"This is great, Traveler, we've finally returned to Inazuma."
On the docks of Ritou in Inazuma, a blond-haired person and a white floating creature disembarked from a boat, while a scholarly-looking man followed closely behind.
Clearly, these three figures were Lumine, Paimon, and Enjou. They had finally finished their business in Mondstadt, informed Jean of Neuvillette's intent to form an alliance, and then taken a Mondstadt ship directly to Inazuma.
Lumine and Paimon stood on the docks, their eyes filled with nostalgia as they took in Inazuma's familiar scenery.
At this moment, Paimon spoke excitedly.
"We've finally returned to Inazuma! I bet Yoimiya and Ayaka will be so happy to see us!"
"And Miko too. I wonder how the Yae Publishing House is doing these days. I heard a writer named 'Big Pigeon' has emerged here in Inazuma, and it seems the Yae Publishing House's novel sales haven't been very good lately."
Hearing Paimon's words, Lumine's heart also burned with excitement. She nodded vigorously. There was nothing in this world more thrilling than reuniting with old friends.
If there was, it would be reuniting with even more old friends!
However, Enjou's expression was a bit strange at this moment. After all, the place where he first met Lumine was in Inazuma, but it was inside Enkanomiya.
In the end, he failed to complete the mission Aether had given him and was defeated by Lumine. Relying on his excellent ability to promptly choose submission, he managed to keep his life and flee the scene in panic. But that was also the beginning of his tragedy!
Well, maybe he shouldn't think about it that way. Living by Lumine's side was actually much more relaxed than before, although it was also easier to get worked up.
Whenever Enjou saw Lumine being ordered around by an ordinary person for a tiny reward, he desperately wanted to step forward and slap the person across the face. How could a mere nobody like that be allowed to boss around the Princess of the Abyss?!
Yet, Lumine seemed to relish even these kinds of commissions, completing them with all her heart. After seeing this, Enjou really wanted to find Aether and teach him the principle that a girl should be raised with abundance.
If only Aether had given Lumine a little more allowance, she wouldn't have fallen so low as to become a tool for these people!
And then Enjou could have lived a good life by Lumine's side!
"And Raiden Ei, Kokomi, Gorou... and the cowherd!"
Paimon spoke again, counting on her fingers.
"I didn't expect there to be so many people to see. Come to think of it, we haven't seen them in a long time. This is the last stop of our journey, so we should be able to stay for a while, right, Traveler?"
"When we were in Liyue and Mondstadt, we stayed for too short a time and didn't even get to properly savor the local delicacies. This time, we must enjoy several big meals!"
All you think about is eating!
Lumine rolled her eyes at Paimon, but a bit of transparent liquid also drooled from the corner of her mouth. She quickly wiped it away before anyone noticed.
Enjou stood on the same side as Lumine, shooting Paimon a contemptuous glare.
This glutton is the one who eats up most of the money we earn!
"Oh right, we also need to introduce our new friend, Enjou, to everyone."
Paimon suddenly turned her gaze to Enjou and continued.
"Hehe, you'll have to work hard to make everyone accept you when the time comes, Enjou."
Hearing this, Enjou's gaze softened considerably as he looked at Paimon.
Hmph, at least you have a little conscience to think of me!
I'll call a temporary truce with you today!
"Let's go, Traveler, Enjou. We need to register at the island's entrance first."
Paimon flew circles around Lumine, unable to contain her excitement.
"Once we've finished talking with the Raiden Shogun, we can go find the others and give them a big surprise!"
Hearing Paimon's words, Lumine nodded, and the three of them walked along the pier toward Ritou together.
As Paimon happily flew around, she began to sigh with nostalgia.
"Look at this familiar sea breeze, this familiar scenery, these familiar Inazuma residents... Huh? Traveler, Enjou, why does it feel like there are so many fewer people on the island?"
Paimon noticed only a few scattered pedestrians on the street, and scratched her head in confusion.
After all, even during the most severe period of the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree, there were still many pedestrians on the road.
After all, Ritou is the essential gateway for other nations to enter Inazuma, and it has the most merchants coming and going for trade. During special periods, it was even more bustling than Inazuma City.
