Chapter 288: Negotiation Terms

What could be more embarrassing?

That would definitely be gossiping about someone behind their back, then spouting off there and getting caught—nothing is more embarrassing.

Luo De is exactly like that now.

Who knows that gossiping about the Electro Archon behind the Kamisato House could get you caught red-handed by the real Electro Archon.

And it just so happened that Luo De was there, recklessly commenting on Inazuma's current situation.

It can be said that it's exactly as embarrassing as it gets.

Fortunately,

The Thunderbolt Film that captured Luo De didn't say a word.

It simply threw Luo De in front of Yae Miko at the Narukami Shrine, then vanished without a trace.

"Yo, little guy, how did you get so disheveled?"

Upon seeing Luo De with his hair all blown up like he'd been struck by lightning, Yae Miko couldn't help but puff out a laugh, wearing a look of amusement.

"Don't mention it."

Luo De blew out a smoke ring and said glumly, "Gossiping about the Electro Archon, I got caught red-handed."

"Did Ying punish you?"

Yae Miko's face lit up with curiosity as she rubbed her hands and said, "Oh my, this is really rare—Ying hasn't personally punished anyone in ages."

"If you consider my landing after being struck by lightning as punishment,"

"That's it."

This wasn't Luo De's first time experiencing the sensation of being carried away by a deity.

But it was the most vivid in his memory.

The Thunderbolt Film never smiled, remained silent the whole way, showing no joy or anger.

While bringing Luo De from the Kamisato House to the Narukami Shrine,

Luo De's only feeling.

Apart from his vision blurring and suddenly arriving at the Narukami Shrine.

And the lightning flash upon landing that could temporarily blind even someone of his constitution.

Anyway, by the time Luo De came to his senses,

he had already arrived at the Narukami Shrine, with Yae Miko wearing a half-smile before him.

After tidying his hair, which had been blown apart like a bird's nest, and wiping his dark face, Luo De then worriedly asked, "The Electro Archon said you wanted to see me—what's the matter?"

"No need to be so formal."

"Just like me, you can call her Ying."

"Ying definitely wouldn't mind."

"After all, you're the one who defeated her, so you have the right to call her by name~~~"

"You'd say that's right, Ying."

As she spoke, Yae Miko gave Luo De a glance, then her gaze drifted toward his back.

"!!"

Luo De, who had just been struck by lightning, instantly jerked his head back like a startled bird.

"As expected."

The Thunderbolt Film, which could have left, had somehow returned and was now standing silently behind Luo De, expressionlessly watching him and Yae Miko.

Seeing Luo De turn his head to look at her,

the Thunderbolt Film nodded and, following Yae Miko's words, said, "You indeed have that qualification."

Having said that,

The Thunderbolt Film then stepped forward, sat beside Yae Miko, and naturally picked up a string of rice balls to eat.

She really likes sweet food.

She was even scolded by the Puppet General for eating too many sweets.

The reason is that too many sweets cause cavities; the Thunderbolt Film, being a consciousness, naturally doesn't care, but the Puppet General, as the user of the Electro Archon's body, strongly opposes this.

It's a pity,

the objection is ineffective.

The Puppet General's procedures are all made by the Thunderbolt Film, so even if she subjectively thinks it's wrong, she must accept the Thunderbolt Film using her body to eat lots of sweets.

As a close friend of the Thunderbolt Film,

Yae Miko naturally knows about this preference of hers.

Furthermore, Yae Miko is well aware that the Thunderbolt Film has been reclusive for years, not only no longer understanding Inazuma, but also having a strong desire for food.

So she specially prepared sweet snacks and drinks, so that her friend, who had finally broken free of reclusiveness, could properly satisfy her cravings.

But her composure only made Luo De feel as if sitting on pins and needles.

No other reason.

It's really because the Thunderbolt Film's earlier remark, "You seem to have a lot of opinions about me," was just too frightening.

If it weren't for knowing that this is just how she speaks,

Luo De might already have been seeking help from Mount Meru by now.

"Hehe—"

Seeing Luo De as if ants were crawling on him, Yae Miko's smile became even more radiant.

However, she at least began to talk about the main matter.

"Little guy."

I have a question I want to ask you.

Now that the war is over, how should we handle Watatsumi Island?

After hearing this question,

Luo De involuntarily tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Isn't this what he said when he was spouting nonsense at the Kamisato family?

Thinking this,

He involuntarily said embarrassedly: "As an outsider, I shouldn't meddle in your Inazuma affairs, right?"

