Chapter 212: The Fatui Come Knocking
The air in the dark forest was thick with rot—so much so that it overwhelmed all other scents.
Was it the smell of decaying leaves? A dead animal? Or perhaps... something far worse?
Following Sveta's instructions, the Fatui agents stationed there began digging beneath the carpet of fallen leaves—and unearthed a corpse that had long since decomposed into something barely human.
Unknown insects swarmed over the remains, and the stench made one of the agents nearly vomit his breakfast on the spot.
Sveta, however, remained expressionless.
The putrid air was nauseating, sure—but in her opinion, it still didn't hold a candle to Bai Luo's infamous pickled fish.
Without a word, she calmly ordered her subordinates to collect the corpse. Then, leading the reinforcements she had borrowed from the Balladeer, Sveta set off—marching straight toward the rebel stronghold.
"Who goes there?!"
Ever since the last infiltration incident by Shogunate spies, the defenses on Watatsumi Island had become tighter than ever. Even the roving ronin and hilichurls that once lurked in the woods had retreated into hiding, too afraid to show themselves.
So when a group of Fatui led by Sveta marched openly across the island, they instantly became the target of every patrolling guard.
"Insolent wretches," Sveta declared, her tone refined yet sharp like a blade in silk. "Inform your so-called Divine Priestess that the Fatui come bearing gifts. Shouldn't she greet us personally?"
Demanding Sangonomiya Kokomi herself to come out in welcome—there was no question this was provocation.
The Watatsumi guards exchanged glances, and the soldier at the rear raised a flare gun.
With a whoosh, a brilliant signal rocket tore through the night sky, lighting it up like day.
The brightest emergency flare—the kind that signaled the island was under siege. Any unit in the vicinity was now on high alert and expected to converge on the location.
Unlike Sveta, who remained composed and serene, the soldiers behind her clutched their weapons with nervous tension.
The air was coiled tight with the promise of battle.
"Insolence will be punished," Sveta said again.
Her hands, once folded demurely at her waist, slowly lifted into a prayer gesture. Behind the Watatsumi troops, several glowing water mirrors shimmered into existence.
. . . . . . . . . .
"Lady Sangonomiya!!"
Back at the sanctuary of Sangonomiya Shrine, Kokomi was gently dozing off in her chair when a soldier burst in without warning.
Unlike General Gorou, who was stationed on the front lines, Kokomi had been enjoying a period of peace and comfort. The men and women remaining on the island were trusted elites, and ever since she'd received a generous Mora "donation" from Battousai, her daily life had been going... rather smoothly.
Even her energy reserves were higher than usual.
"What's the panic?" Kokomi asked calmly, straightening up with practiced ease.
"A group of individuals claiming to be Fatui have arrived outside," the soldier reported breathlessly. "They demand that you greet them in person. Captain of Swordfish II unit engaged them and—"
He didn't finish.
But Kokomi understood at once what it meant.
The Swordfish Units weren't ordinary military units. Their captains were elite, many blessed with Visions, and if placed in the Shogunate, would be on par with the Okuzumeshuu commanders.
And yet—he had been defeated. Easily.
"Stabilize the situation as best you can. I'm on my way," Kokomi ordered, her brows knitting slightly.
She knew this was no friendly visit.
And deep down... she already had a feeling about why they were here.
After the soldier left, Kokomi reached for her writing set and penned a short message.
Then, summoning a small fish-like familiar, she sealed the message into a brocade pouch and tied it to the creature.
The fish darted off through the shadows, carrying her message to its recipient.
With that, Kokomi rose and stepped out of her chambers, heading toward the commotion caused by the Fatui.
There weren't many of them—just over twenty people.
But Kokomi didn't let her guard down for even a moment.
Because she knew full well that the Fatui didn't need numbers.
Not when there were traitors among Watatsumi's own.
What the Fatui hadn't realized, however, was that the so-called "traitors" they had bribed and turned… were actually playing a part under Kokomi's orders from the very beginning.
Every benefit the Fatui believed they had given out? Nearly all of it had funneled right back into her hands.
So when Kokomi stepped forward, a soft smile gracing her face, she did so not with guilt, but with the grace befitting the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island.
A lesser leader might have considered such a public welcome a blow to morale.
But Kokomi knew better.
This was her strategy—to show her people that she was willing to meet danger personally, to shield them with her own presence.
Let the story spread.
Let them say that the Divine Priestess humbled herself to keep her people from harm.
It would only bind her closer to their hearts.
"And what, may I ask, brings our honored guests such a long way to our humble island?" she asked gently, voice smooth like still water.
Poised and flawless.
But Sveta was no less imposing.
Despite her polished manners, there was a blade hidden beneath every word. And thanks to her height advantage, her very presence seemed to loom over Kokomi.
"Not long ago," Sveta said, "someone acting in the name of the so-called Ausbilder withdrew three hundred million Mora from our Inazuma branch. I wonder, Lady Sangonomiya—does that ring any bells?"
Ah. So it was about that.
No surprise.
Kokomi had already anticipated this confrontation and prepared several contingencies.
She betrayed no unease—only a faint, almost innocent smile.
"Then I suggest you take that up with the Ausbilder himself," she replied calmly. "Why come to Watatsumi Island and cause a scene?"
It was a clean deflection.
Her words carefully distanced the island from the transaction—subtly implying that, as far as Watatsumi was concerned, whoever claimed the funds was none of their concern.
You say someone took your Mora? That's unfortunate. But we haven't seen a single coin of it.
Oh? Why is the island so prosperous lately?
What's wrong with earning a fortune selling fish roe?
There were countless excuses she could employ. And knowing Kokomi, she had at least ten perfectly crafted ones ready to go.
Sveta said nothing in return. Instead, she lifted a hand in a delicate motion.
One of the Fatui agents behind her nodded, stepped forward, and opened the large metal box they had been hauling.
Then, without warning, they dumped its contents onto the ground.
Every soldier on the Watatsumi side instinctively took a step back.
Not because they had never seen a corpse—but because this one was something else entirely.
Twisted. Half-decayed. Reeking.
Unrecognizable.
Only Kokomi stood her ground, eyes fixed on the corpse. But beneath her sleeves, her fingers clenched tightly.
Igor.
She had been told he was dead—those who returned with the Mora said he'd been taken by a masked blade-wielder and never seen again.
She had known, deep down, that he had been silenced by Battousai.
What she hadn't expected… was for the Fatui to find his corpse.
"Divine Priestess," Sveta said, still as elegant as ever, but her words now colder than ice. "Do you recognize this man?"
Kokomi's voice came smoothly, though her jaw was taut beneath her smile.
"He was one of our own here on Watatsumi. Is that a problem?"
Pretending not to know him would only make things worse. After all, not all the Fatui operatives were fakes—some of Igor's trusted agents had truly defected alongside him.
To lie now would risk losing credibility.
Sveta's lips curved ever so slightly.
"No problem at all," she replied. "In fact… this man was one of our spies, planted on Watatsumi Island."
. . . . .
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