Bab 129: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [129] [4?? P?]
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After a whole night of Thoma's encouragement, Kamisato Ayaka finally pulled herself together.
She had resolved not to let Luo Qing's status as a member of the Fatui get in the way of mending their relationship.
If one invitation didn't work, she would try a second time. If the second attempt failed, she would try a third.
And if that didn't work... well, she'd just wear her tracksuit and... Ahem, in any case, as long as Luo Qing remained in Inazuma City, Ayaka was determined that her sincerity would eventually reach him.
Today, Ayaka was preparing to extend a second invitation to play the hotpot game with Luo Qing.
Back when Luo Qing had been confined in the Tenshukaku, she'd had some conversations with Teresa and the others, who had told her where Luo Qing lived.
Yesterday, she had planned to go to his safe house, but fate had brought them face-to-face halfway there.
So today, with renewed courage and determination, Ayaka followed the directions Teresa had given her to Luo Qing's safe house.
The so-called "safe house" was actually a small inn, secretly constructed by the Fatui. It was not open to the public and was reserved exclusively for Fatui personnel.
"Winter Solstice Inn... this is the place..."
Ayaka stared at the sign, taking a deep breath before pulling aside the curtain and stepping inside.
The inn's front desk was unattended, and there was no one to ask, so Ayaka made her way upstairs.
Teresa had provided the exact room number, so Ayaka knew she could find Luo Qing's room without asking anyone.
Reaching the second floor, she carefully checked the numbers on each door, searching for his room.
"207... this is it..."
Standing in front of the door, Ayaka took a deep breath and knocked.
She waited, but there was no response from the other side.
Pressing her ear to the door, she listened.
There was only silence. It seemed no one was inside.
"He's not here..."
On a whim, she tested the doorknob to see if it was locked.
To her surprise, the door swung open.
But the scene inside froze Ayaka in her tracks.
A richly dressed woman was lounging on the tatami mat, one hand propped under her head, the other holding a light novel. The table beside her was covered with milk tea and desserts.
Their eyes met, and both were stunned—Rosalyne, mid-sip, stopped drinking her milk tea.
Ayaka quickly bowed her head, apologizing.
"I'm sorry to disturb you... May I ask, does Mr. Luo Qing live here?"
"Luo Qing?"
Rosalyne frowned. What's the Kamisato heiress doing here, looking for Luo Qing?
"He left this morning. You missed him."
"H-He left?!"
Ayaka was shocked.
Why hadn't Luo Qing mentioned anything to her yesterday?!
"Could you please tell me where Mr. Luo Qing went...?"
Ayaka's face was crestfallen.
Last night, Thoma had assured her that if she showed enough sincerity, she'd win Luo Qing over.
But now he was gone—no amount of sincerity could change that.
"How should I know?"
Rosalyne's tone grew impatient.
She was right at the climax of her light novel, and Ayaka's sudden arrival had broken her concentration.
From the look on Ayaka's face, Rosalyne guessed she was another girl caught in Luo Qing's web.
Feeling mischievous, she decided to scare Ayaka a bit.
"He's not from Inazuma, is he? It's not unusual for him to leave. For all you know, he might have gone back to Snezhnaya to avoid you and isn't planning to return."
"Not... coming back?"
Ayaka's face paled.
She'd momentarily forgotten that Luo Qing was from Snezhnaya.
That was his real home—he could leave for it at any time.
After all, Snezhnaya and Inazuma were on opposite ends of Teyvat, a journey that would take months to complete.
And if Luo Qing left, he might never return to Inazuma...
Was yesterday their final encounter?
A wave of regret washed over Ayaka. Why hadn't she tried harder to make him stay?
"Do you need something else? If not, don't interrupt my reading."
Rosalyne's voice was cold, yet seeing Ayaka's dazed expression only reinforced her suspicions.
So it was true—this Kamisato girl had a thing for Luo Qing!
"I apologize... for the intrusion."
Ayaka nodded politely, then gently shut the door behind her as she left the inn.
As she walked away, Rosalyne's words echoed in her mind: "For all you know, he might have gone back to Snezhnaya to avoid you."
It seems that Mr. Luo Qing is truly upset... Even his friends are making excuses for him...
I just want to see Mr. Luo Qing again...
...
Meanwhile, at the port outside Inazuma City—
It seemed that sweet words whispered in a lover's ear were the hardest to resist.
