"Eh? Eh eh? The Chancellor… just died like that?"
"Yup, Dead."
"The Chancellor… really just died like that?"
"He's really dead."
Sangonomiya Kokomi frowned in silence for a long moment before carefully asking, "Why don't you reconsider?"
"It must feel rough, right? When I was young… ahem, when I first read this part of history it felt sudden too. Before Wuzhang Plains, I always thought Shu Han was the protagonist of the Three Kingdoms, but even if it was written as a novel, it's still history—people in history die. No one can stand on that stage forever."
"…'Before his army could triumph, he died. This forever wets the heroes' sleeves with tears.' With the chancellor gone, it feels like there's not much worth reading afterward."
"If we only judge by stratagems, there's still Sima Yi faking illness to trick Cao Shuang, and Jiang Boyue's one trick that ruined three virtuous men—"
"Stop! Please don't spoil it for me, I'll read it properly!"
One night had passed since visiting Kujou Masahito. Even though the odds looked high no matter how he calculated it, Victor Wang still felt a bit restless without a definite reply.
If things really didn't work, he'd have to trigger the contingency: if Kujou Masahito wasn't transferred as expected, they could spread public opinion linking Kujou's filial acts with the Fatui (not exactly a rumor) to shake the Shogunate Army's morale, then coordinate with Yashiori Island's islanders to smuggle and storm the place—though Kokomi disliked tactics with high casualties…
Just as Victor Wang was thinking this, there was a commotion outside.
"Report—! Lady Sangonomiya, Mr. Victor Wang, the islanders of Yashiori have brought the latest intelligence!"
"Good timing. Tell us!"
"Last night there was a stabbing incident in the Shogunate Army camp. The army searched Yashiori Island all night with torches—it seems an important person died!"
"Excellent! Scout again and report back!"
…
"Report—! Lady Sangonomiya, Mr. Victor Wang, the islanders and scouts from Nazuchi Beach have brought the latest intelligence!"
"Good timing. Tell us!"
"Just now, Shogunate Army General Kujou Masahito left the camp with only a part of his retinue and boarded a fast ship heading toward the Kujou estate!"
"Good!"
Victor Wang clapped once in satisfaction at his plan's success, then turned and said, "Lady Sangonomiya, it's our move."
"So soon?"
"Yes—it has to be this fast. It proves the information I squeezed out of Nathan is true. Only someone of that standing could have Kujou Masahito pulled away so hurriedly."
Reluctantly putting down Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sangonomiya Kokomi rubbed her arms and stretched. In her heart she nursed a decadent little desire: Waaah… I don't want to move at all… If only work could all finish by itself, how wonderful would that be!
These days she felt as if that dream was coming true.
But no matter how much she daydreamed, she could still snap back to reality when needed.
She planted her hands on the table, rose up with fierce determination, and added quietly in her head: Now, the Shogunate Army will face a fully charged Sangonomiya Kokomi!
"All right, then we act! Let me think… according to the plan, you'll operate alone again this time?"
"That's right. After Kujou Masahito leaves Yashiori Island, because the island's troop deployment hasn't changed, the successor has a 90% probability of him not bringing many troops. That gives me a chance to hold them off alone."
"But there's still the chance the successor will reinforce the troops—if that happens, you'll be in danger."
"I'm only one person; if I can't beat them, I'll retreat. It mainly depends on your progress—the sooner you finish, the sooner I can withdraw. So, no problem, right?"
"Your wisdom combined with mine—there won't be a problem."
...
"Report—! General Haimon, bad news! The rebels are launching a massive assault on Yashiori Island!"
"Such a sudden move… could they have learned that the general had left? Hmph, so what. This is a matter of hard power—if we can't beat them, we simply can't. With their pitiful numbers and broken equipment, what can they do?"
General Seigen Haimon waved his hand casually. "Issue my orders. All troops follow General Kujou's deployment and prepare defenses. When the rebels cross the sea and land they'll be exhausted; drag them into a war of attrition, sap their strength, wait until they flee in disorder, then pursue and wipe them out! This time we'll bag them all!"
"Yes!"
