Chapter 206: The End of the Trial
The smoke in the mountain forest dissipated, and at the end of the ravine, Chiyo had completely lost all signs of life.
But this time, unlike the Tengu girl and Mikoshi Michihiro, she did not return to her original state.
Leaning against the pit, the darkness on her body had vanished, and the once-stained Jūnihitoe
robe had regained its former vibrancy.
Only the wounds left by Bai Luo's slash could not be healed.
Perhaps in the memories of the Maguu Kenki, this was how Chiyo had died.
The moonlight, obscured by dark clouds, gently cast its borrowed light from the sun upon the earth.
Though faint, it was still soft.
Looking at "sleeping" Mikoshi Chiyo under the moonlight, Bai Luo pushed the soil churned up by the train over her.
It was... a final act of dignity.
Thus, the outstanding figure of the new era concluded his final battle with the Oni of the old era.
As the countdown ended, everything returned to nothingness.
When the black mist dispersed, the sound of waves, rain, and... someone's snoring filled his ears once more.
Everything before him remained exactly as it was when he had touched the watery curtain.
Tatyana stood attentively by Bai Luo's side, holding his red oil-paper umbrella to shield him from the rain.
The faint fragrance made it hard to distinguish whether it was the scent of plum blossoms or Tatyana's natural body aroma.
And Sayu... she had actually fallen asleep on Tatyana's shoulder...
Truly, only you.
"How long was I inside?" Bai Luo stretched his body and asked Tatyana beside him.
"You've been standing here the whole time. About ten minutes have passed."
The Fatui are highly sensitive to the passage of time, especially those in Tatyana's special honor guard.
So if she said ten minutes, even accounting for Sayu's influence, the margin of error couldn't be large.
"She fell asleep like this in just ten minutes?"
Looking at Sayu on Tatyana's shoulder, Bai Luo showed a puzzled expression.
"When you handed her to me, she was already asleep."
"..."
When he saw Sayu curl up into the Daruma earlier, he thought the little one had been frightened by the corpses strewn across the ground.
Turns out she was just curling up to sleep.
That's... so like her.
But from Tatyana's words, he also realized that he hadn't actually been pulled into the watery curtain.
The so-called entry was likely just an illusion.
His physical body had remained standing here the whole time, while his consciousness entered some trial space, undergoing a trial with Mikoshi Michihiro's three karmic bonds.
Speaking of which... the trial rewards should still be there, right?
Bai Luo checked his panel and, seeing that all three rewards were still present, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At least he hadn't fought for nothing.
But now he wanted to test his new skills.
With a thought, his attire underwent a transformation.
His original black outfit was replaced by a Japanese-style school uniform, and his right hand was once again covered in crystalline material.
The most satisfying aspect of this class was that it only covered his right hand with the crystalline material without actually severing it.
Otherwise... even with such power as a substitute, losing his right hand would have been quite inconvenient.
After all, it was his dear right hand.
Tatyana showed no surprise at the changes in Bai Luo's appearance, as her superior had demonstrated similar abilities more than once.
It seemed this was the authority granted to him by the great Tsaritsa.
"Stand still."
Though Tatyana had no Vision, according to the skill description, ordinary people should still possess Void.
So, staring at her chest, Bai Luo raised his arm.
A light glowed at Tatyana's chest as Bai Luo's hand passed through it, grasping something inside.
A system prompt soon followed:
Void Obtained — Mirror of Reversal.
Creates a circular barrier at the target location lasting up to 10 seconds. The barrier's inner wall reflects enemy projectile attacks as beams, dealing elemental or physical damage based on the projectile's attributes.
A maximum of 10 beams can exist within the barrier.
Cooldown: 36 seconds.
Note: You can store up to 4 Voids. Use Elemental Burst to erase any Void and free up space for a new one.
Looking at the oddly shaped, spear-like Void in his hand, Bai Luo thought for a moment and decided to keep it for now.
Since there was still space, it might come in handy later.
Then... he turned his gaze to Sayu, still perched on Tatyana's shoulder.
