Chapter 289: The Fish and the One Who Fishes
Many factors determine the outcome of a war.
As the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi has always strived to foresee every possibility before taking action.
She would deduce all the potential developments of an event, then formulate corresponding solutions.
Relying on this method, she had managed Watatsumi Island with perfect order, even winning over many of those who once doubted her.
But in front of Bai Luo, she finally understood what true helplessness felt like.
She had anticipated countless things—but she had never anticipated that Battousai and the Ausbilder were the same person.
And that became the fatal blow—not just to her, but to Watatsumi Island itself.
It wasn't a matter of negligence.
It was simply that Bai Luo possessed overwhelming advantages in intelligence.
He understood perfectly the pressure placed upon the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island.
When someone appeared who possessed significant prestige but posed no threat to Kokomi's position as Divine Priestess, she would naturally support that person with all her strength.
And at that moment—that little fish had already taken the bait.
All she could do was helplessly follow the fishing line in Bai Luo's hand.
Until she eventually fell completely into the net.
In short, Bai Luo is absolutely the kind of scumbag who tricks good girls into trusting him.
"I heard you've handed all of Watatsumi Island's affairs over to Sveta?"
Walking to Kokomi's desk, Bai Luo placed a hand on the table and leaned forward slightly, gazing directly into her eyes as he spoke softly.
From their positions, he should have been the one in the weaker stance—as the "guest."
But the aura he radiated instead crushed Kokomi, who sat in the host's seat, making it hard for her to even breathe.
"The Fatui soldiers only follow her orders. I had no choice but to give her authority. Besides… isn't this what you all wanted?"
Forcing herself to remain calm, Kokomi gave her explanation.
She knew very well: the more she panicked at a time like this, the less she could seize even a shred of initiative against Bai Luo.
Not that she still had any initiative to begin with… But that didn't stop her from trying—just a little.
"But I seem to remember giving you the authority to command Sveta, didn't I?"
"Did you?"
"Didn't I?"
"..."
Whether he did or not, Kokomi would never dare use that authority recklessly.
After suffering losses at Bai Luo's hands before, she now analyzed and dissected every one of his actions for days before daring to take any step.
Otherwise… she feared she would suffer again.
Lose Watatsumi Island.
Lose herself.
If she continued losing, she might have to change her name from Sangonomiya Kokomi to Bai Kokomi.
Hmm? Why "Bai"?
For those unfamiliar with Inazuma customs, in Inazuma, women take the husband's surname after marriage.
"You've been doing things in secret—I more or less know about them. But I won't stop you. After all, survival is instinct."
A dagger—cold and sharp—appeared in Bai Luo's hand.
He gently placed its tip beneath Kokomi's chin as he continued softly:
"But tell me… The 'survival' you've chosen—is it truly a path to life?"
Did he actually know what Kokomi and her people were doing?
In truth—no.
Even Sveta and her team, after investigating for so long, still couldn't learn what the Divine Priestess had been doing whenever she disappeared.
He had just arrived on the island—there was no way he could truly know.
But he could guess.
They were absolutely trying to break free from the Fatui's "control," and make Watatsumi Island "great again."
Hmm? What if that wasn't the case?
How could that be?
Were they secretly discussing what present to give him for his next birthday?
Giving Kokomi to him?
Hmm…
Well… that wasn't unacceptable.
But regardless, his words were more than enough to intimidate Sangonomiya Kokomi.
From your point of view, it might look like Bai Luo was merely using clever tricks—easy to see through.
But from Kokomi's perspective, Bai Luo was a demon who could foresee the future.
His intellect, his strength, his influence, his control over the situation—he was flawless in every aspect.
Even maintaining the simplest eye contact with him felt like he could see every corner of her mind.
Her life had been short, but she had faced many individuals worthy of being called her opponents.
Bai Luo was unquestionably the most terrifying opponent she had ever encountered.
"Do you know what fish do when they encounter a powerful predator?"
Feeling the cold blade beneath her chin, Kokomi stared up at Bai Luo and stubbornly asked this question.
"Huddle together. The weak gather, forming a massive school of fish to resist the stronger predator."
Bai Luo chuckled softly as he spoke the words Kokomi had left unsaid.
Her eyes widened again.
Even if he was only guessing, how could he guess her thoughts so perfectly?
Was he really reading her mind?
Of course he wasn't.
That line was simply from Kokomi's official demo video.
Bai Luo had memorized it and was now repeating it.
But to Kokomi, his accuracy was chilling.
"A school of fish can indeed scare off most predators, even tear apart a fisherman's net. But have you considered—what if the school's opponent is a whale, or something even bigger?"
The stark contrast between Bai Luo's pitch-black attire and Kokomi's bright colors made the two of them look like shadow and light.
Bai Luo withdrew the dagger and stepped beside Kokomi.
Leaning down, he brushed a strand of hair away from her temple, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered:
"To such a sea monster, no matter how large the school of fish is, it's nothing more than a dinner. In fact… gathering like that might make them easier to swallow."
"..."
Kokomi's breathing grew shallow.
Feeling his breath on her ear, the tips of her ears turned red.
But she had no idea how to refute his words.
"Fish think that once they leave the tank, they'll finally be free. But have they considered that outside the tank might not be the vast ocean, but endless dry land?"
"And then all they can do is lie helplessly on the ground… and dry into a lifeless husk."
Playing with Kokomi's ponytail between his fingers, Bai Luo spoke in a casual tone.
But in truth, he was laying out the fate of Watatsumi Island in a metaphor.
If he didn't take control of Watatsumi Island, then yes—the island would still be "supported" by those mysterious benefactors.
But they wouldn't give food or hope like Bai Luo did.
Instead, they would bring Delusions—things called "hope" but truly despair.
One by one, young people hungry for strength would lose their lives.
Even knowing that continued use would kill them—
Strength… once attained, is never easy to give up.
. . . . .
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