"Kokomi? Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me like that?"
Feng Yi touched his cheeks, finding no issues with his skin – it was smooth, round, and elastic.
But why had Kokomi been sneaking glances at him all along?
Could it be that she had fallen for him?
Alas, his darn charm!
"No... It's nothing. I just... I just feel that you're not as simple as an ordinary traveler."
Kokomi, like a child caught stealing a snack, her small face instantly turned the color of a ripe red apple. Her eyes darted away as she lowered her head, not daring to meet Feng Yi's gaze.
From Captain Udani's respectful attitude towards Feng Yi during their conversation, it was clear that Feng Yi was no ordinary person, at least not in Liyue.
"Don't overthink it. I really am just a very ordinary traveler."
Feng Yi claimed that he was merely a traveler who was friends with gods, well-acquainted with adepts, and had a few too many confidantes.
"Mm-hmm."
If Feng Yi didn't want to say, Kokomi wouldn't force him. Time would eventually reveal the answer.
"This time, we bought 800 jin of food from Captain Udani, but it can only last for three days at most. If the Shogunate forces were to initiate combat during this period, the resistance fighters would need sufficient stamina for battles, leading to even greater food consumption. Looking at it this way, the situation is still not optimistic..."
Changing the subject, Kokomi sighed when the issue of food arose.
She wondered when Captain Beidou would return.
She could only gaze afar, separated from Inazuma by such a vast expanse of sea. Kokomi had no way of contacting Captain Beidou in real-time.
Waiting without knowing when was the most painful.
The food crisis hung over Kokomi's head like a Damocles sword. If it couldn't be resolved, it would have an unimaginable impact on the resistance.
"Don't worry. I've already contacted Captain Beidou. In three days at most, she'll arrive at Watatsumi Island with a full cargo of food, along with the 'Cruz' fleet!"
Feng Yi smiled slightly and said to comfort Kokomi.
He had originally planned to use the Witch's Circle's long-distance communication crystal to contact Lisa, have Lisa write a letter to Ningguang, and then have Ningguang inform Beidou.
Coincidentally, Lisa was currently handling matters in Liyue, saving a lot of trouble.
However, Lisa's plaintive tone made Feng Yi's eyelids twitch, urging him to return to Mondstadt to "pay her wages."
Feng Yi had a hard time appeasing this ravenous big bad wolf, promising that he would visit them all after some time.
As a trembling little white rabbit, Feng Yi felt he hadn't been away from Mondstadt for very long.
Were all witches so ferocious and ravenous?
How scary!
"Really? That's wonderful! Feng Yi, how did you manage it? Magic or adept arts?"
Hearing the news, Kokomi was relieved. A happy smile returned to her face, and her constantly furrowed brows relaxed considerably.
"Hehe, that's a secret I can't tell!"
Feng Yi didn't want to reveal his identity as a member of the Witch's Circle, so he decisively cut off Kokomi's curiosity.
"Feng Yi, you've helped me so much. I still don't know how to thank you..."
Kokomi walked alongside Feng Yi, her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze lowered to her toes, speaking in a low voice.
"Kokomi, do you know how to make sushi? If you do, I'd love to try your sushi. I've been in Inazuma for so long, but I haven't had any authentic local sushi yet!"
Feng Yi smiled. He had originally intended to try some at a diner in Inazuma, but before he could, this incident had happened.
It would be best if he could try Kokomi's caviar sushi.
"Sushi? I know a little. If you don't mind, Feng Yi, I'll make it for you when we get back..."
Kokomi smiled faintly, revealing a beautiful smile.
She indeed hadn't misjudged him. Feng Yi's selfless kindness made Kokomi's heart flutter.
They returned to Watatsumi Island without incident. Upon their arrival, Kokomi arranged for the poisoned food to be buried and disposed of, clearing storage space to prepare for the arrival of the new provisions.
"Lady Kokomi, the traitor who poisoned the food has been caught! Bring him in!"
Not long after Kokomi and Feng Yi had finished dealing with the minor matters and returned to Watatsumi Island's main hall, Gorou arrived with soldiers, escorting a soldier.
Feng Yi was also impressed by their efficiency.
"Let me go, let me go! I've shed blood for Watatsumi Island! I didn't poison the food, I've been framed..."
The soldier brought forward struggled incessantly, but he was firmly restrained by the soldiers on either side.
"Lady Kokomi, please be fair! I've been framed! I really didn't poison the food!"
The poisoner became agitated upon seeing Kokomi, struggling even more vigorously.
"Gorou, what is going on?"
Kokomi cast a puzzled gaze at Gorou beside her. As the leader of Watatsumi Island, she would not let any wrongdoer escape, nor would she wrongly accuse any good person.
"Lady Kokomi, the situation is as follows: according to secret investigations, the night before last, this soldier named Takumi used his position to secretly sprinkle poison on the food in the storage room. His realistic acting fooled everyone!"
Gorou said coldly, stating a fact without any personal emotion.
"Takumi, do you confess?!"
After hearing Gorou's account, Kokomi stared at Takumi below with icy eyes. A traitor who had nearly caused the deaths of dozens of resistance fighters, she wished she could drag him out and kill him herself.
"Lady Kokomi, I have never harbored any intention of betrayal. It's just... it's just..."
Takumi deflated like a punctured ball. Facing Lady Kokomi's cold gaze, he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"It's just what?"
"Lady Kokomi, I am a native of Watatsumi Island. I deeply love this land. I participated in battles big and small. I retired from the front lines due to injuries and was assigned to logistics. I could never stab my former comrades in the back..."
"A few days ago, my son went missing. I searched all over Watatsumi Island and couldn't find him. Just as I thought he had been unfortunate enough to be eaten by a sea monster, a package suddenly appeared at my home. Inside was a letter stating that my son had been kidnapped, and the other party demanded that I do something for them, otherwise they would kill him. My son's bracelet was also in the package, so I had no choice but to believe it..."
"And then you poisoned the food?"
Gorou hadn't known about this twist before, but no matter what, poisoning was absolutely unforgivable.
"There was a small bottle in the package. The letter said it was a sleeping potion, and it would only cause drowsiness, with no danger to life. I even tasted it myself before daring to sprinkle it on the food. If I had known it was poison, I would rather have lost my son..."