An imperial duel would not bring about any change in the Raiden Shogun.
But how to persuade Fujiwara, this large-chested woman, was a very serious problem.
After all, her wish from the very beginning was to witness the Musou no Hitotachi.
"Long time no see, Kazuha and Chihua." In a private room at Uyuu Restaurant, Shiki said to the two who opened the door.
"Yes, long time no see. But isn't eating here a bit too extravagant?" Kazuha asked.
Uyuu Restaurant is the most luxurious restaurant in Inazuma City, where meals always start at five figures.
"Don't forget who wrote the 'faded' you're reading now. Do you think I'd be bothered by the cost of this meal?" Shiki smiled, then quickly motioned for them to sit down.
"You're right, you're a big-name author signed with Yae Publishing House. I was overthinking it."
"But you called us here this time, could it be that you've created that unavoidable sword technique?" Fujiwara asked.
Of course, she had visited Konda Village during those six months, so she was very interested in Shiki constantly swinging her sword at sea swallows.
"Naturally. But I also have other matters to tell you." Shiki nodded, then placed her imitation Vision on the table.
"Vision, this external magical organ, must be familiar to you both. A long time ago, Kazuha and I even had a discussion about how to obtain a Vision."
"And now I've received news that the Raiden Shogun is going to recall all Visions within Inazuma, and this decree is called—the Vision Hunt Decree!"
At these words, both Kazuha and Fujiwara gasped. Visions are granted by the gods, so why would they be recalled now?
"Before discussing the Vision Hunt Decree, I need to explain one thing to you: the granting of Visions has nothing to do with the Raiden Shogun."
Shiki was 100% certain of this; the Raiden Shogun's in-game voice lines mentioned that the granting of Visions depends on a person's desire and a certain unmentionable thing.
Shiki speculated that the unmentionable thing was Celestia, and that the Gnosis was connected to Celestia. This meant that the Celestial Archons had to use the Gnosis to grant Visions.
As for the Raiden Shogun's Gnosis, Ei had entrusted it to a certain Fox many years ago. Perhaps Inazuma's Visions had been issued by the Fox all along.
So Shiki believed that Visions came about this way: first, a person's wish reached its peak; after Celestia sensed it, it would test the person's Talents. Once it determined that the person could bear a Vision, it would pinpoint their location, then use the Gnosis to notify the god of that nation.
After the god received the message from Celestia through the Gnosis, they would use the Gnosis to issue the Vision, granting a Vision of the element that matched the person's personality.
As for why electro element Visions hadn't appeared for such a long time, it might have been an illusion created by the Fox to cooperate with her Raiden Shogun.
An illusion that the Gnosis was still with Ei.
This was the most reasonable explanation Shiki could think of at the moment. The true situation might not be like this, but she didn't know.
As for how to make Kazuha and Fujiwara believe this explanation, of course, it was to push the blame onto the Fox!
"I learned this from Yae Miko. She is the Raiden Shogun's familiar, so her credibility is guaranteed."
"Don't respond yet, let me finish speaking." Shiki stopped the two who were about to speak.
"The existence of the Vision Hunt Decree is very unreasonable, because it is not the Raiden Shogun's true intention at all; it is a product of the Fatui's instigation."
"Our enemies are the Fatui in Inazuma, not the Raiden Shogun."
"So don't think about going to Tenshukaku. At least, don't think about it until all the Fatui are dealt with!"
Shiki's expression was serious. She was truly afraid that Fujiwara would suddenly get an idea and run directly to Tenshukaku to have an imperial duel with Kujou Sara.
Fujiwara gave a fawning smile. Clearly, she did have such an intention.
"But why would the Raiden Shogun listen to the Fatui's slanderous words?" Kazuha still didn't quite believe it.
"Sigh... This brings us to the Three Commissions. As the three most important organizations in Inazuma, two of them have actually sided with the Fatui." Shiki sighed.
"What!?" Both exclaimed in surprise.