However, it now seemed to be a bit too desolate. Not only were there few pedestrians on the street, but many shops were also closed, which made both Lumine and Paimon feel a bit strange.
Lumine looked at Enjou beside her, and the other man just spread his hands, indicating, "I don't know either."
"Is there some festival or event that everyone went to attend?" Paimon speculated.
"How about we find someone to ask, Traveler?"
Hearing Paimon's suggestion, Lumine nodded. Then the two of them were about to find a pedestrian on the street to ask about the situation, but just at this moment, they suddenly saw three samurai from the Tri-Commission walking this way, seemingly on patrol.
Lumine and Paimon immediately abandoned their idea of asking ordinary people and walked straight toward the three samurai from the Tri-Commission.
"Let's go find those samurai from the Tri-Commission instead. I'm sure they'll know more."
"Besides, the Traveler and I are big celebrities in Inazuma. I'm sure they won't refuse to help us."
"But what if they don't recognize you guys?"
Faced with Enjou's doubt, Paimon spoke with absolute confidence.
"How is that possible? The Traveler and I are so famous in Inazuma, it's impossible for anyone not to know us!"
"Watch me show you!"
After saying that, Paimon flew straight up and greeted the samurai enthusiastically.
"Good afternoon, you three! Hard work on your patrol. Do you remember me and the Traveler?"
"Who are you?"
Hearing the response, Paimon froze instantly, her face feeling like it had been slapped hard.
Paimon quickly recovered and hastily changed the subject.
"It's okay if you don't recognize us. The main thing is, we have something we'd like to ask..."
"Wait a minute!"
One of the samurai suddenly interrupted Paimon's next words, then started pulling something out from his robes, leaving Lumine and Paimon completely bewildered and confused.
Soon, the samurai took out two portraits from his robes, examined them carefully, and then showed one of them to Paimon.
The portrait depicted a crookedly drawn white floating creature that looked very much like Paimon, but its mouth was slightly open, and its two eyes were not on the same focal line, radiating a "wise" glow.
"Is this you?"
After looking at the portrait of herself, Paimon fell silent for a moment, then shook her head and waved her hands desperately.
"No, the person on it definitely isn't me!"
Hearing Paimon's denial, the samurai turned the portrait over again to examine it carefully, then flipped it back over with a furious expression and shouted.
"I can see it's you!"
"The crown, white hair, bare feet, able to fly... You're telling me this isn't you?!"
"I think you're just treating me like a fool and mocking me!"
On the other side, another samurai looked at the second portrait and then showed it to Lumine.
"This person is you, right?"
Lumine stretched her neck to look and fell silent after seeing a yellow-haired portrait drawn in the same style as Paimon's.
Lumine: "..."
"She admitted it!"
Hearing this good news, the samurai questioning Paimon felt even more confident.
"Let's see how you'll try to deny it now, even your accomplice has confessed!"
Seeing that arguing was useless, Paimon could only complain indignantly.
"Who, who drew the Traveler and me so badly?!"
"This is even worse than the drawings we did when we learned painting from Albedo!"
Paimon was furious, resting her hands on her hips.
But just then, Paimon suddenly realized something and looked at the samurai in front of her with a strange expression.
"Accomplice?"
"You Inazumans sure have a special way of addressing famous people..."
Clinkclinkclink three times.
Lumine and the other two lowered their heads, looking at the shackles on their wrists, completely bewildered.
Wait, what does this mean?!
They were arrested as criminals again?!
"Alright, you three, since you are suspected of conspiring with the Head of the Kamisato Clan and the Watatsumi Island forces to overthrow the rule of Inazuma, please come with us to cooperate with the investigation."
Lumine and Paimon: "???"
Enjou: "??!!"
"Wait a minute, have you gotten something wrong? There shouldn't be a portrait of me, right?!"
Enjou raised his hand, gesturing to the shackles on his wrist.
"Since you are with these dangerous elements, you are obviously their accomplice as well. Come with us to be investigated, and if it's determined that you're not involved in anything, we'll let you go!"
Enjou: "...Bullshit... nonsense..."
"Hey, hey, have you gotten something wrong? We're the great heroes who saved Inazuma!"
