By the time the victory banquet—nearly ruined by that incident—finally ended, aside from Herring Unit One's drunkards, another few dozen had been caught drinking in secret. Their punishment was, of course, demotions and fines. Quietly, the Resistance's atmosphere shifted.
The Vision-bearers from abroad waited two or three more days on Watatsumi. Once they confirmed the decree was truly abolished—especially after the Tenryou Commission itself returned Visions voluntarily—they almost all chose to leave. For many ordinary soldiers, who believed the Resistance's current strength to be unmatched, this was a crushing blow.
Those outsiders without Visions were in a more awkward position. The Sakoku Decree had forced them here, yet Inazuma's circumstances meant it would take time to abolish it. Unlike Vision holders, they had no special abilities. Returning home branded as former rebels would make survival difficult. And so, this group pinned its hopes on the Sakoku Decree's end—and the coming peace talks with the Shogunate.
As for the Watatsumi natives, even though Kokomi had scolded them, they couldn't help but feel like victory was just within reach. Provisions were plentiful, Yashiori had been taken, even the Shogun had been fought and beaten—it seemed only Kujou Encampment remained…
After tension so prolonged, it was hard to relax. Old and new grudges piled too high to forget.
The Resistance had fought the Shogunate long before Victor Wang's arrival. Even under Kujou Masahito, a cautious general, the fighting had never ceased.
And war always brought death. Both sides had shed blood.
Now, they watched as Vision-bearers abandoned the Resistance. They heard General Lumine say she could not beat the Shogun again. They heard Lady Sangonomiya speak of peace talks… The decree was gone, yet the air grew heavier than ever.
—Meanwhile, on Narukami Island.
After Lumine had awoken her from the Plane of Euthymia, the Raiden Shogun did three things.
First: she issued a nationwide warrant for the Fatui.
After all, she had slain a Harbinger herself. Though she knew the Fair Lady had done nothing good, evidence still needed gathering.
Second: she imprisoned Kanjou Commissioner Hiiragi Shinsuke, and stripped Tenryou Commissioner Kujou Takayuki of authority.
The Hiiragi would need a new clan head. The Kujou might well lose their commission entirely. Yet with the nation in upheaval, this couldn't be rushed. For now, both families' leadership was simply suspended.
Third: she abolished the Vision Hunt Decree and began preparations to lift the Sakoku Decree.
An eternity passed in a dream, and a century was gone. Having shut herself within the Plane of Euthymia, she had gathered only necessary intelligence. The Shogun found herself ill-adapted to the world as it was now. With both Kanjou and Tenryou in disarray, she leaned on Yae Miko for news while handling essential state affairs and revising many policies.
Still, Kujou Sara, who had stormed into Tenshukaku out of loyalty, retained her trust.
Within five days, she was reinstated as general of the Shogunate army.
Within ten, she accepted Kokomi's proposal and herself requested peace talks with the Resistance.
…
"The Resistance right now is like a school of fish swept by a current, drifting toward waters they cannot survive in. The current is so strong that even the lead fish has no time to observe the situation."
"Once peace talks begin, the current will stop."
"But some fish don't want to stop… Those loyal to me, those loyal to Watatsumi, those loyal to the Great Omikami, those loyal to the failed Eastern Expedition… People's hearts are the hardest thing in this world to see through. I'm exhausted…"
"Then cast out bait. Let those fish swim out on their own."
"Don't tell me the bait is…?"
"The Fatui. Just like the sealing wards on Yashiori Island. Let them shoulder the blame. Spread rumors that the Shogunate still conspires with the Fatui. That will draw out the radicals."
"What a coincidence. I'd thought of the same. But what troubles me is—how to sort them more clearly."
"You mean the ringleaders of the radicals? You're right. If we spread the rumors, our own agents will be branded as their leaders… Then let's settle it on the battlefield. In battle, their reactions won't lie."
Kokomi nodded without hesitation. "Then I'll entrust it to you once more."
In truth, the peace talks were already complete.
On the second day after Kujou Sara's return to Kujou Encampment, Victor Wang, carrying Kokomi's will, had privately concluded them with her.
This was much earlier than in the game. But as Kokomi herself had said—the Resistance's advantage was far too great. She had no time to wait on the Shogun's intentions.
To save face, the talks had to appear requested by the Shogunate. After all, whoever spoke first looked weaker.
