"A weak and powerless request," the Khaenri'ahn commander said, but he agreed to Shrine Maiden Izumi's suggestion.
For him, it was still the honeymoon phase with Watatsumi's Sangonomiya. No need to ruffle feathers.
This was their turf. Even if they were no match for Khaenri'ah's forces, they could still cause trouble. The commander didn't want petty issues souring relations.
"Ask them which places they've named," he said, a touch exasperated.
A knight soon returned with a report.
"They haven't named much. Besides Serpent's Bowels, just seven spots: Narrows Street, Dainichi Mikoshi, Serpent's Heart, Evernight Temple, Gidai, Yakuhi's Land, and Yakuoji's Land. Eight total."
"So, Watatsumi's mapping of Enkanomiya is pretty sparse," the commander remarked neutrally.
"We're in B-1 of Serpent's Bowels now, right?"
"Commander, sir… you're…"
"Haha, relax. That maiden's sharp," he said.
Sure enough, Izumi didn't care about the B-1 label. She just wanted a bit of face. The knight smirked inwardly.
Reisen Riou, Izumi, and their group veered off course.
"Greetings, my lord," Izumi suddenly bowed to Reisen—not a subordinate's salute, but a vassal's to their liege.
"Overkill, overkill," Reisen said, quickly lifting her up.
Izumi wasn't his subordinate; such formality wasn't needed.
"Etiquette must be upheld," Izumi insisted.
Clearly, she was Sangonomiya Eigetsu's confidante. Reisen recalled—she'd been nearby, watching, during his… moment with Eigetsu.
"Fine, call me what you want," he sighed, shooting Banjiao Nisei a warning glance: Don't spill. Got it?
Nisei feigned ignorance, like he'd seen and heard nothing.
Man, his lord's game was wild—hooking up with the Divine Priestess herself…
"What did she tell you to do?" Reisen asked, reviewing the mission with Izumi.
"Per our pact with Khaenri'ah, they're to help us complete the Three Realms Gateway Offering to secure the Bloodbranch Coral. But I can tell they're lying—they'll prioritize their so-called archaeology," Izumi said.
"Lady Sangonomiya's orders: we rigged the ritual with extra steps. Once we get the Coral, we'll send it up, leave deadmen to stall, and use secret elixirs to drive Enkanomiya's dragon-lizards berserk."
"That'll draw more Khaenri'ahn soldiers and machines in."
"Then we seal Enkanomiya's passage, trapping them all inside."
Enkanomiya, once Byakuya Kingdom's soil, lost all capacity for normal crops after becoming the abyss.
When sealed, it slips into the Three Realms' interstice.
No ordinary plants grow. Even deep-sea dragon-lizards grow stronger.
The real kicker: the environment shifts to Teyvat's primordial era. Elemental forces turn raw and savage—perfect for dragonkind, deadly for humans.
Surviving that hellscape is near impossible. Even if they do, they'll face beefed-up dragon-lizards.
If they still pull through, Reisen would have to tip his hat—then personally send them to their graves.
He and Eigetsu had agreed: next time Enkanomiya opens, he'd help secure the Coral himself.
In ten years, Watatsumi's new generation would be grown, but green sprouts can't weather Enkanomiya's storm alone. They'd need a guardian.
Reisen nodded at Izumi's rundown. It was his and Eigetsu's plan.
Brutal but simple, which made it damn near foolproof.
The simpler the scheme, the harder to dodge. Reisen was throwing both overt and covert plays, ensuring Khaenri'ah's demise wasn't just swift but painful.
"Keep on it. I need to check the Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade's prep," Reisen said, vanishing—not with Streamlight Technique's flashy speed, but with Stealth Technique and Presence-Vanishing Barrier.
Only that combo let him move like a ghost.
…
At Sangonomiya Shrine, Eigetsu sipped tea while tending to the next heir, her grip on the cup betraying her unease.
This trap against Khaenri'ah? For Inazuma and Reisen, it was just another move.
For Watatsumi, for Sangonomiya, it was a gamble of national fate.
If it failed, Khaenri'ahn war machines would ravage Watatsumi, likely wiping out its people.
Reisen and Inazuma's top fighters could escape. Losses would be minor—some agents, samurai, soldiers. A scratch for Inazuma.
For Watatsumi? Catastrophic.
No wonder she was on edge.
"Look at you, all wound up," Reisen chuckled, grabbing her teapot. "This isn't something you rush. Stay calm. Fretting won't help—it might tip off Khaenri'ah."
"You're slipping. I was here before you noticed," he teased.
"I know, but I'm still worried," Eigetsu said helplessly.