A massive official ship from Inazuma slowly sailed into Liyue Harbor. Since the Inazuma Regent himself was leading the delegation, the ship used was naturally impressive. However, although Inazuma is an island nation, due to the long-standing Sakoku Decree, its shipbuilding technology is far inferior to other countries; even the ship's draft was not as deep as Liyue's pleasure boats.
This large ship, far exceeding Inazuma's shipbuilding craftsmanship, was merely a shell personally crafted by Yuto using Wood Release. Inazuman artisans then extensively decorated the ship's exterior. Even so, it was nothing more than gold on the outside, rotten within.
Fortunately, Liyue's high-ranking officials generally would not enter the ship's interior for inspection, so it was sufficient to deceive their own people.
Meanwhile, the docks of Liyue Harbor were already adorned with lanterns and streamers, preparing a grand welcoming ceremony. Tianquan Ningguang, Yuheng Keqing, and Qixing Secretary Ganyu, along with many high-ranking Liyue officials, had arrived early to greet them.
Besides them, many other forces in Liyue were secretly observing the arrival of the Inazuma Delegation. For example, two young men named Zhong were drinking tea at Heyu Tea House, and two birds and a deer were on the summit of Tianheng Mountain.
Although Inazuma's previous Sakoku Decree had caused considerable inconvenience to some Liyue tourists, this Inazuma Delegation was coming to extend goodwill. As a great nation of the East, Liyue naturally had to put on a proper display.
At such times, individual interests were practically insignificant on a national level.
"Is this Liyue Harbor now? It's been so many years since I last came; it truly brings back memories. Thousands of ships arriving, tens of thousands of merchants gathering—it truly lives up to its reputation as Teyvat's largest port. Our Ritou Harbor simply can't compare."
"Guuji, don't worry, with the Regent, our Ritou Harbor will surely catch up slowly."
Both Yae Miko and Kuki Shinobu looked at the distant, bustling Liyue Harbor, their eyes filled with nostalgia. One recalled the beautiful times she spent with Sister Ganyu, while the other remembered her youthful student days there.
However, their nostalgic expressions were quickly shattered by the noisy beetle-fighting sounds behind them. Turning around, they saw that the dignified Regent of a nation was openly fighting Onikabuto with Arataki Itto, that street punk, on the ship's floor.
Seeing these two atmosphere-ruiners, Yae Miko and Kuki Shinobu couldn't help but sigh, putting a hand to their foreheads. They walked over, Yae Miko pinching Yuto's ear, and Kuki Shinobu pinching Itto's ear, and began to scold them.
"Little one, we're about to arrive in Liyue. Aren't you going to quickly tidy up your appearance instead of fighting beetles here with this strange Oni boy? Aren't you afraid of losing Inazuma's face?"
"Boss, what did you promise me before we came? No causing trouble, no conflicts with Liyue residents, and most importantly, no leading the Regent astray."
Arataki Itto was not originally on the list of delegates to Liyue, but after hearing that Kuki Shinobu would accompany the Regent to Liyue, he insisted on coming along, even begging Kuki Shinobu to bring him. Kuki Shinobu ultimately couldn't refuse her boss.
She knew her boss's character best; if she had firmly disagreed, he would have secretly gone to Liyue himself, giving her a huge 'surprise'.
To avoid this surprise causing trouble for the delegation, Kuki Shinobu, after requesting the Regent, added Arataki Itto to the list of accompanying personnel and made a three-point agreement with him.
Unexpectedly, with his social terrorist personality, Arataki Itto had become chummy with everyone on the ship, including Yuto, during the three-day sea voyage. And because the sea journey was extremely boring, the Onikabuto he secretly brought onto the ship became a rare form of entertainment.
Before encountering beetle fighting, Yuto always thought watching insects fight was very childish. What respectable person plays beetle fighting? But when he was bored and participated a few times, he found it seemed quite interesting, and incredibly addictive.
This situation reminded him of the Ming Dynasty in his previous life, where there was apparently an 'Cricket Emperor'. Even an emperor liked beetle fighting, which showed there was indeed something to it.
After being stopped from beetle fighting by Yae Miko, Yuto sat aside, looking at the increasingly close Liyue Harbor. Although he had only been away for less than half a year, Yuto suddenly felt a sense of trepidation akin to nearing home.
Yae Miko seemed to notice something, walking over and teasing, "Little one, what's wrong? You're about to see your little girlfriend; shouldn't you be happy?"
Yuto looked at Yae Miko's mischievous, teasing eyes, wanting to speak but hesitating. Finally, he asked the question that had bothered him for three days, "Yae Miko, what exactly did you all do the night before we set off?"
Upon hearing this, Yae Miko merely smiled without elaborating, making Yuto feel that the matter was far from simple.
As Inazuma's first diplomatic action after lifting the Sakoku Decree, Raiden Ei, very rarely, hosted a grand banquet the night before the delegation departed for Liyue. On one hand, it was a farewell, and on the other, it was to wish for a good outcome for this diplomatic mission.
Yuto had no memory of that banquet, only feeling that he had drunk a lot of alcohol. It seemed that Ei, Yae Miko, Sara, Ayaka, Kokomi, Kuki Shinobu, and others had toasted him one after another.
Logically, with his current strength, he should have a strong immunity to alcohol. But for some unknown reason, he had actually blacked out.
When he woke up again, he found himself lying in the ship's cabin. The official ship had already left Inazuma's outer seas.
He had actually blacked out from drunkenness for nearly twenty hours—this was absolutely not normal. Moreover, after waking up, whether from sleeping too long or some other reason, he felt a bit weak, light-headed when walking, and his lower back also ached.
For this, Yuto specifically asked Kuki Shinobu, who held a medical license. Her explanation was that the Regent had drunk too much alcohol, and his body had consumed a lot of energy to break down the alcohol. Furthermore, being on a rocking ship, feeling light-headed was normal, and he would be fine after a few days of rest.
This convincing medical advice made Yuto feel it made some sense. However, Kuki Shinobu also did not mention a single word about what happened after Yuto got drunk.
Yuto also asked the accompanying personnel on the ship. They only knew that after he got drunk that night, Lady Sara had helped him back to his room.
After the Regent got drunk, the banquet was quickly announced as over by the Shogun, and everyone dispersed.
The next day, when they boarded the ship, they found that the Regent had not yet sobered up and was still resting in his cabin. It was Guuji Yae Miko and Lady Kuki who jointly ordered the ship to set sail.
Yuto desperately tried to recall for a long time but couldn't remember anything about what happened after he got drunk. Coupled with the fact that only Yae Miko and Kuki Shinobu, the two key witnesses, were currently on the ship, Yuto looked at Yae Miko's mischievous expression and increasingly wondered if he had fallen into her trap.
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