AN: Hey everyone, been a while huh. Sorry for dipping with no warning, Ramadhan was tough and we are entering the finals of school year. I'm in my first year of Doctorat so my credit requirements and defense thesis are pressing on me.
It's with that i share the sad news, after finishing this volume and maybe the one after, i'll enter a 3 to 4 month Hiatus. Now this isn't a confirmed thing. Best case scenario i get an easy internship and be able to return in just a month, but i don't have much hope.
Hope you guys understand my difficulties, have a nice day and enjoy the chapter.
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La Signora was easy to dislike. She always carried herself with an air of superiority, like a proud peacock, holding her head high and looking down on everyone else.
Perhaps she wouldn't even care about the gods themselves.
Listening to the sound of raindrops outside, Li Mo couldn't help but feel a surge of amusement at the thought of the Lady's furious expression. It was almost as satisfying as hearing that that fool, Kujou Takayuki, had fallen gravely ill.
"Still heading to Sumeru, then?" After confirming the Lady's departure, Li Mo began pondering the Balladeer's next move.
Unsurprisingly, the Balladeer's choice aligned with his memories—running off to Sumeru to collaborate with the Akademiya's scholars. Honestly, have the people of Sumeru been too sheltered? Did they truly believe they could meddle with the likes of an Archon?
He couldn't fathom the Akademiya's reasoning, but he couldn't be bothered to try. The world was never short of fools…
Sipping his tea leisurely, Li Mo didn't leave immediately. His official duties in Inazuma City were more or less complete, and the remaining time was his to spend as he pleased—a half-day vacation, of sorts.
Looking back on the past two days, he'd reviewed the operations of the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions, along with the Fatui's current activities. Everything had gone smoothly, and though none of the intel was particularly critical, he'd committed it all to memory. There was no need to report it to the Shogun immediately.
However…
"Thoma, care for some tea?"
Li Mo raised his cup toward the uninvited man who had appeared in his room. He wasn't fond of alcohol, and his preference for tea was lukewarm at best. What he really enjoyed were sweet drinks—like dango milk or boba tea. But when at Komore Teahouse, he played the part and drank tea anyway.
"Someone wishes to see you, Your Excellency."
"Oh? Not someone from the Yashiro Commission, I assume?" He'd just met with Kamisato Ayato not long ago. If the Yashiro Commission had business, they wouldn't send another envoy so soon.
Who could it be?
No point overthinking it. He'd find out soon enough.
People with free time could afford to be capricious.
"Hehehe~ Your Excellency, it's been so long!"
A floating white companion—a mascot bearing the title of "emergency food"—came into view.
"Paimon," Li Mo said. "It's only been half a month at most."
"Hehe, I want snacks!"
"Not even mentioning drinks this time?"
"Last time, you gave me some horrible, bitter drink! I still haven't forgiven you for that!"
Paimon huffed, recalling the incident in the Plane of Euthymia, where they'd all watched the Raiden Shogun and Ei duel while snacking in the corner. Li Mo had brought out unfamiliar but delicious treats—only to betray her trust with the most revolting beverage she'd ever tasted.
"Where's Lumine?"
"Right behind me!"
Distracted by the bag of something resembling potato chips that Li Mo had pulled from thin air, Paimon quickly forgot her grievances.
Soon, the sound of two girls chatting approached—one was Lumine's voice, the other familiar yet elusive.
Who was it?
A memory surfaced—a girl with an almost mermaid-like elegance.
As Lumine and Sangonomiya Kokomi appeared at the door, Li Mo's suspicions were confirmed.
"Sangonomiya Kokomi… You've come to Narukami Island?"
"Is that so strange? Watatsumi is part of Inazuma, after all." Kokomi replied with practiced grace.
Li Mo nodded. "True enough. It's been a while."
"Indeed. It's good to see you again, Your Excellency."
Lumine glanced between them. "Wait, you two know each other?"
"We met once on Yashiori Island," Kokomi explained.
"Yashiori?" Lumine sat down, puzzled. "Isn't that near the resistance's base?"
"There was an incident in the past. The Tenryou Commission and I had to intervene," Li Mo said vaguely.
Kokomi bowed slightly. "I must thank you for your assistance back then. Your warnings were also greatly appreciated."
"The Delusion incident? No need to thank me. I simply couldn't stand the Fatui gathering data at Inazuma's expense." Li Mo's tone turned sharp. "They used our resources to make Delusions, then tested them on our land. All the benefits went to them, while we bore the costs. Unacceptable."
Old Inazuma had been a fool's bargain. When Kujou Takayuki traded the nation's interests for his clan's gain, Li Mo had been furious—until he saw the terms. Laughable. The man threw away the melon to pick up a sesame seed.
He caught himself. "Apologies. You didn't come here to listen to my complaints."
"Not at all. I'm honored," Kokomi said.
"No wonder you started confiscating Delusions from the resistance back then," Lumine mused.
Pouring more tea, Li Mo cut to the chase. "I've no interest in Watatsumi's internal affairs. But I am curious—why seek me out, Sangonomiya Kokomi?"
As Watatsumi's Divine Priestess, Kokomi was its highest authority. Meanwhile, Li Mo now stood among Inazuma's top decision-makers.
This was, in essence, a clandestine meeting between a central official and a regional leader.
Kokomi accepted the tea. "Recently, Watatsumi and the Tenryou Commission formally signed a peace treaty. Thanks to the Shogun's mercy, we faced no punishment. However… economic matters remain unresolved."
"Then you should speak with the Kanjou Commission. Kujou Sara may be a traitor's daughter, but she's competent and loyal. She'll handle it."
"Your Excellency, I must secure more opportunities for Watatsumi."
Kokomi understood—Watatsumi couldn't exist outside Inazuma's system. Their land couldn't grow crops. Must we forever survive on sea bream and lavender melons?
Li Mo exhaled. "I've reviewed Watatsumi's records. Your fishing industry is self-sufficient, and textiles once traded for grain—until the Sakoku Decree crushed them."
He had to admit, despite the corruption in the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions, their bureaucracies still functioned. The archives were full of such reports.
"Exactly. With the Sakoku Decree lifted, I've heard the lavender melon farms in Konda Village are reviving. Textiles will recover, but Watatsumi's only real export now is Sango Pearls." Kokomi's voice was calm, but the weight of her island's future pressed on her.
Among the Narukami Islands, Watatsumi had little beyond its beauty. The soil, blighted by Orobashi's legacy, couldn't sustain crops. No major ore deposits. Once, textiles, fishing, and pearls had sustained them—but what now?
She couldn't predict Inazuma's next moves.
"I see," Li Mo said. "You want my advice."
So you're asking me to help lift you out of poverty?