Chapter 4: The Reserved General

"Ha—!"

Inside the Tenshukaku, Liam yawned, feeling a bit lethargic.

"Neglecting rest is not something a proper warrior should do," the Shogun glanced at Liam, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.

"Ah! I couldn't help it. Some things happened, and I was too excited to sleep last night!" Liam replied weakly. Learning that he had become a walking nuclear bomb capable of destroying Teyvat at any moment would unsettle anyone.

"Your mindset still needs honing. As my disciple, it's my responsibility to teach you," the Raiden Shogun said slowly.

"Yes, Master, I understand," Liam responded, following the Shogun's words. After all, finding out one could accidentally destroy the world would make anyone a bit uneasy.

"Prepare yourself. In a few hours, I will announce to all of Inazuma that you are my personal disciple. I hope you will take an active interest in Inazuma's affairs," the Raiden Shogun instructed, the last part of her message clearly relayed by Ei.

"Since you are Inazuma's deity, and I am your personal disciple, it's my duty to care for Inazuma's matters!" Liam wouldn't refuse such an offer. He had long been displeased with the corrupt officials when playing the main storyline. Now, as the Raiden Shogun's personal disciple, how could he not deal with them? Especially the Tenryou Commission!

Outside the Tenshukaku,

"Brother, what kind of person do you think the Shogun's new disciple will be?" a beautiful girl with a high white ponytail, wearing a gradient blue kimono dress, and with a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, asked the young man beside her.

"Hehe, Ayaka, I haven't seen the person, so how could I know their temperament? But since they have gained the Shogun's approval, they must not be a bad person," the man replied gently. He wore a white and blue high-collared kimono that complemented his serene demeanor.

These two were the Kamisato siblings, Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka of the Yashiro Commission.

"Sigh~!" Kamisato Ayaka sighed, worried. The recently issued Sakoku Decree, followed by the emergence of the Shogun's personal disciple, was a significant matter. She hoped it wouldn't lead to trouble.

In fact, it wasn't just the Yashiro Commission; the other two Commissions, the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, also had varying thoughts about the sudden appearance of the Shogun's personal disciple. The Tenryou Commission was relatively at ease since Kujou Sara had already met Liam and had some understanding of him.

Regardless of what the leaders of the Three Commissions thought, it wouldn't affect Liam. He intended to deal with those old officials sooner or later.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon.

The representatives from the Three Commissions were all present outside the Tenshukaku, along with many Inazuma citizens eager to see what the Shogun's personal disciple looked like.

As time ticked by, the Raiden Shogun stepped out of the Tenshukaku, followed by Liam, who had changed into a new set of clothes.

According to Kujou Sara, as the Shogun's personal disciple, Liam couldn't embarrass the Shogun with shabby attire, so a new outfit had been rushed overnight. It was quite well-made.

"The Shogun is finally out!" In an instant, all eyes were on the Raiden Shogun. Liam could feel many gazes filled with almost fanatical devotion, and the crowd began to buzz with excitement.

The unwavering faith in the first generation of gods among the people was evident. Even the Anemo Archon, who hadn't appeared in Mondstadt for centuries, was revered. People would often say, "May the Anemo Archon protect you!"

"Silence!" the Raiden Shogun commanded. Her tone, though calm, carried an overwhelming presence that quickly silenced the crowd.

Once the crowd was quiet, the Raiden Shogun spoke again, "Liam, step forward."

Liam promptly moved to stand beside the Raiden Shogun.

With a cold expression, the Raiden Shogun scanned the Three Commissions and the citizens of Inazuma, then announced, "This is Liam, my personal disciple. Henceforth, he will be the Lone Vanquisher pursuing the path of eternity. He is granted the authority of the Thunder of Justice to govern the Shogunate and command the Three Commissions."

The entire assembly was stunned. No one expected the Raiden Shogun to bestow such immense power on this suddenly appearing disciple. Was she preparing him to be the next Electro Archon?

The senior members of the Three Commissions had varied reactions. The Yashiro Commission worried about the new disciple's character, while the other two Commissions were displeased about a new superior suddenly being placed above them.

Typically, the Raiden Shogun seldom appeared, allowing the Commissions almost free rein in Inazuma. Now, they were uncertain about the attitude of this new personal disciple.

Even Liam was surprised. He thought it would merely be an announcement of his status as the Shogun's disciple, but the Raiden Shogun had given him substantial authority, essentially making him Inazuma's Crown Prince!

The Raiden Shogun noticed the reactions from the Three Commissions but said nothing. These instructions came from Ei. She suggested that since Liam was now their personal disciple, he might as well handle some of Inazuma's affairs, allowing them to better pursue eternity. The Raiden Shogun found this reasonable and thus granted Liam the position, enabling her to take a more hands-off approach.

"Liam, say a few words," the Raiden Shogun prompted.

Liam snapped out of his surprise. Though unexpected, this arrangement suited him well. It would make dealing with those corrupt officials much easier. After the Raiden Shogun's prompt, Liam stepped forward.

All eyes were now on Liam, the Shogun's personal disciple. Though not accustomed to being the center of attention, Liam's thick skin helped him manage.

"Citizens of Inazuma! My master has entrusted me with this great responsibility, and I will not let her down. I will contribute to Inazuma's development. However, in this process, I might inevitably offend some people. Those contemplating harming me should remember my identity. My master is the most exalted being here, the true deity of Inazuma. I am her sole personal disciple and a pursuer of eternity. If anything happens to me, do you think a god wouldn't trace it back to you? I hope you keep this in mind!"

Liam's voice rang out clearly to the Three Commissions and the gathered citizens.

The Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions' representatives looked displeased, feeling as if Liam's words were directed at them.

Change was coming to Inazuma!

...

The ceremony for the crown prince's investiture was a resounding success. The crowd outside Tenshukaku gradually dispersed, and the various officials, each with their own thoughts, returned to their respective posts.

"Master, have some of this. I just went out to buy it," Liam said as he handed a dango milk to the Raiden Shogun.

"What is this?" The Raiden Shogun looked at the dango milk in her hand with a puzzled expression.

"This is a type of dessert. I've tried it, and it tastes quite good. I believe you'll like it too," Liam explained, knowing that the Raiden Shogun had never tasted dango milk before.

"Sweet food can cause cavities and harm the body's functions," the Raiden Shogun refused directly.

"Don't worry. Eating a little occasionally is fine. Besides, you're a god. How could a bit of dessert give you cavities?" Liam reassured her.

"This..." The Raiden Shogun was still hesitant. If outsiders saw this scene, they would be shocked. The cold and imposing Raiden Shogun, stumped by a dessert—this was hard to believe.

Liam took a sip of the dango milk himself, then flashed a bright smile, revealing his spotless white teeth. "See, Master? A little bit won't give you cavities."

He handed the dango milk back to the Raiden Shogun. Seeing her disciple's sincerity, she took a sip.

"How does it taste, Master?" Liam asked, looking at her expectantly.

"Not bad," the Raiden Shogun nodded slowly and continued drinking.

Watching the somewhat naive and rigid Raiden Shogun, Liam couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Taking advantage of someone as innocent as the General—wasn't that a bit too unscrupulous?

But he had to admit, the General looked rather cute with her simple and earnest demeanor when she wasn't wielding her sword.

"Master, why did you suddenly give me so much power?" Liam asked the Raiden Shogun.

"You are my direct disciple, which means you are someone I trust. Moreover, as you said, you are now a pursuer of eternity. I believe you won't do anything to harm eternity. Feel free to act boldly. If there's any issue, you can come to me," the Raiden Shogun said plainly, her words full of trust in Liam, leaving him unsure whether to laugh or cry.

True to the pure lineage of Ei, she really did trust him completely. It was fortunate he wasn't a bad person; otherwise, with his position as the crown prince, he could easily bring ruin to Inazuma.

And wasn't he Ei's disciple? How could the General trust him so unreservedly?

If it weren't for the General's reserved nature, Inazuma wouldn't be in its current state.

"Master, you shouldn't trust people so easily in the future," Liam sighed, feeling a bit helpless.

"You don't know what those old foxes have been up to behind your back! Inazuma is almost in shambles because of them!"

"Can I trust you?" The Raiden Shogun asked calmly, looking directly at Liam.

"Yes, I won't do anything to harm Inazuma. But Master, you must understand that not everyone is like me. Although it might sound a bit self-congratulatory, I consider myself a good person," Liam replied earnestly.

"Good," the Raiden Shogun nodded slightly, her face still cold. Then she looked at Liam and asked, "Liam, what do you think of eternity?"

Liam: "..."

The General was really not holding back. This was a tricky question. If it were any other question, he could have easily brushed it off given the General's reserved nature. But eternity—this was a bit troublesome.

After thinking for a while, Liam asked the Raiden Shogun, "Master, what is your view of eternity?"

"As long as people move forward, they will lose things. The nations that once advanced with all their might are now extinct. Only by making everything stand still can Inazuma achieve eternal life," the Raiden Shogun answered decisively.

"I see..." Liam wasn't surprised. He knew these things, but he also knew the Raiden Shogun was wrong. Changing her mind would be very difficult, especially since Ei had blocked any avenues for change—a brilliant move on her part.

"My view of eternity might differ slightly from yours, Master, but the pursuit is essentially the same," Liam said, shaking his head. He didn't openly criticize the Raiden Shogun but gently hinted that their views might differ.

"What is your view of eternity, then?" The Raiden Shogun asked, her sole pursuit being eternity, making her curious about Liam's different perspective.

"I won't say it now. When the time is right, I'll tell you, Master," Liam replied, shaking his head. As for when the time would be right—when he could defeat the Raiden Shogun, perhaps. For now, he was safe. If the General decided to cut him down, turning him into the Herrscher of the End, the entire Teyvat would be in big trouble, turning into a complete eternity.

"Very well," the Raiden Shogun said. Her eyes flashed with purple light, and her expression visibly became more lively.

Was Ei here?

"Master, do you have a split personality?" Liam asked, feigning confusion. The stark contrast was too apparent. If he couldn't notice it while being around Ei all the time, he would be considered a fool.

Ei didn't expect Liam to notice the difference so quickly and nodded, "Yes, you could say that. I am Ei, and that is the Raiden Shogun. We can be considered the same person. The General is usually the one outside; I rarely appear."

Ei smiled as she explained.

"Why did you come out, Master?" Liam asked.

"Well, yesterday you promised to tell me a story from another world. I saw you were tired, so I didn't bother you then. But today, you must tell me some stories!" Ei's eyes sparkled with excitement. She had been craving these otherworldly stories for a long time.

Liam: "..."

He didn't expect Ei to be so eager, but he nodded. This was a great chance to get closer to her. Once he had enough favor, he would play the role of the rebellious disciple.

[Ding~! Task triggered: Tell Ei a story!]

[Task reward: 320 imaginary points, one set of spatial manipulation technology]

"I didn't expect a task from the system! This spatial manipulation technology should help develop the Herrscher of the Void core. The reward is quite good," Liam thought.

"If Master wants to hear it, I'll tell you," Liam cleared his throat and began, "Let me tell you a healthy, positive, and uplifting story..."