…
"Report—! General Haimon, the rebels are numerous this time; the sea is full of their ships, but they haven't attempted to land yet."
"A feint? What are they trying to do? Scout again and report!"
…
"Report—! General Haimon, the civilians of Yashiori beg to switch the guards of the Tatarigami ward—they say they're afraid some guards are Fatui spies…"
"Why bother with them. Fight the battle first, we'll discuss it after."
…
"Report—! General Haimon, the civilians of Yashiori strongly insist on switching the guards of the Tatarigami ward—they say… they say they saw those guards meeting privately with the Fatui…"
"Is this true?!"
"Your subordinate doesn't know…"
"Why didn't they say it sooner on such a big matter!"
"Should we switch per their request?"
Seigen Haimon's fingers tapped rapidly on the table as he weighed the pros and cons, then ordered, "Choose a group of trustworthy men and swap them out as quickly as possible. Lock the replaced guards in the prison. Above all, do not let the original guards discover it before the operation succeeds!"
"Yes!"
…
"Report—! General Haimon, the civilians of Yashiori say… say some of the replacement guards also met privately with the Fatui…"
"Damn it! Are those people mocking us?"
"What should we do?"
"…I told you to pick trustworthy men. You didn't pick the wrong ones, did you?"
"I—I chose old soldiers. If even they can't be trusted, then who can?"
"Then go back and tell those troublemakers the ward guards cannot be affiliated with the Fatui. Put them at ease. And if anyone spreads false reports again, they're surely bought by the rebels—throw them all in prison!"
"Vice General… what if, I mean what if one of the guards really was bought by the Fatui?"
"Then we all die together—don't be a coward! Now go!"
…
"Report—! General Haimon, a short, big commander of the rebels shouted before the lines: their envoy who came days ago handed over a list of supposed Fatui moles in our army, and they're disappointed none have been punished… additionally, they're very disappointed about the death of an important Fatui witness in our camp…"
"A list…?"
As the vice general personally promoted by Kujou Masahito, Seigen Haimon had been present the day the Watatsumi Island envoy came—but after Kujou Masahito saw that letter, he sent everyone away.
"General Haimon?"
The messenger looked at his reaction expectantly. Though he didn't dare ask outright, the meaning was clear—did this really happen?
Seigen Haimon calmed himself, suppressed extra emotion, and said firmly, "The rebels are trying to shake our army's morale. Pass it on: enemy words are not to be trusted! Fine… I'll go to the front myself."
Doubt lingered—Seigen Haimon doubted too—but no matter the suspicion, one must not lose composure. Even if he had to act, he would continue to act.
…
"Last night, that Fatui sent from Watatsumi Island died mysteriously in the camp… might someone had secretly silenced him?"
"That's not a maybe—they already made a move. It's a fact. Didn't you see General Kujou was urgently pulled back?"
"Why is it 'pulled back' now? I heard General Kujou discovered something and returned to investigate of his own accord?"
"Are you stupid? If he returned to investigate, would he leave so hastily without his personnel?"
"Anyway, 'pulled back' is more believable. Who can call General Kujou back except the Tenryou Commissioner and the Raiden Shogun. You mean they conspired with the Fatui to pull Kujou back and stop the investigation?"
"Shh! That's your opinion; don't drag me into it!"
"You really think that way?"
"Regardless, the facts are: General Kujou left that blond behind, that blond died, and General Kujou departed. As for an internal mole in our camp—that's also a fact."
"I admit the first three, but the fourth—couldn't it be a Fatui assassin? How can having an internal mole be a fact?"
"Half an hour ago, the original ward guards were swapped out and locked up. Didn't you know? Those Yashiori civilians saw them meet privately with the Fatui. You can't judge a man by his face!"
When Seigen Haimon arrived at the front, the talk among soldiers who hadn't yet noticed the people behind them was all like that.
If the island ward is destroyed, everyone will suffer, so when they first heard the civilians' false intelligence, however hesitant, they had to reluctantly accept it. I swapped a batch, and they still say there's a problem—are they kidding me?
But now it's too late to free those people. If they're innocent, why were they locked up the first time?
