Having lost the income from exploiting Yashiori Island, the nobles of Inazuma City intensified their oppression of the common people to maintain their luxurious lifestyle.
This made the lives of the common people increasingly difficult, and the streets gradually showed signs of decay.
Kamisato Ayaka strolled through Inazuma City, witnessing all these changes.
She looked at the increasingly ruined streets and the common people whose faces were filled with numbness and despair, and deep sorrow welled up in her heart.
Suddenly, a burst of noise came from ahead, breaking the surrounding silence.
Kamisato Ayaka immediately looked in the direction of the sound. At the street corner, she saw a group of people gathered, where several members wearing Vision Hunt Unit uniforms were ganging up on a helpless young man.
"Sirs, I beg you, please stop hitting me." The young man covered his head with his hands, his voice filled with pain and pleading. "I've already handed over my Vision."
However, the members of the Vision Hunt Unit showed no intention of stopping.
One of the members let out a cold snort and said with a face full of disdain, "Visions are enemies of the Shogun's Eternal ideal. Sinners like you who secretly possess Visions deserve to be beaten!"
After speaking, he waved his hand and led the other members to continue beating the young man.
Seeing that the young man was about to be beaten to death, Kamisato Ayaka quickly stepped forward and stopped their actions. "Stop! He has already handed over his Vision, you shouldn't be beating him anymore."
Seeing this, the Vision Hunt Unit members stopped their actions. They looked up and saw it was Kamisato Ayaka, and expressions of surprise appeared on their faces.
"Since Miss Kamisato Ayaka has spoken, we'll give you face and let him off this time," said the member who had just been speaking harshly, with an arrogant air.
Then, he turned around and left the scene with the other members, leaving behind only Kamisato Ayaka and the young man covered in wounds.
"I sincerely thank you, Miss Kamisato Ayaka." The man's tone was full of gratitude. "If you hadn't appeared in time, I'm afraid I wouldn't have escaped this ordeal."
Kamisato Ayaka replied in a gentle tone, "You're welcome. Saving people is what should be done. Now, I'll take you to get your wounds treated first."
The man quickly waved his hand, showing hesitation. "No, no, no. These minor injuries of mine aren't a problem; I can recover slowly by myself."
Kamisato Ayaka saw through the man's concerns and comforted him softly, "Don't worry about the treatment costs. The Yashiro Commission Estate has professional doctors, and the treatment is free."
The man still wanted to decline, but the pain from his injuries made him unable to pretend to be strong anymore.
He was silent for a moment, then finally nodded, agreeing to Kamisato Ayaka's suggestion.
They had just walked a short distance when they happened to encounter another Vision Hunt Unit from the Tenryou Commission.
The leader of this unit was a woman, tall and noticeable.
She was wearing a black tight-fitting vest with a pure white cape draped over it, modified from a kariginu, appearing both heroic and spirited without losing elegance.
The Tengu mask she wore askew on her head, together with her refined features and resolute eyes, further highlighted her extraordinary temperament.
When her gaze fell upon the man's miserable state, her expression suddenly turned gloomy.
She quickly walked up to the man, her voice filled with concern and anger. "Imai Jiro, did the Vision Hunt Unit members lay hands on you again?"
Under her imposing presence, Imai Jiro involuntarily took a step back, then hurriedly shook his head and denied it, "Lady Kujou Sara, that's not the case. I just fell accidentally."
Hearing this answer, Kujou Sara couldn't help but clench her fist, and a hint of barely perceptible anger flashed in her eyes.
She knew clearly in her heart that Imai Jiro's injuries must have been inflicted by the Vision Hunt Unit, but he had chosen to remain silent out of fear of suffering retaliation again.
Taking a deep breath, she made a promise to Imai Jiro, "Rest assured, I will uphold justice and handle this matter properly."
Having said that, she led the soldiers under her command and hurried away.
Kamisato Ayaka watched Kujou Sara's receding figure, her heart filled with a sense of pity.
In the Inazuma Shogunate, people like Kujou Sara who always uphold their inner sense of justice are rare.
However, her loyalty to the Raiden Shogun is almost blind.
Even though the Vision Hunt Decree is a tyrannical policy, she still carries it out without reservation. The samurai sword at her waist has already tasted the blood of countless resistors.
.....
In the spacious and solemn hall of the Tenryou Commission Headquarters, Kujou Takayuki stood alone, his brows tightly furrowed, anxiously pacing back and forth on the floor. This action undoubtedly revealed his inner irritation and uneasiness.
He had originally thought that Lin Yide rented Yashiori Island merely to plunder the wealth of the island's inhabitants. However, the situation's development far exceeded his expectations.
Lin Yide had not only exempted the people of Yashiori Island from agricultural taxes, alleviating their burden, but had also begun building a new city on the island.
This series of measures indicates that he intends to establish himself on Yashiori Island long-term.
For them, the Tenryou Commission, this will be a great threat. Perhaps one day the West Factory will attack Narukami Island.
Just then, the hall door was quickly pushed open, and Kujou Sara entered quickly.
Kujou Takayuki showed displeasure on his face. Although Kujou Sara was his adopted daughter, he was very displeased with her action of entering directly without announcing herself.
"Father," Kujou Sara's tone was firm, "I believe we must rectify the Vision Hunt Unit. Their actions are becoming increasingly brazen, and many innocent common people are being persecuted."
Kujou Takayuki glanced at her coldly and said dismissively, "Innocent? In this world, no one is completely innocent. If we don't take strict measures against them, they will sooner or later violate the Shogun's Eternal ideal."
"But..." Kujou Sara was about to say something, but was rudely interrupted by Kujou Takayuki.
"No buts!" Kujou Takayuki's voice was stern. "Your task is to steadfastly carry out the Shogun's Vision Hunt Decree. Other matters are not within your jurisdiction."
Facing her adopted father's flat refusal and stern reprimand, Kujou Sara was momentarily speechless.
The actions of the Vision Hunt Unit had already violated the sense of justice in her heart, but in the name of the Shogun's Eternal ideal, she had no choice but to turn a blind eye.
Finally, she left in silence. In her heart, for the first time, a hint of doubt towards the Eternal ideal arose.
....
In a room at the Yashiro Commission, Imai Jiro's wounds had been completely bandaged.
Filled with gratitude, he gazed at the pure and noble Kamisato Ayaka before him, like ice and snow, and once again expressed his deep gratitude. "Miss Kamisato Ayaka, I, Imai Jiro, will engrave your life-saving kindness in my heart and never forget it as long as I live."
Kamisato Ayaka gracefully waved her hand. "You're welcome. All I did was hope that you could live a peaceful life in Inazuma City."
Hearing this, a complicated expression flickered across Imai Jiro's face. He seemed a bit hesitant, but finally made up his mind and told her frankly, "Miss Ayaka, I actually intend to leave Inazuma and go to Yashiori Island to start a new life."
"Yashiori Island?" A hint of surprise was revealed in Kamisato Ayaka's tone. "Why would you think of living on Yashiori Island?"