Genshin Impact: What, the one we need to save is Focalors?

In Inazuma, within a tastefully decorated room at the Tenryou Commission headquarters, the air was filled with a tense and heavy atmosphere. The three Commissioners sat facing each other, their expressions varying.

Hiiragi Shinsuke's face was the most somber. He said indignantly, "The Fatui are just a bunch of outwardly strong but inwardly weak good-for-nothings. Fontaine intimidated them slightly, and they were scared into compromising immediately."

"Hmph hmph." Kujou Takayuki let out a scornful laugh. "Why don't you, the Kanjou Commission, try intimidating the Fatui too and see if they compromise that easily?"

Hiiragi Shinsuke shot him an angry glance but chose to remain silent, offering no rebuttal.

Kamisato Ayato sat to the side, quietly watching these two clowns perform, his thoughts long having drifted to that treaty. The signing of this treaty meant that Fontaine now had the standing to be on equal footing with Snezhnaya. It was time for the Yashiro Commission to consider fully aligning with West Factory.

At this point, Kujou Takayuki's sharp gaze turned to Kamisato Ayato. He asked seriously, "Kamisato Head, could you explain why the Yashiro Commission chose to aid the parents of those who fled?"

Kamisato Ayato returned from his contemplation. He replied calmly, "What is wrong with that?"

Displeasure showed on Kujou Takayuki's face. "You must know that those who fled have betrayed the Shogun. They are no longer citizens of Inazuma and therefore do not deserve our aid."

Kamisato Ayato maintained his composure and grace. "Those who fled may no longer be citizens of Inazuma, but their parents are still in Inazuma and are still holding on. And according to the laws of Inazuma, there is no provision to punish parents for the actions of their children."

As soon as he finished speaking, Kujou Takayuki said harshly, "The Yashiro Commission is openly assisting those who defected and fled! This is simply open betrayal of the Shogun!"

Hiiragi Shinsuke also chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of insidiousness. "Exactly. The actions of the Yashiro Commission make it truly difficult not to associate them with collusion with the enemy."

Kamisato Ayato slowly rose from his seat, his gaze like a torch, stating resolutely, "If you truly believe so firmly that the Yashiro Commission is guilty, then I invite you to report me directly to the Shogun!" Having said that, Kamisato Ayato gave the two no chance to retort. He turned resolutely and strode out of the room without looking back.

Leaving only Kujou Takayuki and Hiiragi Shinsuke sitting there in impotent rage. They would indeed like to go to the Raiden Shogun to accuse the Yashiro Commission of collusion with the enemy, but the problem is, the Yashiro Commission currently has Yae Miko behind them.

After a while, Kujou Takayuki gradually calmed his anger. He said to Hiiragi Shinsuke in a calm tone, "Hiiragi Head, the current times are difficult. Only by joining hands and cooperating can the two of us together overcome this hardship."

Hiiragi Shinsuke sighed lightly and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, if you and I don't unite, our families will be in danger."

Kujou Takayuki seized the opportunity to propose the idea he had long been considering. "To further strengthen the alliance between our two families, I suggest the Kujou and Hiiragi families solidify their relationship through marriage. Let my youngest son, Kujou Kamaji, marry your esteemed daughter, Hiiragi Chisato. What do you think?"

After hearing Kujou Takayuki's proposal, Hiiragi Shinsuke fell into thought. Originally, his considerations for a marriage alliance did not include Kujou Kamaji. The people he had in mind were originally Kujou Masahito and the recently departed Kamisato Ayato. However, times change, and the situation had shifted. The incident at the Kujou Estate had severely impacted Kujou Masahito's mental state, and he was no longer suitable as a candidate for a marriage alliance. Furthermore, the relationship between the Kamisato and Hiiragi families was gradually growing distant, making Kamisato Ayato no longer a viable option. Weighing the pros and cons, he decided to agree to the marriage, binding the Kanjou Commission and the Tenryou Commission together.

"Kujou Head, we will be in-laws from now on," he said with a smile.