His intense stare startled the sleeping Sayu awake.
"Y-you... what do you want?"
Seeing Bai Luo's altered appearance, Sayu clung tightly to Tatyana's neck, her eyes filled with terror.
She remembered the little tanuki outfit roasted over the fire—was he planning to...
Glancing at Tatyana, the latter understood and lifted Sayu, who was as light as a child.
A flash of light later, Sayu watched as Bai Luo's hand reached into her chest and pulled something out.
Perhaps unused to such a sight, the little one's eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Anemo-Exclusive Void Obtained — Dancer's Boots.
Passive Effect: Increases movement speed and jumping ability by 10%.
Active Effect: Creates a substance at the feet, granting brief levitation and enhancing flying kick damage.
Cooldown: 7 seconds.
Perhaps due to certain regrets, they yearn especially for the scenery from above.
Seeing the final note, Bai Luo nearly lost his composure.
Wasn't this referring to Sayu?
What surprised him more was that the Anemo Void would turn out like this.
He couldn't help but wonder—would Jean's Void, as a unique case among Anemo users, be even more distinctive?
"Let's go. Things here are finished."
Taking the unconscious Sayu from Tatyana, Bai Luo strode toward Yashiori Island.
Tatyana gave a slight bow and followed behind him.
But after just a few steps, something flew out from the watery curtain. Bai Luo extended his crystallized right hand and caught the two objects.
He found that what emerged from the curtain was a tsuba much larger than those on ordinary swords.
The other... was a sunset-colored fruit with a bite taken out of it.
Judging by the color of the bite mark, it had been sitting there for a while.
"So it really can eat? But I didn't see where its mouth was."
Looking at the bitten fruit in his hand, Bai Luo casually tossed it into the nearby sea.
As for the oversized tsuba, he kept it.
The other party had thrown this to him—there must be some purpose behind it.
It might come in handy someday.
With the Maguu Kenki's challenge settled, it was time to attend to proper business.
Chapter 207: The Spinning Yellow Tanuki
"Crackle—"
Pale purple lightning left scorch marks across the beach.
At the center of the storm was Teppei, gripping the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma" blade tightly.
Carrying a basket on his back, he nervously eyed the mimic plant monster before him—clearly, he was out of his depth.
Having never fought such a creature before, he had no idea how to engage it.
And now, he deeply regretted venturing out here alone.
But the wounded soldiers at camp needed sweet flowers, and with manpower scarce, he had no choice but to take the risk.
Taking a deep breath, Teppei raised his sword and slashed at the Electro Whopperflower.
In a flash of lightning, the flower burrowed underground.
The Electro energy in the air remained active. Teppei slowly retreated to the massive serpent skeleton nearby, pressing his back against the bone to prevent the Whopperflower from ambushing him from behind.
This move, however, was unwise.
The remnants of the Tatarigami's curse were likely tied to these serpent bones.
Sayu and Tatyana were unaffected—one was a Vision-wielding allogene, the other a modified "Abyss mage."
As for Bai Luo... if he didn't bring harm to others, it would already be a blessing. Expecting others to harm him?
Dream on.
Holding his breath, Teppei mimicked Bai Luo's stance, sheathing his sword and preparing to draw.
His body was low, his rear foot braced against the serpent bone.
His lowered frame almost entirely concealed the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma" in his hand.
"Zzzzt..."
Arcs of electricity crackled, suddenly erupting from the sand as the Electro Whopperflower resurfaced.
Teppei's blade met it mid-air.
The moment the lightning exploded, Teppei pushed off the serpent bone with his back foot.
The "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma" flashed out, cleanly bisecting the Whopperflower.
"Haah... haah..."
After delivering the strike, Teppei's sword hand trembled slightly—this was his limit.
Had Bai Luo been present, he would have been astonished.
This single draw was the embryonic form of the "Godspeed Draw."
If Teppei could maintain this speed and execute nine consecutive slashes, he would master the "Nine-Headed Dragon Flash," becoming a true successor of the "Flying Heaven Govern Sword-Style."
