Hiiragi led the way, with the captain accompanying Lora behind him. Along the road, Lora's expression never once brightened. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she'd been neatly maneuvered by Ningguang.
Once they reached the residence Hiiragi had arranged, Lora stationed Hélie outside the door to patrol, ensuring no one from the Kanjou Commission had been placed nearby to eavesdrop. Only after that did she turn to the captain.
"What's your name?"
She had called him "Captain" the entire voyage and had never actually asked. Now that she thought about it, they were clearly more than simple sailors.
"I am Fu Hai, a member of Liyue's Ministry of Civil Affairs," he replied respectfully. "By Lady Ningguang's instruction, I am here to assist you, Lady Lora, in completing your mission."
Lora raised a brow.
"What mission?"
Fu Hai shook his head.
"Lady Ningguang did not explain in detail. She only said that you would lead this diplomatic engagement with Inazuma, and that we are to follow your orders."
Lora sat down and lightly tapped the armrest of her chair, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Well now… I'm usually the one setting traps for others. Who would've thought I'd be the one caught this time? As expected of Tianquan Ningguang."
She really did understand her temperament all too well.
"Um… well…" Fu Hai hesitated before continuing. "Lady Lora, Lady Ningguang also said that if you're unwilling to serve as plenipotentiary representative, then at the very least, for the sake of all the expenses the Jade Chamber has reimbursed on your behalf, you might consider offering some assistance."
"…Right."
At that, Lora had no grounds to argue. She let out a resigned sigh and nodded.
"Fine."
Fu Hai bowed.
"Thank you for your understanding, Lady Lora."
He withdrew, and as he reached the doorway, a faint smile appeared on his face. Lady Ningguang had been absolutely correct—when it came to this sort of thing, Lady Lora's skin wasn't thick at all. She had been handled precisely.
After Fu Hai left, Lora called Hélie back inside.
"Lady Lora, your orders?"
Hélie stood before her with a serious expression. Earlier, she had already sensed several Kanjou Commission subordinates attempting to approach and spy, but she had driven them all away. She assumed Lora intended to address that matter.
After hearing Hélie's report, Lora rubbed her hands together.
"How long would it take you to get a clear picture of the Kanjou Commission's headquarters?"
Hélie considered for a moment.
"Not long."
"Good. Find their treasury."
"Yes."
Hélie nodded and immediately set off.
Lora also stepped out and began strolling through the Kanjou Commission headquarters. Unfortunately, she was far too eye-catching to go unnoticed. Before long, she was stopped by men sent by Hiiragi.
"Lady Lora, the Commissioner has prepared a banquet and requests the honor of your presence."
The two soldiers stood on either side of her, heads bowed—but their posture made it clear refusal was not truly an option.
Still, a free meal was a free meal. Lora had no reason to decline.
She followed them to the main hall of the Kanjou Commission. Just as she arrived at the entrance, Hélie returned to her side.
"Lady Lora! I'm back!"
"How did it go?" Lora asked casually.
"Taken care of."
They spoke as if no one else were present, yet their exchange revealed nothing of substance. Those nearby could only listen in confusion, unable to decipher a thing.
Naturally, Lora had no intention of explaining. She couldn't exactly tell them she was planning to steal—no, borrow—from their treasury.
True, she could log it under the Palais Mermonia's accounts. But the Palais Mermonia was her own establishment. In the end, it would still be her money leaving her pocket.
Absolutely not.
Besides, during the Sakoku Decree, the Kanjou Commission had extorted who knew how many foreign merchants. If she lightened their coffers a little, that could only count as punishing wrongdoing.
A perfectly righteous act befitting the God of Justice.
...
Inside the hall, Hiiragi sat together with the various heads of the Kanjou Commission. When Lora entered with her people, they all rose to greet her.
"Miss Lora, please take a seat. No need for formalities. This banquet is our way of welcoming you and the fleet. We consulted Liyue merchants when arranging the dishes. We hope they suit your taste."
As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face. Whatever his character might be, Hiiragi was presenting courtesy. Since Lora had not openly clashed with the Kanjou Commission, she would give him face in return.
Her eyes curved into a pleasant smile.
"Oh my, you've truly gone to great lengths, Commissioner. After so long at sea, I haven't tasted Liyue cuisine in ages."
Though even after consulting Liyue merchants, the dishes would inevitably carry Inazuman flair. Still—so long as they were delicious, that was what mattered.
The banquet proceeded amicably. Throughout the meal, Hiiragi casually steered the conversation toward future diplomatic relations between Inazuma and Liyue, subtly implying that Inazuma ought to hold the upper hand. In his view, Liyue's god was no more, while their Shogun would reign for eternity.
Lora only smiled, offering no inappropriate response.
Political maneuvering?
She had personally ruled Fontaine for thousands of years, presiding over justice and equity. Compared to that, these youngsters who had only been playing at power for a few decades were hardly worth mentioning.
By the end of the meal, Lora was well-fed and thoroughly satisfied.
Hiiragi and the other members of the Kanjou Commission, however, were left somewhat frustrated. No matter how they probed or circled the topic, Lora revealed nothing. Facing an opponent whose intentions they could not grasp in the slightest was deeply uncomfortable.
Back in her room, Fu Hai laughed heartily.
"Lady Lora, you should have seen their expressions after you left. To them, you're immune to both soft and hard tactics."
"I wouldn't mind living off someone else's generosity," Lora muttered.
Then she looked at him more seriously.
"Don't get carried away. This is still their territory. If we act too arrogantly, we'll invite unnecessary trouble. I don't want to get dragged into something else before I've finished what I came here to do."
Fu Hai nodded.
"Please rest assured. We were all selected by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. We know how to conduct ourselves."