Yae Miko looked up toward the sky. "Now that we've uncovered two entirely different paths to eternity, I could maintain the status quo, or I could choose to bring her back to the right path, no matter the cost."
"Today, I have chosen the latter. If retreating into the Plane of Euthymia is her way of stubbornly pursuing eternity, then dragging her out of that self-imposed world is my duty as the familiar of eternity."
[Ningguang: Truly worthy of Lady Yae Miko.]
[Zhongli: Lady Yae Miko is Inazuma's good fortune.]
[Paimon: Why do you say that, Zhongli?]
[Furina: Because Lady Yae Miko is the one who truly has the power to save Inazuma. The resistance may have the will, but they are merely pieces on the board, allowing the Fatui to profit from Inazuma's chaos. After all, the resistance's strength can only accomplish so much.]
[Ningguang: But resistance is the only option. Continued silence would only be a slow death. By resisting, by taking a chance, perhaps they can grasp a glimmer of hope.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: Do you think I don't know I'm being used? But this is the only hope we have.]
[Ningguang: This is the Fatui's open ploy. No matter which choice you make, you lose. Only Yae Miko holds the one correct path.]
[Yae Miko: Ah, well... I do understand Ei better than most.]
[Lumine: Inazuma's future rests in Yae Miko's hands.]
[Yae Miko: Ah, saying that will make me blush.]
Paimon remarked, "Lady Yae Miko is a really good friend."
Yae Miko chuckled. "Heh. I only told you all this to help you understand my plan. Don't get too full of yourselves."
"Alright, enough chatting. It's time for the second phase of anti-Raiden Shogun training."
After another lengthy training session, they finally completed the second phase.
Paimon was panting heavily. "Whew... we made it. How was that?"
Yae Miko nodded. "Mm. Quite good. I can see your determination and effort."
Paimon asked eagerly, "So, do you think we can beat the Raiden Shogun now?"
Yae Miko spread her hands. "From what I can see? Not a chance."
Paimon stomped her foot in frustration. "Then wasn't all that training for nothing?"
[Paimon: How could mere training grant the power to defeat a god in just a few days?]
[Yae Miko: The Ei you'll face won't unleash her full divine power either.]
[Yae Miko: That strike capable of tearing through mountains? Ei won't use it lightly.]
[Paimon: So... we just need to beat Ei in martial skill, right?]
[Yae Miko: In theory, yes. But Ei has been devoted to martial arts for millennia, perfecting her skills. Her martial prowess is quite formidable.]
[Lumine: I have confidence.]
Yae Miko smiled. "Don't worry. You're the most important part of my plan. I have my calculations—I wouldn't leave you with no chance of victory."
"Speaking of which, Lumine, what do you think of the resistance?"
Lumine answered seriously, "Honestly? No match for the Raiden Shogun at all."
Yae Miko nodded. "Indeed. Even if they occasionally gain advantages against the Shogunate Army on the battlefield, facing the Raiden Shogun herself with an army whose Visions have been嵌 into statues... well, they might as well be shrimp soldiers and crab generals."
Paimon protested, "Don't put it so bluntly! The Traveler is still the captain of Swordfish II, you know!"
[Arataki Itto: Hahaha! Shrimp soldiers and crab generals! Swordfish Squad! These team names are really vivid!]
[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, you might want to watch out. Sangonomiya Kokomi might come after you for that.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: It's fine. Those words are indeed true. Though... Gorou just left the camp. I wonder where he's going.]
[Arataki Itto: I'm not afraid of a scrawny guy like Gorou.]
[Kuki Shinobu: Boss, have you forgotten? Your Vision was taken.]
[Arataki Itto: Oh right, my Vision was taken. Okay, time to hide.]
Yae Miko crossed her arms and glanced at Lumine. "I'm not belittling them. It's precisely because they are small, precisely because they've lost their Visions, that their will is all the more precious."
"In any case, if the plan proceeds as intended, they might prove somewhat useful."
Lumine asked, "What exactly is the plan?"
Yae Miko didn't answer directly. "Alright, enough for now. I have another guest arriving. Let's return to the Grand Narukami Shrine first and continue there."
---
At the Grand Narukami Shrine...
Yae Miko said, "Alright, let's chat here. Regarding the plan you asked about earlier... I've been pondering it for quite some time."
"Do you know the most important thing before formulating a plan?"
Paimon asked eagerly, "What is it?"
Yae Miko answered slowly, "Understanding the situation."
"The promulgation of the Vision Hunt Decree was clearly instigated by someone exploiting the puppet Shogun's singular focus on eternity."
Lumine agreed. "At the Delusion factory, the information about Scaramouche confirmed this."
Yae Miko nodded. "Mm. That's the best evidence. And think back—the decree's issuance and enforcement have always been orchestrated by the Tenryou Commission, driving its progress."
Paimon added, "Ayaka also said that every time they submitted documents opposing the Decree, the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions immediately vetoed them without discussion."
