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 Teresa, 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 Teresa, 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?”
Teresa 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. Teresa followed his gaze and saw Gorou and his elite resistance fighters, who had encircled them without them even noticing.
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