In the end, Li Mo didn't actually go to Inazuma City to set the Grand Narukami Shrine on fire.
Yae managed to convince him with some twisted logic.
"If the people of Inazuma found out that someone could cross blades with the Raiden Shogun and still survive, how shocking would that be to their hearts?"
Li Mo thought about it and agreed.
It wasn't that he thought the people's faith in the Raiden Shogun would be shattered. Rather, he felt that spreading such news would be troublesome. If he had died, it would have been a clean end.
The cherry blossoms of the Sacred Sakura never withered, covering the entire courtyard and filling every corner of the Grand Narukami Shrine with a faint fragrance.
Climbing over the railing, he walked to the edge of the cliff and tapped on a large rock nearby.
"Aren't you afraid of falling off if you sleep here, Sayu?"
"Ugh~~~ It's you, Your Excellency. Why are you disturbing Sayu's sleep?"
"If I don't disturb you, Yae will."
To Sayu, Yae was a terrifying figure. Sayu didn't dare to bite or resist her, always feeling that something terrible would happen if she did. When faced with danger, it was best to stay far away.
Emerging from her rock disguise, Sayu tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Then Sayu will find another place to sleep."
"Go ahead."
Li Mo pinched Sayu's little cheek and casually cast a spell on her.
Now, aside from him, it would be difficult for anyone else to find little Sayu.
"Little one, what you're doing is pointless," Yae said.
"It's fine. Seeing you happy makes me unhappy. If I can stop you from being happy, then I'm happy," Li Mo replied.
One of Yae's pleasures was observing the awkward expressions of others. Sayu was particularly resistant to having her head patted, believing it would stunt her growth. Thus, Yae would often pat Sayu's head just to enjoy the sight of her wanting to resist but not daring to.
Li Mo wouldn't let that happen.
"Then, little one, can you return my light novel?" Yae pleaded softly.
"Light novel? What light novel? I don't know anything about that," Li Mo said.
"You're smiling as you say that, little one. Are you really that petty?"
"No, Yae. How could I be petty? I truly don't know where those light novels in the library have gone."
Li Mo put on an earnest expression.
Yae didn't believe him.
She had made up a reason to spread false information earlier, and after brushing it off, she had gone back to reading her light novel. She thought the matter would be laughed off. But when she finished the last page of her novel and went to the study to get the next one, she found that all her light novels were gone.
Who in the Grand Narukami Shrine would steal her light novels?
Following this line of thought, she focused her attention on Li Mo.
"So, little one, you really are petty."
"I'm not, I don't have it, don't spout nonsense, Yae~"
Seeing his smug expression, if she didn't know who had done it, she would have been unworthy of her centuries of experience.
She sighed and said wistfully, "Thinking back to a few years ago, when you came to the Grand Narukami Shrine for the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, how respectful you were to me. It feels like things have changed."
"Well, when the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam follows. If Yae doesn't set a good example, how can we employees not learn from such behavior?"
"Not learning the good, but picking up the bad. Little one, you're not a good student, are you?"
"Likewise, likewise. We're both to blame."
The two of them were at odds, each throwing subtle jabs. For Li Mo, researching the Gnosis? He could set that aside. Research topics weren't lacking—he could study the remains of Orobashi on Yashiori Island or dive into Enkanomiya to research the Bathysmal Vishaps.
But the opportunity to annoy Yae couldn't be missed.
"What are you two talking about?" Raiden Ei's voice interrupted.
The childish exchange came to an end.
Both of them answered in unison, "Nothing."
This only deepened Raiden Ei's confusion. "When I arrived, I heard you two discussing something."
"It's not important, Ei. How did the negotiations with the Lady go? Do you need me to give you the Gnosis?" Li Mo asked.
In the days since he had awakened, he had grown closer to Raiden Ei. Perhaps their relationship was now on par with that of Yae?
Li Mo wasn't sure why Raiden Ei valued him so much.
Perhaps it was because of their clash with the "Musou no Hitotachi" that had left an impression on her.
"The negotiations haven't been settled yet. I'm still trying to maximize our benefits. The main point of contention is the quantity of resources, but the Fatui's military assistance isn't an issue. Li Mo, why did you suggest I seek the Fatui's military help?" Raiden Ei asked.
Li Mo replied, "I heard that Liyue once worked with a group of Fatui to explore the Chasm, so I thought of this idea."
"The Chasm? That place has its share of problems. But... you're suggesting we use the Fatui to deal with monsters? Inazuma doesn't have a place as dangerous as the Chasm," Raiden Ei pondered.
Although the Seven no longer gathered, five hundred years hadn't changed many things. Raiden Ei knew that Liyue's Chasm was troublesome, but she wasn't sure exactly how.
"What I mean is, we should still develop Seirai Island," Li Mo said. "Hundreds of years have passed. Who knows how many monsters are on Seirai Island now?"
Raiden Ei fell into thought. "Developing Seirai Island? Can the Grand Narukami Shrine support building a branch there?"
"It's possible," Yae answered. "Five hundred years have passed, Ei. Don't think I've been doing nothing all this time."
"Sorry, these past few days, seeing you so idle, I just..." Raiden Ei looked slightly embarrassed.
Yae sighed. "It's only when this little one is at the shrine that I have time to relax. Before, I was always busy."
"The Yae Publishing House was established before I came to the shrine," Li Mo interjected sarcastically.
"I'm talking about a long time ago," Yae retorted.
Seeing this, Raiden Ei said, "Regarding Seirai Island, I'll need to think it over carefully. But the Fatui's strength can indeed be borrowed. From what you've said, it seems there are many monsters on Yashiori Island?"
"Yes. Last time I was on Yashiori Island, one of my tasks was to clear out those monsters. The ley lines there are too active. The monsters keep coming back. Later, I just followed the ley lines and blocked their source."
"Is that so?"
After carefully considering the situation on Yashiori Island, Raiden Ei decided to set the matter aside for now and deal with it in the future.
After some more discussion, Li Mo handed the Gnosis over to Raiden Ei.
"You don't need it anymore?" Raiden Ei asked.
Li Mo shook his head. "No, I don't."
The Gnosis had become a burden to him. Without it, he could still use "Divine Manifestation: Raiden Shogun," but only on Inazuman soil. As for its strength... now that he was acquainted with the Raiden Shogun herself, whether the power of this technique had increased or decreased was up for debate.
In any case, it wouldn't be as strong as before.
"By the way, Yae, I need to tell you something."
Li Mo thought of Scaramouche's existence and whispered something into Yae's ear.
Raiden Ei asked, "Can't I know?"
She watched as Yae smiled and said curiously.
"No, you can't," Yae replied after Li Mo finished. "This is a secret between me and the little one~~~"