"Toot, toot, toot, toot, toot—!"
As the whistle grew louder, the Hunting Group's Hayajiro linked up end to end with Aragane Station's Hayajiro. The cars connected, and with the wheels rolling, they gradually sped forward along the tracks.
Aboard the Iron Fortress, Fang Li followed Yomogawa Ayame and the others into a carriage.
Perhaps because of Tenbatsu Mima's earlier declaration, the samurai no longer showed such blatant rejection toward Fang Li. Under Kibito Aragane's lead, they returned sheepishly to their respective posts.
The civilians also secretly glanced at Fang Li before silently returning to their own carriages. Not one of them dared make a sound.
Before long, only Fang Li, Yomogawa Ayame, and Kurusu Kunoichi remained in this carriage.
Just then, Fang Li suddenly spoke.
"Miss Ayame." Fang Li said, "You may find this strange, but I suggest that you should avoid getting too close to Tenbatsu Mima."
At those words, Yomogawa Ayame froze where she stood.
"What are you saying?" Kurusu Kunoichi frowned, his gaze toward Fang Li filled with doubt.
That was only natural.
In everyone's eyes, Tenbatsu Mima was a hero, the very embodiment of perfection.
Yet Fang Li had said something like that about such a person. How could it not raise questions?
But while Kurusu Kunoichi was questioning him, Yomogawa Ayame actually hesitated before saying, "Does Mr. Fang Li also think there is something wrong with Lord Mima?"
"Lady Ayame?" Kurusu Kunoichi was astonished.
"What?" Fang Li had not expected Yomogawa Ayame to react that way either, and he asked, "Have you already noticed something unusual about Tenbatsu Mima, Miss Ayame?"
"No, I have not noticed anything unusual." Yomogawa Ayame carefully chose her words, speaking with little confidence. "It is just that, perhaps it is only my imagination, but the Shogun's son gives me a