And so, once more, in the dead of night, Victor soared into the pitch-black skies and landed precisely on Sara's rooftop. After exchanging signals, he slipped through her window.
"You again?"
Sara's tone carried irritation.
Only after losing Yashiori Island had she learned this man was the Resistance's new Military Advisor. To think that such a man would personally scuttle enemy ships and block them himself… And now, to sneak into her quarters at midnight as a messenger? At least this time, she hadn't yet gone to bed.
"There's a change I came to tell you. We're spreading rumors that the Shogunate is still colluding with the Fatui. It'll draw out the most radical in the Resistance. So, during the talks, there may be a staged clash. I'll need you to play along."
"Oh? Then I'll make my own arrangements." After thinking, Sara nodded. "And how long do you plan to drag out the talks?"
"Five days. The rumor needs to ferment. Once their agitation peaks, that's the moment."
Five days passed in a blink. Everything unfolded as expected.
Kokomi's infiltrators even revealed that the "collusion" was a false rumor. Yet those who still demanded war against the Shogunate became obvious targets. And those who tried to break the talks by force stood out most of all.
"Lady Sangonomiya, we've sacrificed too many comrades! If we stop now, isn't all that wasted? Even if I fall, we must keep fighting! We must win it all!"
"I understand how you feel… But you cannot demand that others pay for your feelings. In this war, we've seen defeat and victory. For you, it may be a blazing chapter of passion. But outside the camp, the people who bore the cost of our fight are exhausted. We cannot drag them further."
"But… I—"
"I know. It's not only your fault. I led you to rebellion, yet never taught you how to stop."
"Lady Sangonomiya… we… were selfish. Whatever happens, we'll accept judgment."
"…Then hear me. From today, I establish a special corps to protect Watatsumi's granaries. Any who share your zeal may join. And all who, bound by the Sakoku Decree, cannot make a living even after peace, may join as well."
Faced with the end of the Resistance, Kokomi declared:
"Then go dig the mud."
With the object of rebellion gone, Watatsumi had to shift its focus—to commerce, to farming. The army must shrink, but labor was always welcome.
"As the manuals say: 'Before the soldiers march, the grain must go first.'" The troops were bewildered, so Kokomi patiently explained: "In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions were foiled by supply shortages. Deng Ai, however, built strength by farming, waiting for his chance. Without our own food supply, Watatsumi is forever at others' mercy, like when we relied on the free fleets this time."
The troops understood all too well—meals sparse and unchanging for months on end. Hearing this, they nodded with conviction.
"With elite troops and full granaries, one may seize victory a thousand li away. The Military Advisor has found the means to break our farming curse. But to make Watatsumi self-sufficient will take at least a year or two. It depends on all of us."
Thus, under Kokomi's guidance, the radicals went to dig mud. The outsiders clinging on until the Sakoku Decree's end also joined the reclamation corps. Half the army remained as Watatsumi's guard force, though even they rotated into the mud pits.
Both corps remained under Gorou's command. Kokomi preserved Victor Wang's and Lumine's titles as well, hoping to keep them longer. Lumine agreed to stay a while—but neither could remain forever.
…
"These farmlands mean more to Watatsumi than the end of the Vision Hunt meant to the Resistance. So, we've decided to craft a statue for you. On its base will be carved both your name and the method of cultivation. As for the pose, you may decide yourself."
Victor thought, then posed with both hands resting on his sword before him, back straight, gaze forward.
"Whenever you're free, you'll always be welcome back. Watatsumi will always have a place for you."
"Haha, the Resistance is disbanding, not saying farewell forever. Of course I'll return."
Once Watatsumi stabilized, Enkanomiya would open—and there was still the matter of his promise to Yae Miko. Thinking of this, Victor quickly suggested, "Why don't you come to Narukami with me? We can thank Lady Yae together at the shrine."
"Eh? Now? I really can't leave—and I've prepared no gift…"
"Yae's always been called 'little girl' by her kin, because she looks so young. If someone sincerely calls her sister, that's the greatest gift. But it must be genuine—she'll see through anything false."
"Really…?"
Surely the Military Advisor wouldn't joke about something like this?
Meeting Victor's earnest gaze, Kokomi hesitated before nodding. "I'll remember. Once Watatsumi and Narukami are in closer contact, I'll try it…"