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[Genshin Impact] Chapter 347: The Island (2-in-1 Chapter)
🕑 Added 2024-11-28 14:30:01 +0000 UTCThe golden sword pierced through the body of the Thunder Manifestation, pinning it deep into the seabed. As the sword dissipated, the creature’s body was buried beneath layers of sand and silt.
Nolan glanced at the notification on his character panel. With the additional effect of his Outstanding Adventurer title, he had earned over 90,000 Adventure EXP.
Not bad.
He confirmed that he had successfully defeated the Thunder Manifestation.
This meant the Alcor would no longer have to worry about being attacked and could continue its journey without issue.
That said, in the original story, the Thunder Manifestation was born from the lingering resentment of the Thunder Bird—a tragic tale. Was killing it outright too heavy-handed?
Ah, well. Dust to dust, earth to earth. Why overthink things?
Nolan shook his head.
The Thunder Manifestation was, after all, a creature born from anger and hatred, a pure elemental lifeform devoid of intelligence and inherently dangerous.
If it had stayed in some desolate corner of the world, it might not have mattered.
But since it had emerged, it posed a significant threat to humanity. Clearing it out was the safer choice.
Still, it was amusing—he had been so enthusiastic about challenging the Thunder Manifestation, only to grow sentimental after defeating it. Was this kind of overthinking a bit hypocritical?
Well, hypocritical or not, so be it.
After all, he was just an ordinary young man—moral, kind-hearted, and brimming with empathy.
A little sentimentality wasn’t a flaw; it was just his nature.
Nolan was quite content with himself.
Even gods had their quirks, after all.
Take the bard in Mondstadt, for example—always skipping work, drinking wine, and dodging his tabs. Zhongli might seem better, with no bad habits, but his aversion to carrying Mora made him seem a bit odd too.
---
Aboard the Alcor
After defeating the Thunder Manifestation, Nolan used Interstellar Travel to return effortlessly to Lumine’s side.
When Beidou saw him appear out of nowhere, she wasn’t surprised. She had already seen this ability of his before. Crossing her arms with a grin, she asked, “So, did you take down that monster?”
“Of course,” Nolan replied confidently. “Didn’t you see that colossal golden sword piercing the heavens?”
Beidou shook her head. “All we heard was the monster’s initial sonic boom. We didn’t see any of your battle.”
Ah, so the clouds in the thunderstorm zone were thicker than he thought, muffling even a clash of that magnitude.
Nolan was slightly surprised but quickly shrugged it off.
This might even work in his favor. According to the storyline, after acquiring Zhongli’s Gnosis, the Fatui would next target the Gnosis of the Raiden Shogun.
If events played out as in the game, Inazuma should currently have two Fatui Harbingers present—the Lady and the operative code-named Scaramouche.
In their last two attempts, the Fatui had easily secured the Gnoses due to the traveler’s lack of strength.
Though there might have been dealings between the Tsaritsa and the other Archons enabling this outcome, Raiden Ei likely wasn’t informed.
Based on what Nolan could recall of the main story:
The real Raiden Shogun, Ei, had secluded herself in the Plane of Euthymia since the war centuries ago, meditating to resolve the issue of “erosion.”
In her absence, Inazuma was governed by a puppet she had created in her likeness—Raiden Shogun.
Though the puppet had intelligence, its behavior was rigid and cold, lacking empathy and extremely difficult to deal with.
In the game, the Shogun even executed the Lady during a duel with the traveler, showing that the Fatui's plans for the Gnosis were likely unknown to Ei.
After creating the puppet with eternal life to safeguard Inazuma, Ei had entrusted her Gnosis to Yae Miko, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, and no longer concerned herself with it.
Ultimately, the Fatui obtained the Gnosis when the traveler lost to Scaramouche. Yae Miko intervened, trading the Gnosis to save the traveler’s life.
Her attitude toward the Gnosis seemed indifferent, as if it was something she could easily part with.
In short, neither Ei nor Yae Miko seemed particularly attached to the Gnosis, which allowed the Fatui to succeed with minimal effort.
Since there was no secret deal or hidden understanding between the Fatui and the Raiden Shogun’s faction, this was the perfect chance to make the Fatui pay.
