Watatsumi Island's Helplessness
Was this right?
Kokomi raised her head and looked at the majestic Electro Archon (?) in the sky.
Right, right, right. In Inazuma, besides the Raiden Shogun, who else would have such grand pomp?
No, no, no. The Raiden Shogun on the divine statue didn't dress like this either. Although she was a shrine maiden serving Orobashi, Watatsumi Island was, no matter what, still scraping by under the Electro Archon's rule, so she still knew what the one in charge usually looked like.
Sangonomiya Kokomi raised her head and looked again.
That figure slowly descended, drawing closer and closer.
Mm. The moment Sangonomiya Kokomi saw the other party's face clearly, her heart died with a snap.
There was no mistaking it. With this appearance, she was exactly the same as the Raiden Shogun.
At most, her features looked slightly younger, and Kokomi had never seen the style of clothes on her body before.
But so what? Was she not allowed to change clothes when she was in a good mood?
In just a few breaths, everyone in Sangonomiya Shrine at the center of Watatsumi Island was kneeling all over the ground.
It's over!
The Shogun has come to our door!
Ever since Watatsumi Island raised the flag of rebellion against the Shogunate to resist the Vision Hunt Decree, Kokomi had always worried about this matter: that the Raiden Shogun would disregard everything else and come to their door alone.
Watatsumi Island had no one who could block the Shogun's blade.
She took a deep breath, knelt before the shrine, and had already prepared herself in her heart.
Prepared to die for Watatsumi Island.
Even if she died... she still had to let the Shogun see Watatsumi Island's helplessness. If they had not truly been unable to survive, they would not have gone to such extremes.
"Mm, you all..." Xia Yu landed on the roof of Sangonomiya Shrine, looking at the people kneeling below as she knowingly asked, "There's really no need for such a grand ceremony, right?"
"I just came to ask for directions..."
"Shogun!" Sangonomiya Kokomi pressed her forehead tightly to the ground and performed a great bow. "Regarding Watatsumi Island's resistance, Kokomi is willing to bear full responsi—eh?"
"Resistance?"
"Directions?"
Kokomi raised her head and met the gaze of the god atop the shrine, who had descended with boundless thunderlight.
Inside Sangonomiya Shrine.
"Mm, mm, mm. This tea is pretty good," Xia Yu said with satisfaction as she accepted the tea Kokomi had personally brewed and took a sip.
"This was brought along by the Crux Fleet when they delivered grain to us." Kokomi properly set down the teapot and looked curiously at the girl before her.
Just now, the other party had denied being the Shogun, and she had not quite dared to believe it. But now that she looked closer... although their features were almost exactly the same, the person before her was clearly much younger.
"By the way, what was that resistance you mentioned earlier?" Xia Yu raised her head and asked as if casually.
Kokomi's heart tightened upon hearing this.
Whether the person before her was the Shogun or not... probably not. The true Raiden Shogun was a warrior among warriors, and she had no idle mind for twists and turns. If she truly came, Kokomi's head would already have been chopped off by now.
But to say the other party had nothing to do with the Raiden Shogun... heh, just look at that nearly identical face, and add the ten thousand bolts of thunder behind her when she first arrived...
Who would believe they had nothing to do with each other!
Kokomi boldly guessed that the other party was either a Familiar of the Electro Archon or had an even more intimate relationship with her!
She had raised such a huge scene without the slightest restraint, yet there wasn't even a Vision on her body...
An Archon...
Thinking this, Kokomi immediately pulled herself together and slowly explained Watatsumi Island's predicament.
First, she explained that she had been forced into doing this. "The Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree issued by the Shogunate... have already forced Watatsumi Island onto a dead end."
"Our Watatsumi Island's land is already being eroded by sacred-soil transformation, and most of what has not been eroded is coral saline-alkali land. There was not much land that could be cultivated to begin with. Every year, we need to import large amounts of fertilizer from foreign nations, especially Sumeru, to ensure grain output. Even then, the bulk of our grain still needs to be purchased from various islands in Inazuma."
Kokomi said bitterly, "But after the Sakoku Decree, our main local export, sango pearls, could no longer be sold to other nations, and their goods could not enter through maritime trade either."
"This was a heavy blow to Watatsumi Island's economy. Now, our market is limited to the various islands of Inazuma, but... after so many years of trade, the Inazuman mainland's demand for sango pearls simply isn't that great."
"Our goods can only keep piling up, unable to be sold at all. And the Shogunate... not only have they failed to provide any solution for Watatsumi Island's predicament, the Kanjou Commission has repeatedly pushed down prices. If this continues, the people of Watatsumi Island will soon be unable to even afford food!"
