Lumine: "What kind of deity is the Raiden Shogun?"
Kamisato Ayaka: "I have seen Her Excellency very few times, mostly during various ceremonial events. In my memory, aside from her majesty, nobility, and incomparable sense of pressure, what impressed me most is that her emotions seem very faint. More than a ruler, she perhaps resembles an emotionless executor, implementing the singular goal of Eternity in various forms."
[Paimon: Everything matches what Yae Miko said. The current 'Ei' is just a puppet.]
[Yae Miko: That's right. A puppet Ei crafted using her own divine body as material.]
[Ningguang: So, the puppet's power is equal to the Raiden Shogun's...]
[Yae Miko: Their power is exactly the same. The puppet, the Raiden Shogun, inherited everything of Ei's except her consciousness, including her will.]
[Paimon: So is the real Electro Archon... dead?]
[Yae Miko: Ei, of course, isn't dead. Didn't she speak in the public chat not long ago?]
[Lumine: That was Ei, not the Shogun?]
[Yae Miko: I don't know why, but that's the situation.]
[Cloud Retainer: The inherent intelligence of a mechanical puppet does not constitute life. What is strange about this?]
[Paimon: Then where is Ei?]
[Yae Miko: Ei placed her consciousness within Makoto's sword. Makoto was the previous Electro Archon, Ei's elder sister.]
[Paimon: Yae Miko really knows a lot. As expected of Ei's familiar.]
[Yae Miko: When creating this puppet, Ei sought my help quite a bit.]
[Paimon: In the whole world, probably only Ei and Yae Miko know this secret.]
[Yae Miko: Even if I didn't reveal this in the livestream, there's one other person who knows. He is the prototype puppet Ei created before modifying her own divine body. He has also made a name for himself in Inazuma. You'll meet him again soon.]
[Scaramouche: Yae Miko... long time no see.]
[Tartaglia: The name Scaramouche sounds familiar. Isn't that a Harbinger? The Sixth of the Fatui Harbingers!]
[Lumine: Ei's puppet... is stronger than both Tartaglia and La Signora. But why did he join the Fatui?]
[Scaramouche: Hehehe... I shall bring destruction.]
[Paimon: What a terrifying declaration.]
[Ningguang: This Harbinger likely has ill intentions.]
[Arlecchino: In terms of madness, Scaramouche ranks second among the Harbingers.]
[Keqing: Who's first?]
[Dottore 1: I believe that would be me.]
[Dottore 2: I am merely a researcher.]
[Dottore 3: Excellent experimental subjects.]
[Dottore 7: Is it time to depart?]
[Dottore 9: Scaramouche, all preparations in Sumeru are complete...]
[Paimon: Why are there so many Dottores all of a sudden?]
[Ningguang: According to intelligence, this 'Dottore' seems to have separated versions of himself from different ages, calling them 'Segments'.]
[Lumine: Versions of himself from different ages? Separating himself into experimental materials... This Dottore truly is insane.]
[Paimon: Speaking of which, Tartaglia and Zhongli get along quite well.]
[Zhongli: Tartaglia's wallet brings peace of mind.]
Lumine: "Is there really no one else opposing the Vision Hunt Decree?"
Kamisato Ayaka: "Actually, for the vast majority of people, the Vision Hunt Decree is a matter of no concern to them. After all, very few obtain Visions, and it might even invite jealousy. Therefore, most citizens choose to respond with indifference."
Paimon: "How can that be? That's a bit infuriating."
[Zhongli: Generally speaking, this phenomenon is understandable.]
[Ningguang: Merchants, most of the time, also don't concern themselves with matters unrelated to profit.]
[Paimon: I know, except for Zhongli and that sachet shop owner. That owner is so gossipy!]
[Ningguang: I will relay your comment to her.]
[Paimon: Yes, and please try to persuade her a bit. She's always saying strange things.]
[Zhongli: That owner... I know her. Indeed, her words can easily embarrass young ladies. However, her skill in crafting sachets is truly superb.]
