Chapter 52: Day 3 of Inazuma's Surroundings
As a hidden teahouse, Mulou Tea House usually has someone guarding outside, and there may even be other people monitoring it.
However, ever since Kong caused a big fuss at the Eye Hunting Ceremony, Tenryo Bugyo shifted his focus and began to concentrate on searching for the whereabouts of the blond boy from a foreign country, and instead relaxed his surveillance of the Mokuroku Tea House.
The reason is that the head of the Kujo family knew that the community magistrate Kamisato family was behind the Mokuro Teahouse. It was an unexpected surprise that he successfully captured the household manager of the Kamisato family for the first time, but looking at Kamisato Ayato's recent targeting of the Tenryo magistrate, it is clear that he was angered.
Although the Eye Hunting Order was issued directly by the Shogun, in the final analysis, Inazuma is now jointly managed by the Three Magistrates.
The head of the Kujo family has lived for so many years, and it is rare to find someone as cunning as Kamisato Ayato at his age. Before achieving the goal, it is not advisable to fight to the death with him.
So he intentionally ordered the soldiers of Tenryo Bugyo to bypass the Mokulou Tea House. Naturally, Kamisato Ayato noticed this action and tactfully withdrew his attack.
After all, politics is all about mutual compromise based on the exchange of interests. Now that the other party has the support of the general, he is not willing to go too far.
So when Shui Qingli entered the Mulou Tea House, there were not many people around, but for some reason, the final guard who was supposed to be guarding in secret did not show up.
"Your injuries haven't fully recovered yet, so you can't eat spicy food for now, Thomas."
An elegant male voice spoke slowly, but one could detect a hint of nastiness in the calm tone.
"Well... I have almost recovered. Please don't be angry, Master of the Family."
This was another voice that sounded a little timid, and even a little guilty.
"Yes, brother. Thomas was also very frightened this time. Thanks to Sora for helping to save him. Please forgive him."
Another gentle female voice interrupted.
"If he had realized that his behavior was too high-profile before Tianling Fengxing targeted him, this wouldn't have happened. Even if he was trying to cover up for others, he shouldn't have been so careless about his own safety."
"I'm not angry, Linghua. The actions of the Tenryo Bugyo have always been controlled by Kujo Takayuki. The reason why the old man attacked Thomas was as a warning to me."
"Warn me—keep your nose in other people's business."
Kamisato Ayato was still slow and leisurely, her tone neither slow nor hurried, without any emotional ups and downs.
Only his closest sister and the household steward who had served him for many years could hear that the head of the Kamisato family was actually very angry.
That old guy is finished.
The two looked at each other and thought in sync.
Kamisato Ayato has a purpose for everything he does, whether it is for the benefit of Inazuma or for the benefit of the Kamisato family. He can face anyone he hates with a smile, but if that person really makes him angry, it is basically a death sentence.
And it is possible that you will die without knowing how you died.
The soundproofing of the Mulou Teahouse should actually be pretty good. Plus, it was late at night and there weren't many people around, so Shui Qingli stood at the door and heard this conversation.
He blinked and stepped his other foot into the door. When he looked up, he saw the big dog squatting obediently on the counter.
With its bright and smooth fur, Taroumaru is obviously a well-raised dog, which makes people want to pet it very much. However, the alert Taroumaru has already barked out to alert its owner inside.
“Woof—woof!”
"Who's there?!"
Thomas, who was familiar with Taromaru, immediately understood what he meant. This was to remind them that a stranger had come in.
"I'm sorry, but Mulou Teahouse is closed right now. Please find another one."
He didn't go out. After all, he was still a wanted man. He just shouted loudly across the corridor.
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry."
"Because it's too late now, and I'm from Liyue, I don't know anyone here, so I just walked into a store with lights on."
The first step to breaking the ice is to gain trust. Just say that you are not a shrew.
Sure enough, the male voice was stunned for a moment, and there was some disbelief in his tone.
"Are you a guest from Liyue? You passed through the thunderstorm?"
He clearly remembered that Captain Beidou's Southern Cross Fleet had just left Inazuma not long ago, and should not have returned to Liyue yet?
And how did the other party sneak into Inazuma Castle without telling the Kanjo Bugyo on the outlying island?
The second step is to arouse the other person’s curiosity.
"Yes, it took me a long time to get through the thunderstorm."
Shui Qingli nodded.
As for the third step... Kamisato and his sister are here, so there is no need for a third step.
Smart people always use their imagination to figure things out, don’t they?
"Are you coming to Inazuma alone? Not with any companions?"
Thomas continued to ask, still unwilling to push the door open and stand out. He even gestured to the two siblings behind him, indicating that they should retreat immediately if they saw that the situation was not good.
What if the other party is an undercover sent by Tianling Fengxing? It doesn't matter if he is caught, but the master and the young lady must not be implicated.
Kamisato Ayato propped up his chin and smiled as he watched his housekeeper act silly.
He had already said that Kujo Takayuki would not attack Thomas again in the short term, but he still behaved like this. Although it was not very smart, it was out of loyalty that he was concerned.
It's cute even though it's silly.
"My companions entered Inazuma long before me. Speaking of which, I just passed by the bulletin board and saw two familiar wanted posters. I'm really worried. I hope they are safe."
At this point, the tentative questioning was almost over, because Shui Qingli had already revealed the identity of the person they knew.
"Sir, your companions are Sora and Paimon?"
Thomas seemed to relax a little, but he didn't expect Kamisato Ayaka to not help but ask out loud.
"Yes, they are my good friends. It has been more than two months since I came to Inazuma from Liyue, but no one has replied to me."
"I was a little worried about them, so I couldn't help but come here. I wonder if the young lady has seen them?"
Shui Qingli held back the laughter in his throat and asked seriously.
Sure enough, the girl's voice was filled with guilt and self-blame when she replied again.
"Yes, I'm very sorry. It's because of me that they are wanted... Sir, please don't stand there. Please come in and talk."
Kamisato Ayato held down the hand of the housekeeper who was about to jump up, put a finger to his mouth, and shook his head, signaling him not to be afraid.
He had already heard that the other party came to find them intentionally.
Although he didn't know where the traveler got the connection between him and Mulou Tea House, he was not worried that the other party was lying.
So far, no one has been able to lie to him except that Yae Miyabi.
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I didn't intentionally give out sweets, but I just couldn't help but smile when I was writing it. It was so sweet that I couldn't stop slurping.
Control yourself, I can see the corners of your mouth flying to the sun!