"Phew, it's been ages since I relaxed like this."
"Didn't expect that guy to be such a good governor."
A group of striking women strolled through Ritou's bustling town, smiling at the lively crowds.
The most eye-catching sight? The One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines units, scuttling alongside locals.
Oddly, neither the bustling townsfolk nor the passing One System units noticed the group.
These were none other than Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, General Torachiyo, and Yae Miko, Palace Miko of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
This was a routine outing—annual picnics with her close companions. They'd hit Ritou, Yougou Mountain, even Tenshukaku or Watatsumi Island before. Hearing Yae praise Ritou's development, they chose it this time, eager to taste local cuisine.
They weren't disappointed. Ritou Town's infrastructure rivaled Ritou Port's—neat stone roads, sturdy stone houses, and a wooden dock expanded by a third, packed with ships. It couldn't match Ritou Port's traffic as Inazuma's trade hub, but local merchants thrived.
Thanks to Reisen Riou, Ritou cultivated superior fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and grains. Shipbuilding flourished, with regulated fishing and sustainable aquaculture for fish, crabs, and sea eels.
The real driver? Over a decade, Reisen Riou mass-produced One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines, training countless locals to LV3 or LV4 proficiency. Their growth fed back into his theoretical and practical knowledge, none below LV6.
Early on, he provided the framework, but locals' feedback—fishermen and farmers most numerous—drove progress. With theory, even average farmers learned efficient planting after a few tries, boosting Reisen Riou's data.
Key was tech advancement. He upgraded the One System to version 2.0, enabling group data transmission with wider coverage.
Agricultural and tool improvements slashed prices while boosting supply. Fifty Mora bought a small bag of flour; two hundred got a fine dish. Compared to other islands, Ritou's people were thrilled, happiness soaring.
A local samurai even rose to bannerman rank.
This drew Raiden Makoto's group. Reports hinted at Ritou's growth, but seeing it exceeded expectations.
Suddenly, Ei, the purple-haired Shogun, called to a shadow, "Come out."
"Reisen Riou, Shrine Guardian of Ritou, greets Lady Narukami, Lady Ei, General Torachiyo, and Palace Miko Yae," he said formally.
Once, their beauty might've sparked fleeting fancies. Time matured him—no shallow thoughts now. His inner admirer still sparked joy, but he stayed formal, lest Yae tease him.
"I knew I couldn't hide from the local kingpin," Ei muttered, stepping back.
As a Ley Line youkai, Reisen Riou's mastery of Ritou's Ley Lines was unmatched, per Ei's experience. No one escaped his notice here. Even when she cloaked her presence, he sensed her, claiming "local kingpin" status with a laugh.
Now, it bit her back.
"The kid's grown boring," Yae sighed, feigning disappointment.
Makoto coughed, and Yae dropped her cheeky grin.
Torachiyo, startled, hadn't sensed him. His sudden appearance spooked her.
"You've done well," Makoto praised. "Many in Ritou Town eat meat regularly."
Reisen Riou waved it off. "I just gave them a chance. They built this. I've gained plenty too."
True enough—he supplied One System units and Tenryou resources, but the people's drive, fueled by purpose, transformed Ritou.
"Don't downplay it," Makoto said. "The One System is your invention. Every capable adult here has one or frequents the public units. It evaluates and quantifies skills, tracks progress, sparks motivation, and pinpoints weaknesses."
"Is that from your other world?" she asked, curious.
"Nah, that world didn't teach this. The system that brought me here left it behind. Nasty thing," he said. "Want to dine? I know a great spot."
Makoto had guesses about that "thing"—likely shattered by Celestia, its fragments stored by her from a past Sky Island exchange.
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