"So that's how it is."
Ember nodded thoughtfully, then tentatively asked, "Hoping that old… oh, ptooey! That Raiden Shogun will feel the people's will to resist and end the war, isn't that a bit too passive?"
"Have you ever considered…"
A sharp glint flashed in Ember's eyes. He swung his hand down like a blade, carving a deep trench into the earth.
Ember glanced down and saw ghastly white bones exposed in the dark trench. He suddenly realized that this underground area was probably where Washizu and his group disposed of bodies.
"My apologies, I interrupted. Don't mind it."
So, he bent down, used both hands to exert force, and closed the crack he had just split in the earth.
"Rumble!"
The ground trembled for a moment, then returned to its original state, as if the profound crack that had reached the bottom never existed.
"Gulp!"
"Gulp!"
"Splash!"
"What are you so scared of?"
Ember looked up at the Golden Tree, which had visibly shrunk, and asked. It was understandable for Washizu and Dan Oni Roku to be afraid, but the Golden Tree shouldn't be, right?
After all, it was the Greater Will's painstaking effort. Why was it so jumpy?
The Golden Tree trembled even more violently at his words. If Ember hadn't still been watching it, it probably would have uprooted itself and run away.
"Mumble mumble~" Washizu and Dan Oni Roku uttered a series of indistinct sounds. After dispelling their shock, they immediately began to advise Ember.
"Ember, although you are very powerful, the Shogun's power is beyond our imagination. You must not do anything foolish!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Don't do anything foolish!"
Dan Oni Roku and Washizu spoke one after another, afraid that Ember would go looking for trouble with the Raiden Shogun right now.
It wasn't that they truly believed Ember could defeat the Raiden Shogun, because in the hearts of Inazuma people, the Raiden Shogun's invincible image was almost the most deeply ingrained.
They were worried that Ember would go and immediately get a tombstone.
"No? Why can't you believe me?" Ember flexed a muscle and said earnestly.
"Alright, alright, we believe you. Even if you could kill the Shogun, don't do it."
Washizu nodded. Although Ember's display just now was indeed the most extraordinary he had ever seen, Washizu still felt that Ember was no match for the Raiden Shogun.
So, his tone was full of agreement, afraid that Ember would go to Tenshukaku to confront the Raiden Shogun right now.
"So loyal? Don't you see how miserable your life is?" Ember picked his ear, wondering if Inazuma had some kind of mind control tower that had a tight grip on Washizu and the others' minds.
"This…" Washizu glanced at his worn-out armor, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but it quickly vanished, replaced by resolve.
"I believe the Shogun's original intention was not like this. It must be the Tri-Commission who deceived the Shogun!"
"Look, even the Tenryou Commission blocked news of the tatarigami leakage and even wanted to silence people. The other two Commissions must be the same!"
In just a few breaths, Washizu had convinced himself. His speed was so fast that Ember was somewhat dumbfounded.
"Yes, it must be the Tri-Commission who deceived the Shogun!"
"Moreover, the Shogun has protected Inazuma for two thousand years, and countless great demons from the Dark Sea have been slain by her blade."
"If the Shogun were not presiding, Inazuma would surely be swallowed by the waves of the Dark Sea!"
Dan Oni Roku also spoke volubly. He and Washizu echoed each other, leaving Ember stunned.
"Alright, alright! I understand now! Are you Inazuma people…"
Ember was about to say "mentally ill," but then he reconsidered. The Raiden Shogun had indeed protected Inazuma for so long at the Dark Sea border.
Given the harsh environment and such a powerful leader, it didn't seem so strange for such superstitious loyalty to arise.
"Forget it, if you don't care, why should I?" Ember waved his hand, jotting down what Washizu and Dan Oni Roku said in his small notebook.
After writing, he looked at the neat dialogue and immediately felt much better. Now he had two samples. He would continue to work hard to make sure the samples could represent all of Inazuma!
