"Bookmaker?"
Kokomi narrowed her eyes, staring intently at the man before her. Her face was tense, unease and suspicion stirring in her heart.
Unconsciously, she took a step back, trying to keep a safe distance.
This man exuded danger. Not only had he mysteriously appeared in her secret base, but he was holding her notebook in his hand.
"This way of manifesting one's energy as a measure of vitality… interesting."
Shajin's lips curled slightly into a faint smile.
But his gaze held an unreadable depth that made her deeply uneasy.
A soft flush crept across Kokomi's cheeks, but she forced herself to stay calm, hiding any trace of emotion.
Her tone was firm, unwavering.
"State your purpose at once, outsider. Otherwise, you'll be captured immediately."
"Even if it means your secret base is exposed?"
Shajin raised an eyebrow, a flicker of mockery flashing in his eyes.
He didn't seem the least bit threatened. If anything, he was toying with her.
"Eh?"
Kokomi faltered, clearly not expecting that retort.
Her face darkened instantly—as if the deepest secrets of her heart had been laid bare.
Shajin paid no mind to her discomfort, leisurely flipping through her notebook with a sneer tugging at his lips.
He murmured, "If those soldiers ever found out that their wise and awe-inspiring leader is just a little girl playing dress-up… the front lines would probably crumble without a fight, don't you think? Hahaha…"
Kokomi clenched her fists tightly. Her heart was ablaze with fury, but she forced herself to remain composed.
"What is it you want?"
Shajin looked up at the trembling girl before him.
"Oh? Do I seem scary to you?"
He muttered absentmindedly as he casually sat down on a nearby chair.
Then, with that same arrogant smirk, he continued.
"I told you already, didn't I? I'm a bookie. I offer slim odds to hypocrites and pathetic puppets like you who dream of overthrowing the Raiden Shogun."
Kokomi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"H-Hypocrites? Puppets?"
Shajin tilted his head. "What? Am I wrong?"
"You are wrong!" she snapped. "Our goal is to bring down the inhumane Vision Hunt Decree. That is justice!"
"Pfft."
Shajin couldn't help but laugh—a laugh laced with mockery.
"Justice? Oh, little fish… don't make me laugh. What you're trying to destroy isn't really the Vision Hunt Decree, is it? It's just that the decree threatens your personal safety, so now you have a more 'righteous' excuse to rebel. But call it what it really is: the Sakoku Decree. Or better yet—invasion. That's the more accurate term."
Kokomi's eyes went blank, her mind racing to process what he was saying.
Shajin glanced at her and went on.
"Heh… so even you, little fish, are just a puppet placed at the front by those higher-ups."
That struck Kokomi like a hammer blow. Her face turned deathly pale.
"Inazuma is a small island nation, with extremely limited resources. Much of it depends on imports. And Watatsumi Island—lifted from the depths, with no farmland—has it even worse."
"The people are suffering. They're hungry, cold… like dry kindling, waiting for a single spark to ignite into an inferno."
"Your leaders saw this discontent. That's why they chose to wave the banner of 'resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree.' But what they really want… is to complete the legacy your god Orobashi failed to finish."
"Seize power."
Shajin glanced at her legs, which were trembling, then stood up and placed his chair gently behind her. Pressing lightly on her shoulders, he eased her into it.
"As a leader, you should already know. Your troops are full of morale—not because they believe in justice, but because desperation has made them fierce. That's the only reason they've been able to match the far better equipped Shogunate forces."
"Your superiors pushed you—still unready—into this role. Whether you succeed or fail, you alone will bear the consequences."
"And all this time, you've been lying to yourself. Telling yourself they fight for justice. But really… they're just driven by suppressed rage."
"There is no justice."
His voice dripped with disdain as he looked at her, eyes gleaming coldly.
"They only want to vent their frustrations and steal the Shogunate's resources."
He kept speaking, voice now colder than ever. His words were like cold wind, cutting deep into Kokomi's heart.
She lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze. Her confidence shattered completely.
She didn't want to believe what he said. But her reason whispered that it was the truth.
Despair washed over her. It felt like her entire world was crumbling.
Shajin extended a finger, gently lifting her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Now do you understand? Your so-called resistance is just a bunch of hypocrites venting under the guise of justice… and puppets being tricked by their leaders."
He said It softly.
Then, his eyes drifted to the corner of the table where a row of carefully arranged strategy scrolls sat.
"Looks like you've studied quite a few military texts from Liyue. Then you should know—this kind of resistance only ends two ways: negotiation… or annihilation by the Raiden Shogun, just like your god."
His tone was calm and matter-of-fact.
"And now, little fish, you stand at a fork in the road. One path: remain a puppet, and maybe earn a merciful end. The other—"
His voice trailed off ominously, pressure mounting like an invisible weight pressing down on Kokomi.
But before he could finish, her hands suddenly clutched his.
"Please… save us…"
Her voice trembled with helplessness and yearning.
Shajin's eyes narrowed. His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile.
"Of course. What kind of bookie wouldn't offer a gambler a chip to play with?"
_
Please support my patreon, patreon. com/TravelerDouluo
And get early access to my 50 advance chapters.