Sheathing the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma," Teppei drew a small knife and began harvesting materials from the Whopperflower.
The elemental nectar from such monsters was a rare resource—not only sweeter and more flavorful than ordinary flower nectar but also highly valuable when sold to the Adventurers' Guild.
Of course, given the current tensions between Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island, selling to the guild was unlikely. But bringing it back for everyone to taste was still an option.
Yet he failed to realize how dangerous leaning against the serpent bones truly was.
"Business delivered right to us..."
A rogue samurai, already corrupted by the Tatarigami, stood atop the massive serpent skeleton, looking down at Teppei as he busied himself with the Whopperflower.
Drawing his bloodstained blade, the rogue leaped down, slashing at Teppei.
Teppei sensed the danger but could only block with his small harvesting knife.
The frail blade stood no chance against the rogue's sword.
Though it mitigated some of the force, the rogue's blade still bit deep into Teppei's shoulder.
"Gah!"
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Teppei grabbed a handful of sand with his free hand and flung it into the rogue's widened eyes.
"Damn you!"
The rogue's eyes, already red from the Tatarigami's influence, now burned like Jueyun Chilis.
As for Teppei, though sweat poured from his brow from the pain, he remained calm, pulling out a small glass vial.
Do not underestimate this vial.
When Bai Luo left, he had given Teppei a few "Sunsettias fruits."
To make the most of these "weapons," Teppei juiced them, mixing the extract with lemons, chili peppers, onions, and other irritants to create these vials.
In life-threatening situations, deploying them had miraculous effects.
Once, a skeptic wanted to test it.
The moment the cork was pulled, the fumes nearly blinded him—it took days for his eyes to recover.
Since then, few dared to provoke Teppei.
Closing his eyes, Teppei splashed the liquid toward the rogue...
"AAARGH—"
The rogue abandoned his sword, clutching his face as he rolled on the sand.
Perhaps seeking relief, he plunged into the sea, submerging his entire head.
And then... he was no more.
The seawater near Yashiori Island, though less affected by the Tatarigami, was still unsafe for direct contact—let alone dunking one's face in it.
Soon, the rogue fell silent, floating lifelessly as the waves carried him away.
Recorking the vial, Teppei finally exhaled.
Even so, the lingering fumes in the air made his eyes water.
Thankfully, during the concoction process, he had grown somewhat accustomed to the smell—otherwise...
He might have shared the rogue's fate.
Attempting to lift his right arm sent sharp pain through his shoulder.
This was no mere flesh wound—the bone might have been damaged.
Applying medicine from his pouch eased the pain somewhat.
"Better head back early today."
Hoisting the harvested Whopperflower over his left shoulder, Teppei decided to return to camp.
With his right arm injured, wielding a sword was the least of his worries—if it hindered his ability to treat the wounded, many could die in the next clash between the Shogunate and the resistance.
He couldn't bear to see more lives lost before him.
But as he stood, he realized he was silently surrounded by rogue samurai.
Of course... these bandits always traveled in groups.
The one who attacked earlier was likely just the vanguard.
Glancing at his wounded shoulder and the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma" in his left hand, Teppei sighed and pulled out another vial.
He knew that shattering these vials would harm not only the rogues but himself as well.
But there was no other choice.
"Sorry, Mr. Himura."
"Sorry, Mr. Iwakura."
Just as he was about to smash the vials, his peripheral vision caught something flying from the direction of the serpent bones.
"Go! Spinning Yellow Tanuki!"
Chapter 208: I Only Have One Disciple
"Sayu is not a tanuki!"
Wrapped in Anemo energy, the little one spun rapidly through the air before bringing her "Debate Club" down hard on a Kairagi's head.
The force of Bai Luo's throw, combined with the momentum of her spin, sent the bandit straight to the Tatarigami's embrace with a single strike.
Honestly, only Sayu could pull off this move with Bai Luo.
