Hanamizaka was bustling with people coming and going.
Many residents of Inazuma City lived and worked here, making it one of the rare lively places in all of Inazuma.
Just as Raiden Saku entered Hanamizaka, he encountered another familiar face.
Through his perception, this acquaintance was hiding behind the massive Electro Cherry Blossom tree, which conveniently blocked the view of those around.
Moreover, from what Raiden Saku could sense, this acquaintance seemed to be secretly engaged in some illicit transaction.
Raiden Saku raised his hand, signaling Atsuko beside him to stay put.
He then moved forward silently, quietly circling around the massive Electro Cherry Blossom tree to observe what was happening behind it without drawing attention.
Behind the tree, two suspicious individuals were lurking.
One was an ordinary-looking man, and the other was Raiden Saku’s acquaintance, Yoimiya.
Years ago, before Raiden Saku left Inazuma to travel abroad, he had known Yoimiya.
However, back then, Yoimiya was just a little girl, not as grown-up as she was now.
Even before she became the owner of Naganohara Fireworks, she had already displayed remarkable talent in fireworks and social skills.
Helping her father manage the business, running errands for neighbors and friends, and even organizing Inazuma City’s summer festivals—she was truly a likable young girl.
After many years apart, Yoimiya had now grown up, becoming even more radiant and endearing.
Yet at this moment, this lively and cheerful girl was hiding guiltily behind the Electro Cherry Blossom tree, cautiously speaking with this insignificant man in front of her.
The two seemed to be conducting some kind of illicit transaction.
Observing this secretly, Raiden Saku couldn’t help but wonder: aside from making fireworks, organizing summer festivals, and helping neighbors and friends, what else could Yoimiya be up to?
Surely she couldn’t be trading weapons here!?
With this question in mind, he continued to watch.
He saw Yoimiya hiding here to avoid attention.
After exchanging a few words with the man in front of her, she carefully took out a Vision and handed it to him.
As she handed it over, she deliberately lowered her voice: “This is the custom-made Vision you ordered.
Master Masakatsu worked through the night to finish it.
You must be careful and keep it safe!” The man on the other side also spoke in a hushed, guilty tone, taking the Vision and barely containing his joy: “Excellent!
I’ve been hiding all over the place these past few days, waiting for this!
With this, I can fool those hounds from the Tenryou Commission!
Thank you so much, Yoimiya.
And please thank Master Masakatsu for working through the night for me.” Yoimiya waved her hand with a smile: “No need to thank me!
We’re all friends, and of course we should help each other in times of trouble!
Oh, and you must be very careful not to be discovered by the Tenryou Commission!” “Don’t worry, I’ll be cautious.
Please thank Master Masakatsu for me.” With that, the man cautiously left.
Raiden Saku had witnessed the entire scene.
What more did he need to understand?
Well, well, it really was an illicit transaction.
And in broad daylight, no less—a trade in fake Visions!
As the saying goes, where there is oppression, there is resistance.
The implementation of the Vision Hunt Decree in Inazuma naturally displeased those who possessed Visions.
Some resisted, some fled, and those who couldn’t do either in time had no choice but to endure and bide their time.
Out of sheer desperation, they came up with the crooked idea of using fake Visions to pass off as the real ones.
Coincidentally, Master Masakatsu happened to be a craftsman skilled in this very field.
The fake Visions he crafted from glass were so convincing they could almost be mistaken for genuine ones!
As the saying goes, where there’s demand, there’s business.
After word spread, especially through Yoimiya’s connections, many people came to her seeking fake Visions.
Back and forth, it almost seemed like an entire industry chain had formed!
Raiden Saku couldn’t help but glance up into the distance, where the Statue of the Omnipresent God stood.
A considerable number of Visions were already embedded in the Statue of the Omnipresent God.
But just how many of those Visions were fake?
Ah, never mind!
Let it be!
But…
Watching Yoimiya, who was beaming after just completing an illicit transaction, Raiden Saku couldn’t resist the urge to tease the young girl!
