Heavy girl? I feel worse than Black Hole Trigger!

First of all, Takamatsu's willingness to perform in a completely unfamiliar place is already a test of her courage. If the microphone is also disabled, even if Takamatsu works hard to stand on the stage, it will be difficult for her to show her full potential.

Unfortunately, a singer with such special talents like Deng will fall below the average level if he cannot fully display his talents.

"Oh. Okay, let's leave it at that for now. Xiao Deng hasn't agreed yet, so let's not think too much about it."

Su Shi had asked Xiangzi for details before anyone else had considered them, simply because she wanted her to refine her plan before proposing it. But after everyone had made up their minds to go for this groundbreaking initiative, this woman couldn't just throw up her hands and ask for everyone to brainstorm, could she?

Su Shi nodded his chin and asked again: "Then how will Xiaoxiang solve the venue problem?"

Since we all want to "start our own 'revolution'", it means that if we want to perform on outlying islands or even other towns in Inazuma, it will not be like modern Japan with a mature system where you can easily book a venue as long as you pay.

Raiding a street performance? This kind of battle of wits with the guards, if Xiangzi were to do it alone, Su Shi might even be interested in watching (laughing at) it, but if he wanted to drag Su Shi and Deng along, he would have to think twice.

"—Ah, that will be my main topic from now on."

Xiangzi narrowed his eyes.

She was wearing that employee uniform that even looked a bit cute, and her ponytail, which was slightly curled because of Su Shi's own initiative, was also full of youthful and playful charm.

But the girl's expression now revealed a strange coldness.

"I plan to have a good talk with Miss China."

Let me see, is your innocent look just a deliberate pretense?

Chapter of the Box, Act 35, Autumn frost, falling maples, snowy days, meeting cypress trees: Is there, is there, chapter ?

Sunday.

"Of course no problem!"

...Well, it seems like he's not pretending.

Toyokawa Shoko blinked at the excited Hiiragi Chinana.

When Xiangzi arrived at Nascita on time to report, he happened to meet Chinana Hiiragi who was also visiting the cafe on time. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity, after obtaining permission from the store manager, Houden Oori, she invited Chinana to talk.

Even with her limited knowledge of the other world, Xiangzi could tell that Chinana came from a prominent family. After confirming this suspicion with Zheli, she gained a new confidence: how to use words to discern the other party's bottom line, purpose, and desires, and gain an advantage in negotiations, this was the greatest legacy left to her by "Toyokawa."

But, judging from the results, this caution seems unnecessary?

"Sister Deng's singing, no! Your performances, I believe even my father and the others have never seen them!"

Chinana clenched her fists, as if she had to use them to suppress the emotions surging in her chest.

Is this acting? It doesn't look like it at all.

Xiangzi tried to find something strange in the girl's face, but she couldn't find even a trace of unnaturalness until Chinae stared at her with a confused look.

Is there really such a beautiful girl in this world? ...Ah, no. It's definitely not in "this" world...

Toyokawa Shoko felt as if she had punched a wall with all her strength, only to discover that what looked like a wall was actually a ball of thick cotton: the situation, which was much easier than she had imagined, almost extinguished her full of will.

"Hey. Um, Sister Xiangzi, are you okay?"

"...Oh, ah, it's okay." Xiangzi quickly adjusted his mentality.

It's good to achieve your goals without much effort. Why would you feel dissatisfied when everything goes well?

"Then please allow me to confirm once again the assistance that Ms. China can provide us."

Xiangzi reviewed his notes in his mind—he had originally planned to bargain item by item, using the girl in front of him and the family behind her as a game, but the girl agreed to everything at once. Although it seemed a bit frivolous, like a child's nonsense...

"First, we need to apply for a performance space at the festival."

"Yeah!" China nodded seriously. "Although the festival isn't something our family runs, it's just a booth. We can ask Miss Ayaka for help."

While the head of the shrine's magistrate is Kamisato Ayaka's brother, Kamisato Ayato, the "White Egret Princess" is renowned for her close connections with the people. While the annual summer festival is hosted by the shrine's magistrate, it's more of a grand occasion for the people of Inazuma. Rather than relying on official power to exert pressure, perhaps inviting the White Egret Princess to participate would be more effective.

"......" So, is it still necessary to ask someone else for help? I don't feel very reassured.

Forget it. After all, having the locals lend a hand is much more reliable than negotiating alone.

"Then there's a practice field available for borrowing..."

"..."

Baodeng Zheli listened to the low conversation of the two girls and squinted his eyes leisurely.

Even though the two of them came from completely different worlds, there was nothing strange about the way they talked to each other.