When Kujou Takayuki heard Hiiragi Shinsuke's agreement, his tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed. Next, with a hint of awkwardness, he spoke. "Hiiragi in-law, the Tenryou Commission recently has plans to expand the Shogunate Army to cope with a possible future invasion by West Factory. However... we are facing some difficulties with military expenses."

Upon hearing this, Hiiragi Shinsuke was secretly annoyed. The two families had just become in-laws, and Kujou Takayuki was already impatiently reaching out for money. Despite his utmost reluctance, he still agreed to provide one hundred million Mora, but specifically stated that this was part of the dowry.

...

On the streets of Inazuma City, pedestrians came and went incessantly, yet all had sickly complexions and hurried steps. They either hurried along with heads bowed or carried heavy parcels; every person was rushing about for the sake of basic sustenance. On the faces of these pedestrians, the former smiles and vitality had long vanished, leaving only numbness and exhaustion. Their eyes were hollow and lost, as if they had already lost faith and hope in life.

On both sides of the streets, shops also appeared desolate and deserted, with few customers. Those shops that were once bustling were now left only with decline and loneliness. The entire street was so quiet it felt incredibly oppressive, as if even the air had frozen, making it suffocating. It was clearly almost the peak of summer; the sunlight should have been bright and warm, but in this city, it felt instead like a desolate late autumn.

Kamisato Ayato sighed softly, then strode swiftly towards the direction of the Kamisato Estate. After an hour's walk, he finally arrived at his home. Just as he walked into the courtyard, he saw his younger sister, Kamisato Ayaka, sitting gracefully under the eaves of her house, earnestly reading a book. Sunlight filtered through the treetops and fell upon her, as if draping her in a golden halo, making her appear even more gentle and elegant.

A warm smile appeared on Kamisato Ayato's face. He walked slowly to Kamisato Ayaka's side and asked softly, "Ayaka, what book are you reading?"

Kamisato Ayaka heard her brother's voice, looked up, and showed him the book in her hands. "This is a novel by Lady Furina, the Hydro Archon of Fontaine, Furina Holmes."

Kamisato Ayato raised an eyebrow slightly and asked with a touch of curiosity, "Ayaka, where did this book come from?"

"Fudé Port," Kamisato Ayaka replied. "A Fontaine commercial street was recently built there. Quite a few brave merchants risk bypassing the Tenryou Commission's watch to buy various goods and then sell them at high prices here."

"A Fontaine commercial street?" Kamisato Ayato was slightly surprised. "Is the construction speed of Fudé Port that fast? They've even built a commercial street already."

Kamisato Ayaka nodded. "The overall construction of Fudé Port is being carried out in phases. Currently, the commercial street and office building in the first phase have been completed." She paused slightly, then continued, "I heard that the residential part of the second phase is also nearing completion, and they've even started pre-sales already. Apparently, with a down payment of just two hundred thousand Mora, you can buy a brand new house."

Kamisato Ayato felt a little moved by this news. He sighed, "No wonder West Factory doesn't collect agricultural taxes. Compared to the profits from these commercial ventures, the revenue from agricultural taxes seems insignificant."

Kamisato Ayaka continued, "But the Shogunate is like a vampire clinging to the people, greedily sucking every drop of their sweat and blood. Now they are preparing to raise taxes on the people again. If this continues, the people of Narukami Island will eventually flow towards Fudé Port."

Kamisato Ayato let out a cold laugh. "That's fine too. When that happens, we'll leave an uninhabited Inazuma City for that foolish god to see, letting her know the consequences of the eternal pursuit she strives for."

Kamisato Ayaka knew her brother was only speaking out of frustration. He loved Inazuma more than anyone and wished even more that Inazuma could embark on a bright path. She said with a serious expression, "Brother, I plan to go to Fudé Port again. The change in Inazuma requires the strength of West Factory. To achieve this goal, we are willing to bear any cost, as long as it allows Inazuma to move towards a brighter future."

Kamisato Ayato gazed at Kamisato Ayaka's determined yet gentle face. He nodded. "But this so-called cost absolutely cannot include you, Ayaka."

"Brother, what are you talking about? West Factory is not like the Shogunate at all! And Yide is not that kind of person!" Kamisato Ayaka said, feeling a bit annoyed and embarrassed.