At this moment,

Thunder Movie, who was quietly eating sweets and drinking beverages, interjected: "When you were at the Kamisato family, didn't you say you wanted to kill them all?"

Oh dear——

I didn't see that coming.

You little brat, you're really ruthless.

Yae Miko made an extremely exaggerated surprised expression, covering her mouth as she said: "Although Watatsumi Island doesn't have as many people as the other main islands of Inazuma, it still has a population in the millions; if they were all killed, the whole Watatsumi Island would probably be dyed red~~~~"

The two of them played off each other.

Luo De, already extremely embarrassed, suddenly felt flustered; he didn't even know how to open his mouth to defend himself, and could only repeatedly curse his own big mouth in his heart.

But things have come to this.

Facing Yae Miko's teasing and Thunder Movie's not-so-kind gaze, he also steeled himself and said: "Back then I was just joking, joking, really just joking."

But your joke is a bit too big.

To want to slaughter all the people of an island in front of our Inazuma deity...

Even Luo De showed a pleading look, but Yae Miko still wouldn't let him go, intensifying her tone, and with that half-smile expression, it was impossible to tell whether she was teasing or being serious about this.

By comparison,

Although Thunder Movie appeared to also reject Luo De's suggestion, she didn't intend to speak up to press him; instead, she showed a contemplative expression, as if she were truly considering whether Luo De's method was feasible.

But no matter how you say it,

Such an act of slaughtering an island is inherently impossible.

Luo De painstakingly organized his language, slightly modifying his experience from handling desert and rainforest relations in Sumeru, and then said: "Eight Brew Island wasn't destroyed by the people of Watatsumi Island; let them go to Eight Brew Island to atone."

"Oh~~?" This novel suggestion made both Yae Miko and Thunder Movie show interested expressions.

I remember you said that.

The rebellion of the Watatsumi Island people wasn't solely the work of the Tenryo Magistrate and the Finance Magistrate; you were also a behind-the-scenes instigator, right?

Luo De silently passed the hot topic back to Yae Miko.

What a pity.

Even though Yae Miko openly admitted that she had indeed been behind the scenes fanning the flames, and even that she had colluded with the Kamisato family to relax the defenses of Narukami Island, leading the rebel forces into the main keep, she also said all of that outright.

Thunder Movie remained unmoved by this, showing no sign of dissatisfaction just because Yae Miko had likewise committed a crime tantamount to treason.

Once again witnessing what it means to help kin over principle, Luo De slightly pursed his lips and continued the previous topic: "You should also know that the person who incited the rebels to destroy the seal and release the Orobas grudge was actually a Snezhnaya plant planted among the rebels."

This matter,

Known.

Yae Miko finally stopped laughing, changing her previous joking attitude, and said: "As for the Snezhnaya matter, the Shadows will properly demand an explanation from them."

What have you been doing all this time?

After muttering a complaint under his breath, Luo De continued: "Eight Brew Island happens to already be destroyed; I've been there and know some of its situation."

Speaking of this,

Luo De subtly rubbed his nose without changing his expression.

The destruction of Eight Brew Island also has something to do with him.

That day, the aftermath of his battle with the Doctor's slicing also caused considerable damage to the surface of Eight Brew Island; furthermore, after the Thunderbolt General personally arrived, two consecutive strikes of the Formless Blade carved two large gullies into Eight Brew Island.

One could say that.

Even if the current Eight Brew Island had restored the seal and resealed Orobas's grudge, it could not recover its former vitality in a short time.

Although it was being incited by the Foolish People.

But those who took action were always the people of Sea Deity Island.

Don't use being deceived as an excuse; those soldiers, before destroying the seal, certainly knew what consequences releasing the Archon's resentment would bring, yet they still did it, causing the people of Eight Brewing Island to lose their livelihood, countless casualties; this matter absolutely cannot be resolved by just a single excuse.

Hmm.

That makes sense.

Yae Miko nodded, then took out a small notebook and wrote down everything Luo De had said.

After finishing that.

She then asked, 'Anything else?'

Yes.

You all should be aware of the dangers of the Archon's resentment, right?

Luo De asked a question that could be considered common knowledge.

The answer was naturally affirmative.

The Archon's resentment has always been a difficult problem to resolve in Tiwatedalu.

This thing can only be sealed.

It cannot be eradicated at all.

Even if the Thunderbolt General at that time on Eight Brewing Island cut down the rampant Archon's resentment with a single slash, after she left, those scattered resentments would gather again, causing Eight Brewing Island to return to its previous state of constant thunder and rain.

