"Speaking of which, we overheard someone say the Resistance threatened the Shogunate into retreating from Yashiori Island by sabotaging the warding stones. They also claimed the stones were dangerous. What's that about?"
"Old ginger is always the spiciest… That old fox Kujou Takayuki…"
Seeing Lumine and Paimon both intrigued, Victor Wang had no choice but to explain:
"It all started with a Fatui mole named Nathan… Kujou Takayuki feared Kujou Masahito would uncover him, so he hurriedly recalled Masahito overnight. As a result, the Shogunate was left leaderless, while the Fatui and the wards sparked a crisis of trust. We then spread the lie that even someone of Masahito's rank had been executed for Fatui involvement. The Shogunate collapsed in chaos and handed Yashiori Island to the Resistance.
But unexpectedly, Masahito was recalled because he was investigating the Fatui. And yet Takayuki twisted it into 'Masahito was suspected of collusion with the Fatui, as such he was recalled for questioning.'
Later, their retreat without battle was rewritten as 'the Resistance colluded with the Fatui, using the warding stones as leverage to drive the Shogunate from Yashiori Island.'
And the final twist—Takayuki later turned the statement where Masahito was being suspected of collusion into something that the Resistance supposedly fabricated as slander against him?"
"Wha…" Paimon's head was spinning. "That is the craftiness of being old… Folks on Narukami Island who don't know the truth must all see the Resistance as villains now!"
"Right? He actually managed to whitewash it."
"But then, who wrote that letter exposing Nathan in the first place?"
"Who knows."
"And who killed Nathan?"
"Wasn't me." Victor Wang shrugged, then steered the topic back. "So, these supplies are probably funded by the Fatui as well. We can't let our guard down. If soldiers start acting strangely, or if the supplies seem off, make sure they report it immediately."
In the days that followed, Delusions appeared on schedule.
Luckily, Victor Wang had already hammered into the soldiers the proper path of martial training. And since one side lacked manpower while the other lacked equipment, there were no battles with the Shogunate for the time being. He also warned Gorou and Lumine ahead of time. Thanks to all this, the Delusion crisis was contained, with most soldiers surrendering theirs.
Victor Wang alone collected a massive pile.
One after another, unmounted, they looked like cheap gemstones, nothing like the crystalline clarity of Visions.
All were of the same element—no surprise, given they originated from Orobashi's remains. That gave rise to a hypothesis: Delusions likely channel elemental power by borrowing from a god's innate authority, helping mortals wield what they otherwise could not.
Out of curiosity, Victor Wang tested one.
Even without a Vision, he could feel its brutish simplicity. A Vision binds to a single wielder through spirit. A Delusion needs only to be held, and with a thought, its power flows. No master, no bond. But its elemental force was chaotic, violent, harder to control.
There were similarities, too: both consumed mental strength. But a Delusion also drained life force…
From his trial, the drain wasn't great. But compared with Vision-bearers using Delusions versus ordinary people, Victor Wang reasoned: once mental reserves ran out, the Delusion likely ramped up its consumption of life force.
So, Vision holders shouldn't rely on Delusions long-term—occasional use might be tolerable. For ordinary folk, whose spirits were weaker, it was far too dangerous; life would burn away quickly.
The Resistance held a meeting on the matter.
"The Fatui clearly came with no good intentions. Who knows what they hope to achieve with these Delusions. Thank the Archons our soldiers haven't used them!"
"The Sakoku Decree's still in effect. These Delusions must be produced here in Inazuma. That means a factory big enough, hidden enough, close enough to ship to us—and with a steady supply of raw material…"
The aura from the Delusions felt eerily like that of Shogunate weapons. In Inazuma, the only fitting raw source would be Crystal Marrow of the Great Serpent's lingering power. Sangonomiya Kokomi concluded swiftly: "Few sites match those conditions. Cross-referencing with where soldiers received Delusions, I'd say the factory is most likely on the southwestern coastal cliffs of Yashiori Island."
Gorou leapt to his feet: "Shall we strike and destroy it?"
"Such a vital site must be heavily guarded. Not easily taken. And the Shogunate eyes the Yashiori Island greedily—if we march to the Delusion factory and they swoop in, we may lose everything…"
Lumine suggested, "Maybe send in an elite squad to infiltrate?"
"Too risky. The Fatui all wield devices or Delusions to channel elements. Ordinary troops can't match them. A small force against many—the danger's too great."
