Chapter 169: Third Watch, The World Government Confronts the Shogunate!
Kabaneri World.
The dark Iron-Armored Train, 'Kotetsujyo', was undergoing its usual evening maintenance. The Citizens and Soldiers inside the Train began to disembark, move freely within a certain area.
In three hours, they would continue their journey towards 'Iwato Station', the final Gate to 'Kongokaku'.
"How is it? Any new Instruction from over there?"
Inside the Train, Mata hadn't gone out. When she saw Lucci return from outside and sit beside her, her soft body, clad in a light yellow Kimono, leaned against him, like a couple still in the throes of love.
This caused some of the Women nearby to blush and turn away, quickly leaving this end carriage, giving them a brief private space.
And this was exactly the result Mata wanted.
Through Communication with these people, she had discovered that their Thought was still very conservative. Even slightly overly familiar jokes could make them blush, both men and women alike.
In their impression, or rather, in rumors, people from the European Continent were more open and enthusiastic in personality, and coincidentally, their appearance was mostly hooked noses, blue eyes, and various shades of yellow hair.
So their current actions actually fit the Hinamoto People's perception of them.
"They want us to stop Mima Amatori from destroying Kongokaku."
"When do we act?" Mata looked at Lucci eagerly. The latter gave her a speechless glance and asked in a low voice, "How many targets can the two of us Control?"
"This..."
"Wait. It's not too late to act after we rendezvous with the other Team at Iwato Station. For now, we just need to follow them."
Mata was a little disappointed after hearing this and didn't say anything more. It was just one more day of waiting; she had that much patience.
Her idea was correct.
As 'Kotetsujyo' started moving again, one night passed in the blink of an eye. With the sound of the Alarm Whistle, it signaled that they were about to arrive outside Iwato Station City.
This made everyone, young and old, inside the 'Iron Fortress' incredibly excited. The atmosphere in each carriage instantly became much livelier. Lucci and Mata also exchanged silent glances.
It was Time.
They knew that the World Government was finally going to make its move. From this moment on, they no longer needed to overly hide their Identity!
"Everyone, because Iwato Station has prohibited the Hunter Guard's 'Kotetsujyo' from entering the City, we will need to disembark here in advance and walk to Iwato Station. Please prepare yourselves and queue up to get off the Train."
At this moment, the pleasant voice of Yotsugawa Ayame sounded through the Communication Channel. However, this News made the Citizens inside the 'Iron Fortress' feel confused.
"Why? Why aren't the Liberators allowed in together?"
"Exactly! How can they treat Lord Biba like this!"
Despite the widespread discussion, when it was Time to disembark, everyone obediently got off. No one was willing to stay outside the City with the Hunter Guard just because they were receiving unfair Treatment. They were just talking.
"What should we do?" Mata noticed something was wrong.
"Get off the Train first, but don't enter the City. Our first and second targets are both in the Hunter Guard. Then, wait for the other Team to arrive!"
When most of the people in this carriage had left, Lucci pulled off his loose Kimono and threw it aside, revealing the Black Suit and clean Shirt underneath. He then took out his dark red Sunglasses from his pocket and put them on.
Seeing this, Mata also casually took off her Kimono. In an instant, the two of them had reverted to their Elite CP9 appearance. They then quickly left from the rear of the Train.
At the same Time.
Inside the front of the 'Kotetsujyo', Mima Amatori and the Cadres of the Hunter Guard were gathered. Even the little girl in red named Mumei was here.
This was strange, as she had previously been acting with Yotsugawa Ayame and others from the 'Iron Fortress'.
"They say the latest Instruction from Kongokaku has arrived, stating that the Hunter Guard cannot pass through here."
This man with short, tea-green hair was named Sharyō. He was considered the number one Cadre of the Hunter Guard, skilled in Shooting, and liked to wear Night Vision Goggles, though he was also good with a Blade.
"What an unreasonable request," Mumei complained, frowning.
"It's clear the General is afraid of Lord Biba!" Sharyō said, looking at Mima Amatori. "And Iwato Gate is the final Fortress leading to Kongokaku."
"So it won't be easy to get through, huh?" Uryuu, one of the Cadres, quipped.
This person was about 1.7 meters in Height, with medium-length light blue hair, and dressed in a very ninja-like Style. His Weapon was the pair of short Blades crossed on his back. He was considered the Strongest ordinary person in terms of Combat Power among the Hunter Guard.
"Precisely because of this, we have made numerous preparations, haven't we?" Mima Amatori revealed a slight Smile, unconcerned, and said, "I just didn't expect to have to use them here first..."
On the other side, Lucci and Mata, hidden in the wilderness, stared at the 'Kotetsujyo' not far from them.
"You said, if Mima Amatori's goal is to destroy Kongokaku to get revenge on his General Father, then now that he's blocked in this place, what will he do next?"
Mata heard this question, thought for a moment, and guessed, "If this is truly the only passage, then unless the Hunter Guard chooses to abandon the Train and walk around Iwato Station, there's only one option..."
"Force their way through!"
Lucci nodded, agreeing with her Thought, but this also made him hesitate, wondering whether to step in and stop them now.
However, acting now carried too great a possibility of accidents, mainly because there weren't enough people and there were too many targets.
"Let's wait a bit longer. The people from the other Team should be arriving soon. They'll definitely arrive by the afternoon at the latest!"
The Hunter Guard side should also be cautious. After all, if they made a move, it would be equivalent to completely confronting the Kongokaku side.
Also, the City Gate of Iwato Station truly lived up to its reputation as the Gate to the Shogunate Capital. Whether it was the Height of the City Gate, or the number of Soldiers and Garrison Cannon on top, it was clearly several times Strong than the previous Shiori Station.
In Lucci's opinion, even if Mima Amatori had hundreds of Kabane locked in the carriage, he wouldn't necessarily be able to easily break through the City Gate's Defense.
Considering everything from a cautious perspective, he decided to wait and see.
"Hmm, look, Mima Amatori is coming out!" Mata's voice alerted Lucci, who was deep in Thought, who quickly looked up.
Indeed, Mima Amatori, accompanied by the short-haired blonde Woman behind him and the little girl in red, rode Tall Horse towards the open Iwato Station City Gate, guarded by four armed Cavalry. However, the latter two were sharing a horse, likely because Mumei was still too young.
However, the other Hunter Guard Cadres and Soldiers remained around the 'Kotetsujyo'.
"It seems the Chief Steward of Iwato Station invited him in for a talk. Is it possible they can resolve the passage issue through Dialogue?" Mata asked softly.
"But for us, the longer the Time is dragged out, the better. If the Hunter Guard is allowed to pass through here immediately, then we'll have to find a way to stop them."
For Lucci, the best outcome was for the group from the 'Iron Fortress' led by Yotsugawa Ayame and the group from the 'Kotetsujyo' led by the Hunter Guard to both stay put at Iwato Station.
Once their CP9 Troops were all assembled, they could directly apprehend them and, incidentally, use this place as a Stronghold for the World Government's subsequent Dialogue with the Shogunate side in Kongokaku.
"You sneak into the City and follow Mima Amatori. Although the three of them are Kabane Warrior, based on their Combat Power performance, they haven't reached the level to confront a large force. Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't die!"
"Okay!"
Mata nodded and instantly turned into an Afterimage, leaving at high speed. She needed to find a section of the City wall that wouldn't attract too much attention to enter Inside the City...
(End of this chapter)