“Lumine, Paimon, Luo Qing… nice to meet you. I am Sangonomiya Kokomi, the organizer of the Resistance and the current Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island…”
Kokomi nodded slightly to each of them, but her eyes lingered on Luo Qing with a hint of confusion.
She had already heard about Lumine and Paimon from earlier reports, and her purpose for coming here was to meet them.
But now, instead of two, there were three, with Luo Qing being the unexpected addition. Just as she was about to make polite conversation to draw them into the Resistance, Gorou suddenly interrupted.
“Um, Lady Kokomi, about this Luo Qing…”
Gorou’s eyes darted towards Luo Qing with a complicated expression as he leaned in close to Kokomi.
He truly couldn’t understand how this man could stand here, openly fabricating such blatant lies.
Luo Qing had actually claimed he was here to join the Resistance.
What a joke. If he really wanted to join, then why did he make eighty of their men dance for days on end?
In a low whisper, Gorou quickly summarized all the intelligence he had on Luo Qing to Kokomi.
Visibly, Kokomi’s expression shifted from a polite smile to a slight frown, her gaze on Luo Qing becoming more scrutinizing.
A Fatui Harbinger, who had saved the Traveler from the Raiden Shogun, now held the rank of General of Surveillance in the Shogunate—and was offering to join forces with the Resistance to sabotage the Shogunate.
It was complicated, to say the least. Even Kokomi couldn’t quite figure out what Luo Qing’s motives were.
Was he truly working with the Resistance just to make prisoners dance? What kind of person does that?
“Um… there’s one more thing.”
After finishing his briefing, Gorou shot another glance at Luo Qing before adding quietly,
“This guy… might not be right in the head. Please, Lady Kokomi, don’t let him lead you astray…”
“…”
“I understand.”
Kokomi nodded, then turned to Luo Qing with a polite smile.
“Mr. Luo Qing, Gorou has already told me about you. May I ask if your only reason for cooperating with the Resistance is to make prisoners… dance?”
Even as she said it, Kokomi had trouble keeping a straight face.
She had already heard from the reports about how Gorou and his men were forced to dance as a form of humiliation by the Shogunate.
Yet here stood the mastermind behind it, now claiming he wanted to do the same to the Shogunate.
Fatui Harbingers really are strange people…
“Of course. Why, Lady Kokomi, don’t you believe me?”
Luo Qing responded casually, still as relaxed as ever.
The Resistance was outmatched in both equipment and manpower, especially with the recent arrival of Shogunate reinforcements.
They were all smart people here, and Luo Qing doubted Kokomi would refuse his offer.
“No, I believe you, Mr. Luo Qing. I just wanted to confirm.”
Kokomi shook her head slightly, then added softly,
“We can agree that any Shogunate prisoners we capture will be left to you. But, Mr. Luo Qing, how exactly do you intend to assist the Resistance?
Are you truly willing to turn your back on the Shogunate, just for such… peculiar requests?”
Her voice remained gentle and polite, but there was a clear hint of skepticism.
She still couldn’t quite believe that someone would do all this just out of sheer boredom.
“Absolutely. Next time we face the Shogunate, I’ll be there to help.”
Luo Qing smiled, extending his right hand.
“So, here’s to a successful partnership?”
He really just wanted an excuse to shake Kokomi’s hand.
“…”
Kokomi glanced at his outstretched hand, hesitating slightly.
To be honest, she wasn’t comfortable with physical contact from strangers, especially not like this.
“Does Lady Kokomi not trust me?”
“…”
After a brief pause, Kokomi gently extended her own hand.
As their hands touched, Luo Qing felt the warmth of her skin against his. He held on for several seconds before finally letting go.
It didn’t matter what else happened—getting to hold Kokomi’s hand made this encounter totally worth it.
…
With Lady Kokomi’s agreement to cooperate with Luo Qing, Gorou had no choice but to allow him free reign in the Resistance camp. He begrudgingly watched as Luo Qing roamed about, chatting with the very soldiers he had forced to dance.
Kokomi, having other matters to attend to, didn’t linger after her discussion with Luo Qing. She exchanged a few words with Lumine before leaving the camp.
The Next Morning
The Shogunate forces had finished their preparations and sounded the horn, launching an attack against the Resistance.
Kujou Sara led the charge, her expression calm, confident that the Resistance was no match for them.
As for Luo Qing, who had vanished somewhere to go “fishing” the day before, she didn’t expect him to contribute much to the frontlines.
As long as he didn’t interfere, that was enough for her.
The Shogunate army marched past the shipwreck at Nazuchi Beach, where they saw the Resistance already lined up, ready to meet them.
Both sides faced each other, and Kujou Sara and Gorou stepped forward to the front lines.
“Hmph, only you here? I was hoping to meet your tactician this time,”
Kujou Sara said coldly.
“We’ve already seen through your Resistance’s resources. With such a disparity in numbers, no strategy can change the outcome. Are you prepared to face your punishment?”
“I believe in Lady Kokomi, and I believe in the warriors of the Resistance! We will never give up!”
“Hmph, foolish bravado.”
Kujou Sara scoffed.
“And there’s one more thing—you must have seen the latest wanted notices, correct? Hand over the blonde-haired Traveler, and I might grant you a brief reprieve.”
“The Resistance will never betray its own! You can forget about it!”
Gorou declared firmly.
“How touching.”
Kujou Sara sneered.
“Now, who will you send for the duel this time? Or will you face me yourself?”
“I…”
Gorou started, but before he could say more, Lumine stepped forward from the crowd, determination in her eyes.
“I’ll do it!”
“We meet again… This time, I won’t let you escape.”
At Kujou Sara’s command, several Shogunate warriors stepped forward.
Lumine unsheathed her sword, showing no hint of retreat.
As expected, the battle was brief. Lumine, with her command over multiple elements, easily defeated the so-called elite warriors in a few swift moves.
Seeing her soldiers fall, Kujou Sara knew she couldn’t delay any longer.
With a wave of her hand, the Shogunate troops charged, shouting, “For the eternity of Narukami!” and clashed with the Resistance.
Amidst the chaos of battle, a shadowy figure flitted into the fray.
Wherever it passed, Shogunate soldiers fell one after another, unable to even cry out in alarm.
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