Chapter 394: Not in a Hurry

"Dragon's Remnant Shadows" had all been recalled into the shadows, and the small-scale battles had come to an end. Li Mo later visited multiple battlefields to observe. He could see the destruction caused by elemental energy, but there were no enemies—not even corpses left behind.

The shadow creatures created by Li Mo's "Dragon's Remnant Shadows" weren't particularly strong, and their numbers were limited. While they didn't exert much pressure, the discipline and orderliness of the enemy were another matter entirely.

They had even managed to retrieve their dead during the battle.

Li Mo wasn't one to dwell on things he couldn't change. If he couldn't catch the Fatui red-handed, so be it. He could endure the humiliation of being hit by a cannonball for now.

Still, today was undeniably a day of embarrassment and loss of dignity. But since few had witnessed it, it was almost as if it had never happened.

After leaving Xavier at the Kujou Encampment, Li Mo considered the situation in Tatarasuna resolved. The next issue to address was Yashiori Island, where the Orobashi's wards had been destroyed. A replacement would be needed.

But first, he needed to return to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

This time, he brought Aki with him. Since his true form had already been revealed, Li Mo saw no point in hiding it any longer. He simply grabbed Aki and flew across the sea, returning to Narukami Island.

"Lord Li Mo, why did you ask the political officer about the whereabouts of those Fatui agents? Are you worried that the Tenryou Commission is colluding with the Fatui?"

"How did you guess my thoughts, Aki? Was it that obvious?" Li Mo asked.

Aki replied, "Because your attitude toward the soldiers at the Kujou Encampment wasn't very friendly."

"Was it really that obvious?" Li Mo chuckled. "The situation in Tatarasuna is just too strange. It's not far from the Kujou Encampment, yet the soldiers didn't respond to the Fatui's activities. It's suspicious."

Aki said, "The Fatui have a transactional relationship with the Tenryou Commission, and there are orders from above. The soldiers at the Kujou Encampment probably couldn't do much about it."

"Just letting a third party operate near the battlefield like that?" Li Mo said. "Tatarasuna is a military stronghold, isn't it? And that cannon shot from the Fatui—it wasn't a small disturbance. Yet, Kujou Takayuki only gave a vague promise to investigate. Do you think they'll actually find anything?"

Based on the direction and trajectory of the cannon shot, it likely came from the "Divine Cannon of Narukami," a secret weapon the Tenryou Commission had prepared to counter the resistance forces. It utilized technology from Fontaine and required Electro energy to operate... Of course, that wasn't the point. The point was that Li Mo knew the Shogunate had abandoned those cannons for various reasons, and they were now left unattended.

What a waste of resources.

And in the end, one of those cannons had been used against him.

For all he knew, the explosion at the Mikage Furnace might have been caused by a cannon shot.

"Lord Li Mo, are you starting to suspect the Tenryou Commission?"

"The turmoil caused by the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree is already quite apparent, isn't it?" Li Mo said. "I could see the signs of unrest before I left. The powder keg had already been buried back then. The Vision Hunt Decree was just the fuse. Even without it, the accumulated tensions would have exploded on their own eventually."

Aki chose to remain silent.

No one dared to openly criticize the Almighty Shogun's decisions, but it was hard not to feel doubtful about the current state of Inazuma.

Li Mo glanced at Aki. "You said that blonde traveler, Lumine, has joined the resistance, right?"

"Yes, Lord Li Mo."

"Then it seems Lady Yae will be making her move soon."

The Raiden Shogun had been avoiding Yae Miko. As a warrior, the Shogun was exceptionally decisive. In her pursuit of eternity, she had even distanced herself from her closest friend, fearing that any change in her resolve would weaken her.

The topic was dropped. Li Mo didn't think Yae Miko would share her plans with others. The shrine maidens of the Grand Narukami Shrine shouldn't be dragged into this storm.

Yae Miko was an exception. Her status was transcendent. She was the Raiden Shogun's last remaining friend. Even the ancient tanuki, Ioroi, who had been sealed away for centuries, was no longer part of the power structure.

On the way back to Narukami Island, Aki decided to return midway, coincidentally meeting a group of shrine maidens from the Grand Narukami Shrine who were heading to Tatarasuna. Having already learned about the situation in Kujou Village, she decided to join them to investigate.

Given the proximity of the village to the resistance's main camp, Li Mo sent the remaining shrine maiden familiars with them. Sangonomiya Kokomi was a smart individual. She had framed the resistance's goal as "advising" the Shogunate—though in Li Mo's memory, Kokomi wasn't particularly skilled in military affairs. She was a jack-of-all-trades, overseeing every aspect of Watatsumi Island's governance.

The fact that she hadn't died from overwork was likely due to her status as the Divine Priestess.

Li Mo flew directly over Narukami Island, heading straight for Mount Yougou. Unlike before, when he had to go through the hassle of climbing up and down the mountain, he now relied on his ability to fly, landing directly at the summit where the Grand Narukami Shrine stood.

Inagi Hitomi's eyes widened. "Lord Li Mo, you're back?"

"Long time no see, Miss Hitomi. Is Yae here? I need to talk to her."

"There aren't many visitors today. The Guuji is enjoying tea in front of the Sacred Sakura."

"Understood."

Without further pleasantries, Li Mo strode into the Grand Narukami Shrine. He was no longer wearing his priestly robes, as they had been destroyed by the cannon shot in Tatarasuna. But with his face, he could enter without issue.

Along the way, he briefly greeted the shrine maidens he encountered and even helped Kano Nana locate Sayu's sleeping spot—the little girl had overslept again.

Yes, after a night of travel, Li Mo had finally returned from Tatarasuna to Mount Yougou. What seemed like a small area in the game was, in reality, a considerable distance.

Under the sunlight, Li Mo stepped into the courtyard where the Sacred Sakura stood. It was morning, and there were no visitors around.

The ever-blooming Sacred Sakura was adorned with pink flowers, their fragrance filling the air.

Yae Miko sat gracefully in front of the Sacred Sakura, leisurely savoring a cup of tea.

In the entire Grand Narukami Shrine, only she could sit before the Sacred Sakura.

The sunlight illuminated Yae Miko's profile, making her look like a noble lady from a painter's masterpiece—elegant, refined, and beautiful.

Li Mo walked straight over, disrupting the serene atmosphere. "Long time no see, Yae Miko."

"Since when have we become so formal?"

"Alright then, Yae. About Hanachirusato... I saved her."

A night of travel had given Li Mo plenty of time to think. As he entered the shrine, there were only two things he needed to discuss.

"And where is she?"

"I couldn't bring her back."

"Oh, I see. Would you like some breakfast? You look like you're in a hurry. Have some pastries to fill your stomach."

"There's one more thing. The wards on Yashiori Island have been destroyed."

Yae Miko remained unfazed, gently lifting a pastry and popping it into her mouth.

The only sound in the air was the soft crunch of her chewing.