Chương 37: Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [37]
The atmosphere was so tense it felt suffocating.
"..."
This was a deadly question.
How should he respond?
Everyone's eyes turned to the silent young man.
Kujou Sara stood with arms crossed, her cold eyes narrowing.
Her gaze was icy as it fell on the equally silent Mei.
"Are you not going to answer?"
"..."
"In that case, take her—"
Just as she was about to issue the order.
Ren let out a soft sigh and raised his head.
"It was a private sparring match, nothing more."
"In Inazuma, we all deeply respect the Shogun."
"And Mei is a friend of Yae Miko."
However, Kujou Sara didn't give him the chance to elaborate further.
It was as though she had already anticipated his response.
She turned her gaze elsewhere. "Come out."
The next moment, a man stepped forward.
He wore tattered clothing and a wide-brimmed straw hat, his expression full of malice as he looked at Ren.
"..."
Ren's pupils contracted.
He didn't know who this man was.
But there was something about his disheveled appearance...
It resembled the assassin who had attempted to kill Ayaka in broad daylight.
Were they working together?
The man chuckled nervously before speaking quickly.
"My lord, the situation is absolutely true."
"There's a shrine maiden here who does not believe in the Great Narukami!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
A shrine maiden who didn't believe in their deity was considered an ill omen—
No different from the Abyss Order!
All eyes turned to Mei.
After all, her disdain for the Raiden Shogun...
Kujou Sara gestured for the man to step back.
"She is connected to the sealing of the Yashiori Island curse."
"She must cooperate with the investigation."
Her cold gaze then landed on Kamisato Ayaka.
"This matter concerns the Shogun herself."
"I hope the Lady of the Kamisato Clan understands the gravity of the situation."
The implication was clear: Mei had to be taken, even if the Yashiro Commission opposed it.
"..."
Kamisato Ayaka's delicate face grew serious, but she didn't respond.
To think this would implicate the Raiden Shogun herself...
This was already beyond the jurisdiction of the three commissions.
"His identity is questionable. How can we believe him so easily?"
Kujou Sara, as if expecting this, replied coldly:
"He is a trusted scout of the Kujou Clan."
"The intelligence regarding Yashiori Island came from him."
"Do you still doubt it?"
The man stood silently in the background, casting a sinister smile at Ren.
Ren's pupils contracted further.
This was a serious problem.
This man was clearly aligned with Kujou Takayuki, the current head of the Tenryou Commission.
And Kujou Takayuki had been colluding with the Fatui, seeking to reinstate the Vision Hunt Decree.
The simplest way to convince the Raiden Shogun to agree would be to distort frontline intelligence—
To fabricate the illusion of internal conflict!
Kujou Sara, at this point, still trusted her clan leader implicitly.
She wouldn't question the validity of the intelligence.
Ren clenched his fists tightly.
He hadn't expected them to act so quickly.
If this intelligence reached the Raiden Shogun...
Would it become the final straw that brought about the Vision Hunt Decree's resurgence?
"General Kujou..."
"Take her!"
Kujou Sara didn't waste any more words. She raised her hand.
The samurai of the Tenryou Commission shouted in unison and began to move forward.
"Wait!"
Ren's shout momentarily startled the advancing samurai.
Meeting Kujou Sara's sharp gaze, he spoke calmly:
"The Fatui just left the Kanjou Commission, and now we have an accusation like this. It's far too coincidental."
"Besides, Mei is a friend of Yae Miko. How could she possibly..."
Mei was key to resolving the Yashiori Island curse.
If she were taken to the Tenryou Commission, riddled with spies as it was...
Who knew what could happen?
This was about the lives of everyone on the island. He couldn't back down!
Yet, before he could finish, Kujou Sara shook her head.
"Guuji Yae has already contacted me."
With that, she turned to a young shrine maiden in the distance.
Ren instinctively followed her gaze, a growing sense of unease gnawing at him.
The shrine maiden lowered her head and said:
"A message from Yae Miko."
"This woman is just a village girl."
"If anything happens, investigate to your heart's content."
"The shrine will not interfere!"
When she finished, Kujou Sara nodded slightly.
"Ren, do you have anything else to say?"
What...
Ren's eyes widened in disbelief.
He had calculated everything, but he hadn't expected this.
That damned scheming fox had stabbed him in the back at the critical moment!
A single explanation could have dispelled all the doubts, but no—
What was she plotting this time?
She's an absolute menace!
"W-What do we do now?"
"Mei-nee and Takahashi are going to be taken!"
Yoimiya's face was filled with panic as she looked to Ayaka for help.
Ayaka shook her head, remaining silent.
There truly wasn't a better option now.
The matter involved the Raiden Shogun, and Yae Miko's ambiguous stance had left them with no recourse.
It was a dead end.
