Chapter 88. Forming a Sumeru Resistance?
"Huh?"
Dehya was stunned. Looking at Nahida (Katheryne), she asked, "Is it really that urgent?"
In Dehya's view, hadn't Futsu Mitama already dealt with the Thirty? Even if enemy reinforcements were coming, it would probably take some time before they arrived, right? Couldn't they at least say their goodbyes?
"Indeed, we should leave immediately."
Faruzan also nodded, agreeing with Nahida's judgment. Looking at the members of the Thirty who had been subdued with ease, she spoke seriously.
"You may be fine, but I have a problem. Earlier, I stepped forward to protect Futsu Mitama and the others and prevented their whereabouts from being exposed, but the enemy reacted far too quickly."
"Judging from the Thirty's actions, they clearly have no intention of reasoning with us and are prepared to make arrests by force."
Faruzan had not expected the enemy to move so quickly. Under normal circumstances, mobilizing the Thirty would take at least half an hour.
However, from forcing back the Matra, to the Fatui Cicin Mages carrying the Great Sage's token, to their conversation with Futsu Mitama's group, all of it combined had not even taken half an hour.
Yet the Thirty had already arrived.
This meant that the person directing them not only possessed considerable authority, but also extremely efficient execution.
Because of this, Faruzan strongly agreed with Nahida's assessment. They needed to leave this area immediately and go into hiding, while she herself needed to leave Sumeru City as soon as possible.
"There's no time to waste. Let's go."
Nahida was decisive.
"I'll explain everything to Futsu Mitama."
Following Nahida's instructions, Faruzan, Dehya, and Dunyarzad split into two groups and departed.
They moved quickly, and Futsu Mitama naturally sensed their departure. He nodded slightly, a trace of approval flashing across his eyes.
Now that they had left, he could act freely without needing to worry about them.
"Young Master, we've been exposed. This should be the work of that Fatui."
Black Aila stepped to Futsu Mitama's side. Looking at him, she spoke in a serious tone.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the entire security force of Sumeru City will be coming to arrest us next."
The moment she saw these familiar tactics, Black Aila immediately recognized whose handiwork it was.
Only that woman would act with such complete disregard for consequences.
If it were Dottore, he would at least fabricate a reason before arresting someone rather than sending people over without a word.
If it were Scaramouche, he would come personally instead of sending a group of insignificant pawns to die.
"What do we do now?"
Kuki Shinobu looked toward Futsu Mitama. After this confrontation, remaining in Sumeru City was no longer realistic. Were they going to overturn the table completely?
It was currently noon. If they chose to do so now, many innocent people would likely be dragged into the conflict.
"It's fine. We've merely been exposed. Our primary objective has already been achieved. With our current strength, we can fight whenever we choose and leave whenever we choose."
Futsu Mitama remained unconcerned.
As long as he had established contact with Nahida, everything remained negotiable.
Even overturning the table at this very moment was not impossible.
The only concern was whether Scaramouche and Dottore would resort to extreme measures and directly start a battle within Sumeru City.
"Why not ask Maha Rukkhadevata?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi also spoke. She felt it would be better to seek Maha Rukkhadevata's opinion on the matter.
The current situation had entered a rather delicate stage.
Nahida had already been found.
As for Maha Rukkhadevata's inheritance, it could be taught to her gradually afterward.
But how far had the God Creation Project, jointly carried out by the Akademiya and the Fatui, progressed?
If it had already reached a critical stage, then it had to be stopped.
Judging from the way the Akademiya and the Fatui were cooperating, the God Creation Project was highly likely to succeed. Not to mention that they were already conducting experiments within Sumeru City itself.
This also meant that they either no longer cared about concealing it, or that this stage simply could not be hidden and had therefore been reserved for the final phase.
Regardless of the reason, in Sangonomiya Kokomi's view, the decisive battle was likely approaching. Otherwise, they would merely be waiting obediently for the Fatui and the Akademiya to complete their work before delivering themselves into their hands.
