After Hu Tao left, Sparkle had no more targets to tease, so she happily returned as well.
Valerius, however, noticed Bailu still sitting there calmly, showing no intention of leaving.
"Bailu, aren't you going back?"
"This old lady wants to stay a little longer."
Even under the punishment's effects, Bailu still had no desire to return to the Alchemy Commission.
To her, even staying here as an old granny was better than going back to being confined.
"…Sigh."
Valerius let out a helpless sigh before taking out a laptop.
"If you get bored by yourself, you can play on this."
"Alright, alright. I heard you."
With her current elderly mindset, Bailu looked down on things like computers.
She had absolutely no interest in touching it and simply continued sitting cross-legged.
"Fine."
"When you want to go back, just return on your own."
After giving a few instructions, Valerius turned to Jingliu.
"What about you?"
"Will you stay with her for a while?"
"I…"
Truthfully…
Jingliu wanted to keep Bailu company.
But Bailu was still under the punishment.
She was genuinely worried the little dragon lady might suddenly blurt out something outrageous.
"I'll head back later."
"Alright."
Valerius wasn't worried that Jingliu would harm Bailu.
He nodded and returned home.
Back at the house…
Everyone was gathered in the living room.
They sat around staring at the screen before them without blinking.
"What are you all watching?"
"The Village East Granny."
"…Fair enough."
Opening the livestream…
Sure enough…
Sigewinne was currently lecturing Wriothesley nonstop.
Her tiny stature paired with that elderly demeanor was hilarious to watch.
Three days later…
Inside Tenshukaku, Inazuma.
Kujou Sara lowered her head.
Her face was completely lifeless.
"My Shogun…"
"I have sinned."
Everything she'd done…
Everything she'd said during that week of punishment…
Was still crystal clear in her mind.
If Raiden Ei hadn't stopped her…
She would've committed seppuku already.
"You only acted that way because of the punishment."
"There is no need to dwell on it."
"Waaah…"
"My Shogun…"
"You're so kind…"
Warmth flooded Sara's heart.
As expected…
Among all the players…
Her own Shogun was the most dependable.
No one else even came close.
Even so…
Since she'd made mistakes…
She still wished to atone.
"My Shogun…"
"Please allow me to redeem myself."
"Leave the destruction of the Delusion Factory to me."
"No."
"I'll go personally."
Now that Raiden Makoto had returned…
Many hidden currents within Inazuma had immediately been uncovered.
The Delusion Factory was one of them.
She wanted to personally see…
Who dared cause trouble within Inazuma's borders.
"…Then please allow this subordinate to accompany you."
"Very well."
That much was acceptable.
After all…
Ei merely wanted to investigate whoever was producing Delusions.
Bringing Sara along posed no problem.
The two stood and headed toward the audience chamber.
Since she was leaving…
Ei naturally wanted to inform her sister first.
Inside Tenshukaku's grand hall…
Raiden Makoto sat upon the main seat.
Standing below her…
Was a familiar woman.
La Signora.
At that moment…
Signora was utterly bewildered.
She couldn't understand why Inazuma had changed so drastically.
According to every report she'd received…
Inazuma was still enforcing the Sakoku Decree.
The Vision Hunt Decree was also supposed to be in effect.
So why…
Had everything been abolished?
More importantly…
Looking at the woman seated above…
She felt strangely uneasy.
Fortunately…
The woman wasn't wearing a braid.
That alone calmed her slightly.
Before coming to Inazuma…
Valerius had warned her…
"You're fated to clash with braided women."
She hadn't believed him at first.
But even Zhongli had told her to be careful.
Surely it wasn't an empty warning.
Makoto finished reading the document in her hands before finally raising her head.
"So…"
"The Fatui envoy wishes to station Fatui forces within Inazuma…"
"…to strengthen cooperation between our two nations?"
"Correct."
"What does the Shogun think?"
"I think…"
"…it's unacceptable."
Makoto almost laughed.
She had only recently returned…
Yet she'd already heard countless stories about the Fatui.
Some good…
Many bad.
But this?
Stationing troops inside Inazuma?
Military occupation?
"Your Excellency…"
"The Fatui have already established preliminary cooperation with Mondstadt and Liyue…"
"No."
Makoto interrupted her with a wave.
She looked completely exasperated.
Cooperation?
As if.
She knew perfectly well what was happening outside.
Someone had been secretly encouraging Watatsumi Island to rebel.
A Delusion Factory had also appeared.
She didn't even need to think.
The Fatui were obviously behind it.
What puzzled her was…
Why was Arlecchino behaving herself in Fontaine…
While the rest of the Fatui were causing chaos everywhere else?
Fortunately…
Sangonomiya Kokomi was now a player.
And the Vision Hunt Decree had already ended.
So there was no chance of a rebellion anymore.
"Sister."
Just as Makoto was about to continue…
Raiden Ei entered the hall with Kujou Sara.
"I'm taking Sara to investigate that Delusion Factory."
"The Delusion Factory?!"
Signora's heart skipped a beat.
How did they find out?!
Then…
She looked at Ei.
Every hair on her body stood on end.
Braids!
There really was someone in Inazuma wearing braids!
And…
She looked exactly like the Raiden Shogun seated above.
Wasn't the puppet supposed to govern Inazuma?
Then…
Who exactly was sitting on the throne?
And…
The braided woman had just called the Shogun…
"Sister."
Signora suddenly felt she'd uncovered an earth-shattering secret.
"So you're going personally?"
Makoto asked.
"Yes."
"I want to see who dares stir up trouble in Inazuma."
"…Very well."
Makoto nodded.
She wasn't worried about Ei.
Then she turned toward Signora.
"I'm afraid I'll have to ask the Fatui envoy…"
"…to remain within Tenshukaku for a while."
What?
Signora was stunned.
House arrest?
Just like that?
"I'm an official envoy of Snezhnaya!"
"You can't simply detain me!"
Makoto smiled faintly.
"Once we've apprehended those responsible for the Delusion Factory…"
"I'll return all of them to the Tsaritsa together."
It's over.
Only one thought remained in Signora's mind.
I'm finished.
She couldn't understand what had happened.
Everything had been proceeding smoothly until now.
She had even mocked the Raiden Shogun before…
Calling her foolish and easy to deceive.
Now…
That couldn't have been further from the truth.
Raiden Ei glanced between her sister and Signora.
Then silently drew her sword.
She might be a little dense…
But she wasn't stupid.
Her sister had already made it perfectly clear.
The Fatui were behind the Delusion Factory.
If that was the case…
Why waste words?
Just cut her down.
"Gasp…"
Signora's entire body froze.
She had the overwhelming feeling…
That she was about to die.
That Valerius wasn't lying!
I'm really cursed by braided women!
"Ei."
At the crucial moment…
Makoto called out softly and subtly shook her head.
Although there was plenty of evidence implicating the Fatui…
She had only just returned.
She still didn't know the entire situation.
Killing a Fatui Harbinger outright wasn't the wisest course.
Instead…
She preferred sending Signora back.
After all…
Executing one Harbinger…
Could never compare to the diplomatic leverage she'd gain against Snezhnaya.
"…Alright."
Ei obediently lowered her blade.
She glared at Signora.
"You stay right here."
"If you dare run…"
"I'll personally go to the Cryo Archon and drag you back."
"Sara."
"Let's go."
Watching the two leave…
Signora felt like crying.
What rotten luck…
The moment someone told her she was cursed by braided women…
She immediately encountered one.
At this point…
She was beginning to suspect…
That Valerius had somehow arranged all of this himself.
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