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Chapter 36 - Chapter 35. Ritou

Having been in Inazuma for a while, Shiki knew what sailing documents were for.

Simply put, they were similar to travel permits. If they encountered a Shogunate ship, they just needed to show these.

After the sakoku decree was issued, the number of patrol ships increased, so it was always good to be prepared.

After a while, Shiki saw Inagi Hotomi coming from the corridor with a bundle.

"Ryougi, our target today is the third ritual."

"Hmm, but I'd like to add the fourth one too, if that's okay?" Shiki asked.

"Uh, let me think..." Inagi Hotomi lowered her head and counted on her fingers before continuing, "It should be fine. It takes half a day to get from Ritou to the northeast island. If we clear it fast enough, then there won't be any problems."

"Don't worry, my efficiency is always high."

Shiki was very confident about this. As long as Ioroi controlled the Kairagi formed by the impurity, she could send them back to the abyss with one slash.

"However, there's one thing I need to explain. Since I've never been to Ritou, we'll have to walk from the Narukami Island entrance."

"Ryougi, you don't have to worry. As long as we have the special documents from Grand Narukami Shrine, those Kanjou Commission guys won't inspect us."

What was the most troublesome thing about landing on Ritou? It was the pile of procedures from the Kanjou Commission. It would take several hours, not to mention the fees.

Of course, it was foreigners who paid the fees, but even for locals, the procedures were genuinely numerous.

And from the entrance of Narukami Island, which was near the Tenko Statue, it was only about half an hour's walk to Ritou.

"Then let's go to the third ritual spot first. Oh, Inazuma Shrine Maiden, do you have a Wind Glider?"

"A Wind Glider? No, but I can use talismans." Inagi Hotomi said.

The few people first teleported to Kamisato Estate, then Shiki stood at the edge of the cliff and leaped!

"Woohoo!"

Feeling the air currents around her, Shiki couldn't help but let out a cheer. When she was only fifty meters from the ground, she finally unfurled the Wind Glider on her back.

Her descent speed plummeted. The Wind Glider truly lived up to its origins from Mondstadt, the Nation of Wind. Shiki floated gently to the ground.

The Wind Glider could be seen as something similar to a parachute, only much more convenient than a parachute.

Soon after, Ioroi and Inagi Hotomi also came down. One used magic, the other used a levitation charm, both special methods.

Walking to a large rock, Shiki asked, "You or me?"

"I'll do it. After all, I laid it out myself."

As Ioroi spoke, his two short hands came together, and the large rock disappeared, revealing the Sacred Sakura Tree root within.

Then Ioroi took out the Comb Charm and placed it in the broken lantern.

"By the way, are all you Tanuki so amazing?" Inagi Hotomi, who had witnessed the entire process, couldn't help but ask.

Ioroi: "Uh, actually, only I am relatively powerful. My clan members are still too young!"

"Alright, let's clean up the impurity first. I'll leave the connecting patterns to you, Inazuma Shrine Maiden."

After speaking, Shiki drew her Kujikanesada and stood at the very front. At the same time, Ioroi reverted to his original form, and began to conjure binding spells with his hands.

"…It's over…"

Undoubtedly, the impure Kairagi directly dissipated, but this time the dissipation method was a bit different, like Thanos snapping his fingers, disappearing little by little.

To test whether the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception's ability had further awakened, this time Shiki deliberately cut the dead line on the impure Kairagi' abdomen first.

Logically, it shouldn't have died, or more accurately, it shouldn't have died immediately. However, after cutting it, it was just like the young men who attacked the Shogunate convoy last night; cutting any dead line caused them to instantly collapse.

'Indeed, now, as long as it's a dead line, whether on the limbs or torso, cutting it will cause the target to die instantly.'

It was truly a one-hit kill. Many people would probably not understand this in the future: why did someone instantly die just by losing an arm?

After clearing this impurity, their next destination was Ritou. For most people, traveling from the beach below Kamisato Estate to Ritou could take an entire day.

But with Shiki present, they only took an hour and a half to arrive.

The main reason was that it was too far from the Waypoint. That place was a cliff, impossible to climb directly, so they had to go around through Chinju Forest.

But it was still good; they made it there after all.

With Inagi Hotomi carrying the special documents from Grand Narukami Shrine, the few of them had a smooth journey. The Kanjou Commission didn't even want to ask anything when they saw it was from Grand Narukami Shrine.

After walking for an hour and a half, they certainly needed a rest. Moreover, it was nearing noon, so they decided to take a break, eat, and then continue.

Of course, Shiki didn't forget to light up the Waypoint. The people on Ritou couldn't leave, so it didn't matter if they saw it, and most people in Teyvat didn't even know what it was.

As for the Statue of the Seven, Shiki decided to put it off for now. Since the Waypoint was already lit, she would have plenty of time later.

However, the atmosphere on Ritou was extremely oppressive now. In just a few minutes, Shiki noticed an atmosphere completely different from Konda Village and Inazuma City.

One must know that hundreds of years ago, Ritou was Inazuma's most prosperous commercial port, where countless trades took place, but now it had become like this.

Also...

"What? You want to raise taxes? After the Ritou blockade, our goods can't be sold at all. The previous taxes were already something we barely managed to scrape together by tightening our belts. Where are we supposed to find the money now if you raise them?" A middle-aged man shouted at an Ashigaru of the Kanjou Commission, his eyes filled with rage.

"What does how you find money have to do with me? Anyway, the Commissioner has already given the order; you must pay your taxes in full next month." The Ashigaru looked disdainful. What did the merchants' well-being have to do with him? He only needed to get his share of Mora.

"What if we can't pay?"

"Can't pay? Then don't blame us for sending you back to Fontaine. The Inazuma outer sea is currently ravaged by thunderous storms. Do you think you can make it through?"

"You!" The middle-aged merchant trembled with anger. This was simply too much, a blatant threat!

Although he wasn't a native of Inazuma, everyone living here knew of the Almighty Shogun's absolute power. Sending him to brave a thunderous storm was no different from sending him to his death!

"What 'you'? Don't think that forming some International Trade Association means you can contend with the Kanjou Commission's laws."

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