As the former leader of the Resistance, Sangonomiya Kokomi's assessment of the current situation was simple: force a confrontation as quickly as possible and determine the condition of Dottore and Scaramouche.
As for the Great Sage, his fate would probably be no better than Kujou Takayuki's of the Tenryou Commission, so he could be ignored for the time being.
Unless his strength was comparable to Dottore's and Scaramouche's within the God Creation Project, he could largely be dealt with afterward.
Although Sangonomiya Kokomi thought so, Sumeru was still Maha Rukkhadevata's domain, so it was better to consult her opinion.
"Alright."
Futsu Mitama also thought it was reasonable, so he opened the Chat Group to see what Maha Rukkhadevata had to say.
Since the group was currently in a live stream, Maha Rukkhadevata naturally knew they were asking for her opinion.
To fight, or not to fight?
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "..."]
[Cyno: "Is it time for war already? But I haven't finished gathering my clues yet."]
[Paimon: "What clues are there left to gather? They've already attacked us directly. If we don't fight back, won't that make us look afraid of them?!"]
[Klee: "Mhm mhm mhm!!! Big Brother Mitama!!! Beat up the bad guys!!!!"]
[Eula: "That might be somewhat risky. If a battle breaks out, wouldn't Sumeru City become the battlefield?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "@Futsu Mitama, @Aila, if a fight breaks out, do the two of you have confidence in controlling the situation? I mean minimizing the losses."]
[Aila: "If the battle isn't too intense, then it should be manageable for now. Both Black Aila's authority and mine are more inclined toward offense. I am lightning, while she is shadow. As long as the enemy isn't exceptionally large or exceptionally small, the destructive impact should not spread too far."]
[Aila: "But if the enemy is particularly large, then I cannot guarantee it."]
[Futsu Mitama: "That also depends on the situation. With my current strength, dealing with most enemies is easy, but if I encounter an opponent of equal strength— I can guarantee my own safety, but I can't guarantee the safety of the surroundings."]
[Azhdaha: "That's true. Back during the Archon War, when Morax and I fought side by side, we usually fought on other people's territory rather than our own. Because we would be fine, but the surrounding environment would be devastated."]
[Zhongli: "And Futsu Mitama has inherited both the Electro Archon's and the Geo Archon's legacies."]
[Raiden Ei: "My techniques are not the issue. As long as I do not fully unleash Musou no Hitotachi or use Devotion, nothing significant will happen. The main concern is Morax's inheritance. In terms of AOE power, his techniques far exceed mine."]
[Guizhong: "Ah, what a troublesome situation. By the way, @Maha Rukkhadevata, should we send Raiden Ei and Morax over?"]
[Yae Miko: "Hehehehe~ After all, the Great Sage of the Akademiya now wants to create a new god and has completely disregarded Lesser Lord Kusanali. Under such circumstances, having a current Archon intervene seems perfectly reasonable."]
[Raiden Ei: "No."]
[Venti: "That won't do. Under normal circumstances, one of The Seven Archons should not enter another Archon's territory to interfere. Though I've certainly done it many times before, when it comes to starting a war, it's best for Archons to appear as little as possible."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Although if Ei and Morax acted, the situation in Sumeru could be resolved immediately. But how should I put it? The Seven Archons all have their own restrictions and difficulties. We are not as glorious as we appear."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Moreover, doing so would inevitably leave resentment among Sumeru's people. No matter what, it is not ideal for an Archon to interfere directly in another nation's internal affairs."]
[Lumine: "What about the Tsaritsa?"]
[Albedo: "The Fatui have no such concerns, so they interfere in other nations' affairs without restraint."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Haah~"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "The arrow is already on the string. It must be released."]
