206: Beidou Bombards Ritou

Upon seeing Beidou, the newcomer visibly let out a sigh of relief.

She quickly stepped forward and whispered,

"Sorry, Sister Beidou, I had to spend some time avoiding attention on the way…"

Beidou chuckled, patting Kamisato Ayaka on the shoulder.

"No problem. It's not too late to leave now. But you and Kazuha really have the same timid spirit. You could've just come openly—why all the sneaking around?"

Ayaka gave a wry smile and shook her head.

"I didn't want to cause trouble for the Alcor. Just having you escort me to Liyue is already a huge favor."

"Trouble? This?"

Beidou let out a hearty laugh.

She was smuggling Kamisato Ayaka—taking her across Inazuma's raging thunderstorm and into Liyue.

They should be just in time for the Rite of Descension.

This was Ayaka's request.

After learning about the alchemical potion, she had tossed and turned, sleepless, and finally decided she needed to speak to Ningguang in person.

Inazuma couldn't go on like this.

In the past few days, Ayaka had seen too many ordinary citizens ravaged by war and monsters.

She couldn't stand by and watch those people continue to suffer.

If possible, Ayaka even wanted to ask the Geo Archon to personally negotiate with the Raiden Shogun.

After all, the people were innocent.

If there was a nation among the seven capable of swiftly quelling Inazuma's chaos, it was undoubtedly Liyue.

But the biggest problem wasn't crossing the storm barrier—it was...

Would Liyue even agree?

Not interfering in other nations' domestic affairs was a strict Liyue principle, upheld by the Geo Archon himself.

And Ayaka knew well—her asking Liyue to intervene in quelling civil unrest was already far beyond appropriate.

If there was even a sliver of hope that Inazuma could resolve things on its own, Ayaka wouldn't make such a burdensome request.

But the Shogun remained in seclusion.

The Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree continued to strangle the nation.

The resistance and Shogunate clashed constantly.

No one had the resources to eliminate the monsters, even on Narukami Island, where the Shogun resided—they ran rampant.

The people were in deep misery.

Among the Tri-Commission, the Kamisato Clan had once objected to the Vision Hunt Decree and now found themselves sidelined by the Shogun.

The other two Commissions were suppressing the Yashiro Commission.

No matter how brilliant her brother was, it was nearly impossible for him to overturn the current situation.

Now, all they could do was barely hold on, distributing aid to the suffering citizens when possible.

The situation was dire.

Ayaka had to take action to save Inazuma.

Beidou understood Ayaka's burden and sighed lightly.

"My old friend isn't that easy to convince. All I can do is get you there—the rest is up to you."

"I understand."

Ayaka nodded and took a deep breath.

"You've already done more than enough for us, Sister Beidou. From here on, it's up to us Inazumans to earn our own future."

Beidou didn't argue. Though deep down, she doubted Ayaka would succeed.

Even as an old friend, it was rare for Ningguang to agree to anything Beidou asked.

Let alone for someone like Ayaka.

And there was no way the Geo Archon himself would personally mediate something like this with the Raiden Shogun.

Shaking her head, Beidou turned to let Ayaka and Kazuha board the ship—when she suddenly stopped.

"Heh…"

Beidou's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Looks like some clueless little mice have wandered in."

Just as she spoke, several hundred Tenryou Commission soldiers flooded into the port. Leading them was the head of the Hiiragi clan and Inspector of Ritou, Hiiragi Shinsuke.

Striding forward arrogantly, he stopped a hundred meters from Beidou.

He took note of the black-robed figures beside her—Kazuha and Ayaka—and called out loudly:

"Captain Beidou! Why are you trying to smuggle out Inazumans? Are you unaware of the Shogun's Sakoku Decree?"

Beidou raised a brow and glanced at Kazuha and Ayaka, who were already battle-ready.

"What the hell does it have to do with you?"

Hiiragi's face darkened, and his tone turned harsh.

"We received a report! Captain Beidou is sheltering Vision Hunt fugitives! The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions have come to apprehend you. Don't make a mistake—this is Inazuman business!"

Beidou's expression grew even more mocking.

"Oh yeah? Still none of your damn business."

"You—!"

"What about me?"

Beidou drew her greatsword and pointed it straight at Hiiragi Shinsuke.

"Old bastard, the only reason I haven't sliced you in half is out of respect for your so-called Shogun. If you don't know your place, I'll gladly send you all to the bottom of the sea!"

Her aura erupted—an overwhelming wave of elemental power surged over the area.

As the fearless pirate who once slew a sea beast, Beidou was without question one of Liyue's top combatants.

These soldiers, despite their numbers, were nothing compared to her.

Hiiragi stumbled back a step, flushed with anger.

"Captain Beidou! This is Inazuman territory—not Liyue! Do you really think we won't strike back?!"

"The Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees are the Shogun's will—they have nothing to do with you!"

Beidou stood tall with her greatsword resting on her shoulder.

Her presence alone made Kazuha and Ayaka feel reassured.

"So what? Tell your Shogun to come talk to me herself. Who the hell are you to speak to me like that?"

Then, she casually reached out and pulled back Kazuha's hood, revealing his face.

With a teasing smile, she said:

"See clearly? This is Kaedehara Kazuha—the 'fugitive' you're after. Go ahead. Arrest him."

The Tenryou Commission troops stirred, lifting their weapons and stepping forward.

Beidou snorted, raising her hand.

"Zongzuo! Where the hell are you? Your captain is being threatened—just gonna sit there and watch?"

From the Alcor, not far away, a voice rang out cheerfully.

"Fire the cannons! Let's boost our captain's prestige!"

Boom!