Her "Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash" sent her into a spinning "Windwheel" state, which required rapid rotation.
Thus, she was the only one who could maintain such speed without getting dizzy.
Well, not entirely—she was just more resistant to dizziness than others.
"Master..."
Seeing the familiar red figure, Teppei felt the pain in his shoulder fade.
Strength surged through him.
"I never agreed to take you as a disciple. Don't call me that."
Switching to his "Battousai" persona upon seeing Teppei, Bai Luo casually cut down another rogue while correcting him.
He did have a disciple, but it certainly wasn't Teppei.
The only one in Teyvat he acknowledged as his disciple was her alone.
But as he looked at Teppei, his gaze was drawn to the weapon in the young man's hand.
It looked familiar.
Had he seen it somewhere before?
It wasn't that Bai Luo's memory was poor.
In the trial space, he had met Mikoshi Michihiro from centuries ago.
Back then, Michihiro wielded the freshly forged "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma"—the true form of the "Amenoma Kageuchi Blade."
Now, centuries later, time had left its mark on the blade.
Both the scabbard and tsuba had been repaired or replaced by successive heads of the Iwakura Clan.
The only reason he recognized this battle-worn sword was that he had nearly been cut by it.
Bai Luo held grudges.
Teppei scratched his head sheepishly but didn't seem embarrassed.
Even if Bai Luo denied their master-disciple relationship, Teppei had long regarded him as his teacher in his heart.
With Bai Luo and Sayu joining the fray, the rogue samurai stood no chance.
Especially after their leader was "reasoned" with by Sayu's "Debate Club," the rest dared not linger.
They didn't even bother helping their wounded, fleeing with their swords in hand.
With the danger passed, Sayu stowed her "Debate Club" and tugged at Bai Luo's red robe, turning around to expose the back of her neck.
"Walk on your own! My arm's sore from carrying you all this way."
Annoyed, Bai Luo tapped her head with his scabbard.
Since learning to sleep while being carried, Sayu had become even more proactive about it.
"Cheapskate..."
Pouting, Sayu crossed her arms and—within moments—soft snores escaped her.
"Mr. Himura, have you finished your business?"
Teppei's hands still trembled slightly, but he did his best to hide it.
In his eyes, being wounded by mere rogue samurai was an embarrassment to Battousai. It wasn't something to boast about.
"Yeah, just happened to be nearby when I saw someone about to be chopped up and served as Tatarigami dumpling filling."
Noticing the basket on Teppei's back, Bai Luo realized why he had come out here.
After all, Bai Luo had once gathered herbs with Qiqi for days.
While Inazuma's medicinal plants might differ slightly from Liyue's, the exceptions were few.
Plants like mint and sweet flowers—usable both as medicine and seasoning—were common across Teyvat.
How ironic.
His dear disciple Collei had great combat talent, yet after he sent her to Sumeru, she took up medicine.
Meanwhile, Teppei, whom he had taught, showed great medical aptitude but insisted on learning combat.
Sigh. It seemed Teppei was destined for a Dendro Vision too.
"Let's go. I'll carry this for you."
Teppei's shoulder injury couldn't fool Bai Luo.
But if he wanted to tough it out, Bai Luo wouldn't call him out.
Taking the basket, Bai Luo hoisted Sayu over his shoulder, and the three headed for the resistance camp.
As for Tatyana, Bai Luo had other tasks for her.
"That sword at your waist—mind if I take a look?"
After walking a while, Bai Luo finally spoke up.
He couldn't help it—it was bothering him too much.
"Sure."
Had anyone else asked for the blade, Teppei would have refused outright.
But to him, Bai Luo was akin to a master.
Thus, he handed over the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma" without hesitation.
"Amenoma Kageuchi Blade?"
Drawing the sword, Bai Luo voiced his confusion.
Aside from the scabbard and tsuba, this blade was nearly identical to the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma," yet it seemed weaker than the one Mikoshi Michihiro had wielded.
"No, this is the true form. It was a gift from a senior named Iwakura Mitsu."
