Chapter 85: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [85]
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind flung the window open, snuffing out the candlelight on his desk.
Kujo Takayuki looked outside, but the night was calm and still—certainly not windy enough to justify the sudden draft.
Feeling puzzled, he dismissed the thought and relit the candle, intending to get back to his paperwork.
Yet, when he sat back down, there was an unfamiliar letter on his desk.
Kujo Takayuki immediately scanned the room, but there were no signs of intrusion. Warily, he picked up the letter and began to open it.
Hmm? Why does it smell like a woman's perfume? Did a woman deliver this letter?
And why does it feel... damp?
Setting aside the strange thoughts, he began to read the contents.
As he read, his expression grew darker. This was no ordinary letter—it was a detailed accusation, outlining his orders to drown the refugees.
So, the missing samurai... had they been captured?
Who would do this?
The Yashiro Commission had always been kept in check by the Kamisato Clan, but they never meddled in the power struggles between the Commissions, preferring to focus on their own development.
As for the Kanjou Commission, they were far away on Ritou, busy managing their own affairs. Even if they dismantled the Kujo Clan, it would only pave the way for the Tenryou Commission to be taken over by the Tengu family, which offered them no advantage.
Could it be the Tengu Clan behind this?
As Kujo Takayuki pondered the possible culprits, a man's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Well, Kujo-sama, how do you find the weight of the evidence in that letter? Do you think it's enough to bring the Kujo Clan down from the Tenryou Commission?"
Kujo Takayuki's gaze snapped to the source of the voice.
Seated at the tea table, as if he had always been there, was a hooded man with his face partially covered. The stranger casually poured himself a cup of tea.
"Did you capture those samurai?"
Kujo Takayuki's expression tightened as he noticed a dark golden emblem hanging at the man's waist.
He recognized it. He had seen a similar emblem on the woman from the Fatui who had once approached him with an offer.
"You're... with the Fatui!"
"Well, it seems Kujo-sama has some knowledge after all," the man said with a calm smile, taking a sip of tea. Luo Qing was secretly relieved—the Kujo head recognizing him meant he didn't need to introduce himself.
After all, the best way to make an impression is to have others recognize your importance.
"Hmph, we established an alliance not too long ago, and now, within just a few months, you seek to betray me?" Kujo Takayuki's gaze sharpened, and he spoke with a cold tone. "Do you really think a simple accusation will be enough to control me?"
"Don't get the wrong idea, Kujo-sama," Luo Qing replied, still smiling as he sipped his tea. "I happened to come across a few lost samurai. They had this letter with them, and since you're our esteemed partner, I thought it best to bring it to your attention."
"Hmph, are you saying those samurai are in your custody?"
"That's what you said, not me."
"Then tell me, what do you want?"
Kujo Takayuki sat back, dismissing the contents of the letter. He knew this was a play for leverage, and that Luo Qing wouldn't be here if he didn't want something in return.
"How can you say that, Kujo-sama? We're partners. When one of us faces a challenge, naturally, we lend our support."
Luo Qing stood and walked over to Kujo Takayuki, tapping the letter with a finger as he smiled.
"Rest assured, those samurai are being well looked after. You don't need to worry about them. Just pay a bit more attention to our partnership going forward."
As he finished speaking, Luo Qing's golden eyes locked with Kujo Takayuki's. In a blink, he vanished, leaving the room eerily silent.
"Filthy bastards without a shred of honor."
Kujo Takayuki's hands clenched around the letter as he cursed under his breath.
That momentary eye contact with Luo Qing had sent a chill down his spine, like he was being stared down by a predator.
He'd heard enough about the Fatui to know that they were dangerous individuals.
First, there was that arrogant woman who treated him with contempt, and now this mysterious man, appearing out of nowhere to issue veiled threats.
Laughable. Do they think that with the Tenryou Commission under their sway, they can take over Inazuma?
Inazuma has the Raiden Shogun.
Anyone foolish enough to threaten Inazuma would meet their end beneath the Shogun's blade!
Seething with anger, Kujo Takayuki tossed the perfumed and damp letter into the candle's flame, watching it burn to ash.
Meanwhile, Luo Qing had never intended to extract anything specific from Kujo Takayuki during this visit.
His goal was simply to rattle the Tenryou Commission's leader. Negotiations were best left to La Signora.
