Several days later, the second Vision Hunt meeting was convened.
"Everyone, ever since the last meeting I've been thinking. There's one question I can't figure out—why would the Fatui give the Resistance Delusions?"
After the previous meeting, everyone had also been pondering. At first, it was easy to throw out some explanations. But with time, those explanations all seemed wrong. For a moment, no one could answer.
Sangonomiya Kokomi spoke further, voicing her doubts: "The Fatui must know the price of Delusions. If they wanted the Resistance to defeat the Shogunate, they'd know Delusions cannot last—after rising to a peak, the Resistance would inevitably collapse. If they don't want us to win, then why give us supplies at all? And if they just want to prolong the war, then providing supplies without Delusions would make far more sense."
Yes. Looking carefully, it seemed the Fatui's goal in distributing Delusions wasn't really tied to the war at all, since every explanation had contradictions.
Only the ever-cheerful Paimon could blurt out, "Well, we didn't fall for it, right? Let's just ignore them!"
"No. As the military classics say: 'Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster. Know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory there will be a defeat. Know neither, and every battle will end in ruin.' If we can't discern the enemy's true intentions, the army will be in a very dangerous state."
Paimon scratched her head, uncertain if she understood, and asked tentatively: "Uh… so you mean, the Fatui want to fight us too?"
Kokomi gave a wry smile, but still nodded. "In the worst case, we can't rule that out. That's why we must uncover their true reason for handing out Delusions."
"If our actions go against their intentions, they may very well step in to 'correct' us."
"That's exactly what worries me. Seems you and I are thinking the same, Military Advisor."
Victor Wang shook his head. "Shameful to say, this is my dereliction as strategist. I grew complacent just because we stopped the Delusions. This line of thought wasn't originally my own… I know what the Fatui's true aim is. But before I reveal it, could those who aren't part of the council, as well as the guards outside, step away for a while?"
Hearing this, the Resistance official responsible for keeping minutes, along with Guuji Hanasato's personal secretary, both looked to Kokomi. At her gesture, they quietly exited.
Only then did Victor Wang continue. "The Fatui's reason for distributing Delusions to the Resistance is—to conduct experiments. By observing our soldiers, they can better study and refine Delusions."
"Experiments? On the Resistance's soldiers?"
"They tried to destroy the Sealing Wards at Yashiori Island partly for the same reason. After all, they've treated even raw recruits with no shared goal as live test subjects. And as for 'assets' without value, they discard them without hesitation."
His calm words made Paimon flinch. She grabbed Lumine's shoulder, her voice trembling: "Using people for experiments… the Fatui are that cruel?"
"Yes. Not all Fatui are like that… but some are so rotten, even among villains, that the difference cannot be ignored. I can guess who might be that vile."
"So, what you're saying is, from their perspective, we ruined their experiments?" Gorou gritted his teeth, so furious his hair nearly bristled upright.
"They had planned to force the Resistance into relying on Delusions through more… drastic measures. Possibly deploying two Harbingers."
The atmosphere in the council chamber tightened. Kokomi seized on the key point: "You said 'planned'… does that mean things have already changed?"
"That's right. Next, I'll mention someone's name. You may be shocked—but don't be. Someone helped us. That person is… Yae—Big Sister Yae."
"Big Sister Yae…?"
She said it!
Kokomi called her Big Sister Yae!
Yae Miko… why aren't you here to hear this…
"'Big Sister Yae?'" Lumine echoed the name.
Paimon made a strange face. "Wait… the 'Yae' you mean, that wouldn't happen to be the one I'm thinking of, right?"
"That's right. Lady Yae Miko."
"Eh? But you just called her 'sister' a second ago."
"She's both 'Big Sister Yae' and 'Lady Yae Miko'… that part isn't important. What's important is—you're not surprised?"
Paimon spread her hands. "Didn't you tell us not to be surprised?"
"Even if I'm not surprised, I still have questions. Yae Miko is the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine. There's an obvious difference in faith between Watatsumi Island and her shrine. More than just a difference—we're opposed to the Shogunate. Why would she help us?"
And you, Military Advisor—calling that woman 'sister'?
Captain Beidou said you only just arrived in Inazuma on the Alcor. Did you know her before? Or did you grow that close in such a short time… What a dangerous relationship. But… it's good you're not ill-intentioned. It's good… you haven't betrayed my trust.
Kokomi gazed at Victor Wang, her heart caught between lingering fear of an infiltrator, and relief that he was not one—after all, a spy would have no reason to disclose such information. If he meant harm, he'd have already had the chance.
"Let me explain. Actually, Big Sister Yae—ahem—Lady Yae Miko also wants the Vision Hunt Decree abolished.
