Act 3, Scene 17
18th of the 7th Cycle
"Then we have an agreement?"
"Indeed we do. Let us begin drafting the treaty."
"Sir Aether, Lady Mona, you would be our witnesses?"
"We would."
"Then let's get started."
Drafting a treaty was a long process, Aether knew, he had drafted several himself back home. Even when both sides have reached an accord, fleshing out the terms takes a lot of time. That's because both sides want to make sure there is no loophole for the other party to use, yet have some loopholes for their own side. Like most things in the world, it is a balancing game.
Thankfully, in this case both sides knew what each other wanted, and could get on with it quickly. When the final draft was completed, Aether was handed the parchment and he scanned through it.
The terms were simple.
One, the Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree will not be enforced on Watatsumi Island and all future Sangonomiya demesne and vassals.
Two, a Tenryou Commission headquarters will be constructed on the Heart of Watatsumi, this will be a permanent structure. Tenryou garrisons will be set up on the Eye, the Fin, the Fang, the Tail, and the Coral Palace for 20 years.
Three, the Sangonomiya Clan will pay reparations to the Shogunate.
Four, all tariffs between Watatsumi and Inazuma will be reduced to zero.
Five, the Sangonomiya will join the Shogunate in any defensive war against the Dark Sea.
Six, all intelligence and information between the Sangonomiya and the Shogunate about Snezhnayan operations in the Inazuman Archipelago will be shared with the other party.
Lastly, the Sangonomiya Clan and all its vassals will swear fealty to the Raiden Shogun.
There were many more subpoints, but this was the mainstay of the treaty. Aether handed the parchment to Mona, and both signed at the bottom to confirm their witness. With that, two official copies were made, stamped by both parties and signed by both of them.
One copy was given to the Sangonomiya, the other to the Kujou. Everyone toasted at their success. Peace has finally come to Inazuma, but a few individuals knew that it was not to last.
"..."
"Are you certain about the Dark Sea?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi was right to be doubtful, the Dark Sea was widely regarded to have been beaten back 500 years ago. But Mona was as certain as she was ever.
"Yes, I can have you read the stars yourself, but I doubt you would understand."
Kokomi adopted a troubled face, "This is incredibly concerning… and not all that surprising. The Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri has just failed. I have sent several battalions into Enkanomiya, and all report it is shrouded in darkness."
"Enkanomiya… is the closest realm there is to the Abyss in all of Inazuma, do you think that…"
"I'm afraid so. For the Dark Sea and the Abyss to attack at the same time…"
Kujou Sara finished for her, "The last time that happened was five centuries ago, it may be happening again."
"Right. If this encroachment from the Abyss continues, Watatsumi will have to deploy all available manpower to Enkanomiya. We will be in no position to fight the Dark Sea."
Mona watched as the two commanders stew in their thoughts. This was the worst possible timing for another war, for obvious reasons.
Sara raised her head at last, "We have just received a score thousand fresh soldiers from Narukami and Kannazuka. Officially, they will be the garrison, their actual orders will be to help you fight the Abyss."
The priestess' eyes opened wide, "I… I'm afraid Watatsumi does not have the ability to repay you…" She trailed off, before realising something. "No, we do. We have captured several Fatui agents on Watatsumi, they were selling unauthorised weapons to the army. Three of the agents are the ringleaders, we will give them to you."
"I'm not sure-"
"No," Sangonomiya Kokomi's eyes flashed, briefly taking on the look of a snake's, "I'm sure you would like to hear what they would have to say."
"...Very well."
19th of the 7th Cycle
Lady Sangonomiya and Lord Yuna boarded the Deicide with their retinues. They were to swear fealty to the Shogun at Tenshukaku, as they were the heads of the two most powerful clans on Watasumi.
The flotilla of five ships left port that morning, to return to Setsuzoku Port and announce the end of the war.
Act 3, Scene 18
4th of the 8th Cycle
Kujou Sara sat in her office in Karasu Castle, reading all the reports that had piled up in her absence. With Masahito dead, all the reports meant for his eyes were diverted to her as well.
She mindlessly flipped through the letters.
The Crux prisoners were released and have departed back to Liyue with the exile Kazuha, good to know.
The Watatsumi prisoners somehow managed to repair the Mikage Furnace, albeit with a lot of casualties, that was really good to know. They have since been returned back to Watatsumi Island in accordance with the treaty. Sara drafted a letter ordering the refugees to return to Kamado City. It is paramount that the Mikage Furnace and the Arsenal be operational as soon as possible.
The Tenryou garrison have settled down on Watatsumi, and are helping treat the wounded and move supplies for the war in Enkanomiya. Good.
As Sara opened the next letter, a messenger burst into her office. He bowed hastily.