He strolled past Komore Teahouse once again. It was late; the night market at Hanamizaka had long since packed up, and the "Closed" sign hung outside the teahouse.
Though the shop had shut down for the evening, light still filtered from the upper floor windows.
Luo Qing glanced up, noticing the slight gap in a second-floor window.
There, leaning against the sill, was Kamisato Ayaka, her chin resting on her arms as she gazed at the full moon.
She seemed lost in thought, her face tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Suddenly, as if sensing his gaze, Ayaka looked down and spotted Luo Qing standing in the street, staring back at her.
"Huh... Why is Mr. Luo Qing here...?"
Caught off-guard, Ayaka scrambled to stand up, accidentally bumping her forehead against the window frame with a dull thud.
"Miss Kamisato, are you alright?"
Luo Qing chuckled, having witnessed the scene.
He had to admit, her flustered reaction was rather adorable.
"I-I'm fine, Mr. Luo Qing, don't worry about me," Ayaka stammered, wincing as pain throbbed at the back of her head. With Luo Qing watching, she couldn't even rub the sore spot.
"It's so late... Why are you still out on the street, Mr. Luo Qing...?"
"Well, it's late, and I couldn't find a place to stay, so I thought I'd look for a spot to rest," Luo Qing said casually, his playful side tempted to tease her a bit more.
"O-Oh... I see..."
Ayaka hesitated, biting her lip. If it weren't for Sayu's warning, she would've immediately invited Luo Qing inside to stay.
But with her brother's instructions in mind, no matter how much she wanted to help, she just couldn't bring herself to extend the offer.
"T-There's an Adventurers' Guild not too far from here. They're open all night and have places to rest. Mr. Luo Qing can stay there..."
She trailed off, barely able to finish.
As his friend, she should have invited him inside. But instead, all she could offer were distant directions.
"Alright, I'll check it out. Goodnight, Miss Kamisato."
"Goodnight..."
Watching Luo Qing's figure disappear down the street, Ayaka's lips curved into a small pout, her expression falling.
Back at his resting quarters, Luo Qing was overcome with fatigue. After washing up, he didn't think twice and slipped under the covers, ready for a good night's sleep.
But as soon as his face hit the pillow, he felt something wet.
Blinking in confusion, he sat up and touched the blankets.
"What the... Why the hell is this blanket wet?!"
...
---
T/N: Theresa girl... you have problems
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Chapter 86: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [86]
The next morning...
The bedding was filled with Theresa's scent, a mix of Electro-infused fragrance, making it feel as if she had been burrowing into his covers all night. As a result, Luo Qing barely got any rest.
Waking up the next day, his irritation was obvious whenever he looked at Theresa.
Most of the matters involving the Fatui had already been settled by La Signora, so Luo Qing didn't have to be involved unless there was something her subordinates couldn't handle. Only then would he step in and sort things out.
The Fatui in Inazuma mostly comprised personnel under Dottore and La Signora's command, with a handful from Arlecchino's faction. Some of them were even Luo Qing's former colleagues.
There were power struggles within the Fatui, and the Harbingers often maneuvered for influence. While technically part of the same organization, trust wasn't easily given. If someone wasn't your direct subordinate, they might not necessarily follow your orders.
For Luo Qing, who was mainly there to keep an eye on things for La Signora, he was more than happy to keep his distance from the local Fatui and enjoy his "paid leisure."
The cooperation with the Tenryou Commission was still stable. Even though Luo Qing's threat to Kujou Takayuki had been quite blatant the previous night, the latter hadn't made any sudden moves. In fact, the cooperation had become even more proactive, likely because the man was hoping to utilize the Fatui's help before eventually betraying them.
Regardless of what the future held, for now, Luo Qing was free.
Theresa had spent the entire morning loudly declaring her intention to indulge in a spending spree at Hanamizaka. She argued that she had earned so much from her missions that it would be a waste if she died without spending it.
Since Luo Qing had been too busy buying sweets and light novels for Ei the previous day, he hadn't had a chance to properly explore Inazuma City. With nothing pressing to do, he decided to accompany Theresa—it meant he wouldn't have to carry any bags himself, a convenient arrangement.
As an Electro Cicin Mage, Theresa's attire tended to draw attention, especially with her revealing outfit and eye patch, which inevitably attracted the scrutiny of Tenryou soldiers. To avoid standing out, she donned a more traditional Inazuman kimono, even removing her eye patch.