"And the Vision Hunt Decree issued at the same time as the Sakoku Decree has made Watatsumi Island's situation even worse. Watatsumi Island is already located in Inazuma's outer seas, and all kinds of Demonic Beasts come to harass us from time to time. If we lose our Vision-bearing warriors, what are we supposed to use to protect our people?"
Of course, this was only an excuse. The real reason was that restraining sacred-soil transformation required Vision-bearing warriors to go to Enkanomiya and drive Orobashi's Familiar, the coral king worm, to help Watatsumi Island resist sacred-soil transformation. If all Visions were confiscated and no one could reach the area beneath Watatsumi Island, then in a few years, Watatsumi Island truly would not have even a shred of land that could be used for farming.
Moreover, after losing Vision holders, Watatsumi Island would completely lose the right to say no to the Shogunate and could only be butchered at will from then on.
Without a doubt, Kokomi was not such a weak person.
"Please see clearly, Your Excellency," Kokomi said sincerely to Xia Yu. "Watatsumi Island does not intend to oppose the Shogun's rule. It's just... we truly cannot survive anymore..."
Hearing this, Xia Yu's expression became extremely subtle.
Although this was something she had already known, she still had to say one thing... Ei, what kind of country are you governing!
Admittedly, no matter from what angle, Xia Yu could not deny the legitimacy of Watatsumi Island's resistance.
Fighting to survive could not be called wrong no matter what.
Even knowing they could not win, yet still rising up to resist the strong, made her even more impossible to criticize.
"Your Shogunate really doesn't sound like it does anything human," Xia Yu said, lightly tapping her finger against the table. "You're all Inazuman people, yet they just have to catch Watatsumi Island and exploit you, huh?"
Hearing her words, Kokomi's expression became a little subtle.
No, my lord, do you really not know why the Shogunate is doing this?
That shouldn't be the case, right? This is something everyone knows.
"Perhaps it's because of faith," she could only say vaguely. "After all, while we worship the Shogun, we also offer sacrifices to our former master."
Hearing this, Xia Yu's expression became even more interesting.
So Ei really did not know how to govern a country.
Back when Orobashi was defeated, wouldn't it have been better if you had directly banned the faith of his people and brought Watatsumi Island directly under the Shogunate's rule?
Instead, you just had to act magnanimous and allow them to preserve their faith, causing Watatsumi Island to never truly integrate into Inazuma after all these years. There had always been a layer separating them inside and out, which also planted the seeds of today's instability.
This political ability... was truly beyond complaint.
Don't look at Fufu being delicate and weak. If they really compared political ability, she threw Ei ten streets behind, okay? At the very least, Fontaine had genuinely and steadily been peaceful for five hundred years.
What about Raiden Ei? Other than shutting herself away, it was still just shutting herself away.
Watatsumi Island's resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree was, on the surface, opposition to depriving the people of their Visions and protection of fugitives. In essence, it was to preserve survival trade, protect their local faith, and avoid being suppressed by the Shogunate's military force once again. A thousand years of ethnic conflict and survival crisis had completely erupted through the Vision Hunt Decree.
Raising the flag of rebellion was also only to gather more popular support, draw in Vision holders unwilling to meekly accept everything, and strengthen Watatsumi Island's power.
"Your situation is pretty complicated, huh," Xia Yu said after taking a sip of tea. "But I'm only a passerby, so I can only listen to your hardships. By the way, how do I get to Fontaine?"
"Fontaine..." Kokomi's heart choked. Was she really not planning to reveal her identity?
"You can first head to Liyue, then take a ship from Yilong Wharf in northern Liyue to Lumidouce Harbor in Fontaine," she explained softly. "As long as you can pass through the thunderstorm set up by the Shogun."
"Thunderstorm, huh." Xia Yu made a troubled expression. "Is it very hard to get through?"
"For ordinary people like us, it is indeed very difficult," Kokomi said with a serious expression. "Your Excellency's martial strength is extraordinary. Perhaps it will be different for you?"
Heh, do you think I believe that? The thunderstorm is difficult for others to approach, but with that aura you had when you descended from the sky... I feel like the thunderstorm isn't a problem at all.
"Then are there any other methods?" Xia Yu asked with a smile.
"If you want to leave through regular channels... I'm afraid I can only think of one method." Hearing this, Kokomi pondered for two seconds, then said, "According to Watatsumi Island's intelligence, on Ritou, which is the island west of Narukami Island, merchants from various nations have gathered there."
As she spoke, she dug a pit for the Shogunate.
"They were all trapped in Inazuma because of the sudden Sakoku Decree. The Kanjou Commission has placed them under extremely strict management and forcibly levies crystal marrow in place of taxes. In this... sigh."
