Chapter 403

"Everything Lord Xin Hai requested has been prepared. However..."

"Just what?"

"But the brothers, in private, have many... many..."

"I understand. And you, Gorou, I've been arresting officials who instigated the war on a large scale, and I'm even planning to hand them over to the shogunate. Do you think I did something wrong?"

Sangonomiya Kokomi around and looked calmly at the general who supported her the most.

Gorou shook his head.

"Gorou understands the situation; you are doing this for the future of Watatsumi Island. Although many people may not fully comprehend it, most people believe in Lord Shinkai."

"I don't know how the people of Watatsumi Island will judge me, and I don't care anymore. All I know is that since the Great God Orobashi brought our ancestors to the earth, everything that Watatsumi Island and its people have continued to this day cannot be swallowed up by Musou no Uta. I have no other choice."

Sangonomiya Kokomi explained, having convinced herself for what felt like the umpteenth time.

Then, facing the massive ship that was approaching in a grand procession, she went to greet it, adopting the most respectful and humble posture.

The fleet stopped in the shallow waters, lined up in a row, and pointed their cannons at the shore, creating a powerful and awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Kaguya stood at the bow of the ship, holding a folding fan, and gently waved it.

The wind rose, dark clouds covered the sky, thunder rumbled, and a terrifying and oppressive atmosphere enveloped the earth.

Then Kaguya closed her fan and waved it again, and a thick, long, and spectacular bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the coastline.

"Boom!!!"

Kaguya, Ayaka, Saro, and the Shadow Warrior appeared before the people of Watatsumi Island amidst the lightning.

There were only four people. But the long fleet, the oppressive dark clouds, and the bombarding lightning made them look like demon kings stepping onto Watatsumi Island.

'Holy crap!' x2

This is the current state of mind of Kamisato Ayaka and Saro.

'As expected of my older sister!'

This is from Raiden Ei.

Kaguya lightly covered her lips with her folding fan, coughed lightly and gracefully, and looked at the shrine maiden with calm and profound eyes.

"Ahem! Sangonomiya Kokomi, the Living God Shrine Maiden of Watatsumi Island, the general's messenger has arrived. Do you have anything to say?"

"On and Watatsumi Island, everything shall be in accordance with the will of Her Excellency, the Almighty Shogun, and everything shall be subject to the arrangements of the Imperial Advisor and the Shogunate. We respectfully welcome the Imperial Advisor and all the divine Divine Messenger!"

"Then, where are the criminals who disobeyed the general and colluded with the Fatui?"

"The Imperial Advisor Preceptor is here."

Kaguya glanced at the criminals piled up on the ground beside her. There were at least a hundred of them; not that there couldn't be more, but these were representative, important figures. They couldn't possibly have a whole bunch of prisoners piled up to welcome the delegation, could they?

But she only glanced at it. Now, as a professional villain, Anqi wouldn't have much of a mental fluctuation when it came to killing. Did they really think she was some naive young woman who couldn't resist a pretty girl?

Kaguya withdrew her gaze and asked again:

"What about the evidence? Especially the evidence of colluding with the Fatui to instigate civil war, destroying the Corrupted Ley Line Monoliths and the Mikage Furnace, etc."

"The correspondence and testimonies are all here, and the remaining evidence is placed in..."

"I don't care about the rest. Just handle things properly according to the rules. That's enough."

Kaguya picked up a letter, glanced at it, and put it back into the box held by Sangonomiya Kokomi, saying meaningfully.

Sangonomiya Kokomi lowered her head respectfully, not daring to ask Kaguya what her plans were for getting these things, nor daring to think about it.

Kaguya bypassed her and came to the soldiers and civilians of Watatsumi Island, gently clapping her hands with her black jade folding fan.

"I see that many of you are dissatisfied. I know that you have never forgotten the death of His Highness Orobashi. I know that because of the Three Commissions' perverse policies and the fact that your barren land cannot grow much food, you are even more resentful because you are starving."

Kaguya stretched out her hand, and Raiden Ei immediately understood, presenting his sword with both hands.

Kaguya then drew the Dream of the Sword —many on Watatsumi Island had seen images of this sword or heard descriptions of it. It was the sword of the Raiden Shogun, and although no one had witnessed the actual event when Orobashi was slain, they all believed that this was the sword that had killed their god.

"Boom!"

Lightning descended from the sky, striking the blade and the surrounding earth, as if the Electro Archon were announcing his gaze and wrath.

Kaguya raised her sword, which was connected to the lightning in the sky, her eyes flashing with purple lightning. Her soft and melodious voice, amplified by the surging Elemental Power, resounded in all directions:

"But none of that matters. In accordance with the will of Her Excellency, the Almighty Shogun, and under the watchful eye of the Eternal God, I ask only one question: Will Watatsumi Island continue to live, or will it perish and sink to the bottom?"

"Answer me, descendants of Orobashi."

"Boom!!!"

At this moment, Kaguya was as if Electro Archon were right in front of her.

