The resistance army had long been infiltrated by outside voices.
Sangonomiya Kokomi had always known.
Although many were driven to join the resistance by the Vision Hunt Decree, that alone was not enough to fuel lasting conflict.
Some wished for the war in Inazuma to continue without end.
"Everyone, if you still trust me, heed my words. Inazuma is no longer what it once was. An unknown god now governs everything. If we continue resisting, we will not only face the Raiden Shogun, but also this unfamiliar deity."
These words were bound to cause panic—
But Kokomi knew there was no room left for wishful thinking.
Once a god intervened, Watatsumi Island would vanish from history.
The rebels, once burning with hatred for the Shogunate, now fell into unease.
Kujou Sara, meanwhile, sat quietly, observing.
That Kokomi had learned of such matters was no surprise.
They had not bothered to keep them secret.
But since she knew… It meant the resistance had informants within the Shogunate.
That was troubling.
And rooting them out would not be easy.
As far as Sara knew, only a few truly understood Lord Soran: herself, Kamisato Ayaka, the High Priestess Yae Miko, and the Tenshukaku troops guarding Tenshukaku.
It could not be her.
Ayaka was Soran's loyal retainer—she had no reason to leak information.
As for Yae Miko, Sara could not imagine the Shogun's closest confidant aiding their enemies.
If anything, Yae might play tricks on the resistance, not support them.
Which left only one possibility: the Tenshukaku might be compromised.
After all, even the Tenryou Commission had been infiltrated by the Fatui.
Could the Shogun's own direct guards be infiltrated as well?
Sara's chain of reasoning landed on the wrong answer.
But this was not the time to unravel the matter—
These peace talks had been authorized by the god himself.
She would not allow them to collapse.
"Kujou General, on behalf of Watatsumi Island, I am willing to accept peace. But I hope your side can agree to a few conditions."
Fishing rights.
Some parcels of land.
These had always been Watatsumi's people's concerns.
Kokomi's eyes were grave.
She had yielded as much as she could.
Watatsumi was already like fish upon the chopping block.
Yet its people still longed to live—and to live better.
So she had to fight for them.
The two women locked eyes.
At last, Sara shook her head.
Kokomi felt as though she had plunged into an icy abyss.
Even these small demands would not be granted?
Was the Shogunate truly so merciless?
"Lady Sangonomiya, I understand your resentment. But I am sorry—this is not mine to decide."
Her words eased the tension somewhat.
Realizing Sara was not simply stonewalling them, Kokomi felt a sliver of hope.
"Then… is this the Shogun's will?"
"No. Even the Shogun cannot grant you these terms."
Inazuma was Inazuma.
The dream was the dream.
Sara saw that distinction clearly.
Even if they might forever live in this dream, it was not truly Inazuma—only a mirror of it.
If even the Shogun could not decide, then only that unknown god could.
Kokomi's unease deepened.
In Ayaka's letters, she had glimpsed hints about this god.
The one who had proposed and created the dream.
One whose power even surpassed the Raiden Shogun.
If he was the one to decide Watatsumi's fate… was there any hope left?
"If you wish to see the god, you may. Speak with him directly. He may grant your request."
Sara's words carried a note of comfort.
"…I understand. Thank you, General Kujou."
If talks were possible, then there was still a chance.
Warmth flickered in Kokomi's heart—
Though the thought of meeting this unknown god filled her with dread.
This was not like guiding a war from the shadows.
She had never stood before a living god.
As a shrine maiden of the serpent god, the only divinity she had ever known was his bones.
Now, soon she would face a stranger deity.
Her heart beat faster and faster.
"Since we have settled the matter of the resistance," Sara said at last, turning her gaze to Beidou, who had been by Kokomi's side the whole time, "Perhaps it is time we spoke of you."
The captain from Liyue smiled broadly.
"Ahahaha, it's been a while, Miss Sara."
Unlike the tense standoff between rebels and Shogunate troops, the mood between the two was far lighter.
They were not close, but they had met often enough.
"Why are you with the resistance?"
Whatever wars raged between rebel and Shogunate, it was an internal matter of Inazuma.
But Beidou was a Liyuean—her involvement could affect relations between nations.
That was something Sara did not wish to see.
"Just doing a little business, don't worry! Supplies for daily life, nothing else."
Beidou laughed it off.
Talk of mercenary contracts had indeed arisen, but nothing had been signed yet.
So that didn't count.
"Ah… so you meant to profit from both sides?"
Transporting goods for the Ritou merchants on one hand, selling supplies to the resistance on the other.
No wonder Watatsumi still had so many resources despite constant war—
There had been an outsider supporting them.
"Then, Captain Beidou, by exposing this so directly—are you trying to make clear where you stand?"
Beidou scratched her head.
"Not exactly… It's just that, well… I can't leave Inazuma anymore. That's why I asked Lady Kokomi to bring me here, so I could see you."
The Alcor still existed, her crew was safe.
But the ship simply could not sail out of Inazuma.
Even Beidou was at a loss.
She had only come for a bit of trade—
Yet somehow, she could no longer go home.
~~--------------------------------------
To read 30+ future chapters head over to patreon:
patreon.com/YonkoSlayer