Soon, the Raiden Shogun found the Yashiro Commission's official document regarding the abolition of the Vision Hunt Decree among the pile of paperwork. It listed five main reasons, such as causing social conflict to Catalyze; people whose Visions were confiscated experiencing various adverse reactions; forcing those whose Visions were not confiscated to join the resistance, and so on.
As for the reasons concerning Inazuma's birth and death rates that the Raiden Shogun had seen before, this document made no mention of them. The Yashiro Commission merely considered the issue from the perspective of stabilizing the social situation.
The Raiden Shogun showed no reaction to these reasons. Instead, it was the final line of complaint that darkened Her expression.
The document concluded by mentioning that this was the fifth time this particular document had been submitted recently, having been repeatedly rejected due to joint opposition from the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission.
Multiple rejections were not the issue. However, the Vision Hunt Decree had been in effect for some time, and the problems mentioned by the Yashiro Commission were genuinely existing. Yet, the documents submitted to Her by the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission made no mention of these issues, stating only that everything was proceeding smoothly.
The Tenryou Commission even planned to hold a grand Vision Hunt ceremony soon, claiming it was to celebrate the hundredth Vision embedded in the Statue of the Omnipresent God, and had invited Her to attend to demonstrate the Vision Hunt Decree's phased achievements.
She had already agreed to this request. During this time, She had also heard that the Tenryou Commission, in order to reach the goal of one hundred Visions, had become even more stringent in enforcing the Vision Hunt Decree. Even Vision holders who had joined the Tenryou Commission had their Visions confiscated, not to mention ordinary people.
Just as the Raiden Shogun was still pondering how to proceed, She heard someone report from outside the door that Kujou Sara wished to see Her. The Raiden Shogun allowed her to enter, as She trusted this Tengu Damselette very much.
Although her identity was Kujou Takayuki's adopted daughter, if compared to Herself, her loyalty to Her clearly surpassed her loyalty to the Kujou Clan. Moreover, the Tengu clan reminded Her from time to time of Her former close friend, Sasayuri.
The same Tengu clan, the same position, and the same loyalty to Her, Kujou Sara's appearance undoubtedly brought a little less darkness to Her reclusive heart, but only a little less.
Kujou Sara slowly walked forward, then knelt on one knee before the Raiden Shogun. She was a short-haired beauty. If judged solely by her attire, those unfamiliar with her might mistake her for a strategist, but in reality, she was the one who charged into battle.
In multiple skirmishes with the resistance, with her leading the charge, the Shogunate Army she commanded would fight fearlessly and united.
Additionally, she was very similar to Tartaglia, also a martial general skilled in various weapons. Although in the game both use bows as weapons, Tartaglia uses a bow because it is his least proficient weapon type, and he wishes to conquer it. Kujou Sara uses a bow because it is her most proficient weapon type.
In that before the Emperor duel with Kazuha's friend, Kujou Sara defeated the swordsman Kazuha's friend with a Sword, which was not her most proficient weapon.
Kujou Sara presented the report in her hand to the Raiden Shogun, saying, "Reporting to the Raiden Shogun, this is my recent investigation regarding the newborn situation in Inazuma City over the past ten years. Please review it."
The Raiden Shogun waved her hand, and the report floated into Her grasp. She quickly scanned it; although the data results were not as detailed as the previous one She had received, the overall data still showed a decline, and there was a precipitous drop in the year the Vision Hunt Decree was implemented.
"You've worked hard, Sara. You've seen this report, haven't you? What are your thoughts after seeing it?"
"I am a soldier and do not understand these matters, but even as a rough person, I know that Inazuma having fewer and fewer children born over the years is not right and requires timely policy adjustments to rectify the current situation."
"I understand. Since the birth rate has been investigated, please also investigate Inazuma's death rate in recent years to see if Inazuma's population is growing or shrinking."
"Yes, General! Also, General, Father... no, the Kujou Clan Head was merely confused for a moment and spoke wrongly. His loyalty to the General is still as it was with our ancestors of old. I hope the General will be lenient."
"I understand. You may go."
Kujou Sara slowly rose and departed. As soon as she exited the Tenshukaku, she saw her adoptive father, Kujou Takayuki, waiting anxiously. Upon seeing Sara, he immediately stepped forward and asked, "How was it? Did the General blame the Kujou Clan?"
The previous scene had truly frightened Kujou Takayuki. He had thought the General was going to strip the Kujou Clan of its position as the Tenryou Commission, which was why he immediately contacted his adopted daughter, Kujou Sara, to plead with the General.
If it were anyone else, the Raiden Shogun might not have given him face, but Kujou Sara was different. She could be said to be a die-hard loyalist of the Raiden Shogun. Although he had raised Kujou Sara, if the Raiden Shogun ordered her to execute him, she would do so without a second thought.
It was precisely for this reason that he dared not disclose the Tenryou Commission's cooperation with the Fatui to Kujou Sara, otherwise she would certainly have informed the Raiden Shogun immediately.
"It's nothing. The General's words were just spoken in anger and she didn't take them to heart."
"That's good, that's good."
"Father, are you hiding something from me?"
"No... no, why would I hide anything from you? You must be overthinking it."
Kujou Sara scrutinized her adoptive father with a suspicious gaze. This did not fit her father's usual calm demeanor in times of crisis, but suspicion was merely suspicion, and without evidence, she let it go.
"I hope so. I've been very busy lately. The war with the Watatsumi Island rebels is intensifying. I need to return to Kujou Clan's headquarters as soon as possible. You also take care of yourself."
After speaking, she bowed to Kujou Takayuki and then left directly. Kujou Takayuki watched her receding figure, the smile on his face gradually disappearing. He muttered, "A child picked up is just a child picked up, an ungrateful wretch who can't be tamed, humph!" With that, he also left in a huff.
After Kujou Sara left, the Raiden Shogun compared the report she presented with the one someone had placed on Her desk earlier, a solemn expression appearing on Her face.
Clearly, Kujou Sara's investigation report must be credible. Since even her report showed that Inazuma's newborns were decreasing, did this also mean that the report on the death rate was also true? Was Inazuma, under Her rule, truly experiencing a declining population?
At this moment, the Raiden Shogun suddenly felt a desire to meet the person who had provided Her with these two reports.
Once, twice, but no more than thrice.
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