By the time Luo Li returned to his senses, Raiden Makoto had already arranged everything. A circle of high-status women were now gathered around little Yae in her child form, cooing over her endlessly. Luo Li couldn't help thinking how did such a cute little girl grow up to have that kind of personality? But then he saw Saiguu's extremely satisfied expression and suddenly felt he had found the root cause. After observing for a moment, he suddenly thought of something and spoke up: "Should we notify the Sangonomiya side?" The moment he said that, Chiyo shot him a cold, disdainful look. "Hmph. Those rebels? Better if they all get eaten by monsters." As one of the commanders who had repeatedly suppressed Watatsumi uprisings, she had personally cut down many of their warriors. Not only Chiyo most of Watatsumi despised her just as much. It was an old grudge. Ever since the Great Serpent God was slain by the Raiden Shogun, hatred between the two sides had been entrenched. Though they were nominally under Shogunate rule, Watatsumi was practically semi-autonomous. Merchants still traded, but common people on both sides wished the other dead .Raiden Makoto paused in thought. "Inform them." She could not allow personal emotion to dictate national decisions. She was Inazuma's god responsible for its present and its unpredictable future. Just because the two sides were enemies now
didn't mean they couldn't talk peacefully one day. It would take a long time perhaps generations to heal such wounds.
Unless she brainwashed everyone on Watatsumi but that wasn't an option. Chiyo pouted unhappily. "Why notify them? They're the enemy. It'd be better if they all died." Then the Shogunate could take the island cleanly, and all its troubles would be "perfectly resolved." Even Ei had to shake her head. "Watatsumi is also part of Inazuma. We are obligated to protect them." Despite occasional rebellions, most citizens did not actually harm Narukami or Kannazuka. Chiyo grumbled but could not defy orders. Luo Li also agreed with Makoto's decision. From a national standpoint, she was entirely correct. Temporary hatred meant nothing in the long run.
Saiguu then asked with a mischievous smile: "So who's going to deliver the message?" Due to tension with the White Night Kingdom and Kanriah, Watatsumi had become extremely strict about outsiders even official envoys might be turned away. Unless the visitor's identity carried overwhelming weight. And their temperament mattered too. Someone like Chiyo would never work even if she went, her arrogance would only inflame tensions. To make things worse, rumors on Watatsumi claimed that Kanriah's actions had the Shogunate's tacit approval perhaps even assistance.
Thus, whoever went had to meet many difficult conditions. Saiguu looked straight at Luo Li. He suddenly felt something was wrong. Then he realized everyone else was also staring at him. Raiden Makoto laughed softly. "Then I must trouble you." Being stared at with those gentle, pleading eyes, Luo Li knew he wasn't escaping this mission. He wasn't too opposed, though. But if they wanted him to go, he could still negotiate. "What's the reward? I'm retired now, you know. Normally I shouldn't be doing this." Makoto thought for a moment, then showed a troubled smile. "But I don't have anything that could satisfy you.The only thing I could offer would be… the position of Raiden Shogun."
Luo Li refused instantly. "No need." A godhood? He preferred freedom. "Then… why don't you propose something?" Makoto tilted her head slightly, smiling. Me, propose something? He thought. The thing he wanted wasn't something he could say out loud…though everyone probably already knew. At that moment, Saiguu clapped her hands. "Since no one can decide, why don't I make a suggestion?" Her tone immediately made Luo Li uneasy. "I heard that in certain island tribes, when a warrior goes off to battle, their lord grants them a blessing to ensure their safe return and even bestows a noble bloodline to inherit their legacy." "Of course, Her Highness can't go that far. But granting him a kiss for luck shouldn't be too difficult, right?"
Makoto instinctively glanced at Luo Li's lips, realized what she was doing,
and her cheeks flushed pink. "We'll talk about it when he returns." Luo Li: Saiguu didn't wingman for me and Ei she wingmanned for me and Makoto first? Unexpected, but not unwelcome. And he'd always been a little curious about Watatsumi anyway. Luo Li cleared his throat. "Very well. I'll go. I heard Watatsumi has beautiful pearls I'll bring some back as gifts." Chiyo immediately shouted: "I want the biggest one!" "You get nothing." Luo Li teased the pouting ogre girl a bit, then handed little Yae to Saiguu. "Take care of the little one. Don't teach her any strange habits." Saiguu rolled her eyes. "She's my child. Why would I need you to tell me?" Exactly because she's "your child" that I'm worried… Luo Li muttered internally. He then issued orders to prepare for departure. An official diplomatic visit required prior notice to avoid incidents. Once the upper command mobilized, the lower ranks moved rapidly. In just three days, everything was prepared.
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