It's no wonder Alhaitham was apprehensive; he went to the Desert at Miyashiro's behest. Lumine and Paimon were also guided by Miyashiro, specifically told to cooperate with him and Cyno. Dehya owed Miyashiro a favor because of Deena Dazed, and now, even Nilou said she was fulfilling Miyashiro's promise.
With this series of arrangements, if Alhaitham still didn't realize the strangeness of the matter, then he wouldn't be Alhaitham.
Throughout the entire incident, Alhaitham felt as if someone was always watching him from behind, that he was being used as a chess piece, moving step by step according to the other party's plan, which made him feel extremely uncomfortable.
What benefit did that Inazuma Regent hope to gain from this incident? Could it be, as he had previously guessed, simply to use their hands to bring down the Akademiya sages who discriminated against Inazuma? If so, then the detour was far too elaborate, wasn't it?
Lumine, with her keen mind, saw Alhaitham's expression become very solemn and asked in confusion, "Alhaitham, what's wrong? Why do you look so troubled?"
Nilou thought her own apprehension had made Alhaitham worried. After all, violating the Art Ban in public at the Akademiya's entrance—if she were to back out and ruin their plan, the consequences would be unimaginable.
So Nilou quickly said, "Mr. Alhaitham, please rest assured, I will definitely help, and I will also ask all my partners at the Grand Bazaar to help!"
Alhaitham snapped back to reality, looking at the crowd gathered before him. He really wanted to call off his plan on the spot, but now, all the preparations were done. Rahman and his people had paid a huge price to enter the city. If the plan were to be stopped now, all their previous efforts would be in vain.
Moreover, even without Miyashiro's involvement, the Akademiya's mad actions of imprisoning Lesser Lord Kusanali and creating a new God had already been confirmed. This was an undeniable fact, and saving Lesser Lord Kusanali was his ultimate goal, an ultimate goal that could not be stopped.
If his guess was correct, the Inazuma Regent's plan was to use them to bring down the Akademiya sages and then gain some key policy benefits in the diplomatic agreement with Sumeru.
The Inazuma Delegation's objective happened to be on the path to their ultimate goal. If they could successfully save Lesser Lord Kusanali, then the sages who imprisoned the God would naturally fall.
The Inazuma Regent's move was tantamount to reaping without sowing; all the risks and hard work were borne by his side. This made Alhaitham, who realized this, extremely displeased. In all his life, when had he ever suffered such grievances? He had always been the one to scheme against others, never expecting to be used as a pawn now.
After much thought, Alhaitham still gritted his teeth and accepted it. Their plan was now irreversible, like an arrow on a bowstring. At least the Inazuma Delegation and his side had the same objective; they were allies, not enemies.
They desperately wanted their plan to succeed, otherwise, wouldn't all the trouble they went through to provide intelligence and assistance be for nothing? They shouldn't betray them midway.
Thinking of this, Alhaitham sighed and said, "It's nothing. Is everyone done speaking? Then let's adjourn the meeting."
Dehya was a bit surprised and quickly asked, "Hey, wait, the meeting's already adjourned? Shouldn't someone say something to boost morale at a time like this?"
Alhaitham: "Oh, if you're hoping for someone to say a few simple words, then I must say, I'm only responsible for planning, not for being a leader. You'll have to find someone more suitable for that."
Dehya couldn't help but sigh, pressing her hand to her forehead, "Alhaitham, you... ugh, aren't all you Akademiya scholars eloquent?"
Alhaitham: "Allow me to remind you, my position is Scribe."
Dehya: "I know that, so?"
Alhaitham: "It means I'm responsible for taking notes at meetings. Under normal circumstances, I don't speak!"
Dehya sighed speechlessly and said, "...Fine, alright, you're amazing! Cyno doesn't seem like the type to give speeches either, so let the Traveler speak then."
Seeing this, Lumine looked at the determined crowd and said with relief, "Many incredible things have happened along the way. Tomorrow, we will change many things, so everyone, get a good night's sleep tonight."
Cyno nodded in agreement: "Indeed, how well one rests the night before an important operation determines its success or failure."
Alhaitham muttered softly, "Good thing only I've been home lately. It's been very quiet."
Nilou: "So, should we say... goodnight to everyone now?"
Paimon: "Okay, goodnight!"
With that, everyone returned to their homes to rest. At this moment, a space above the Zubayr Theater also experienced some fluctuations, but it quickly returned to calm.
In the courtyard of the Kamui Dimension, Miyashiro and Nahida, one human and one God, were savoring everything that had just happened in the Grand Bazaar.
After three days of recuperation and treatment with Miyashiro, Nahida's mental state had greatly recovered. In fact, after Nahida absorbed Miyashiro's massive amount of Wood Release Chakra, she seemed to have grown a bit taller, which left Miyashiro a little dumbfounded. So, a God's physique could change, after all.
However, thinking about it, it was quite reasonable. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata back then was a long-haired older woman. Due to overexerting her power in cooperation with King Deshret to eradicate the forbidden knowledge, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, who had lost a large amount of divine power, directly transformed from an older woman into her current loli physique.
And as Lesser Lord Kusanali is the reincarnation of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, if she received enough power replenishment, it would seem perfectly reasonable for her to revert to an older woman's physique.
Compared to Miyashiro's cheerful demeanor, Nahida's heart was a mix of emotions at this moment, and tears began to well up in her eyes.
As a God who had been imprisoned for five hundred years, she hadn't even met them in her true form, yet so many people were willing to risk rebellion, attempting to overthrow the Akademiya and rescue her. This deeply moved Nahida.
Miyashiro: "How is it, Nahida? Isn't this scene very touching?"
Nahida nodded and said, "Gods, from the moment of their birth, are given the duty to love people. Loving people is their nature. However, the reason people respect and adore Gods might be out of utilitarianism, or awe, or perhaps for their achievements.
But for the people of Sumeru, I am merely a God who exists, never appearing before the world for five hundred years, with no achievements to speak of, and never demonstrating powerful miracles before them. Why, then, would they choose to help me?"
In response, Miyashiro smiled slightly and said, "Regarding that question, why don't you ask them yourself when the time comes?"
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