Raiden Saku’s expression carried a hint of apology: “Shinobu, it seems your Vision has been confiscated as well.
My apologies.” Kuki Shinobu quickly waved her hands: “There’s no need for Saku-sama to apologize.
I voluntarily handed over my Vision because I didn’t want to make things difficult for Miss Kujou.” Raiden Saku was momentarily speechless.
Although he had heard about this beforehand, the act of voluntarily surrendering one’s Vision was still astonishing.
Was this girl Kuki Shinobu being honest?
Or was she simply detached?
Or perhaps just carefree?
Raiden Saku then turned his gaze to Kujou Sara beside them.
When the topic shifted to Kuki Shinobu’s Vision and the Vision Hunt Decree that had been causing widespread resentment in Inazuma recently, Kujou Sara couldn’t help but feel somewhat guilty facing Raiden Saku.
On one hand, she felt she had let down her friend Kuki Shinobu; on the other hand, she secretly questioned whether the Vision Hunt Decree was correct.
Noticing Raiden Saku’s gaze, Kujou Sara immediately straightened her posture and responded with the respect due to a subordinate: “Saku-sama, I didn’t expect you to have returned to Inazuma!” Raiden Saku had always held this dutiful and commendable general of the Shogunate Army in high regard.
Thus, his attitude toward Kujou Sara remained quite amiable as he nodded with a smile: “Yes, I’ve returned.
I had only just begun my travels in Sumeru when I heard that Inazuma had started implementing something called the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.
The moment I heard about these two policies, I knew they were unreliable—policies that would bring calamity to the nation and its people!
So I traveled far from Sumeru, passed through Liyue, and returned to Inazuma aboard the Alcor from The Crux Fleet.” Raiden Saku’s words caused Kujou Sara’s expression to stiffen involuntarily.
She hadn’t expected Raiden Saku to oppose the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree so directly and vehemently.
Bound by her duties, Sara’s expression turned serious, and her face tightened instinctively: “My apologies, Saku-sama.
The Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree were personally enacted by Shogun-sama and are being enforced throughout Inazuma!
Even someone as esteemed as you should not recklessly oppose Shogun-sama’s will or casually question her decisions!” Far from being angered by Kujou Sara’s reaction, Raiden Saku was actually quite pleased: “Hahaha, though slightly rigid, I still greatly admire this stubbornly loyal side of you, Sara.” Kujou Sara did not take pleasure in Raiden Saku’s praise.
She frowned slightly and was about to say more when she was interrupted by the boisterous Arataki Itto nearby: “Hey!
I’m talking to you, Kujou Turtle!
Why are you completely ignoring me?
And who is this brother?
He sounds like some kind of big shot!” Just from hearing Arataki Itto’s voice, both Kujou Sara and Kuki Shinobu could imagine the indignant expression on this fool’s face.
Kujou Sara was furious, while Kuki Shinobu felt exhausted.
Before Kujou Sara could angrily reprimand him, Kuki Shinobu pulled her boss aside and quietly warned Arataki Itto: “Boss, this is too rude!
This Saku-sama is—” Raiden Saku raised his hand first, cutting off Kuki Shinobu: “I’m not some big shot.
It’s just that my family holds some influence.” Beside them, Kujou Sara couldn’t help but inwardly retort: Some influence?
That’s all?
Please, Saku-sama, there’s no family in all of Inazuma more influential than yours!
Even as she thought this, Kujou Sara showed no outward reaction.
Kuki Shinobu was rendered speechless by Raiden Saku’s words, unsure if he was being humble or boastful.
In contrast, Arataki Itto, who understood nothing of the situation, was overjoyed.
“Oh, so your family has some influence?
What’s the big deal?
I’ve met plenty of influential people!
Take me, for example!
I’m the boss of the Arataki Gang!
That counts as influential, right?
Hahahaha…” Shinobu facepalmed, her expression darkening with exasperation.
Raiden Saku, however, seemed to enjoy Itto’s unreserved nature and readily agreed: “Well said, well said.
