"Supplies! The Fatui's supplies have arrived!!!"
With a loud shout, a Fatui transport ship slowly docked, its deck packed with all kinds of goods.
Upon hearing the news, people from all around quickly gathered, their eyes brimming with anticipation and desire.
They couldn't wait to get their hands on the supplies to improve their current living conditions.
"Maintain order! No pushing! Everyone will get their share!"
A voice rang out from the crowd. A young man with tousled brown hair—and a pair of dog ears twitching slightly amid his locks—leapt forward, standing at the front and shouting clearly.
His firm and serious gaze inspired immediate trust.
Was this the great general of Watatsumi Island, the dog yokai Gorou?
Shajin wondered silently.
He was a bit curious about this suddenly appearing dog yokai, but the thought quickly passed.
After all, the distribution of supplies wasn't Shajin's main concern.
"Alright, please line up and receive your supplies in an orderly fashion. We'll make sure everyone gets what they need, fairly and evenly."
Gorou continued, his voice carrying the weight of authority and responsibility.
People began lining up in an orderly fashion, no longer in chaotic disarray.
Gorou took on the task of maintaining order, ensuring the distribution of resources proceeded smoothly.
But these were only food and basic supplies. As for the Delusion trade, that was handled in secret—hidden away, conducted privately with select "clients."
After watching for a while, Shajin quickly lost interest and wandered off for a leisurely stroll around Watatsumi Island.
As he walked, he suddenly stopped. His gaze was drawn to a cave in the distance.
"Hm? An artificial cave?"
Shajin murmured to himself with curiosity.
The cave was located on the outskirts of Watatsumi Island. Its surroundings were complex and concealed—at least to ordinary people.
To Shajin, however, the camouflage was meaningless. It might as well not exist.
The cave was quite rudimentary, carved out of natural rock and barely modified. It was nothing like Albedo's impressive experimental labs.
Inside was a simple table, a bookshelf, and a few stacked wooden barrels.
On the table lay a single, lonely notebook.
And on the bookshelf—were those… light novels?
Shajin removed his mask and casually picked up the notebook from the table.
"Argued with a merchant guild representative all afternoon. Energy -4."
"We desperately need goods to flow, but I can't let them exploit this for profit…"
"Processed official documents all day at my desk. Energy -3."
"Still need to finish the next batch of tactical pouches tonight. Hope it's not too late—inspection tomorrow."
"There was a strong wind outside today. Energy -2."
"Looks like a storm's coming. I hope the fishermen make it back safely."
"Heard rumors of peace talks today. Energy +2."
"If there's no more war… maybe everyone on Watatsumi Island can finally smile again."
"Rumors that the Tenryou Commission might be colluding with the Fatui. Energy -5."
"Even I can't quite make sense of it now…"
"Got approached by many people again today. Energy -3."
"Their sincere eyes reminded me of the day I succeeded the role of Divine Priestess…"
"After all these years… have I truly lived up to their expectations?"
...
The identity of the notebook's owner was now obvious: Sangonomiya Kokomi, Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island and leader of the resistance.
Who would've thought that such a "big name" could have such a whimsical side?
"You are… who?"
The speaker had soft pink hair, bright eyes, and a tall, slender figure with a narrow waist and a curving silhouette.
Her eyes were a faint lavender, her pupils tinged with soft pink.
Her attire was exquisite, the trailing fishtail design on her back adding a touch of ethereal elegance.
Though still a young girl, she carried herself with a commanding air.
Shajin's dreamy gaze met hers.
"Me? You could say… I'm the bookmaker behind this little game~"
...
"There's a heavy, oppressive aura around this statue… Normal people probably wouldn't come here."
Paimon nervously hid behind Lumine.
Lumine stared seriously at the object embedded in the statue.
"These are…?"
"…Visions."
Thoma pressed his lips together, his expression complicated.
"Every Vision confiscated under the Vision Hunt Decree gets embedded here."
"Vision… Hunt Decree?"
Paimon scratched her head in confusion.
Thoma nodded.
"Before explaining that, you should know this—just like Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, and Liyue is the City of Contracts…"
"Inazuma… is the Nation of Eternity."
"The Raiden Shogun is both Inazuma's ruler and its god."
"Eternal, unchanging across a thousand generations—that is her will for this land."
He paused, then continued.
"To that end, the Shogunate enforces the Sakoku Decree to cut off outside influence, and relies on the Three Commissions to stabilize governance."
"The Shogun wants to keep Inazuma in stasis, letting time flow by while Inazuma stands unmoved—preserving Eternity."
Lumine folded her arms and looked at Thoma in silence.
Thoma chuckled.
"Well, that's just my interpretation. As for the Vision Hunt Decree… the real reason it was issued—"
"Maybe the Shogun believes Visions grant people the power to change their fate. But such change is instability—something Eternity cannot permit."
"So she had the Tenryou Commission seize them, one by one, and embed them into this statue."
"This statue… can be seen as the symbol of Inazuma's 'Eternity.'"
Paimon stomped her foot in frustration.
"This Raiden Shogun is way too selfish!"
Thoma smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Haha, only outsiders like you would dare speak so boldly."
"But I agree—the Vision Hunt Decree never should have existed. Lady Kamisato resolved to resist it from the very start."
Lumine twitched at the corner of her eye. So this was the setup… waiting for her, huh?
Just as she was about to speak, a wave of intense pain hit her head, and suddenly, visions filled her mind—echoes of the lost wishes of those who once owned these Visions…
She saw people drained of their dreams, moving like hollow shells—eyes dull, their will to live stripped away…
Paimon frantically shook Lumine's shoulders.
"Lumine, what's wrong?!"
Lumine finally snapped back to reality, forcing a wry smile as she pointed at the embedded Visions on the statue.
"I… saw their wishes."
_
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