"Our intel shows Khaenri'ah sent four teams to Tsurumi," Reisen Riou briefed. "Third and fourth are alive; first and second are likely gone. The fog's the real killer. We've hired Tsurumi exiles as guides—they'll brief you on local taboos. Here are two Narukami talismans, blessed by the Grand Narukami Shrine, granting protection. Recharge them at the Statue of the Omnipresent God if they run dry. The mission's yours." He handed one talisman to Bankaku Nisei, another to a samurai. "Everlasting Way, Narukami Eternal."
"Everlasting Way, Narukami Eternal," they echoed.
Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade
Size: 42 (4 Vision-wielding elite agents, 20 regular agents, 6 logisticians, 5 junior shrine maidens, 2 boatmen, 3 smiths, 2 tech support)
Affiliation: Inazuma, private unit of Narukami's Recordkeeper
Duties: Crisis response, infiltration, sabotage, enforcement
Assets: 48 armors (including spares), 84 weapons (including spares), 40 bows (including spares), 42 daily supplies, various consumables (arrows, hidden weapons), Mora, rations, 5 spellcraft resources, 30 mineral resources…
Ideology: Skylight
Evaluation: Elite Inazuma task force, capable of handling most standard crises and some small-scale extreme threats—by Resurrection
Watching Bankaku's team sail off, Reisen Riou sighed. "Hope they're up to it."
"No faith in your own trainees?" Raiden Ei materialized behind him.
"I trust them," he said, pulling her close. "I'm just worried they'll spook the snake, sparking a diplomatic mess."
"Khaenri'ah? Let them try," Ei scoffed. She respected the Cataclysm they'd unleash, but not the nation itself—Khaenri'ah wasn't the disaster.
Reisen Riou shook his head. Khaenri'ah, a relic of the Archon War, wasn't so simple. They'd soon mass-produce kin-level super-Tillers. "Best case, we silently eliminate their scholars and knights. But their war machines—too many to handle quietly."
"That strong?" Ei frowned, skeptical despite seeing Tillers in his memories.
He sent her data via electromagnetic waves, calculated from Tiller blueprints:
Tiller
Type: Autonomous humanoid combat machine
Life Level: LV0 (inanimate)
Combat Power: LV45+
Attack Range: 2.5m (melee), 500m+ (ranged)
Abilities: High physical resistance, moderate elemental resistance
Weakness: Energy core
Recommendation: Disable with arrows, then strike.
"Troubling," Ei admitted. She could train LV30+ mortals to LV50+, but LV45+ was rare for regular fighters. "And they mass-produce these?"
"Exactly," Reisen Riou said. "Without the Seven Archons, Khaenri'ah could steamroll Teyvat. Inazuma's soldiers can't match their numbers. Training a samurai takes years; a Tiller's just steel—repairable or recyclable."
Ei went quiet, rethinking her dismissal. Mass-producing generals crossed her mind, but Celestia's wrath—a divine nail—loomed. "Hope they succeed, then," she said.
"Anchor here. We'll scout first," Bankaku Nisei ordered, eyeing the fog. "Gensei, with me."
"Yes, sir," the Ritou boatmen replied, joined by Tsurumi exile crewmen.
"Ready, boss," Gensei said, donning matte-black armor.
Bankaku, never without his armor except to sleep, nodded. He melted into Hydro, Gensei into Cryo, as they glided toward Tsurumi.
"This fog's perfect for Mistveil Technique," Gensei noted.
"Our lord planned it," Bankaku said. "Quiet now—Khaenri'ahns are no pushovers. I'll use Mistveil to scout."
They hit the island. Bankaku cast Mistveil Technique, Gensei bolstering the fog with Cryo. "Supply camp," Bankaku whispered. "Three Tillers, four men, tons of supplies—recently restocked. Bad news: it's near the Statue of the Omnipresent God. Recharging talismans will be tricky."
He paused. "Lots of wrecked Tiller parts. The island's monsters are brutal."
"Withdraw," he hissed. "Hilichurls incoming. Back to the ship."