Since everyone knows the danger of the Archon's grudge.

Then, as the mastermind behind the Bayun Island tragedy, do you think the people of Haiji Island need to atone?

Luo De said.

Yae Miko immediately replied, "That's only natural."

It's visible.

She was very satisfied with Luo De's suggestion, and a proud smile appeared on her face again.

Raiden Ei also nodded along.

He didn't speak, but he also approved Luo De's view.

"Then, as the one to atone,"

"The people of Haiji Island should bear the responsibility of rebuilding Bayun Island."

"While restoring the suppressor, we also need to revive all of Bayun Island's former industries, such as farming and mining."

As he finished speaking, Luo De's voice suddenly carried killing intent as he said: "As the defeated party, the people of Haiji Island should abandon their faith in Aoluobasi and submit to the Electro Archon; all books related to Aoluobasi faith shall be burned, all Aoluobasi shrines shall be demolished, all Haiji Island residents must unconditionally relocate to Bayun Island, and, bearing their sins, reclaim Bayun Island; until their sins are cleansed, they can only regard themselves as sinners, while stripping Haiji Island of its military, autonomous, and educational rights—all its original autonomous rights—henceforth, everything of the Haiji Island people shall be under the control of the Shogunate Army; after the personnel withdraw, Haiji Island should also be taken over by the Shogunate Army, and the Haiji Island people may no longer call themselves Haiji Island residents but must call themselves Inazuma people."

Luo De blurted out a lot at once.

Yae Miko, who had been busy writing, now looked at him with a stunned expression.

Raiden Ei, who rarely interjected, also stopped eating and drinking, frowned, and said: "The Electro Archon once promised to allow Haiji Island to continue worshipping the Great Divine God of Haiji and also granted them autonomy."

"So what?"

Luo De retorted, "Do you treat traitors this mercifully?"

"Cough—"

Yae Miko lightly coughed and interjected, "Hey kid, I didn't say before that the Haiji Island rebellion had my involvement, did I?"

"So what?"

The same question was thrown back at Yae Miko again.

These two consecutive retorts left both Raiden Ei and Yae Miko at a loss.

The former Electro Archon's promised autonomy and religious rights—Yae Miko felt she bore some responsibility—uh, guilt? or responsibility? —in Luo De's two retorts.

It seemed to instantly become meaningless.

"Leidian Zhen once gave Haiji Island a chance, but when Aoluobasi rose in rebellion, invaded and occupied Bayun Island, causing boundless slaughter, even the Shogunate General Sasayuri fell in their attack."

"After the rebellion was quelled."

"These rebels should be grateful for Leidian Zhen's mercy; at the very least, they should remember who gave them their current livelihood, even if they don't immediately change their faith."

"But they didn't."

"They not only failed to appreciate Leidian Zhen's generosity and mercy, but instead passed down their hatred of the Electro Archon to this day, and at the first opportunity they immediately rose in rebellion."

"What is this called?"

"This is white-eyed wolf behavior!"

Luo De's words then turned to Yae Miko: "You said the Haiji Island rebellion had your indulgence and guidance; I ask you, did you tell the people of Haiji Island they could freely slaughter civilians?"

This time, Yae Miko was left speechless.

After a long while.

She then shook her head and sighed, "No."

"So."

"Since they have committed such two grave sins, why should we continue to let them off?"

"Did the civilians who died on Bayun Island die in vain?"

Luo De snorted coldly: "A bunch of ungrateful wolf cubs, having enjoyed so many benefits and blessings, yet always harboring wolfish ambitions; at the slightest chance they seize the opportunity to massacre and harm civilians, attempting to seize land that does not belong to them—such vicious conduct, how long will you indulge them? Until they rebel a third time, slaughter the Inazuma civilians once more, and then continue to enjoy newfound blessings by exploiting the Electro Archon's mercy and the rulers' guilt?"

The words fell.

Yae Miko immediately gave a hehe smile and winked at Raiden Ei.

"Oh dear—"

"Look, Ying, I'm just saying, this kind of thing still needs a professional; those officials under you who spend all day scheming for power and profit are useless."

Saying that.

Yae Miko neatly stacked the notes she had written, exchanged them for a self-flying mechanical crow, placed the notes into the cage on the crow's back, and released it.

After doing that.

She then smiled at Luo De and said: "I've handed those conditions you just mentioned to the Kujo family's little tengu; later she will use your conditions as a template to negotiate with the Haiji Island's living god priestess—hey kid, you've really helped me out a lot~~~"

(End of chapter)