This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [58]

Half a Month Later, Off the Coast of Inazuma

After nearly two weeks of sailing, Luo Qing and his group's cargo ship finally entered the waters surrounding Inazuma. This also meant they were about to face the wrath of the Raiden Shogun—the thunderstorms that guarded the nation's borders.

Their route avoided the densest part of the storm surrounding Narukami Island, instead opting for the relatively sparser area near the Tatarasuna coastline. Once they braved the storm, they would reach their destination on Yashiori Island.

Yet, even the more "sparse" areas of the storm were perilous. For an ordinary merchant vessel, a single lightning strike could mean utter destruction.

Luo Qing stood at the bow, gazing at the horizon where dark clouds blotted out the sun. The stormy gray clouds sparked with lightning, and every so often, a violet bolt would crash into the sea below.

"Master Luo Qing, we're about to enter the storm zone. The captain said the deck is dangerous, and you should return to the cabin until we're through," said Natalia, who stood behind Luo Qing, staring nervously at the oppressive storm clouds.

The other three had hidden in the cabin the moment they entered Inazuma's waters. They were probably gathered around playing the card game "Fight the Landlord" that Luo Qing had invented, with the loser getting a piece of paper stuck to their forehead. Meanwhile, she was the only one left, stuck as Luo Qing's bodyguard.

Why was she always the one to lose at Rock-Paper-Scissors?

"It's fine, Natalia. I want to stay out a bit longer. If you're scared, you can go back to the cabin without me. Don't worry," Luo Qing said with a smile, unwilling to miss the chance to witness Inazuma's infamous thunderstorms up close.

"But…" Natalia hesitated, thinking how she wouldn't dare retreat without her superior—it would violate military protocol.

"Just go back, Natalia. There's no need to follow those tedious formalities," Luo Qing gestured dismissively, signaling her to return to the cabin. She was just an ordinary person; there was no need for her to remain on deck.

"Understood... Master Luo Qing."

With a slight nod and a concerned glance, Natalia hurried back to the cabin, moving so fast it was as if she feared she'd be struck by lightning if she stayed a moment longer.

She was genuinely worried about Luo Qing… but she was just as scared of getting struck herself.

Before long, the wind and waves picked up. There was no rain, but the wind and lightning were intense.

The cargo ship began to sway violently, with the cargo inside the hold crashing against the walls, filling the air with the sound of banging.

In the captain's quarters, old Haigel, the captain from Snezhnaya, watched Luo Qing at the bow with a frown.

"Can someone tell me why that man is still on the deck?! Didn't I tell everyone to get back inside?!" he barked.

That man at the bow was an officer, while Haigel was merely a common cargo ship captain. If anything happened to Luo Qing on his ship, he'd undoubtedly face a military tribunal when he returned.

"Captain… we asked him," a crew member said timidly, raising his hand.

"And what did he say?"

"He said he wanted to get up close and personal with Inazuma's lightning… and didn't want to go back inside."

"…"

[Frustration Value from Haigel +1]

By now, the cargo ship had sailed directly into the storm. The fierce waves slammed against the deck, powerful enough to sweep a person straight into the sea—and if you fell into those waters, it was essentially a death sentence.

The turbulent waves would knock you out in mere moments, leaving you to face the cold sea and the relentless storm above.

No matter how fearful he was of a court-martial, Haigel couldn't order anyone to the deck to retrieve Luo Qing now.

"I hope he doesn't regret that decision," Haigel cursed, focusing intently on navigating the ship.

He had crossed Inazuma's seas countless times, yet every journey through the storm still filled him with a deep, primal fear.

After all, the storms were the work of the Raiden Shogun herself—forces that mere mortals could not hope to withstand.

He had heard rumors that officers were exceptionally strong, though he wasn't sure if they were true.

But he hoped Luo Qing wouldn't end up a charred pile of ashes.

The ship's instruments flickered erratically due to the storm, and even keeping the ship steady was a struggle for Haigel.

Suddenly, the lightning rod's gauge spiked. The readings indicated the likelihood of a lightning strike in the area—the higher the number, the greater the danger.

Haigel's heart skipped a beat as he urgently maneuvered the ship to avoid the strike.

But it was too late. He watched through the cabin window as a massive bolt of lightning formed in the storm clouds directly above, hurtling toward the deck with blinding speed.

"Damn it! He's still on the deck!" Haigel yelled.

The lightning struck, bathing the deck in a flash of brilliant light.

Snezhnayan cargo ships were specially reinforced to withstand occasional lightning strikes, so the ship itself wouldn't suffer much damage.

But the officer… that was another matter.

Just as Haigel feared the worst, the light faded, revealing Luo Qing standing completely unharmed, enveloped in a deep violet glow. The lightning hadn't touched him, and even the ship's deck remained intact.

On his waist, a violet Vision gleamed brightly.

"An Electro Vision… no wonder he's not afraid of the storm," Haigel muttered. It made sense now—an Electro Vision granted the power to control lightning, making such storms trivial for its bearer.

It was common for ships to hire Electro Vision holders specifically to weather storms, so Haigel wasn't too surprised.

But then he noticed something odd.

The waves crashing over the deck… seemed to part around Luo Qing, leaving him untouched. Even in this violent weather, not a single drop of water dampened his clothes.

Perplexed, Haigel squinted, noticing another light—a soft, water-blue glow—emanating from the other side of Luo Qing's waist.

"Two... two Visions?!"

Haigel's eyes widened in shock.

In Teyvat, people blessed with a Vision were rare enough, but someone possessing two Visions? In all his years, he'd never seen such a thing!

"So… this is what it means to be an officer," Haigel thought, realizing that wielding multiple elements was yet another mark of the elite.

With a steadying breath, Haigel focused back on his duties, guiding the ship through the storm.

But a thought crept into his mind—a suspicion, a hope.

Was that officer on the deck to protect the ship?

Was he braving the storm and facing the elements, not out of arrogance, but to shield the ship and its crew from harm?

He's really… I could cry.

…

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T/N: Haiyah this guy...

If there are any mistakes let me know!

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