Gacha Hell: Furina Edition

In the commercial island, the strictest surveillance is directed toward the direction of Narukami Island.

The security at the port, however, is much more relaxed.

Shouta's departure from Ritou went relatively smoothly.

Generally, even if you have a travel permit, you still have to pay some "clean money"—a bribe, essentially.

You have to offer it proactively, show some "respect"!

But Shouta wasn't stupid.

If I had Mora, I'd have spent it all on gacha pulls already. Why would I save it to bribe you?

Shouta didn't carry more than 10,000 Mora in cash—anything under that amount was stored in his phone's digital wallet. The physical Mora he had on him was just a few hundred, reserved for emergencies like meals.

When he was stopped, he presented his travel permit and then very "proactively" dug through his pockets for Mora.

After searching for a while, all he could scrape together was 200.

The guard was stunned.

This kid is so poor?

Did he already get robbed clean while in Ritou?

After some thought, the guard just took a symbolic amount and let Shouta pass.

"This situation is messed up..."

Shouta sighed after walking away.

Living in Inazuma, he hadn't really noticed how bad things were.

But once you leave and compare it to other places—oh boy.

Just think about it—life in Liyue was so much better!

Sure, Rex Lapis' rule had its issues, but compared to Inazuma's current state, those problems were trivial. The pros far outweighed the cons.

But Inazuma...

Shouta found it hard to even describe his homeland.

The more he compared, the more he realized how poor and backward it was. A remote, uncivilized place breeding nothing but troublemakers.

The officials in charge? Almost none of them were good people!

Shouta had the desire to change Inazuma's situation, but he lacked the power to do so.

After some thought, he decided his only option was to leave—at least for now.

First, he needed to increase his influence.

Light novels were a decent path.

At the very least, Yae Publishing House was under the protection of the Guuji Yae. No one would dare cause trouble there!

She was Inazuma's second-in-command, after all. She usually didn't involve herself in politics, but if you provoked her, you'd quickly learn what it meant to face the wrath of the Narukami Ogosho and the Grand Narukami Shrine's Guuji.

Shouta quickened his pace toward Inazuma City.

Inazuma was a nation made up of scattered islands.

The land area wasn't particularly large.

Walking from Ritou to Inazuma City would normally take just over a day.

But Shouta wasn't an ordinary person anymore!

Though his card's rank wasn't high, and his combat abilities weren't anything special, traveling was still much easier now.

He broke into a light jog.

Ritou

Under the Sakoku Decree, how could Inazumans learn about the outside world?

There was only one way—smuggled intelligence networks!

And as the famous captain of the Crux Fleet, Beidou was undoubtedly a prime source of information.

Beidou was sitting at the docks, chatting idly with officials from the Kanjou Commission.

In situations where both sides showed mutual respect, the Kanjou Commission wouldn't give Beidou too much trouble.

So, most of their conversation was just small talk.

While waiting for the cargo to be unloaded, a young man with orange hair and golden eyes approached.

"Big Sis Beidou?"

The young man greeted her warmly.

"You are...?" Beidou raised an eyebrow.

A Vision holder who could still walk freely under the Vision Hunt Decree? Definitely not an ordinary person.

"My name's Thoma."

The young man smiled and introduced himself. "By the grace of the Yashiro Commissioner, I currently serve as the Kamisato Clan's chief retainer—you could think of me as something like a butler in Liyue's terms."

"Oh?"

A member of the Kamisato Clan, huh? No wonder he can walk around with a Vision here.

Beidou nodded in understanding.

In terms of military strength, the Tenryou Commission was the strongest, followed by the Kanjou Commission, with the Yashiro Commission being the weakest.

After all, the Yashiro Commission was in charge of cultural affairs—they didn't command an army, so their direct power was limited.

But things weren't that simple.

Politically, the three commissions were equals.

Unless one side had undeniable evidence to crush another, none of them could afford to openly break relations—not with the Raiden Shogun watching over everything.

So, while the Yashiro Commission might be weak in military terms, their status was still high. Protecting a few individuals wasn't too difficult.

However, Beidou had already heard that Inazuma's policies were becoming increasingly strict.

The Yashiro Commission might not be able to shield people for much longer.

The Vision Hunt Decree was enforced by the Tenryou Commission, and they were relentless. No one could stop them—only endure.

"You looking to place an order for goods?" Beidou asked, intrigued.

"No, no."

Thoma chuckled and waved his hand. "I was actually hoping to ask you for some news about the outside world. How about I treat you to tea?"

Now, this was interesting.

