Chapter 307: Walk

Luo De really is somewhat inflated.

But his inflation is justified.

Borrowing the Rock Dragon Armor brought by the new Rock Dragon Crown, plus a Thousand‑Night Floating Dream in his left hand and a Piercing Rainbow Spear in his right hand.

Such a full set of gear.

If it were anyone else, they would definitely be inflated to the extreme.

However, Luo De still has his reason.

It's still that saying.

Who knows how many there are in the Toto-re slices?

What if there is more than one?

Even if Luo De's strength skyrockets after the Divine Cherry Blossom Great Purification and Shattered Eye, and even with the Rock Dragon Armor and two divine weapons aiding him, if he is besieged, he would still be in danger.

He is not like Dádálìyà, who would charge forward recklessly even knowing the danger.

Properly avoiding risk is still very necessary.

Lei Dian Zhen very much supports his idea.

Speaking of which.

In terms of attitude toward the Foolish People.

Lei Dian Zhen is obviously much more radical than Lei Dian Ying.

Don't be fooled by Lei Dian Zhen's gentle speech and mild appearance.

Actually, after interacting with her for a few days.

Luo De discovered.

Lei Dian Zhen is who knows how many times more hot‑tempered than Lei Dian Ying.

This is related to her notion of eternity.

Lei Dian Ying believes in static eternity, holding that unchanging equals eternal.

Lei Dian Zhen believes that even a fleeting moment is eternal, placing greater importance on the transmission of beliefs and ideals.

The difference in beliefs.

This brings about their difference in governing the nation.

Lei Dian Ying's governing policy values immobility: one unmoving, the three commissions unmoving, the system unmoving, and even prepares to let all Inazuma people be frozen in the current situation.

It completely fails to consider the human heart.

When Nadixa first came out of the cage, she once told Luo De that, as the Dendro Archon incarnate of the World Tree, she controls all knowledge in the World Tree, but the only thing she cannot fathom is the human heart.

This is also why the Void once claimed its behavior prediction accuracy was close to one hundred percent, yet it kept making mistakes.

Human hierarchy can remain eternal and unchanging.

But the human heart cannot maintain static eternity.

On this point.

Lei Dian Zhen's approach is obviously better.

She who acknowledges that the transmission of ideals is eternal will not impose too many restrictions on her subjects, but will let them develop freely; the three commissions could not be as fear‑less as they are today, speaking reverence for the gods with their mouths while daring to trample the gods in their hearts.

Lei Dian Zhen governs the state.

The Foolish People would be even less likely to intervene, and they would not give Sangonomiya Island a chance to stir up internal strife.

In short.

Regarding this sister of hers.

Lei Dian Zhen has always held a guilty attitude.

She has always believed that it is because she died too suddenly, forcing Lei Dian Ying to take the throne; inexperienced as she was, she could do nothing, only muddling along while letting her subordinates run amok, making herself a stopgap deity, and even, to eternally protect Inazuma, she split herself in two, becoming a prisoner in the Purified Heart for five hundred years.

Especially the existence of the Scaramouche.

This is another point that makes Lei Dian Zhen feel uneasy.

In her view.

Even if Lei Dian Ying was dissatisfied with the newly born Scaramouche, she should not have discarded him.

At least he is a puppet endowed with divine power; if she were still around, letting her personally train him would give Inazuma another protector capable of rivaling Hu Qian dai.

Rather than being like this now.

This caused the Raiden lineage to nearly be lost, Seirai Island to become deserted, the Tatara Sands to almost be destroyed, and along with the once‑renowned Inazuma weapons, there is no longer any chance to export them to other countries.

"Ah——"

This is who knows how many sighs Lei Dian Zhen has let out.

In the conscious space, Luo De grew a bit annoyed, put down what he was doing, and asked aloud: "What's wrong with you again?"

"Nothing."

"Just thinking about my ill‑fated sister."

"All my friends have died unjust deaths."

"Even my older sister died in a foreign land."

"And then, on her deathbed, she left her a huge mess, leaving her unable to leave her home for five hundred years—ah——"

Lei Dian Zhen sighed faintly, her gaze continually drifting toward Luo De.

"If you want to say let me take away the Dream of One Heart, just say it straight."

"What's the point of beating around the bush?"

Luo De saw through what Lei Dian Zhen wanted to say at a glance and replied testily.

Lei Dian Zhen has been nagging about her misery for a long time.

The core theme has always been that she feels she has let down Lei Dian Ying, making her younger sister bear pressure she shouldn't have had to endure for so many years.

