Reisen Riou eyed the leveled plot with curiosity.
He'd overthought things. Bona, though wealthy, wasn't careless with money.
He'd bought the hydrographic station's site and a chunk of surrounding wasteland—two acres for about 800,000 Mora. Cheap for barren land. Even if the station got snatched, he'd recoup via rent.
Bona's no clueless heir or book-dumb scholar—his head was sharp.
The groundbreaking ceremony was straightforward. Local samurai families and Ritou's town magistrate attended, mainly to announce the new structure, its purpose, its backer, and its impact, ensuring no misunderstandings.
Post-ceremony, Reisen Riou caught up with Bona.
"How much Mora you got left?"
"I estimate five years for this study. The Shogunate and Sumeru's Akademiya subsidize monthly, plus my family's allowance. Funds won't be an issue," Bona said.
"With your ideas and help, plus my dad's pull, I'm aiming for three to five high-quality papers and seven or eight standard ones. Gotta thank you, Brother Reisen," he added. "Without you, I wouldn't know papers could be spun like that."
"Haha, small stuff, no big deal," Reisen Riou laughed.
"With your brain and my dad's moves, if I pull off those papers, I'm a shoo-in for the Akademiya. I won't let you down," Bona vowed.
"I'll help out," Reisen Riou grinned. "Those academic journals?"
"Confidential ones are tricky, but standard ones? No problem," Bona assured.
Reisen Riou got the "confidential" bit. Sumeru's research was open, but the Great Mercy Tree King locked god-tier knowledge as taboo and sensitive info as classified. Reisen Riou didn't need divine secrets yet.
"Standard's fine. High-end stuff's no use to me—too advanced," he said.
They swapped more hydrography talk, Reisen Riou tossing out Ritou's unique aquatic species and subspecies.
Anko Kanno, listening nearby, zoned out, nearly dozing until they mentioned food.
Her eyes lit up. Dodging marriage pressure had cut her family's stipend, and she'd splurged at the Narukami Grand Festival, draining her purse.
Her duel with Reisen Riou, while sparking a Heart Flow breakthrough, also left her injured, wiping out her remaining Mora on recovery.
Without Ritou Shrine's solid upkeep under Reisen Riou, ensuring full meals, she'd have considered hiring out her skills at Kujou Encampment for food money.
But shrine fare, while hearty, was light on meat—mostly fish, with other meats bought externally.
Tagging along with Reisen Riou to dine on Bona's dime? Anko was set to feast.
They hit Ritou Town, a bustling port and the island's administrative hub, home to the town magistrate. Most of Ritou's dozen-plus samurai families lived here, making it the island's wealthiest, liveliest spot.
Bona, the big spender, was treating, so naturally, they dined here.
"This izakaya's owner worked at Inazuma City's famous Shimura's," Bona said, clearly a regular. "It's not Shimura's level, but it beats street stalls."
"Boss, big portions of your specials!" Bona called, leading them to a private room.
"Got it!" the owner replied.
"Drinks?" Bona asked.
"Violetgrass Melon juice," Reisen Riou said, picking Inazuma's common, folksy drink.
"Sake," Anko said, blushing slightly.
"I'll take Sunset Fruit juice. Shame they don't have Dango Peaches—my favorite," Bona sighed.
They chatted, Reisen Riou introducing Anko to Bona.
The two had little in common—martial miko versus scholar—so they nodded politely, no spark for conversation.
Soon, a savory aroma hit.
"Fried mushrooms?" Reisen Riou swallowed hard.
"It's the owner's take on Ritou's local produce. The scent's unreal," Bona nodded.
"That's oil from Pine Grove boars' fat, paired with high-grade Mushroom Town fungi and Araumi's premium salt," Reisen Riou said, sniffing expertly.
Another waft followed.
"I know this one," Bona said. "Boss told me it's his secret sauce—not Shimura's tier, but close. Got Sumeru spices in it."
The owner brought a sizzling iron plate of fungi dishes, bowed with hands clasped, said, "Enjoy," and left.
The fungi, pre-cooked to eighty percent, kept heating on the plate.
Reisen Riou nabbed a Seagrass slice and popped it in.
After a century, he tasted his labor's legacy. Per his intel, Mushroom Town's high-grade fungi came only from the old village chief's line—pricey stuff.
"Delicious," Reisen Riou said, his heart tangled with nostalgia.
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