When Miyashiro had finished his preparations in the city and returned to the residence where the Inazuma Delegation was staying, even before he entered, he heard several familiar voices from outside the door, seemingly mixed with a few sobs.
Lumine: "Nilou, Deena Dazed, don't worry yet. Our relationship with Miyashiro is quite good. As long as we explain it to him, there's still a chance for this matter to turn around."
Nilou's eyes were full of grievance. After receiving Lumine's comfort, she nodded and said, "Thank you, Lumine."
Paimon: "Yeah, there must be some misunderstanding about this. I don't believe that guy would do such a boring thing.
Ugh, Miyashiro is really something. We're in a hurry to find him, but he's off enjoying himself somewhere? Can't even find him."
No sooner had Paimon finished speaking than Miyashiro's teasing voice came from the outer door: "Paimon, you're secretly badmouthing me again while I'm away. I heard your distinctive voice from a mile off.
Oh? Looks lively in here. What are you all talking about?"
Miyashiro's figure appeared before everyone, immediately causing the gathered people to quickly stand up to greet him.
Paimon quickly flew to Miyashiro's side, tugging at his lapel and pulling him inside, shouting, "Miyashiro, you're finally here! It's all your doing, Nilou is out of a job! Hurry up and explain!"
A string of black question marks appeared in Miyashiro's mind. "What are you talking about? Who's out of a job?"
Miyashiro was virtually pulled by Paimon to the side of the group. He introduced him to them, "Nilou, Dehya, Deena Dazed, this is the Inazuma Regent himself. I've brought him to you, so you can ask him now."
Nilou and the other two looked at the Inazuma Regent, who was surprisingly young, and couldn't help but take another look at him. Seeing Paimon tugging at him without any formality, and him showing no sign of displeasure, this connection gave them hope for a resolution.
Miyashiro looked at Nilou, Dehya, and Deena Dazed before him, and he couldn't help but take another look at them. For no other reason than that the three of them represented three extreme yet different kinds of beauty among Sumeru women.
The gentle yet strong dancer Nilou, the passionate and wild mercenary Dehya, and the dignified and generous Demoiselle Deena Dazed, filled with exotic charm, each had their own unique allure.
Miyashiro: "Lumine, Paimon, are these your new friends in Sumeru? Introduce them, please."
Paimon nodded: "Yes, this is Nilou, a dancer from the Zubayr Theater. This is Deena Dazed, the Demoiselle of the Humayun family in Sumeru City. And this is Dehya, her bodyguard.
Nilou and Deena Dazed, they are the Lesser Lord Kusanali's followers that the Traveler and I found after searching all over Sumeru City."
After Paimon finished introducing everyone to Miyashiro one by one, Miyashiro showed them a standardized smile, "Three ladies, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am the current Inazuma Regent, Yuto."
Dehya looked at Miyashiro with a scrutinizing gaze. As a qualified mercenary, her principle was to take money and solve problems for others. As long as she accepted this job, Deena Dazed was her employer until the job ended, and she needed to be responsible for her. Even if the other party was the powerful Inazuma Regent, she treated him equally.
As a Vision holder of the Pyro element, the naturally warm and generous Dehya spoke bluntly: "I've long heard that the Inazuma Regent led a Delegation thousands of miles to Sumeru. Seeing him today, his demeanor is indeed extraordinary. However, as the Inazuma Regent, why do you interfere with our preparations for the Sabzeruz Festival?"
Miyashiro was bewildered by this. "Huh? What are you talking about? Paimon, can you explain what happened?"
Paimon: "Here's what happened. The Sabzeruz Festival is about to be held. To celebrate this festival, Deena Dazed funded the Zubayr Theater in the Grand Bazaar to rehearse a series of programs. Among them, the Dance of the Goddess of Flowers performed by Nilou is the highlight of the entire Sabzeruz Festival.
However, just a few days ago, a Scribe from the Akademiya came to the Grand Bazaar, saying he was ordered to halt all programs at the Zubayr Theater and stated that from now on, all forms of artistic performance would be prohibited in Sumeru City.
The person in charge of the Zubayr Theater made many inquiries at the Akademiya and finally got a piece of gossip: the Akademiya issued this decree because the commotion from the Grand Bazaar's rehearsals disturbed the Inazuma Regent's rest, and the Grand Sage specially issued this decree to accommodate the Inazuma Delegation.
It just so happens that Lumine and I know you, so we brought Deena Dazed and them here to find you, wanting to ask what this matter is all about and if there's still a chance for it to turn around."
Deena Dazed added from the side: "Regent, if this situation is true, I ask that you be lenient. We can terminate the Sabzeruz Festival programs early, but Nilou, and everyone in the Zubayr Theater, they all make a living from performing.
If the Akademiya truly uploads and officially publishes this decree prohibiting artistic performances in the Akasha, then Sumeru City will truly have no space for them to survive. Please help us by speaking a few good words to the Akademiya."
Upon hearing this, Miyashiro's face immediately darkened. This matter, in the end, still made him take the blame. This was outrageous!
Miyashiro said sternly: "Absurd! I never made such a request to the Akademiya, nor would I ever disturb the daily lives of Sumeru City's citizens. Those old fuddy-duddies in the Akademiya, it's one thing if they don't like art themselves, but to demand that all Sumeru citizens follow their preferences is utterly ridiculous."
Dehya: "So, this is entirely the Akademiya's own doing? And they're framing you? My apologies, Regent, I misunderstood you. I apologize to you.
However, it seems to be just as the Regent said. The people of the Grand Bazaar really like to sing and dance, which the Akademiya particularly dislikes. I didn't expect them to directly use this opportunity to push through a decree prohibiting art. The Akademiya is as arrogant and domineering as ever."
Upon hearing this, a look of worry appeared on Deena Dazed's face. If it were truly as the rumors said, then with Lumine and Paimon's relationship, there would still be room to salvage the matter. But now, knowing that the true instigators were the Akademiya's high-ranking officials themselves, there was no longer any hope for a resolution.
Deena Dazed: "The Sabzeruz Festival should have been organized by the Akademiya in the first place. It's their failure to fulfill their duties all these years! I'm going to the Akademiya to confront them!"
With that, Deena Dazed was about to head to the Akademiya, but she was stopped by Dehya and Lumine, who argued that the interpretation rights were in the Akademiya's hands.
Deena Dazed felt her body growing weaker and couldn't help but look at Nilou, who was equally worried, beside her.
Nilou, dressed in bold and flamboyant dance attire, said with a worried expression: "I'm sorry, Deena Dazed. You've been looking forward to this Dance of the Goddess of Flowers so much. I know this Sabzeruz Festival is very important to you. Not only did you fund it, but you also snuck out of your home without telling your parents. I don't want you to have any regrets.
But now, it seems we can only pin our hopes on next time. Next time, we will definitely find a way to make the Sabzeruz Festival a success!"
Deena Dazed murmured, "Next time?"
The Sabzeruz Festival... the Dance of the Goddess of Flowers... but could she even last until next year?
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