Chapter 412: Inuzuma and Raiden Shogun

Today in Inazuma, there is heavy rain, but no wind or thunder.

If one isn't burdened by the struggles of daily life, sitting comfortably at home with a cup of hot tea, listening to the gentle patter of rain on the eaves, is undoubtedly a delightful experience.

But how many people in Inazuma are truly free from such burdens?

Li Mo stepped through the gate and into the courtyard, re-entering the rain. This was the Tenryou Commission headquarters, the central hub of the commission. The architecture here was lavish, with no expense spared. Upon entering the courtyard, one could immediately see artificial mountains and streams, lush and meticulously maintained vegetation—clearly, the owner of this place took great pride in the garden.

But Li Mo's gaze shifted away.

The officers of the Tenryou Commission were no fools. Becoming an officer required passing rigorous examinations, and these men and women were the best among their peers.

They quickly noticed Li Mo.

To them, a stranger in priestly robes was unusual.

A stranger appearing here without prior notice could only mean one thing: an enemy.

Li Mo watched as they drew their weapons, only to then see them all slump to the ground, overcome by drowsiness.

To him, soldiers without Visions were no different from ordinary people.

They posed no more threat than children.

"Your Excellency."

Kamisato Ayaka arrived late.

She checked the fallen officers. They weren't dead—just breathing steadily, as if they had fallen into a deep sleep. When she looked up, she saw that all the officers in the courtyard had collapsed.

The shrine priest from the Grand Narukami Shrine was a force beyond her understanding.

Despite not having a Vision, he could wield various powers. He was even more formidable than her traveler friend, Lumine.

Who was he?

Ayaka stood under her umbrella, not stepping into the rain. She watched as the shrine priest entered the building. Moments later, a familiar figure was thrown out, landing unceremoniously in the rain, unable to move.

Ayaka recognized him—it was Kujou Takayuki, the head of the Kujou Clan.

She had met him many times before. In her memory, he was a capable elder. During the decline of the Yashiro Commission, it was the Tenryou Commission that maintained order in Inazuma. Before the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree were enacted, life in Inazuma had been relatively good. At the very least, the security in Inazuma City had always been excellent.

But now, there was no trace of the commanding presence he once had.

Ayaka didn't know what had transpired between the two, but she saw the shrine priest smile.

Then, without a care, he left.

"I'm heading to Tenshukaku. Are you coming, Ayaka?" Li Mo asked. "But think carefully. Tenshukaku and the Tenryou Commission headquarters are not the same."

"Ayaka will follow you."

"Then be careful. I might not be able to protect you."

Ayaka glanced around. No one else was standing. She asked, "Will Kujou-sama just lie there like that?"

"That fool? Don't worry, he won't die. I couldn't even be bothered to deal with him."

Kujou Takayuki was even worse than Muzan Kibutsuji.

Li Mo continued, "I originally planned to kill him. In his room, I found a large number of documents. He had kept all his correspondence with the Fatui. Oh, and it wasn't official business—it was personal."

Official business and personal correspondence were two different things.

If it were the former, it would mean official dealings between Inazuma and the Fatui, which would be normal. But the latter... Why would the head of the Kujou Clan be privately communicating with a foreign power?

Li Mo walked forward, explaining, "Some time ago, the explosion at Tatarasuna and the destruction of the wards on Yashiori Island—both had the Fatui's fingerprints all over them. This unnecessary workload is the source of my anger.

But... do you know what? I've never seen such a fool, such an idiot. I asked him, 'The Fatui are the military force of Snezhnaya, an organization completely different from the Adventurers' Guild. Aren't you worried?' And he said, 'With the Raiden Shogun here, such problems are no concern.'

Relying on the Shogun's power to ignore all risks? What's the point of having him, then? What's the point of the Tenryou Commission?

Even a dog would be more useful than him."

Li Mo recalled the scene. He should have been frustrated, but thinking of Kujou Takayuki's expression, he laughed again.

"What's even funnier is that I could tell he truly believed in the Raiden Shogun when he said that. Ah, I don't understand. In his eyes, what is the Raiden Shogun? A deity? But to me... it feels like he's treating her as nothing more than a hired thug."

Ayaka understood why Kujou Takayuki had looked so pale when they left.

"Ayaka, do you know what authority is?"

"Perhaps... it's the Shogun's mandate," Ayaka replied.

Li Mo nodded. "Yes, that's authority. But that's just the surface. Why does the Raiden Shogun have the power to delegate? Is it because of her strength? But even with such immense power, why hasn't Watatsumi Island been fully integrated into the Shogunate's system?"

"Authority seems to flow from the top down, but in reality, it's built from the bottom up. It's because the people of Inazuma believe in the Raiden Shogun that they follow the rules set by the commissions. But trust can be destroyed.

The Vision Hunt Decree is a perfect example. When this decree was announced, many people chose to resist. The resistance army grew so large precisely because trust had been broken.

Yet, while people resist the Vision Hunt Decree, they still instinctively believe in the Raiden Shogun. Everyone knows the decree is the Shogun's will... This contradiction is enough to tear everything apart, causing immense pain. That's why I have to say, Sangonomiya Kokomi is an incredibly strong woman, able to soothe the minds of her people."

The fact that the resistance army could hold its own against the Tenryou Commission was already an impressive feat. Even with support from the Yashiro Commission and the Fatui, the Tenryou Commission was backed by the Kanjou Commission, which controlled Inazuma's wealth.

Sangonomiya Kokomi might not seem like a military genius, but considering she handled everything from internal affairs to military strategy to diplomacy—all without faltering—it was truly remarkable.

Li Mo didn't expect a response from Ayaka, nor did he need one.

After meeting Kujou Takayuki, he had come to a deeper realization.

In Inazuma, everyone was either a devout follower of the Raiden Shogun or a twisted version of one.

Even on Watatsumi Island, where the people still worshipped the Great Serpent, they had grown accustomed to living under the Shogun's lightning.

So...

"Shirasagi Himegimi..."

A samurai general stepped forward to question them, but the next moment, he was overcome by drowsiness and collapsed.

Li Mo walked past him.

The Raiden Shogun's problems were Inazuma's problems.

Therefore, to solve Inazuma's issues, one only needed to resolve the Shogun's inner turmoil.

He walked through the main gate, looking up at the towering Tenshukaku.