But now he had a flare from Shiki. He pulled out the fuse, shot it into the sky, and a large firework immediately appeared in the dim sky.
And the Yashiro Commission fleet, which had already prepared in the nearby waters, immediately advanced and rushed over.
In the end, all the people were naturally rescued, and the person who scuttled the ship was also caught. Although that person insisted they were from the resistance, who could say what the truth was?
Shiki was unaware of what was happening in the waters of Yashiori Island, but even if she knew, she wouldn't say anything, because it was all within her expectations.
Having politely declined Ayaka's request, "Shiki, stay tonight," Shiki returned to Konda Village. After a simple meal, she lay on the bed and fell asleep.
She still had to meet Ioroi in Ritou at midnight, so she needed to quickly get some sleep now to alleviate her mental fatigue.
The weather on Yashiori Island had returned to clear skies, but these villagers still had to leave temporarily, because the resistance would certainly not be content with only occupying the western part of Yashiori Island; they would definitely want to take over the entire island.
At that time, Crimsonwood Village, located in the central area, would become the main point of conflict in the war, and it would definitely be uninhabitable.
And even if the Tenryou Commission were to set the battlefield at Nazuchi Beach in the future, could Crimsonwood Village live in harmony with the resistance?
This was simply impossible. Everyone in Inazuma worshipped the Raiden Shogun. As for Orobas of Watatsumi Island? What was that?
...
The midnight beach was always cool. At this moment, Shiki stood on the beach beneath the Statue of the Seven, resting with her eyes closed. This was the meeting place she and Ioroi had agreed upon.
Ioroi, in his mansion, looked at the time on the clock. After calculating that it was about time, he used magic to conceal his figure, then slipped out of the house and walked towards the Statue of the Seven.
"It's exactly this time! My father must not be in his room anymore!" Hiiragi Chisato said with certainty.
"Good, let's go and take a look quickly!" Paimon said.
Lumine didn't speak but walked at the forefront, stealthily making her way to Hiiragi Shinsuke's room. After all, Hiiragi Chisato, as a Young Miss, could walk around freely, but Lumine couldn't.
"He's gone, as expected!" Paimon, using her ability to fly, was the first to observe the situation inside the room.
"Traveler, do you think this has something to do with the Fatui?"
"Uncertain. All of this can only be known after we find Hiiragi Shinsuke."
Lumine shook her head, looked at the empty room, and opened her element Vision. A faint green trace then appeared on the ground, extending outside.
"Just to confirm, your father doesn't have a Vision, does he?"
"No, I can confirm that," Hiiragi Chisato said.
"I understand. Miss Kui, please be mentally prepared. There's Anemo element residue on your father's footprints."
Lumine didn't continue speaking, but a common guess formed in everyone's minds simultaneously.
That was, Hiiragi Shinsuke had a high probability of having been replaced.
"You're a bit late, Ioroi." Feeling the aura from afar, Shiki opened her eyes.
"It took some time to organize things, and this afternoon, I received important news from the Fatui," Ioroi said.
"Shiki, you should know that due to the curse gods rampaging on Yashiori Island, the Mikage Furnace Core in Tatarasuna went out of control, right?"
"I know. That's why I went to deal with the curse gods today, specifically for the subsequent handling of Tatarasuna," Shiki nodded.
"So you went there today! Back to the Fatui, they seem to be planning to cause trouble in Tatarasuna during this time."
"They're moving that fast?"
Shiki was slightly surprised, because in her impression, the personnel in Tatarasuna hadn't been fully evacuated yet, had they?
Going now, aren't they afraid of being seen?
Uh... it seems they aren't afraid of being discovered either.
"Forget it. I'll go to Tatarasuna again tomorrow and take care of this ticking time bomb along the way."
Shiki was certain the Fatui would act on Tatarasuna, as they had done so in the game, but she wasn't sure exactly when. Now, Ioroi had given her a rough timeframe, and Shiki only needed to bypass the Tenryou Commission as the Yashiro Commission.
They definitely wouldn't dare to obstruct. The Tenryou Commission also hoped that the Mikage Furnace Core could be put back into production as quickly as possible.
"Then Shiki, be careful on your way. Oh, and these are the corrupt account books and lists I found in the secret compartment. I took a quick look, and the entire Kanjou Commission department is beyond saving," Ioroi said with a helpless sigh, rubbing his forehead.
However, Shiki did not accept the account books but placed her hand on the Kujikanesada at her waist.
"Ioroi, you're being followed, do you know that?"
"Huh?" Ioroi was stunned.
Ignoring the bewildered Ioroi, Shiki said while drawing her Kujikanesada: "Little mice hiding in the dark, will you come out yourselves, or shall I invite you out?"
"W-wah, Traveler, we've been discovered!"
Rewind time a bit. Not long after Shiki and Ioroi met, the Traveler and her companions arrived behind a Shitou. After that, they watched Hiiragi Shinsuke turn into a little Tanuki.
Although they didn't hear what the two were saying, this unusual phenomenon already confirmed that the real Hiiragi Shinsuke had been replaced.
"Uh... I'm a bit confused. Why did Miss Kui's father turn into a Tanuki?" Paimon scratched her head, puzzled.
"I told you to gather information. There's a legend in Inazuma about Tanuki that can use magic. Paimon, if you thought less about eating, you would have noticed."
Lumine hit the nail on the head, and Paimon was utterly defeated.
Hiiragi Chisato's eyes were already red, but she knew the current situation was important. She bravely held back her tears and tried to calm her emotions.
"You are very strong, Miss Kui. That Tanuki obeys her. It seems that woman is the culprit behind all of this."
Lumine comforted Hiiragi Chisato and was about to continue watching, but then she saw the woman place her hand on the sword at her waist.
"Little mice hiding in the dark, will you come out yourselves, or shall I invite you out?"
"W-wah, Traveler, we've been discovered!"
"Miss Kui, you run first, I'll hold her off!" Lumine said, taking out her six-star weapon, the wufeng sword, which had defeated Dvalin and repelled Osial!
"Wait, Traveler, I know her!" With the help of the moonlight, Hiiragi Chisato saw the girl's full appearance.
"What?"
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