Teppei's expression dimmed as he recounted his story with the one-eyed man.
His tale left Bai Luo sighing.
He had wondered why the "Hakuen Michimitsu Amenoma" appeared near a waterfall in Enkanomiya in the game.
It seemed that, in the story, Iwakura Mitsu had either accidentally brought it to Enkanomiya or been lured there by some force and killed.
Either way, the blade ending up in Teppei's hands was far better than rusting away under a waterfall.
The rain continued to drizzle, but the resistance camp's perimeter was more heavily guarded than before.
With tensions between the resistance and the Shogunate escalating, conflict could erupt at any moment.
Moreover, the Shogunate's new general at Kujou Encampment was said to be far stronger than the previous one, Kujou Masahito.
No one knew if she would send scouts to spy on them.
Thus, under Gorou's orders, both hidden and visible sentries had increased.
Notably—perhaps intentionally—Nathan was among those stationed at the gate.
While this made it easier for him to relay intel, it also kept him away from the core areas.
It seemed the resistance had begun to suspect him.
As a spy, Nathan's performance was flawless.
While other resistance fighters regarded Bai Luo with respect, Nathan's gaze held only curiosity.
Long ago, he had claimed to hold no particular reverence for the so-called "Battousai."
As a Mondstadter, he didn't understand Inazuman culture in this regard.
Thus, his curiosity was perfectly in character.
Shortly after entering the camp, Gorou himself came to greet them.
But compared to before, he looked far more haggard.
Facing a stronger enemy, the already overworked general now also had to watch for spies within his ranks.
That he hadn't collapsed was a testament to the stamina of Vision bearers.
"And this is..."
After bowing to Bai Luo, Gorou turned to Sayu.
The little one had already woken up.
I—I'm actually inside the resistance camp?!
Chapter 209: Kamisato Ayato's Concerns
The Kamisato Estate lay far from Inazuma City.
As the Yashiro Commission's representative, the Kamisato Clan oversaw cultural affairs, festivals, and ceremonies.
Thus, their residence wasn't in the city like the Kujou Clan of the Tenryou Commission but at the foot of Mt. Yougou, facilitating coordination with the Grand Narukami Shrine for rituals.
Those wishing to visit the shrine would pass through the Kamisato Estate.
Today, Kamisato Ayato wasn't handling paperwork as usual but stood with his hands behind his back at the estate's cliffside.
Inazuma's mountains paled in comparison to Liyue's layered peaks but made up for it with perilous heights.
With little land and abundant water, cliffs and isolated islands surrounded by sea were commonplace.
Gazing southwest, one could see Tenshukaku, encircled by cherry blossoms.
The Shogun's actions had grown increasingly erratic. Had she not displayed her divine might at the training grounds, Ayato might have suspected her of being replaced.
Meanwhile, the Kujou and Hiiragi Clans grew ever more brazen, barely concealing their ties to the Fatui.
The Yashiro Commission has also submitted numerous petitions to the higher-ups. Unfortunately, these snowflake-like missives vanish into Tenshukaku without any response. He even began to doubt whether any of his petitions had ever reached the Shogun's hands.
Beyond the Okuzumeshuu, Tenryou Commission agents also guarded Tenshukaku.
If they spotted Yashiro Commission petitions, they would surely interfere.
And then there was the pressing matter in Kannazuka...
Swish—
A leaf fluttered past, and behind Ayato, a man dressed as a fisherman knelt silently. His haggard appearance resembled that of refugees afflicted by Tatarigami, yet his sharp, penetrating gaze betrayed an uncommon depth.
"Well?"
Ayato didn't turn. His sleeves fluttered in the sea breeze, exuding nobility and grace.
Only his slightly clenched fist betrayed his tension.
As the head of the Kamisato Clan, he understood better than anyone that a true leader must never reveal their emotions. Compared to Sangonomiya Kokomi, who strained to project authority, Ayato's composure ran far deeper.
"We searched all of Kannazuka's forests but found no trace of her beyond the coded markers near Kujou Encampment."
