"Thoma, you have been away from Ayato for two years and you picked up his bad habits? You deliberately pushed me to the back so I would not be noticed."
"Haha, compared to the Clan Head, my little tricks are nothing. But I did not expect that even after you have been away from Inazuma for so long, the Hiiragi Clan's people could still recognize you, Su Bai."
Thinking about what had just happened, Thoma could not help but sigh. If the Kamisato Clan had someone with Su Bai's deterrent power, their days would not be so difficult. At the very least, they would not have to worry about unexpected incidents befalling the Kamisato Clan during the Vision Hunt Decree.
"Speaking of which, that woman who tried to extort us got off easy. I was thinking of taking her out while I was at it."
"That woman's crimes do not warrant death. Taking out those private soldiers is enough to make the Hiiragi Clan ache for a while."
There was absolutely nothing wrong with what Su Bai said. The Kanjou Commission, led by the Hiiragi Clan, was in charge of Inazuma's economy. On paper, the Kanjou Commission was not allowed to maintain an armed force. Therefore, even if Su Bai and the others slaughtered all those Hiiragi private soldiers, the Hiiragi Clan would have no choice but to swallow the loss and grit their teeth.
Perhaps because she had just vented her anger on that group of private soldiers, Hu Tao had returned to her usual lively self. Seeing Zhongli come out of the encounter with the woman who tried to scam her Mora looking so deep in thought, Hu Tao could not help but wonder what exactly went through Zhongli's mind all day long.
"Harsh politics, corrupt officials, and a populace harboring long-standing grievances. Mr. Thoma, does that Electro Archon truly not care about Inazuma at all?"
"If this continues, within ten years, the family will no longer be a family, and the nation will no longer be a nation. Inazuma is in grave danger."
"Ahem, Mr. Zhongli, things are not as severe as you make them sound. With our Clan Head around, I believe that even if something unexpected happens in Inazuma, he will be able to handle it."
Thoma did not take Zhongli's words to heart. As the housekeeper of the Kamisato Clan, he had immense confidence in Kamisato Ayato. He felt that as long as Kamisato Ayato was here, Inazuma would not face any major problems.
"Mr. Thoma, have rebel forces already emerged in Inazuma?"
"Uh, well... there have indeed been small groups of rebels, but it is not a major problem. With General Kujou around, the rebels cannot make much of a splash."
"By the way, Su Bai, do you want to go see the Young Lady with me later? She has been missing you a lot. I do not know who, using my name, forbade the Shuumatsuban ninjas from telling the Young Lady that you left Inazuma. At the time, she even challenged me to a duel for several days over it."
Realizing that if Zhongli kept talking, he might deduce everything that had happened in Inazuma, Thoma promptly changed the subject. At the same time, he mentally took note of this Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant named Zhongli. The next time he saw the Clan Head, he would need to mention this Mr. Zhongli to him.
"Thoma, look! The road leaving Ritou seems to be blocked. What do we do now?"
Flying in the air, Paimon saw that the path to other places was guarded by a group of soldiers and felt a bit at a loss. Lumine, on the other hand, clenched her fists. She could already control three elements, and fighting these Shogun's Army soldiers would be a good way to practice controlling the Electro element.
"There is no need for such trouble. These Shogun's Army soldiers belong to the Tenryou Commission. Their presence here is not only to control the movement of people in and out of Ritou, but more importantly, to monitor the Kanjou Commission."
"And the Shogun's Army soldiers assigned to this kind of task are definitely not rookies."
As he spoke, Su Bai swaggered to the very front. Seeing a group of people walking toward them so brazenly, the surrounding Shogun's Army soldiers immediately went on high alert. They all knew that the relationship between the Three Commissions of Inazuma was far from as harmonious as it appeared.
The primary objective of the Shogun's Army coming to Ritou was to keep an eye on the Hiiragi Clan. Now, suddenly, a group of people was walking right toward them. It would be a lie to say these soldiers were not nervous.
"Captain, it looks like one of the people in that group is Thoma, the housekeeper of the Kamisato Clan. Could it be that the Kamisato Clan is planning to ally with the Hiiragi Clan?"
"How should I know? But if those two clans really do ally, then our Kujou Clan will be in trouble."
