"What did you say?"
Kujou Sara's expression was terrifying.
The servant in front of her lowered his head even further, not daring to make a sound.
The implications of this were enormous.
Even with the Sakoku Decree in place, not knowing how neighboring nations were developing would make them no better than blind men.
Although Sara loyally carried out the Raiden Shogun's orders, she was not blindly devoted. She had thoughts of her own.
If these two countries were growing stronger day by day, then where was Inazuma headed?
And in those reports, there was a repeated mention of a man named Su Han, whose power was rising at a frightening pace.
Could anyone imagine a single person effectively controlling two nations?
He had done it.
Not only that, he had deeply influenced them both.
Sara felt this was something that should be reported to the Shogun.
Yet as she paged through the sections detailing the Fatui's deeds, a shadow crossed her usually crisp, heroic features.
Could the recent unrest in the country… be tied to the Fatui?
"Put these documents away. No one else is to touch them," she ordered. "And since my father is suppressing the information… how did you get it?"
"Reporting to Lady Kujou," the servant said quickly, "it isn't just us. Those newspapers have appeared in several places. I merely collected them all together…"
"So that's it," Sara murmured.
She rose and walked outside.
She did not head to the Shogunate.
Instead, she turned toward Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou.
For nearly two months, thanks to the Sakoku Decree and some of her father's… actions, she had felt it difficult to face that Guuji.
Even when they met, it was usually as the butt of a joke.
She had not expected so much to have changed in that time.
This time, she wanted to ask directly whether the things printed in those papers were real.
That fox would lie when it suited her—but not about something this big.
Two hours later, Sara arrived at Narukami Shrine alone.
Before she could even speak, the shrine maiden Kanzaki Hiiragi smiled and said, "The Guuji has been expecting you for some time…"
"She knew I was coming?" Sara asked, frowning slightly.
Seeing the miko so well prepared, she couldn't help feeling a little unsettled.
"Before you even reached the mountain, the Guuji informed us you would be here," Hiiragi replied.
"I see…"
The tengu general headed further in.
Her face was not entirely calm.
Given what she knew of Yae Miko, it was very likely that today's "intel" had been arranged by the fox herself, then funneled to her under a subordinate's name.
In Yae's room, Sara found her playing idly with a small pet, expression filled with lazy delight.
At the sound of footsteps, Yae glanced back and smiled. "You're here. Sit. I know you have a lot of questions. Ask whatever you like."
"Hmph. So those reports were from you after all," Sara muttered inwardly.
Scheming fox.
Aloud, she only narrowed her eyes.
Faced with the unspoken accusation, Yae set the little creature aside and shook her head. "You mean the intel circulating in the city? I'm afraid those people weren't my doing. I thought you were here for something else. So it was just that…"
"If not you, then who? Those reports are filled with foreign news," Sara said flatly.
"Believe me or don't. I'm only here to answer, not to force you," Yae replied. "If you have a question, ask it already."
Sara had long since grown used to the fox's attitude.
She got straight to the point. "Are the things happening abroad real? And… did my father truly suppress all the intel?"
In the face of this general's directness, Yae answered just as calmly. "If he did, what will you do? March home and kill Kujou Takayuki?
"I'll tell you honestly: Inazuma is not in a good place. The Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission have chosen to collude with the Fatui.
"Reading those reports, you should be able to guess a few things. Of course, you can continue your foolish loyalty and pretend you know nothing."
Hearing that her father and the other Commission head were in league with the Fatui, Sara shot to her feet.
"Do you… have proof?" she demanded.
"There's plenty of proof," Yae said. "But I can't give it to you."
"Why?" Sara asked, unable to understand. If evidence existed, why not place it in her hands?
Yae looked out at the cherry blossoms beyond the window. "Because the time isn't right. If I handed it over now, it would only ruin my plans."
"But… is it really alright to let the Fatui trample lives like this?" Sara pressed.
At that, Yae turned back to study her, genuine curiosity in her eyes. "Hard to imagine hearing something like that from such a stiff, rule‑bound girl. Tell me… what made you change your thinking? I'm very interested."
"The reports say Mondstadt's earlier days were not good at all," Sara replied slowly. "Threats inside and out. The god did not govern.
"But now, their people live in happiness.