"Are you ready yet? Since when does a superior wait on their subordinate to get ready?"
After waiting outside Theresa's room for quite some time, Luo Qing impatiently knocked on the door.
"Geez, no need to rush, Lord Luo Qing. If you're really that eager to see, you could just come in, you know~"
Theresa's teasing voice drifted through the door.
"Seriously… trying to flirt with me, huh?"
Luo Qing rolled his eyes, irritated by her antics. He promptly slid the door open without hesitation.
The sight that greeted him was a young woman halfway through donning her kimono. Her deep violet eyes locked onto his, and a playful smile tugged at her lips. Her shoulders were bare, revealing smooth, pale skin, and her slender legs peeked out from under the fabric. It seemed she had anticipated his sudden entry, given that her kimono was only strategically covering essential areas.
"Lord Luo Qing, you're so eager~"
Her voice carried a teasing lilt, her expression clearly amused by his reaction.
Recalling the state of his bedding from the previous night, Luo Qing had a sinking suspicion that Theresa was intentionally trying to provoke him.
"I'll give you five minutes. If you're not out by then, I'm leaving without you," he said coolly, closing the door.
He admitted it—there had been a fleeting moment when her flirtation had gotten to him.
Those deep, entrancing violet eyes, the flowing purple hair, and her youthful yet alluring figure had caught him off guard. Even the bare feet, peeking out from beneath her kimono...
But he quickly dismissed those thoughts. How had he, who had resisted Ningguang's and Yae's charms without issue, been caught off guard by an Electro Cicin Mage—especially his own subordinate?
This, he couldn't understand.
Four minutes and fifty-nine seconds later, the door slid open.
Wearing a kimono that emphasized her youthfulness, Theresa stepped out, balancing on wooden sandals. She twirled in front of him, showing off her new look.
"Hehe, Lord Luo Qing, do I look good?"
"You look fine. Let's go."
Luo Qing cast a quick glance at her and turned away, pretending to be indifferent. Yet, he couldn't help but feel slightly stunned by her transformation.
Perhaps it was because he had never seen Theresa without her eye patch or in anything other than her usual attire. The contrast caught him off guard.
Half a day passed.
They wandered around Hanamizaka, where Theresa's hands gradually filled with bags of purchases. Most were for herself—she proudly declared that it was now or never, otherwise the money would go to waste if she died unexpectedly.
She begged Luo Qing several times to help carry the bags, but he refused each time, standing firm in his role as her superior.
Finding himself with some free time, Luo Qing decided to revisit Yae Publishing House. He'd spent the previous visit picking out romance novels for Ei, so he hadn't had a chance to browse the more male-oriented sections.
As he explored the aisles, he was amused by the obvious endings the titles suggested. Realizing there was little of interest, he dragged a reluctant Theresa—who had been absorbed in the women's section—out of the shop.
Just as they were about to find a place to rest, a commotion erupted nearby.
Looking in the direction of the noise, they spotted a group of Tenryou soldiers at the far end of the street, arguing with a girl with bright orange hair. They stood in front of a small store near the city's outskirts, almost at the edge of Inazuma City.
The shop's sign read: Naganohara Fireworks.
"Stop stuffing your face with sweets and check it out," Luo Qing ordered Theresa, gesturing toward the group before heading over himself.
As they drew closer, the argument grew clearer.
"Guys, I swear, I don't have a Vision! You must be mistaken! We just make fireworks here, and sometimes there's a spark—totally normal!"
"Cut the excuses. If you don't hand it over, well... Yoimiya, you wouldn't want the Naganohara Fireworks Shop to be shut down, would you?"
"I... I really don't have it!"
Luo Qing arrived in time to witness the orange-haired girl, apparently named Yoimiya, looking increasingly distressed. Behind her, hidden from the soldiers' view, her hands were nervously gripping something.
"Go handle it," Luo Qing said casually to Theresa.
"Huh? Lord Luo Qing, this is Inazuma City… If I end up killing them—"
"I didn't ask you to kill them. Just draw their attention. That's all."
"Oh... oh, okay!"
Theresa looked momentarily flustered but nodded obediently. Grabbing a box of dango, she confidently approached the soldiers. As she got close, she faked a stumble, tossing the dango onto the ground and then shouted loudly:
"Watch where you're going, you blind oafs!"
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
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