At the dock, wooden cranes operated by several laborers were hoisting cargo onto the ship, while sailors inspected the vessel's condition.
After all, they would be living on this ship for a long time. If something happened to it, these sailors would perish along with it in the sea. No one was willing to gamble with their lives.
Next to the port was a small market.
Initially, it was just a few fishermen selling their catch. As the foot traffic increased, vendors began selling vegetables, fruits, and other goods, turning it into a bustling little marketplace.
Since some supplies needed to be purchased personally, Beidou had been busy cataloging and selecting essential items to bring aboard.
However, she would occasionally glance toward Chihu Rock, as today was the last day of Kazuha's leave. She wondered if he had found the man who called himself Battousai.
Both she and Ningguang were deeply interested in this man known as Battousai. Not just Kazuha, but they had also sent people to search for him, both openly and covertly.
They had indeed heard of a ronin from Inazuma and knew that he had some kind of conflict with the Fatui. Even the Fatui were searching for him. But as for his exact whereabouts, no one had been able to find him.
Battousai was undoubtedly a dangerous individual.
If he were in Inazuma, Beidou and Ningguang wouldn't be too concerned. Even if he possessed the ability to slay a god, it wouldn't affect Liyue. Beidou might even respect him as a formidable man.
But in Liyue... this guy was a potential threat. Such power to challenge a god had to be controlled to ensure safety.
Liyue had been facing tumultuous times recently. Not only had the Fatui Harbinger traveled across the seas to the mainland, but the infamous Battousai from Inazuma had also arrived. Add to that the mysterious beam of light that shot into the sky, and it seemed like all sorts of strange and powerful figures had gathered here. It was enough to give anyone a headache.
Come to think of it, Battousai had appeared around the same time as the Harbinger. Could they have come from Inazuma together?
And... could there be some connection between the two?
"Hmm?"
Another casual glance, but this time she spotted the familiar figure of Kazuha, followed by a red-robed Inazuman.
The red-robed Inazuman wasn't as stern or mature as Beidou had imagined. On the contrary... from his light footsteps and the lower half of his face visible beneath the mask, he seemed much younger than anyone had expected.
Could someone like this really be the Battousai who had wounded the Raiden Shogun?
"Kazuha, if you had come back a day later, we might have left without you."
Beidou first greeted Kazuha with a joke before turning her attention to the man following him.
"Is this...?"
"Captain, this is the Battousai I mentioned. He's somewhat of a hero among the resistance forces."
Kazuha's words were spot on.
Even though Bai Luo had never explicitly stated he would join the resistance, his reputation within the resistance had at one point surpassed even the current Divine Priestess, making him a hero in the eyes of many.
Even after rumors spread that he had died by the Shogun's blade, his reputation remained high, becoming a symbol of hope for many.
If the rumors were true, this man had wounded the Raiden Shogun using only his swordsmanship, without relying on elemental powers.
His existence gave hope to those who had not been blessed by the gods.
Whether this hope was genuine or another form of despair, however, remained to be seen.
"Mr. Himura, this is the leader of the Crux Fleet and the captain of the Alcor, Captain Beidou."
When introducing Beidou, Kazuha's tone was respectful but also carried a hint of pride. It seemed that during his time with the crew, he had come to see himself as part of the Alcor.
No wonder he hadn't returned to Inazuma even after the Sakoku Decree was lifted. Perhaps, for him, the Alcor had become his true home.
"I am Himura Kenshin, a wandering swordsman."
Bai Luo, holding the reverse-blade sword, gave a slight bow in the Inazuman style.
"Kenshin, huh? A fitting name for a swordsman."
Beidou gave a deep look at the reverse-blade sword in Bai Luo's arms, speaking as if in contemplation.
Both she and Ningguang had suspected that the reason this man could wound a god might lie in the weapon he carried.
A reverse-blade sword—a weapon with the blade facing inward—how could such a thing end up in the hands of a master swordsman?
There was only one possibility: it possessed effects far beyond those of an ordinary sword.
Most importantly... Beidou felt that Kenshin's voice sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
But no matter how hard she tried to recall, she couldn't pinpoint where.
Perhaps he had crossed paths with her at some point without his mask.
Or maybe she had heard his voice in passing.
"I used to be called Shinta. My sword master said the name was too gentle, so he renamed me Kenshin."
"Sounds like a strict master. Care to come aboard and sit for a while?"
"Of course."
Bai Luo had wanted to board the ship anyway, so he wasn't about to refuse Beidou's invitation.
At Beidou's signal, the crew and dockworkers began loading the purchased supplies onto the ship.
Among the dockworkers, one small figure stood out.
He seemed to be suffering from some illness, as he was much thinner and shorter than the others.
Yet he struggled diligently to carry the cargo.
The other workers were considerate, not assigning him the heaviest loads but instead letting him carry the lightest and smallest boxes.
Even so, it was still a challenge for him.
As he stepped onto the gangplank leading to the Alcor, he stumbled, and the box on his back nearly fell.
Fortunately, Bai Luo, who was nearby, reached out to steady him.
"What's going on? Be careful! I told you not to come if you can't handle it! Why not go guard the doors at the Ministry of Civil Affairs instead?!"
The foreman of the dockworkers happened to see this and rushed over, scolding the young man harshly.
Though he appeared fierce, there was a hint of concern in his eyes.
It seemed he was worried Bai Luo might blame the young man, so he decided to preemptively give him a light reprimand.
The young man nodded meekly, straightened his back as much as he could, and carried the cargo onto the ship.
Where there is light, there is shadow. Even in a prosperous place like Liyue, there were still those who struggled in poverty.
Fortunately, there were many kind-hearted people among the dockworkers, or this could have turned into a darker tale.
However, Bai Luo had noticed that the box he had steadied seemed to be a crate of fruit.
Hmm... could it be Sunsettias?