The face of the Shogun's Army squad leader looked grim. Previously, due to the Tenryou Commission's negligence, the Yashiro Commission's Clan Head, Kamisato Ayato, had seized the opportunity to establish the Shuumatsuban, thereby gaining a legitimate reason to arm the Kamisato Clan.
Just the Shuumatsuban alone was already something the Kujou Clan deeply feared. If the Hiiragi Clan also found a reason to arm themselves, the Kujou Clan's position would be in imminent danger.
No, the same mistake could not be made twice. A trace of ruthlessness flashed in the squad leader's eyes. The Clan Head had sent him with a squad of elite soldiers to Ritou to 'assist the Kanjou Commission with their work' precisely to prevent the Hiiragi Clan from acquiring an armed force. It seemed that after dealing with the group in front of him, it would be necessary to search the Hiiragi estate. Even if the Hiiragi Clan complained to the Kujou Clan, the Clan Head would not blame him.
Having made up his mind, the squad leader walked straight toward Su Bai and the others. However, for some reason, his deputy felt that the captain was walking slower and slower, until he eventually just stopped in his tracks.
"What is wrong, Captain? Is the enemy that strong? Should I call the rest of the brothers over?"
"Shut your mouth and put your weapon away first."
Looking at that familiar face and the white hair, the squad leader swallowed hard.
Damn it, how did this demon king Su Bai suddenly return to Inazuma? Thank goodness, thank goodness, he had not done anything out of line just now. Phew~
Thinking this, the squad leader let out a long sigh of relief. If he had not been sharp-eyed, he might have actually provoked this fox immortal who had just made his tails disappear. If that had happened, the Clan Head would have definitely reprimanded him severely.
"No way, those Shogun's Army soldiers who always keep a straight face just let us pass like that? This..."
Having brushed past the Shogun's Army soldiers and successfully reached the beach, Thoma looked back at the guarding soldiers in disbelief. He knew that even if Kamisato Ayato, the Clan Head himself, were to arrive in person, those soldiers would not necessarily be as polite as they had just been.
"It is nothing. The Kujou Clan has always been within Inazuma City, so it is not strange that their people are quite familiar with my face and can recognize me."
"That is true. You certainly caused quite a stir in Inazuma City before, Su Bai."
"Um, this Director would like to interrupt you two for a moment. Thoma, do you have any haunted places in Inazuma you could recommend to this Director?"
Having successfully left Ritou and regained her freedom, Hu Tao's lively nature could no longer be suppressed. She could not wait to show off her skills in Inazuma. Thoma thought for a moment.
"I heard that a place called Tsurumi Island seems to be haunted all the time. If Director Hu wants to go, I have a token here. Take this token to the seaside, and someone from our Yashiro Commission will be there to guide you to Tsurumi Island."
"Alright, then this Director will be on my way. Lumine, you guys do your best~"
With that, Hu Tao took Thoma's token and bid farewell to Su Bai and the others. After saying their goodbyes to the group, Zhongli and Azhdaha followed closely behind Hu Tao as they departed.
"Since Hu Tao and the others have already started their mission, we should part ways here too. If nothing unexpected happens, Thoma, you are probably going to take Lumine to the Kamisato Estate, right? I need to go to the Grand Narukami Shrine first before heading to the Kamisato Estate."
"Are we not going in the exact same direction? Why do we need to separate?"
"Because the youkai coming to pick me up has arrived."
Just as Su Bai finished speaking, a small tanuki popped out from who knows where. At the same time, a circle made of youkai energy appeared beside Su Bai. Su Bai stepped into the circle, and the little tanuki followed closely behind. Lumine looked into the circle, but all she could see was a massive sakura tree.
"By the way, Thoma, I am giving you this talisman. Stick it on your forehead, and you will be able to understand what dogs are saying."
Throwing the talisman to Thoma, Su Bai instantly appeared within the Grand Narukami Shrine. Smelling the scent of sakura blossoms lingering in the air, a long-lost sense of familiarity made Su Bai feel intoxicated. Looking at the two fox shrine maidens standing under the Sacred Sakura, Su Bai revealed a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"I am back."
"Welcome back~"