"By order of the General, the Kujou Clan has been charged with treason against the nation, colluding with the Fatui. All members are to be detained pending the General's judgment!"
Kujou Sara, her face frost-like, led the Tenryou Commission forces to surround the Kujou estate.
The surrounding civilians buzzed with discussion - some in disbelief, others with schadenfreude, but most expressed anger and resentment.
"Kujou Sara, don't forget your surname!"
"As expected of an adopted stray - you can't tame a white-eyed wolf!"
"We are the Tenryou Commission! How dare you!"
"I was wrong, I was wrong, don't arrest me, I had nothing to do with this!"
Pleas, insults, threats.
Various voices filled the Kujou estate, but with the Tenryou forces present and Kujou Sara leading them, everyone was quickly detained.
"My lady, all clan members and servants of the Kujou house have been detained," a Tenryou soldier reported respectfully.
"The Kujou clan head, Kujou Takayuki, along with his eldest son and that child, are in the main hall. Would you like to meet with them?"
"They seem to have anticipated our arrival and wish to speak with you."
Kujou Sara took a deep breath, suppressing her complex emotions, and said:
"That won't be necessary. According to the law, I should have recused myself. It's only thanks to the General's trust that I'm here at all. Since we've already bent the rules, we absolutely cannot break our principles... According to the law, for such a serious crime of treason, no one may approach the accused before the General's questioning, myself included. Take them directly to the prison cells and guard them strictly."
"Yes, my lady."
They came in force and left in numbers. As the seals were placed on the Kujou estate's gates, Kujou Sara couldn't help but sigh.
In her mind, two figures clashed:
One was her foster father from her childhood, who taught her loyalty to Inazuma and the Shogun. The other was an old man with a twisted face, claiming he did nothing wrong, merely using the Fatui while remaining indifferent to Inazuma's current state...
Could power really change a person so dramatically?
For a moment, even Kujou Sara felt lost.
Shaking her head slightly, she walked with heavy steps toward Narukami Island.
The Kanjo Commission was next.
...
In just one morning, the sky over Inazuma seemed to change.
The people saw the Tenryou Commission's proclamation posted outside:
A generation of divinity had returned to Inazuma. The Tenryou and Kanjo Commissions had taken advantage of the Raiden Shogun's recovery period to deceive both above and below, privately altering divine decrees for personal gain by implementing the Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree.
All were now under arrest. Both decrees were immediately abolished, and confiscated Visions would be returned on an appointed date.
As for the traitors, truth would be investigated and judgment passed on an appointed date. All embezzled funds would be confiscated and later used for public welfare.
Time was tight, so only these matters could be announced for now.
As for altering divine decrees...
Since both commissions would be gone anyway, they might as well be put to use. The divine couldn't let their own mistakes appear too severe, or they'd end up like the Decarabian of Mondstadt.
For Inazuma's future stability, they would have to bear this burden.
The people of Inazuma erupted in cheers, spreading the news, while Watatsumi Island was gripped with anxiety.
Sangonomiya Kokomi was detained, and many of Watatsumi's leadership, thinking it would be the final battle and wanting credit, had gone with her.
General Gorou was nowhere to be seen, and it was said the divine would also judge Watatsumi Island.
The people of Watatsumi panicked, as did the Fatui spies within the resistance.
Lady Signora had been struck down by the Raiden Shogun, and Scaramouche... well, better not to seek him out. His temperamental nature meant they might die without even knowing how.
So now, they didn't know what to do.
...
"Isn't this a bit too harsh?"
In Tenshukaku, Raiden Makoto hesitated after hearing Jiang Ning's suggestions.
According to her thinking, the main culprits should be executed, accomplices imprisoned for life, and all embezzled goods confiscated for public use.
But Jiang Ning had completely rejected her ideas.
"I've said it before - desperate times call for desperate measures. While all of Teyvat isn't in chaos, Inazuma is in quite serious condition," Jiang Ning said.
"So we absolutely must make an example... Follow my suggestion: execute all main culprits and accomplices from the Kujou clan, imprison those who should be imprisoned, exile those who should be exiled, strip the Kujou clan of their noble status, and if there's more resistance, strip them of the Kujou name entirely."
"Furthermore, Kujou descendants - direct and collateral lines within three generations - should be banned from working in the Shogunate."
"But many are innocent..."
Raiden Makoto was essentially a merciful deity and felt conflicted. Eula also nodded in agreement.
"Come on, don't talk about innocence," Jiang Ning said. "As members of the Tenryou Commission's Kujou clan, turning a blind eye and doing nothing makes them accomplices. And what's innocence? Enjoying the Kujou clan's privileges, their food and clothing all paid for by taxes squeezed from the common people."
"You're telling me they're innocent? I don't see any innocence. Since the Kujou clan raised them, they should properly atone. Let them become commoners first and truly understand the hardships of Inazuma's people."
"Moreover, having been immersed in the Kujou clan's atmosphere since childhood, I doubt they can truly understand the people's suffering."
Jiang Ning's words made sense, and Raiden Makoto fell silent.
The Raiden Shogun snorted: "This body thinks those who destroy eternity should simply be cut down..."
Raiden Makoto broke into a cold sweat.
Wait, there was an even more extreme opinion here - wanting to eliminate the entire Kujou clan.
The Raiden Shogun was furious. After understanding the connections and seeing the evidence presented by the Kamisato clan, she understood.
Who really destroyed her eternity.
If not for Jiang Ning and Raiden Makoto holding her back, divine lightning would have already struck the Kujou and Hiiragi estates.
True, there were good people in both clans, but Jiang Ning still felt this was the time for collective punishment.