"Apologies, Lady Kujou!" He held out a sealed letter, "This is from the Fatui interrogators, they say you must read it immediately!"
She took the letter, but told him to remain.
Sara opened it and scanned the words with anticipation. Her blood turned to ice.
The messenger must've seen her expression, because he silently gulped.
She looked up at him, "Tell General Nagamasa to put all the interrogators and everyone they have been in contact with today under house arrest. Under no circumstance are they to talk to anyone else until I release them. Understood? Dismissed."
The messenger saluted stiffly, and ran off.
Kujou Sara stared at the letter in disbelief, for its contents were absolutely preposterous. She recalled something she thought of less than a moon ago. 'Who's next, the Hiiragi?'
Not just the Hiiragi, but the Kujou as well. All three Commissioner Clans were traitors to the Shogunate, this was a national disaster. The Kamisato were flirting with rebels, the Hiiragi and Kujou were colluding with the Fatui. And she was a Kujou.
No, she could not return to Tenshukaku and pretend nothing had happened. Justice must be served. They cannot fight the Dark Sea with hidden knives at their backs. She tapped the table, pondering what to do.
She rang a bell, and an attendant rushed in.
"Call a war council meeting, Lady Sangonomiya and Lady Mona is to attend."
"Yes, my lady!"
BANG
She slammed the letter onto the table. General Nagamasa gingerly took it and read through it, his face paling.
As the letter was passed around, the atmosphere in the room became tense. Officers were side-eyeing one another, as if thinking 'anyone of us here could be a traitor.'
Kujou Sara cleared her throat, looking at every single one of them in the eye one by one.
"If any of you have anything to admit, do it now. If you don't, say 'no' one by one."
And so one by one, all the officers in the room evoked negatives, including a Hiiragi and two Kamisatos. Lady Mona shook her head.
"No one is lying."
Silence dominated the chamber as they realised the purpose of Lady Mona's presence. It is common knowledge in the army now, that Lady Mona was an astrologer, and that she could learn just about anything with her abilities. In fact, it was Lady Mona who demanded that Fujitou Castle should be assaulted on that day, lest the army fail the siege in the end.
Thus everyone easily believed that she was capable of discerning lies.
The words Kujou Sara spoke next reverberated through the room.
"Marshal the army, we go to war at dawn."
Kamisato Akeno flinched, "General Kujou! Please, we will be the ones seen as traitors!"
"This is my duty, for I swore to serve the Shogunate to the best of my ability, even if it means acting against it." Her words were firm and final.
General Nagamasa stood, and bowed. "And I swore to serve the Shogunate as well, General. I will follow your lead."
Kamisato Akeno was quiet for a while, before finally- "Lord Ayato will be a dangerous enemy. He is a prodigy in politics, and politics is just war without the swords and screaming."
Hiiragi Hiyori spoke up after her, "Then we shouldn't play by the rules. Who is the Kamisato contingent loyal to, Lord Ayato, or you?"
"To me," Kamisato Akikazu said, "the Kamisato contingent is loyal to me."
Akikazu was the older brother of Akeno. When he enlisted, Akeno followed his lead. While their parents protested, Lord Ayato gave his blessings for it meant the Kamisato would have more influence in the army.
Kujou Sara found it funny that now his investment was rebelling against him.
Hiyori nodded, then continued, "That's nearly ten thousand men. More than enough to take a city from the inside."
Nagamasa agreed with him, "It is dishonourable, but we are fighting dishonourable men. I will lead the 3rd Division to block off Port Ritou from the land."
"And I will lead the 1st Armada to blockade the city from the sea." Admiral Noriko finished.
Hiiragi Hiyori put his chin on his fist, "I will pretend to side with the Hiiragi, and 'secretly' take the Hiiragi contingent into Ritou and open the gates from inside."
Kujou Sara remained silent, was she really plotting rebellion against her father? The man who adopted her into his house, and treated her as his own? Yes, yes she was, for he betrayed the memory of his eldest son, and betrayed the Shogun.
"I will march the 1st Division into Inazuma City and demand answers from Kujou Takayuki myself. I give General Takeichi command of the 2nd Division, you will bring justice to all the lesser clans who have betrayed the Shogunate."
"Yes, General!"
Kujou Sara took a deep breath, and placed both her palms on the table. She stared into the eyes of every man and woman at the table.
"We will either go down in history as the most damned traitors, or as Inazuma's greatest heroes. But know that here and now, we are simply men and women trying to do our duty. You all have followed me this far, will you follow me a little longer?"
"We will follow you to seven hells and back, General Kujou. For that is our oath."
"Then let us raise our banners in rebellion together, and shape the future of Inazuma with our own two hands."