Liyue is the most prosperous and wealthy harbor in all of Teyvat, where thousands of sails gather and merchants compete fiercely, earning it the name “Golden Harbor.” And this…
It truly makes one realize how stark the contrast can be when comparing people and goods.
The bustling Liyue Harbor, when contrasted with the desolate scene before him, transformed Raiden Saku’s initial apprehension of returning home into an uncomfortable feeling of embarrassment, like a drawn sword that’s hard to sheathe.
Seeing Raiden Saku’s sidelong glance, Atsuko realized her slip of the tongue and hurriedly bowed in apology.
“Sorry, Saku-sama, I didn’t mean it that way.
What I meant was…” However, the more flustered Atsuko became, the less clear her explanation got.
Raiden Saku helplessly interrupted her: “No need to explain.
Really, do you think I can’t handle a few unpleasant truths?
Ritou’s dock is no match for Liyue’s harbor at all.
I’m well aware of that.
The one responsible for all this is…” As he spoke, Raiden Saku turned his gaze to the nearby message board.
Message boards like this exist almost everywhere in Teyvat, used for posting notices and recording messages—extremely convenient.
On the message board beside Raiden Saku now were numerous posts about Inazuma and Ritou.
Countless trivial messages were too numerous to bother reading carefully.
Posted at the very top and most prominent position on the board was, as expected, an official notice issued by the Kanjou Commission of Ritou.
Raiden Saku’s eyesight was exceptionally sharp.
Even from three or four meters away, he could clearly read what was written on the notice at a single glance: Notice: Due to recent war impacts, to avoid occupying temporary military ports, foreign merchant ship docking fees are temporarily increased to four times the original rate.
Notice: Those with complaints may report them at the Kanjou Commission office.
Notice: Merchant ship docking fees will continue to be uniformly registered, collected, and submitted by the “International Trade Association.” No omissions permitted.
Comment: “What ‘occupying military ports’?
It’s the soldiers who are occupying the commercial docks!
And yet we have to bear the costs…” Reply: We sincerely apologize, but departure from port remains free of charge.
And below that.
Notice: Due to the prolonged war, public funds are somewhat strained.
We kindly request foreign merchants to generously contribute to support the government.
Notice: Accordingly, the Kanjou Commission head has unilaterally increased shop rents by fivefold.
We ask for merchants’ understanding.
Comment: “Hmph, we’re supporting the government, but who’s supporting us?” Whether raising rents or increasing taxes, such official notices were everywhere.
Reading them made Raiden Saku frown deeply.
Exorbitant taxes and levies, ruthless exploitation, economic oppression—with this combination of measures, it was no wonder Ritou and its docks were declining into desolation rather than thriving!
Seeing this and thinking it over, Raiden Saku’s mood grew increasingly sour.
Atsuko also leaned over to read the notices.
Her expression turned grim as well, and she looked at Raiden Saku with both apology and concern.
Raiden Saku collected himself and moved forward: “This is just the beginning.
Let’s keep going.” Soon, Raiden Saku and Atsuko left the wooden docks and set foot on Ritou’s soil.
At the roadside leading into Ritou proper, the Outlander Affairs Agency’s inspection post was stationed.
Among them, the inspector Kageyama was responsible for handling registration procedures for foreign merchants entering Ritou.
Of course, as everyone probably knows, after registering here, foreign merchants would be referred by Kageyama to Yurika of the Outlander Affairs Agency, who would then process their residency permits.
As for Yurika, this young lady was the classic case of a pleasant face hiding a dark heart—she’d openly demand millions of Mora in handling fees from foreign merchants!
Even if it wasn’t a foreigner trying to enter, but an Inazuman returning due to the Sakoku Decree, Yamabuki would still need to stop them and register and inspect each person returning to Inazuma.
Of course, such registration and inspection was the norm, but Raiden Saku and Atsuko were clearly an exception to the rule.
Raiden Saku couldn’t even be bothered to spare Yamabuki a glance, walking straight past with Atsuko in tow.