"Are those people crazy? Aligning with the Fatui is no different from playing with fire."
"The desires of the human heart are like rolling stones from a high mountain; once they start, they can never stop, until they drag themselves into an endless abyss."
Shiki said, taking out the intelligence she had gathered these past few days. She wanted to explain it thoroughly to these two inexperienced youths.
"What we know so far is that the Hiiragi Clan and the Kujou Clan are 100% colluding with the Fatui, and the Fatui seem to be planning a big move on Yashiori Island."
"You also know that the money I earn from writing novels is all in the Northland Bank. With such large sums, their attitude towards me is much better than towards ordinary people, so some information comes out with just a little probing."
She was joking; she hadn't actually probed. She was just providing a plausible source for her information.
One should know that the project to build the Evil Eye Factory was only communicated to the Harbingers and the relevant soldiers participating in its construction; no one else was informed at all.
However, Kazuha and Fujiwara nodded in realization. This explanation was very reasonable for people like them who had never been to the Northland Bank.
"Alright, back to business. I saw people from Watatsumi Island on the street just now. It's clear that Inazuma is already in a mess."
"And the Vision Hunt Decree is the beginning of all this. We need to solve them one by one after all this breaks out."
"I have already allied with the Kamisato Clan and Grand Narukami Shrine. The seeds of the plan have been sown, so during this time, don't cause any trouble, especially you!"
"Fujiwara!"
Shiki stood up directly from the tatami mat, leaning on the table with one hand, staring down at Fujiwara.
"Uh... Eh heh?"
"Eh heh your hammer! I need your assurance, don't cause trouble!"
"Alright, alright, I won't go, is that enough?"
Fujiwara responded distractedly. Shiki saw her expression and knew she was just being perfunctory. Her true intention was definitely still to witness the light of that one strike.
As the saying goes, 'If one learns the Dao in the morning, one may die in the evening,' but understanding is one thing; Shiki would not let Fujiwara go to her death like that.
Shiki sat back down on the tatami mat, then resumed her expressionless demeanor and continued: "You want to face Musou no Hitotachi, don't you? Defeat me, and I'll let you go."
Fujiwara was a seeker with very clear characteristics. To pursue Inazuma's strongest sword, mere words would not convince her.
Shiki had wasted so much breath. Indeed, talking for a long time was not as quick as a fight.
"You knew?"
"You're so obvious, how could I not see it? Words probably can't stop you anymore, can they?"
"Hehe, you know my personality, so are you serious?"
Fujiwara's eyes lit up. She didn't know about the Raiden Shogun, but if it was Shiki, she was confident she could give her all.
"Of course, I'm serious."
At this moment, Kazuha was torn. Musou no Hitotachi was the lifelong pursuit of all swordsmen, but he also didn't want to see his close friend go to her death like this.
"Let's go, let's borrow the Meikyo Shisui-ryu dojo."
How could they still be in the mood to eat now? If they were to eat, it would be after the victor was decided.
The master of Meikyo Shisui-ryu was an uncle named Toumon, the one who went mad after his Vision was taken in the game. Currently, he was still a swordsman aiming to be the strongest in the world.
Toumon agreed to lend the dojo without hesitation. Observing others' battles was also a way to improve, and how could someone with a Vision be an ordinary person?
At this time, Meikyo Shisui-ryu had many disciples, not just two left as in the game. After hearing their master say that two allogenes were going to spar, they quickly gathered around the arena and sat upright.
A battle between Visions—that was a rare sight!
"Begin, Fujiwara. No matter what, I won't let you go."
As she spoke, Shiki slowly drew the Kujikanesada from her waist, then held the sword with one hand, looking at her opponent with an unruffled gaze.
Fujiwara's hands tightened. She had just used her inner eye to sense her opponent, but found nothing in front of her. Shiki was like an inconspicuous Shitou by the roadside.
So Fujiwara did not draw her sword, but merely silently assumed the stance for an Iaijutsu slash.
"Shiki, in this battle, I will not hold back..."
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