Decades of experience navigating the business world and political intrigue…

Combined with the immense power she now wielded as the ruler of Liyue—

Ningguang herself might not realize it, but the commanding aura she emitted was enough to make one's heart tremble with a single thought.

Ayaka took a deep breath, stepped forward to the center, and gave a formal bow.

"Honorable Tianquan Star, I sincerely apologize for disturbing you once again. But I truly had no choice but to come."

"My homeland is mired in war. General-sama's Vision Hunt Decree and Isolation Edict remain unchanged. The Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission deceive their superiors and oppress the people below."

"They've allied with the Fatui to exploit and suppress Inazuma's citizens. The land is engulfed in war, monsters run rampant, and the people are in utter despair."

"Honorable Tianquan Star, Inazuma is in its most dangerous moment. The people are at their breaking point."

"Inazuma can't go on like this."

"I know, milady, that you yourself once came from hardship. You know what it's like to go hungry, to live surrounded by ever-present danger."

"Now, even Narukami Island—the area closest to the Shogun—is overrun with monsters."

"Inazuma truly cannot endure any longer. We desperately need powerful external aid to end this chaos and war."

"Honorable Tianquan Star… I beg of you, please help us… No matter what it takes, Kamisato Ayaka will repay you with her life!"

When she finished, Ayaka's face was already streaked with tears.

Only those from Inazuma could understand the depths of their suffering now.

The war was relentless. Young men were forcibly conscripted by the Tenryou Commission. Many villages had only women, children, and the elderly left behind.

Even elderly folks in their seventies and eighties had no choice but to brave monster-infested fields to plant crops.

Due to the war, Inazuma's already low food production plummeted further. Yet the government continued to raise taxes in order to sustain the frontlines.

Today, only those living in Inazuma City still resembled normal human beings.

In other villages, children had sunken cheeks, women went gray overnight.

Tombstones dotted the land—most of them merely memorials without actual remains.

Corpses returned from the battlefield were rarely intact.

At this rate, Inazuma would become a dead land in less than five years.

Ayaka had long wanted to confront the Raiden Shogun and ask:

"The eternity you promised your people—was it meant to be glorious… or eternal death?"

All across Inazuma, corruption ran rampant. Death lurked everywhere.

Only the might of the Thunder God remained eternal.

If there was any 'eternity,' perhaps it belonged to the Raiden Shogun alone…

Ayaka hadn't traveled every corner of Inazuma, but she had seen all of Narukami Island.

And even just one region was already filled with such misery.

She could only imagine what horrors the rest of the nation was suffering.

With sorrow flooding her heart, Ayaka bowed deeply again.

"Lady Ningguang, I beg you—please look toward Inazuma. Save the people there!"

Ningguang, who had long sharpened her mind through years of scheming, could instantly tell Ayaka wasn't faking anything.

This young woman was truly out of options, completely cornered.

Her sorrow… was far too real to be fabricated.

But—

Ningguang sighed and said with quiet helplessness:

"I understand all too well what kind of life people face in times like these."

"Personally, I would be more than willing to help you,"

Ningguang said gently, "but you must understand—if Liyue steps in, it's not a simple matter."

"Inazuma is not a godless nation. The Raiden Shogun's divine authority still shrouds the land."

"Yes, Liyue does have the strength to resolve Inazuma's problems. But how exactly would we intervene?"

"Under what pretext?"

"Beidou can provide aid under the private name of the Crux Fleet, but what about Liyue?"

"The moment Liyue gets involved in Inazuma's internal affairs, the nature of things changes. The moment Liyue's military sets sail, it becomes a full-on invasion."

"How would the other six nations view us then?"

"Moreover, our contract with the Geo Archon clearly states that we must not interfere in the domestic affairs of other nations. If we violate the contract—who will face the punishment of the Archon?"

"More importantly, if Liyue acts, we will inevitably face the Raiden Shogun herself."

"She is not some sea monster like Osial—she is one of the Seven, a supreme being even among Archons."

"Why should Liyue sacrifice the lives of its citizens to save Inazuma?"

"Even if we set aside all that—how do you expect us to deal with the Raiden Shogun?"

"With Morax not stepping in, Liyue has no means of restraining a god. The only thing we can do to a god… is kill."

"Is that what you truly want?"

Ayaka was stunned silent. She stared at Ningguang, her pupils dull, as if all hope had drained from her heart.

She looked like someone whose soul had just died.

Ningguang sighed softly. Despite everything, she had a great deal of sympathy for this young woman—someone who had risked everything to beg for help for her people.

"Lady Kamisato, I understand your sorrow," she said gently. "But you must also understand the implications."

"If Liyue were to intervene, it would mean open war. The flames of conflict would spread to all of Liyue. And if our army arrived in Inazuma…"

"The Raiden Shogun would surely see it as a declaration of war. She would strike. And to protect us, the Geo Archon would be forced to intervene as well."

"Then we would face the Judgment of Stone. The Raiden Shogun and Morax would clash. The Adepti would take sides."

"And just like that, Teyvat would once again be plunged into a catastrophic war of the gods. No one would benefit."

"Can you guarantee that Inazuma would be better off after such a conflict?"

"Liyue absolutely cannot involve itself in Inazuma's internal affairs."

Ningguang shook her head and said no more.

The truth was—no matter how bad things got in Inazuma, Liyue could not intervene.

If war broke out again, another calamity on the scale of Khaenri'ah would follow.

And if that happened, Celestia would awaken.

What then?

Liyue still lacked the strength to confront Celestia.

Sure, Ryen might never sit idly by. When the time came, he might strike Celestia down with a single blow.

But Inazuma… would never survive such a catastrophe.

Celestia is not a god—it has no moral burden when it comes to annihilating nations.

And Ningguang doubted the Raiden Shogun could resist Celestia's punishment.

This was the kind of event that could easily reenact the tragedy of Khaenri'ah.

No matter what anyone said, Liyue could never act officially.

Ayaka nodded blankly, lowering her head in silence.

"I understand now… I was too naïve…"

"Forgive me… Lady Tianquan…"

Beidou, standing beside her, let out a long sigh—

But even she couldn't say anything more.

After all this time back in Liyue, she too had come to understand the bigger picture.

~~----------------------

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