Wondering on the status of the Alcor, the Traveler and Paimon head to Katheryne at Liyue‘s guild branch. And just then, Sea Drake arrives, having been sent by Beidou to tell them that they are ready to set sail. Katheryne says her farewells, but tells them that she would be waiting for them at Narukami Island.
Beidou disembarks with the Traveler and Paimon at Ritou before being greeted by Thoma, her business partner. The Captain leaves the pair to his care, since she can’t stay around for too long with Kazuha, who is still a wanted fugitive. Thoma later helps them pass the processing center to avoid suspicion given the impossible request and the ridiculous amount of Mora.
After processing, Thoma explains that there are some inspectors who try to increase the price of processing as much as possible for outlanders, who cannot leave the nation due to the Sakoku Decree. As such, the foreigners formed the International Trade Association to survive. He also learns they intend to meet with the Raiden Shogun, stating that he can help them do so, but in turn they will need to help out others first, starting with the said association.
The Meaning of Meaningless Waiting
At the first location, Konda Village, the Traveler finds an old couple, Mahiru and Kenjirou trying to persuade a younger man Tejima not to leave. Inquiring the man, Tejima was a samurai who become Visionless. With his Vision gone, he has had trouble remembering why he stayed at the village for so long and is intending to leave and become a wandering samurai. The pair offer to help refresh his memory, which he accepts. They find a paper that explains why he stayed at the village; to wait for his lover, but she never came. After the events, Tejima then chooses to remain in the village to wait for her, although wondering if she would ever come.
To Treat the Well-Meaning Well
The next person is a samurai from the Tenryou Commission who had their Vision confiscated, found in Inazuma City. As Paimon wonders why the Shogunate would take action against one of their own, they hear a commotion breaking out. Two men are accusing a samurai, Kurosawa Kyounosuke, of withholding emergency rations from them. He had originally given it to them on request, but now is withholding them for no reason.
Speaking to the Samurai, he tells them that despite enforcing the Vision Hunt Decree, he was told that he had been “slacking off” to the point that he even disappointed the Raiden Shogun, causing him to lose his Vision. He had forgotten what he had done every month, and is not even aware of the rations themselves. Just recently, he was pursuing some Treasure Hoarders when the men had stopped him and asks the Traveler to track them down, believing they would have stolen the rations.
They find the Treasure Hoarders nearby, who are commenting over their recent plunders. After beating them up, Tadao tries to recruit them, but the Traveler refuses and inquires about Kurosawa. Tadao states that Kurosawa’s house had nothing apart from a box, which he offers in return for his and his men’s freedom. Opening the box, they are surprised to find that it only contains IOUs, all addressed to a Miss Aoi of Tsukumomono Groceries, and the Hoarder gang leaves.
Heading to Aoi, she tells them that Kurosawa always bought foodstuffs regularly from her store to give to the people, even taking on debt to ensure their well-being. She also recalls that he had a prized sword which she would accept as payment for his debts. Returning to Kurosawa once more, he learns the truth and explains the history of his sword to them. He also threatened the rioting men with his sword, even though he felt himself unable to go through with the act, and is troubled that he cannot be good or bad, wondering what to do.
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