The fisherman bowed his head, reporting all intelligence.
Sayu was missing.
At first, everyone assumed she was napping in some corner, as usual.
Given her youth, her habit of dozing off was overlooked, and she was often assigned to safer areas.
Like this mission.
The events on Yashiori Island involved the Tatarigami, and no one knew if it would affect Sayu, so she was stationed in Kannazuka, less plagued by the curse.
But even though she loved to slack off, she never neglected tasks assigned by the clan head.
She would only nap after completing her duties, dawdling until the last possible moment before returning to the estate.
But this time...
She had truly vanished.
"Did you inquire with the Shogunate's new general?"
The Shuumatsuban was Ayato's personal force. Risking exposure by sending them to Kujou Encampment showed how much he valued Sayu.
"We posed as Yashiro Commission deputies but learned little. However..."
"Speak freely."
"According to the general, their usual water source turned extremely sour around the time Sayu was on mission. Our investigation led us to the upstream area where Sayu last left a marker—and we found this."
The fisherman rummaged through his pouch and produced a dried leaf.
Ayato recognized it—one of the Shuumatsuban's concealment tools.
Typically used when hiding underground, underwater, or in sand, it served as a breathing aid.
At the time, most Shuumatsuban agents were deployed to Yashiori Island.
The only one who would use this in Kannazuka was Sayu.
"Sir, this... has a peculiar smell."
Seeing Ayato idly toying with the leaf, the fisherman cautiously warned him.
When they found it, they noticed an odd substance inside—resembling fruit pulp.
With no other leads, they focused on this material.
After confirming it wasn't toxic, a professional taster sampled it.
And then... there was no "and then."
What defined a ninja?
Enduring the unendurable.
They were trained to withstand scorching heat, freezing cold, and even pain.
Professionals, one and all.
Unless it was unbearable.
The seemingly innocuous, nearly evaporated fruit residue had incapacitated their best taster.
Examinations revealed no toxins, and the man later woke.
His words:
"Extremely sour. Do not consume."
Some quick-witted agents began collecting the residue to develop new weapons or poisons.
But the fruit's identity remained a mystery—no one had tasted anything so sour.
"Smell?"
The warning made Ayato instinctively bring the leaf to his nose.
Hmm... a faint fruity aroma, unlike anything the leaf should carry.
"Yes, the pulp inside is unbearably sour. We suspect it's what tainted Kujou Encampment's water supply. Perhaps... Sayu was ambushed while hiding underwater."
The Shuumatsuban agent pieced together a plausible scenario from these clues.
But his words only deepened Ayato's confusion.
"Such a small amount could sour a water source?"
The leaf was tiny—even packed with pulp, how much could there be?
And from what he knew, military water sources were typically large mountain springs.
Could it really be that potent?
"Absolutely!"
Even the Shuumatsuban's most acid-tolerant members couldn't maintain composure against this taste.
And this was after it had dried.
What must it have been like when fresh?
"Bring me some. I'll try it."
Returning the leaf, Ayato made a request that sent chills down his subordinate's spine.
Chapter 210: Remember Miss Hina?
For a spy, what was the most challenging mission?
Undoubtedly, infiltrating enemy territory unnoticed, approaching their leader undetected, and delivering intel like a hero.
Setting the camp ablaze on the way out would be the cherry on top.
Now, Sayu found she had somehow completed step one—infiltrating the enemy camp.
And she had done it by waking up in utter confusion.
What felt even more surreal was standing before the canine-eared resistance leader.
This... wasn't this the resistance's commander?
Had fortune smiled upon her so suddenly?
Until her peripheral vision caught the half-cat-masked figure.
Never mind... better not provoke him.
Curling into a ball, she closed her eyes, and soon, soft snores filled the air.
Your Sayu has chosen to slack off.
She wasn't worried about Bai Luo abandoning her here. After getting to know him, she understood one thing:
No matter how much he complained, if she fell asleep on the spot, he would obediently grab her by the scruff and carry her around.
