For a period of time, the atmosphere in Inazuma City fell into a mysterious calm; all factions were minding their own business, seemingly not interfering with each other, but in reality, everyone knew this was just the calm before the storm.
The Tenryou Commission continued its widespread confiscation of Visions on Narukami Island as usual, but found nothing. The Vision Hunt Decree had been in effect for so long that all the Visions that could be confiscated had already been taken, and those that couldn't were held by people with status and background.
Could anyone dare to rush into the Grand Narukami Shrine or the Yashiro Commission's residence to confiscate the Vision of that pink-haired fox, the milk tea guy, and the esteemed Taroumaru? That's not realistic.
The soldiers of the Tenryou Commission patrolled and inspected Inazuma City daily, their purpose being to see if any new Vision holders had appeared in the past year, but the probability of that was like winning the lottery.
Just as these soldiers were being scolded by their superiors daily for their lack of success, a young blonde man, affiliated with the Kamisato Clan of the Yashiro Commission, swaggered into the Commission Office, greeted his familiar colleagues with a casual air, and incidentally, subtly inquired about some ceremony.
His colleagues at the Commission Office hadn't thought much of it initially, but the bright, shining Pyro Vision on him made them unconsciously breathe heavier, as if they had seen an unparalleled beauty.
They exchanged glances. This guy, Thoma, seemed to be just a servant of the Yashiro Commission, right? Arresting him would complete the mission, wouldn't it?
Damn it! I wouldn't dare to arrest the head and the princess of the Yashiro Commission, but a mere servant? Why not? Besides, the Raiden Shogun herself would confiscate it then. Those people from the Yashiro Commission can take their anger out on the Raiden Shogun if they have the guts.
And so, Thoma was detained by the people of the Commission Office. It truly was a case of 'what you seek is found when you least expect it.' Good, this matter is resolved; the Vision Hunt Ceremony can now be held.
It was at this moment that Thoma realized that he was the protagonist of the ceremony they were preparing, and he had actually delivered himself right to them. How unlucky! Wasn't I the winner of the hotpot game? God of Hotpot, why didn't you protect me?
The next morning, when Lumine and Paimon arrived at Komore Teahouse again, they immediately noticed something was off as soon as they entered: it was too quiet, completely different from usual.
And Taroumaru, the apparent owner of Komore Teahouse, let out an anxious howl as soon as he saw Lumine, completely unlike his usual docile self. Unfortunately, Lumine and Paimon couldn't understand dog language.
Just then, Kamisato Ayaka rushed into Komore Teahouse, and as soon as she saw Lumine and Paimon, she anxiously asked, "Have either of you seen Thoma?"
"We thought he was with you? He doesn't seem to be here either. Has something happened?"
"Oh no, on my way here, I heard that Thoma was taken by the Tenryou Commission. I couldn't tell if the news was true or false, so I immediately came to confirm. If Thoma hasn't appeared here as agreed, it means the rumor is likely true."
"How can this be? Isn't Thoma part of the Yashiro Commission? He's also your close attendant. With such a status, how dare the Tenryou Commission arrest Thoma? Aren't they afraid of the consequences?"
"Today, the Raiden Shogun will hold the ceremony for the hundredth Vision in front of the Statue of the Omnipresent God, and the holder of that hundredth Vision, the one who will be publicly stripped of their Vision, is likely... Thoma."
"Could it be that the ceremony Thoma heard the Tenryou Commission was preparing was precisely the Vision Hunt Ceremony prepared for him? Doesn't that mean Thoma walked right into a trap?"
"It should... be. The Shogun and the Tenryou Commission are preparing to use the hundredth Vision Hunt Ceremony to demonstrate the phased results of the Vision Hunt Decree. It's all my fault; I didn't discover this in time, leading Thoma into such a crisis. No, I must save him."
"Ayaka, you need to calm down. As the Shirasagi Himegimi, you also represent the Yashiro Commission. If you openly defy the Raiden Shogun, the ordinary people of the Yashiro Commission will also be implicated, won't they...?"
"There's nothing for it. Time is running out; the ceremony is about to begin. I can't just give up on Thoma. He's my friend. Not long ago, we all together..."
"He's my friend too! I'll save him!"
Just then, a young man walked in from outside and asked in surprise, "Why are you still here? The Vision Hunt Ceremony held by the Raiden Shogun is about to begin, you know. This is a rare opportunity to see the Raiden Shogun without an introduction. Lumine, Paimon, hurry up."
"Yuto?! Where have you been these past few days? Listen to me, the target of the Vision Hunt Ceremony is Thoma. We must save him."
"Thoma? Save him? Are you going to break him out of prison in front of the nation's Archon? That's too dangerous, isn't it? Besides, the Raiden Shogun only wants Thoma's Vision; she won't take his life. There's no need to go to such lengths."
"No! Those who lose their Visions, who lose their wishes, are in too much pain. Thoma is our friend; we absolutely cannot abandon him."
Yuto pulled out an Omamori from his embrace, sighed, and said, "Ah, since you are determined to go, I can't stop you. How about this, take this Omamori. I went through a lot of trouble to get it from Guuji Yae of the Grand Narukami Shrine. It can keep you safe."
Though Lumine expressed some doubt, thinking it was bestowed by the mysterious Yae Miko, she still accepted it, then left Komore Teahouse without looking back, heading towards the Statue of the Omnipresent God.
After they left, Yuto revealed a subtly amused smile, then turned to the flustered Kamisato Ayaka and said sarcastically, "What's wrong? Your personal attendant has been taken by the Raiden Shogun, and you can still sit there?"
"Yuto... Mr. Yuto, I... I am, after all, the Shirasagi Himegimi of Inazuma. I cannot implicate the entire Yashiro Commission because of myself."
"Is it 'cannot implicate the Yashiro Commission' or 'cannot implicate the Kamisato Clan'?"
Kamisato Ayaka lowered her head in shame, remaining silent, which made Yuto feel a hint of disdain. As expected, there are only wrong names, never wrong nicknames. Kamisato Turtle truly lives up to her name.
Yuto suddenly laughed, "Since that's the case, how about I invite you to watch a good show? As the Shirasagi Himegimi of the Yashiro Commission, it should be fine to observe the Vision Hunt on site, as long as you don't intervene, right?"
Kamisato Ayaka immediately looked up, an expression of disbelief on her face: "Could it be... today?"
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