DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Genshin Impact is owned by MiHoyo.

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Electro: The Price of Eternity (3)

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As a kitsune, the sublime art of disguise is one of many others within her repertoire of skills. Yae was adept in most of those, courtesy of her predecessor teaching her the ways of jesting and tricking.

In this particular instance, Yae had taken the opportunity to spend a few days in Inazuma City and see the full extent of the affairs that had been so-far dulled by the short reports she would receive. Replacing the ever-so loyal Kuroda behind the counter of her 'humble' shop, the kitsune studied gossip, rumors, and even used more tricks to secure quick glances over official government reports and... indeed, the situation was a bit worse than she had been told.

Obviously she knew of the Vision Hunting Decree, but she didn't expect for this to be creating issues even with the Tri-Commission, at least not when it came to the Kujou and Hiiragi Clans since they were those that had pushed for the Decree itself. And as more factors were taken under analysis, Yae had a bit of a grasp on where the issues were coming from on a more 'unified' lens.

The Yashiro Commission led by the Kamisato Clan had been outright opposed to what they originally perceived as a 'campaign of self-harm meant only to damage our integrity in its entirety'. The message, obviously, shifted to a more popular one of 'our people are suffering and it is weighing too much on our own budget'. Indeed, charities had expanded. Yae had been familiar with this as her business had invested a considerable amount of money to get those completed. Private investments for those matters had previously been a rare occurrence, but she had to admit those had grown exponentially since the passing of the Vision Hunting Decree.

When it comes ot the Tenryou Commission of the Kujou Clan, the real issue was a matter of how damaging it was to their own recruitment. One could make the case some of the vision holders in the Shogun Army were exempted by the decree by merely claiming Kujou Sara was an example of that, but the truth was that Sara's keeping of her vision was dictated by both a matter of duty and a degree of nepotism to 'preserve the best agent in the Kujou Clan'. The harsher truth was that in the war against Watatsumi, the once-mighty Shogun Army, was now facing a shortage of quality troops.

With most of the vision holders split between those surrendering their visions and losing not only their powers but also their will to go on, and the rest joining the rebels in Watatsumi, the war had indeed taken a different identity - one that actually resonated with a growing dissent against the Shogunate. The Sankoku Decree had been a slow-burning issue. Foreign concessions, abuses within the system - Yae was quite familiar with those knowing how difficult it was to have books from beyond the ocean, such as from Mondstadt and Liyue or even Sumeru, be sent over and sold.

The paperwork, the fees, the outrageous waiting time to legally be given a response... this entire system was flawed to the bone, and it drained any interest to innovate. Their lands used to be on par with Liyue in terms of advances, and now they were stuck with the same means of production. The presses had not improved, the medical system had stagnated and declined, and literacy had significantly grown only in major settlements and not reached the furthest locations.

Everything was, by all means, in a horrid shape. And Yae was starting to think her inaction to snap Ei out of her delusions to be far worse than she thought it being. And while the kitsune was, unlike many others, capable of genuinely feel guilty with the extent of damage caused by these events, she couldn't help but wonder if her plan was truly meant to be seen as her 'best effort' to fix things up.

In a rather eerie restrospective, she had a feeling many would call it a half-baked plan. And, to her utter dismay after seeing how bad things were, she had started to accept this potential judgment herself.

How the hell did Ei mess this one so badly? Sure, she had no knack for paperwork, but the Raiden Shogun should have had the means to fix this sort of issues.

A new plan was needed, this time for real. And she had an opportunity coming right along her way as Narukami received its first new visitors from afar and the one ticket that she had been waiting for was there for her to approach. Well, sorta. The towering bald man was a terrifying sight for someone like Yae. Someone that had a knack on picking up on both physical and spiritual scents. And boy oh boy, did that titan smell of blood and death and... well, a lot of dead gods. She couldn't believe this is supposed to be the one Ei should face and, truth be told, she couldn't help but wonder if this was just karma finally turning to bite her masterr's butt for once.

She waited as the quartet approached, studying them from afar, but also noticing something that had her immediately tense up. After all, many centuries may have passed, but she couldn't stop recognizing the familiar and yet impossible smell - even worse, the bearer of such a demonic smell was groaning and huffing on the bald man's back, chin resting on the man's shoulder as they passed near the Publishing House and-

"Oh, hi Yae."

"H-Hi Chiyo?!" Then she paused as she had spoken in her real voice rather than Kuroda's.

And she suddenly had a lot of eyes on herself as she felt as if she had reverted back to being a little kitsune cub. So quick to frighten and confuse- but seriously, what is Mikoshi Chiyo doing here and how was she still alive?! Didn't Ei kill her or what?!

"...Who are you?"

The deep voice made her drop the illusion on instinct, and she felt her own bravery die the moment she looked up to answer and...

"E-Eep."

Indeed, it was a good day for Yae Miko, Master Kitsune, to fumble the bag so hard.

AN

I always read of Miko as this wise, cunning, and teasing woman but... I kind of see it funnier when she is keen to get flustered, have very human moments and also fumble the bag like in this case.