naturally resolve themselves once Teyvat's capacity grew through the annexation of the Demon Slayer world.
"Yae Miko? She's been clever since she was young," Ei said, nodding as she suppressed her killing intent.
At the same time, a wave of gratitude welled up within her.
Unlike the former Heavenly Principle, this new one wasn't cold and ruthless. If it had been Phanes, Inazuma would have been struck with a Divine Nail for her negligence.
Currently, Inazuma was overrun with malevolence, its Ley Lines unstable, its people starving—all failures of her divine stewardship.
Though she despised the corrupt nobles, she felt overwhelming guilt for her people's suffering.
Kamisato Estate
Tea Room
"Lady Guuji said there's a potential disaster looming over Inazuma. She wants the Kamisato Clan to prepare to evacuate some citizens…" Kamisato Ayato said, frowning as he regarded the unexpected visitor sitting across from him.
"Though I greatly respect her foresight, I find such a vague explanation difficult to comprehend. Furthermore, with the Shogun's storms blanketing the entire nation, it would be impossible to evacuate anyone from Inazuma, even if we tried."
Ayato's tone was measured, but his confusion was evident. As a Guuji, Yae Miko was astute and enigmatic, never one to speak carelessly.
But what kind of disaster could warrant such an action?
Did she suspect Liyue or Mondstadt might attack Inazuma? That seemed far-fetched.
"Ah, such a headache. Even I can't figure it out," Yae Miko sighed dramatically, resting her chin in her hand.
She couldn't exactly tell Ayato she suspected their "country bumpkin" god had gone mad from erosion and stormed Celestia, could she?
"Lady Guuji, what exactly is troubling you? If it's something I can handle, I'll do everything in my power," Ayato offered sincerely.
Yae Miko shook her head. Even if she explained, there was no way Ayato could deal with it. Perhaps she was overthinking things. Maybe Celestia had summoned Ei for some other reason.
"Forget it. Let's just consider it my overactive imagination. Don't trouble yourself, Kamisato boy," she said, waving a hand dismissively.
As Ayato bowed politely, Miko thought to herself how increasingly difficult it was to connect with him. Though his manners were impeccable, his mind was calculating and overly guarded.
Just as Yae Miko rose to leave, Ei's voice resonated through the tea room.
"Miko, come to Tenshukaku. Bring the head of the Yashiro Commission with you."
Hearing the summons, Yae Miko's expression shifted, her earlier worries melting away, replaced with excitement tinged with a hint of indignation.
"Ei, you finally remembered me? You've been hiding behind the Shogun, leaving all your affairs unattended. If I'd died, would you have even noticed?"
Five centuries.
In that time, she could count on her fingers how many times she'd seen Ei. Worse, the Raiden Shogun, with her wooden demeanor, was incapable of steering Inazuma.
The nation had devolved into chaos, but what could she do? Storm Tenshukaku and teach the Shogun how to govern? She was just a fox.
"You've worked hard, Miko. We'll talk more when you get here," Ei said, a trace of guilt in her voice.
In the glimpses of the past that Noah had shown her, Ei had seen how tirelessly Miko worked to suppress Ley Line disturbances and corrupted forces on Narukami Island.
It was thanks to Miko's efforts that Narukami Island was in better shape than the rest of Inazuma.
"Fine, I'll come. But I bet you'll just give me a few orders and then disappear again," Miko replied, her tone dripping with mock grievance.
In all of Inazuma, only Yae Miko dared to speak to a god in such a manner.
Kamisato Ayato, ever the picture of composure, closed his eyes and did his best impression of a wooden statue.
"Stop pretending to be furniture, Kamisato boy. Come with me to Tenshukaku," Miko said as she turned gracefully and left the tea room.
"Yes, Lady Guuji," Ayato replied, standing to follow.
Though he prided himself on remaining calm in any situation, being summoned by the Shogun herself left him undeniably tense.
Despite his frequent dealings with the Shogun on official matters, a personal summons carried an entirely different weight.
What could the Shogun possibly want from him?
When Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayato arrived at Tenshukaku, they were greeted by an unusual sight.
The Raiden Shogun knelt at her desk, reviewing reports submitted by the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, her expression as cold as ice.
Beside her sat a young man with an air of mystery, casually flipping through the very documents that were supposed to be seen by the Shogun alone.
Miko and Ayato were both shocked.
To browse such sensitive materials so nonchalantly was not just bold—it bordered on sacrilege.
Yet the Shogun didn't seem to mind. She showed no displeasure whatsoever.
More astonishingly, the young man appeared completely at ease in her presence.
Who was he to behave so audaciously?
The Shogun raised her gaze, meeting theirs. Though her anger simmered beneath the surface, she suppressed it.
"Miko. Kamisato Ayato. You've arrived," she said evenly.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง