Early the next morning, Inaba Tsukiyo, still asleep, was awakened by a burst of cheers.
Tidying her clothes, Inaba Tsukiyo went outside the Kabaneri and saw the people of Shitori Station gathered near the tracks, cheering for the arrival of certain individuals.
It was a dark Junjo, and a large crowd of residents, even the people from Iron Fortress, were gathered at the station entrance.
Leading the Junjo was a handsome man with long pink hair; he was Amatori Biba, the leader of the Kataribe.
Amatori Biba, wearing a red cloak, walked fully armed at the front of the Junjo.
Beside him, members of the Kataribe, dressed in unified military uniforms, carrying steam guns and samurai swords, advanced in parallel on both sides of the Junjo.
"This… while it certainly looks impressive, is it really okay to walk like this?"
Is this extreme self-confidence or some other reason? Behind Amatori Biba was an armored train several meters high advancing.
Even if the armored train was moving slowly to accommodate the Kataribe, was he truly not worried that the train might accidentally lose control and run him over?
Should she use the power of the Ninth Herrscher to secretly make this Junjo lose control and run over this show-off?
While this also demonstrated the strict discipline of the Kataribe, doing so was purely to make others feel they were impressive, wasn't it?
"It's Brother, Tsukiyo."
Just then, Mumei also woke up.
However, she didn't run to meet Amatori Biba, but stood beside Inaba Tsukiyo.
"You're awake? Mu… no, I should call you Hozumi now. How is it? Can you get used to your current appearance?"
"Yes, I don't feel anything else. It just feels strange; every time I see my face, it feels unfamiliar, yet a bit like Mother."
Mumei's face was disguised to look like her adult self, a feat easily accomplished with the power of the First Herrscher.
Although it was still the same body, her face now had a somewhat adult appearance, so even if someone thought it was Mumei, it didn't quite look like Mumei.
"This is only temporary. Try not to expose your true appearance. I want to observe what this guy's true intentions are."
Shikomorikawa Ayame was conversing with Amatori Biba, hoping to travel with the Kataribe, as their destination also seemed to be Kongokaku.
The Kataribe had their own exclusive Junjo, so traveling together wouldn't waste space on the Iron Fortress, and most importantly, they could gain the Kataribe's protection.
Shikomorikawa Ayame's actions were beyond reproach, as she was responsible for the lives of the people on the Iron Fortress, and having multiple layers of security posed no danger.
"Hey, Mumei. From now on, you should try to act with the others as much as possible. I'll secretly follow these guys and monitor what they're trying to do."
"Eh? Why? I can help too."
"No, trust me, Mumei. I know you want to help, but I suspect this guy definitely has some ill intentions."
Just then, Shitori Station suddenly sounded an alarm. This ominous alarm was exactly like the one at Aba Station.
Immediately, Shitori Station was filled with fear and unease.
After sending Mumei back to the Iron Fortress, Inaba Tsukiyo secretly concealed herself and went to the city wall of Shitori Station.
Many samurai were using their steam guns to fight the attacking Kabaneri here.
But there was a strong smell of blood near the city wall. Following the scent of blood, she found several bleeding corpses at the base of the wall. Judging by their condition, these people hadn't been dead long.
"Kabaneri are extremely sensitive to the smell of blood. They must have approached Shitori Station because they smelled blood. But who put the body in such a place?"
The person who put the body there clearly intended to attract the Kabaneri.
It was too suspicious. Why would Kabaneri gather here so soon after the Kataribe arrived? It didn't make sense.
Just then, the drawbridge of Shitori Station was suddenly lowered, and the Kataribe's Iron Fortress sped out.
Amatori Biba stood at the front of the Iron Fortress, raising his samurai sword high. The driver of the Iron Fortress received the order and quickly brought it to a halt.
Amatori Biba's samurai sword also had patterns similar to a Kabaneri's heart, indicating it had been modified and strengthened.
After the Kataribe's Iron Fortress stopped, the carriage facing the Kabaneri suddenly opened its door, revealing a row of… mortars?
"Amazing! They actually have such weapons. Why are they still using steam guns to deal with these Kabaneri!?"
Inaba Tsukiyo couldn't take it anymore; she was truly overwhelmed!
Originally, she thought steam guns were the common weapon in this world, and the use of fire should be rare. Now, even mortars had appeared!
(fuhai: Our mortar squad begins attack.)
Following Amatori Biba's command, the mortars fired incendiary shells, and in an instant, the area outside Shitori Station became a sea of flames.
The mortars didn't eliminate many Kabaneri, but they successfully attracted most of them to gather.
After successfully attracting the Kabaneri's attention, the next step was to take the initiative and eliminate all the surrounding Kabaneri.
Amatori Biba, holding his samurai sword, jumped off the Iron Fortress and onto a galloping steed that came from behind, leading the charge towards the Kabaneri.
As Amatori Biba charged towards the Kabaneri, the Kataribe members didn't ride horses like him, but instead… "Mo… motorcycles?"
The Kataribe members were seen driving motorcycles out of the Iron Fortress, charging towards the Kabaneri.
'My goodness, I haven't even seen a trace of an internal combustion engine. How did these motorcycles appear?'
Inaba Tsukiyo was a bit distraught. Did these motorcycles adopt some kind of steam design? To be able to drive motorcycles using steam power, were the humans of this world really that advanced?
Now, even if the Kataribe brought out a machine gun and mowed down the Kabaneri, Inaba Tsukiyo wouldn't be too surprised.
The difference between Kataribe members and other samurai was like the difference between ordinary players and pay-to-win players.
(fuhai: As long as you pay, you can get stronger.)
The Kataribe members on motorcycles were responsible for breaking the Kabaneri's limbs, incapacitating them.
These incapacitated Kabaneri were then dealt with by other Kataribe members.
The Kataribe's proactive engagement with the Kabaneri boosted the morale of Shitori Station's samurai. Although the Kataribe suffered occasional casualties, overall, they held the advantage.
'Did I think wrong? Is this guy actually a good person?'
Were these Kataribe truly righteous heroes? Did they really want to reclaim the stations occupied by Kabaneri?
But… this shouldn't be. Such an obvious bait appeared right after the Kataribe arrived at Shitori Station; it was too much of a coincidence.
Moreover, some of these Kataribe members were actually Kabaneri. Was Kabaneri not such a rare existence?
'Could it be… this guy has a way to turn people into Kabaneri? Or perhaps, he himself is a Kabaneri?'
If he was also a Kabaneri, then it would explain why Amatori Biba possessed such powerful combat abilities.
Hidden, Inaba Tsukiyo suddenly noticed, amidst the sea of fire, the man who intended to assassinate Amatori Biba.
This man, holding a dagger, stealthily approached Amatori Biba. Just as Inaba Tsukiyo thought he was about to make his move, the man stopped, and Amatori Biba also noticed him.
"Lord Biba, you don't know… many people are now trying to take your life. Under their orders, I came to find an opportunity to assassinate you."
"…"
Is this an assassination? Is this really an assassination? Shouldn't an assassination involve quietly approaching the target and then delivering a fatal blow?
Even if not that, at least go berserk and kill everyone who sees you, completing a berserker-style assassination. Why isn't this guy following the usual script at all?
Such an assassination method, if seen by 'Old Man of the Mountain,' would surely lead to him being harshly reprimanded, even if this man wasn't an assassin.
"Is that so?"
"Just give me an order, and take me back under your command… I will tell you where those people are hiding."
The man's attitude was completely unrepentant. Was he trying to gain Amatori Biba's trust by betraying his former associates, hoping to return to Amatori Biba's service?
Was this guy loyal or foolish? He was already a discarded pawn, yet he still wanted to do such a thing.
"No need. Get lost."
"…Is that your answer!?"
Facing Amatori Biba's unequivocal reply, the man was clearly somewhat flustered, and he swung the samurai sword in his hand at Amatori Biba's head.
Although Unmei said this guy had similar strength to herself when she was a Kabaneri, the man was merely a fool and was quickly defeated by Amatori Biba.
He first jumped off his horse to dodge the samurai sword's attack, then turned and kicked the man's body, knocking him down with a swift and precise strike.
Amatori Biba drew his samurai sword, looking coldly at the man lying on the ground.
"You lied. You intended to betray me from the start. You… are weak."
Without hesitation, he pierced the man's head with his sword. Amatori Biba showed a faint smile, and Inaba Tsukiyo saw a cold red light in Amatori Biba's eyes.
'Now it's confirmed, Amatori Biba really has a bad relationship with the Shogun of the Bakufu. If Kongokaku is the Shogun's residence, then the person who wants Amatori Biba's life is probably…'
Unmei also said that she hadn't been bitten by a Kabaneri, and when she, a Little Girl, was bitten by a Kabaneri, how could she remain conscious before the Kabaneri's toxin reached her brain?
"Indeed, this guy probably plans to do something. These Kabaneri were definitely lured here by them, with the purpose of attracting others' attention to carry out their own agenda. A clever tactic."
However, what exactly did they intend to do by attracting everyone's attention? Inaba Tsukiyo didn't know yet, but as she approached the Kataribe's Iron Fortress, she heard shouts coming from inside.
That was the sound of Kabaneri; these guys had locked a large number of Kabaneri inside the Iron Fortress.
"…Beasts."
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