He abruptly appeared behind Yoimiya and spoke without warning: “Well, well, Yoimiya!
So now you’re not selling fireworks but fake Visions instead!
You’re blatantly undermining Shogun-sama’s Vision Hunt Decree!
You’re practically an outlaw!
Do you even realize you’re breaking the law!?” The sudden voice gave Yoimiya, who had been feeling quite pleased with herself just moments before, a huge fright!
She leaped back in alarm, the hairs on her arms standing on end!
The poor girl was so flustered she could barely string her words together.
“Wahhh…
Who is it!?” She quickly retreated, warily scanning her surroundings.
Huh?
This person looks familiar…
After a moment of observation, Yoimiya immediately recalled who the person before her was.
“O-Oh!
It’s Saku-sama!
You scared me half to death!
I thought you were from the Tenryou Commission!
I thought I was in serious trouble!” Running into a long-unseen friend, Yoimiya was now overjoyed.
She hurried over to Raiden Saku, smiling as playfully as a lively little goldfish: “Saku-sama, it’s been so many years since we last met!
I remember you left Inazuma to travel the world, didn’t you?
What?
Have you finished your journey and returned?
When did you come back?
How come I didn’t know anything about it?” Raiden Saku familiarly ruffled Yoimiya’s head, just as he used to do when she was a child: “I just got back.
Haven’t even returned to Tenshukaku yet.
Just happened to pass by and ran into you.” Having her head ruffled by Raiden Saku brought back old memories and feelings.
Yoimiya happily clenched her fists, lightly stomping her feet in a cheerful little dance, savoring the affection from this person she called Saku-sama but who felt more like an older brother.
Unexpectedly, Raiden Saku hadn’t abandoned his teasing intentions.
After greeting her, he put on a stern expression: “By the way, speaking of which.
Yoimiya, I saw everything from your illicit transaction with that person earlier.” “Ah!?” Yoimiya was dumbfounded.
Raiden Saku continued pretending to be serious: “Daring to sell fake Visions to Vision holders?
That’s equivalent to undermining Shogun-sama’s Vision Hunt Decree!
How outrageous!
Come to think of it, I can sense that the Vision at your waist is genuine.
But as the famous Summer Festival Queen of Inazuma City, the Vision Hunt Decree must have certainly come for you!
Which means to avoid trouble and meet requirements, you must have handed in a fake Vision to get by, right?” It seemed Yoimiya only just remembered that this Saku-sama before her was Shogun-sama’s younger brother!
He was practically a deity himself!
In all of Inazuma, his status was second only to one, revered by millions!
His position was incomparably noble!
Oh no, oh no!
Saku-sama saw all my illegal actions just now, I’m done for!
To be honest, Yoimiya obviously wasn’t a rule-following goody-two-shoes either.
Due to her various whimsical ideas, she often got into trouble and frequently had dealings with organizations like the Tenryou Commission, becoming quite skilled at handling officials.
Her methods were quite simple – just acting cute, flashing an apologetic smile, offering sincere apologies, and so on.
Generally speaking, when faced with such a lively, adorable girl sincerely apologizing, even officials from the Tenryou Commission often had to show leniency, or simply give a light punishment as warning before letting the matter drop.
Yoimiya basically managed to get forgiven and escape unscathed after every mishap.
This time, Yoimiya planned to use her usual approach.
She clasped her hands together pleadingly toward Raiden Saku, blinking her bright eyes coquettishly: “Hmm…
Saku-sama, could you please turn a blind eye?
We’re friends after all!” Raiden Saku remained unmoved: “Trying to pull strings with me now?
Usually the people from Tenryou Commission and the fire brigade might let you off easy.
But I’m the Raiden Shogun’s brother – I can’t just let you go that easily.” Yoimiya grew anxious, clenching her small fists as she continued pleading: “Eh?
How can that be?
But Saku-sama is my friend, isn’t that right?” “We are indeed friends, but personal relationships are one thing, official business is another.”