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Chapter 50 - 50: Momentary Bubble Shadow

Watching his proficiencies tick up and database grow, even Reisen Riou couldn't help but grin ear to ear.

With Reisen Anko's help, his life level surged daily—likely hitting LV51 soon. Since she didn't hide her naginata and sword training from the One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines, he reaped heaps of valuable data and experience feedback.

He was all smiles.

As long as he consumed enough nutrients and elemental energy, his life level and skill proficiencies grew steadily.

Miko knowledge and samurai-related skills climbed fastest.

Besides practicing and refining Glimmer Archery, he buried himself in books. He'd subscribed to over a century's worth of Sumeru academic journals. After a decade, the stack towered over him.

Recent journals brimmed with substance, thanks to his advice to Bona. Back in Sumeru, Bona standardized research paper formats, making quality and fluff obvious.

This sparked an academic arms race among Sumeru scholars.

But their boldness stunned him. "They'll dig into anything and publish it," Reisen Riou muttered, holding 'Momentary Bubble Shadow': Exploring Inazuma's Clone Technique.

The author had somehow snagged data on Inazuma's clone art—likely assuming it was minor spellcraft. In truth, Momentary Bubble Shadow was demon god-tier knowledge.

Scanning it, he found most arguments and principles correct, despite some errors.

After logging the knowledge into his database, he tore out the pages and summoned a junior miko.

"To the Magistrate's Office. Tell them to rush this to the Tenryou Commission."

"Yes."

Momentary Bubble Shadow was Raiden Ei's signature clone technique, said to spawn up to seven demon god-tier clones, each capable of slaying lesser demon gods.

The Sumeru scholar's data wasn't the original—it had passed through three or five hands. Still, it held real substance, likely from the Tenryou Commission's covert Endgame Squad.

That's why he sent it to the Tenryou Commission, his superiors. He didn't want them in trouble. A leak of Endgame Squad secrets needed quick handling.

The Commission's efficiency shone—within seventeen or eighteen days, a reply came.

It was brief, just summoning him to the Tenryou Commission. The handwriting, from Kamisato Mizuki, head of the Kamisato clan, was unusually sloppy. For the refined Kamisato patriarch, this hinted at rough days.

Reisen Riou didn't hesitate. After informing Anko, he vanished in a Glimmer Technique flash.

It wasn't labeled secret, but he sensed it was, traveling alone to Narukami Island's Tenryou Commission, bypassing Ritou's port.

Showing his seal to a Commission Proxy (a unique samurai title), he was led to a meeting room.

Soon, hurried footsteps echoed.

A young man appeared. "First meeting, Shrine Guardian Reisen. I'm Kamisato Mizuki, current Tenryou Commissioner."

"Huh? Where's the old lord?" Reisen Riou blinked, caught off guard.

"My father passed from illness two years ago," Mizuki said.

"Oh. What's the summons about, Commissioner?" Reisen Riou asked.

Mizuki outlined the Kamisato clan's state. After the old patriarch's sudden death, vassal clans wavered, but Mizuki stabilized them.

A year and a half ago, trouble hit the Endgame Squad.

A top ninja defected to Sumeru, joining the Eremites. Love-driven betrayal, Mizuki noted briefly.

This ninja, a Pyro Vision holder, was among the Squad's best, roughly Reisen Riou's level—LV50+, just shy of LV60. A high-tier Teyvat combatant.

Initially, the Squad shrugged it off—other senior members had duties. But leaking the Squad's secret ninjutsu was a death sentence.

The Squad would handle the hunt, but Mizuki needed Reisen Riou's Sumeru connections to aid the mission—specifically, an introduction letter to leverage local forces.

"I'll write to Bona with details," Reisen Riou nodded.

Bona, nearing forty, had inherited his family and academic faction's leadership. He'd done well—recent letters mentioned his Sage candidacy.

Sage candidacy was step one to becoming a Sage, Teyvat's pinnacle of mortal power and influence, pending Akademiya review and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's blessing.

Reisen Riou briefed Mizuki on Bona's Sumeru standing.

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