Several cannons on the Crux Fleet's flagship thundered, crashing into the waters near the dock. The splash drenched Hiiragi Shinsuke and his men.

Beidou grinned and shouted:

"That aim was off, Zongzuo! Look carefully—these guys are pointing weapons at me!"

"Understood, Captain!"

The cannon barrels swiveled ominously, aiming directly at the Tenryou Commission soldiers.

Beidou raised her hand slightly, and panic broke out among the soldiers—they hastily dropped their weapons and retreated.

Beidou sneered.

"This is the kind of trash that dares threaten me? Who gave you that courage?"

Hiiragi Shinsuke fumed but involuntarily stepped back.

"You dare start a war on Inazuman soil?! Do you want to spark conflict between Liyue and Inazuma?! Do you really think the Shogun won't retaliate?!"

"War with Liyue? You think you're worthy?"

Beidou let out a boisterous laugh, as if she'd heard the funniest joke.

"A bunch of useless dogs sitting on their asses—and you dare talk about war with Liyue? Do you even qualify?"

"Say another word, and I'll dump every last one of you into the sea. When I return to Liyue, I'll tell the Qixing that you were plotting against Liyue's land."

"I'd like to see how you pathetic, rotten fools plan to face our Qianyan Army, and your oh-so-distant Shogun who ignores her people's suffering…"

"How will you stand against the Lord of Geo and the might of the immortals descending upon you?"

Beidou, full of heroic spirit, stood alone against hundreds of Tenryou Commission soldiers—and yet completely overwhelmed them.

Behind her wasn't just the powerful Alcor, but the might of Liyue itself.

If nothing else, those brave and battle-hardened crewmembers aboard the Alcor, each carrying alchemical potions, could tear these soldiers apart with just a few dozen men.

Beidou had every right to her pride.

Kaedehara Kazuha, who had known Beidou for a while, sighed.

She was usually bold and easygoing, and treated others with friendliness and warmth. For her to act like this meant she was truly angry.

And that was understandable. Beidou's past was no secret—she had suffered in her youth and climbed up from poverty through her own strength. She couldn't bear to see ordinary people suffer.

And these men standing before her now—were very much the cause of Inazuma's chaos.

The fact that she hadn't already drawn her blade and struck them down was restraint in itself.

"Trash will always be trash! Your blades are forever turned on your own people. With scum like you, it's no wonder Inazuma is in such a state."

Beidou sneered, curling her lip, and beckoned with her hand.

"Let's go."

Openly, and without hiding, she led Kazuha and Ayaka up to the deck of the Alcor. She cast a cold glance at the speechless but seething Tenryou and Kanjou Commission members.

She let out a mocking chuckle.

"So fond of watching us leave? How touching."

"Zhongzuo," she called out, "keep your eyes on them. Until Ritou disappears from our view, if anyone dares move a muscle—blow them sky-high!"

Nearby, Zhongzuo grinned and gave a cheerful nod.

"No problem, Boss. I've got the best aim on the ship!"

Beidou gave a short grunt and retracted her disgusted gaze from the men below.

"Rats in the gutter… reek and disgust."

Not wanting her guests to stand in the rain, she gave the command to set sail. And so, right under the watchful, terrified eyes of the Tenryou Commission members, the mighty Alcor boldly sailed away into the lightning storm.

Ten or so minutes later, Ritou finally disappeared from the ship's sensors.

Kazuha and Ayaka quietly breathed a sigh of relief and removed their hooded cloaks that had concealed their identities.

Kazuha gave a bitter smile and said awkwardly,

"Sorry, Captain… I've caused you trouble."

"Trouble?"

Beidou took a swig of wine and laughed heartily.

"You call that trouble? A bunch of cowards who crumble the moment you raise your voice? That's no trouble."

"But the Kanjou Commission does guard Ritou's port… Beidou-jie, if you do this, the next time you come to Inazuma…"

Ayaka gently reminded her. After all, everyone in Inazuma knew how the Kanjou Commission bullied foreign merchants.

Beidou waved it off with a scoff and a relaxed face.

"That's for other people. Let them try and trouble a Liyue merchant. With how protective the Qixing are, if they don't send troops to flatten the Commission's headquarters, I'll start underestimating Ningguang."

"Besides, does the Alcor even need to worry about the Kanjou Commission? If they try to mess with me, I'll sail over and blast their base to rubble!"

As Ningguang's close friend, Beidou received letters and new equipment from her—even while in Inazuma.

There were two entire crates of alchemical potions on the Alcor. Just with those, the ship could flatten the entire Tenryou Commission.

Not to mention enchanted gear on top of that.

Beidou knew exactly how deep Liyue's foundations ran. Not only could it overpower war-torn Inazuma—if all seven nations joined forces, they'd still have to think twice before provoking Liyue.

Ayaka pressed her lip

~~----------------------

To read 30 future chapters head over to patreon: 

patreon.com/Dreamer20 s together and said awkwardly,

"The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions are small matters, but… the Shogun, after all…"

Before she could finish, the thunder in the sky suddenly roared louder.

It was like heaven's wrath, bearing down on the Alcor with overwhelming force.

Even from within the cabin, the passengers could feel the ship rocking more and more.

The divine pressure made both Ayaka and Kazuha tense up inside.

The Raiden Shogun… had indeed noticed them.

Beidou sat calm and unmoved, like a mountain. Feeling that overwhelming thunderous aura, she sneered.

"So you've noticed? Turn a blind eye to your suffering people, but you fixate on my little ship?"

"Go! I'd love to see what the great Raiden Shogun plans to do with me!"

~~----------------------

To read 30 future chapters head over to patreon: 

patreon.com/Dreamer20