"Paimon, come here."
Following Raiden Makoto's call, Paimon flew over to her. Paimon felt a bit bewildered at this moment; he had originally thought she was a cold and aloof sister, but it turned out Raiden Makoto was surprisingly easygoing.
"Huh?"
When Paimon reached Raiden Makoto's side, Raiden Makoto grabbed him directly, leaving Paimon completely stunned.
"So, it really does feel soft."
"I just wonder how it tastes."
It had to be said, Paimon's texture was really quite good. She examined Paimon carefully once more and discovered that Paimon really did look like a miniature version of the "Sustainer of Heavenly Principles," or what was known as the Herrscher of the Void.
"Ah!"
"Help!" Paimon was startled, his face full of fear. In Raiden Makoto's hands, he was completely unable to resist, and Raiden Makoto was actually going to... eat him!
It was truly too terrifying!
"Lumine, save me!"
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you." Raiden Makoto just really wanted to see what the real Paimon looked like, so she had grabbed him when he wasn't paying attention.
As the saying goes, catch them off guard and take them by surprise.
Otherwise, given Paimon's agility, catching him wouldn't be easy. Raiden Makoto didn't know when Paimon had ever been caught before.
"Lumine, Paimon says Rex Lapis isn't dead. Is that true?" Raiden Makoto didn't quite trust the unreliable Paimon, so she turned her gaze toward the stunned Lumine.
"Huh? Ah... it's true." Lumine nodded. "But regarding those matters, if you go to Liyue, please don't spread it around. In their eyes, Rex Lapis has already passed away..."
"I know."
"So, that was intentional on Rex Lapis's part, right? He could just push all the blame onto the Fatui, and he could finally retire." Based on the information provided by Lumine and Paimon, Raiden Makoto reached that conclusion.
Rex Lapis definitely stepped down voluntarily.
"Mhm..."
While Raiden Makoto and Lumine were talking, Yurihana walked out. After handing the island stay permit to Thoma, she said to him seriously: "Thoma, don't forget you owe me a meal."
"Alright, alright, alright." Thoma smiled. He had gathered quite a bit of information from Raiden Makoto and Lumine's discussion, but that information wasn't important to him.
"Let's go."
After they came out of the Ritou Inspection Office, Raiden Makoto looked at Thoma with a slight smile and said in a teasing tone: "That Miss Yurihana, she likes you, right Thoma? Otherwise, why would she be so happy just because you're treating her to a meal?"
"???"
"Makoto, please don't tease me. I'm not thinking about love right now." Even with Thoma's thick skin, he couldn't help but show a slightly embarrassed expression when faced with Raiden Makoto's teasing.
"That won't do, you're a big boy now." Raiden Makoto's "motherly" tone and expression were more than Thoma could handle. He kept feeling that Raiden Makoto had changed quite a bit since returning from the Grand Narukami Shrine.
She now seemed to have the aura of a mature big sister... yet, looking at her appearance, Raiden Makoto was completely just a stunningly beautiful Lady.
Paimon looked gossipy and nodded in agreement, "I think Sister Zhen is right. Mr. Thoma, you should find a partner. That Miss Yurihana from just now really seems interested in you."
"..."
"Alright, alright, let's hurry back to the Kamisato Estate... The Demoiselle is waiting for us."
He really couldn't handle it anymore.
...
Kamisato Estate.
When Raiden Makoto brought Lumine and Paimon inside, Paimon felt a bit disappointed. He thought that the residence of the Kamisato Clan, one of the three great clans of Inazuma, even if it couldn't compare to the Jade Chamber, shouldn't be too shabby, right?
However, the Kamisato Estate looked just like an ordinary house; it wasn't even as good as Master Diluc's large manor.
"What's wrong... is Paimon disappointed?" Raiden Makoto noticed the disappointed look on Paimon's face. "The Kamisato Clan has always been this frugal."
"This is too different from the Jade Chamber," Paimon complained. "I thought it would be one of those luxurious, grand courtyards."
"The Jade Chamber?"
"The Jade Chamber is the place built by Lord Ningguang. It was truly, truly luxurious and magnificent. Unfortunately, not long ago, the Jade Chamber... exploded... sigh." Paimon felt very heartbroken; think of how much Mora that must have cost!
"Oh."
"That is a pity."
She did know about Ningguang. When she asked that Liyue merchant before, she had mentioned that the merchants of Liyue were entirely managed by Ningguang.
Ningguang was also one of the Liyue Seven Stars.
As for the reason why the Jade Chamber exploded, Raiden Makoto certainly wanted to know, but now was not the time to worry about such things.
"Why did you come to Inazuma... is it to find your brother?" Raiden Makoto looked at Lumine, who had been scanning the surroundings.
Lumine was slightly stunned, then nodded and said: "Yes, but how did you know I was looking for my brother?"
"Your deeds have already spread here."
"I do know a little bit of news about your brother, but I can't quite remember it clearly right now." Raiden Makoto said thoughtfully. Ever since accepting most of the hazy memories under the sacred sakura tree, even her memories of her past life had become quite blurred.
If it weren't for the national style master system, the skills she excelled at would have become even rustier.
"You... know news about my brother?" After hearing what Raiden Makoto said, Lumine opened his eyes wide, his face showing a hint of excitement. Being able to know more about his brother was, of course, very important.
Neither Venti nor Zhongli had ever spoken about his brother; they only told him to head to the next nation. He had met his brother before, but he still knew nothing, because his brother's words were really like riddles. His brother was like a riddler, always saying things he couldn't understand.
His journey was still a journey to find his brother.
"I know, but those memories are too vague... I can't explain it clearly for the time being." Raiden Makoto nodded, "Perhaps I can tell you later, but as for news about your brother, not right now."
"Mhm..." Lumine didn't know why he trusted Raiden Makoto, but his intuition told him it was definitely true; Raiden Makoto wasn't lying to him.
"You actually know about Lumine's brother..." Paimon just felt it was miraculous, "Even The Bard and Zhongli didn't know that..."
"What kind of person was Makoto before?" Thoma felt more and more that Raiden Makoto was omnipotent and omniscient. He looked at Raiden Makoto seriously, "I used to think you were quite similar to the Demoiselle, but you and the Demoiselle are completely different."
"Is that so? Thoma, perhaps that's also why Ayaka and I hit it off immediately." As Raiden Makoto finished speaking, a crisp laugh came from behind the curtain.
"Hee hee."
"Hmm... Greetings... honored guests from Liyue. I am Kamisato Ayaka, belonging to the Kamisato Clan of the Yashiro Commission."
"The two of you have traveled across the ocean and endured a long journey. Please forgive my lack of hospitality..."
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