Reality — Plane of Euthymia.
Yae Miko was running for her life.
Behind her, Raiden Ei's eyes blazed with crackling lightning. She gripped her naginata tightly, the air splitting as arcs of thunder slashed toward the fleeing kitsune.
Each bolt was enough to terrify even a god.
"Miko! If you've got any guts—stop running!"
Ei's teeth were nearly grinding into dust.
That damned Miko—what a vile fox!
Her personality was far too wicked for her own good!
"Instead of wasting your energy chasing me," Miko called back, laughing, "why not look at what's happening in the video? The Tenryou Commission's working with the Fatui, the Kanjou Commission's betrayed the Shogunate—and the Yashiro Commission's Kamisato clan? From a certain point of view, they've betrayed you too~"
Her voice practically dripped with schadenfreude.
"You—!" Ei's fury surged like a thunderstorm.
She knew now that her policies had been wrong.
But what truly enraged her was that the Vision Hunt Decree had been instigated by the Fatui!
From Scaramouche's own words in the earlier video, it was clear that the decree had been a deliberate Fatui scheme—to create chaos, to promote the use of Delusions!
Her instincts screamed that there was a deeper plot hidden beneath that…
But it no longer mattered.
What mattered now was that both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions had betrayed her.
And that betrayal made her blood boil.
The Raiden Shogun was rigid—unyielding in her pursuit of Eternity.
Once that rigidity was exploited, as Scaramouche had said, the nation would collapse from within.
"Unforgivable…"
Murderous intent surged through Ei's heart.
Yet amid that rage was shame—shame for her own creation.
If only her puppet had been more flexible, more adaptable…
But how could one who was herself inflexible create something that surpassed her own nature?
"…Hah."
Ei sighed, dismissed her weapon, and focused on the glowing screen again.
In the video.
Kujou Sara had appeared behind Lumine without anyone noticing.
"The Vision Hunt Decree was the Shogun's decision. I have no complaints," Sara declared firmly.
Yae Miko only shook her head in regret.
"Such loyalty—wasted upon the times. Should I call you blind, or clear-sighted?"
"What do you mean by that, Lady Guuji?" Sara frowned.
"The decree was nothing more than a misguided policy, born of the Fatui's manipulation—convincing the people of Inazuma to surrender their own aspirations. And the one who deceived Her Excellency… was none other than your own master, the head of the Tenryou Commission."
Sara froze. "Are you saying—the Kujou Clan betrayed the Shogun?!"
"You understand correctly." Miko nodded.
Sara's voice turned cold. "Lady Guuji, your accusation is both dangerous and absurd. The Three Commissions have always served the Shogun loyally. We harbor no treason."
"I was adopted by the Kujou family. I know them well. Lord Kujou Takayuki has always been devoted to the Shogun and to the ideal of Eternity—more so than anyone alive. His reverence for Musou no Hitachi far surpasses my own. He would never betray Her Excellency!"
Seeing that words alone wouldn't convince her, Miko said calmly,
"Then come back in three days. I'll have proof for you then."
Sara agreed—confident that her adoptive father would never betray the Shogun.
In three days' time, she'd return to arrest Lumine and Paimon.
Meanwhile, Miko had only three days to call in… a certain "professional."
[Kujou Sara]: Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
[Kaeya]: Maybe the truth's just been buried deep. Between the Kujou Clan and Miko, I'd sooner believe the Guuji—she's clearly no fool. Can't wait for the fireworks! (mischievous grin)
[Heizou]: We did hear that any proposal from the Yashiro Commission gets shot down by the other two. Looks like the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions have been in bed together for a while. I can understand the Tenryou doing it for profit, but why the Kanjou? They already control the nation's finances!
[Paimon]: Wait—why wouldn't the Kanjou need more Mora? (confused)
[Kokomi]: The Kanjou oversee the economy of all Inazuma. If they wanted to profit, they could easily do so through their own channels. Why, then, side with the Fatui? There must be a deeper motivation.
[Lumine]: From what we've seen, the entire Tri-Commission has betrayed the Shogun. The Shogunate's full of cracks—Raiden Shogun really is all alone now.
[Kamisato Ayaka]: Miss Lumine! Don't say things like that!! (panicked)
[Kaeya]: Come now, Lady Kamisato—secretly aiding a wanted criminal is betrayal, isn't it? You're trying to abolish the Vision Hunt Decree—directly defying the Shogun's will! Better brace for a Musou no Hitotachi! (Hu Tao·smirk)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: (trembling)
[Gu Chen]: Right now, the only one truly loyal to the Shogun seems to be Kujou Sara. But given that the decree itself was wrong, she's probably suffering the most.
[Kujou Sara]: It doesn't matter. Whatever the Shogun wills, I shall support.
[Raiden Ei]: And what if I were the one asking? (Shenhe·stare)
[Gu Chen]: Test time—if the true Ei's will conflicts with that of the puppet Shogun, who would Miss Sara obey? (waggish)
[Kaeya]: Ooh, classic divide-and-conquer! (meme grin)
[Venti]: If she obeys Ei, she betrays the Shogun. If she obeys the Shogun, she betrays the true Raiden. (meme grin)
[Yae Miko]: How will you choose, my dear general? (evil smile)
[Kujou Sara]: …You're all terrible. Absolutely terrible.
In the real world, Kujou Sara broke into a cold sweat.
That question made her scalp tingle.
[Kujou Sara]: I can't answer that! (Keqing·refusal)
[Yae Miko]: Well, if you pledge loyalty to me, Guuji, the problem's solved! After all, I serve the Shogun too~ (Yae Miko·smirk)
[Gu Chen]: @[Yae Miko] Openly recruiting the Shogun's loyal retainers—what are your intentions, hmm? (teasing)
[Raiden Ei]: Guuji harbors treasonous thoughts. Such a traitor must be purged! (Raiden Ei·"take my blade")
[Yae Miko]: (Yae Miko·smile)
Miko was delighted.
The once-stiff, expressionless Ei had learned to joke in the group chat.
"Not bad, Ei~ You've really grown." Miko grinned.
"Hmph!"
Ei let out a proud little snort. "But this 'professional' you mentioned—was it that person?"
The screen shifted—revealing a small girl with messy hair and sleepy eyes, looking utterly exhausted.
[Yanfei]: Child labor?! (alert)
[Furina]:Prison time!
[Paimon]: @[Sayu]
[Lumine]: @[Sayu] Wait, are you actually of age?
[Sayu]: Who…? So sleepy… five more minutes…
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