As a well-bred young woman, Atsuko seemed somewhat uneasy about this behavior.
She hesitated briefly as they passed, pausing for a moment before quickly catching up to Raiden Saku.
Sure enough, both Yamabuki and the soldiers nearby selectively turned a blind eye to the two, allowing the unconcerned Raiden Saku and Atsuko to pass without hindrance.
Why did they choose to ignore them?
Well, there was no particular reason.
In their line of work, having a keen eye for such things was essential.
Atsuko, as an ordinary young girl, was an Inazuman trying to return home under the Sakoku Decree—normally, she would have been stopped for inspection and registration.
But Raiden Saku, with his luxurious attire and extraordinary demeanor, was clearly no ordinary person.
So, with Atsuko by his side, none of them dared to cause any trouble for the two.
The soldiers at the inspection post refrained from stopping them out of fear, judging by Raiden Saku’s clothing and demeanor.
As for Yamabuki, she held an official position in the Shogunate.
Though she didn’t recognize Raiden Saku’s identity, she found his face familiar and sensed he was not someone to be trifled with, so she, too, chose to look the other way.
The two proceeded unimpeded.
As one after another of the atmospheric red maple trees lined the roadside, they began to venture deeper into Ritou, moving toward the island’s interior.
Due to its commercial prosperity—or at least, what used to be commercial prosperity—Ritou’s interior was filled with rows of shops and bustling crowds.
However, Raiden Saku quickly noticed that although shops were plentiful, few were open for business.
The streets were indeed crowded, but the bustling masses were all locals of Ritou, and these locals looked pale and undernourished, clearly struggling to make ends meet.
Aside from them, hardly any foreign merchants, who were once a common sight, could be seen.
That Inazuma’s trade and commerce had declined to such an extent was unacceptable to Raiden Saku.
The prosperity of commerce is a reflection of a nation’s economic and financial vitality.
Just by observing the decay here, one could roughly infer how dire the situation within Inazuma had become.
This couldn’t go on.
With these thoughts in mind, Raiden Saku continued forward, unwilling to dwell on Ritou’s current desolate state.
Before long, he came to a halt, keenly sensing something amiss nearby.
Atsuko, puzzled, followed his gaze and noticed a small food stall by the roadside.
Since all the shops in Ritou belonged to the Kanjou Commission, merchants could only rent these spaces, not purchase them outright.
However, even the rent for these shops was exorbitantly high, discouraging many aspiring entrepreneurs with that cost alone.
Thus, compared to formal shops, small stalls were far more common on Ritou, with mobile carts and food stalls being the most prevalent.
Running this particular roadside food stall was a lady with her young daughter.
The lady was strikingly beautiful, her appearance evoking a sense of pity and tenderness.
Her hairstyle, however, seemed rather precarious, typical of a certain type of married woman.
I just don’t understand why a housewife would bring her young daughter out to run a stall?
Where has her husband gone?
Raiden Saku frowned not because of the food stall or the housewife.
What he found inappropriate was the arrogant man standing before the food stall, acting with overwhelming arrogance.
This hypocritical man, wearing the Kanjou Commission uniform, appeared to be a tax official from the commission.
Even from a distance, Raiden Saku could clearly hear their conversation.
The tax official stood there with his arms crossed, wearing an unapproachable expression: “Madam, isn’t it time to pay this month’s taxes?
And last month’s taxes, along with those from the month before – you should clear those arrears as well.” Facing the overbearing tax official, the woman was clearly terrified.
She protectively shielded her young daughter behind her, looking utterly distressed and miserable: “Please have some mercy, sir!
Ever since the Sakoku Decree was implemented and the war began, taxes in Ritou have been rising continuously – we simply can’t bear the burden anymore!
If taxes continue to be collected like this, my daughter and I won’t be able to survive!” The fierce tax official automatically ignored the latter part of her plea, his eyes widening with ferocious anger: “What?
What did you say!?
Are you expressing dissatisfaction with Shogun-sama’s Sakoku Decree policy and the war decisions made by the superiors?”