This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [136] [DDD!]
December Double Drop!
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"Why come to us for cooperation with the resistance?"Paimon asked, puzzled. "Shouldn't you be speaking to Gorou? He's the leader of the resistance, after all."
"Ahem... well, there were just a tiny few unpleasant moments between us last time, so I thought you two could help introduce me."
Luo Qing smiled and added, "As a thank you, I could arrange an introduction with the Shogun for you. How about it? Deal?"
"Another introduction..."
Lumine hesitated. Ayaka had also promised to arrange an introduction before, but that only led to her becoming a fugitive, forced to flee to Watatsumi Island.
"Relax, my relationship with the Shogun is solid! With me around, there's no way she'd harm you~"
"..."
Lumine stayed silent, looking at Luo Qing's overly persuasive smile. She couldn't help but think, If your relationship is so great, then why did the Raiden Shogun chase you with her sword back at the Blood Moon?
"Alright, I'll take your silence as agreement."
Luo Qing quickly grabbed Lumine's hand, shaking it up and down vigorously.
"Here's to a successful partnership~"
"?"
"Wh-who said I agreed!"
Paimon stomped her foot angrily.
"I haven't even had a chance to say anything yet!"
"How about I treat you to a super deluxe meal at Uyuu Restaurant later?"
Luo Qing suggested with a sly smile.
"Uh... there's... a deluxe meal involved?"
As soon as food was mentioned, Paimon's demeanor changed. Her eyes lit up, and she nearly drooled at the thought.
She tugged at Lumine's sleeve, whispering,
"Maybe... we should agree. After all, Luo Qing isn't a bad guy..."
"..."
Lumine put her hands on her hips, utterly exasperated.
Why does my travel companion always fall for food? Was she a rice bucket in her past life?
With a resigned shake of her head, Lumine said,
"I'll take you to see Gorou, but whether he agrees to work with you is up to him."
"No problem! Let's not waste any time—off we go!"
Luo Qing said cheerfully, hooking an arm around Lumine's shoulders as they walked toward the resistance camp.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the camp.
At that moment, Gorou was in the middle of a serious strategy meeting with his top officers, discussing ways to counter Luo Qing.
Just then, one of his subordinates caught sight of Lumine leading Luo Qing into the camp.
"Luo Qing is extremely dangerous,"
Gorou was saying, "We need to inform Lady Kokomi as soon as possible, and until we know his weakness, we shouldn't take any risks—"
"Uh, Lord Gorou... behind you..."
One of the soldiers interrupted nervously, his eyes wide.
"Behind me?"
Gorou looked up, confused. Then, he turned around and saw Lumine casually leading Luo Qing into the camp.
He shuddered as a cold chill ran down his spine.
"Well, well, long time no see, Lord Gorou~"
Luo Qing said with a playful smile, strolling up to Gorou. Then he added,
"Have you kept up with your dance practice while I was away?"
"..."
[Frustration Value +1 from Gorou]
"Why are you here..."
Gorou's eyes narrowed, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger hidden behind his back.
"No need to be so tense. I'm here to discuss cooperation, not to make enemies."
Luo Qing grinned, then turned to Lumine.
She hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly explained,
"Luo Qing says he can help you capture Shogunate soldiers, but in return, he wants those captured to... dance the same dance you did before."
"Hmph, aren't you the Shogunate's General of Surveillance? Why are you suddenly interested in helping us? Why should we believe you?"
Gorou shot back coldly, the recent memories of Luo Qing's "training" still fresh and painful.
"Oh? Lumine, didn't you tell them about my true identity?"
Luo Qing asked, feigning surprise.
"Well..."
Lumine hesitated, then looked at Gorou. She explained quietly,
"Aside from being the Shogunate's General of Surveillance, Luo Qing... is actually a trainee Harbinger of the Fatui..."
Before she could finish, Luo Qing cut her off,
"Let's just go with 'Harbinger,' I'm practically about to be promoted. No need to bring up the 'trainee' part."
"..."
[Frustration Value +1 from Lumine]
"Fatui Harbinger..."
Gorou repeated, his gaze on Luo Qing becoming more complicated.
A significant portion of the resistance's supplies had come from Snezhnaya, and cooperation with the Fatui wasn't uncommon behind the scenes.
Moreover, he had heard rumors that the Fatui were manipulating events behind the Vision Hunt Decree.
"What do you say, Lord Gorou? Shall we cooperate? I remember that quite a bit of your military equipment and supplies were provided by us Fatui. Why not strengthen Watatsumi's ties with Snezhnaya even more?"
Luo Qing's eyes gleamed as he spoke,
"Who knows? With my help, you might even have a shot at storming Narukami Island one day~"
"..."
Gorou fell silent.
His role was to lead the frontlines, while decisions involving external parties had always been up to Lady Kokomi.
Now, with her absent, no matter how tempting Luo Qing's words were, he couldn't make such a decision.
"Sorry, but I can't decide something like that. You'd better give up on—"
Before Gorou could finish, a shout echoed from a nearby guard.
"Lady Kokomi has returned!"
"..."
Everyone turned to look.
There she was—a pink-haired girl dressed in a deep blue ceremonial outfit, flanked by her attendants. Her twin-tails fluttered as she approached gracefully.
With her delicate features, gradient stockings, blue ribbons adorning her chest and ankles, and the sky-blue gem nestled below her navel—Kokomi embodied beauty itself.
Those slender legs, those gentle curves... Luo Qing's thoughts strayed for a moment.
Forget eating; even a single whiff or touch could extend one's lifespan... he thought, catching himself.
"A lot of new faces, I see."
Kokomi's soft voice brought him back to reality as she addressed Gorou.
"Gorou, aren't you going to introduce your new friends? Oh? You look a bit pale, are you feeling unwell?"
Kokomi's tone was gentle, but there was concern in her eyes.
"I... Lady Kokomi..."
Gorou cast a nervous glance at Luo Qing. If Luo Qing made a sudden move against her, no one here could stop him.
Before he could come up with an answer, Luo Qing stepped forward, his expression sincere.
"I've long heard about the brilliant Lady Sangonomiya Kokomi, the living deity of Watatsumi Island—renowned for her wisdom and strategic brilliance. Seeing you today, it's all true. My name is Luo Qing. This is Lumine, and the little floating one here is Paimon. We're here to... join forces with Watatsumi Island."
Paimon: ?
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T/N: Another victim...
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