Chapter 415: Hold Tightly

The vast space within Tenshukaku housed a grand training hall.

The walls were adorned with purple-patterned screens, and directly opposite the entrance was the emblem of the Shogun—a three-comma crest.

—This was the interior of Tenshukaku.

—The place where the Raiden Shogun resided and governed all of Inazuma.

In such a vast space, only two people were present at the moment. The Raiden Shogun stood before the three-comma crest, looking down with a calm expression, like a deity living above the clouds.

Below her stood the envoy from Snezhnaya, the leader of the Fatui, known as "La Signora."

The two seemed to be in the midst of a discussion, but their conversation was interrupted by the sudden intrusion of a third party.

A white-furred fox with five tails and unmistakable fox ears.

Li Mo stepped forward, the doors closing behind him as if by his will.

In one hand, he held a sword; in the other, a scroll.

His gaze swept past La Signora, locking directly onto the Raiden Shogun.

"Sir, as a resident of Inazuma, you have trespassed into Tenshukaku and disrupted the conversation between my nation and the Shogun. Do you know what crime you have committed?" La Signora turned and spoke slowly.

She had been in the midst of negotiating with the Raiden Shogun, leveraging her knowledge that the Shogun was a puppet bound by rigid rules. She had been steadily gaining advantages for her side, and just as a critical clause was being debated—with the support of the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions—the Shogun had shown signs of relenting. But then, noise erupted from outside. The Shogun had sent Kujou Sara to deal with the disturbance.

But...

Judging by the current situation, Kujou Sara had not resolved the issue. Instead, she had been defeated.

As La Signora spoke, she discreetly observed the Shogun's expression. The Shogun's gaze was fixed on the intruder, her brow slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought.

It was clear that the Shogun's attention had completely shifted away from the negotiation. How much of their conversation would she remember afterward? No one could be sure.

Even though La Signora could manipulate the rules and knew the Shogun's bottom line, negotiations were exhausting. The Raiden Shogun had her own logic, and extracting concessions from her was no easy task. With this interruption, regaining momentum would likely require twice the effort.

La Signora was furious.

But the next moment, the intruder's response made her even angrier.

"None of your business."

Li Mo's reply was simple and direct.

"This is Inazuma. The only one who can punish me is the Shogun herself. Since the Shogun hasn't spoken, you, a Fatui Harbinger, can shut up."

Simple vulgarity, ultimate satisfaction.

At first glance, Li Mo could tell that La Signora was an arrogant person.

Her condescending demeanor was all too familiar.

La Signora spoke again, "Do you know what you're saying? Do you realize what you've done? Are you trying to ruin diplomatic relations between our nations for Inazuma's benefit?"

"Benefit, Lady Signora? I don't think you're here to bring benefits to Inazuma. From what I've seen, your presence only serves the interests of a select few, while the entire nation suffers.

Moreover, I'd like to know how you explain the Fatui's actions at Tatarasuna and Yashiori Island."

Li Mo's words struck a nerve.

Tatarasuna and Yashiori Island were under the jurisdiction of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Using these incidents to attack La Signora was perfectly justified.

La Signora's expression remained unchanged, but her mind raced as she recalled various reports.

Tatarasuna, Yashiori Island—using these keywords, she pieced together the information. She remembered the reports... and combined with the intruder's distinctive features, it clicked. This was the shrine priest who had repeatedly thwarted the Fatui's plans at Tatarasuna and Yashiori Island.

"Oh? I'm merely an envoy from Snezhnaya. I know nothing of what you speak. On the other hand, as a shrine priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine, aren't you overstepping by meddling in Inazuma's diplomatic affairs?" La Signora retorted.

The three commissions of Inazuma and the Grand Narukami Shrine were of equal standing, each with their own distinct responsibilities.

In principle, none were allowed to interfere in the others' domains.

She was applying pressure.

Li Mo sensed this. She was subtly undermining his position in front of the Shogun. If it were anyone else, out of respect for the Raiden Shogun, they might have panicked and started explaining themselves.

But Li Mo was different.

"The welfare of Inazuma's people is my concern, not yours, 'La Signora.'"

"My apologies, Your Excellency."

La Signora chose to retreat.

The Raiden Shogun was, after all, a puppet created by Ei, a vessel for her will and power. She could be manipulated, but never confronted directly.

La Signora stepped aside, choosing to observe.

Though she said "apologies," her tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

The Shogun might not have noticed, or perhaps she didn't care. But Li Mo heard it clearly.

"You... are of the 'Hakutaku bloodline'?"

The Raiden Shogun finally spoke.

After a long examination, the Shogun had dug deep into her memories to identify his origins.

It was the "Hakutaku bloodline," once common five hundred years ago.

Now, in the present day, only one person carried that bloodline.

According to her memories, the only one in Inazuma who should possess the "Hakutaku bloodline" was Yae Miko.

The more familiar figure had perished five centuries ago.

"Shrine Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Li Mo, greets Your Excellency." Li Mo bowed slightly.

"Why have you come?"

Her memories caused the Raiden Shogun to hesitate for a moment, but the Shogun was still the Shogun—a creation of Ei, a pursuer of eternity. She would not be swayed by past emotions.

Otherwise, Li Mo wouldn't have needed to come here. Yae Miko herself could have resolved the issue.

"I request that Your Excellency revoke the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree."

"This is not the duty of the Grand Narukami Shrine. If you leave now, I will be lenient in your punishment."

His arrival here was unauthorized. To reach this point, he would have had to defeat all the guards protecting Tenshukaku.

That was a crime.

Li Mo would not retreat just because of the Shogun's words. He raised the scroll in his hand. "The shrine priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine may not intervene in this matter. But... if the Shogun commands the head shrine maiden, who governs all of Inazuma, then she can decide matters concerning every aspect of the nation!"

The Raiden Shogun's attention focused on the scroll in Li Mo's hand.

She possessed all of Ei's memories and recognized the handwriting—it was Lady Saiguu's.

Five hundred years ago, Lady Saiguu had acted as the Raiden Shogun's proxy.

The document he held must be from that time.

"Then, I declare the document in your hand null and void. Your previous actions, though unauthorized, will not be punished."

"So, Your Excellency insists on maintaining the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree? Why? Because of these decrees, Inazuma's commerce is withering, and the people are suffering. Has Your Excellency paid any attention to the plight of the common folk?"

"Because it is eternity."

Of course...

Li Mo knew that further words would be futile. Ei had programmed the Shogun to enforce the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree as core directives. Even Ei herself would struggle to change the Shogun's mind. It would take years of resistance to alter her stance.

He couldn't change the Shogun's mind with words.

If it were Ei, she might have asked why. But the Shogun showed no intention of questioning.

Then... it seemed the original plan was the only way.

Li Mo closed his eyes, then opened them again.

"I do not believe that is eternity."

He tightened his grip on the sword in his hand.