[Cyno: "Do I need to return? I feel the Akademiya has definitely done something in the Desert, but I haven't finished investigating yet."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "There's no need. Trust your instincts, Cyno. What Sumeru City needs right now is probably a direct confrontation with the Great Sage."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "You mean forcing a confrontation now?"]
[Shenhe: "That could easily lead to a lose-lose outcome."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "But we still don't know how far the God Creation Project has progressed. If only we knew that."]
[Futsu Mitama: "That's the most awkward part. If we want to resolve things peacefully, we've already been exposed and can no longer remain in the shadows. But once we're exposed, Sumeru definitely won't allow us to continue acting freely. Tighnari and Faruzan, who covered for us earlier, will also become key surveillance targets."]
[Futsu Mitama: "So should we just flip the table, storm the Akademiya, capture the Great Sage, and then search for Scaramouche and Dottore?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Futsu Mitama, your idea is correct. Cutting through the mess quickly is indeed effective, but the process can be slowed slightly."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "For example, you could approach the Great Sage openly as the next Electro Archon. While speaking with him, guide him into revealing his crimes. Record everything. Once you have that, no matter what happens afterward, the initiative will remain in your hands."]
[Paimon: "But the Great Sage definitely won't allow Futsu Mitama to bring anything in to meet him, right? And recordings from the Chat Group can't be released publicly."]
[Albedo: "If I can get close to the Great Sage, I can create a recording device that ordinary people cannot detect. That device will be able to record everything he says."]
[Paimon: "Eh?! Alchemy is that convenient?"]
[Lumine: "No. Albedo is the convenient, not alchemy."]
[Cyno: "If that's the case, then Azar's doomsday has arrived."]
[Klee: "Yay!!!"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Actually, I have another idea."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "What idea?"]
[Guizhong: "Tell us!"]
[Raiden Makoto: "Oh? Kokomi has an idea?"]
[Yae Miko: "I'm quite interested as well. Please explain in detail."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Cyno is currently in the Desert, and the Eremites are already at odds with the Akademiya. Both Tighnari and Faruzan have connections with the Eremites, and both possess influence within the Akademiya. In addition, we've met a Desert girl who is quite capable. Through her connections, and with the support of Nahida, the current Dendro Archon—"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "We can rally the Eremites of the Desert and also unite the conscientious Scholars within the Akademiya. That way, we would have Scholars on the civil side, Eremites on the military side, and even Cyno from the General Mahamatra. Wouldn't that place us in a tremendous advantage throughout Sumeru?"]
[Yae Miko: "That plan sounds strangely familiar~"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "It does sound familiar. Almost as though I've experienced it before."]
[Raiden Makoto: "The Sumeru Resistance?"]
[Albedo: "Does the Resistance never truly disappear, only reappear somewhere else?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "It does sound familiar. Isn't this just another Resistance?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Kokomi, have you come all the way to Sumeru only to establish another Resistance?"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Hahaha~~"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "It's just that the Desert people are suffering greatly, and the situation here is remarkably similar to ours, isn't it?"]
[Azhdaha: "There is one difference. In Inazuma, as long as you persuaded the Electro Archon, everything would come to an end. But in Sumeru, the Archon has already been sidelined and reduced to little more than a decoration and mascot."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "..."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "That plan is feasible as well. It is simply more troublesome. But if it succeeds, the resulting momentum would be impossible for the Great Sage to stop. The main problem is that it requires time, and connecting those two groups will not be easy."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Mm. The Desert side is still quite hostile toward Sumeru City."]
[Cyno: "But if Lesser Lord Kusanali were to speak personally, it might be possible."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Let's stop there for now. We have guests again."]
Outside the Chat Group, just as expected, an Akademiya Scholar arrived with more than fifty Matra and over a hundred members of the Thirty, completely surrounding the area.
When they saw the defeated Thirty lying on the ground, shock and displeasure immediately appeared on their faces.
After all, the Thirty who had rushed here first were not weak by any means.
Yet they had been defeated in such a short time.
Just who were these people?