This is derived from that theme.

It is Lei Dian Zhen's decision to return to the Electro Archon's throne, so that Lei Dian Ying can escape from a life like that of a five-hundred-year prisoner, and also so Lin Ye can take Lei Dian Ying away, letting Lei Dian Ying see the outside world again.

The point lies in the latter sentence.

Although carrying an Electro Archon as a bodyguard would be wonderful.

But Luo De never agreed to bring his dream wholeheartedly by his side.

For no other reason.

It's simply because Luo De has been holding back anger in his heart.

This time he came to Inazuma.

He indeed gained quite a few benefits.

But troublesome matters also fell on his head just as abundantly as those benefits.

One Hua Sanli, one Yae Miko.

These two people are really scheming against him from head to toe.

Luo De is also human.

He is also someone with a temper.

Once or twice, he endured the benefits he received; now, from Lei Dian Zhen he learned that ever since he arrived in Inazuma, he has constantly been schemed against by Yae Miko—even if Luo De has a good temper, he will now become a powder keg that ignites at the slightest spark.

The more Luo De thought about it, the angrier he became; he simply put down his task, his consciousness directly escaped the consciousness space, and he turned his gaze to the outside scenery.

As for Lei Dian Zhen's voice,

He directly ignored it.

Knowing he was truly angry this time, Lei Dian Zhen said a few more words, then also fell silent; it seems he is pondering how to make Luo De not angry anymore and take Lei Dian Ying away.

Luo De, whose ears were finally at peace, no longer paid attention to her; he rubbed his sore eyes, gazed toward the distant verdant forest, and properly relieved the fatigue of his eyes over the past two days.

Lei Dian Ying has already been to Sea Deity Island for two days.

No result has been sent back yet.

This result is actually somewhat unexpected.

Originally Luo De and Lei Dian Zhen thought that if she personally took action, it should be resolved in less than half a day.

But she hasn't returned for two days now.

Luo De also didn't go back to the negotiation camp, so he doesn't know what the situation is there.

If Lei Dian Ying's side isn't going well, then I'd still have to hide farther away; if Sea Deity Island were to explode and drag me in, that would be troublesome.

Thinking of this.

Luo De moved his feet and set off once again toward Howling God Island.

With his current speed.

He hadn't even used up half an hour when he returned to Howling God Island, landing directly on its outlying island.

This was still his first time coming to Inazuma's foreign merchant port and trade center.

He had just landed when he heard someone ask him: 'Are you leaving?'

This was the Lei Dian Zhen who had been silent for a long time.

All the way to the outlying island, it is not only Inazuma's largest foreign trade center, but also Inazuma's major external port; the passenger ships to other countries are all docked at the official harbor of the outlying island on Howling God Island.

Luo De did not reply to Lei Dian Zhen, and with a curious gaze, walked down the main street of the outlying island.

After the seclusion order was lifted.

On the outlying island, vendors are everywhere shouting enthusiastically; foreign merchants are manipulating various regional dialects, and on the streets they are haggling with these Inazuma merchants who have been holding back for a long time.

The constant flow of merchant ships even fills the harbor.

There are Inazuma ships, ships from other countries, and among them Luo De also saw Duo Li's merchant ship, the Morning Dawn Winery's merchant ship, and the Southern Cross Fleet's warship.

"Can warships also dock here?"

Luo De pursed his lips and did not step forward.

He and Beidou are not very familiar.

They only met once at Qunyu Pavilion, and they hardly exchanged a word.

He did, however, go take a look at Duo Li's ship.

But Duo Li did not come.

The Sumeru merchants he knew were also not there, so he lost interest and left.

Just as Luo De left the harbor and returned to the commercial street, a clear voice suddenly rang out.

Luo De recognized it.

It was Paimon's voice.

"Ying, it's Luo De, it's Luo De~~"

Luo De looked in the direction of the voice.

He saw Paimon frantically waving at him; her hands weren't empty, each holding a string of Inazuma's specialty snack, the three-flavor skewer.

Ying beside her was also eating with grease all over her mouth.

Luo De swept away his previous unhappiness, smiling as he walked over.

Just as the three of them had just met, Paimon angrily bit into a skewer and complained: 'You hateful guy, we clearly agreed that after finishing our business we would go together to Sumeru, but you kept us waiting left and right, and we still couldn't see you; then we went to the divine maiden to find you, and she said you were busy—hmph, I don't even know what you're busy with, you haven't even come home!'

Paimon's complaint made Luo De's face involuntarily show an embarrassed expression.

Indeed.

