Chapter 134: Open The Gates, Free Trade!

"Little Dottore" stood with his hands on his hips, head held high, pride gleaming in his eyes.

"This weapon was carefully crafted by the main body and three of our segment together!"

"Whether it's strength, speed, defense, or even the storage and release of Imaginary Energy, it's the pinnacle of what we've achieved so far!"

He beamed with smug satisfaction as he spoke.

However, at that moment—

"Little Dottore" suddenly noticed an eerie silence around him. The one who was supposed to be listening—Shajin—had vanished without a trace.

He looked around in confusion.

"Huh? What's going on? Where did Adventurine go?"

"Little Dottore" muttered to himself, baffled.

Meanwhile, the previously silent "weapon" let out a deep, draconic roar, as if awakening from a long slumber.

Shajin stood firmly atop the weapon's head, a satisfied smile on his lips.

"Hahaha! This is amazing! From now on, your name will be Long!"

As if understanding the command, Long gave a slight nod, then opened its maw and began absorbing the Imaginary Energy radiating from Shajin's body.

As the energy flowed into it, Long's body gradually turned translucent, as if merging with the void.

Then, a brilliant light burst from its mouth, dazzling like a star.

The beam grew brighter and more intense, eventually coalescing into a massive pillar of light that shot into the sky with overwhelming force, annihilating every obstacle above.

With a deafening BOOM, the beam obliterated everything in its path, reducing it to nothingness.

Little Dottore: "…"

——

"A warship?"

The Tsaritsa toyed with the Electro Gnosis in her hand, glancing out the window at Long, now circling above them. After hearing Shajin's request, she shook her head.

"It's not time to dispatch Snezhnaya's iron fleet."

Shajin waved dismissively.

"I don't want the whole fleet, just four ships. I also want to bring Regrator, The Rooster, and Damselette with me~"

The Tsaritsa's eye twitched.

"Those four warships hold nearly forty vanguard units and three Harbingers. Are you planning to start a war?"

Shajin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"A war? That's… not inaccurate~"

The Tsaritsa: "?"

Shajin shrugged.

"Relax. With me in charge, nothing will go wrong. I have a reason for doing this."

He raised a finger.

"Think about it, Your Majesty. In Inazuma, the only credible combat force left is the Raiden Shogun. Yet they've still chosen to close themselves off. That makes them the prime target for future destruction."

The Tsaritsa didn't respond—her silence was tacit approval.

"So I'll go help Inazuma open its gates. If they become a main force in the future, I'll have earned major credit!"

The Tsaritsa: "…I suspect you just want to go stir up trouble, but I have no proof."

She sighed and rubbed her temples.

"How did you convince them to leave Snezhnaya?"

Shajin shrugged.

"The Rooster and Regrator just needed enough incentive. As for Damselette…"

"I told her to come, and she did~"

The Tsaritsa: "…Let it all burn. I'm too tired for this."

——

Above Tenshukaku.

Thunder rumbled incessantly, reflecting the storm raging in the heart of the God of Thunder.

"Enemies… of Eternity."

With a flick of the Musou Isshin, space tore open, drawing in Signora, Lumine, and Paimon into the Plane of Euthymia.

Before them, a figure identical to the Raiden Shogun sat cross-legged in midair. Her eyes, long shut in meditation, slowly opened.

"A diplomat of Snezhnaya, and a traveler from beyond. The Shogun's mind has been unusually active lately—this time, enough to awaken me from my meditation."

"Tell me—are you enemies of Eternity?"

Lumine glanced at Signora and, sensing danger in letting her speak, stepped forward.

"You're the true God of Thunder—Raiden Ei, aren't you?"

Ei wasn't surprised she knew.

"You smell like foxes. Yae told you, didn't she?"

Lumine didn't answer.

Instead, she asked, "Do you know how many citizens outside have died because of the Vision Hunt Decree?"

Ei tilted her head slightly.

"Oh? You roused me from my Eternity-bound meditation just to say that?"

"Are you underestimating me? Of course I know about the Vision Hunt Decree."

That caught Lumine off guard. She had assumed the meditating god was unaware of the suffering outside.

Ei cast a glance at Signora beside her. The aura around her wasn't of Teyvat, and the traveler carried the same foreign scent.

"Don't be surprised. I know everything related to Eternity."

"The decree was issued with my tacit approval."

"The actions of the Fatui have not yet posed a threat to Eternity. If they had… they would have been purged."

Lumine frowned. "Why? The people of Inazuma have already lost so much because of the decree…"

Ei shook her head.

"Desires are detrimental to Eternity. Perhaps you've yet to realize it—but the pursuit of desire often leads to even greater loss."

"For instance, removing Visions doesn't cause death…"

"Those who died were the ones who clung to their desires, were they not?"

Signora clapped.

"Raiden Shogun, you've got one thing very wrong."

Ei looked toward her.

"Snezhnaya's envoy—I know what your Tsaritsa is planning. I will not lead Inazuma into a war of rebellion."

Signora shook her head.

"No no no. I don't like long speeches. I prefer facts."

"Someone asked me to deliver two messages to you."

Ei furrowed her brows.

"That wielder of power?"

Signora shrugged and raised one finger.

"First, he said your so-called Eternity is laughable—like a turtle shrinking into its shell and starving itself."

Ei remained silent.

Then Signora raised a second finger.

"Second, he said this: Fall behind, and you get beaten.~"

Ei's eyes widened.

In the next instant, the Plane of Euthymia was torn apart.

They now stood at the abandoned port of Inazuma, where the Raiden Shogun wielded Musou Isshin, her gaze locked on the sea.

There, four massive Snezhnayan warships loomed, surrounded by escort vessels.

On their decks stood The Regrator, The Rooster, The Balladeer, and Tartaglia.

At the vanguard swam a colossal leviathan—The Overlord of the Abyss, Baqiu—radiating the might of a god.

Soaring through the sky was a majestic dragon, wrapped in thick, divine pressure.

Atop its head stood two figures.

Wearing a serene smile was Damselette. Beside her stood the masked Gambler, Aventurine, clad in an extravagant suit.

Golden light spiraled around his fingertips—he had torn open the Plane of Euthymia himself.

Standing tall atop Long's head, Shajin shouted:

"Open the gates! Free trade begins!"

_

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