After that, Makoto gave a few more instructions, and Kujou Sara along with Kamisato Ayato took their leave.
The tasks before them were immense, just settling the matters of the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree would take a long time.
Not to mention, there was also the issue of the Tri-Commission.
Still, neither of them felt weary. Watching Inazuma finally begin to change for the better was, in itself, heartening.
Though their time spent with Makoto hadn't been long, both could feel that aura about her, calm, reliable, reassuring.
As long as she sat within Tenshukaku, one couldn't help but feel that everything would be alright.
Today, the sky above Inazuma was bright and clear. With Makoto's return, even the thunderstorm that had raged endlessly above the islands vanished as if it had never been there.
"Inazuma… it's been so long since we've had such clear skies," Kujou Sara said softly, her mood as light as the weather itself.
It almost seemed that, just like the weather, the lives of Inazuma's people were about to become brighter too.
"The current Shogun is truly a gentle god," Kamisato Ayato murmured with heartfelt admiration.
Kujou Sara nodded in agreement.
"With the Shogun here, Inazuma's citizens will one day live as peacefully as the people of Liyue."
She paused, then frowned slightly.
"But… about the matter of the two Shoguns, are we really not to tell anyone?"
"And in the future, how should we address Lady Ei?"
Kujou Sara glanced back at Tenshukaku, her expression troubled.
Ayato chuckled lightly and shook his head.
"Since this is the Shogun's decision, we will carry it out exactly as she wishes."
"As for the two Shoguns, Lady Makoto is the Shogun, and Lady Ei is also the Shogun. Why not both?"
"This is Inazuma's blessing," he continued, smiling faintly. "Lady Makoto excels in governance, she understands the hearts of the people and shows kindness and grace.
Lady Ei excels in combat, she possesses unmatched strength and power."
"When wisdom and might stand side by side, and both belong to twin sisters, their combined strength far exceeds what either could achieve alone."
Kujou Sara nodded slightly.
"I don't doubt that," she admitted quietly. "I was just thinking…"
She paused for a moment, a trace of melancholy in her voice.
"After everything that's happened, some of Inazuma's people may still resent the Shogun."
"But none of this has anything to do with Lady Makoto. She's a kind and gentle god, she shouldn't have to bear such a burden…"
"But Lady Ei…"
Ayato couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking his head.
"Is that what you're worried about?"
Kujou Sara frowned and looked at him in silence.
Although her time with Makoto had been brief, she truly felt grateful that the first Shogun had returned.
Makoto was a benevolent and wise god, one who listened to every voice of her people and would surely lead Inazuma toward a brighter future.
Sara was already completely devoted to her. Loyal and steadfast, she could not bear the thought of Makoto being wrongly blamed.
Of course, this wasn't disloyalty to Ei. Kujou Sara's oath had always been to Narukami and to Inazuma itself.
And Makoto was also Narukami, the original one at that. From her perspective, she had always been loyal to Makoto from the very beginning.
"In my view," Ayato said meaningfully with a small smile, "though this situation is complicated, it's not without a path forward."
"Let's just say, the Shogun was grievously wounded in the calamity that struck Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago. She has since remained in seclusion to recover."
"And to prevent Inazuma from suffering the same destruction as Khaenri'ah, she ordered that the nation close itself off from the outside world during her recovery."
"The Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission both twisted the Shogun's original commands, deceiving her and the people. Later, they even enforced the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree on their own accord."
"Now that the Shogun has awoken and learned of these things, she was furious and ordered us to deal strictly with both commissions."
"General Kujou, executing justice even against one's own kin, what do you think of that plan?"
Kamisato Ayato smiled faintly, effortlessly shifting all responsibility onto the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions.
Kujou Sara gave him a deep look.
She knew that such a move would be difficult for most, but for Kamisato Ayato, redirecting blame so smoothly was second nature.
It might not seem entirely fair… but still,
The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions had long rotted from within. Rather than simply imprison everyone, it was better to put what remained to good use before discarding them.
Ayato also didn't want Makoto's reputation to suffer.
After all, she would soon take charge of governing Inazuma again, and none of these wrongdoings were truly hers.
She could take the blame on Ei's behalf, and everyone, including Ayato, accepted that, for the two sisters together were the true rulers of Inazuma.
But if possible, Makoto's image must remain pure.
The people's faith in her could not be lost.
Because once faith crumbled, rebuilding it would be infinitely harder.
Kujou Sara nodded slightly.
"That might work," she said, "but I doubt that Sangonomiya Kokomi will believe it."
"It doesn't matter whether she believes it," Ayato replied with a soft chuckle. "As long as the people do."
He brushed off the dust on his sleeve and refocused his thoughts.
"This isn't the time for idle talk. For now, we must first resolve the issues with the Commissions, the Vision Hunt Decree, and the Sakoku Decree."
Then, Ayato turned toward the silent figure standing nearby, the captain named Dashi, and smiled pleasantly.
"Captain Dashi, we'll have to trouble you and your men for the next three days."
Dashi shook his head slightly.
"It's no trouble. The Electro Archon of Inazuma has entered into a pact with our Lord Rex Lapis and Lady Ningguang. It's only natural that allies aid one another."
"However," he added, his tone calm but firm, "you'd better make the most of it. We only have three days."
Three days.
It didn't sound like much, but that depended on who was doing the work.
For the two hundred Dragonriders stationed here, there was hardly anything in Inazuma they couldn't accomplish within three days,
unless it was fighting Ei herself.
They were a force of absolute might, crushing and unstoppable, like a storm made flesh.
Kujou Sara couldn't help but glance toward the quiet formation of Dragonriders in the distance, her expression filled with awe and envy.
Now that she had time to think, her mind began to turn.
If Inazuma ever had such an army…
Would there be anything they couldn't achieve?
Kamisato Ayato, lost in thought, suddenly asked in a low tone:
"Captain Dashi, could you tell us more about these dragon units?"
Dashi's brow furrowed.
"That concerns Liyue's classified military affairs. I'm not at liberty to speak."
But Ayato didn't give up. After a brief pause, he continued smoothly:
"Then… the pact our Shogun is to sign with Liyue, Mondstadt, and Snezhnaya, is it related to that mysterious world?"
"And the place where General Kujou and Lady Ei will later lead their expedition… that's the same world, isn't it?"
Kujou Sara looked confused.
But Dashi's expression changed instantly, his face hardened, his posture straightened, and his hand drifted toward the gun at his waist.
He turned to stare coldly at Ayato.
"…What did you just say?"
~~----------------------
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