Chapter 5: Ritou

Inazuma, one of the seven nations of Teyvat, is an isolated archipelago in the Far East of the continent. Unlike Snezhnaya, where Ice dominates, Inazuma is a land surrounded by thunderstorms, and its name itself is tied to the Electro element.

Though lightning may be fleeting, the ruler of Inazuma, Raiden Shogun Baal, is a devout follower of eternity.

No... to be precise, it's not Baal, but Baal's twin sister, Beelzebul. Although Baal and Beelzebul both share the title of Raiden Shogun, even the residents of Inazuma might not realize that the god currently ruling them is not Baal but her sister Beelzebul.

The thunderstorms that gave even the Adeptus Mountain Shaper a headache were easily dealt with by Bai Luo, thanks to the Mirror Maiden. He finally understood why the Rooster insisted he bring her along. The water mirrors she conjured effectively shielded their not-so-sturdy ship from the terrifying storms, allowing them to cross the endless lightning with ease.

Once they were clear of the storms, even Bai Luo couldn't help but marvel. No wonder the developers hadn't depicted the protagonist's passage through the storm in the game—it was a scene so terrifying that few mobile devices could have handled it.

"Take a rest. I'll handle things from here," Bai Luo said to the Mirror Maiden as she retracted her water mirror. The effort of protecting the entire ship from the storm had been exhausting for her.

After bowing to Bai Luo, the Mirror Maiden returned to the cabin. Once she was settled, Bai Luo threw his dagger, its steel wire coiling around the lookout post, and pressed a button that whisked him up to the crow's nest.

"Is that Ritou?"

Gazing at the red island on the horizon, Bai Luo couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Even though he had seen it many times in the game, seeing it again in reality felt surreal.

Before Bai Luo's arrival, the Fatui had already infiltrated this land of eternity. According to his information, under the influence of the early-arriving Fatui, the Raiden Shogun had already issued the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.

His task now was to find the right opportunity to obtain the Raiden Shogun's Gnosis and bring it back to Snezhnaya.

"Bring it back? Yeah, right!" Every time he thought about this mission, Bai Luo felt a wave of frustration. Inazuma might seem the easiest of the nations to conquer, but knowing the story as he did, Bai Luo was well aware that the Raiden Shogun currently in Tenshukaku was not Beelzebul but a puppet she had created.

Even if he were fortunate enough to meet Beelzebul, who was hiding in the Plane of Euthymia, Bai Luo knew he couldn't take her Gnosis. It wasn't just about being outmatched in combat—the Gnosis wasn't even with her.

After Baal's death in the Khaenri'ah war, Beelzebul severed all ties with Celestia, even handing her Gnosis to Yae Miko, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Who is Yae Miko? She is the High Priestess of the Narukami Shrine, overseeing all its affairs and a close aide of Beelzebul. Beelzebul herself had once said that even if she drew her sword against Yae Miko, Miko would surely dodge the strike. At present, the only person who could survive Beelzebul's blade might be Tartaglia, but he'd need three strikes.

In any case... it was time to disembark. Everything else could be figured out once he was on the island. For now, his identity was that of a Snezhnaya envoy, so Raiden Shogun couldn't cut him down—at least not yet.

Ritou, part of the Narukami Island chain, is the gateway for foreigners entering Inazuma. During the Sakoku Decree, anyone wishing to set foot on Narukami's land had to pass through Ritou first. This maple-covered island was under the jurisdiction of the Kanjo Commission.

Entry and exit required various permits, which often involved complex procedures and special connections. Without these permits, one could only make a brief stop at Ritou, joining other stranded outsiders in admiring the island's red maple trees, blue-tiled roofs, and desolate fishing villages.

However, for Bai Luo, the Twelfth Harbinger of the Fatui, this wasn't an issue. Both the Kanjo Commission and the Tenryou Commission had already been infiltrated by the Fatui.

The three Commissions of Inazuma are the administrative bodies that oversee the nation's affairs: the Kanjo Commission, the Tenryou Commission, and the Yashiro Commission.

The Yashiro Commission, led by the Kamisato Clan, is Inazuma's cultural authority, responsible for festivals, ceremonies, and entertainment, making it the most deeply ingrained in the populace.

The Tenryou Commission, under the Kujou Clan, oversees law enforcement, executing governmental decrees, and managing all military forces under the Shogunate, except for the Shogun's direct retainers, the Oniwabanshu and the Kaedehara Clan. They also have the authority to issue travel permits.

The Kanjo Commission, managed by the Hiragi Clan, handles Inazuma's financial matters and, like the Tenryou Commission, also has the power to issue travel permits. One of its duties is to strictly vet the identities of those entering and leaving Inazuma and manage all foreigners on Ritou.

As the ship neared the port, the image of Ritou became clearer. Unlike the snow-covered docks of Snezhnaya, Ritou's piers were blanketed in red maple leaves. The docks were nearly empty; aside from a few fishing boats, there wasn't a single cargo ship in sight—an unusual sight for a prosperous port.

As their ship approached, the soldiers on the dock, dressed in traditional Inazuma attire, showed no hostility. Instead, they stood at attention, as if awaiting the arrival of someone important.

Led by a Pyro Agent, the Fatui delegation was escorted ashore by the Inazuman soldiers.

"Instructor!"

If there was anyone in Teyvat who still respected the Twelfth Harbinger, it was the Pyro Agents. After all, every Pyro Agent across Teyvat had been trained by Bai Luo.

"Long time no see, Ah Qi."

Upon joining the Fatui's special forces, they had long since abandoned their original names, adopting only codenames. Bai Luo's codename was BK201, while this subordinate's codename was 9527—a number that was no joke; he was the 9,527th person to join the Fatui.

"Instructor! I've arranged a table of authentic Liyue cuisine through the Chuyu Trading Company, specially prepared to welcome you!"

Bai Luo's Liyuean heritage was no secret within the Fatui. In the Fatui, strength was respected, and not all Harbingers hailed from Snezhnaya. For instance, the Fair Lady was from Mondstadt, and there was even a Harbinger from Inazuma.

"No need for a banquet. I'm here on urgent business. Arrange for my transport to Inazuma City as soon as possible."

Although Ritou's scenery was lovely, Bai Luo needed to meet certain key figures, all of whom were in Inazuma City.

Bai Luo could hardly contain his excitement as he disembarked from the ship, eager to explore Inazuma. However, something caught his eye almost immediately—a fox statue standing by the dock. These statues were common in Inazuma, often seen by the roadside. Yet, for some reason, Bai Luo had the unsettling feeling that this particular statue was watching him.