Gathering intelligence depended on how much the other person was willing to share.

Inviting someone to tea was a way to offer compensation.

"Sure!"

Beidou had no reason to refuse. In fact, it was beneficial for her.

"You coming?" Beidou glanced at the Kanjou Commission official.

"I'll pass. Got some work to handle. You go ahead, Big Sis." The man smiled.

"I'll treat you to a meal another time," Thoma said to him.

The man, who had initially seemed a bit displeased, brightened up immediately. "Sure! You two go chat. I've got things to do too!"

Beidou sighed inwardly.

This guy really knows how to handle people.

No wonder he was the Kamisato Clan's chief retainer.

He'd probably treat that guy to a lavish meal later to smooth things over.

The Teahouse

Following Thoma to a quiet spot, they entered a teahouse.

Judging by the decor, it was likely built by Liyue merchants in the past. The current owner's nationality was unclear.

Once the tea was served, Beidou cut to the chase.

"Just ask whatever you want to know. No need to beat around the bush."

"Big Sis is straightforward!"

Thoma clasped his hands together, then leaned in with curiosity. "That ship of yours is huge. Has Liyue's technology really advanced this far?"

This question required some thought.

Beidou tapped the table with her fingers, considering how to answer.

Seeing her hesitation, Thoma added, "Big Sis, I was actually thinking of placing an order for some goods. But the seas are rough—it'd only make sense to pay a bit extra, right?"

Oh?

Beidou immediately caught the subtext.

The "goods" were secondary—this was about paying for information!

Money was always welcome.

But there were ways to go about it.

Beidou cleared her throat.

"It's actually quite a story! I met this... miraculous merchant. That ship? It was his creation. Originally, it wasn't even finished—just a half-completed product he sold to me. Then I placed an order with the Qixing, and over time, it was completed. Now it's my flagship, replacing the old Alcor."

"A miraculous merchant?" Thoma was stunned.

Merchants are selling ships this big now?

The sheer technological sophistication was mind-boggling.

A steel ship that could sail the seas? Thoma couldn't even begin to comprehend how that worked.

But Beidou wasn't about to spill everything.

The whole story about the Wondershop?

She wasn't that generous.

Right now, nations were racing to stay ahead of the curve.

Liyue was on the verge of surpassing even Fontaine, with Snezhnaya hot on their heels.

No need to give potential rivals any more advantages.

Whether you can piece it together is up to you.

Beidou figured she'd given Thoma his money's worth in tea.

If he wanted more?

That'll cost extra.

"A merchant who can sell a ship like that really is miraculous," Thoma marveled, though he wasn't entirely convinced.

What kind of merchant sells warships?!

"Don't believe me?"

Beidou smirked. "It's the truth! No reason to lie. Besides, if I'm calling him a miraculous merchant, of course his goods are just as extraordinary!"

She selectively shared a few more details.

Thoma's astonishment only grew.

"Phones?!"

"Yep."

Beidou fiddled with her phone. "I could call my crew right now with a video call."

She immediately dialed Sea Drake.

Through the phone, Thoma saw the bustling docks, cargo being unloaded, and Kanjou Commission officials taking inventory.

Thoma's expression turned grave.

This thing... unprecedented.

Too advanced.

If Inazuma had these...

Thoma's mind raced.

Information could be transmitted at unprecedented speeds.

So much of political maneuvering came down to timing.

If intelligence could be relayed instantly, reactions could be synchronized perfectly.

Thoma's expression grew serious.

"Big Sis, do you have any more of these... phones?"

Beidou shook her head. "Afraid not. You'll have to buy them from that miraculous merchant yourself. Though I could help you place an order..."

"Then please do!"

Thoma's eyes lit up.

This was his chance to secure a favor.

"How much?"

"20,000 Mora per unit. Oh, and you'll need a phone number—otherwise, you can't access the network or make calls."

"20,000..."

Steep.

But considering the functionality? Worth it.

Thoma immediately pulled out several large-denomination Mora notes.

Beidou glanced at them casually.

Two million Mora?!

"Big Sis, the journey from Liyue crosses thousands of miles of treacherous seas. The risks are high—please accept this and bring me ten phones!"

Beidou straightened up.

"Deal. I'll bring them on my next trip. You have my word."

"Then I'll leave it to you!"

Thoma stood and bowed slightly. "If you need any assistance while in Ritou, don't hesitate to ask. I'll do everything in my power to help."

"Ha! Perfect timing—I was just about to head back to the docks."

With that, the two parted ways.

Thoma walked away quickly, his expression tense.

The outside world has changed too much.

