The wheels of the cart pressed over the grass, their turning sound echoing across the plains and sending wild rabbits scurrying for cover. The journey to Inazuma City wasn't long; a warhorse could make it in less than two hours. But for Muramasa's group, laden with cargo, it was a slightly long and tedious affair.
Fortunately, with Kujou Sara's horse pulling the cart, it was far easier than if the two of them had been pulling it alone.
"That mountain… I feel like I can see it from everywhere." Muramasa raised his gaze, looking around. The only thing that stood out on the high horizon was the tall mountain in the distance. A solitary peak was already eye-catching enough, but now he could also see a massive, fox-shaped tree growing on it—something he had never heard of.
Kujou Sara, riding ahead, glanced back and took the initiative to explain. "That is Mt. Yougou, the highest mountain in Inazuma. It's also the location of the Grand Narukami Shrine. As for the tree… that is a personal project of the Guuji."
As she explained, she was also secretly sizing him up. This man reacts as if he's seeing Mt. Yougou for the first time. Not only that, he seems to have never even heard of the Sacred Sakura. Even a tourist visiting for the first time shouldn't be this ignorant.
"I've seen quite a few foxes along the way. So that's why. As expected, foxes are divine messengers everywhere," Muramasa remarked, connecting her explanation to his observations.
"Yes, I've seen the Guuji a few times at festivals. She has a very mysterious air about her…" Hailing added.
But Kujou Sara was more concerned with the word "everywhere" in Muramasa's comment than their conversation. Fortunately, when I sent my men back, I included an observational report on this Muramasa. By the time the letter reaches the Shogun, even in the worst-case scenario, we should be able to control him.
"Hey, Kujou." Muramasa's direct form of address made her frown slightly. However, what he said next forced her to listen.
"That ring of thunderclouds surrounding the nation… has it always been there?"
…
Tenryou Commission Headquarters, Commissioner's Office
The wooden building was ancient and fragrant. Every plank had been carefully selected and cut from the finest timber, still exuding a fresh scent even after all this time. The walls were adorned with priceless antique paintings and works of calligraphy, yet they were hung haphazardly. Various cabinets displayed antique pottery and jade from Liyue; though a few high-quality fakes were mixed in, their overall value was undeniable.
Kujou Takayuki, dressed in a brown hakama, was resting his head on his clenched fist. A bracelet of Radaghan wood, known for its calming properties, was on his wrist. With his eyes closed, he listened to his subordinate report the results of their mission.
"...and that is the situation. In addition, General Kujou Sara had me bring back a written record."
"Read it." He crossed his legs on the chair, impatiently urging the man to continue.
"Yes, sir."
"Upon observation, the individual known as Senji Muramasa is of unknown origin, but his strength is profound and he is shrouded in mystery. He possesses no Vision, yet he can single-handedly defeat a dozen opponents, among whom were individuals capable of wielding elemental power."
"Therefore, I recommend that this matter be reported to the Raiden Shogun immediately, so that she may decide how to proceed."
"Alright, alright…" Hearing this, Kujou Takayuki waved his hand dismissively. "You may go…"
"Yes, sir." The reporting soldier bowed and left the office, closing the door behind him.
"So, what's the deal with this Senji Muramasa? Is this also the work of you 'Fatui'?" Kujou Takayuki slowly opened his eyes, his narrow gaze darting towards a man behind a nearby screen.
"That, we are not certain of. Perhaps it is the work of one of the 'Harbingers'," the man said, spreading his hands as if to say he couldn't possibly fathom the minds of those great lords.
"Hah." Kujou Takayuki sneered contemptuously. "Then your Harbingers are quite 'careless,' to have one of their people cause a mess that lands on my desk."
"If I hadn't intercepted this, and it had reached the Shogun, her thunderous rage… we would all be finished." He slammed the purple pendant from Muramasa onto the table, his expression clearly saying, Explain this.
"Heh, but that's why you're here, isn't it?" The Fatui agent cowered slightly. He was just a liaison, with no real power or intelligence, his only role to bridge communication between the Harbingers and their collaborators. As for being yelled at, it was just part of the job. Since the man wasn't his superior and couldn't dock his pay, he didn't really care. His submissive posture was mostly an act to placate the other man.
"Perhaps I should check with them again?"
"No need." Having vented his anger, Kujou Takayuki had calmed down somewhat. "This man has nothing to do with you."
"But I saw your name, 'Fatui,' written in the report. And now is a critical time. We cannot afford any complications." He stroked the paper in his hand, mumbling to himself.
"I'd love to have him eliminated, but unfortunately… few of my men are a match for him. And Sara is too foolishly upright, unable to adapt. She doesn't understand my good intentions."
He put down the paper and uncrossed his legs. Slipping on his sandals, he paced to the window.
"Forget it, forget it…"
"As long as we handle the Shogun, no matter how capable he is, he won't be able to stop us. After all, no one can defy that 'Musou no Hitotachi'."
As for whether this would implicate the Fatui, that was not his concern. Their relationship was one of mutual exploitation, not a close alliance.
"And what is this thing?" he asked, pointing to the purple pendant. Though he couldn't tell himself, he knew from the report that it could control elemental power.
"It is a type of pseudo-'Vision' manufactured in our nation of Snezhnaya. We generally call it a Delusion."
"We've been conducting some experiments with them recently, distributing them randomly to people who crave power in order to collect data."
Kujou Takayuki's mouth twitched. He fiddled with the beads in his hand. "...Your naming sense is truly terrible. It sounds like a villain from one of those Yae Publishing House novels. Can't you even package it a little better?"
To this, the Fatui agent just shrugged. "I didn't name it." Then, with a flicker of interest, he looked at the cracked Delusion. "May I retrieve this? These test models all have monitoring devices inside. This is the first time I've seen one used until it broke…"
-------
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