Chapter 32: Ei Being Schemed Against! Conflict between Byakuyakoku and Khaenri

If he had been looking forward to it just now, he was just as disappointed now.

Although he knew in his heart that the cunning fox woman’s words were just to tease him, the male instinct always produced hope.

Fortunately, his expression management was good, and Luo Li lay down on Kitsune Saiguu’s lap without changing his expression.

He had been quite disappointed just a moment ago, but when he actually lay down, he suddenly felt it wasn’t a loss.

The only regret was that she wasn’t dressed as lightly as the future Yae Miko, making it impossible to touch her skin directly.

“Do you need your ears cleaned?”

Pulling a cotton swab from somewhere, Saiguu looked down at him with gentle, maternal eyes full of tolerance.

This attitude changed so quickly that it almost made one think the person who was as seductive as a succubus just now was someone else.

“Then I shall not decline.” Luo Li naturally had no reason to refuse.

So-called ear cleaning wasn’t as simple as picking ears; a transcendent body would hardly be stained with dust, let alone filth.

So the subtext of ear cleaning was whether he needed a massage.

Enjoying the service from the Matriarch of Hakushin, Luo Li closed his eyes and asked: “What did you go do when you left before?”

“Normally, a woman’s secrets cannot be easily told to others, but if it’s you… you can know.”

Saiguu paused, gently stroked his forehead, and habitually teased: “I just left behind some means that would be beneficial to Inazuma.”

Once these words were out, Luo Li instantly understood what she meant.

According to the pessimistic ending she foresaw, she was likely setting up all her contingencies while she could still act.

For example, the future task of guarding the barrier in Konda Village, and tricking Ioroi, that big bake-danuki, into hiding.

Speaking of this, Kitsune Saiguu suddenly said: “By the way, I will be stationed at Tenshukaku from now on, and the affairs of the Shrine will have to be handled by you; I assume you won’t mind.”

Luo Li said calmly: “As long as you can pay the corresponding reward.”

“We have to be so calculating between us?”

“……”

Finding that playing the victim didn’t work, Saiguu rolled her eyes, leaned down, and whispered: “Then how about I do you a favor.”

“What favor?”

“Raising Ei’s favorability, or tricking her into doing some… behavior.”

Good heavens, Luo Li exclaimed that a fox was indeed synonymous with cunning.

The pitiful and simple Ei was completely unaware that she was being schemed against, chatting with her sister, occasionally glancing over as if unintentionally.

“It’s a deal!”

The deal was struck immediately; Luo Li still trusted Saiguu’s abilities.

So the two whispered to each other, agreeing on some details.

Chiyo listened clearly from the side but didn’t care at all, instead excitedly joining in to offer some bad ideas.

“What are you whispering about?”

Seeing the three people huddled together with malicious intent, Raiden Makoto curiously wanted to join in.

And Ei, who had long been moved, followed silently behind.

Luo Li said solemnly: “We are talking about matters between subordinates, and by the way, improving our relationship; the boss shouldn’t eavesdrop.”

After rolling her eyes at him, Makoto pouted slightly to show her dissatisfaction.

After laughing heartily, Luo Li asked: “Did anything happen in Inazuma while I was gone?”

According to what he saw in Mondstadt, the Knights of Favonius were constantly increasing troops to guard the city-state, and the number of wounded was increasing every day.

He didn’t believe Inazuma hadn’t changed at all.

Sure enough, when this was mentioned, Makoto’s eyes flickered for a moment, and Saiguu’s massage on his temples slowed down.

This time, it was Ei who spoke, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“A month ago, the Khaenri’ah delegation heading to Watatsumi Island returned in a hurry, not even passing through Narukami Island, and left directly from the sea.”

“Later, news came from Byakuyakoku that the Khaenri’ah delegation had a violent conflict with them, and both sides suffered casualties.”

“The subsequent situation hasn’t been fully clarified, and Byakuyakoku has forbidden us from going there again; I’m afraid it will take a long time to understand.”

Luo Li thought to himself that Khaenri’ah was indeed brave; wanting forbidden books and not being given them, they just started fighting to grab them.

It was a pity they didn’t seem to have grabbed them, otherwise the future Abyss Order wouldn’t have gone to Enkanomiya to continue searching.

“What about Byakuyakoku afterward?”

This was the first time Chiyo had heard this news; she usually didn’t care about other countries’ affairs.

Ei pursed her lips slightly: “That’s what puzzles Makoto and me; afterward, there was no news from Byakuyakoku, and it seems to have been left unsettled.”

Rather than left unsettled, Luo Li was more inclined to think Byakuyakoku had been crippled by Khaenri’ah.

The armed corps brought by Khaenri’ah were not few; perhaps there were more than what appeared on the surface, and some might have been hidden.

By the time the ground forces of Watatsumi Island realized something was wrong, they had probably already retreated and run away.

When it came to running away, they were a top-tier team.

Makoto finally explained: “I have already sent people to closely monitor the situation there; we will discuss it if there is new news.”

“Besides that, the number of monsters appearing in Inazuma recently seems to have a trend of increasing, and a small portion have already begun to group together.”

Ei frowned as she recounted some threats.

According to their habits, most monsters had their own unique territories and would not easily step outside their range.

But according to the reconnaissance of the Shogunate army, many monsters were wandering around aimlessly.

To the point that roads that were usually safe had become dangerous, and the number of people attacked was increasing every day.

This put great pressure on the Shogunate.

“Sure enough, this situation has appeared in Inazuma too.”

Luo Li looked at the gazes cast by the women and explained: “Before I came back, similar situations appeared in Liyue and Mondstadt.”

Makoto was very puzzled: “You also went to Mondstadt?”

“……”

Is that the focus?

Regardless of status, a woman’s perspective is always strange.

“In this way, it may not just be Inazuma, Liyue, and Mondstadt; perhaps Natlan, Fontaine, Sumeru, and Snezhnaya have all had this situation.”

Kitsune Saiguu’s statement was agreed upon by everyone.

Makoto nodded slightly: “I have already dispatched diplomatic envoys to the six nations; the entire continent is experiencing anomalies almost simultaneously, and I’m afraid it won’t remain peaceful from now on.”

Kitsune Saiguu was silent; could the great catastrophe she foresaw be monsters?

After everyone finished discussing business, Saiguu seemed not to want to continue the heavy topic, turning to other more relaxed deeds.

For example, the clan in the city researching artificial meteors had recently created a particularly gorgeous new product.

And someone from the five Kujou sword-forging families had forged a famous sword again.

PS: Seeking flowers! Seeking evaluation tickets! Seeking comments and suggestions! ===== CHAPTER 57 =====