"Watatsumi Island..."
Standing on the deck, Bai Luo gazed at the distant island with a hint of helplessness. He had originally thought the ship was headed for Ritou, where he could continue his leisurely, carefree life upon arrival.
Unexpectedly, Beidou had delivered him straight to the heart of the resistance's stronghold.
Bai Luo had questioned Beidou about this, and her reasoning was flawless.
"We're smuggling our way in—heading to Ritou would be walking right into a trap, wouldn't it? Of course, we'd go to Watatsumi Island, where we have allies."
"Makes sense."
And so, the ship gradually docked at the harbor.
As the vessel approached the shore, the scene on land came into view. The dense formation of soldiers and the towering flags made Bai Luo hesitate before asking, "Are you sure... you and Watatsumi Island are on good terms?"
This looked more like a battle formation than a welcome party.
"Hmm... we should be, right?"
Even Beidou herself was taken aback. If not for her right arm still being in a sling, she might have drawn her weapon to steady her nerves.
Had something happened on Watatsumi Island recently? Or had the supplies she delivered last time failed to achieve their intended effect, leading to the resistance being overrun?
But the flags along the shore were unmistakably those of Watatsumi Island.
"Could it be that the serpent I slayed before was actually Orobashi?" Bai Luo muttered uncertainly, touching the crystal hanging around his neck like a pendant.
But the system had clearly stated that thing was supposed to be Osial's mate, Beisht.
Everyone was utterly confused—except for Kazuha, who alone understood the situation.
"Captain, Mr. Himura, they're likely here to welcome Mr. Himura."
During his time on Watatsumi Island, Kazuha had witnessed firsthand how deeply the resistance revered "Himura Kenshin." So before this visit, he had sent word ahead.
"To welcome... me?"
Not only Bai Luo, but even Beidou was surprised. She knew Bai Luo was highly regarded among the resistance, but to this extent?
A glance at the welcoming party...
Wow, not only had the Divine Priestess herself made an appearance, but even the ever-victorious general with pointed ears stood among the crowd.
Many other important figures of Watatsumi Island were present as well.
Aside from a few who still looked relatively composed, the fervent expressions on most faces reminded Beidou eerily of the devotees of Rex Lapis.
Truly terrifying.
"Welcome back to Watatsumi Island, Captain Beidou."
Sangonomiya Kokomi naturally noticed Beidou's injury, but now wasn't the time to inquire, so she tactfully avoided the subject.
"Hahaha, we in Liyue have a saying: 'The drinker's heart is not in the cup.' I suspect the person you're truly welcoming is this one, right?"
Beidou wasn't shameless enough to hog the Divine Priestess's flattery and promptly threw Bai Luo under the spotlight.
The moment Bai Luo was pulled forward, nearly all eyes locked onto him.
The red robe matched the rumors, as did the cat-faced mask.
But... something felt off.
"Wasn't Kenshin-sama said to be eight feet tall and eight feet wide? Why does he look smaller than me?"
"Yeah, and wasn't he supposed to wear a demonic mask with fangs? What's with the cat face?"
"That's not even the main issue. If Kenshin-sama could slay a god, his swordsmanship must be divine. Why does he seem like an ordinary person?"
Ordinary—that was the most immediate impression Bai Luo gave.
He stood there lazily, a faint smile on his lips, looking like just another unremarkable youth on the street.
If not for someone identifying him as Himura Kenshin, everyone would have dismissed him as a poor imitator who couldn't even capture the essence of the legendary swordsman.
Even the higher-ups of Watatsumi Island shared the same skepticism.
Only two exceptions existed: Sangonomiya Kokomi and General Gorou.
The former, well-read and knowledgeable, understood that some powerful individuals could conceal their strength. Given how highly Captain Beidou regarded him, this "Kenshin" likely possessed such an ability.
As for Gorou? His trust came purely from Kaedehara Kazuha.
Though they hadn't interacted much, the two shared a strong bond. If Kazuha looked at someone with that kind of respect, no matter how unbelievable it seemed, it had to be true.
"You flatter me, Captain Beidou. Thanks to your support, Watatsumi Island has endured to this day. Both you and Mr. Kenshin deserve such a grand welcome from us."
It had to be said—no matter how much Sangonomiya Kokomi disliked socializing, she had mastered it impeccably.
With a single response, she gracefully acknowledged Beidou's words but also elevated Bai Luo's status alongside hers.
"You're too kind, Lady Sangonomiya. As per our last agreement, we've brought the supplies Watatsumi Island needs. However, due to unforeseen circumstances during the voyage, there may be discrepancies in the quantities. I hope you won't take offense."
While directing her crew to unload the cargo, Beidou offered her apologies.
Normally, mishaps during voyages were unavoidable.
But the Crux Fleet was no ordinary crew—they usually kept losses to a minimum.
The incident with Beisht was no small matter. If not for Bai Luo's presence on board, the entire crew might have perished, let alone the cargo.
"The fact that you delivered these at all is more than Watatsumi Island could ask for. How could we possibly blame you? We've prepared a banquet at the Sangonomiya Shrine and would be honored if both you and Mr. Kenshin could attend."
Sangonomiya Kokomi wore a confident smile, carrying herself with the poise of a true leader.
But no one knew that, deep down, the Divine Priestess dreaded such events.
Fortunately, Himura Kenshin's presence drew most of the attention, easing much of the pressure she usually felt.
Otherwise... the energy she'd lose would take who knows how long to recover.
Ah, right—let's talk about this so-called "energy."
Forcing herself to do things she disliked drained Kokomi's stamina, leaving her exhausted.
Thus, she conceptualized her stamina as "energy." Doing things she enjoyed would restore it, while tasks she disliked would deplete it.
When her energy ran out, she would temporarily set aside her duties as the Divine Priestess and revert to being an ordinary girl who stayed at home.
In a way, the leaders of both the Shogunate forces and the Watatsumi resistance shared similar hobbies.
Tonight, after returning, she'd probably reread that light novel—My Raiden Shogun Can't Be This Cute!—again.
That brilliantly entertaining story could restore at least half her energy in one go.
"Then we'll gladly accept your invitation."