"What about Sara? That child has truly been loyal to Ei and was also deceived."
Raiden Makoto worried.
"She's guilty of failing in her duty, but it's understandable given her single-minded nature..." Jiang Ning said. "However, let her serve while bearing her guilt. After all, she's one of the few usable and trustworthy subordinates. Once Inazuma returns to normal, we'll look at her contributions during this period. If they're significant, she can redeem herself through service and continue as general."
Yae Miko sighed: "Yes, we should have demoted her to start again as a common soldier... but thanks to the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree, Inazuma really has no one else."
"Sometimes blind loyalty is also a sin."
Raiden Makoto's headache grew worse with each word.
What had Ei done to Inazuma's once-great foundation?
She remembered having excellent relations with Liyue before, even receiving help with onmyodo and talismans from them.
Now? Most onmyodo arts were lost, and the talismans were either broken or destroyed.
It was maddening.
Raiden Makoto gave the Raiden Shogun an unfriendly look: "Where's Ei?"
"She doesn't dare come out," the Raiden Shogun answered honestly.
Raiden Makoto: "...Never mind."
"Traveler, could you help me? Inazuma has been so damaged by divine worship, and we're really short-handed now, so could you..."
The Traveler said: "So this is when you need the legendary traveler to step in. Don't worry, I'll take this commission, but good relationship or not, the payment can't be short."
"Rest assured, you won't lose out." Raiden Makoto sighed in relief.
"Then I'll head out first, time is tight..." The Traveler stood up.
"Remember to come back for dinner," Jiang Ning said.
"Got it!"
The Traveler waved without looking back.
"So, regarding Watatsumi Island... I see you have different opinions again?"
Raiden Makoto looked at Jiang Ning and asked.
Originally, she hadn't expected much when asking for Jiang Ning's opinion.
But all these suggestions had been good, hitting the nail on the head.
So, to be safe, Raiden Makoto asked about Watatsumi Island.
Jiang Ning sat casually and said:
"Actually, I don't understand... What I said before about negotiating with Watatsumi Island later... that was just a diplomatic statement I made casually. Are you really planning to negotiate with them?"
"Huh?" Raiden Makoto froze. "Shouldn't we?"
Jiang Ning sighed: "So... let me ask you, is Watatsumi Island part of Inazuma?"
"Of course it is."
"And is Watatsumi Island under the Electro Archon's rule?"
"It is."
"So this is our own territory, right? We should be making the decisions. Why do we need to negotiate? We can just issue decrees and have them implemented, right?"
"Also, the resistance forces must be disarmed, and the usual monster extermination and defense should be handled by Shogunate forces... Isn't this just basic?"
"But they say the people there won't agree, and they won't accept Shogunate troops..." Raiden Makoto said.
Jiang Ning snorted, seeming somewhat disdainful: "When Orobashi invaded and was defeated, allowing them to accept the Electro Archon's protection while continuing to worship Orobashi was already a huge blessing... Now they're rebelling? We've really given them too much face."
"So why do we need their agreement... You're too merciful. Pure mercy isn't good, you know? Right, Sister Eula?"
Halfway through speaking, he directly dragged out a certain deity who had been backstabbed by her own people. Eula, still holding half-eaten watermelon, looked bewildered.
"Hey, you can talk all you want, but what's it got to do with me?"
Jiang Ning laughed and continued: "This matter isn't up for negotiation. It's a good opportunity to have Watatsumi Island formally return to Inazuma."
Raiden Makoto said: "That works... You make a good point."
"Then let's do this - the so-called negotiations will just be a formality. They'll have to agree whether they want to or not. We'll talk at Tenshukaku, have Kokomi come over, and Sara too."
Jiang Ning made the final decision.
...
In a house in Inazuma City, Sangonomiya Kokomi - officially a guest but actually under house arrest - and Gorou were in the courtyard.
Kokomi appeared relatively calm, but Gorou paced around like an ant on a hot pot.
"Gorou, you're making me dizzy."
Kokomi finally couldn't bear it and said helplessly.
"Lady Kokomi, we've been here for quite some time. Will Watatsumi Island be alright? And what about everyone being guarded in the wild..."
Gorou said anxiously.
But Sangonomiya Kokomi just sighed and said: "What can you do about it? When the gods of Liyue and Inazuma speak like this, do you dare leave? And those in the wild... Honestly, I was against directly attacking Tenshukaku, given the unpredictable divine power, but those guys, with just a little provocation from Fatui spies, seemed brainwashed, thinking they could succeed with their numbers..."
Gorou gritted his teeth and said: "The Fatui are truly hateful."
Though they'd been under house arrest these days, they had learned the truth about everything.
The Fatui had planted spies on both sides to instigate war, achieving their unknown goals.
This made Gorou's teeth itch with anger.
However, regarding Jiang Ning's previous bluntness, after calming down, he understood the reasoning - for a deity to explain things like this was already quite courteous.
"So what do we do now?"
Gorou asked.
Sangonomiya Kokomi sat quietly, seeming to have realized something: "Wait for judgment. This time, with that deity present, there might not be a peaceful resolution."
She had figured it out - that deity was absolutely resolute, and towards enemies, could be extremely cold, so...
Kokomi's energy had been negative for this whole time. As a small shrine maiden forcibly pushed to the forefront as resistance leader, having to handle both civil and military affairs.
Even she could get tired.
Simply put, after experiencing so many major events and various setbacks, after realizing the true divine-scale gap between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate, Sangonomiya Kokomi showed signs of giving up.
After all, they couldn't win, and the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree would be abolished. Her mission was complete... though it had nothing to do with her.
Time to enjoy what little life remained.
----
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