After handing the Bloodbranch Coral to Sangonomiya Eigetsu for safekeeping, Reisen Riou sat with her to plot how to trap more Khaenri'ahns in Enkanomiya with minimal cost.
Executing a conspiracy was always tough, but Reisen wielded both covert schemes and overt ploys.
If the covert failed, he'd switch to overt.
The overt plan was simple and effective: have Shrine Maiden Izumi prod Khaenri'ah, dropping bits of Enkanomiya intel now and then.
These tidbits did speed up their progress, but lured them into pouring in more manpower and resources without realizing it.
Like now—another batch of Khaenri'ahns was drafted to hunt for Abe Yoshihisa's lingering Sin Shadow.
A month and a half since Khaenri'ah entered Enkanomiya, they'd finally secured the "Bloodbranch Coral" Izumi needed, at the cost of many wrecked war machines.
In return, Izumi tipped them off about Abe Yoshihisa's possible Sin Shadow.
That nearly drove the Khaenri'ahn commander wild with excitement. Heaven knows, after countless trials, they'd repaired the badly damaged Three Realms Towers, relighting Dainichi Mikoshi.
But other Sin Shadows revealed that Byakuya's nobles destroyed Dainichi Mikoshi's blueprints, and even wise Abe Yoshihisa was killed.
The commander's mood upon hearing that? Like a ton of iron hammered his skull. Not good.
Yet, a glimmer of hope—Abe Yoshihisa's Sin Shadow might exist.
Even if they couldn't get full blueprints, some technical scraps would be a massive win.
Gazing at Dainichi Mikoshi, glowing like a true sun, the commander's heart blazed.
Its light weakened the deep-sea dragon-lizards.
Suddenly, Izumi seemed downright lovable to him.
"Scouts report over 8,000 Khaenri'ahns in Enkanomiya now. Less than 3,000 remain in logistics camps, transit camps, fleets, and covert spies. Most war machines are inside," Banjiao Nisei reported to Reisen. "My lord, it's time to close the net."
"Then… let's close it," Reisen said.
Nisei and Izumi, under the guise of escorting the "Bloodbranch Coral," had returned to Watatsumi. All fifty-plus real Sangonomiya soldiers who entered Enkanomiya were withdrawn with the escort.
Every "Sangonomiya soldier" left was a Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade agent in disguise.
They'd plant talismans to amplify the Perfect Barrier before it sealed.
Before leaving, they'd use Reisen-issued sigils to pass through the barrier.
Reisen would sustain the barrier with his elemental power until they were out. Once they left, he'd link it to the ley lines and Enkanomiya's raw elemental forces.
Then, he'd eliminate the Khaenri'ahns outside and seal Enkanomiya's passage, cutting it off from Teyvat to drift in the Three Realms.
Time flew to the end of Enkanomiya's second month.
At Serpent's Bowels' transit camp, knights chatted: "With Dainichi Mikoshi lit, those dragon-lizards are getting weaker. They used to match Tiller mechs; now we could spar them ourselves."
"Hm? Who's that?"
"Looks like Sangonomiya soldiers and samurai. Let's see what they're up to."
One knight returned soon.
"What'd they say?" another asked.
"No big deal. Sangonomiya ordered them back for a shift change," the knight said.
"Lucky bastards, getting shifts. Unlike us…" a knight sighed. "Wait, another kid? …Fine, I'll ask myself."
He sized up the young man. "Which unit are you? What's your business?"
"I'm Yuenjou, archaeology scholar. My teacher's documents got mixed up at the logistics camp. I'm to sort them," Yuenjou said, flashing a pass. "Here's my clearance."
"Alright, go."
"Where's that kid from?"
"Archaeology team," the knights resumed their chatter.
Yuenjou hurried off with his pass, greeting a few Sangonomiya soldiers on the way before parting.
"That guy's an archaeology scholar, right?"
"Enough talk. Finish planting the last talismans."
The "Sangonomiya soldiers" whispered, setting talismans as they moved.
"This section's done. Signal the Brigade Leader," one said, nodding and crushing a talisman.
Reisen, ready outside, turned into a bolt of lightning and appeared at Enkanomiya's entrance.
"Barrier Technique! Perfect Barrier!" he chanted, a solid Electro orb spinning beside him to aid the spell.
"Barrier! Formed!"
The Perfect Barrier sealed Enkanomiya's exit.
"Retreat," Reisen ordered. The Brigade agents, disguised as Sangonomiya soldiers, passed through the barrier with sigils, assembling before him.
"Brigade Leader."
"Well done. But the next task is heavier."
"Everlasting Path, Eternal Narukami!"
"Leave this to me. I'll link the ley lines and primal elemental forces."
The conspiracy and overt ploys unraveled in half a day. Khaenri'ah's daily supply and repair shipments tipped them off.
First, Serpent's Bowels' transit camp noticed the logistics team was late.
Checking the passage, they found a massive barrier blocking it. Tiller mech attacks failed, so they reported to the commander.
"You're quick, Khaenri'ahns," Reisen said, facing their commander. "But even gathered here, you can't change a thing. You'll be trapped until you perish."