"Has a matter of significance occurred?"
The Raiden Shogun looked down at Kujou Sara, who had just entered Tenshukaku. Her expression was devoid of emotion, her voice cold and detached.
Kujou Sara rarely visited the highest seat of power without cause. Every time she knelt before the throne, it was to report a crisis. Yet, in the Shogun's estimation, the current state of Inazuma held no such crisis. Even the resistance rising against the Vision Hunt Decree was a triviality—a matter for the Kujou Clan and the Tri-Commission to manage. She merely needed to issue the directives and await the result.
"Almighty Shogun," Sara began, her voice heavy. "A legendary fleet from Liyue, spearheaded by a vessel forged entirely of steel, has forcibly breached the thunderstorms of the outer seas."
She took a breath before continuing. "The intruder is Captain Beidou of the Crux Fleet. She claimed her arrival in Inazuma was to hunt pirates and destroy ten of their vessels. I made a wager with her: if I won, she would surrender to your judgment. If I lost, she would be free to act."
"And so, you lost."
The Raiden Shogun's gaze remained impassive. "You mentioned a vessel forged of steel?"
A ship made of metal? The concept filtered through the puppet's logic. Is it truly the heavy iron I imagine? Would such a thing not sink immediately?
"Yes. The entire hull is constructed from steel," Sara confirmed, her expression grave. "It is a class of vessel I have never seen—she called it a 'Battleship.' Relying solely on this machine, she navigated the eternal lightning storms of the perimeter without a scratch. For Inazuma, this signals a perilous new variable."
Sara's hands clenched slightly on her knees. "Most critical of all is her weaponry. I encountered her at Nazuchi Beach and witnessed it with my own eyes: a mere commoner, possessing no Vision, operated a device that fired a projectile. This single shot annihilated one-third of the entire beach."
"The sole road connecting the Kujou Encampment to Yashiori Island has been obliterated. The destructive power is staggering. I judge that even a Vision bearer under my command could not withstand a direct impact from such a weapon."
"Furthermore," Sara added, "Beidou herself is an Electro Vision bearer, wielding a blade that defies logic. When its form changes, her combat prowess multiplies exponentially."
Sara recounted every detail of the duel and the terrifying capabilities of the Steam Battleship.
"I suspect that Liyue's naval technology has evolved into something terrifying," Sara concluded. "Unsinkable steel leviathans that roam the high seas... weapons of mass destruction usable by mortals... power that even Vision bearers cannot evade. Liyue is no longer the nation we thought we knew. It has become... overwhelmingly advanced."
Sara hesitated. "I still do not understand Beidou's claim. She insisted she came to Inazuma merely to fulfill a 'quest' to hunt pirates. She did not seem to be lying, yet it sounds absurd. Why would an extermination commission for Inazuman pirates be posted in Liyue?"
Inazuma had severed ties with the mainland. How could a local commission be outsourced to a foreign harbor? It contradicted all standard protocols.
Sara's anxiety stemmed from the rapid, inexplicable shift in the balance of power. Six months ago, she had seen Liyue's ocean-going junks; they were wooden, traditional, not unlike Inazuma's own. How could they have leaped centuries forward in technology in less than half a year? It was incomprehensible.
Hearing this, the Raiden Shogun fell silent.
Stillness descended upon Tenshukaku.
Sara remained bowed, waiting for the Shogun's verdict.
After a long silence, the Shogun's cool voice echoed through the hall. "One-third of Nazuchi Beach destroyed... Where did they proceed after leaving the area? You are to shadow them immediately. Ascertain their true objective. And, if the opportunity arises, discover the method by which this steel ship is forged."
"As you command, Almighty Shogun."
Sara bowed deeply. "They were moving toward Yashiori Island. Beyond that lies the direction of Watatsumi Island. I will investigate at once."
Sara rose respectfully and backed out of the throne room.
"A ship of steel... usable by mortals... artillery that champions cannot withstand."
As Sara left, the Shogun's voice lingered in the empty hall, repeating the data points.
Within the Plane of Euthymia.
Ei, who had been observing the world through the puppet's eyes, felt her expression darken.
Liyue... since when did they possess ships of iron?
She had watched Sara's report with keen interest. Now, sitting in her meditative realm, Ei frowned.
She was not ignorant of the outside world. She knew Liyue was the domain protected by Morax, the God of Contracts. But the timeline didn't match. Just months ago, their ships were wood and canvas.