After much persuasion, playful teasing, and gentle cajoling, Luo Qing had finally convinced the Raiden Shogun to grant his request. She had bestowed upon him the title of Great General of the Vanguard, granting him unrestricted access to Tatarasuna.
Moreover, she had sent one of her most trusted subordinates, Kujou Sara, to accompany him.
Officially, it was to aid Luo Qing in liaising with the Shogunate forces on the frontlines, but in reality, it was to keep a close eye on him and make sure he didn't cause too much trouble.
As for Sara, when she learned she was to accompany Luo Qing to Tatarasuna, her emotions were a mess.
But the order had come directly from the Shogun herself. She had no choice but to obey and become Luo Qing's assistant.
Remembering their last collaboration during the Tenryou Commission's training exercises, Sara felt a surge of complicated emotions.
Luo Qing was unlike any normal person—his shamelessness was beyond measure.
She couldn't understand what the Shogun saw in him.
Now, Sara stood at the harbor, staring at the horizon with a troubled expression, unsure when she would return from this journey.
"Sara, why do you look like you've swallowed something bitter the moment we set off?"
Luo Qing, walking over with Teresa, put on a serious tone.
"When we travel, we should be in high spirits. A cheerful attitude makes the journey so much more enjoyable~"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Kujou Sara +1]
Sara gave Luo Qing a glance, choosing to ignore him and returned her gaze to the sea.
"Isn't it boring to just stare at the ocean? How about we talk about something fun? Like the Shogun's daily hobbies—how about it?"
The trip to Tatarasuna would be long, and he was eager to have some fun.
"The Shogun's hobbies..."
A flash of excitement crossed Sara's face, quickly replaced by a calm demeanor as she pretended to be indifferent.
"Mr. Luo Qing, I'm listening."
"Oh, the Shogun's hobbies are quite a secret. I'll need a trade if I'm going to share them~"
"...Trade? What do you want?"
"How about joining Teresa and me for some plaza dancing?"
"?"
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Bab 130: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [130]
After several days of sailing, Luo Qing's support fleet finally arrived at the Kujou Encampment in Kannazuka.
Kujou Sara had come to the Tatarasuna frontlines not only to keep an eye on Luo Qing but also to carry out a mission assigned by the Raiden Shogun.
The Traveler from Liyue had allied with the resistance, and one of her tasks was to pressure the rebels into handing over the Traveler.
Luo Qing had even assured the Shogun that, if necessary, he would assist in capturing Lumine. That promise had earned him the title of Great General of the Vanguard from the Raiden Shogun.
Of course, whether he would actually follow through was entirely up to him.
A fleet of troop transports docked at the port below the Kujou Encampment, and hundreds of Shogunate reinforcements disembarked, making their way to the camp.
For Inazuma, a deployment of hundreds was considered a significant force, and this reinforcement was crucial for the Shogunate's efforts, potentially decisive for the outcome at the front.
Waiting at the docks was Kujou Masahito, an officer of the Shogunate stationed at the Kujou Encampment. When he saw Kujou Sara and her entourage disembark, he hurried over to greet them.
"Lady Kujou Sara, welcome to Tatarasuna,"
Masahito said respectfully. Although they both hailed from the Kujou Clan, Sara was an adopted daughter, and she held the position of a high-ranking general.
Thus, he maintained the proper respect, without any presumptuousness based on family ties.
"And who are these two...?"
Masahito glanced curiously at Luo Qing and Theresa, feeling a strange sense of familiarity about them.
"This is Mr. Luo Qing, the Great General of the Vanguard, appointed personally by the Shogun. And his bodyguard,"
Sara said coolly, a hint of puzzlement crossing her face—she still couldn't fathom how Luo Qing had managed to gain such a peculiar title from the Shogun.
"Great General of the Vanguard?"
Suspicion flickered across Masahito's face.
Was it because the Shogun had noticed their lack of progress at the front that she had sent both Sara and this Great General to Tatarasuna?
"Yes, the Great General of the Vanguard,"
Luo Qing said, his eyes narrowing as a secretive smile spread across his face. "The Shogun told me that if I see any sign of cowardice or reluctance in battle, I'm free to cut you down with a single stroke~"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Kujou Masahito +1]
Now he was certain—the Shogun must be dissatisfied with their lack of success at the front.
Otherwise, why would she send Kujou Sara to take over command and dispatch a Great General specifically to oversee the battlefield?
"I would never dare! I will serve the Shogun with my life!"
