Quote Originally Posted by Bloody View Post
I disagree with the assumption that Hingashi is free. The description of Kugane literally states "Kugane stands as the only port in Hingashi whose docks remain open to foreign vessels in the era of occupation." and the trailer shows garleans chasing samurai WoL. Definitely not indicators of a free city. It reminds me more of a "occupied gem" so to speak, one of those locations given more freedom due to either their good behavior or the strategic value of that freedom (or both). Since Kugane seems to be an important trade port, I wouldn't be surprised if the Garleans wanted to take advantage of that.
On the other hand, Yugiri and her band of fleeing Domans were denied port at Hingashi specifically to avoid poking the Garlean hornet nest, so there's pretty solid implication that Hingashi does indeed exist outside Imperial control, ala Thavnair. Garlemald would obviously have a presence in Kugane, it being a major port for trade and the like, but from what we know so far, they don't actually control it.

As for the soldiers - I wonder if they are Garlean. Their armor has some similar aesthetics to it, but their weapons - flintlock pistols, specifically - seem a pretty far cry from the tech wielded by the other Garlean soldiers we've faced. Could just be my imagination, but they could also be a local militia or something, unrelated to Garlemald's military.