"Are you two also looking to join the resistance?"
The Vision Hunt Decree had only been in effect for half a year, and the resistance had only recently been formed. Consequently, the resistance was particularly short-staffed and would not miss anyone capable of joining.
"Yes, we're being wanted by the Shogunate. We need to get to Watatsumi Island quickly." Raiden Makoto didn't know if they were currently wanted, but her act of impersonating the Raiden Shogun would definitely be known by the Shogunate.
"Alright... follow us onto the boat to Watatsumi Island immediately."
... "Lady Kujou Sara, we encountered the Shogun in Chinju Forest..."
"The Shogun is in Chinju Forest?"
If Raiden Makoto were there, she would recognize the man reporting to Kujou Sara as the leader of the Shogunate Samurai who had surrounded them.
At this moment, before him stood a Lady with short dark blue hair. Atop her head was a crimson Karasu Tengu mask, and she looked heroic and exceptionally cold.
The Lady was, of course, the General of the Shogunate Army, Kujou Sara.
"The Shogun has been in Tenshukaku and hasn't left once. How dare you claim to have met her in Chinju Forest?" Kujou Sara looked coldly at the Shogunate Samurai leader.
"Lady Kujou Sara, your subordinate would never dare deceive you..." Seeing that Kujou Sara seemed angry, the Shogunate Samurai leader quickly lowered his head.
After recounting everything that happened to Kujou Sara, the Shogunate Samurai leader fell completely silent, not daring to speak further.
"A Lady who looks exactly like the Shogun... Could someone be impersonating her in Inazuma?!" Kujou Sara's face was full of rage. As the Raiden Shogun's most loyal believer, she had spent her life revering the Raiden Shogun.
For someone to impersonate the Raiden Shogun on Narukami Island was nothing short of sacrilege.
"This must be thoroughly investigated."
"To desecrate the Shogun is a capital offense."
... Watatsumi Island, the westernmost island of Inazuma, was a place currently outside the Shogunate's jurisdiction.
"Is this Watatsumi Island?" Looking at the island from the boat, Raiden Makoto felt the scenery was beautiful. If nothing else, Inazuma's landscapes were truly exquisite.
"I want to see Sangonomiya Kokomi. I have urgent matters to discuss with her." The one receiving them was just an ordinary soldier on Watatsumi Island named Kiritsugu.
"You want to see Lady Kokomi? No, I must take you to see Lord Gorou first." Kiritsugu flatly refused Raiden Makoto's request. "I cannot make decisions on such matters."
"Fine."
Raiden Makoto knew Kiritsugu was just an ordinary soldier, so she didn't press him further and instead quietly watched the direction of Watatsumi Island.
Beneath that beautiful scenery, things were not so peaceful; war was on the verge of breaking out.
Once the boat docked, Kiritsugu, Raiden Makoto, and Sayu stepped off, while the vessel sailed away in another direction.
"Miss Makoto, Miss Sayu, please follow me."
"The scenery on Watatsumi Island is so beautiful." Sayu had never been to Watatsumi Island before, having spent almost all his time on Narukami Island. "Big sister, what do you think?"
"Yes."
"Roughly how many people are in the resistance now?"
Since the Vision Hunt Decree had only been issued six months ago, the resistance had likely only just been established. Their numbers certainly wouldn't be large; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to join.
"Not many, maybe one or two hundred," Kiritsugu said seriously. But as he finished, his expression suddenly became fervent. "But as long as the Raiden Shogun does not rescind the Vision Hunt Decree, the resistance will grow stronger day by day."
"Sooner or later, the Shogun will pay the price for her erroneous orders." There was a hint of hatred in Kiritsugu's tone.
"Did you... also lose a Vision?" Kiritsugu's hatred didn't come from nowhere. Raiden Makoto scrutinized Kiritsugu; she hadn't had a proper conversation with him while on the boat.
"Yes."
"I once Yearned to join the Shogunate Army and shed my blood for the Raiden Shogun. At that time, I received a Vision. After obtaining it, I trained constantly to serve the Shogun."
"But on the day the Shogunate Army took my Vision away, I realized the Shogun was wrong, and I was wrong too."
Hearing Kiritsugu's words, Raiden Makoto fell silent. Seeing the disappointment on his face, she felt a strange pang of distress.
Visions are born from people's intense desires. To strip away a Vision is to strip away people's desires.
At that moment, Kiritsugu must have been completely disillusioned.
"So our goals are the same: to resist the Vision Hunt Decree." Raiden Makoto smiled. "It will end one day."
"Are you also someone who lost a Vision?" Kiritsugu looked at Raiden Makoto curiously. Currently, many who joined the resistance were those who had lost their Visions. Most others were original residents of Watatsumi Island and members of the Sangonomiya Shrine.
"In a way," Raiden Makoto replied ambiguously, not knowing why she answered like that. "One day, everything will get better."
"Yeah."
While talking with Kiritsugu, they arrived at the resistance camp. There weren't many people there at the moment.
"Lord Gorou is over there. I'll take you to him."
"Lord Gorou, they both want to join the resistance."
The Gorou Kiritsugu spoke of was a youth with Fox ears and brown hair, clad in armor.
As Gorou turned around, he examined Raiden Makoto and Sayu with his emerald-like eyes.
Raiden Makoto saw a smile on the face of the youth named Gorou—a rare sight in the resistance camp.
"Hello."
"Are you two also here to join the resistance?" The youth's voice was clear, and his tone was gentle.
"We have come on behalf of the Shuumatsuban Kamisato Clan. Our purpose is to speak with your Lady Kokomi to discuss resisting the Vision Hunt Decree together." Raiden Makoto never liked hiding her intentions; besides, being direct was better in this matter.
It would be worse if the resistance discovered their true purpose later.
Kiritsugu's face changed drastically. He certainly knew of the Shuumatsuban Kamisato Clan, one of the Three Commissions of the Inazuma Shogunate.
That meant Raiden Makoto and Sayu were both people of the Shogunate.
Had he led wolves into the house? Kiritsugu immediately drew his weapon, looking at Raiden Makoto and Sayu with a wary expression.
"You... used me."
"Lord Gorou, I really didn't know they were from the Kamisato Clan."
Because Kiritsugu had drawn his weapon, Sayu, who was already tense, also immediately drew his weapon, a Claymore.
Surprise flickered in Gorou's eyes, but he then smiled faintly. "Kiritsugu, do not be rude to our guests."
"You may step down."
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