Specifically, it was time to avenge the Knights of Favonius for the humiliation they suffered at the hands of the Lady in Mondstadt.
Nolan had promised Acting Grand Master Jean that he would capture the Lady—the criminal who stole the Anemo Archon’s Gnosis and dared to challenge the Knights—to face justice in Mondstadt.
He still remembered her arrogant demeanor back then, and if the opportunity arose, he certainly wouldn’t mind giving her a taste of her own medicine.
So, the fact that his battle in the Thunderstorm Zone hadn’t drawn much attention worked perfectly in his favor. This way, the Fatui wouldn’t discover his true strength, allowing him to catch them off guard later.
“Hehe, since we’ve defeated that monster blocking our way, shall we set off again?” Paimon asked excitedly.
“That’s right. Raise the anchor,” Beidou agreed with a nod.
Nolan and Lumine went to haul the ship’s anchor back up while the crew resumed rowing. The Alcor began its voyage deeper into the Thunderstorm Zone.
---
The Thunderstorm Zone
The sky was dark and foreboding, with lightning, torrential rain, and fierce winds relentlessly battering the Alcor.
However, as long as there weren’t any dangerous creatures like the Thunder Manifestation, the lightning and storms posed little threat to Beidou and her sturdy ship.
---
The Next Day - 9:00 AM
After sailing through the night and into the morning, the Alcor finally emerged from the Thunderstorm Zone.
By this point, they had entered Inazuman waters. The main island of Inazuma wasn’t far now—at most, it would take another half day to reach it.
Beyond the storm zone, the weather grew calmer.
The ship’s sails were unfurled once more, and the crew members gradually emerged from the cabins to resume their duties.
Sailor Sea Drake relieved Captain Beidou at the helm, while navigator Ms. Huixing resumed monitoring the weather and sea conditions. Someone also took over Kaedehara Kazuha’s position in the crow’s nest.
Finally, after a busy stretch, Nolan and his companions could retire to their quarters for a brief rest.
---
Dusk
When a crew member informed them they were nearing Inazuma, Nolan and his companions left their cabin and stepped onto the deck to look ahead.
Sure enough, a massive island loomed in the distance.
As the Alcor sailed closer, a large wooden dock came into view.
What stood out was the surprising lack of activity. Despite the dock’s size, there were very few ships and only a handful of laborers working there.
This, without a doubt, was due to the Sakoku Decree.
“Welcome to Inazuma, everyone. Up ahead is Ritou,” Kaedehara Kazuha said as he gazed at the port ahead.
He had set sail from this very spot once before, and now fate had brought him back. Life was unpredictable indeed.
---
Inazuma - Ritou
The Alcor slowly docked. The crew began unloading cargo.
Since they had arrived in Inazuma, it was time for Nolan and his companions to bid farewell to the crew.
“You must be unfamiliar with Inazuma as first-time visitors,” Beidou said to them. “Follow me, and I’ll introduce you to a friend who can help you with the necessary formalities.”
“Thank you, Captain Beidou,” Nolan replied with a nod. If nothing unexpected happened, the friend she mentioned was likely Thoma.
In the game, it was Thoma who welcomed the Traveler upon their arrival.
“I’d better not step onto Ritou,” Kazuha interjected from the deck. “If the Shogunate soldiers spot me, it might cause trouble. So, we’ll part ways here. I wish you all a safe journey.”
“Goodbye, Kazuha!” Paimon waved cheerfully.
“Take care,” Nolan and Lumine added with a nod, waving in return.
“Come on, follow me. I see my friend waiting for us already,” Beidou said.
She gestured toward the dock, where a blonde-haired man dressed in traditional Inazuman attire stood among the sailors and laborers.
Following her gaze, Nolan spotted the man—he was identical to his in-game counterpart.
It was indeed Thoma.
The group disembarked with Beidou, and the blond-haired man approached them with a sunny smile.
“It’s been a while, Boss Beidou,” he greeted warmly.
“Yeah, it’s been three months, hasn’t it? By the way, these are Nolan, Lumine, and Paimon. Could you help them register with the Kanjou Commission?” Beidou replied, arms crossed.
Anyone entering Inazuma from abroad was required to register with the Kanjou Commission.