The gap was staggering.

While other nations had advanced to such convenience, Inazuma was still... a tribal backwater.

Their communication methods? Shouting and letters.

Meanwhile, others were making video calls and sending instant messages.

Thoma took a few detours through Ritou, ensuring no one was following him.

Then, he slipped into an alleyway.

After checking his surroundings, he removed a loose brick from the wall, revealing a dark cavity behind it.

In a hushed tone, he recounted everything he'd learned, then added:

"Send this back immediately."

A faint sound came from the darkness.

Thoma replaced the brick, leaving no trace of disturbance.

Shortly after he left, an unremarkable figure emerged from a nearby courtyard.

Blending seamlessly into the crowd, they headed toward Narukami Island.

Aboard the New Alcor – Command Tower

Kaedehara Kazuha couldn't leave the ship—he couldn't even show his face.

Stuck in the command tower, he passed the time by browsing the internet on his phone.

When Beidou returned, the two chatted.

"Big Sis, won't Shouta spread the word anyway? Was it really necessary to go through all that with Thoma?" Kazuha was puzzled.

"Shouta's actions are his own. I have to be careful with what I say," Beidou replied with a grin. "I'm from Liyue, after all."

Kazuha's eyes widened in realization.

No wonder Beidou had danced around Thoma's questions, only sharing partial truths.

She hadn't lied—she just omitted key details, like the existence of cards.

But aside from that, Lu Heng was indeed a miraculous merchant.

That was the beauty of words.

Everything she said was true—just not the whole truth.

"How much longer until the unloading's done?" Beidou asked.

"Sea Drake says about half a day. If we hurry, we might finish before nightfall," Kazuha replied.

"Good. Then we'll set sail for Watatsumi Island."

Beidou's plan was to deliver the goods to Watatsumi, then return to Ritou.

After all, many people had been stranded in Inazuma when the Sakoku Decree took effect.

If she could take a few passengers back, she might as well earn some extra Mora along the way.

Liyue – Wangsheng Funeral Parlor

Hu Tao hadn't been joking—she really gave Lu Heng a tour.

After seeing everything, Lu Heng had only one thought:

Aside from the front hall being a bit gloomy, the rest of the parlor was surprisingly normal—nothing like the terrifying rumors suggested.

When Hu Tao wasn't around, the parlor was completely ghost-free.

Even when she was present, it wasn't scary. Her little spirit companion wasn't even humanoid—it was more like a squishy, round blob. And far from being eerie, it radiated warmth, completely devoid of any Yin energy.

Following Hu Tao into one of the rooms, she dramatically announced:

"Ta-da~!"

"The VIP coffin—perfect for young, healthy adults!" Hu Tao proudly declared. "I've even test-slept in it myself!"

"Wow."

Lu Heng didn't know what else to say.

Upon closer inspection, there was nothing particularly eerie about it. The coffin's design, though...

Honestly, at Lu Heng's level of power, he wasn't bothered by such things.

As Hu Tao often said, birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of life.

Learning to accept it was part of maturity.

Plus, with his near-immortality, why would he care?

If he just treated it as a weirdly shaped bed, it wasn't a problem at all.

"So, I'm sleeping here tonight?" Lu Heng joked.

"Hey!"

Hu Tao quickly grabbed his arm as he reached for the coffin's edge.

"Old Lu, if you're not opposed to it, you're definitely a kindred spirit of mine!"

"Of course." Lu Heng smiled.

He understood Hu Tao better than most.

"If you're a kindred spirit, how could I possibly let you sleep in this?"

Hu Tao wagged a finger. "Do you think we don't have proper beds at home?"

"Director." Zhongli raised an eyebrow. "We don't have any spare beds at the moment."

"Huh?"

Hu Tao blinked, then shrugged. "No problem! Zhongli, you can just make room for Old Lu."

"..."

Then where do I sleep?

Zhongli pondered for a moment before concluding that he'd either have to squeeze in with Meng or sleep on the floor.

"Hehe!"

"Don't worry!"

Hu Tao dashed off like a gust of wind, checking room after room.

Before long, she returned.

"Leave it to me! I'll have everything ready soon! Just wait a bit! Feel free to explore—the parlor's big. If you get tired, you can rest anywhere!"

With that, she vanished again.

Zhongli sighed and turned to Lu Heng.

"You're not going home to sleep?"

"Staying here is fine." Lu Heng shrugged.

It was a good chance to take a break.

He could even borrow a certain infamous line (with some adjustments):

"I'll give you time to catch up—until the next time I defeat you anyway."

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T/N:

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