"Thank you both for your cooperation." Ember closed his notebook, then shook hands with Washizu and Dan Oni Roku on his own accord.
"Uh… you're welcome."
"It's nothing."
The two of them initially tried to understand Ember's thought process, but they quickly gave up on the idea.
Keeping up with Ember's thought process, wasn't that just asking for trouble for their own minds?
"Alright, I'm going to Watatsumi Island to investigate. Wish me luck!" After shaking hands, Ember intended to leave Higi Village.
He needed to see if the resistance were all the same as those people before. If so, then there was no need for such trouble.
Ember would just give the entire resistance a big slap and bury them in the dirt, and that would be the end of it. Why bother with research?
"So fast? Aren't you going to rest?" Washizu shivered when he heard this. He felt that Ember was simply inexhaustible, never needing to rest.
"Going to Watatsumi Island? What are you going there for?" Dan Oni Roku asked, puzzled.
"Don't worry, it's also for 'social research.' I'll also deliver your little note to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
Ember saw Dan Oni Roku's hesitant expression and immediately reassured him.
After saying goodbye, Ember turned and merged into the darkness.
Washizu and Dan Oni Roku watched Ember's disappearing back, unable to react for a long time.
Why did they always feel that the art style just now was a bit strange?
...Morning. The Sky was blue, and the air was fresh.
This was a sight that Higi Village would absolutely never have. But it now appeared in the resistance's encampment, also on Yashiori Island.
If one were to ask for the reason, one could only say that the resistance's encampment was very well-chosen.
The resistance's encampment was located near Musoujin Gorge. The Raiden Shogun's immense divine power and elemental power, even after a thousand years, still hadn't dissipated.
Under this vast elemental and divine power, even the tatarigami rampant on Yashiori Island couldn't spread.
"What are everyone's tasks today?"
"What else could it be? Patrol, of course."
"Mine is training."
...In the open space between the red and white tents, several Sergeants in red armor were chatting and laughing.
The resistance's encampment was filled with military tents of various sizes, and the open spaces between the tents were specially reinforced.
Even when rain fell, it couldn't create any mud.
Whenever they had free time, the Sergeants of the resistance would sit on the ground in this open space, talking about everything under the Sky.
"When do you think the next battle will be?"
"I don't know. The front lines are stalemated now; no one dares to make the first move."
"Anyway, I hope we don't fight. This is pretty good."
The Sergeants discussed the recent battle situation, some eager for action, some deep in thought, some analyzing, and others looking worried.
Their reactions were varied.
"tatarigami have appeared near Yashiori Island. What are your thoughts?"
A voice suddenly appeared next to the Sergeants' ears, but it didn't arouse their suspicion.
"No need to say, it must be those bastards from the Shogunate Army!"
"Yes! I remember some refugees from Yashiori Island saying that the Shogunate wanted to kill them to silence them."
"Tsk tsk tsk, how vicious, not even sparing their own people!"
At these words, the topic immediately became unified, and all the Sergeants began to fiercely criticize the Shogunate Army.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
The sound of furious writing could be heard amidst the Sergeants' denunciations, but no one noticed.
After a long while, the previous voice echoed again.
"What do you think is the cause of this war?"
"What is it? The Raiden Shogun tramples on people's wishes; such behavior must not be tolerated!"
"I don't know."
"The price of grain is getting more and more expensive. I came here to eat, and incidentally, to make the culprit who raised the grain prices bleed a little."
Everyone's answers were different again.
"Swish, swish, swish."
The sound of writing started again, and soon, the voice spoke again.
"Thank you for your cooperation. May I have your names?"
"…"
"Oh my, a spy!"
"What spy? An infiltrator has snuck in!"
As soon as their names were asked, the Sergeants instantly sobered up. They immediately stood up from the ground, belatedly searching for the source of the voice.
However, unfortunately, Ember had long since vanished without a trace.
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