Kiana and the Captain's Bizarre Adventure

Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye. During this month, Kiana spent her days either accepting commissions to earn Mora or gathering intelligence with Sora.

However, all Catherine ever told him was that there was no noteworthy information about the Southern Cross fleet. Of course, he also had an unforgettable beach vacation with Klee, until one day a sailor named Seadragon came to the Adventurers' Guild.

He claimed to be a sailor from the Southern Cross fleet and personally conveyed the news that the fleet's resupply work had ended to Kiana. He also hoped that Kiana and the others could go to Lone Cloud Pavilion as soon as possible. After saying goodbye to Catherine of Liyue, the group set off for Lone Cloud Pavilion.

Returning to Guyun Pavilion after a long absence, one is greeted by magnificent ships moored along the shore.

Each ship was undoubtedly a merchant vessel that could be called a large ship, but according to Hailong, these merchant ships were only equipped with some slightly rudimentary defensive cannons, which were not worth mentioning.

Led by Hailong, the group arrived at the largest ship in the center, where, as expected, Beidou was waiting for them at the bow.

"Oh, you've finally arrived," Beidou said to the group that had come to the bow of the ship. "In the past, even storms couldn't delay the Southern Cross fleet. This time, I've really given you a lot of face."

That's true, but Beidou had kept everyone waiting for a whole month beforehand. However, seeing such a huge fleet, and with a considerable number of cannonballs being carried into the ship's hold by the crew, and many shipwrights urgently reinforcing the hull, Kiana felt it was better not to argue.

However, Beidou laughed and said, "It was just a joke, don't take it seriously. You've come at the right time. The work for setting sail has just been completed. Now we just need to wait for the shipwrights to finish this last reinforcement process, and we can set off at any time."

The Southern Cross fleet was, after all, an experienced fleet. Before long, the shipwrights who were still busy on and off the ship began to pack up their tools and return to their respective ships, waiting for the Big Dipper to give them instructions.

Seeing that the time was right, Beidou stepped forward and issued commands.

"Set sail for the eternal kingdom shrouded in thunder and rain!"

As the order was given, all the sailors on board began to get busy. Unnecessary items were put into wooden crates and carried back into the cabin. At the same time, with the sound of gears meshing, anchors were pulled up one by one, and the huge oars began to operate.

All the sails on the Death Star were unfurled, and Hokuto stood at the bow, facing the wind, directing the ship to turn around and slowly sail towards Inazuma's location.

Sea voyages can be monotonous, as there are fewer entertainment options compared to those on land, and you also have to endure the rocking motion from the waves.

Fortunately, none of the people present were ordinary, and none of them suffered from seasickness. However, as the Southern Cross fleet approached the waters off Inazuma, the weather at sea worsened. What was once a relaxing trip to enjoy the seascape was now impossible due to the storm.

Meanwhile, as they got closer to Inazuma, the thunderstorms on the sea became increasingly intense, and the atmosphere inside the cabin gradually became heavy.

Beidou, with a serious expression, methodically directed the ship's progress. Each crew member, under his commands, worked like a perfectly aligned cog in a machine, transforming the entire ship into a sophisticated machine.

After an unknown amount of time, the thunder outside the ship gradually subsided. Bathed in the setting sun, Kiana and the others stepped out of the cabin they hadn't left in a long time. Looking at the port not far away, they immediately realized that Inazuma had arrived.

Even after arriving at the port and disembarking under Beidou's guidance, everyone still looked around with curiosity.

At that moment, a man in red clothes and blond hair was sitting on a wooden crate on the port dock. Upon seeing Hokuto and his group approaching, he immediately stood up and greeted them. This must be one of the people Hokuto met in Inazuma; judging from his appearance, he seemed to have been waiting there for quite some time.

"They've finally arrived, the leader of the Liyue people, I've been waiting for so long. And these five stowaways... oh no, distinguished guests."

The blond man's flippant words instantly made Paimon's expression tighten. After all, smuggling was not a good thing, and it would be troublesome if the surrounding soldiers heard it.

Standing to the side, Hokuto quickly chimed in: "It's all because of your General. The thunderstorms and waves off the coast of Inazuma have been even stronger than before... Oh, by the way, let me introduce you. This is Thomas, a business partner I've only recently become acquainted with."

As he spoke, Beidou turned around and began to introduce the people behind him, but was interrupted by Thomas.

"No need for introductions. The reputation of the traveler from afar is so great that even the storms of the open sea cannot stop it; it's already legendary. But... who are the other three..."

"Oh, them. Their names are Kiana, Bronya, and Fu Hua. It seems they're here to find their friend in Inazuma. There are some things you know, but it's best not to say them outright."

Upon hearing this, Thomas naturally understood what Beidou meant, and he nodded with a smile.

"Thoma has been around on this island for a long time; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he's a local bigwig. If you have any trouble, go to him. But if he has any ill intentions towards you... I'll stand up for you next time you come to Inazuma."

Beidou routinely gave instructions and assured Kiana and the others that he would protect them, although even Beidou felt that Thomas probably wouldn't actually attack them.

Thomas laughed from the side, "Hahaha... Don't worry, don't worry, I have a feeling we'll get along very well."

"That's about time. After all, I still have a wanted criminal on board, so it's not convenient for me to stay any longer. See you next time. No matter what storms you encounter in Inazuma, you'd better make it through!"