Even if the "door" connects to more strange places and welcomes more strange customers, this store probably won't change at all - just thinking about it makes me a little interested!

He looked up at the shop door, and at that moment, "Ding-ling-ling..." the hanging bell rang.

A kitten quietly poked its head in and looked at Zhe Li with its big eyes blinking.

Xiangzi and China seemed to have paused their conversation because of the doorbell ringing, and looked towards the door.

"It's you again, little guy." Zhe Li smiled, walked out of the counter, and picked up the kitten by the waist.

Xiangzi looked at it a few more times and said in a daze, "Oh! It's the kitten from before. ... Hmm." At the end, he couldn't help being stunned for a moment: he could vaguely see from the corner of his eye that the scenery reflected behind the slightly opened door was an alley on the outlying island.

It turns out that it is also a cat from Inazuma?

"Meow." Good afternoon.

The kitten rubbed Zheli's palm.

Whether it was the intelligence it displayed or the energy hidden in its body that Zheli sensed through his devouring instinct, it was certain that this little creature that looked like a cat and moved like a cat was obviously a monster or at least a monster-like being. However, Zheli didn't understand why it always acted like a domestic cat in front of him.

Zhe Li even harbored malicious suspicions, wondering if the kitten was an old demon pretending to be young, thinking that Zhe Li didn't realize his identity, so he indulged himself in eating and drinking for free and took advantage of him.

That's why he deliberately called the kitten "cat monster" before.

As a result, the other party still looked at him with eyes that seemed to contain "great wisdom", looking like a cat with a question mark.

So Zhe Li didn't bother to care. Regardless of whether it was just acting or just a small animal with nascent intelligence, Zhe Li wouldn't suffer any harm anyway, so he treated it like a pet.

As a result, the other party actually became closer and closer to him, even more clingy than a cat-stroking professional like Lenai.

Could it be that I have a catnip physique?

While thinking about all these random things, Zhe Li gently scratched her belly (don't ask how Zhe Li knew her gender), put her on the counter - a space here had recently been cleared for her, and then said: "Wait a moment. I'll get you some water... Um, or do you want some milk?"

If it's a monster, it shouldn't have diarrhea due to lactose intolerance, right?

"Meow!" Great!

She pricked up her ears and her beautiful big eyes seemed to be sparkling.

Chinana's gaze followed Zheli for a while, then she clasped her hands together and exclaimed, "How wonderful! The teacher is so gentle even to the kittens. He really deserves to be called a teacher."

"Ms. China, you are exaggerating." Zheli glanced back at her and couldn't help laughing.

The girl's innocence is endearing.

It’s a pity that the Zhe Li she imagined might be a little distorted.

As the saying goes: "A brave man, when angry, draws his sword against the stronger; a coward, when angry, draws his sword against the weaker." It is precisely because Zhe Li values humans far more than other species that he is tolerant towards non-humans - to some extent, he and those who cherish pets as if they were family are two extremes on the spectrum.

The only ones worthy of his malice are the “strong”.

...Hehe. Perhaps this is why he can never be a true "hero".

He looked at the shop door which was not closed properly.

The sunlight from the outlying island penetrated into the dark alley through the gaps in the eaves, and colorful spots of light fell on the old walls.

A bit long.

It was like the time when we were in that city divided into three by the "Wall of Sky", longing for the hero's return.

Chapter 36 of the Box: Autumn Frost and Falling Maple Leaves, Snow Clears and the Plum Blossoms Appear: Chapter : Joyful

The carriage moved forward on the slightly bumpy official road.

Chisato Hiiragi looked at the scenery outside the window.

The scorching sun of midsummer baked the green grassland into a nearly dry yellow. A brown-furred fox was running around in the field. When it heard the clattering sound of the wooden wheels of the carriage, it pricked up its ears and looked over here.

She couldn't help but sigh silently.

The trip to the capital to meet the emperor by the Kanding Bugxing was not smooth at all.

As one of the Three Bugyo, he is in charge of the affairs of the outlying island ports and controls the finances of Inazuma, and holds a prominent position... Despite this, the "Assessment Office" composed of the Three Bugyo is ultimately just a subordinate serving General Raiden.

No matter how much power the officials hold, it is not as powerful as a single order from General Lei Dian.

——In a land protected by gods, gods naturally hold supreme power.

However, Lord Narujin promised eternity to the people of Inazuma, and his image of "eternal unchanging" is reflected in the fact that "Lord Ogosho does not usually interfere too much in Inazuma's internal affairs."

In a way, she is like a statue of a god.