In short, Bai Luo would never leave her behind.
In a way, Sayu had a Fatui Harbinger wrapped around her little finger.
But in her self-congratulation, she failed to notice:
Her behavior resembled a pet acting spoiled toward its owner—the kind that thought it had the upper hand.
As an observer, Tatyana repeatedly cast pitying glances at the little one.
Meanwhile, her opinion of Bai Luo underwent a subtle shift.
When they first met, Tatyana hadn't fully accepted the new Twelfth Harbinger.
Even upon reuniting in Inazuma, her respect was for his rank, not the man himself.
But now...
She suspected she, too, had fallen under the enigmatic Twelfth Harbinger's influence.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be thinking about his opinion before doing anything
The Twelfth Harbinger... truly terrifying.
After exchanging pleasantries, Gorou led them into the camp.
At Bai Luo's hint, Teppei was taken to the infirmary for a thorough checkup.
The bloodstained sword that had wounded him might have carried contaminants.
His makeshift bandage could only stop the bleeding temporarily—proper treatment was needed.
That evening, at Gorou's invitation, the two dined in his private quarters.
Sayu was lodged in Bai Luo's room.
"I heard someone anonymously donated a large sum of Mora to Watatsumi Island recently. Why do you look worse than before?"
Watatsumi Island's recent prosperity was plain to see.
Not only had rations improved, but weapons and armor had also been upgraded.
Even the barracks now had tiled roofs.
"Mr. Himura, you may not know this, but before the donation, though life was hard, morale was high. Everyone worked together toward a common goal. But after the funds arrived, the atmosphere changed. Some units complained of unfairness when others got newer weapons; others caused scenes over missing meat in their meals. In short... nothing but trouble."
"..."
A hungry man has but one worry—how to fill his belly.
But a well-fed man has many.
Gorou's problem boiled down to one word:
Overfed.
The resistance wasn't like the Shogunate's disciplined elite but a ragtag band of Visionless rebels and oppressed citizens.
In short, they were irregulars.
With ample funds, they had also recruited newcomers, further complicating management.
No wonder he looked so worn.
"Now that you're back, Mr. Himura, things will improve. What the troops lack isn't discipline but a leader. With your reputation, you'll surely restore order."
This was also why Gorou had allowed the suspicious Sayu to stay—solely out of respect for Bai Luo.
But upon hearing this, Bai Luo paused mid-bite.
He gave Gorou an odd look.
"Gorou, do you know why, despite my influence on Watatsumi Island rivaling Her Excellency Sangonomiya's, the troops obey her more readily?"
For a soldier to privately discuss their commander's and a Harbinger's influence was one thing.
But for Bai Luo to say this to Gorou was akin to a general debating who held more power—himself or his nation's ruler.
It was grounds for execution.
Yet his words were undeniable.
"N-no... because Her Excellency's influence is greater?"
"No, no. This has nothing to do with influence. It's all about appearance."
Setting down his chopsticks, the great swindler Bai Luo launched into another masterclass of deception.
"Just as we seek our mothers first upon returning home, humanity's reliance on maternal figures is instinctive."
"But the first thing I do when I get home is call for my father."
Gorou raised an objection.
"And what do you ask your father?"
"Where my mother is."
"See? Still looking for Mom, aren't you?"
"O-oh... I suppose so."
Gorou's ears twitched unconsciously, his tail swaying now and then.
Though Bai Luo's logic sounded impeccable, yet something felt off.
Perhaps... such profound thinking was beyond a simple man like him.
Mr. Himura was truly extraordinary!
"Now, the question is—how should we resolve the current issue?"
Smirking, Bai Luo studied the pup before him. His hints couldn't be clearer—if only Gorou would take the bait.
"You mean... summon Her Excellency to take command?"
Whether Gorou was playing dumb or genuinely didn't get it, he immediately deflected by bringing up Kokomi.
Sighing in disappointment, Bai Luo glanced around before whispering:
"Remember Miss Hina? Do you think she could handle this?"