"Lord Reisen, latest intel on Khaenri'ah's activities in Inazuma," a Tenryou ninja reported, vanishing after delivery.
Reisen Riou returned indoors, scanning the report. Local networks trumped all in Inazuma.
Khaenri'ah's embassy recently hosted a high-ranking figure.
Unknown individual reached Seirai Island via unknown means, shipping bulk supplies (grain, iron ore, cloth, herbs, elemental potion materials—see attached list).
Khaenri'ahn envoys with valid permits purchased excessive supplies across Inazuma.
Unknown figure departed via Liyue merchant ship, last tracked to Liyue Harbor.
Former pirates on Seirai, likely Khaenri'ahn spies.
A massive ship docked at Seirai last night, resupplied, and vanished. No sightings reported, including Watatsumi Island.
Reisen Riou nodded—this matched his Northern Continent intel. "Gensei Jirou?" he called via comms.
"Yes, Lord," Gensei replied.
"Intel confirmed: Khaenri'ah's sending reinforcements to Tsurumi. Stay covert, accelerate initial sabotage."
"Understood, Lord," Gensei affirmed, a scion of Reisen's old vassal clan.
"Khaenri'ah…" Reisen sighed.
"Great news, Lord Reisen!" Raiden Makoto burst in the next morning, beaming.
"A Tenryou tengu broke through to Great Youkai!" she announced.
"Really?" Reisen Riou's eyes lit up. His efforts bore fruit—a Great Youkai was a rare boon.
"Young tengu finally produced a star," Makoto continued. "The clan's passing the Kageyama Tengu title and leadership to her. Kageyama Mountain's hosting a grand festival. Work hard, Lord Reisen!"
"Sister Makoto, that's your job!" he protested, but she vanished, leaving, "I'll prep—you handle the paperwork!"
Reisen Riou chuckled, diving into the stack. Supercomputer synced, he blazed through, finishing in half an hour—save sensitive military orders needing Makoto's seal. "I'm faster now," he mused, stroking his chin. "Used to take two hours, even with the system. Now, 0.2 seconds per document. Not bad."
"So quick?" Makoto peeked in, stunned at the tidy desk.
"Most done," he said. "These need your seal."
Ei zipped through them, stamping with precision, then dragged him out. Makoto and Reisen Anko joined, heading to the festival.
"This Kageyama Tengu's an old friend," Anko teased en route.
"Tengu friend?" Reisen Riou frowned.
"From your first Narukami Festival…" Anko hinted.
"Oh, the tengu bannerman!" he recalled. "She stood out—didn't expect to hear of her again."
With the Shogunate's blessing, Reisen cast a Cognitive Distortion Spell to blend in. They strolled Inazuma City, grabbing high-end gifts, then flew to Kageyama Mountain.
The ceremony awaited Makoto. She took the main seat, Reisen, Ei, Anko, and Yae Saiguu joining the witness stands. The retiring Kageyama Tengu, successor to Sasa Yuri, recounted the clan's storied past and recent growth, then petitioned Narukami for permission to pass the title. Makoto approved, and the elder handed the Swiftfeather Fan—symbol of leadership—to the new Kageyama Tengu, her old name now irrelevant.
Makoto left the main seat, witnesses followed, and guests blessed the new leader. The festival kicked off.
Under Cognitive Distortion, they rejoined the revelry. Kageyama Mountain hosted few mortal stalls—tengu ran snack stands, including a Great Youkai grilling Crystal Melons. Oni offered games like mud-ball tossing, goldfish scooping, and beetle battles. Stalls sold tengu-crafted Swift Amulets, oni exorcism masks, and odd youkai trinkets. Mortals—shrine maidens, priests, Onmyoji, Sumeru scholars, and their hired mercenaries—mingled. Reisen estimated a hundred scholars, fewer mercenaries. Youkai like Yae Saiguu and Goryou Goma roamed, though Reisen only sensed Goryou's aura—his hiding skills outshone his combat prowess.