However, when Miko saw the smile coming from Mr. Cid, she immediately realized that this was no longer five hundred years ago.
The person in front of her wasn't one of the great youkai from back then who told stories.
Miko set down the dango milk in her hand and, almost as if escaping, proactively brought up the serious topic.
"Shura Anyakonsen-shou, let's talk business. What are your additions to my plan?"
Indeed, it was time to discuss serious matters.
The little fox had gotten shy.
Mr. Cid simply reached out and first withdrew the Anemo barrier.
"Have you ever considered that the Raiden Shogun could actually become our ally?"
Opening with a bombshell.
It truly left the little fox stunned and at a loss for words. Mizuki, watching from the side, felt that Miko's expression right now was probably very similar to her own back then.
But Miko still seriously discussed the feasibility of this idea with Mr. Cid.
"That should be impossible. I've tried many times with that puppet—she's always rigidly maintaining Ei's unchanging Eternity. If she could change, I would have acted long ago."
In response, Mr. Cid chose to approach it from a psychological angle to objectively discuss the matter with Yae Miko.
"The Raiden Shogun was created for the sole purpose of maintaining Ei's unchanging, immutable Eternity. From that perspective, yes, the Shogun would seem like a rigid existence.
But Miko, the Shogun can change—it's just that the person who changes her cannot be you."
Miko wasn't surprised to hear herself singled out, and subconsciously thought of something.
"Your goal is to pull Ei out of the Plane of Euthymia—this would, on the surface, deny the very meaning of the Raiden Shogun's existence.
My goal is to change the Raiden Shogun's view of Eternity, subtly transforming her Eternity into one of progress, putting it in opposition to Ei's Eternity.
At present, there's already progress. Now the Raiden Shogun is starting to learn how to govern so she won't be deceived by those under her.
And when a person begins to learn, they have already started moving forward. The so-called unchanging, immutable Eternity has already begun to change.
Regarding this plan, Mizuki and I have already confirmed with the Raiden Shogun that it is fully feasible."
When Mr. Cid said this, Miko recalled what she had seen through the little fox statue this morning: Shura Anyakonsen-shou bringing Yumemizuki Mizuki to meet the Shogun.
So that's what they were busy with…
For the first time today, Miko properly looked at Yumemizuki Mizuki.
This time, facing Miko's gaze, Miss Yumemizuki Mizuki held her head high and chest out.
I'm a youkai who has earned merit—now even if you stare at me, Miko, there's no way I'm going to back down.
Miko looked at Yumemizuki and, ultimately constrained by face, shifted her gaze back to Cid.
"Do you think it will take long to change the Raiden Shogun?"
"Right now, Inazuma's rapid recovery relies on the massive 'gifts' from the Kujou and Hiiragi families. At most three months of this ultra-high-speed recovery, and it'll end.
After the personnel replacement is complete, it'll have to be ground out slowly over time. To fully recover will take at least ten years."
After all, hiding one's strength and biding time also requires accumulation—no shortcuts like in a game where you just pick a few options to fast-forward.
Miko glanced at the Shura token and felt that the time requested wasn't actually that much.
Accumulating the people's faith also took a long time.
"This plan sounds really good. I like it."
Miko expressed strong approval of Shura Anyakonsen-shou's idea.
"I'm already a little impatient to see what kind of expression Ei will make when she discovers the puppet she created is leading a rebellion against her~"