Masahito dropped to one knee, speaking with utmost reverence.
In truth, due to the persistent corruption in Tatarasuna caused by the Tatarigami, both the resistance and the Shogunate had been hesitant to fully engage, fearing they'd lose strength before the battle even started.
But recently, the Tatarigami seemed to have mysteriously vanished, prompting a surge in the intensity of the frontlines.
The Traveler's presence had bolstered the resistance's combat capabilities significantly, and without the expected reinforcements, the Shogunate's forces had been struggling, nearly losing control of Tatarasuna.
"Alright, get up. I don't go around chopping people up for no reason—why are you so scared?"
Luo Qing chuckled lightly, looking innocent and harmless.
Once Masahito had risen, Luo Qing strode towards the Kujou Encampment, flanked by Kujou Sara and Theresa, who walked like two loyal secretaries at his sides.
Masahito trailed behind, a small figure filled with confusion.
Isn't Kujou Sara supposed to be the General? Why is Luo Qing leading the way?
But since Sara remained silent, Masahito refrained from speaking up. Instead, he followed them around the camp, giving them a tour and explaining their daily drills and the latest reports from the battlefield.
Afterward, Sara conveyed the Raiden Shogun's decree: she was to assume full command of Tatarasuna's defense, leading the war effort against the resistance.
Luo Qing found all the formalities tedious and was just about to sneak out for a walk when a Shogunate soldier burst into the room, addressing Masahito with urgency.
"Sir, news from the front! The resistance has broken through the Nazuchi Beach defensive line and is advancing toward Tatarasuna! The defenses at Tatarasuna urgently need reinforcements!"
"So soon?!"
Masahito was shocked.
"It's that wanted criminal again, isn't it?!"
"Yes, sir. That outlaw is incredibly strong. None of our warriors can match them in single combat, and morale among the troops is plummeting, so..."
"I understand. You're dismissed."
Masahito frowned and turned to Kujou Sara.
"Lady Kujou Sara, what are your orders?"
With Sara holding the rank of General, it was her decision to make.
"Hmph, we've been merciful enough not to hunt them down—now they have the audacity to attack us?"
Sara's eyes flashed with resolve. She gave Masahito a swift command:
"Relay my orders. All units are to march to Nazuchi Beach immediately! I want to see just how much faith they've placed in that Traveler!"
With her command, the entire Kujou Encampment sprang to life, preparing for battle.
The Shogunate soldiers, accustomed to following orders from the Tenryou Commission, knew Sara's reputation for decisive action.
Though exhausted from their long journey, the reinforcements rested only half a day before joining the soldiers of the Kujou Encampment, heading out to reinforce Nazuchi Beach.
...
A few days later, Nazuchi Beach—
Before Lumine had joined them, the resistance had always been at a disadvantage against the Shogunate due to their smaller numbers and inferior equipment.
But with Lumine's help in recent battles, they had managed several key victories, raising the morale of the resistance forces.
Taking advantage of this momentum, the resistance leader, Gorou, learned that the Shogunate's defenses were thin and decided to launch a surprise attack on Tatarasuna, hoping to break their defensive line.
Gathering several dozen elite fighters, Gorou moved out at dawn, aiming to surprise the Shogunate forces.
After knocking out a few sleeping sentries, the resistance infiltrated deeper into Tatarasuna, drawing closer to the ruins of the Mikage Furnace—the site of a catastrophic explosion in the past.
Leading his team into the heart of the area, Gorou was preparing to search for the Shogunate's encampment when he spotted something unexpected.
Not far from the reservoir, a man and a woman in traditional clothing were standing near the floating Mikage Furnace, seemingly discussing something.
"Civilians?"
Gorou frowned slightly. Hadn't the intelligence reports said that all civilians had been evacuated from Tatarasuna? Why were there still people here?
Though he sympathized with the plight of the locals, caution prevailed, and he decided to subdue them first and question them later.
Signaling his men to advance, Gorou led them in a silent approach, encircling the pair.
As he drew closer, he overheard snippets of their conversation.
"Mr. Luo Qing, since when does the Great General of the Vanguard arrive before the main force? Why are you here so early—just to take some pictures of that thing?"
Theresa asked, looking puzzled.
"You don't understand, do you? The early bird catches the worm. See, they're already here, aren't they?"
Luo Qing gestured with a nod. Theresa followed his gaze and saw Gorou and his elite resistance fighters, who had encircled them without them even noticing.
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If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
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