Even if explained, it proves one thing: the command suspected them.
Soldiers are a pack; commanders are watched closely. Any movement will be magnified tenfold by the troops; once the seed of doubt sprouts in their hearts, it's hard to eradicate no matter how hard you try—like now.
Couple that with the facts that Kujou Masahito had met the Watatsumi envoy, the Fatui blond died, and Kujou Masahito left—mixed with enemy lies—no one can tell the truth anymore.
But what does that matter?
"Hey!!!"
Seigen Haimon shouted, drawing the attention of soldiers on both wings who hadn't noticed him, then strode to the front and shouted to the opposing side, "So what if we colluded with the Fatui?!"
Both armies erupted in stunned noise.
"The orders to hunt the visions are the Raiden Shogun's will!"
"If you resist the Vision Hunt Decree, you're rebelling against the General!"
"We are the Tenryou Commission's hounds and the General's blade. We bear the General's favor; our sole duty is to die for the General!"
"Even if we conspired with the Fatui, so what?"
"As long as it's the General's goal, isn't it right to use any means to achieve it!"
With those words, Seigen Haimon restored the Shogunate Army's morale.
Yet it was a fragile illusion.
A person stepped out from behind Gorou. "Even if the Fatui try to wreck the island's ward, intending to make those on the island—including you—suffer from head-to-toe decay, hair and teeth falling out, flesh rotting inch by inch until the entire body melts to death?"
Previously the Shogunate Army didn't know how terrifying the Tatarigami was; they only knew to guard the ward. Hearing about it without seeing it felt abstract… but that thing was right behind them, ready to erupt at any moment—now that's terrifying.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Kaji, a miner. Whatever tactics you and the rebels use don't concern me, but my family has tended to the Tatarigami since my ancestors. So, this concerns me."
Kaji drew a uniquely designed spear of exceptional quality and stood it upright beside him, then continued: "My ancestors were of the 'Kitain' lineage. Since ancient times, we have been tasked with eradicating malevolent deities. For generations, my family has served here as the 'Guardians of Yashiori Ward.' Did you know the wards on Yashiori Island were erected by the Ogosho herself? To destroy these wards is tantamount to rebellion against the Ogosho!"
"Hmph…! How could we ever rebel against the General! After all, aren't we guarding the ward? The Fatui's claim that the rebels want to destroy it is false!"
"Then where has your commander run off to?"
The Shogunate Army rose in a louder clamor than before.
Seigen Haimon looked left and right; his authority already slipping, he had to blurt out an inside piece of news to steady the troops: "General Kujou was merely recalled to the Kujou estate. Lady Kujou Sara will lead us to victory afterward!"
"Then why was your general recalled?"
"Pfft…!"
Kaji's words hit the sore spot. As Seigen Haimon stood speechless, another person emerged from behind Gorou.
"Are you really sure Kujou Masahito was merely recalled?"
"Sangonomiya Kokomi? What do you mean!"
"Do you want to know why we've been surrounding you without attacking?"
"Stop playing coy!" Seigen Haimon ground his teeth.
"Because there's no need to fight. We're here to persuade you to surrender… Would news that Kujou Masahito was executed make you more shaken?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Kujou Masahito is the eldest son of the Tenryou Commissioner—who in Inazuma besides the Raiden Shogun could touch him!"
"…Heh."
"Answer me!"
"Your general is the Tenryou Commissioner's eldest son—how many people in all of Inazuma can recall him?"
"…Impossible… no way!"
"If, as you say, Kujou Masahito was only recalled, how long would it take his successor to reach here? If Kujou Sara left the Kujou estate, she could be here in half a day; even from Narukami Island, a day would be enough. How much time has passed now?
"..."
"The Fatui want to destroy Yashiori's ward to cause heavy casualties, prolong the war, and profit from it—that's naked malice, placing your lives at risk. If even Kujou Masahito was executed for investigating this, whether or not you'd be moved to protect him at the cost of your own life, think of your own lives."
"..."
"Oh dear, I know you might not trust me, but time will prove everything. Please everyone, remain calm and wait patiently… we can afford to wait."