When she caught sight of Ye Xi, the solemn look on Yae Miko's face melted into a smile. "Master Ye Xi, and here I thought you'd given up on Inazuma."
"How could I?"
"Inazuma is my territory, after all. What sense would it make for me to simply ignore it?"
Ye Xi walked to the window and gazed out toward the coastline of Narukami Island.
Far out on the sea, fleet after fleet of shogunate naval ships were still sailing toward the front lines.
He could tell that although Yae Miko looked calm on the surface, inside she had been shaken for quite a while and still hadn't recovered.
So he began to consider their options.
Inazuma was truly in grave danger now.
The original plan had been to gather everyone across the island, touring districts like Songmi and Lirixing, holding assemblies in places such as Xusun and Yuenalu and giving speeches at each stop.
He would build a few cruisers in full view of the people and win over their hearts that way.
But the current situation had clearly outrun the earlier plan. There was no longer any time to gather the masses.
That black, seething Beast Tide out on the distant sea was closing in. If it wasn't stopped, the mainland would likely be under threat before noon.
Still, turning the idea around, saving Inazuma at a moment like this could win the people's hearts all the more.
Before long, he had a scheme in mind.
"How does the situation stand right now?"
Hearing Ye Xi's question, Kamisato Ayato answered at once. "Master Ye Xi, the current situation is..."
He repeated everything Kujou Sara had just reported.
The moment he'd heard how Yae Miko addressed Ye Xi, he had understood.
The man before him was the very Master Ye Xi he had missed meeting before.
Having listened to all the praise his household's sisters heaped on the man, he had long wondered just what sort of person Ye Xi was. Meeting him today, he found Ye Xi was indeed extraordinary.
Facing such a perilous situation, the man showed not a trace of panic and remained perfectly composed.
Most crucially, the instant Ye Xi appeared, Yae Miko seemed to let out a breath of relief, and even wore an ingratiating smile.
It was simply unbelievable.
And that line, "Inazuma is my territory, after all", what on earth did it mean?
Inazuma was the Raiden Shogun's territory, the domain of the Electro God.
Yet Ye Xi claimed Inazuma was his, and Yae Miko raised not the slightest objection.
That, too, gave one much to ponder.
While Kamisato Ayato was laying out the situation, Sangonomiya Kokomi, standing to one side, was also full of unease.
Though she was far away on Watatsumi Island, she had heard all about what was happening on Narukami Island.
Especially the matters concerning Ye Xi.
The moment Ye Xi arrived, he had mobilized the three Commissioners and launched a great many projects and planning proposals.
She had received a written report, one that concerned Watatsumi Island itself.
Its contents stated that the shogunate had decided to build a trading port on Watatsumi Island, and even intended to relocate a branch of the Kanjou Commission there.
This was frankly the stuff of fantasy.
In the past, relations between Watatsumi Island and the shogunate had been so tense; the shogunate hadn't trusted them at all.
Although a peace agreement had been reached, its essence had amounted to leaving Watatsumi Island to fend for itself.
Trade between Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island was permitted, but Watatsumi Island was forbidden from opening commercial dealings on its own with other nations like Liyue and Sumeru.
The point had been to keep Watatsumi Island from using its geographic advantage to grow strong.
After all, compared to Ritou, Watatsumi Island was far closer to both Sumeru and Liyue.
Yet this single written document completely overturned the terms of the negotiations, fully unleashing Watatsumi Island and opening its trade and prospects wide.
She even suspected the contents were nothing but fabrication.
But the document bore the Raiden Shogun's seal, which meant it had, without a shadow of doubt, received the Raiden Shogun's approval!
Thinking it through, it was truly chilling.
Not long ago the attitude had been so distant, yet because of a few words from Ye Xi, the shogunate would no longer restrict Watatsumi Island, and would even make Watatsumi Island a center!
She couldn't have dreamed it.
And so, once she heard that the man before her was Ye Xi, she kept looking him up and down, trying to see what set Ye Xi apart.
"I see..."
Ye Xi nodded. "Right now sea-beasts are launching attacks on the city, threatening the safety of the populace."
"At the same time, the front lines at sea are faring badly, and the losses are heavy."
"So first, we must ensure the safety of the people in the city." "As for the front at sea..."
"Kujou Sara."
At Ye Xi's call, Kujou Sara rose hurriedly. "Master Ye Xi, do you have a strategy?"
These days, living and dining in the Serenitea Pot, she had grown entirely used to being ordered about by Ye Xi, the master of the household.
Even now, no longer a member of the household, she found herself obedient to Ye Xi's commands.
When Ye Xi said one thing, she would never argue for another.
She held the Raiden Shogun in deep respect, but if even the Raiden Shogun now heeded Ye Xi, what reason did she have to disobey?
Ye Xi spoke. "Sara, have all the people on the front lines pull back, and be quick about it."
"Master Ye Xi! Though I shouldn't question your judgment, retreating the defensive line will only raise the danger!"
Seeing the alarm on Kujou Kamaji's face, Ye Xi laughed easily. "...Relax. It's not about withdrawing the defensive line, it's about cutting down on pointless sacrifice."
"Sara, have all the naval forces gather at the shore and prepare to board!"
"Board?"
Kujou Sara blinked. "But our ships are already few... You mean... I understand!"
In a flash she thought of that colossal steel vessel of the Southern Cross fleet!
With a ship like that, what was there to fear from any sea-beast!?
What was the main reason the front lines were collapsing now?
The ships weren't sturdy enough, of course. One ram from a sea-beast and they fell apart.
On deck, the soldiers could still fight back, but once they fell into the water, they were fish on a chopping board, slaughtered at will.
Sending anyone out now was to send them to their deaths, so the morale of the soldiers below had sunk low.
But with a great steel ship like that, the tide of battle was sure to turn dramatically!
Kujou Sara rushed out of the meeting room in a frantic hurry to carry out the order.
Hearing this, Yae Miko couldn't help but sigh. "So you've finally decided to gift us the good ships?"
"Mm, only a few days earlier than I'd planned, damn it."
"Now that this is settled, don't you forget about Ei. She's been fighting for a full day and night. It's very dangerous."
In the end, Yae Miko cared most about Raiden Ei.
With Raiden Ei fighting up at the front, she could never quite set her heart at ease.
Ye Xi, however, wasn't worried. "What's the panic? She battled the Puppet Shogun for five hundred years without losing. What are a few old Demon Gods to her?"
"Let's go. We'll head outside the city first and deploy our forces. We need to put the people's minds at ease before anything else."
With that, he walked toward the door of the meeting room.
Yae Miko and the three Commissioners silently followed behind.
Seeing this, Kokomi hurried after them as well.
Inwardly, she was more than a little astonished.
A tier of leadership that couldn't even settle on a decision before now heeded Ye Xi so readily.
Whatever Ye Xi said, everyone did at once.
This man was, quite simply, like the true God of Inazuma!
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