"Mm? From the way you say that..." Xia Yu leaned forward, looking interested. "Is there something hidden behind this?"
"To be honest, Watatsumi Island is naturally angry at the Kanjou Commission's actions," Kokomi sighed. "The so-called crystal marrow is a mineral condensed on the bones of Lord Orobashi, the god we serve, so when it comes to faith, you should understand."
"Moreover, since the Kanjou Commission has formulated a policy requiring crystal marrow to replace taxes, where are the merchants of various nations supposed to obtain crystal marrow from?"
"Can they not only buy it from the Inazuman merchants whom the Kanjou Commission allows onto Ritou? In this..."
"Oh, I understand." Hearing this, Xia Yu nodded. "Inventing pretexts and exploiting them layer by layer. First, they set something the other party cannot obtain as the standard, then sell it to them at a high price. The other party still has to respectfully buy it back, then obediently hand it over."
"After the crystal marrow is handed in, they can pass it through one more hand and sell it again. After just a few rounds like that, those gathered merchants will be completely picked clean, right? Tsk, is your Shogunate this corrupt? Is no one going to manage it?"
Hearing this, Kokomi raised her head again and looked at the other party's face, which was no different from the Raiden Shogun's, feeling extremely awkward inside.
What do you mean our Shogunate? Who are you scolding? It should be your Shogunate, right!
But she very tactfully did not speak.
The main reason was that she could not win.
"The opportunity I'm talking about is related to those merchants," Kokomi said, suppressing the emotions in her heart. "If this continues, it won't take long before those merchants can no longer endure it. They each have their own countries behind them, and those capable of sailing across the seas cannot possibly lack connections entirely."
"Inazuma also cannot detain this group of people forever. There should be a turning point eventually. You can wait until that time and take the opportunity to board a ship and leave Inazuma."
She did not state it clearly, but the meaning was that those merchants could not possibly sit and wait for death. They definitely had channels to communicate with the outside.
When the time came, Xia Yu could use their channels to leave Inazuma.
As for why they would lend them to you... that had nothing to do with Watatsumi Island.
In any case, I've pointed out the road for you. This is about as much as I can do.
She absolutely could not mention the Crux Fleet that traded with Watatsumi Island. After all, she still did not know exactly where the person before her had come from.
How could she possibly reveal her most core ally to someone else in full?
"Then it seems leaving Inazuma will be difficult." Hearing this, Xia Yu slapped her thigh. "Sigh, how did I end up in a place like this?"
"Of course, there are definitely more than just these two roads. There is also one road that is the most dangerous and also the most direct." Hearing this, Kokomi suddenly said, "That is to go to Inazuma City, have an audience with the Shogun, and through a dignified Duel Before the Throne, propose your request to leave Inazuma."
"For ordinary people like us, this road is beyond reach. But for you, perhaps it will be different?"
She did not understand why this lord, who might be a Familiar of the Electro Archon or have an even more intimate relationship with her, looked as if she wanted to leave Inazuma... Kokomi imagined many possibilities.
For example, perhaps she had fallen out with the Shogun and secretly ran away from home.
Or perhaps she was here as an imperial envoy to inspect the results of the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree, which was why Kokomi had kept secretly digging pits for the Shogunate in her words...
In any case, her attitude was one thing: remain respectful, avoid offending her if possible, and absolutely avoid getting more involved.
If the other party said she wanted to escort Kokomi to the Shogun's Tenshukaku to plead guilty, she would accept it too.
There was no helping it. They truly could not win. Even though they had raised the flag of rebellion, Watatsumi Island's banner was resistance against the Shogunate, not resistance against the Shogun.
Musoujin Gorge still stretched across Yashiori Island.
Even Lord Orobashi had lost. What could a group of mere mortals do?
Xia Yu looked at the five-star ornamental fish in front of her and seriously pondered for two seconds.
"Would you mind giving me an Inazuma map too?" she said without the slightest politeness. "After all, I don't know this place, and if I'm going to Ritou... I really can't find the way."
"...Of course." Hearing this, Kokomi truly could not figure out what this lord wanted to do.
Was she really going to pretend she was not an Inazuman at all?
But you... with that face and power no different from the Shogun's, the Oni Horns on your head, and the geta beneath your feet...
You're filled with Inazuman elements!
But she still honestly closed her mouth, because she could not win.
"By the way, how is your war with the Shogunate going?" Seeing her somewhat absent-minded appearance, Xia Yu deliberately spoke up to tease her.
"The war?" The moment she heard this sensitive topic, Kokomi immediately shuddered.
"Actually... it isn't going very smoothly. After all, Watatsumi Island's land is small and our people are few," she said, trying hard to organize her words. "It can only be said that we are barely resisting..."
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