What does influence even matter?
In the end, we’re all friends!
Since Shinobu and I are friends, you, Arataki Itto, are naturally my friend too!” These words resonated deeply with Itto: “Hahahahaha…
That’s absolutely right!
From now on, this brother here is my friend!
I heard Shinobu call you ‘Saku-sama’?
That’s too formal!
I’ll just call you ‘Brother Saku’ from now on!” Whether he was amused or not, Raiden Saku laughed heartily upon hearing Itto refer to him as “Brother Saku.” Watching her boss’s shameless and embarrassing behavior, Shinobu’s exasperation grew, and she felt increasingly weary.
Atsuko, standing beside Raiden Saku, offered no opinion, merely struggling to maintain her composure while holding back laughter.
Kujou Sara watched in stunned disbelief, inwardly exclaiming at the absurdity.
Calling Saku-sama “brother”!?
Saku-sama is Shogun-sama’s younger brother, making him her equal in status.
If Arataki Itto is calling Saku-sama “brother,” doesn’t that mean he’s also treating Shogun-sama as a sibling!?
This…
Is this guy truly foolish or just plain stupid?
Sara could no longer bear to watch.
“Saku-sama, I have official duties to attend to.
I must take my leave.” Raiden Saku nodded with a smile.
Sara hastily departed.
Raiden Saku prepared to continue toward Inazuma City with Atsuko and bid farewell to Arataki Itto and Kuki Shinobu: “Meeting the two of you here has been a genuine pleasure.
However, I have important matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.
Until we meet again.” Shinobu nodded.
“Farewell, Saku-sama.” Raiden Saku nodded and walked away.
After a few steps, he paused, turned back, and waved: “Oh, and Shinobu.
I’ll have someone return your Vision to you soon.
Be sure to receive it.” Shinobu was taken aback but nodded hesitantly: “This…
very well…” Itto, overhearing this, perked up immediately.
What?
Getting our Visions back!?
How could I miss out on this?
Of course, I have to be included!
The boisterous man leaped and waved frantically: “Hey, hey, Brother Saku!
Don’t forget about me!
My Vision was taken by that Tengu Kujou too!
If you have the means, help me get mine back as well!” Raiden Saku waved dismissively and continued walking: “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you out!” With that, he departed.
Watching Raiden Saku and Atsuko disappear into the distance, Itto was ecstatic, as if he’d stumbled upon millions of Mora: “Shinobu, this friend of yours is really something!
He can actually get our Visions back!
By the way, what exactly is his identity?” After a moment’s thought, Shinobu decided it was better not to reveal the truth and evaded the question vaguely: “As for Saku-sama, he…” “In short, their family is extremely powerful!
The kind of power you can’t even imagine!” “Oh, I see.” Arataki Itto, being a simple-minded individual, was easily fooled and stopped pondering further, instead starting to consider what to eat for lunch today.
The simple-minded creature didn’t overthink because he lacked the intelligence for it.
But Kuki Shinobu, as the Arataki Gang’s external brain and strategist, couldn’t help but think more deeply at this moment.
She began contemplating Raiden Saku’s evident dislike and opposition toward the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree in his earlier words.
And right before Raiden Saku left, he mentioned helping her retrieve her Vision.
This…
Could something go wrong?
The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed!
Kuki Shinobu didn’t dare to continue down that line of thought.
Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to Arataki Itto and Kuki Shinobu, Raiden Saku continued his journey through Byakko Plain with Atsuko.
After walking for quite some time, they finally approached Inazuma City.
The entire Inazuma City could roughly be divided into three areas.
First, the relatively popular Hanamizaka at the lower outer periphery.
Next, the more commercially vibrant and relatively prosperous high-end district located in the middle upper area, known as the shopping street or commercial district.
Finally, the core area at the very top of Inazuma City.
This area housed important administrative units such as the magistrate’s office and the Tenryou Commission.
And at the very summit stood the most prestigious Tenshukaku.
The first place Raiden Saku and Atsuko reached was the relatively civilian Hanamizaka.