"I am not doubting the Shogun's will. I only fear that if the two Commissions provoke that man, the result will be very bad."
As a general of the Shogunate, Sara knew many things.
She knew of a certain Liyue captain who regularly brought overseas goods to Inazuma, earning a fortune every time.
The two Commissions had been endlessly envious, even secretly discussing whether they should… act. In the end, for reasons unknown, they had held back.
But if one day they could no longer restrain themselves, the outcome could be disastrous.
It could become a war between three nations.
That was what Sara feared most.
She had never doubted the Shogun's strength.
But one had to remember: that foreign man was the Anemo Archon's sworn brother—and also Liyue's national treasure.
If a petty scheme dragged him into the conflict, what would become of Inazuma?
Yae's smile faded.
"You seem to know something," she said quietly. "Say everything in your heart. Don't leave out a single word. Otherwise… something truly bad may happen."
Hearing the change in her tone, Sara looked up sharply.
The ever‑smiling Guuji before her seemed suddenly different. Power stirred on her body, pressing down on Sara like a physical weight.
Faced with that serious gaze, Sara weighed her options.
In the end, she chose to speak.
She told Yae everything she knew: the snatches of conversation she had overheard, the problem of the Delusion factory's resource shortages.
Upon hearing it all, Yae Miko cursed outright. "Idiots. Every last one of them. No ambition, no sense. And they still dare play with death."
Of all people they could have targeted, they'd set their sights on Beidou's Crux Fleet.
If something really happened out there, Su Han would surely come.
And right now, he was nowhere near strong enough to defeat Ei.
No. She would have to warn Beidou.
She could not allow an "accident" to happen.
…
In the multiverse mission group:
Yae Miko: "@Beidou… be careful if you come to Inazuma in the near future. The two Commissions' fools seem to want to scheme against you."
Ningguang: "???"
Beidou: "Huh? I'm not planning to head to Inazuma right now. I'll go after a while."
Mona: "What happened, Lady Yae? Those people are causing trouble again?"
Yae Miko: "Kujou Sara told me some things. It seems the two Commissions are plotting something. Just be careful when you travel here."
Beidou: "Two Commissions, huh… I don't really take them seriously."
…
Since Beidou didn't seem worried, Yae let the matter drop.
She had done all she could. Besides, Beidou was hardly easy prey.
Back in the shrine room, Sara rose to leave. "I've been out long enough. I should return… Excuse me."
"Wait," Yae said. "If you get the chance, present those reports to Ei. Whether she reads them or not, make sure they reach her hands."
Without looking back, Sara answered, "I understand."
…
An hour later, Kujou Sara arrived at Tenshukaku.
She laid the intelligence reports and a summary of recent events before the Raiden Shogun.
The puppet did not open them at once.
She remained in meditation.
Only after a long while did she finally break the seal and begin to read.
When she reached the sections about Liyue's changes and progress, a faint shift passed over her face.
Kneeling on the floor, Sara did not notice.
The Shogun read on.
The recent happenings in Liyue were laid out one by one before her.
When she saw that the Geo Archon had chosen to let a human govern his country, her expression changed again.
Then came the section on Mondstadt.
By comparison, those matters were much plainer.
Half an hour later, the last page was turned.
The puppet's features smoothed back into their original, impassive lines.
But within the Plane of Euthymia, Ei was murmuring to herself.
"He actually let a human govern Liyue. And that drunkard… also handed their nation to him. Just what happened?"
If it had been an ordinary matter, it would never have disturbed her.
But this involved two gods.
Even her still heart could not help but ripple slightly.
That was all.
Ei pursued eternity.
She would not be swayed by anything.
A demon god sealed for a few centuries—such a thing she could cut down with a flick of her blade. There was nothing surprising in that.
The reports, in fact, had already been filtered by Sara.
The purification of the Chasm, the Stormterror incident, even the North Wind Wolf's submission—none of that appeared in the files.
But the cooperation between the two nations was documented in full, rich detail.
…
On Watatsumi Island, Lady Sangonomiya Kokomi stared at the latest newspaper in shock.
"Heavens… is this real? That man has defeated another demon god… It's astonishing," she breathed.
This particular demon god's power had been relatively weak.
But a demon god was still a demon god.