After saying goodbye to Beidou, Thomas led everyone to the inspection station. In Thomas's words, the identity verification was unavoidable, so they needed to handle the irregularities properly.

Under Thomas's cover, the group successfully completed their entry registration under the pretext of trading in alcohol and minerals. Next came the tedious process of obtaining residency permits from the distant capital's administration office, a procedure that Paimon naturally complained about.

It is also easy to see that under the lockdown order, foreigners are not so welcome, even on remote islands with designated areas for foreigners.

But the journey must go on, and no matter how troublesome things are, you have to grit your teeth and get them done. Only in this way can you find a way to meet General Raiden in Inazuma.

As for Kiana and the others, these rules and regulations didn't matter to them. Kiana could use the Herrscher of the Void's abilities to teleport everyone to a location outside the island whenever she wanted. Indeed, shortly after arriving at the island, Kiana discovered that some of her power had returned. Now she could use the Herrscher of the Void's authority for a short-distance teleportation. Once she figured out the island's boundaries, sneaking away would be quite easy.

However, this would mean they would no longer have legal residency in Inazuma, and detention would be inevitable if discovered. Therefore, after much consideration, Kiana decided to stick to the storyline, figuring she could eventually leave the island legally through some means.

At the same time, Mei officially arranged a meeting place with everyone through the communication system. As long as everyone successfully leaves the island, they can officially meet Mei.

Thinking of this, Kiana began to feel anxious; she missed Mei's cooking so much.

Just thinking about eating Mei's cooking made Kiana's mouth water uncontrollably, and she was so anxious that she was practically crying and screaming, almost ready to roll around on the ground in a fit of rage.

On the way to the distant capital, Thomas explained to everyone the origin of these rules, most of which were established by the long-standing administrator of the outlying islands—the Kansei-bu.

The so-called Kansei-bōgyō (輝定謀行) was mainly responsible for earning and managing the nation's wealth. Together with the Sha-bōgyō (社謀行), who was in charge of religious activities and humanities and arts, and the Tenryō-bōgyō (天令謀行), who was directly under the shogun and in charge of security in Inazuma, they were known as the Inazuma Three Bōgyō (Inazuma Three Bōgyō).

Before they knew it, the group arrived at the location of the Yuan Kingdom Supervisory Office, where a young woman named Baihehua was in charge of handling the stay procedures.

"Have you all completed the island entry procedures? Are the five of you going to apply for residency permits?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, Baihehua calmly stated the fees required for the process.

"Okay, please pay the processing fee, five million Mora."

Upon hearing this, everyone present, except for Thomas and Lily herself, showed expressions of shock.

Five million! Five million just for processing these paperwork?!

It's no wonder Paimon was making such a fuss; anyone would react the same way if they heard that just processing a formality would cost a staggering five million Mora.

"Yes, one million per person, so it's five million. Don't worry, I haven't miscalculated."

Lily looked at everyone calmly, and in her mouth, Mora seemed to be nothing at all, casually mentioning an amount that would frighten most people.

For a moment, Kong felt that Zhongli wasn't actually that extravagant with his money; at least he wouldn't just casually let millions of Mora slip through his fingers.

Thomas, who was standing nearby, also stepped forward and started talking to Lily.

"Hahaha...Miss, these are my friends. Do you think I look familiar?"

“It’s you, Mr. Thomas. Well then, for your sake, four hundred thousand Mora will do.”

400,000 Mora seems like a lot at first glance, but it's much cheaper than the previous 5 million Mora. However, this price still exceeds its value as a transaction fee.

Thomas, of course, wouldn't really give up so easily. He first thanked them politely, and then said that the handling fee could be reduced further, and that he would pay for it for them and treat Lily to a meal.

Thomas eventually paid 1,500 Mora as a processing fee. After leaving the Far Kingdom's office, Paimon felt as if he had been transported to another world.

"Hey! You managed to haggle down from five million Mora to fifteen hundred Mora? Is there something wrong with Inatsume's money sense?!"

“There’s nothing to be surprised about,” Thomas explained. “The handling fee is just a private charge. For the foreign supervisory authorities, no matter how much the fee is, it all goes directly into their pockets; it’s just a matter of how much they earn. And if they happen to encounter some wealthy foreign merchant who’s stuck here and is honest and submissive…”

The result was self-evident. However, if the supervision in a small distant country was so corrupt, Fu Hua couldn't even imagine how corrupt the entire Inazuma region was from top to bottom.

"If even a mere supervisor from a distant country can be so corrupt, won't your general do something about it?"

Thomas could only sigh helplessly: "Since the General issued the seclusion edict and the Eye Hunting edict, he has rarely been personally involved in these matters. Now, under the current situation of Inazuma's seclusion, the Kanjō Magistrate controls everything on the island like a local emperor. Foreign merchants can only choose to stick together for warmth, which is the origin of the World Merchants Association on the island."

"Was it a chamber of commerce established by foreigners?" Paimon asked.

"That's right. In addition to making a profit, the Chamber of Commerce also takes into account the regulation, organization, and assistance for the survival of foreigners in Inazuma. It can be said to be a Chamber of Commerce that is simultaneously practicing business ethics and survival skills."

"Then let's meet General Thunder and Lightning..."

"Is this why you came to Inazuma? And what about you? You didn't just come to see a friend, did you? You must have heard about Inazuma's current situation from your friend."