"Would you all be willing to hear a few words from me?" After the bell's echo faded, a voice like honeyed silk flowed through the air. The crowd turned as one toward the source.
A strikingly beautiful woman approached, accompanied by a retinue of shrine maidens. Her long, rose-colored hair was tied loosely at the ends, and a pair of soft fox ears—matching the shade of her hair—lay nestled within it.
On those ears hung purple gemstone earrings that marked her as an emissary of the divine. Dangling from her right ear was an Electro Vision. Wrapped around her slender figure was a shrine maiden's robe, red and white.
Her skin was as pale as fresh snow, and beneath the hem of her robe, a glimpse of long, elegant legs could be seen. She moved lightly on wooden clogs, impossible to ignore.
Her face was like an eggshell, smooth and round, adorned with a gentle, confident smile. Confronted with such a large crowd, she showed no trace of fear.
As she came to stand beside Kujou Sara, the woman inclined her head in a slight nod. Sara's expression flickered with surprise, but she quickly recovered and greeted her with proper respect.
"Lady Yae."
This was Yae Miko, the Head Shrine Maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine. She shared a close bond with the Shogun—her familiar, in the truest sense. Her status and prestige were immense.
Though the Grand Narukami Shrine rarely involved itself in government affairs—confining itself to exorcisms, prayers, and other spiritual matters—Yae Miko's presence alone commanded deference from even the Three Commissions. Thus, the arrival of the Grand Narukami Shrine's head maiden immediately commanded the room.
Yae Miko's smooth, jade-like face held a composed smile. After a glance at Kujou Sara, she slowly swept her gaze across the crowd.
"Everyone, today's events came upon us too swiftly. Before a proper investigation is complete, we must not rush to judgment. So we cannot casually condemn the people of Watatsumi—our own citizens of Inazuma." Her words were a clear attempt to reassure the Watatsumi merchants and any visiting tradesmen.
"As for Deputy Mitsuda… what he did was unmistakably wrong. I will report his actions to Her Excellency the Shogun. She will decide his punishment."
At this, the color drained from Mitsuda's face. If the Shogun heard about this, he was finished. She was not known for leniency. And though he might have framed his actions as being in Narukami's interest, in truth, they had only sullied its reputation.
He could expect no mercy. Yae Miko's handling of the situation satisfied both the Watatsumi merchants and the foreign traders. Letting the Shogun decide was, without a doubt, the fairest outcome.
"As for Kaedehara Kazuha and his companion… they laid hands on an official of the Kanjou Commission. In accordance with our laws, they must face the consequences. Lady Kujou, I entrust this to you." Yae Miko handed the matter back to Sara.
Sara stepped forward. "For attempting to assault a commissioner, the sentence is one year of confinement and contemplation. However, in recognition of the fact that you acted to expose injustice and defend the powerless, your sentence will be reduced. Soldiers. Take them into custody."
With a nod from Sara, the soldiers stepped forward. Kazuha offered no resistance. He would accept the punishment.
"Sorry to have dragged you into this," he said quietly to his companion.
His companion simply smiled. "Don't worry about it. Even if you hadn't stepped in, I would have."
Kazuha's face softened, touched by his friend's words.
With Kazuha taken into custody and Mitsuda suspended from his post, the commotion at the port finally died down.
Though Sara had intended to detain the Watatsumi merchants for further questioning, a signal from Yae Miko made her reconsider. Ultimately, she let them go.
She ordered her soldiers to see Kazuha and his friend properly settled while she walked with Yae Miko.
As they moved through the streets, Sara's brow remained furrowed.
"There's much you wish to ask me, isn't there, Lady Kujou?" Yae Miko had sent the other shrine maidens ahead, leaving only the two of them to wander the city. A faint smile lingered on her face.
"Yes. Lady Guuji, why did you stop me from questioning the Watatsumi merchants? Even if we have no proof linking them to today's attacks, we can't afford to dismiss any possibility." Sara's tone was firm, unwavering. Even before someone of Yae Miko's stature, she pressed the point without hesitation.
"Sigh. You really haven't changed, Lady Kujou," Yae Miko sighed lightly and shrugged. "Still so dense. Nothing like—" She caught herself mid-sentence and stopped.
"What?" Sara frowned.
"Nothing. Forget I said anything." Yae Miko waved it aside and changed the subject. "Tell me—do you truly believe the people of Watatsumi are responsible?"
Sara fell silent, turning the question over in her mind. "I can't say for certain. But there's no evidence suggesting they are, either. Even so, we shouldn't—"
Yae Miko cut her off. "Enough. I don't believe Watatsumi is involved. Someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, Lady Kujou. They want to set our nations against each other."
A sly smile tugged at Yae Miko's lips. "And if you had detained those merchants, you would have played right into their hands."
Sara hesitated. "You really think so?"
"Come. Let's go see the Shogun," Yae Miko said, shaking her head. "She needs to know what happened today. And when we do, you'll understand."
Sara nodded. It was the right course of action. The Shogun must be informed.
As the two women made their way toward Tenshukaku, they encountered a delegation from Snezhnaya—the Fatui.
They had come to Inazuma to seek new trade agreements.