[Ayato analyzed: "If the forged letter didn't take effect, they wouldn't fear being held accountable. They could simply claim it was an individual family member acting on their own, merely trying to play matchmaker."]
["But if it works, as it has now… on the surface, it's just facilitating a joyous occasion. No specific family even needs to step forward, and the goal of sidelining the Hiiragi Clan is already achieved."]
This was indeed a cunning plan, but unfortunately, they were up against Ayato, who was even more adept at scheming. Ayato had already seen through their intentions.
In fact, at this moment, Ayato had already devised a counterstrategy.
[Ayato lamented about Hiiragi Chisato: "Her position is extremely passive, manipulated like a pawn, with even her marriage reduced to a piece in a power struggle."]
["Even so, she once believed that happiness awaited her…"]
Hiiragi Chisato read this in silence. Even knowing that her future self would be manipulated, the current her had no power to resist.
Few in the Hiiragi Clan's minor families still listened to her. After her father was imprisoned, everyone saw the Hiiragi Clan as weakened, the perfect opportunity to take its place.
Hiiragi Chisato couldn't think of a way to resolve this, but Ayato could.
However, before solving the problem, Ayato planned to rescue Shinnojou first.
Shinnojou had tried to dissuade Hiiragi Chisato from marrying, which, in the eyes of the rebels, was a grave offense. They would surely lock him up, at least until their rebellion was complete.
Whether they'd release or kill him afterward was uncertain, so Ayato intended to save him first.
After all, Shinnojou had done nothing wrong and didn't deserve such treatment.
The same Shuumatsuban member from before appeared suddenly, bringing intelligence about Shinnojou's place of captivity.
Shinnojou was captured purely to take the fall. After he spoke to Hiiragi Chisato, she became hesitant about the marriage, so the minor families suspected he was the cause.
Readers knew it was actually due to Ayato's hints, but Ayato was restrained in his speech during the conversation, leaving no tangible evidence to pin on him.
The mastermind couldn't spread rumors that the Yashiro Commission was sabotaging the marriage.
Thus, they could only target Shinnojou, who had suddenly barged into Hiiragi Chisato's room.
The mastermind's plan hinged on making the two framed parties believe the marriage was natural.
During this process, the fewer people they met, the better.
Ayato was unavoidable— they couldn't stop the head of the Yashiro Commission—but Shinnojou was a complete accident. He rushed in too quickly for anyone to react.
Shouting things like "victory, friendship, bonds" and "I'm the Train King," who could stop him?
Most importantly, they hadn't expected a mere retainer to see through the issue. It showed how much Shinnojou truly cared for Hiiragi Chisato.
As for why Ayato was so invested in this matter, it was, of course, for "stability"—wasn't that, in a way, pursuing "eternity"?
It could also be due to his mother's influence, making Ayato want to help Hiiragi Chisato at this moment.
But he couldn't directly stop the marriage. As the head of the Yashiro Commission, doing so would inevitably make him the "villain," inviting public criticism.
So, Ayato's current goal was to find Shinnojou and use him to lure out the "big fish" behind the incident.
At Shinnojou's place of captivity, Ayato directly beat up the retainers there. After the beating, he didn't pursue them but unlocked Shinnojou's cage.
Shinnojou: Farewell, cage!
[Shinnojou hurriedly said: "Miss's marriage… listen, someone's trying to use her marriage to do something bad!"]
Upon being rescued, he immediately expressed concern for Miss Hiiragi, showing that his love for her was far from mere words.
But the Traveler and others already knew about this.
[Kamisato Ayato said: "The Shogun has always despised tedious political schemes. As a Commissioner under her, it's my duty to handle such trivial matters for her."]
Ei nodded, saying, "Well said, you truly understand me. I've been wondering if I should just arrest them all."
Honestly, since Makoto's return, Ei had become much gentler. She was considering arresting them rather than cutting them down or walling them up.
She's too gentle, I'm tearing up.
Ayato was also gentle. After rescuing Shinnojou, he didn't rush to leave. He was waiting for the bait he'd let escape to bring back the big fish.
Exiting the cave, Matsuura was waiting outside, arriving so quickly it was as if he'd been lingering nearby all along.
Now it was unclear who Shinnojou was bait for.
[Matsuura said: "I heard you came to this place for no reason and injured my people. Could it be you're secretly conducting some operation?"]
Matsuura immediately tried to put a "high hat" on Ayato.
He was indeed clever. By putting a hat on Ayato, he positioned himself on the "moral high ground."
If Ayato misspoke now, Matsuura could immediately amplify it.
Ayato knew this, so he began a high-EQ conversation.
[Ayato replied: "I happened to hear someone was abusing private punishment. As a responsible Inazuma official, I couldn't sit idly by."]
Ayato knew Matsuura was trying to pin a hat on him. He deftly removed it and flipped it back, accusing Matsuura of using "private punishment."
In Inazuma, only Ei could use private punishment, as her every word was law—there was no such thing as private punishment for her.
The two engaged in "high-EQ" dialogue, but readers didn't want to hear it. They just wanted to say, "Injured your people? I'll break your legs next!"
Having followed the Traveler's journey, when had the Traveler ever relied on words? It was always about breaking legs first.
[Matsuura smiled: "Private punishment? How could this be private punishment? It's just discipline."]
["A lowly soldier, inexplicably rushing before Miss, spouting a bunch of self-righteous, rude nonsense—what propriety is that?"]
Matsuura likely realized Ayato was tough to deal with, so after removing the hat, he placed it on Shinnojou's head.
["The marriage of the two clans was supposed to be joyous, yet a self-important soldier overcomplicates it."]
["Someone as noble as you shouldn't share the same thoughts as that soldier."]
He put the hat on Shinnojou, then subtly mocked Ayato while praising him.
If they shared the same thoughts, wouldn't the hat be back on Ayato? If not, then what was the Yashiro Commission's reason for interfering? Could it really be sabotage?
Matsuura was indeed eloquent, leaving even the talkative Paimon speechless.
Readers were also speechless. What? What's all this talk?
Requesting a "Word-to-Word" translation!
If that doesn't work, Traveler, just go break his legs.