Chapter 24

When her brother mentioned Master Masakatsu's name, Kamisato Ayaka felt a brief moment of panic.

The folding fan was her tool to conceal her unease.

Because Master Masakatsu was no ordinary craftsman.

As a renowned artisan in Hanamizaka, he possessed a skill that few could imagine.

He could forge fake Visions.

Compared to the genuine Visions granted by the gods, Master Masakatsu's counterfeit Visions were nearly indistinguishable, except for the fact that they couldn't truly allow the user to communicate with elemental energy.

After the Vision Hunt Decree was enacted, many Vision bearers had relied on Master Masakatsu's fake Visions to escape persecution.

For the head of the Kamisato Clan to suddenly bring up Master Masakatsu's name... could it be...?

"I was wondering who would dare to forge fake Visions at a time like this. So it was your doing, Brother?"

Closing her fan, Kamisato Ayaka had already pieced together some of the truth.

With the support of one of the Three Commissions, the Yashiro Commission, Master Masakatsu would naturally dare to take such a risk and create fake Visions for those in need.

"Now, now, don't jump to conclusions. As the head of the Kamisato Clan, how could I possibly defy the Shogun's will?"

Even as he said this, the faint smile on Kamisato Ayato's lips confirmed Ayaka's suspicions.

Despite his youth, as the current head of the Kamisato Clan, the schemes and intrigues he faced were beyond what most could imagine.

The Kamisato Clan's rise from decline to greatness was largely due to his efforts.

"So this is..."

Looking back at the list, Kamisato Ayaka had already formed her own hypothesis.

"Exactly. This is a list of everyone who has purchased fake Visions from Master Masakatsu so far."

Hearing her brother's words, Kamisato Ayaka couldn't hide her surprise.

Vision bearers were considered the strongest combatants in Teyvat.

While there were a few exceptionally strong individuals without Visions, they were extremely rare.

Thus, most of Teyvat's strongest warriors possessed Visions.

However, not all Vision bearers chose to align themselves with nations or organizations.

Many preferred freedom over being bound by rules, especially in a place like Inazuma, where the culture of wandering samurai was prevalent.

Many Vision bearers lived anonymously among ordinary people, leading peaceful lives.

Now... this list gave the Kamisato Clan the opportunity to connect with these individuals.

Such connections could bring limitless possibilities for the Kamisato Clan's future.

Moreover, with the Tenryou Commission and Kanjou Commission acting suspiciously lately, if the Yashiro Commission could avoid major missteps in the coming days, it could potentially overshadow the other two commissions and break the current tripartite balance.

Her brother... was truly playing a grand game of chess.

"None of that is important right now."

Casually setting aside the list, which outsiders would consider a treasure, Kamisato Ayato picked up another piece of intelligence.

This one was simple, containing just two words.

Or rather, a name.

"Bai Luo?"

Aside from Bai Luo's name, there was also an Anemo symbol, indicating that the fake Vision he had purchased was of the Anemo element.

"Yes. Apparently, Master Masakatsu once tried to expand his market overseas, but there was no demand for fake Visions abroad. This was the only one he sold, so he remembers it clearly."

It was through the Shuumatsuban that Kamisato Ayato had learned about someone attempting to smuggle Visions overseas, which led him to Master Masakatsu.

"Speaking of which, the name Bai Luo sounds familiar."

Kamisato Ayaka was certain she didn't know anyone named Bai Luo.

Yet, seeing the name, she felt she had heard it somewhere before.

"Kujou."

Kamisato Ayato rested his chin on his fist and uttered the surname of the Tenryou Commission's Kujou Clan.

This immediately sparked a realization in Ayaka.

The rumors about Kujou Sara had recently reached her ears.

As the White Heron Princess of the Yashiro Commission and the face of the Kamisato Clan, Kamisato Ayaka had interacted with Kujou Sara before.

She knew Kujou Sara's character well and was certain she wouldn't do the things mentioned in the rumors.

Thus, she hadn't taken the gossip seriously and hadn't paid much attention to it.

But now that she thought about it, the man at the center of the rumors with Kujou Sara was named Bai Luo, wasn't he?

"Brother, are you suggesting they're the same person?"

Currently, there was very little information about Bai Luo in Inazuma City.

Most people speculated, based on his name, that he was from Liyue.

But what people were more interested in was his Vision.

Yes, during the height of the Vision Hunt Decree, this man named Bai Luo had openly worn a Dendro Vision on his waist.

Many who opposed the Vision Hunt Decree had mischievously speculated: if the Shogun took a liking to Bai Luo's Vision, would Kujou Sara "turn against her own kin"?

Thinking about this, Kamisato Ayaka realized something else.

"This Bai Luo person has a Dendro Vision, right?"

Yes, the person who purchased the fake Vision had bought an Anemo Vision.

But the man linked to Kujou Sara in the rumors had a Dendro Vision.

Had her brother made a mistake?

"That leads to another matter."

When it came to this other matter, Kamisato Ayato's expression turned serious.

Ever since Bai Luo arrived in Inazuma, Kamisato Ayato had obtained firsthand information and, after consulting with the Guuji, dispatched the Shuumatsuban.

Thus, he was certain that this Bai Luo, a Fatui Harbinger from Snezhnaya, was the same person who had purchased the fake Vision.

But judging by his Dendro Vision, that fake Vision would have been useless.

So... why had he bought it?

Just as he was pondering this, the Wanderer appeared.

That eccentric figure, dressed like a wandering samurai, had also appeared in the Kamisato Clan's records.

Following the Guuji's advice, Kamisato Ayato had indeed halted his investigation into the Wanderer.

But through his own methods, he had still obtained some information.

For example...

The activity around Yashiori Island.

According to Thoma's reports, after the Kanjou Commission collaborated with the Fatui, they had collected a significant amount of Crystal Marrow and transported it there.

Coupled with the remnants of the slain god Orobashi in that area...

This reminded him of another piece of intelligence he possessed.

Delusions.

The Fatui hadn't hidden the existence of Delusions, but they hadn't revealed specific details about them either.

Outsiders didn't even know what Delusions truly were.

They only knew that Delusions could produce effects similar to Visions, but at the cost of the user's life.

And according to some rumors circulating in Teyvat, one of the key materials used to create Delusions was the residue of slain gods.

Could it be that the Fatui had borrowed Master Masakatsu's techniques for forging fake Visions to perfect their Delusions?

Perhaps there was a Delusion workshop hidden on Yashiori Island!