At that moment, Kamisato Ayato sat at the gates of Tenshukaku.
The desk before him was stacked high with reports collected from the Shuumatsuban and other channels.
Another group of prisoners was dragged before him. Ayato casually flipped through the documents.
"Takatsukasa Jin, is it?"
His tone carried no emotion.
He had been conducting executions since the afternoon, and by now he was completely numb to it.
The steps outside Tenshukaku were littered with bodies, blood flowing like rivers.
But none of the executioners—including Ayato—felt even the slightest hesitation.
The Inazuman crowd that had gathered to watch was still cheering enthusiastically, applauding every death.
"That's me," Takatsukasa Jin nodded, then shouted desperately:
"I'm innocent! I didn't do anything! Why are you dragging me here?!"
"Innocent?" Ayato gave a soft laugh. "Everyone brought here says that. But the truth is—none of you are innocent."
He lifted a sheet of paper and read aloud:
"Takatsukasa Jin, during the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree, you conspired with Kujou Takayuki and colluded with the Fatui to embezzle public funds. The evidence is irrefutable. Do you have any last words?"
With the evidence so clear, Takatsukasa Jin had no room left to argue.
Terrified, he screamed, "Don't kill me! I'm useful! Kujou Sara can't possibly support the entire Tenryou Commission on her own—I'm still of use!"
"As last words, that's rather poor," Ayato remarked coldly.
"I really am useful!" Jin shouted again. "Lord Kamisato—!"
Someone leaned in to whisper to Ayato.
Ayato raised an eyebrow. "Oh? After Kujou Takayuki fell, you still held Kujou's second son under house arrest, trying to force him into signing a false confession?"
The man's face went pale.
Ayato smiled faintly. "Attempting once again to deceive the Shogun. Even if it hasn't happened yet, it hardly matters. Your execution is already sealed."
"You—you…" Rage and despair twisted Jin's face.
They would even condemn him for crimes he hadn't committed yet?!
But Ayato didn't even need to. His crimes were more than enough.
"Kill us, and what will happen to Inazuma? To the Shogunate?!" Takatsukasa Jin cried out in a final gamble. "Will you leave only an empty shell and plunge the nation back into chaos?!"
"That isn't your concern." Ayato waved his hand lightly. "Execute him."
"Yes, sir!"
The retainers of the Oniwaban had long since dulled their blades from killing.
Ayato, however, had already ordered firearms.
Guns were far more efficient than swords.
Why waste strength hacking when one simple pull of the trigger would suffice?
"Kneel!"
The Oniwaban smashed rifle butts into the prisoners, forcing them down.
Click.
The sound of bullets chambering sent terror flooding through the condemned.
"Safety off! Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One by one, the corrupt fell beneath the hail of bullets.
Blood splattered as their bodies were dragged away with cold efficiency.
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
This was justice. This was what they wanted.
After the execution, squads of Oniwaban returned carrying confiscated goods.
"Lord Kamisato!" one reported.
"From Takatsukasa's estate, we seized six hundred million mora in cash, along with countless antiques and paintings of unmeasured value."
"I see," Ayato nodded, though inwardly he was shaken.
Six hundred million in cash—an astonishing sum.
And Takatsukasa wasn't even one of the great clans like the Kujou or Kamisato. He was merely a subordinate family under the Tenryou Commission!
Even more damning, cash couldn't be easily hidden. Antiques and artwork could always be undervalued: something worth ten million could be claimed as only two hundred thousand. Who would know?
Ayato's eyes hardened. "Truly deserving of death."
Still, he felt an immense relief.
The Tenryou Commission had been a mess, and Inazuma's economy was in ruins.
Now, with every execution and every confiscated fortune, the nation's wealth was being restored.
If he couldn't revive Inazuma with this, he might as well slit his own throat before the Shogun.
Ayato shuffled through the next batch of files. More prisoners were waiting.
Just then—
"Lord Kamisato," Kujou Kamaji approached.
Ayato looked up. The second son of the Kujou family looked frail and exhausted.
With Takayuki condemned, most of the Kujou clan had been executed. Only a handful remained.
"What is it?" Ayato asked.
"I… wanted to ask about Lady Hiiragi Chisato. Will she be alright?"
"Chisato?" Ayato mused.
She was Hiiragi Shinsuke's daughter, long shielded from political dealings, living as a sheltered noblewoman.
But she had still benefited from her family's corruption, which meant she could not be entirely absolved.
"She'll be implicated," Ayato said. "But not sentenced to death."
Kamaji exhaled in relief. "Then I can die without regret."
"You're so eager to die?" Ayato gave him a sharp look.
"I know you're still young, and Kujou Takayuki never would've let you in on his dealings with the Fatui."
Kamaji gave a bitter smile. "But I am still Kujou blood. The responsibility is mine. Even if I escape death, I'll likely spend my life in prison."