Back when they were together discussing that anti-Electro Archon training with the divine maiden, he had said that when the time came to return to Sumeru, he would let Ying and the others travel with him.

After he finished speaking.

He kept running around, wasting a lot of time without saying anything; after learning of Yae Miko's scheming, he felt an indescribable regret, his mind filled with annoyance.

"Sorry."

"Indeed, I've had no time."

"As compensation, I'll treat you to something good—pick whatever you want, you can eat anything you like."

Luo De waved his hand generously.

When dealing with Ying and Paimon, nothing works better than feeding them something delicious.

He didn't plan to use the favor Shenli Lingren gave him, but instead planned to spend his own money.

He didn't want to owe any more favors to the people of Inazuma.

Besides.

He also wasn't short of money.

Not to mention the travel funds Nadixa gave him for this trip, just speaking of the yearly dividends from Dori's side, as those initial businesses expanded to all of Sumeru and even began exporting overseas, Luo De's wallet grew ever fuller, no longer the days when he grudgingly split a single Mora in half.

Upon hearing there was something delicious to eat,

The first to cheer and jump up was definitely Paimon.

She had long had her eye on many of Inazuma's specialty foods, but they were too expensive; if she ate to her heart's content, she and Ying wouldn't have enough for this month's food budget.

That's why they took the risky commission from Eight Brew Island.

No wonder.

They had just earned a big sum, and what they were preparing to do was go have a big feast.

Now that someone is treating, Ying and Paimon, who can save some money, naturally beam with joy, unable to wait, they immediately bring Luo De straight to the island's currently liveliest commercial street.

Luo De was especially generous this time.

He let Paimon speak up and buy whatever she wanted.

Not just food.

Whatever souvenirs, toys, or decorations—if Paimon asked for them, Luo De would promptly pull out his wallet.

And he would buy several of each.

There were some for Ying on the side, some for Dixiya, some for Ke Lai, some for A De Ba Yi, and some for Nadixa—such an undisguised gesture.

It also made Leidian Zhen sigh wistfully again.

I don't know if she regretted speaking too much, or if she felt Yae Miko's scheming this time was indeed a bit excessive.

Under Luo De's generous spending,

Not long after,

Paimon couldn't eat anymore, couldn't carry more, and even the frequency of her shopping slowed down considerably.

But she slowed down.

But Luo De didn't slow down at all, still splurging wildly, as if he wanted to buy everything visible in the commercial street.

Of course.

He didn't buy anything from Sumeru.

Some things are cheap locally, but once shipped overseas, adding tariffs and freight, their prices can jump severalfold.

Luo De's shopping urge has indeed kicked in, but he hasn't gone so far as to buy things blindly without looking.

"Waa—"

"Don't buy anymore, don't buy anymore—I can't eat anymore, really can't eat anymore."

Paimon said that with her mouth, but her heart was extremely satisfied.

She hadn't eaten like this, belly open, for a long time.

But Ying,

her thoughts were more lively than Paimon's.

Even though she'd known Luo De for a long time, this was the first time she'd seen him splurging Mora like he was venting.

Back when he was in Mondstadt, in Liyue,

This guy had never gone to the most expensive restaurant when treating people in those places; how did he become the opposite of stingy upon arriving in Inazuma? Something fishy? No.

"Anything unhappy?" Ying asked curiously.

"Hmm."

"I've run into some annoying things."

In front of Leidian Zhen, Luo De didn't hide his feelings at all.

Although he didn't name exactly what it was,

But even someone as innocent as Paimon could see how bad Luo De's mood was at the moment.

"Um, um, here."

Paimon handed the fried skewers she was holding to Luo De, saying, "When I'm unhappy, as long as I eat something delicious, I feel better—you should have some too."

"Thank you."

Luo De took the skewers, ate two bites, and then said, "I'm planning to book tomorrow's ferry tickets—will you come along?"

The outlying island has reopened now.

Most boats go to Inazuma, the departing ones are empty, and tickets are easy to get.

Luo De didn't intend to wait.

Leidian Zhen knew he could repair things in Sumeru too, which wouldn't violate the contract; Watatsumi Island's affairs had been taken over by Leidian Ying, and he never wanted to meddle there anyway, so now he didn't have to bother.

Just idling around, if he stayed angry here, he might as well just go back.

"Ah."

"Is it that urgent?"

"Ying and Paimon both turned their heads to glance at the bustling, lively street."

"However, before Paimon could speak, Ying covered her mouth and made the decision for her, saying: 'All right, then let's do it tomorrow.'"

"(End of chapter)"