[Paimon: Inazuma's commissions might as well rename themselves the Fatui.]
[Ningguang: It seems the puppet's discernment is indeed lacking. This could never happen in Liyue—the moment the Fatui approached my people, they'd already be on my radar.]
[Lumine: Using a puppet to handle governance... instead of preserving eternity, it's plunged Inazuma into war.]
Lumine said, "Perhaps the Tenryou Commission is working for the Fatui, and the Kanjou Commission has long betrayed the Shogunate."
Yae Miko continued, "Mm. It's been quite obvious for a while now. Both commissions except the Yashiro have colluded with the Fatui. Hmph, foolish humans blinded by greed."
"So the current situation is this: the Fatui agitators are still present, having won over both commissions while secretly spreading Delusions."
"Unfortunately, shielded by the two commissions and the Raiden Shogun, we still can't flush out the instigator's tail."
[Paimon: That instigator caused so many deaths. We can't let him off easily.]
[Furina: I wonder... does Inazuma have the death penalty?]
[Paimon: Why do you ask?]
[Neuvillette: The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has never issued a death sentence in centuries.]
[Paimon: So the only death sentence was for future Hydro Archon Furina?]
[Furina: Paimon, I'd rather you not bring that up.]
[Yae Miko: Criminals in Inazuma can be sentenced to death.]
[Furina: Excellent. For such grave crimes, only death can atone.]
[Lumine: Teppei...]
Paimon spread her hands. "So what should we do?"
Yae Miko smiled. "Focusing our efforts on Inazumans is always easier to handle."
"I plan to... make someone within the Tenryou Commission defect!"
Paimon was shocked. "Make them defect? What are you talking about? Haven't they already rebelled?"
Yae Miko explained, "Heh. I don't mean defecting from the Shogunate. I mean making a certain individual betray the current Tenryou Commission."
"Using her, we should certainly be able to bring you before the Raiden Shogun once more."
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: As expected of Yae Miko. So this is your plan.]
[Paimon: What plan? I hate riddles!]
[Lumine: She must mean Kujou Sara. From what we've seen, she's not a bad person.]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: Yes. Others might betray the Shogunate, but Kujou Sara never would.]
Lumine pressed, "Stop being cryptic. Who is it?"
Yae Miko replied, "The one currently commanding the Shogunate Army. Every month at this time, she comes to the shrine to pay respects. She's our guest today—and it seems she's already behind you."
Lumine turned and saw Kujou Sara approaching.
Kujou Sara commanded, "Don't move! A wanted criminal dares to appear so brazenly at the shrine? Don't try anything. Come with me to the Commission headquarters quietly. Arrest her."
"Understood."
The soldiers, upon receiving the order, began to advance on Lumine.
Yae Miko stopped them with a smile. "Have you all forgotten? This is the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"If you use force here, who's going to take responsibility for the crime of disrespecting the Shogun?"
[Paimon: I thought Yae Miko would fight Kujou Sara to protect Lumine!]
[Yae Miko: Fighting? Such a crude act. I would never.]
[Paimon: Miss Fox, your martial skills will never improve that way.]
[Yae Miko: Martial skills? I have no interest. My hobby is light novels.]
[Paimon: Well, alright then.]
Kujou Sara narrowed her eyes. "Lady Yae Miko, are you shielding this wanted criminal?"
Yae Miko replied, "Just friends catching up. Hardly 'shielding.' Have your subordinates withdraw first. There are matters we can discuss properly."
Kujou Sara dismissed her men.
Then she turned to Yae Miko. "Then let me ask you, Lady Guuji: hiding a wanted criminal in the shrine—is that not also disrespectful to the Shogun?"
Yae Miko didn't answer directly but smiled. "Still the same as always, Lady Kujou Sara. No one can match your loyalty to the Shogun."
Kujou Sara placed a hand over her heart and answered earnestly, "As a retainer, I am bound to be loyal to the Shogun. As a warrior, the Shogun's realm is what I seek all my life."
"Even if the Raiden Shogun eventually takes your Vision too?" Yae Miko's voice cut through like thunder.
But Kujou replied, "The Vision Hunt Decree is the Shogun's decision. I have no complaints."
[Paimon: She would give up even her Vision. No wonder Yae Miko said that.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: Kujou Sara is the most steadfast executor of the Shogun's will. I have never doubted that.]
[Keqing: Even if the Shogun is wrong?]
[Zhongli: The line between right and wrong is often not so clear.]
Yae Miko sighed. "Sigh. Such sincerity, yet ultimately betrayed by the times. Are you foolish, or the only one still awake?"
Kujou Sara asked, "Please speak plainly, Lady Guuji. What do you mean?"
Yae Miko answered, "The Vision Hunt Decree is nothing but a misguided policy, influenced by the Fatui, forcing Inazuma's people to cripple themselves."
"And the ones who clouded the Shogun's judgment? Your own masters—the Tenryou Commission, the Kujou clan."