Leaving Nazuchi Beach, Ember and Childe immediately rushed to Kujou Encampment without stopping.
Kujou Encampment is located behind Tatarasuna and serves as the main base for the Shogunate Army.
Since they had already visited Watatsumi Island, it was natural to visit Kujou Encampment as well, both to facilitate matters with the Shogunate and to avoid misunderstandings.
"Why can't there be more trust between people?" Childe looked at the vast wreckage in Nazuchi Beach from afar, as if seeing Balladeer's tearful figure.
"That's not entirely true. For people, for example, I trust you quite a bit." Ember patted Childe's shoulder, making him happy.
"Really?"
"Mainly, I feel that even if I don't keep an eye on you, you won't cause any major trouble."
The truth always hurts, especially for Childe right now.
"Do you Fatui also have a presence here?" Ember asked with some surprise, seeing the numerous Shogunate Army flags standing tall over Tatarasuna.
This place clearly seemed to be heavily guarded by the Shogunate Army. Could the Fatui still be here?
"Probably... yes?" Childe's hesitant answer further confirmed Ember's judgment of him.
This Childe fellow only knows how to fight; he doesn't know how to cause trouble.
"What do you mean, 'probably'? Aren't you a Harbinger?" Ember questioned Childe's professionalism.
"Harbingers don't manage everything, do they? Moreover, this isn't even where I'm supposed to be." Childe immediately began to loudly defend himself. In Inazuma, he was practically a lone commander.
"And it seems the Fatui here can't even be controlled by Balladeer and them." Remembering their casual chat at sea earlier, Childe added another comment.
Ember listened, then looked back at Childe. "There are some you can't control? Aren't you the highest authority among the Inazuma Fatui?"
"In terms of being the highest, yes, but some units aren't under our command, like The Knave or The Doctor. Their personnel are everywhere."
Childe waved his hand. He couldn't figure out these intricate details, as he was just a debt collector.
"You'll just conscript them directly."
Ember turned his head back, and with one sentence, he freed Childe from his status as a lone commander.
"But..."
"Clang!"
The flash of the blade silenced Childe instantly.
"If they have any objections, tell them to talk to me directly."
"Alright!"
Childe immediately responded like a lackey. Circumstances were stronger than him; he had no choice but to bow his head.
The main reason was that Ember was powerful and had no attachments. Previously, the Fatui had caused trouble in the territories of many strong individuals, many of whom were more powerful than the Harbingers.
But they all had their concerns, either as leaders of a faction or because they needed something from the Fatui.
It seemed there was only one such completely free-spirited person, running wild all over the world, like Ember.
No, now there were two. A Damselette with a white Seelie appeared in Childe's mind; Lumine also seemed to be such a free-spirited person.
However, while her strength was greater than a Harbinger's, it wasn't by much.
Childe suddenly felt an itch for a fight. Someone like Lumine, who was stronger than him but not by a huge margin, was his ideal opponent. Childe was now eager to fight Lumine for three hundred rounds.
But then he saw Ember in front of him, and the desire to fight in his heart was immediately doused with cold water, completely cooling down.
It's better to first figure out how to keep Ember from constantly picking on him.
Just as Childe was lost in thought, his nose tickled, and then he suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo!"
"Is there tatarigami here too?"
Ember stopped. He looked towards the mountains in the interior of the island. Amidst the distant mountains, there was a purple light soaring into the sky.
"tatarigami? I'm guessing that big steelmaking furnace in Tatarasuna is about to explode!" Childe also saw the purple pillar of light rising into the sky and said with a hint of awe.
"About to explode?" Ember looked at the mountain enveloped in purple, speechless for a moment.
"Why are there so many troublesome things in Inazuma?" After a long while, Ember finally spat out a sentence fiercely.
"Hehe, who knows?"
"I heard this is Inazuma's jade steel production base. If it explodes like this... tsk tsk tsk!"
Childe wasn't as worried as Ember. His current mindset was more like watching a good show.
Ember saw Childe's carefree expression and immediately became annoyed.
"If it weren't for you Fatui, at least half of these troubles would be gone!"
"I think that broken furnace probably has your Fatui's fingerprints all over it. It's decided then, that furnace, you guys fix it!"
Ember waved his hand, placing the heavy burden of repairing the Mikage Furnace on Childe's shoulders.
"This... Ember, you're not kidding, are you? Do I look like a technical expert?"
The carefree look on Childe's face instantly turned into one of distress. Ember was truly putting him in a difficult position; even if he genuinely wanted to do it, he wouldn't know where to start.
He, Tartaglia, simply didn't have that ability.
"Not you, but you all!" Ember emphasized his wording, then continued:
"Don't tell me this whole group of Fatui are illiterates? Your Fatui's technology, surely it's not so bad that you can't even fix a broken furnace in Inazuma, right?"
"No way? No way?"
As Ember spoke, he almost pressed his head against Childe's forehead.
His swaying head brought immense pressure to Childe.
"Fine! I'll take it!" Childe took a few steps back, gritted his teeth, and agreed.
"Good! Excellent! If you encounter any difficulties, tell me!"
"You being around me is the biggest difficulty!" Childe secretly grumbled.
"What did you say? Louder! I can't hear you?" Ember cupped his ear and asked Childe.
"Nothing, I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Childe saw Ember's expression, immediately stood up straight, afraid he would pursue the matter further.
Seeing Childe's entire being practically screaming "sensible," Ember nodded in satisfaction and no longer troubled him.
Thus, under Ember's persuasion (and intimidation), the Fatui's tasks increased by one more.
However, neither Childe nor Ember took it too seriously.
As Ember said, the technological gap between the Fatui and Inazuma was immense.
When Inazuma was still in the manual labor stage, the Fatui could already fly, burrow, and turn invisible. If it weren't for the Raiden Shogun, Inazuma would have lost everything compared to Snezhnaya.
Therefore, both Childe and Ember were very confident about the damaged furnace in Tatarasuna.
Childe was confident in the Fatui's technology, while Ember was confident in his own strength.
What? Can't fix it? Just look at how sharp this straight sword is, and that's all you need to know!
Bathed in purple light, Ember and Childe's group crossed Tatarasuna and finally arrived in front of Kujou Encampment, the Shogunate Army's garrison.
Looking at the numerous watchtowers ahead and the patrolling Sergeants, Ember and Childe both stopped in unison.
"Hey! How are we going to meet the Shogunate Army's commander?" Childe glanced at his shabby, grey-white suit. A dignified Harbinger, looking like he was fleeing from famine.
Unconsciously, his cheeks became wet. He wasn't sure if it was from the seawater splashed during their journey or from tears.
"Just go directly. When you announce your Harbinger title, won't the commander obediently come out?"
"Why not announce yours?" Childe questioned.
"Do you think the title of Great Adventurer is more impressive, or the title of Harbinger?" Ember retorted.
"It has to be our Harbinger."
Childe's questions ended there, and then he and Ember swaggered down the main road leading to the military camp.
"Halt! This is a military stronghold, unauthorized personnel keep out!"
The two hadn't even reached the main gate when they were stopped by patrolling Sergeants.
Two squads of soldiers crossed their long spears, blocking Ember and Childe's path. Their eyes were wide, as if suffering from hyperthyroidism.
"Fatui Harbinger, Eleventh of the Eleven, Childe, requests an audience with your commander."
Childe dramatically flung his scarf, striking a pose, and spoke with great pride.
"..."
"Where did these idlers come from, daring to cause trouble in a military stronghold? Seize them and interrogate them thoroughly!"
After a brief silence, the crossed long spears pointed directly at the two of them.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"