Inazuma City.
Located to the southeast of Narukami Island, it sits on a peninsula that serves as an extension of the island itself.
"So Inazuma City... is this big now?" It was Raiden Makoto's first time visiting Inazuma City, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder as she looked at the magnificent city before her.
"Liyue Harbor is even bigger than Inazuma. If Sister Zhen has time, maybe we can take you on a trip to Liyue in the future," Paimon said with a proud and boastful expression. "But Inazuma is indeed quite a bit larger than Mondstadt City."
"Mhm."
Upon entering Inazuma City, one could see the citizens. Most were going about their lives normally, though smiles were rare on their faces, and many Shogunate Army soldiers were patrolling the streets.
"Do you see it? Over there is the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god..."
Following where Thoma pointed, Raiden Makoto saw the towering statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god. It depicted a seated maiden with two wings on her back, and those wings were inlaid with many Visions.
Lumine and Paimon had already seen similar statues in Mondstadt, but they had never seen so many Visions before.
"There are... really so many Visions on it." Paimon looked at the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god in shock.
"All the Visions obtained through the Vision Hunt Decree are used to construct the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god, the statue that symbolizes eternity."
"Visions are born from intense desires. If a Vision is lost, the memories associated with possessing it will slowly fade... Those who have lost their Visions..."
"Sigh..." Thoma sighed with emotion. He had already seen those who lost their Visions while accompanying Kamisato Ayaka, and those people truly lived in such agony.
It was for this very reason that Kamisato Ayaka and Thoma had solidified their resolve to resist the Vision Hunt Decree.
No one knew if they would be the next victim.
Because of the sakoku decree, the common people were also living in dire straits. The oppressive life had even caused the crime rate in Inazuma to rise, but that was of no concern to the Yashiro Commission.
"Inazuma today, from top to bottom, is completely decayed and must undergo a major transformation... Aside from the Yashiro Commission, the other two commissions have their own selfish motives; they no longer care about the lives of the common people," Raiden Makoto said calmly. "In the end, it's always the ordinary people who suffer."
"Indeed."
"But the Raiden Shogun issued the order to confiscate Visions precisely to prevent the people from undergoing change, inlaying those Visions one by one onto that statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god."
"Half of the Visions on there are fakes. Luckily, Master Masakatsu helped us... we've also hidden quite a few people." Thoma smiled. "But that's far from enough. We must truly resolve the Vision Hunt Decree."
"Mhm."
"To have'stasis' as the essence and 'change' as the manifestation is the true eternity." Raiden Makoto sighed. Unfortunately, her sister was still too naive and did not understand the true meaning of eternity. But how could one grow while remaining closed off in one place?
She only knew how to maintain Inazuma's stasis, thinking that would achieve true eternity.
But that... was far too childish.
"..."
At this moment, Thoma, Lumine, and Paimon stared at Raiden Makoto, dumbfounded. Their faces bore expressions of being impressed despite not fully understanding.
"Although I don't quite understand Sister Zhen's words, I feel like what she's saying makes a lot of sense."
"Yes, yes," Lumine agreed. "But I think that Raiden Shogun is really a bit too selfish. She doesn't care about her subjects at all."
Thoma gave Lumine a thumbs up. He somewhat admired the blonde girl before him; she was truly a bit too bold to dare say such things in front of so many Inazumans.
And at this time, those Inazuman citizens were also looking at them with angry expressions.
"Let's hurry and leave..."
"Even if I don't particularly respect the Raiden Shogun, everyone in Inazuma reveres her. You shouldn't speak ill of the Raiden Shogun in front of Inazumans in the future."
"Thoma, aren't you an Inazuman?" Paimon asked curiously. "Looking at you, you seem a bit like a Mondstadter."
"Mhm."
"I suppose I came over from Mondstadt."
As for Raiden Makoto, as they got closer and closer to the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god, she actually felt a powerful surge of desire emanating from it.
"Those... are their dreams. To strip away a Vision is to strip away their dreams." Raiden Makoto's tone held a hint of anger. She wasn't angry at Ei or the Raiden Shogun, but at those already decayed people of the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission.
"Yes."
"There's also a feeling similar to a killing intent in the air." Paimon looked around. There were many Shogunate Army soldiers near the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god, patrolling and standing guard.
"I will help you, but whether we can succeed, I don't know." Lumine had now completely made up her mind to help Kamisato Ayaka resolve the Vision Hunt Decree. Although she hadn't seen those who lost their Visions, she could also feel a strange sensation from the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god.
"Mhm."
Just as Thoma was about to continue speaking, a cold voice drifted over from that direction, making Thoma's expression turn slightly sour.
"You just said half the Visions on the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god are fakes, and that they were made by some Master Masakatsu? Your Yashiro Commission actually took the lead in defying the Shogun's orders!"
Thoma's expression changed drastically. He naturally knew who the source of that voice was: it was the general guarding the Tenshukaku, Kujou Sara.
"Lady Kujou, you must have misheard." But Thoma was forcing himself to stay calm; he couldn't let Kujou Sara catch him in a blunder.
"Is that so?" Kujou Sara gave a cold laugh. "What are you doing here in front of the statue of the thousand-armed and hundred-eyed god? And you, you're actually with them."
Kujou Sara's gaze fell upon Raiden Makoto. She had heard every word of their conversation just now, and surprisingly, she found what Raiden Makoto said to be quite reasonable.
How could she think Raiden Makoto's words made sense? Those words completely contradicted the Raiden Shogun's ideals. Wouldn't that be betraying the Raiden Shogun?
One must know that her entire life was dedicated to following in the Raiden Shogun's footsteps, working tirelessly to achieve eternity.
"You should have gone to Watatsumi Island at that time, right? Your Yashiro Commission not only secretly disobeyed the Shogun's orders but even had contact with that group of resistance on Watatsumi Island."
"It was you who funded that resistance, wasn't it?" Kujou Sara's face was full of coldness, and her eyes were exceptionally fierce.
Ever since she encountered Raiden Makoto, who looked very similar to the Raiden Shogun, she had begun investigating everything about her. Although she hadn't uncovered Raiden Makoto's origin, she knew of her actions—Raiden Makoto had met with the Watatsumi Island resistance.
At that time, she was wondering if canceling the Wanted Poster had been a mistake.
"You really have some nerve! Is it to overthrow the Shogunate's rule?"
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