[Lumine: I was also deeply impressed.]
Kamisato Ayaka continued: "However, besides us, there are also resistance forces on Watatsumi Island."
Paimon asked, spreading her hands: "Resistance forces? Specifically opposing the Vision Hunt Decree?"
Kamisato Ayaka nodded: "Many who have lost their Visions or fear losing them have formed a resistance organization under the Sangonomiya Shrine on Watatsumi Island. As for the Sangonomiya Shrine... since ancient times, there have been religious conflicts between the Sangonomiya of Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate of Narukami Island. Who knows if their resistance army has ulterior motives?"
Lumine: "Have you formally voiced opposition to the Vision Hunt Decree?"
Ayaka answered immediately: "Of course I've tried. But every proposal to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree submitted to Tenshukaku is vetoed by the combined opposition of the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions."
"They consistently adopt an attitude of unconditional support for the Shogun's decisions, with no intention of discussion. However, speaking of which, did the Shogun's sudden decision to implement the Vision Hunt Decree have some specific origin?"
Paimon: "Have you figured out how to fight against the Vision Hunt Decree?"
Kamisato Ayaka spread her hands: "To be honest, no."
Paimon's eyes widened.
Ayaka quickly explained: "After all, opposing the Vision Hunt Decree is equivalent to opposing a deity. Simply making that kind of resolution is already very difficult."
[Paimon: Opposing a deity... Navia and we were quite decisive.]
[Ayaka: Putting a deity on trial is something I could never do.]
[Paimon: That's true. The reason we could put a deity on trial ultimately boils down to Furina just being a human. If we tried to put Zhongli on trial, the entire courtroom would probably be demolished.]
[Ayaka: The Shogun's blade could accomplish the same.]
[Lumine: So putting the Electro Archon on trial is fundamentally impossible.]
[Ayaka: Therefore, we can only accomplish very little.]
Paimon: "Then... then what do we do?"
Ayaka: "So, for now, all we can do is find ways to mitigate the losses caused by the Vision Hunt Decree."
"For example, hiding Vision holders, or creating counterfeit Visions for emergencies."
Paimon heard something incredible: "Visions can be counterfeited?"
[Paimon: Is Zhongli's Vision also fake?]
[Zhongli: No, my Vision is real. Morax has passed. Now, I am the mortal, Zhongli.]
[Paimon: Have you completely lost your divine power?]
[Zhongli: This body, Zhongli, inherited a portion. Not much, but enough to be useful.]
[Venti: However, my Vision is indeed a meticulously crafted artifact. I also failed many times before successfully creating it.]
[Paimon: Counterfeiting Visions is amazing. I wonder if it can fool the deity themself.]
[Zhongli: No matter how realistically crafted, a fake elemental eye will never be real. It will not trigger corresponding elemental reactions. Therefore, a deity can easily distinguish it.]
[Paimon: So these fake Visions can only deceive the people of the Tenryou Commission.]
[Yoimiya: Being able to deceive the Tenryou Commission is already more than enough!]
[Paimon: A new friend is speaking!]
[Yoimiya: I was involved in making fake Visions. To be precise, I'm one of the artisans.]
[Paimon: So it's the artisan themself!]
[Yae Miko: The little ones are quite clever.]
Ayaka: "Don't underestimate the craftsmanship of the artisans in Hanamizaka. They can create Vision replicas indistinguishable to the naked eye."
Lumine: "I'd like to get one too."
Ayaka: "The problem now is that Master Masakatsu, who can forge Visions, was arrested by the Tenryou Commission a few days ago."
Paimon: "Was he discovered after all?"
Ayaka put her hands on her hips: "I know this method isn't a long-term solution. Exposure was inevitable. But I believe we absolutely must not abandon Master Masakatsu."
Lumine: "So we have to rescue him."