How does a ship made of iron float? The physics baffled her. And these weapons that terrify even a Tengu General...
For now, she could only wait for Sara's next report.
A thought crossed her mind. Should I notify that woman? The one seducible by Fried Tofu?
Ei paused. No. If I tell her, she will only mock me for being out of touch.
Perhaps I should just strike first. One slash should suffice. She's good at dodging, anyway.
"General Kujou."
Outside Tenshukaku, the two Hatamoto guards snapped to attention as Kujou Sara emerged.
"Mn."
Sara nodded briefly. Instead of walking, she unfurled her massive, raven-black wings. With a powerful beat that kicked up dust, she launched herself into the sky, soaring away from the castle keep.
To gather intelligence on Beidou, she deemed speed essential. She would not walk today.
"General Kujou... she just flew off?" one guard muttered, squinting at the receding black silhouette. "What kind of emergency is this?"
"Must be something massive."
"Bigger than the Vision Hunt Decree?"
The guards were stunned. It wasn't just them; as Sara flew over Inazuma City, the citizens below stopped in their tracks, pointing skyward. It was a rare sight—the Tengu General usually walked the streets to maintain order. To see her taking to the skies openly meant something unprecedented was happening.
"Hell's bells, looks like the General is in a rush. Is the war escalating?"
"I don't know, but that's the first time I've seen her fly. Those black wings are majestic."
"She flew into Tenshukaku earlier, and now she's flying out. What exactly is going on?"
"Could it be related to that rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"I heard from a merchant that a ship made entirely of steel docked near Ritou. A lot of people saw it. I just got back to the city, and everyone at the port was talking about it."
"Impossible. Are you joking? Iron sinks. You can't make a boat out of iron."
"It's true! Don't shoot the messenger. If you don't believe me, go to Ritou and ask around."
"Ask around? Are you crazy? The road to Ritou is crawling with Kairagi bandits. I'm not risking a kidnapping just to see a boat."
"Yeah, the Shogunate clears that road, but the bandits just come back like roaches. It's annoying."
The whispers spread through the streets like wildfire. One by one, the citizens connected the Tengu's hurried flight to the rumors of the steel ship and the chaos at sea.
Watatsumi Island.
Inside the Sangonomiya Shrine, the architecture was a testament to the sea. The palace was crafted from massive, iridescent shells, and dreamlike bubbles floated lazily through the air.
Beidou sat on a chair carved from giant pearl-oyster shells, looking around the room with genuine appreciation. "The craftsmanship here is exquisite. It's beautiful... and quite cute, actually."
Sitting across from her, Sangonomiya Kokomi looked hesitant.
"I have been thinking, Beidou," the Divine Priestess began softly. "I want to accompany you out of Inazuma for a short time. However, I face a logistical problem."
Kokomi looked at the pirate captain earnestly. "When I wish to return, I will need you to escort me back. Otherwise, I will be stranded outside the thunder barrier."
Her conversation with Beidou had ignited a fierce curiosity about Liyue, and specifically, the mysterious Jar Shop.
Kokomi's brilliant strategic mind was already racing. If I can obtain miraculous items from this shopkeeper... perhaps the resistance can handle the Shogun's army with ease.
But the geography was the enemy. Once she left the isolationist nation, the eternal storm would bar her re-entry unless she was aboard Beidou's steam-powered leviathan. If Beidou didn't agree to a round trip, Kokomi would be exiled from her own rebellion.
"Is that all?" Beidou let out a hearty laugh. "Of course! Getting you back is no trouble at all. But can you really leave right now? If the Shogun's forces attack Watatsumi while you're gone, what happens?"
Beidou found the young strategist adorable, and she was more than happy to ferry her. But she knew Kokomi was the linchpin of the entire resistance.
"It will be fine. I can leave behind a series of Jin nang—sealed stratagems," Kokomi explained, shaking her head. "Furthermore, unless the Shogunate army can decipher the hydro-arrays protecting Watatsumi, they cannot launch a successful invasion. It would be a wasted effort."
"Besides," Kokomi smiled, a glint of cunning in her eyes. "I won't be gone for long. With the speed of your ship, the trip is short. I can experience the prosperity of Liyue and perhaps find something to change the tide for my people."
"And most importantly... you destroyed the road at Nazuchi Beach with that missile. That was the only land route connecting the Kujou Encampment to Yashiori Island. Fixing that will take them months. They can't move their heavy supply lines."
"So," Kokomi concluded, "I have the time to leave a few stratagems and slip away."
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