Kokomi couldn't risk Watatsumi's gains, nor could she endanger her men. Prevention had worked; no soldiers were corrupted. But the Fatui's scheme was intolerable.
She glanced at Victor Wang, still silent. Little did she know he was deep in another headache.
From the moment he'd arrived in Inazuma, he'd been plagued with them.
The Delusion problem had to be stopped. But doing so raised two dilemmas: whether to deal with Scaramouche, and… the absence of Yae Miko.
Scaramouche wasn't the mastermind, but he executed the plan. After joining the Fatui as a Harbinger, he surely committed no shortage of crimes—and the Raiden Gokaden incident was indeed his doing.
If Lumine hadn't been poisoned unconscious by that god's resentment, perhaps with the Resistance's Vision holders combined, they might've fought him.
But no. Scaramouche's role in what came later was too great. To preserve the advantage of future knowledge, he couldn't be struck down here. In fact, Victor Wang might even need to hand him the Electro Archon's Gnosis. Which only deepened the second problem—Yae Miko's absence.
She should've appeared after Lumine collapsed, trading the Gnosis for her life and whisking her away for "Special Anti-Shogun training." However dubious its results, it kept the story flowing.
But why had Yae Miko shown up just then? How had she known about the factory? And how would Victor Wang push events back on track without her?
Could he just tell her outright: "Hand Scaramouche the Gnosis, then take Lumine away"?
What a headache…
When Victor Wang finally surfaced from his thoughts, Kokomi, Gorou, Lumine, and Paimon were all staring at him.
"…Ah. My view's the same. A large assault risks the Shogunate's counterstrike. An elite raid risks being slaughtered. The Delusion factory is the Fatui's core, maybe even guarded by a Harbinger. Since we've suffered no losses, why not wait until they've finished delivering supplies, then act?"
Best to stall as the Gnosis could wait. When Yae Miko next met Lumine, she already held high expectations of her. If he could just arrange a talk, at the very least, she might take Lumine away…
"You're right," Kokomi nodded. "Free supplies shouldn't go to waste. Once they've delivered everything, then we'll move. In the meantime, let's think of strategies."
Gorou and Lumine agreed. The meeting adjourned.
That night.
"…Priestess, please inform the Guuji that I must speak with her."
Inagi Hotomi recognized Victor Wang immediately. After bowing in gratitude for the Sacred Sakura battle, she added apologetically: "Lady Guuji has been absent these past days. If you need the Guuji, would her deputy suffice?"
"She's been absent…?"
"Yes. Also, forgive me, but your complexion looks poor… and your steps seem unsteady. Are you well?"
"I'm fine… fine… Do you know where Yae Miko went?"
"Lady Guuji has many duties, also running the Yae Publishing House. She often leaves the shrine. This time, she told me nothing. Perhaps the deputy knows."
Victor Wang blinked hard. The three identical figures before him swayed left and right. "Then… please call her deputy…"
"Right away."
The three blurs drifted off, only to return as three more—this time, a shrine maiden with long violet hair, a fox mask, and the red-and-white garb of Narukami Shrine.
She walked with urgency, making Victor Wang's dizziness worse.
"Mr. Victor, are you alright? Your head seems to be swaying…"
"…I'm fine. You must be Hanachirusato?"
"Yes. Since our last parting, Lady Guuji transferred me into this vessel. I still carry Guuji Kitsune Saiguu's memories, so she made me deputy while she's away. Were you seeking her?"
"Yes… yes…"
"Sadly, I don't know where she's gone. She only said she'd be away for some time."
Victor Wang's pale face turned whiter still.
What did this mean?
A wasted trip!
"You're sure you're alright? Your head really is wobbling…"
"Don't mind it… I heard the Sacred Sakura requires periodic Great Cleansing rites. Has that been done? Did it affect you?"
"The Great Cleansing was completed, thanks to Lady Lumine and Lady Paimon. I still exist, all thanks to you and Lady Guuji."
"The mask… why still wear it?"
"Ah." Hanachirusato raised a hand to her face. "This vessel's features resemble the Raiden Shogun's too closely. To avoid complications, I chose to keep the mask."
"As long as nothing's gone wrong… If Lady Guuji returns in the next few days, tell her to wait for me. I'll…"
"You'll…?"
"I'll come back every two days… No, too often…"
Victor Wang covered his face with a hand. The thought of vomiting his guts out with each teleport made him ache. Not just heartache, but tears too—each round trip meant enduring it twice.
"Forget it… I'll just leave her a note."