However, many of the officials in Inazuma have become corrupt to the core, and the registration office is no exception.
If a foreigner attempts to register without the help of a local who has connections with these officials, they’re sure to be heavily extorted.
That’s where Thoma comes in—he’s someone who can communicate with those officials, making his assistance invaluable.
“Ahaha, the famous Travelers! Who doesn’t know about you? It’s my honor to meet you. Leave this small matter to me,” Thoma said, patting his chest confidently.
At the same time, he silently breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, they had arrived. Truth be told, he had been waiting on Ritou for months just for the chance to meet these Travelers.
Building a connection with Beidou, the leader of the Crux Fleet, had been part of his—well, more accurately, his mistress’s—plan.
After all, if anyone from Liyue dared to brave the Thunderstorm Zone to reach Inazuma, it would only be the fearless leader of the The Crux.
As for the Travelers, it wasn’t hard to guess their purpose—to seek out the Archons. Their exploits made their intentions evident.
Although Thoma wasn’t entirely sure why they were seeking the Archons, it was clear that if they wanted to reach Inazuma and meet the Raiden Shogun, they would likely arrive aboard the Alcor.
And so it was.
Why go through so much trouble to meet these Travelers? Because their ability to influence the tides of history was undeniable.
With the Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree tightening their grip on the nation, the holders of Visions were being pushed to the brink. If nothing was done to stop it, Inazuma would inevitably fall into chaos.
When war broke out, it would be the ordinary citizens who suffered the most.
Even Thoma’s mistress and her family head were powerless to make the Raiden Shogun revoke the Vision Hunt Decree.
But if anyone could save Inazuma from its current plight, it would be these renowned Travelers—heroes who had accomplished incredible feats in Mondstadt and Liyue.
This rare opportunity was something Thoma couldn’t afford to miss.
---
“Hehe, our deeds have already reached Inazuma? That’s quite the surprise!” Paimon exclaimed, her small hands clenched with excitement, unable to hide her delight.
And why wouldn’t they be famous?
After all, becoming an Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius, aiding in the defeat of Stormterror, and helping defeat an ancient god in Liyue were all monumental achievements.
Nolan nodded thoughtfully, considering this.
“This is Thoma. He’s the go-to guy around here. There’s nothing he can’t handle. If you run into trouble in Inazuma, just look for him,” Beidou said, introducing Thoma to Nolan and Lumine.
“A ‘go-to guy’? People with that title usually aren’t simple,” Lumine remarked, mildly surprised.
“Haha, it’s just a bit of flattery from the Boss. Alright, it’s getting late. Let me take you to get registered before the office closes,” Thoma said with a laugh, scratching the back of his head. He glanced at the amber-lit sky before turning his gaze back to the Travelers with a smile.
“Alright,” Nolan agreed with a nod. Turning to Beidou, he added, “Captain Beidou, we’ll be off now. Thank you for bringing us here.”
“No need for thanks. After all, Ningguang was the one who paid for the trip,” Beidou said with a dry laugh, referencing Ningguang back in Liyue. She continued, “Besides, there’s a ‘wanted criminal’ aboard. We can’t stay long—once the cargo’s unloaded, we’re out of here.”
“Hehe, goodbye, Captain Beidou!” Paimon said with a knowing wave.
Beidou nodded and turned to head back to the ship.
After bidding farewell to Beidou, the group followed their new acquaintance, Thoma, toward a place called the Kanjou Commission to complete their residency procedures.
Before that, however, they first needed to register at the checkpoint.
---
True to his reputation as the “go-to guy,” Thoma’s familiarity with the area allowed them to reach the checkpoint in less than ten minutes.
The building was relatively small, featuring a violet-tiled roof characteristic of Inazuma.
At the entrance stood two Shogunate soldiers on guard. As Nolan and the others walked in, they were immediately greeted by a staff member at the reception desk.
“Hello! If you’re here to register for landing permits, please provide your identities and purpose for visiting. Thoma, you don’t need to—your records are already here,” the receptionist woman said.
The strangers, of course, were Nolan, Lumine, and Paimon, while the familiar face was none other than Thoma.
It was impressive how, in just a few months, he had managed to establish connections across all of Ritou.
---
(End of Chapter)
