"What? You're going back to Liyue? No! Absolutely not. If you leave, what will happen to the Regent's Office?"
Inside the Regent's Office, Ayaka firmly disagreed with Yuto's intention to resign. It was a joke; given the current status and power of the Regent's Office, no one other than Yuto could possibly manage it. She couldn't, Kokomi couldn't, and Sara couldn't.
As for Yae Miko… if you could convince her to willingly take on this job, then fine. Besides, she was already the Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine; the Regent position would only bring her more trouble.
Yuto couldn't help but smile when he heard Ayaka's words. What right did she, his secretary, have to decide his comings and goings? He was merely informing her, not discussing it with her.
Seeing Yuto's indifferent attitude, Ayaka knew her words carried little weight at the moment, so she turned and ran off to find reinforcements.
Before long, almost all of Inazuma's high-ranking officials had arrived: Raiden Ei, Yae Miko, Uchiha Sara, Sangonomiya Kokomi, Kamisato Ayaka, Kamisato Ayato, and the part-time Kuki Shinobu, among others. In short, all officials who had a say in Inazuma were there.
Each of them was urging him to prioritize the bigger picture and not resign from his position as Regent.
???
What's going on? I just want to go back to Liyue to bring Shenhe back. When did I ever say I was resigning as Regent?
Yuto glanced at Ayaka, wanting to know how exactly she had informed everyone. Why did everyone think he no longer wanted to be Regent?
Amidst the clamoring pleas of the crowd, Yuto finally couldn't help but slam the table and shout, "Quiet! Did you misunderstand? Who told you I was resigning?"
"Ah?" Everyone looked at Kamisato Ayaka in confusion. Ayaka, suddenly being stared at by so many people, felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Regent, didn't you tell me you were returning to Liyue?"
"Is returning to Liyue connected to resigning? Can't I go to Liyue as a Diplomatic Ambassador in my capacity as Regent? Inazuma is currently undergoing a vigorous reconstruction internally. All of you just need to follow the plan and complete the targets issued this year. I, as Regent, can now be considered the most idle person in Inazuma.
Now that Inazuma has just lifted the Sakoku Decree, its relationships with the other six nations need to be re-established. Taking this opportunity to engage in diplomatic work with neighboring countries and achieve international cooperation is the most suitable time. What are you all shouting about?"
After listening to Yuto's explanation, everyone felt a bit awkward. It seemed they had misunderstood the Regent's meaning and couldn't help but give Ayaka a sidelong glance.
Ei: "Establishing diplomatic relations with neighboring countries? It is indeed very necessary. However, it doesn't have to be you who goes personally. This matter can also be entrusted to others."
Yuto: "Ei, then look at the current high-ranking officials in Inazuma. Who is available?"
Ei looked at the people beside her one by one. Sara? The Tenryou Commission is currently busy with the cleanup operations on Seirai Island and Tsurumi Island. Moreover, the Tenryou Commission itself has the responsibility of maintaining public order in Inazuma, and Sara's outstanding strength indeed has a considerable deterrent effect on criminals.
Ayaka, Ayato? These two are the mainstays of the Yashiro Commission, managing Inazuma's culture and ceremonial affairs. Furthermore, in recent times, by order of the Regent's Office, the Yashiro Commission has been conducting literacy campaigns throughout Inazuma, so they cannot leave.
Kokomi? She has now completely taken over the functions of the Kanjou Commission. Since Inazuma abolished the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree, the market changes daily, requiring timely commercial and economic checks and Leak repair. The Kanjou Commission can be said to be the busiest department right now; it cannot do without her at the helm.
As for Kuki Shinobu, she has not yet officially become a member of Inazuma's officialdom. She is only helping out part-time, and her identity is not on par with the position of Diplomatic Ambassador, so she also won't work.
Finally, Ei looked at her good friend, Yae Miko. This mischievous fox either lazed around at Grand Narukami Shrine every day or snuck off to Yae Publishing House to read light novels. She seemed the most idle. However, was it really okay to send her to establish diplomatic relations with neighboring countries? Wouldn't it be counterproductive?
As for herself, it was even less suitable for her to go. She needed to remain in Inazuma. Moreover, she was one of The Seven, a national deity. If she were to go in person, other countries might misunderstand.
Ei went through the possibilities and realized there was indeed no one better suited than Yuto. However, she couldn't just let him go alone. She had heard that Yuto's girlfriend was in Liyue. She suspected that diplomacy was a pretense, and reuniting with his girlfriend was the real motive.
If Lord Rex Lapis of Liyue took this opportunity to forcibly keep him in Liyue, she would suffer a great loss. No, she had to find someone to supervise him.
"If that's the case, then you may go. However, going to a neighboring country to establish diplomatic relations is not enough with just you. How about this, Miko, you go with him. I remember you've been to Liyue before and have a good relationship with Sister Ganyu."
When Ei said this, she even gave Miko a knowing look. As Ei's familiar, Miko understood Ei better than anyone and saw through Ei's little intentions clearly. She knew that the real purpose of her trip was to successfully bring Yuto back to Inazuma.
Thinking of this, Miko readily agreed: "Speaking of which, it's been a long time since I last saw Sister Ganyu. When Inazuma had not yet implemented the Sakoku Decree, I was the one who handled all matters between Inazuma and Liyue with her. Hmm… I should bring her some fresh Sea Ganoderma to taste."
At this moment, Kuki Shinobu, who was nearby, also spoke up: "Regent, I can also go. Back then, I went to Liyue to study law at the literary academy. Unfortunately, I returned home to visit family just before graduation and happened to encounter the Sakoku Decree. So, I received my diploma several years late. If there's a chance to go to Liyue, I'd like to retrieve this diploma."
Yuto: "Kuki Shinobu, you have enough certificates already, don't you? How many professional certificates is this for you? Is it really necessary to cross the ocean for one diploma?"
Kuki Shinobu: "I should have thirty-five professional certificates by now. It's not that I have every professional certificate; some industries don't have assessment standards, so I can't test for them. Otherwise, I would have even more.
I apologize, Regent, I just enjoy collecting certificates. Besides, that is a certificate I spent several years to earn, and it is proof that I once studied abroad in Liyue."
Yuto: "Alright, fine. Anyway, you're not really my direct subordinate. For this diplomatic mission, you can continue as a part-timer."
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