Paimon immediately got anxious, never imagining that she and Lumine had become criminals the moment they returned to Inazuma, and had even dragged Enjou into it.
"Don't forget, we put in a lot of effort to get the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree abolished!"
"The criminals have already confessed, there's no need for further interrogation."
One of the samurai was taking notes in a notebook while listening to Paimon's words. Upon hearing his mutterings, Lumine and Paimon were completely numb.
"We protest, we're not criminals, you can't treat us like this!"
"We want to see Kamisato Ayato, he can prove our innocence!"
"Hmph, you're truly audacious, actually daring to ask a traitor to prove your innocence?"
Lumine and Paimon: "???"
Kamisato Ayato? Traitor?
Wait, what on earth happened in Inazuma?!
Lumine and Paimon's heads were buzzing, and they were already unable to think.
Paimon spoke at the last moment before her brain went on strike.
"Then we'll just find Kujou Sara to testify for us, alright?"
"Heh, Kujou Sara made a severe error in judgment and is already locked up in the big prison, unable to even save herself. Do you still dream of relying on her to testify for you?"
Another bolt from the blue appeared in Lumine and Paimon's minds. At this moment, they felt as if they had taken a boat to a parallel world.
In this world, they were thorough and utter villains.
However, they quickly gave up on this bizarre idea and began to consider what kind of shocking change had occurred in Inazuma.
But Inazuma had already fallen into such chaos, and Raiden Ei still hadn't made a move?!
Surely she couldn't be shut away in the Plane of Euthymia again this time?!
"Come with us quietly, and don't even think about trying any tricks!"
The three samurai probably felt the shackles weren't secure enough, so they placed their weapons against the necks of Lumine and her companions. Instantly, the three of them tensed up, completely afraid to move.
Lumine was fine, as attacks below the God-level couldn't cause her much harm. But Paimon had already thrown up her hands in surrender; after all, her little arms and legs couldn't withstand any bumps.
Enjou wanted to cry but had no tears. He had gained nothing from following Lumine, yet he had already suffered two rounds of imprisonment.
Could Lumine be the legendary Wanted Body?!
"Wait, let us see your clan head, Hiiragi Chisato. She can also testify to our innocence!"
"Hiiragi Chisato? That weakling is no longer the head of our Hiiragi Clan!"
Hearing the other's words, Lumine and Paimon froze again, then hurriedly asked.
"Then who is the head of the Hiiragi Clan now?"
"Of course, it is the great Lord Hiiragi Kōchū!"
"We firmly believe that under Lord Hiiragi Kōchū's leadership, the Tri-Commission will sooner or later restore its former glory!"
As soon as they mentioned this name, the faces of the three samurai all showed expressions of respect and excitement.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon kept wondering who Hiiragi Kōchū was. They seemed to have never heard of him before!
But they were very clear about one thing: Inazuma had completely changed!
Lumine didn't know what had happened in Inazuma, but obviously, sitting and waiting for death was not a good choice.
"Alright, you've known enough. Come with us quietly!"
After speaking, the three samurai were about to escort the three of them to the big prison, but Lumine was not prepared to cooperate this time.
With a slight tug, Lumine broke free from the shackles on her wrists. She then swept her sword, knocking the weapons out of the three samurai's hands. Two more upward slashes shattered the shackles on Paimon and Enjou.
Having experienced Fontaine Technology, Lumine silently marveled at how fragile Inazuma's shackles were!
If they had been bound by Fontaine shackles this time, they would have been doomed to another stint in prison.
After all that, Lumine gestured to the two. Enjou and Paimon immediately understood, a silent agreement forged through their long history. They turned and bolted!
What a joke! If they didn't flee while the enemy was still reeling, when would be the best time?
"Damn it, they're escaping! After them!"
As someone who had been wanted for a long time, Lumine was an expert at escaping. She would never give them the chance to catch her again.
This time, no one would throw her in prison. She'd decided that!
Paimon and Enjou followed closely behind Lumine, struggling to keep up.
Just as the trio thought they had escaped the chase without further incident, the samurai behind them fired several signal flares. The intensity of the pursuit suddenly escalated!