Chapter 409: Three Questions

The night was dark and the wind howled—a perfect setting for mischief. Without light, most people would be blind, making it an ideal time for sneaky activities.

But Li Mo wasn't a thief, nor did he plan to do anything bad.

Like a ghost, he left the Komore Teahouse, gliding over rooftops, his destination being the Statue of the Omnipresent God.

The statue itself wasn't important. Even though it was modeled after the Raiden Shogun and served as the best raw material for the "Idol Theory," it paled in comparison to the heart of the divine.

Avoiding pedestrians, Li Mo moved through the night. Though it was late, the night market was bustling. Inazuma's street vendors thrived, offering everything from food to masks and snacks. The Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree had impacted the people's livelihoods, but they hadn't completely destroyed them. People tightened their belts and managed to get by.

The current crowd was a fraction of what it used to be. How lively must it have been before the decrees took effect?

Shielding his presence, Li Mo arrived before the Statue of the Omnipresent God. The massive statue forced him to look up. Embedded in it were Visions of various colors, adorning the statue with a sense of grandeur.

The statue's face vaguely resembled the Shogun's, as it was modeled after her. Its eyes were closed, and its lips were slightly downturned, as if deep in thought.

The cold statue resembled an indifferent deity.

Li Mo's attention shifted from the statue itself to the Visions embedded within it. Each Vision represented someone's wish. It was said that when a person's desire reached its peak, the gods would gaze upon them and grant them a Vision.

But what was a Vision, really?

At its core, it was nothing more than an external magical organ, not unlike the artificial mystic eyes he had once crafted for Matou Shinji in Fuyuki City.

"Just as I thought," Li Mo murmured, sensing the energy emanating from the Visions.

Each Vision had once belonged to someone.

These individuals were all exceptional in their fields, skilled in combat. Perhaps they hadn't been warriors before obtaining their Visions, but with the power of a Vision, their abilities grew. Through battles with monsters, they eventually became adept fighters.

Using these Visions as materials, Li Mo could extract the concept of "Inazuma's warriors."

The final piece of the puzzle for the "Musou no Hitotachi" was now complete.

"Thanks to all the confiscated Visions being placed on the Statue of the Omnipresent God," Li Mo thought.

The statue's prototype was the Raiden Shogun. Li Mo, possessing a Vision, could easily cloak himself in the "Raiden Shogun's" guise, creating a mystical connection between the two.

Turning back, Li Mo didn't retrace his steps. On his way here, he had taken the shortest path. But now, he chose a detour, and in doing so, he encountered a familiar face.

Arataki Itto was undoubtedly an outlier in Inazuma. In a crowd, it was rare to find someone as naive and foolish as him.

He was the classic archetype often seen in anime—his thought process was worlds apart from that of a normal person. Yet, at times, he seemed to possess a hidden wisdom.

Of course, Itto alone wouldn't have caught Li Mo's attention. It was the green-haired girl beside him who drew his gaze.

That was Kuki Shinobu.

...

...

"Boss, do you feel like someone's watching us?"

"Nah, must be your imagination," Arataki Itto mumbled through a mouthful of dango.

"Boss, isn't that the last stick of dango for today?"

"Yeah, yeah."

Kuki Shinobu narrowed her eyes, recalling that she had left him alone for a while earlier.

"Boss, did you dip into the gang's funds again?"

"Me? Never! I'd never touch the gang's money! I used my own cash!"

Shinobu sighed. "Boss, remember what I said? These are tough times."

"I know, I know. I just had one extra stick, that's all."

Itto knew that life had been hard for the Arataki Gang lately. For some reason, temporary jobs in Inazuma City had become scarce, making it difficult for people like them who relied on odd jobs to get by.

Shinobu sighed again. "Boss, just don't let it happen again."

"Got it," Itto said, his voice low.

At the next intersection, Shinobu and Itto parted ways. Both had homes in Inazuma City, but they lived in different areas.

Born into the Kuki family, Shinobu wasn't short on money. If she were willing to swallow her pride and return home, she wouldn't have to live so frugally. But she refused. She knew her family still hoped she would become a shrine maiden at the Grand Narukami Shrine.

A few days ago, her sister, Kuki Aoi, had returned from Yashiori Island and visited her in the city. Despite avoiding the Grand Narukami Shrine, her sister had somehow found her.

Since when did shrine maidens have so much free time?

Shinobu removed her mask and took a deep breath of fresh air. Her sister's words echoed in her mind. Surprisingly, Aoi hadn't pressured her to return to the shrine. Instead, she had asked about Shinobu's well-being, worried that she wasn't living comfortably in the city.

Shinobu was used to her family's constant urging, but this time, her sister's lack of pressure felt strange.

"Who's there?"

Suddenly, Shinobu felt that gaze again. She turned and saw a man in priestly robes standing nearby.

When had he appeared there?

Shinobu was certain that no one had been there moments ago. He had seemingly materialized out of thin air.

"Kuki Shinobu, right? You look a lot like Aoi."

"You must be the shrine priest my sister mentioned. What do you want?"

Shinobu was on high alert.

Li Mo said, "I happened to see you and thought I'd stop by. No need to be so tense. I'm not here to drag you back to the shrine. Shinobu, I know you've been living in Inazuma City since returning from Liyue. I want to know, from your experience over the past few years, do you think Inazuma is on the rise or in decline? You don't need to go into detail—just tell me if it's improving or worsening."

Shinobu frowned. "Why are you asking this?"

Hearing that he wasn't there to force her back to the shrine, her tone softened.

Li Mo pressed, "Your answer?"

"Definitely in decline. My idiot boss can't even find odd jobs anymore."

"Is that so? Shinobu, do you think Inazuma needs to change?" Li Mo asked.

Shinobu hesitated. "How do I put this? I respect the Shogun's decisions, but... don't you think something needs to change? I don't see any benefits in the current situation."

"One last question. Do you think others feel the same way?"

"People don't say it out loud, but they complain sometimes. They don't understand the Shogun's decisions."

"Thank you for your cooperation."

With that, Li Mo turned and left.

Shinobu watched him disappear, then muttered to herself, "Why was I so polite to him?"

Meanwhile, back at the Komore Teahouse, Li Mo returned to his seat. He looked at Thoma, who was still puzzled, and said, "It's time for a fresh pot of tea, Thoma."