Apart from the word "eternal", this is a "government decree" that most Inazuma people cannot claim to fully understand. General Raiden rarely sets a clear direction for Inazuma administration, and he rarely even vetoes the decisions proposed by the governor. It is almost like a seal without independent meaning.

The evaluation office only needs to submit government affairs reports to the castle tower regularly and inform the shogun. Once the shogun knows about the government affairs proposals, it means that the proposals will be accepted.

Only if other members of the three commissioners raise objections will they be submitted to the general for decision.

However, the three magistrates were each in charge of different affairs of Inazuma, and there were few disputes among them. The "Rating Office" eventually formed a situation similar to an oligarchic dictatorship. The shogun seemed like a monarch without real power, often staying in the castle tower and rarely seen by the people.

Of course, the officials did not disrespect the imperial power because of this.

In any case, the God of Naruto has been protecting the Inazuma people for hundreds and thousands of years, relying on the indestructible naginata in his hand.

When Mingshen gets angry, everyone bows down to him. How dare a mortal dare to overstep his bounds?

...However, since the king has not interfered in state affairs for many years, the various families who have remained at their posts for hundreds of years naturally have deep trust in the political experience accumulated over generations.

While the outlying islands may still appear prosperous today, in reality, their transport volume has declined significantly in recent years due to the impact of other nations' burgeoning cultural and technological development. Liyue Harbor, the capital of the neighboring nation of Liyue, was known as "a place where thousands of ships and merchants converge," and served as the sole outlet for the Mora, the currency accepted throughout Teyvat. Separated only by a sea, the outlying island port may have been declining for centuries.

Inazuma was taught by General Raiden himself, and her blacksmithing skills once dominated the entire Teyvat. However, since the decline of the "Five Schools of Thunder" a hundred years ago, the inheritance has almost been cut off, and now only the "Tenmoku Ryu" has been passed down to this day.

Anyone with insight would worry about Inazuma's future.

Even though General Lei Dian is extremely powerful and can protect the country from foreign invasions, how can her unparalleled "Wu Xiang Yi Dao" eliminate people's worries about the future?

However, regarding the concerns of the Kanjo Bugyo, General Raiden... she still said nothing.

Ahhh. Yes.

Being able to "maintain the status quo" is also an interpretation of "eternity".

Even when other countries are thriving, standing still means falling behind.

"With the unrivaled sword of the General, what do we have to fear from foreign enemies?"

When the head of the Kujo clan, the magistrate of the empire, Kujo Takayuki, taunted his father, Hiiragi Shinsuke, Chisato Hiiragi knew there was no point in saying anything more. Everyone in Inazuma deeply trusted the Shogun's military prowess, but mere military power—even if it was more than enough to defend the frontiers—would not guarantee a prosperous and secure life for the people.

“…….” Helpless.

But at least, the outlying islands can still maintain their prosperity today for the time being.

We still have time to figure it out...

The father and daughter led the convoy back to the Hiiragi home in silence. The father went back to the study, seemingly to write something down. Hiiragi Chisato, who had nothing to do for a moment, suddenly felt that something was missing from her boudoir after a week away.

"Right. Chinana-chan."

She thought of her noisy sister.

Normally, when the father and daughter went on business trips, they would take Chinana with them so that she could have a good time in Inazuma Castle. However, this was a matter of great importance, and the father was worried that he wouldn't be able to spare enough time to pay attention to his little girl, so he didn't take her with him. The father felt a little guilty, but Chinana was at the age where she loved to play, and this rare "freedom" not only didn't make her depressed, but instead filled her with anticipation.

Before leaving, Chisato Hiiragi had threatened her by saying she would be back in two days, but it actually took her a week.

I wonder what big things this brat has done these days?

She called over the maid and asked, "Where is China?"

"The young lady went out to visit the market before noon." The maid replied.

Hiiragi Chisato thought for a moment and then asked, "Where's the farthest you've been these days?"

"My dear Miss, it's the same as today. I only go to the market and return home before dusk. It's the same every day." The maid replied.

"Hmm." Still on the outlying islands. Such a rare, well-behaved child.

I still remember one time before, when her father had a caravan escort her through the "Forest of Guardians" to visit Kamisato's residence. Later, I heard a report that after meeting with the shrine's magistrate, Kamisato Ayaka, she had evaded the guards' sight and climbed Mt. Kagemukai without permission to visit Narukami Taisha Shrine...

Normally when she is asked to do some work, she always uses the excuse of being too tired, but once she sneaks out to play, she seems to be omnipotent.

For this reason, her father had to arrange some plainclothes guards that even Chinana herself was not familiar with to protect her at all times, so that she would not find another opportunity to sneak out of the Hiiragi family's sight.