"Wait!" Yae Miko had the words on the tip of her tongue, but Ember's figure had already vanished.
She looked at the empty inner sanctum of the Grand Narukami Shrine, feeling quite anxious.
It was clear that Ember was also someone who opposed the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree. Since that was the case, it meant he could be recruited.
Yae Miko had just wanted to persuade Ember to join their "Anti-Raiden Shogun Grand Plan," but unfortunately, he had already disappeared.
Instantly appearing outside the shrine, Yae Miko saw a group of terrified shrine maidens.
"Where is that tin can from just now?" Yae Miko asked the shrine maidens below.
"Replying to the Guuji, that person from just now, he jumped down!"
"Jumped down?"
"Yes! He just jumped straight off the top of the mountain."
After a brief conversation, Yae Miko arrived at the entrance of the Grand Narukami Shrine, which was the edge of the summit of Mt. Yougou.
Looking down from the heights, Yae Miko saw a brand-new crater at the foot of the mountain. There was no need to think; this must have been where Ember had smashed into the ground just now.
"Such strength is rare." Looking at the deep pit on the ground and recalling the scene where he received a strike from the Raiden Shogun at the throne duel, Yae Miko's resolve to recruit Ember grew even stronger.
Why was she acting in secret? Wasn't it because the disparity between her personal strength and that of the Shogunate was too great?
"It seems I must find a way to stop him." Having made up her mind, Yae Miko wanted to intercept Ember.
Although it was true that Ember had taken a strike from the Raiden Shogun, whether the Raiden Shogun had used her full power was a question mark.
Ember's actions were undoubtedly a direct confrontation with the entire Shogunate. The danger involved was obvious, and Yae Miko felt it was necessary to stop him.
Yae Miko raised her foot, intending to dash down the mountain. But she suddenly remembered what Ember had just said to her.
"If you have time, walk this mountain path yourself!"
"Since that is the case, I shall walk it." Yae Miko withdrew the power she had channeled. Looking at the mountain path shrouded by rows of crimson torii gates in front of the shrine, she walked down slowly.
There was quite a distance from the Grand Narukami Shrine to Inazuma City; the time it took for Ember to travel should be enough for her to reach the foot of the mountain.
Taking a step back, even if Ember could really reach Inazuma City and get into a direct conflict with the Tenryou Commission...
...even then, they could send people to save Ember. And that would be offering help in a time of need—would she still have to worry about Ember not joining them?
Thinking this, Yae Miko's steps down the mountain became lighter.
...
Ember had once seen a spacious mansion at the entrance of the mountain path up Mt. Yougou, and this mansion was the Kamisato Estate.
At the same time, this was also the destination of Yae Miko's trip.
In an unknown secret room within the Kamisato Estate, Yae Miko was sitting opposite a blue-haired man.
The man had a beauty mark at the corner of his mouth, and there was always a faint curve at the corner of his eyes, making it unclear what he was thinking.
"It is rare to see the Guuji in such a state." Kamisato Ayato examined the Yae Miko before him.
Although the Guuji still looked as calm as ever, Kamisato Ayato still noticed a clue.
Her dignified pink hair was a bit messy, looking as if it had been hastily tidied up, and Yae Miko's own breathing was slightly rapid.
"The boy from the Kamisato Clan is still as annoying as ever." Seeing that Kamisato Ayato had noticed her abnormality at a glance, Yae Miko couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed.
She could only blame the fact that the mountain path was truly difficult to walk. Usually, Yae Miko would leap and dash between the mountains when going up or down. Today, she followed the mountain path down, and unexpectedly, it was even more difficult than when she didn't walk at all.
This path was practically non-existent; walking on it had more disadvantages than not walking at all. It would be better to just tear it down.
"Haha, what leisure does the Guuji have to come to my Kamisato Estate today?" Kamisato Ayato laughed it off; he had not expected Yae Miko to come here today.
"Enough, is there anyone else here? You're putting on quite an act." Seeing the spring-breeze-like gentle smile on Kamisato Ayato's face, Yae Miko waved her hand with disdain.
"Since Yae Miko says so, I will stop being polite."
"You came here—is there progress in the research on the Gnosis?"
Even though this place was sufficiently hidden, when Kamisato Ayato said this, his voice still lowered unconsciously.
"Mm, almost. Just waiting for a suitable candidate." Yae Miko nodded.
"A suitable candidate? I actually have one here. Take a look." Hearing this, Kamisato Ayato was thoughtful, then pulled out a photograph.
On the photograph were Lumine and Paimon, beaming with radiant smiles.
"Lumine, an Adventurer who has recently come to the fore. I heard she is traveling through The Seven Nations and will soon come to Inazuma."
"This person is not only strong, but judging from the evaluations of the clients, she is an Adventurer who always completes the commission once she accepts it."
"No matter how much the commission fee is, or how dangerous the content of the commission is, it is always the same!"
Kamisato Ayato emphasized this at the end.
"Her? I've heard a little about her." Yae Miko pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"That works; Lumine is a suitable candidate."
After speaking, she stuffed the photo back to Kamisato Ayato. She continued: "However, I didn't come here because of her this time."
"Oh? Then what is it?" Hearing this, a trace of curiosity appeared in Kamisato Ayato's eyes.
Kamisato Ayato was very clear about his evaluation in Yae Miko's heart.
It could be said that if it weren't for their shared goals, this Guuji would likely walk around him if she saw him, rather than coming to find him specifically.
"Because of Ember."
"Ember? Could it be that you think he is the suitable candidate?"
Kamisato Ayato frowned upon hearing this. Ember and Lumine could be said to be the two people who had recently risen to fame the most in the Adventurers' Guild.
They were famous among the upper echelons not only for participating in various events, but also famous among the public for their extremely high commission completion rate and extremely fast commission completion speed.
But unlike Lumine's uniformly good reviews, regarding the evaluations of Ember, many people were left speechless, unable to form a coherent opinion even after trying for a long time.
Yae Miko chose him as a suitable candidate; could it be that there was something he didn't know?
"Of course not!" Yae Miko rolled her eyes at Kamisato Ayato. If the wishes of the Inazuman populace were carried by him, who knows what kind of trouble would ensue.
"He is going to cause trouble for the Tenryou Commission. You find a way to stop him; if you really can't, you must at least fish him out!"
"He came to Inazuma?!"
Kamisato Ayato was shocked. A figure like Ember had come to Inazuma, and the Shuumatsuban hadn't discovered it at all!
"It seems it's been a while."
"He has been hanging around the battlefield, so it's normal that you didn't know."
Seeing Kamisato Ayato's thoughtful look, Yae Miko spoke up to explain.
"Alright then, intercepting him—what benefit does it have for us?" Hearing that Ember had been staying near the battlefield, Kamisato Ayato understood why the Shuumatsuban hadn't been able to discover him.
Most members of the Shuumatsuban were on standby in the shadows within Narukami Island, and a small portion were outside Narukami Island, mainly on Watatsumi Island.
There were very few who could be on the battlefield.
It wasn't that battlefield information wasn't important, but anyone with a clear eye could see that the stalemate between the Shogunate Army and the resistance had become a foregone conclusion, so its importance naturally plummeted.
"Benefit? Aren't you already unhappy with that group from the Tenryou Commission?"
"Do you think it's better to let him cause trouble once, or is it better for him to keep causing trouble?"
"Naturally, I hope he can keep causing trouble." Kamisato Ayato smiled gently upon hearing this. Since that was the case, he would have to take action.
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