"Take them away!"
The samurai of the Tenryou Commission began to close in, step by step.
Ren's expression fell.
He glanced behind him at the calm and cold figure.
It was too late to argue now.
All he knew was that he needed to act.
The Fatui were already his sworn enemies.
If he surrendered, he might as well be signing his own death warrant.
Unless the Raiden Shogun personally intervened to pardon him...
But was that even possible?
No way! She wasn't exactly known for being merciful.
At least she wasn't here to cut him down herself!
Just then, a cool voice rang in his ear.
"Stay behind me."
Ren froze and instinctively turned to his side.
"You..."
Somehow, Mei was now standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
Her purple hair swayed gently in the breeze, exuding elegance and a commanding presence.
"Until I've had my sweets, I want you by my side."
"Do not refuse."
Mei's tone was serious, like a regal queen selecting her knight.
Ren chuckled. "What kind of reason is that?"
Mei lifted her chin haughtily, her voice cold.
"That reason is more than enough!"
Kujou Sara's eyes narrowed, crackling faintly with lightning.
"You intend to resist?"
Mei remained calm, grabbing Ren's hand as though the samurai around her didn't exist.
Her confidence level is off the charts!
"..."
Ren quirked a brow. "I don't need your protection."
The aloof village girl shot him a frosty glare.
"Shut up."
"...Oh."
The next moment, lightning flickered.
Mei conjured electricity in her bare hands, as if she were ready to obliterate an entire mountain.
The crowd screamed and scattered.
"What the—!"
The snitch from earlier paled and fled in panic.
"Prepare for battle!"
The Tenryou Commission samurai roared, charging forward with unwavering resolve.
"How presumptuous!"
Mei let out a cold snort and raised her hand, ready to strike.
Ren quickly grabbed her arm and shouted over the thunder:
"They're real warriors of Inazuma—don't go overboard!"
Though Inazuma was riddled with corruption, Kujou Sara's soldiers were an exception.
At the very least, they were genuine warriors fighting for their homeland.
It wasn't their fault they were stuck under Kujou Takayuki's rotten leadership.
Mei hesitated, her expression softening slightly.
She understood that these samurai were different from those under the Kanjou Commission.
"What do you propose, then?"
"We break through and catch the informant!"
If they could uncover proof of Kujou Takayuki's collusion with the Fatui...
Perhaps they could prevent the Raiden Shogun from reinstating the Vision Hunt Decree!
"Very well."
Mei's eyes locked onto a specific direction.
But the informant had already vanished into the chaos, and more samurai were closing in.
Mei suddenly turned to Ren, her expression calm.
"Hold onto me."
Ren, who was ready to fight, blinked in confusion.
"What did you say—wait, what?!"
Before he could react, an irresistible force wrapped around him.
The next thing he knew, the world spun around him.
In an instant, he found himself in the softest, warmest place he had ever experienced.
A delicate fragrance filled his senses.
Ren's eyes widened in shock.
He saw a slender, snow-white neck and an exquisitely shaped chin...
Wait a second—what was this thing swinging in front of his eyes?!
His mind blanked, and he blurted out:
"Am I being princess-carried?!"
Mei looked down at him, her voice cold.
"Be quiet!"
"Put me down!"
"Shut up!"
"But I'm a man!"
[Ding! Emotional Points from Mei +1!]
Ignoring his protests, Mei leaped into the air, carrying him effortlessly.
Lightning streaked through the sky as she chased after the fleeing informant.
The scene turned bizarrely quiet.
The samurai seemed stunned, as if struck by lightning themselves.
Most of them were single, and none had ever seen such a spectacle before.
Ayaka and Yoimiya stood frozen in shock.
What just happened? Mei had just scooped up Ren and dashed off.
Are all village women this direct when claiming men?!
Kujou Sara's face turned ashen.
Shameless woman.
Not even one ten-thousandth as dignified as the Shogun!
"What are you all standing around for? After them!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
In the distance, a figure with fox ears emerged, leaning against a tree while munching on sunflower seeds.
Even she was momentarily stunned by what she'd just witnessed.
The seed slipped from her fingers, falling to the ground unnoticed.
It was a long moment before the fox-eared woman came back to her senses.
"Incredible, simply incredible!"
She seemed to have fully embraced this role.
Was it because of Ren?
"As expected of you."
Her familiar mischievous smile returned.
Humans were fragile creatures—carrying them was simply more efficient.
On second thought, it wasn't all that surprising.
"My, my, I hope you won't blame me for this."
"After all, if I revealed her identity here..."
"The village girl's city adventure would end right then and there."
"So, have some fun while you can."
"And next time, don't go sulking around."
The fox-eared woman smiled faintly, her voice soft and brimming with amusement.
---
T/N: bro is talking to NO ONE
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