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"In that case, the resistance seems to be the more pressing matter. I shall not take up any more of your time, Lord Su Ran."
Kamisato Ayato rose to his feet, casting a subtle, lingering glance at Ayaka. With his sharp intuition, it wasn't hard to deduce why the strategist of the resistance had made such a request. Clearly, during the time Ayaka had returned home, she had once again made secret contact with the resistance. She must have provided them with more detailed information regarding the dream. How else could one explain the resistance suddenly choosing to sue for peace at this very moment?
While the resistance held a weaker position on the battlefield, they still claimed the moral high ground. The Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree were, after all, detestable policies.
Ayaka, naturally, noticed her brother's gaze. Their lifelong silent understanding allowed her to read the underlying meaning perfectly.
"Sara, what is your take on this?"
Kujou Sara frowned in contemplation. Being asked for her opinion directly made her suspect that the situation was far from simple. She didn't believe for a second that someone with the power to defeat the Raiden Shogun would fail to see the nuances of this matter. Was this question a test of her own judgment?
"My Lord, I suspect there is more to this than meets the eye."
"Such as?"
Su Ran stared fixedly at her, prodding for more.
What exactly was so suspicious? What reason could possibly drive Kokomi to give up her resistance efforts so abruptly?
"It is likely because the resistance has suffered too many defeats. If they continue to clash with the Shogunate, they are bound to be the ones who lose the most."
If the conflict persisted, Watatsumi Island's limited supplies would never hold out. They were simply no match for the Shogunate's resources. Sara arrived at this conclusion based solely on the consequences of the war. She failed to consider the influence of a third party. While Watatsumi Island couldn't source supplies from Inazuma proper, the Fatui had been covertly supporting the resistance to keep the region in chaos. Without that interference, the meager forces of Watatsumi Island could never have traded blows with the Shogunate's army—let alone claim the occasional victory.
"A sound observation. Since that ornamental fish wishes to see us, we shall grant her an audience. Wait—she intends to see the Raiden Shogun, does she not?"
Su Ran suddenly recalled that, in name, the ruler of Inazuma was still the Raiden Shogun. Who exactly did Kokomi want to meet?
"The strategist only stated that she wishes to meet the current ruler of the Shogunate."
The current ruler of the Shogunate was none other than Su Ran himself. Even Sara could see that the Raiden Shogun hung on his every word. When she had reported the matter to the Shogun yesterday, the only reply she received was: "Wait for Su Ran to return and discuss it then." If even the Shogun deferred to him, what more could she say?
"It seems Kokomi has gathered quite a bit of intelligence. It is a pity we don't know how she came by so much information."
Only a handful of people knew of Su Ran's true status. Aside from the Raiden Shogun, there was the little Shogun and Yae Miko.
Sara glanced at Ayaka, who kept her head lowered with a guilty expression. It was almost certainly her. While Sara didn't know Yae Miko well, she doubted the Guuji, a familiar of the Narukami, would actively sabotage the Shogun. The young lady of the Kamisato clan, however, was highly suspicious.
Watching the corner of Su Ran's mouth curl into an amused smirk, Sara suspected this was just another part of their little game. Considering that, she chose not to expose the truth.
"Sara, go and make the preparations. I am curious to see how that ornamental fish intends to play her hand."
"Understood! As you command!"
Sara prepared to leave the moment she received her orders.
"Wait."
Just as she was about to depart, leaving Su Ran and Ayaka alone, he called her back.
"My Lord... is there something else?"
"Kujou Takayuki has been thrown into the dungeons for colluding with foreign powers and acting against the Shogun. Regardless of his crimes, he is your foster father. You should visit him when you have the time."
"What?"
Sara stood frozen in shock. What had happened? Only days ago, she had watched the clan head attempt to persuade the Shogun to rescind her orders. How could he be imprisoned today? And this information was coming from a source that could not be questioned.
"But... how could the clan head be disloyal to the Shogun?"
As the foster daughter of the Kujou clan, how could she be unaware of Takayuki's devotion to the Raiden Shogun? It was a blind, obsessive worship that rivaled her own. How could he be a traitor?
"There must be some misunderstanding! To my knowledge, the clan head's loyalty to the Shogun is absolute."
Ayaka, too, looked incredulous. While she didn't consider Takayuki a virtuous man, his loyalty to the Shogun had never been in question.
"Is that so? But he was colluding with the Fatui, you see."
"Ah..." Sara fell silent, momentarily stunned.
"But my Lord, aren't you a Harbinger of the Fatui yourself?"
A Harbinger who had conquered Inazuma and now wielded power equal to the Raiden Shogun herself.
"True. That is why the order came from the Raiden Shogun, not from me."
Sara felt the fight drain out of her. If this had been Su Ran's decision, she might have suspected some hidden agenda. But if the command had come from the Raiden Shogun herself, then the matter was set in stone.
"Do not worry, though. While Takayuki has proven disloyal, the Shogun and I have full confidence in your loyalty, Sara."
"Sara... will not fail to live up to the trust placed in me by you and the Shogun."
Sara gave a sharp military salute before walking out of the Tenshukaku, looking utterly hollow.
"Lord Su Ran, is it truly wise to do this?"
Ayaka couldn't grasp his logic. He was a Harbinger of the Fatui, yet he seemed to be dismantling his own foundations. Why act so contradictorily?
"Are you concerned that after doing this, I will be reprimanded by the other Harbingers or punished by the Tsaritsa?"
He reached out, hooking his index finger under Ayaka's chin and lifting it.
"I am delighted that you worry for me, but have no fear. The Tsaritsa will not blame me. As for the opinions of the other Harbingers, I care little for them. My fists are heavy enough to silence any complaints."