"Not necessarily," Ayato shook his head. "Here is my judgment—your surname will remain, but you are stripped to commoner status. Your descendants will never again hold office."
From this day on, Kujou Kamaji would be just another ordinary man.
Kamaji blinked in disbelief. "That light of a punishment?"
"You call that light?" Ayato arched a brow. "In any case, the same applies to Hiiragi Chisato. Without the burden of family interests, the two of you can finally love as ordinary people."
Kamaji trembled, overcome, unable to speak.
"I still have work to do," Ayato waved him off. "Go."
After Kamaji left, Ayato reflected.
The young man had always doubted the Vision Hunt Decree, yet he lacked the courage to act. He understood, but never resisted, never saved anyone.
But what could he have done?
Weak, powerless, unable to sway his father or even his elder brother. He could not even protect his own attendants.
Ayato had thoroughly investigated his past.
Kamaji had never abused his family's power to bully the weak. His only crime was cowardice—and cowardice was not punishable by death.
"Let him and Chisato live as commoners. Perhaps they'll find happiness."
With that, Ayato turned cold once more. "Next!"
Among the crowd, Arataki Itto squatted, watching the spectacle.
"So Ayato's actually such a big shot?!" He was stunned.
He had always thought Ayato was just a rich young master. Who knew his buddy held life and death in his hands?
The next morning.
Yae Miko finally finished the second act of the Raiden Shogun's story quest.
The first act had been simple, but the second revealed everything.
She now understood Ei's problem—her own will had changed, but the puppet Shogun's will remained unyielding.
More astonishing still, Raiden Makoto's last fragment of consciousness was sealed within Musou Isshin!
Yae Miko was ecstatic.
Ei drew the blade, a peerless katana born from Makoto's divine power, her sister's eternal companion.
She caressed it gently. "Sister?"
But the blade gave no response.
No matter how Ei probed, it seemed completely ordinary.
Yet the truth of Inazuma's history had already proven it—Makoto's will still lingered within.
"There must be specific conditions," Yae Miko said gravely. "Her will is too faint. Even if you awaken her, she may only have time to say a few words before she fades forever."
Ei clutched the sword tighter, her heart aching. She wanted desperately to see her sister again, to hear her voice.
But that reunion would also mean final farewell.
"What should I do?" Ei looked to Miko, lost.
"Don't panic. We'll think of something together." Miko paced anxiously.
Yesterday, Lu Heng had resurrected Fushou.
But Raiden Makoto did not meet the conditions for such a resurrection.
Ei's eyes lit up. "Furina has a resurrection card, doesn't she? Can we buy it?"
"Would she sell it?" Miko shook her head. "Possible, but unlikely. Something that precious—who would willingly part with it?"
"Then what do we do?" Ei's voice trembled. The hope within reach but slipping away filled her with despair.
Miko sighed heavily. They were utterly helpless.
The only option left—was Lu Heng.
But what price would he demand?
To save Makoto, they also had to stabilize the Sacred Sakura, which was bound to her. A single misstep could bring disaster to all of Inazuma.
Miko thought back to yesterday.
Lu Heng had half-joked, saying he wanted her. She hadn't been able to tell if he was serious.
Now, she prayed he had meant it.
"You stay here and keep the puppet Shogun stable. I'll go ask Lu Heng."
Ei nodded firmly. "Whatever it takes. As long as my sister can return safely."
"I know." Miko gave a bitter smile. "For the two of you… I may have to give myself away. Hopefully when your sister returns, she'll at least spare me some trouble."
"What—?" Ei looked stunned. But before she could ask, Miko had already gone.
At nine o'clock, Lu Heng appeared at his Inazuma branch shop.
He had just woken when Miko's urgent message reached him.
A quick divination later, he chuckled to himself.
So the ever-calculating Miko was ready to sacrifice herself for the Raiden sisters.
"Why do I feel more and more like the villain here?" Lu Heng muttered.
Just as he finished the thought, Yae Miko stepped inside.
Her gaze was conflicted, her sigh heavy.
Before she could speak, Lu Heng said lightly:
"Ten billion mora. That'll cover it."
"Ten… billion?" Miko froze, then shook her head.
"Inazuma's economy is fragile. Every mora counts. If you weren't joking yesterday… then take me instead."
"Oh?" Lu Heng blinked, then laughed.
"Still bargaining, are you? Clever little fox—you really do outsmart yourself sometimes."
"What do you mean?"
Lu Heng spread his hands. "Why assume I'd only help if I get something in return? Can't I do it for free?"
"That's unrealistic," Miko replied firmly. "No one helps others for nothing."
"True enough." Lu Heng nodded with a mischievous grin.
"In that case, I'd like to see the fox lady's true form."
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T/N:
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