This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [148] [DDD!]
December Double Drop!
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The sudden arrival of The Crux's mercenaries instantly shifted the tide of the battle.
With their involvement, the previously struggling resistance forces were reinvigorated, launching a fierce counterattack against the Shogunate forces.
The Crux, known for years of fighting sea monsters and pirates on the high seas, displayed combat skills that were on par with the Shogunate's soldiers. With both Beidou and Kazuha—wielders of Vision—ripping through the Shogunate's ranks, the battlefield quickly turned in favor of the resistance.
For a moment, Kujou Sara's gaze lingered on the white-haired boy amidst the chaos, her thoughts wandering.
"Retreat, everyone!"
The morale of her troops had plummeted, and to continue fighting would only lead to further casualties. She had no choice but to order a retreat.
After suffering two consecutive defeats at Tatarasuna, her composure was starting to crack.
Even as she ordered the retreat, her eyes darted across the battlefield, searching for any sign of Luo Qing.
He had already caused her so much trouble in the past, and now she was convinced that this unexpected reinforcement of the resistance had something to do with him!
It had to be him who went and found help for the resistance!
She had thought it was strange when Luo Qing promised not to intervene directly—so his idea of not helping was to find allies for them?
...
Meanwhile...
Hiding within a sunken ship along Nazuchi Beach, Luo Qing watched the scene unfold. Suddenly, he received another notification from his system.
[Frustration Value from Kujou Sara +1 +1 +1...]
"Hmm?"
Luo Qing was baffled, looking down at the withdrawing Shogunate forces below.
What did I do to make that girl mad again? I didn't even step in!
And those mercenaries had nothing to do with him.
How did this get pinned on me?
...
With the Shogunate forces losing their will to fight, they quickly retreated. On the other side, the resistance, having suffered casualties of their own, chose not to pursue.
As the battle came to an end, The Crux's mercenaries regrouped with the resistance fighters, taking a break together. A few familiar faces caught Luo Qing's eye, chatting with the Traveler.
From the look on the Traveler's face, it seemed she was quite surprised that Beidou and her crew had come to Tatarasuna to support the resistance.
Typically, mercenaries only fight when they have the upper hand, avoiding risky ventures at all costs.
For Beidou to bring her crew here and side with the resistance—it was hard to say what her motives were.
Having stood up Gorou earlier, Luo Qing knew showing up now wouldn't earn him any friendly faces. So, after glancing down at the cheerful conversation below, he turned away and headed back to the Shogunate's camp.
After two consecutive defeats and losing many soldiers as prisoners, the Shogunate's morale was at an all-time low. Even Kujou Sara herself seemed at a loss for how to restore their fighting spirit.
For her, Luo Qing was an insurmountable obstacle.
As long as he remained at Tatarasuna, any standard tactics against the resistance would be useless.
Kujou Sara sat inside the war tent, deep in thought, trying to figure out how to handle the "Luo Qing problem."
Not long after, Luo Qing casually strolled into the tent from outside, as if nothing had happened.
"What are you doing here again?"
Kujou Sara's voice was icy.
She swore she would never trust another word out of his mouth.
"Just thought I'd help Kujou-dono ease some of your troubles~"
"?"
[Frustration Value from Kujou Sara +1]
"Hmph. Everything you've done, I've already reported back to Inazuma City. The Raiden Shogun herself will decide your fate. I wonder if you'll be able to laugh as easily when the time comes."
Kujou Sara's expression was stern, clearly believing that as long as she truthfully reported Luo Qing's actions, the Shogun would deal with him appropriately—most likely by unleashing a bolt of lightning to turn him to ashes.
"Hahaha, whatever happens, happens," Luo Qing shrugged nonchalantly, finding her angry expression somewhat amusing.
He wondered how Kujou Sara would react if she learned just how close he had gotten to the Shogun. What if he kissed the Shogun right in front of her, exchanging a mouthful of saliva?
Knowing her personality, she might just break on the spot.
Hehe, that's even more thrilling than an NTR scenario.
"Tell me, what nonsense are you trying to sell me this time?" Kujou Sara huffed, leaning back slightly and crossing her arms defensively over her chest.
"Hmph. I'm not going to believe a single word you say. You might as well give up!"
"Is that so..." Luo Qing leaned back slightly, deep in thought, before continuing.
"Then, if I told you that the reinforcements on the other side had nothing to do with me, would you believe that?"
"What do you think?"
Kujou Sara's face was as cold as ice.
From the look on her face alone, Luo Qing could tell she had already made up her mind—she was convinced he had called in reinforcements for the resistance.
"Whether you believe it or not, those mercenaries from Liyue have nothing to do with me... Well, maybe just a little."
"Anyway, the agreement we made is still in effect, Kujou-dono~"
Luo Qing got up slowly, walking over to Kujou Sara and narrowing his eyes slightly.
"I'll leave Teresa in your capable hands. If you capture any more prisoners, please be sure to send them her way for... training~"
With quite a ways to go before his next big pull, Luo Qing did feel a bit guilty about messing with Kujou Sara's mental state like this, but he had to gather Frustration Values somehow.
"And why would I follow your instructions?"
Kujou Sara frowned, thinking to herself, You went to help the resistance, yet you expect me to cooperate with you in training prisoners? You think you can play both sides?
"Because it affects whether or not I'll switch sides to the resistance, of course~"
Luo Qing's smile widened, and he unexpectedly flicked Kujou Sara's forehead with a light tap, making her step back in alarm.
Startled, she instinctively reached for her bow, her wings spread in a defensive stance.
"Whoa, why so tense? I'm not going to eat you~"
Luo Qing chuckled before turning and leaving the tent.
He had delivered his threat clearly.
Now, Kujou Sara was left with two choices:
Either follow his instructions—handing over any captured soldiers to Teresa for training—and gain his cooperation in a fair fight against the resistance.
Or hold onto her sense of duty and refuse to play along, but in doing so, make Luo Qing her full-fledged adversary.
For Luo Qing, it didn't matter either way.
He was only at Tatarasuna's frontlines to collect Frustration Values, after all.
Who he helped didn't concern him in the slightest.
With his objective achieved, Luo Qing left the Shogunate's camp, ready to go fishing again.
Once his presence was completely gone, Kujou Sara finally exhaled and lowered her guard.
She had fought alongside Luo Qing several times now, but it was the first time she had felt genuine killing intent from him.
As a Tengu, she could sense it—the same aura a god possessed.
If Luo Qing fully sided with the resistance, then with just the current Shogunate forces at Tatarasuna, they wouldn't stand a chance.
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