Just as everyone aboard the cruiser was rejoicing that their destination was almost in sight—
the people on the shores of Ritou had fallen into a panic.
The Shogunate Army standing at the harbor docks gazed at the colossus in the distance and struck the brass alarm gong.
Clang, clang, clang——!
As the alarm rang out, the Shogunate Army quickly assembled at the docks.
"Hey, what are you banging that thing for, you brat!?"
"Lord Ebina, enemy attack——! It's an enemy attack!"
Hearing the report from his subordinate officer, Ebina Gonshirou knitted his brows: "What kind of joke is this, brat? In such a peaceful age, how could there possibly be an enemy attack!"
As he spoke, he snatched the telescope from his subordinate and looked out toward the horizon.
Ever since he had taken up the post of head officer of the Kanjou Commission, he had never once laid eyes on an enemy.
At sea there were only some low-rate pirates pillaging, and they didn't dare come anywhere near Inazuma—otherwise they'd be surrounded and wiped out by the Tenryou Commission's navy in an instant.
In an age like this, the only thing that could count as an enemy attack would be the resistance army of Watatsumi Island coming to strike!
He peered out toward the sea.
And yet, upon that glittering, rippling sea, there really was an enormous ship speeding toward them.
"What!? This—this is——!"
Ebina could scarcely believe his own eyes.
He immediately began to shout: "Quick! Notify the Tenryou Commission!"
"Assemble all officers of the Kanjou Commission—everyone, into battle readiness!"
"Yes, sir!"
Several subordinates hurriedly sprang into action.
Before long, the gong sounded again, and the merchants all across the docks and the people of the Outlander Affairs Bureau fell into a panic.
Screaming, they retreated into the interior of Ritou.
At the same time, every officer of the Kanjou Commission was deployed!
The magistrate of the Kanjou Commission, too, rushed to the docks along with her subordinates.
"What's going on, Ebina!"
"Lady Magistrate, this is bad—an enemy attack!"
Ebina hurriedly handed the telescope to Hiiragi Chisato and explained: "Look, there's a giant ship out on the sea! And it actually..."
"It actually has no sails and no oars, and yet it can still move!"
"Could this be a ghost ship!?"
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Hiiragi Chisato looked toward the sea, and sure enough, she saw that enormous warship.
"What incredible speed!"
She couldn't help but let out a gasp of astonishment.
For that ship was bearing down on the docks at an astonishing speed!
"Lady Magistrate, what do we do!?"
Hiiragi Chisato's brow furrowed slightly, and she said in a low voice: "Don't be afraid. I've already sent someone to notify the Tenryou Commission's General Kujou Sara!"
"It won't be long before the Shogunate Navy comes rushing over, I'm sure!"
Hiiragi Chisato appeared utterly composed, but inside, her heart was already brimming with panic!
It was just that, as the new magistrate of the Kanjou Commission, even though she was but a young girl, she couldn't let any look of fear show.
Otherwise, if she, the magistrate herself, lost her composure, how could she possibly inspire confidence in others?
By now, a great number of Kanjou Commission officers had assembled at the docks.
Meanwhile, the peddlers, the merchants of the International Commerce Guild, and the people of the Outlander Affairs Bureau all watched the sea from the high ground of Ritou.
They were terribly afraid that war might break out. This was a vital commercial hub of Inazuma, and if they were dragged into it, the losses would be immeasurable!
...
Inazuma City.
The Tenryou Commission headquarters.
An officer rushed frantically into the compound.
"Lord Kujou Kamaji! Emergency! Lady Hiiragi Chisato is calling for help!"
At these words, Kujou Kamaji came rushing out: "What's happened? Report at once."
"My lord, a giant ship has been spotted on the sea off Ritou."
"That vessel is enormous, and though it has neither sails nor oars, its speed is astonishingly fast!"
"Lady Hiiragi Chisato requests the aid of Lady Kujou Sara!"
Hearing the officer's report, Kujou Kamaji, though greatly astonished within, dared not be negligent.
He hurriedly gave orders to those around him, and before long Kujou Sara arrived, her expression solemn.
"I've heard all about it. The Shogunate Navy will deploy at once—send someone to report to Her Excellency the Shogun!"
With that, without waiting for Kujou Kamaji's orders, Kujou Sara departed the Tenryou Commission headquarters.
Kujou Kamaji truly found it hard to say a word.
For Kujou Sara commanded immense prestige within the Tenryou Commission—even greater than his own, though he was its head.
On top of that, his father, Kujou Takayuki, had once betrayed the Shogunate and betrayed Kujou Sara, leaving his heart full of guilt.
All this time, he had had no choice but to let Kujou Sara do as she saw fit.
"Okawara, you'll come with me and lead the rest of the men to Ritou."
"Yes, my lord."
.....
Kujou Sara swiftly mustered the Shogunate Army, and wooden ship after wooden ship set sail, racing toward Ritou.
By this moment, the people at Ritou's harbor could already see that colossus.
Only, they noticed that the giant ship had suddenly slowed, advancing toward Ritou at a leisurely pace.
This was because the cruiser's tonnage was enormous; at high speed it would have to brake hard, so instead it eased off and approached the shore gradually.
It was during this very interval that the Shogunate Navy's ships arrived at the coast.
"The Shogunate Army is here!"
"Wonderful, we're saved!"
"I wonder if the Shogunate Army can really hold them off!"
The people of the Kanjou Commission grew excited all at once.
With troops on hand, the pressure on them eased considerably.
At this very moment, Kujou Sara looked toward the giant ship and couldn't help but draw in a sharp, cold breath.
"What an enormous ship!"
"And... what on earth is it made of?"
To her horror, she realized that the giant ship in the distance was no wooden vessel.
For neither its draft nor its color was anything a wooden ship could match!
"General, what do we do? Should we go forward and issue a warning!?"
The Hatamoto's face was grave.
To be honest, the cruiser had instilled in him a deep sense of dread.
If a behemoth like that really came to attack, he feared their wooden ships might not be able to withstand it!
And it wasn't just him—the other Shogunate soldiers around him all felt their hearts grow cold with fear as well.
Kujou Sara's brows knit together into a tight knot.
For she had already seen it clearly.
This ship was forged of pure iron!
Though she had no idea how such a thing even moved, any wooden ship that rammed into it would surely be smashed to pieces, its crew killed!
In the past, she could have led her men in a surprise assault.
Using archers as cover, she would force the enemy off the deck, then close in on the vessel, board it, and wipe out the foe.
But the cruiser was like a tortoise shell.
If the enemy simply hid below deck and came ramming toward them, they would be utterly powerless to do a thing!
A situation like this could only be called extremely dangerous!
Once the enemy broke through their defensive line, something catastrophic might befall Ritou!
"You few, come with me!"
Kujou Sara led several men and leapt aboard a small boat.
Her plan was to use this small boat to approach first and probe the situation.
The small boat was nimble and fast, and even if something went wrong, she could use her Tengu wings to fly back.
Most important of all was to first feel out the other side's intentions!
And so, the small boat sped off toward the cruiser.
...
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