Ayaka nodded: "That's what I think too. However, a prison break... given my and Thoma's status within the Yashiro Commission, if exposed, it would implicate the entire Kamisato Clan."
Lumine spread her hands: "So, you're entrusting this matter entirely to me?"
[Furina: Lumine sounds quite resigned.]
[Ningguang: This reminds me of my secretary. Whenever I assign work, I just give simple instructions, and my secretary is busy all day.]
[Paimon: Ningguang is happy, but the secretary running errands is not.]
[Ningguang: Haha, actually, my workload is much heavier than my secretary's. Half of Liyue's affairs require my personal handling, not to mention business matters.]
[Paimon: Then I'd rather be the secretary.]
Ayaka: "Of course, we won't just dump everything on you alone. When you're ready, go to Hanamizaka. There's a fireworks shop called Naganohara there. You'll find someone who can help you."
Just after leaving the tea house, Lumine and Paimon saw a member of the Shogunate's army demanding a Vision from someone.
"Hand it over obediently. Don't force us to take action. If you think you can resist the Vision Hunt Decree with elemental power, you'd better think clearly. You know what happened to those who tried that before—nothing good, just asking for trouble."
The ordinary person being demanded from clasped his hands together, pleading desperately: "Please, let me off just this once! I only got this Vision recently. I swear I won't use it, okay?"
Just as Lumine and Paimon were about to step in to help, a girl with a brilliant smile stopped them: "Over here, over here."
Lumine didn't understand but went over anyway.
Paimon didn't understand either and started to protest: "We were just about to..."
The girl in fiery red clothes interrupted: "Shh, just wait and watch the show."
Paimon was very angry, putting her hands on her hips: "How can you be like this? Just because you don't have a Vision, you watch others' misfortune?"
However, Paimon soon spotted the Vision on the girl's person: "Wait, you have a Vision too!"
The fiery girl put a finger to her lips, whispering: "Shh, if this continues, I'll be discovered too."
Over on the other side, the lucky person who had obtained a Vision reluctantly handed it over.
Paimon was furious and anxious: "Ah! He already handed over his Vision! Doesn't he know the consequences of giving it up?"
"It's all your fault, acting like it has nothing to do with you and delaying us!"
[Kamisato Ayaka: Allow me to introduce. This fiery girl is the owner of the Naganohara Fireworks shop.]
[Lumine: Since we can see the artisan who makes the Visions, that means the Vision the person handed over was fake.]
[Furina: Paimon is hastily accusing again. But this isn't the first time. I'm used to it.]
[Lumine: Paimon is indeed very impulsive.]
[Ningguang: Therefore, Paimon also often ends up with egg on her face.]
[Furina: Hahaha, that's right. With her personality, this is the best outcome.]
[Zhongli: The adepti have also been offended by Paimon on many occasions.]
[Cloud Retainer: Not just us. Paimon has also been disrespectful to you, Rex Lapis, many times.]
[Zhongli: It's fine. Such trivial matters do not anger me.]
[Lumine: But Furina would...]
[Furina: Lumine, can you give me some face?]
The next second, the person who had his "Vision" taken came over to give thanks: "Miss Yoimiya, thank you so much! Thanks to the fake Vision you slipped me, I would have really been done for otherwise."
Yoimiya smiled brilliantly: "No problem. You played your part brilliantly too!"
Lumine: "So it was a fake Vision. I was fooled too."
Paimon looked chagrined: "So that's how it was... I just got mad at Miss Yoimiya. Ugh, I'm really sorry."
Yoimiya didn't mind, answering cheerfully: "What's there to be sorry about? Judging by your reactions just now, we're all people on the same side, right? Mutual understanding is essential. Right, right?"
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yoimiya, the current owner of the Naganohara Fireworks shop. I make a living with some small handicrafts on the side. Nice to meet you!"
The lucky person chimed in: "There shouldn't be anyone in all of Hanamizaka who doesn't know Miss Yoimiya. 'The Queen of the Summer Festival'—that's her."