Chapter 134

Three days passed quickly, and it must be said that Sangonomiya Kokomi's methods were swift and decisive. She managed to uncover all the instigators in such a short time.

The ringleaders were brought before Hiiragi Chisato and Kujou Sara.

Sangonomiya Kokomi said, "Miss Kujou, Miss Hiiragi, these are the ones who led the incitement. I've investigated, and they are soldiers under the Fatui, who infiltrated the Resistance to continue stirring up war between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate."

As she spoke, she handed over the Fatui insignias confiscated from them.

"It seems the Fatui are truly relentless," Hiiragi Chisato sighed, taking the insignias and examining them. "The Sixth Harbinger?"

"Well, regarding the Fatui, I'll report this to Tenshukaku. Since you've caught the culprits, let's hope we can cooperate well," Hiiragi Chisato said.

Ice spread over the bodies of the Fatui soldiers. Hiiragi Chisato knew that killing them wouldn't yield any useful information, so she decided to end their lives.

"The military affairs can be concluded today. These matters have been resolved satisfactorily," Kujou Sara said, turning to Sangonomiya Kokomi. "There's one more thing. The Divine Coronation Ceremony of the Great Divine Sovereign of Heaven is approaching. If you have time, you're welcome to attend as a representative of Watatsumi Island."

"I will," Sangonomiya Kokomi nodded.

"In that case, we'll report back to the Shogun," Kujou Sara said. With her appointed assistants from the Tenryou Commission, they could handle the remaining affairs.

"We'll see you again on Narukami Island."

With that, Hiiragi Chisato and Kujou Sara boarded the carriage for their return journey.

---

Inside Tenshukaku, Akio raised an eyebrow as he looked at the insignia handed to him by Hiiragi Chisato. "It seems the Balladeer fled in quite a hurry, abandoning his subordinates in Inazuma?"

"Fatui soldiers… to a Harbinger, they're just tools for carrying out missions. The Balladeer wouldn't care about them," La Signora explained from behind Akio.

"What about you? Have your subordinates been causing trouble lately?" Akio asked, turning to Rosalyne.

"Of course not," Rosalyne quickly shook her head and explained. Recently, under her orders, her Fatui subordinates had been idling around, eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves in Inazuma, trying to be good citizens. They were almost blending in with the locals.

More importantly, they had even started helping out. Her Fatui subordinates, bored out of their minds, had begun assisting the Shogunate army in clearing out monsters and taking commissions from the Adventurers' Guild.

"Alright, Rosalyne, I have a task for you," Akio said. "Round up all the Fatui under the Balladeer's command. As for what to do next, you know the drill."

"Yes," Rosalyne nodded. She then looked at Akio and asked softly, "Master, what about the Gnosis…"

"Oh, I gave it to the Balladeer," Akio said.

"???" Rosalyne's eyes widened as she stared at Akio, momentarily speechless and somewhat distraught.

"Don't look so shocked," Akio chuckled. "Do you think the Balladeer would obediently hand the Electro Gnosis over to the Tsaritsa?"

"Master, are you saying… the Balladeer would keep the Gnosis for himself?!" Rosalyne exclaimed in disbelief. How could Scaramouche dare to do such a thing?

Wasn't this outright betrayal of the Tsaritsa? Was he seeking death?

"Heh…" Akio smiled. "I'm guessing he's in Sumeru right now, striving to become a false god."

"Leaving the Gnosis with him for now is just to add a bit of excitement to an otherwise mundane life. After all, with my new powers restored, I need a target to test them on, don't I?" Akio said with a grin.

"Sumeru? Isn't that the land of Dendro, overseen by that perverted freak Dottore?" Rosalyne muttered. Seeing Akio's ominous smile, she silently mourned for the Balladeer for three seconds.

Why did you have to provoke Akio of all people?

---

"Chisato, you've done well to get Watatsumi Island to sign such a treaty," Raiden Makoto praised after reading Hiiragi Chisato's report.

"Sara, you've also done a great job smoothly stationing troops on Watatsumi Island. Akio and I thought there might be some resistance," Raiden Makoto said.

"Thank you for your praise, Shogun," Hiiragi Chisato and Kujou Sara said. "Given the current situation, Watatsumi Island would never dare to split from the Shogunate again, so they had no choice but to sign the treaty."

"Since everything has been settled, let's officially lift the Sakoku Decree," Raiden Makoto said, turning to Kamisato Ayaka, who was kneeling quietly beside her. "Ayaka, how are the preparations for the Divine Coronation Ceremony coming along?"

"Shogun, everything is ready," Kamisato Ayaka quickly replied. "All the celebratory activities have been arranged and rehearsed multiple times."

"Excellent," Raiden Makoto nodded. The appearance of a second god naturally called for a grand ceremony. Envoys from the other six nations would be attending, making it the perfect opportunity to showcase Inazuma's strength.

With four gods in one nation, Inazuma's military power now surpassed that of any other country.

Raiden Ei and the Raiden Shogun were the pinnacle of archons, their combat prowess unmatched. As for Akio's power, it was unfathomable. No one had seen him at his full strength, but even Ei and the Shogun combined, using their elemental powers, were no match for him. They would be effortlessly defeated.

In fact, not just Ei and the Shogun—even the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles herself, or the Primordial One, would have to take a couple of slaps and leave humbly if they dared to provoke Akio.

With the full power of the Herrscher of the Void, Akio stood above all of Teyvat.

---

Rosalyne diligently massaged Akio's shoulders. Over these days, she had come to realize that even if the Tsaritsa herself were to intervene, there was no saving her from Akio's grasp.

The Tsaritsa had once told them that their goal was to defeat the Heavenly Principles and burn the old world to ashes. Such a goal was too distant, which was why the Tsaritsa sought to collect the Gnoses of the Seven Archons.

If Akio could be satisfied and support the Tsaritsa, that would be far more valuable than a single Gnosis.

What made Rosalyne even more uneasy was that she seemed to be changing, even though she didn't want to!

After spending so many days by Akio's side, she felt herself becoming… different. It was Akio who had forced her into this, yet she seemed to be… enjoying it? She had even started to actively serve him.

Why? Rosalyne couldn't understand this change in herself. Shouldn't she hate Akio?

Perhaps it was because even her hatred couldn't change reality? Or was there another reason?

A/N: Enjoying the story? Read 60+ chapters ahead on Patreon! Your support helps: Patreon.com/nneol