"So you really are the Electro Archon, my intuition really didn't fail me!" Paimon had an "as expected of me" expression on his face, looking incredibly smug.
As for Kamisato Ayaka and Yoimiya, two people born and raised in Inazuma, their expressions were much more varied. Especially for Yoimiya, it wasn't a surprise to him, but a shock.
The person before them who looked so much like the Raiden Shogun was actually one of a pair of Electro Archon sisters.
"Makoto... is the sister you mentioned... Ei? As in, the Shogun?" Kamisato Ayaka said she could accept it in her heart, but she still wasn't quite calm.
Before she first met Raiden Makoto, she only thought Raiden Makoto was someone who looked a bit like the Raiden Shogun. After all, how could the Raiden Shogun possibly faint on a beach?
But as it turned out, the Raiden Shogun was actually just a puppet. Raiden Makoto was the original Electro Archon, and the current Electro Archon was her sister, Raiden Ei.
Who could have imagined such a thing?
"Yes."
"Inazuma today has completely stagnated. That is also my fault; I didn't give her enough guidance back then."
"No one knew those things would happen." Raiden Makoto's stunning face held a hint of apology. She then looked seriously at Kamisato Ayaka. "No matter what, you will always be my good friend."
"Mhm."
Lumine was already used to this. So what if Raiden Makoto was the original Electro Archon? Anemo Archon Barbatos and Geo Archon Morax were both good friends he had gone shopping with before.
He certainly didn't mind having one more Electro Archon, Raiden, as a friend.
"Looks like I lost the bet..." Thoma didn't really mind. He wasn't a native of Inazuma, and to him, the Raiden Shogun was merely the ruler of a nation; he didn't believe in gods.
"Therefore, I need you to help me clear the obstacles to Inazuma's progress and completely resolve those issues before Ei emerges from the Plane of Euthymia."
"Alright!" Upon learning that Raiden Makoto was the original Electro Archon, Kamisato Ayaka felt even more excited for some reason.
The glory of the Kamisato Clan... her ancestors were those who fought alongside the Electro Archon, and now she too could become someone who fought alongside the Electro Archon.
She was bringing honor to her ancestors now, wasn't she? Living up to the glory of the Kamisato Clan!
"Sister Zhen..." Kamisato Ayaka's gaze toward Raiden Makoto held a touch of reverence and longing.
"Demoiselle..." Just as Kamisato Ayaka was about to speak, a servant walked in.
"Someone is outside asking for an audience."
"Who?"
"She claims to be Kujou Sara."
"Kujou Sara? Why would she come here?" Thoma's expression changed. He was slightly panicked, but Paimon immediately patted Thoma's shoulder. "Thoma, stay calm."
"The one in front of you is the original Electro Archon and the older sister of the current Electro Archon. Are you still afraid of Kujou Sara?"
"Cough... true." Thoma's face turned red. He had essentially shared a table and drinks with the Electro Archon, and the Electro Archon had even personally cooked for him. What was there to fear from a mere Kujou Sara?
"Kujou Sara? Let her in." Before Kamisato Ayaka could give the order, Raiden Makoto directly instructed the servant.
"Yes."
As the General of the Tenryou Commission, Kujou Sara, entered, she saw a room full of people in the Kamisato Estate. However, she said nothing and walked straight toward Raiden Makoto.
"How did you know about the Head of the Clan's secret collusion with the Fatui? Was it Guuji Yae who told you?" There were still tear stains at the corners of Kujou Sara's eyes, and her voice trembled slightly at this moment.
"Hey, you with the mask! The person in front of you is the current Electro Archon's older sister. They are twin sisters; he knows plenty." Paimon had felt Kujou Sara was too cold before, and now he directly interrupted the aggressive Kujou Sara.
"???"
"Kujou Sara... Makoto is indeed the current Electro Archon's older sister. Otherwise, you couldn't explain the fact that he looks so much like the Raiden Shogun, could you?"
"You could even treat Makoto directly as the Raiden Shogun, because in our eyes, haven't the sisters always been one? It's just that Makoto was in charge of political affairs and governance..." Seeing the look of disbelief on Kujou Sara's face, Kamisato Ayaka added.
"Now you know why Miko wanted to take me out, right?" A smile appeared on Raiden Makoto's face. Judging by Kujou Sara's appearance, she must have discovered evidence of the Head of the Kujou Clan's collusion with the Fatui at the Kujou residence.
"It seems you have also found the evidence of the Kujou Clan's secret collusion with the Fatui."
"I recognize your loyalty, but sometimes blind loyalty is also a sin. From your reaction, I can see that your heart is actually opposed to the Vision Hunt Decree."
"But you had no choice but to carry out the Vision Hunt Decree."
By now, Kujou Sara was completely stunned, her golden eyes totally vacant.
"What should I... do now?" Kujou Sara was completely lost. Her adoptive father, who had once taught her about loyalty and righteousness, was now someone who only sought private gain for the Kujou Clan and had even packaged rebellion as being "all for the Raiden Shogun."
She didn't know what to do now.
"Join me in thoroughly purging the factors hindering Inazuma's progress, Sara." Raiden Makoto felt that Kujou Sara was a talent worth molding. The fact that she could become the highest-ranking Shogunate General in Inazuma below the Raiden Shogun meant her military prowess was exceptional.
When reorganizing the Inazuma Shogunate later, she would need more people like Kujou Sara.
"Kujou Sara... why are you dazed? Haven't you been following the Shogun's footsteps from the very beginning? Makoto is the original Electro Archon... the prosperity of Inazuma five hundred years ago recorded in the history books was the result of Makoto's governance."
"You are not only fighting for the Raiden Shogun, but also for Inazuma, and for yourself." Raiden Makoto's next words completely moved Kujou Sara. Kujou Sara now fully believed that the gentle Lady standing before her was the one the people of Inazuma had always believed in, the Divine Lord Ryūjin.
She was the one she had followed all her life.
She had always considered herself a devout believer in the Raiden Shogun, yet she had never received personal recognition from the Shogun. Now, receiving recognition from Raiden Makoto, she felt a sense of "a warrior dies for the one who recognizes them."
Her years of practice had finally been validated.
"Kujou Sara pays respects to the Lord of the Watatsumi!" As Kujou Sara's inner faith became completely firm, she looked at Raiden Makoto with reverence, even a touch of fanaticism.
"A student worth teaching."
Raiden Makoto looked with satisfaction at Kujou Sara, Kamisato Ayaka, Thoma, and Lumine. It seemed more and more people were able to lend her a hand.
"Ei, the time for us to meet is drawing closer. That day is not far off."
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