It was as if, upon hearing an unsatisfactory answer, she would unleash this sword under the will of the Electro Archon God, causing Watatsumi Island to vanish amidst the thunder.

Sangonomiya Kokomi immediately knelt down.

"Watatsumi Island pays its Her Excellency, the Almighty Shogun!"

"Greetings, greetings to Her Excellency, the Almighty Shogun!" ×N

There's not much to say. If it were just the shogunate asking this question, perhaps some people would disagree.

But with the sword representing Raiden Shogun raised above their heads, even the most resolute Sea God could not make a second choice.

The experience of God ignoring you and the experience of God casting a glance at you are two completely different things.

"Very good."

Kaguya's voice resonated with the thunder.

She lowered her longsword, and the thunder, dark clouds, gale, and overwhelming Demon God majesty vanished completely.

In an instant, the wind and waves subsided, and the sky returned to its clear state.

Kaguya sheathed the sword back into the scabbard held by Raiden Ei, giving her a gentle, approving look.

Raiden Ei immediately felt invigorated, straightened his back, and stood behind Kaguya like a peerless sword.

"Let's go, I don't have much time to waste on Watatsumi Island, let's finish our work as soon as possible."

"Yes, Your Imperial Advisor!"

Sangonomiya Kokomi quickly got up, then humbly led the way, guiding Kaguya and her group towards the Sangonomiya.

At the rear, the fleet finally docked. The shogunate soldiers and officials, full of vigor, disembarked and ordered the people of Watatsumi Island and unload the cargo, carrying cart after cart of heavy grain.

The earlier thunder and Kaguya's questioning were not just directed at the small group of people on the shore, but enveloped the entire Watatsumi Island.

Therefore, when Sangonomiya Kokomi led Kaguya across the main road of Watatsumi Island, with endless cartloads of food behind them, the Umiji people along the way could only bow down in submission, showing no hostility whatsoever.

'My sister has become so domineering and powerful.'

Governing a country must never be about appeasement; it must also have a firm and resolute side. Internally, you've forgotten that there truly are moments of thunderous rage.

"I know, it's just... it's just been such a long, long time since we last met. I'm very happy now, General."

I felt it. You are indeed drifting further and further away from our eternity, from within.

The general couldn't help but sigh.

Although Raiden Makoto was already dead when the Shogun was created, Raiden Ei, being a devoted brother-complex, still incorporated rules regarding Raiden Makoto into the Shogun's underlying logic. Currently, the Shogun's logic contains three supreme rules:

First, we must uphold eternity.

Second, protect the truth.

Third, without violating the previous clause, unconditionally obey the true will.

This wouldn't normally be a problem, since if Raiden Makoto dead, the latter two rules would essentially cease to exist.

But now that Raiden Makoto "resurrected" and is trying to lead Inazuma in a direction of change, the three supreme rules are in conflict.

The general had to keep running despite the bugs. To make matters worse, Raiden Ei showed no intention of helping. Fortunately, governing Inazuma and protecting the people perfectly complied with the three highest rules, so the general could still function and remain quietly in place.

The general reminded him again:

Internally, you must be prepared.

'Okay, don't bother me. I need to protect Zhen.'

Raiden Ei, impatient, interrupted his conversation with the general and followed closely behind Kaguya.

At this moment, neither the general nor these Orobashi survivors were in Raiden Ei's eyes. All she could see was Kaguya's back, just as it had been five hundred years ago, nothing more.

Kaguya calmly took Kamisato Ayaka's small hand and smiled at her, who was looking nervous:

"What, were you scared by me?"

"It's alright, after all, Kaguya dared to confront the Shogun with blood, but... it seems I can't protect Kaguya anymore."

"Ahem! Don't be fooled by your imposing manner just now; it was all thanks to the general's power. I may know a tiny bit of Onmyōjutsu, but I'm actually quite weak. I'm just a powerless civil official, so of course I need Ayaka's protection. Ahem!"

"You lied to me again."

Kamisato Ayaka rolled her eyes, and even though it was an unladylike gesture, it still looked charming and adorable on her.

Raiden Ei nodded silently. "Exactly, what's there to rely on? Whether it's the general or her, they're both part of her sister's power. Besides, her sister clearly only used her own power, without borrowing any."

'Hmm, does this mean that my sister is one step closer to fully recovering and remembering me?'

Raiden Ei laughed with delight.

Kamisato Ayaka tightened her grip on Kaguya's hand. She could feel that Kaguya was trying her best to make her feel at ease. Kaguya had gone to such lengths; if she were to have any unfounded thoughts, she would be letting Kaguya down.

Kamisato Ayaka thought that even if she couldn't help with her intellect or strength, at least Kaguya liked her cooking and being taken care of by her. As long as she could still be of some help, she would be happy enough. So she smiled sweetly.

Kaguya also quietly Kamisato Ayaka closer, the two of them so close that it seemed no one else could get in between them.

'...'

Raiden Ei have lost their smiles again.