Shinnojou's eyes widened in sheer astonishment—he could hardly believe that the man standing before him possessed such a formidable identity.
But Shao Yun remained as calm as ever. He gave a small nod and replied unhurriedly, "If that's what you think—sure, I guess."
Hearing this, Shinnojou was instantly overjoyed, feeling as though fortune itself had descended upon him. To think he would actually encounter such a legendary figure here of all places!
Grasping at this unexpected lifeline, he spun around and waved frantically at the tavern owner, Okazaki Rikuto.
"Boss! Another bottle—give it to the General! It's on me!"
Soon enough, a porcelain bottle filled with fine sake and a matching cup were placed before Shao Yun.
Shao Yun glanced at the set, then picked up the bottle and poured himself a small cup.
"A little drink in broad daylight shouldn't be an issue."
He raised the cup and took a small sip, savoring the rich flavor as it lingered in his mouth.
Shinnojou stared directly at him, fixated on this "great figure" he'd never dreamed of meeting in his lifetime.
The liquor gave him courage. Stammering yet determined, he asked, "Honored General of Watatsumi Island… do you have any advice for someone in my situation?"
Shao Yun swirled the sake in his cup, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"You bought me a bottle of wine. That only gets me to listen to your complains—and not giving you advice."
Shinnojou reached instinctively into his wallet, thinking to offer more Mora for extra snacks to earn Shao Yun's guidance—but his fingers met only emptiness. His face stiffened, drained of color.
Left with no choice, he pleaded, "Please! I beg you—tell me something useful!"
"Chisato is getting married soon! What can I possibly do to fix this?!"
Shao Yun glanced at the drunken, pitiful man before him and—out of pure mischief—offered a completely ridiculous suggestion.
"Maybe you could disguise yourself as a masked bandit, kill Kujou Kamaji, and then lock up the woman you're obsessed with in your basement. Assuming you have a basement."
He then bursted into laughter.
Shinnojou stared at him in utter horror, a chill running down his spine and beads of cold sweat forming at his back.
"H–Huh?! T-That sounds like the plot of some horror novel! That's terrifying!"
"And besides—I truly love Lady Chisato! I want to live happily with her, not torture her!"
Seeing Shinnojou so frightened, Shao Yun shook his head.
"Haha, look at you—just messing with you."
After laughing his fill, he cleared his throat, adopted a more serious tone, and finally gave actual advice.
"Honestly, you should just find someone else and forget Hiiragi Chisato. You two come from completely different worlds."
Shinnojou silently poured himself a full cup, raised it, and drained it in one gulp before slamming the cup down.
"If it were before… I wouldn't even dare think of such a thing."
He sighed deeply, voice dripping with frustration.
"But now? The Hiiragi Clan has fallen, and even the Kujou Clan is far from what it once was. I feel like the distance between us doesn't seem impossibly far anymore…"
Before he finished, he suddenly collapsed to his knees with a thud, clutching tightly at Shao Yun's clothes.
"General Shao Yun—please help me! I'm willing to kneel! Do anything! Just help me be with Lady Chisato—I'll do whatever it takes!"
Shao Yun grabbed his arm and effortlessly lifted him back onto the seat.
"How am I supposed to help you? Kill Kujou Kamaji for you?"
Shinnojou's eyes sparkled with reverence.
"I heard that Captain Teppei—formerly a mere logistics man on Ritou—rose to great heights simply because he once served under you!"
He paused, then hurriedly added, "So I want to rise like he did! I want to become an official in the Tenryou Commission! Any position is fine—I won't be picky!"
"As long as you help me, I'll repay your kindness tenfold!"
Shao Yun listened silently and couldn't help sighing inwardly.
Teppei had helped when resources were scarce—he deserved opportunity.
But this man? A complete stranger, wanting power handed to him for nothing.
And even if Shao Yun helped—what could Shinnojou possibly offer in return?
Could he defeat Celestia for him?
Send him to another world?
His ambition smelled worse than a fermented shoe insert.
Shao Yun took another sip of sake and said plainly, "I'm just a figurehead general. Don't overestimate me—and I don't like politics."
But Shinnojou mistook this for humility and quickly forced on a flattering grin.
"Please don't underestimate yourself! Someone like you—just a trickle of opportunity from your fingers is enough to change my destiny!"
Shao Yun now understood exactly how the man was thinking.
He continued calmly, "It all boils down to insecurity coming from different status."
"Back then, when you were a nobody, you didn't have the right to chase a noble lady from a powerful clan."
"But now, the Hiiragi Clan fell because of 'the tides of the era,' and you suddenly feel confident."
Shinnojou's face shifted from green to red, speechless.
After a long silence, he finally muttered bitterly, "Not everyone has the right to chase their dreams… You've achieved greatness. You're at the top. Of course you can't understand what people like us at the bottom go through."
Shao Yun looked at him and spoke harsh truth.
"That's reality. It's not some fairy tale where a princess promised to a foreign prince suddenly falls in love with her knight and elopes."
He paused, then added, "Though in fairness—you're at least a 'knight' compared to true commoners…"
Then his tone steadied.
"My advice: buy a ship ticket. Go to Watatsumi Island, or another nation. Change your life. Forget Hiiragi Chisato."
But upon hearing that, Shinnojou slammed the counter and shouted furiously:
"No! I won't give up! Hiiragi Chisato isn't some untouchable princess anymore!"
Shao Yun sighed and crushed the final sliver of fantasy in him.
"True—but she still has a fallen prince beside her."
"This is life. Some people live in mansions, swim in wealth, enjoy endless luxury; others sleep on streets and live day by day."
"Some have many lovers; others will die alone."
"The only thing I can do is make sure I—and those I care about—live well."
He stood up and patted Shinnojou on the shoulder with a smile.
"Thanks for the drink. I don't drink for free."
He pulled a bulging pouch from his coat and tossed it toward the counter. It landed with a soft thump.
"Boss, I'll cover his tab. Anything else he orders—take it from that."
Then he strode away without looking back.
Shinnojou clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Bloodshot eyes glimmered with drunken determination.
"I'll risk it… I can't give up like this…"
...
But whatever he planned next had nothing to do with Shao Yun.
Meanwhile, as Shao Yun passed by the Adventurers' Guild reception in Inazuma City, Katheryne—busy as ever—caught sight of him.
She immediately stopped her work and called out loudly:
"Mr. Tacitus Kilgore, please wait! You have an urgent letter requiring your signature!"
Shao Yun paused and looked over.
"This one arrived from Sumeru," Katheryne said, waving the envelope.
He blinked in surprise, thinking:
I haven't even processed the transfer paperwork. How did a letter for me end up in Inazuma? Strange…
He took the letter, opened it, and scanned the contents.
There was only a single line.
["I've negotiated with Mister Sethos. Urgent. Come at once. — Candace"]
Shao Yun's brow twitched, and he muttered under his breath:
"…Wow. Don't tell me I'm getting dragged into this at such a timing."
===BREAK===
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