In Inazuma, aside from the Yashiro Commission, the other two Commissions collude with the Fatui. With the Vision Hunt Decree, the nation is being pushed deeper into the abyss.
Yae Miko is not only the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, but also a familiar of the Raiden Shogun, and her friend. She wants to save the people suffering under the Vision Hunt Decree, save Inazuma itself—and perhaps, save the Raiden Shogun as well.
But because of her position, she cannot openly oppose the decree. Nor can she align herself with the Resistance. That's why she came to me—an outsider.
She was the one who shared intelligence about the Fatui with me. She was the one who traded a heavy price to force them to abandon their plan to attack the Resistance—and even abandon the Delusion Factory.
The Delusion Factory was being guarded by the Sixth Harbinger—Scaramouche. But now he's gone. The remaining guards can be handled by a handful of elites. That's what Miko told me.
And, to make sure she's not deceiving us, when it comes time to destroy the Delusion Factory—I'll be the one leading the charge."
…
"The Delusion Factory fell with hardly any resistance…"
"Was that Lady Yae Miko's doing? Did she clear away the two Harbingers for us?"
"If so, we owe her deep thanks."
Standing here, Victor Wang truly felt Yae Miko's predicament.
As the saying goes, hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once. Even now, doubts lingered around her. Without tangible proof, how could others trust her stance? How could they dare stand before the Raiden Shogun?
Only if things played out as before—saving Lumine—could she gain Lumine's unconditional trust. But with that chance gone, Victor Wang would have to step in himself.
He cleared his throat to draw attention. "I spoke with Yae Miko at length. Despite her youthful age, she has helped Inazuma endure until now. She may seem playful on the surface, but in her heart, she truly worries for this nation."
"Is that so?" Gorou scratched his head, uneasy. "Wait… 'youthful age'? I could've sworn my grandfather told me Yae Miko was already Guuji when he was young. And she's a familiar of the Electro Archon, isn't she?"
"Oh, she said that according to the age-conversion method of Liyue's adepti, a hundred of her years count as only one human year. So, by that measure, she's still just a little girl."
"…That has to be a joke."
"Well, that's what she herself said. But young or not, she's spent a long time at the Raiden Shogun's side. She surely knows many things about her. If we could learn from her, perhaps we'd stand a better chance when facing the Shogun. Since our goals align…"
Victor Wang brought the matter up himself. "Right now, the war is in a lull. Lumine—you're the only one among us who has faced the Shogun directly. I've also witnessed your strength in Mondstadt and Liyue. Of everyone here, you're likely the strongest. Though I feel guilty asking—could I trouble you to leave Watatsumi Island for now, and go to the Grand Narukami Shrine to learn from Yae Miko how to oppose the Raiden Shogun?"
With those words, the main burden of resisting Ei was placed squarely on Lumine's shoulders. Because it was so sudden, both Kokomi and Gorou turned instinctively not to Lumine, but to Victor Wang.
"I was already planning to confront the Raiden Shogun—about my brother, and on behalf of those who lost their Visions. If there really is a way to oppose her, then I'll go."
Lumine… I believe in your victory. I believe in it even more than you yourself do. That's why I place this hope upon you… but asking one person to bear such risk still leaves me uneasy…
"Lumine, you can do it!"
"Why say that all of a sudden? Cheering me on? I'll do it!"
"Oh, right. When you see Yae Miko, please deliver a message for me. Tell her exactly this: 'Lady Yae Miko, I did it.' You must use those exact words!"
"Huh…?"
"And let us know if you make any moves!"
"Mm-hm!"
Watatsumi Island passed two quiet days.
No one knew exactly how Yae Miko communicated with Lumine. But in any case, their plan was set in motion—starting with trying to sway Kujou Sara…
The Resistance army stationed on Yashiori Island looked as usual on the surface. But half its elites—the Vision bearers and those who had lost their Visions—had been pulled back. Together with Gorou and Kaedehara Kazuha, they would bypass Kujou Encampment and coordinate with Lumine in a surprise attack on Tenshukaku.
The Alcor temporarily suspended its shipping work. Because of her identity, Captain Beidou would not take part in these operations.
"When you meet Ei, I'll put in a good word for you. But until then—you mustn't reveal yourself."
By Yae Miko's special instruction, Victor Wang obediently stayed on Watatsumi Island.
Everything was ready. Yet he still felt uneasy.
Inazuma's situation had already changed. He didn't know if Lumine would still encounter the Lady, or if Kazuha could still block that fatal strike.
But one thing was certain: Yae Miko would never allow Lumine to fall before she had a chance to sway Ei's will.
So maybe… I don't need to worry too much?
As long as today passes… it'll all be over.