Bringing Warmth

The Koutetsujou was about to depart. Final inspections had already begun, and as it sat parked nearby, steam roared from its engines.

At the front of the train, Xu Yue was saying goodbye to the others.

"Since you've made up your mind, going to Kongokaku to meet the Shogun is a good choice. Makino Dogen, one of Kongokaku's elders, is my brother. Give him this letter, and he'll introduce you when the time comes."

Shikoku Kenzou handed Xu Yue an envelope and spoke in a steady voice.

Ayame, meanwhile, blushed faintly as she hid behind her father. Gentle by nature, she still could not quite bring herself to speak freely, only saying softly,

"Have a safe journey."

"Don't worry. You know what I'm capable of. Well then, I'm off."

As he spoke, Xu Yue jumped onto the locomotive. After waving to those outside, he shut the valve and inserted the Hayajiro's master key.

Woo—woo—

The massive steel body of the Koutetsujou slowly picked up speed. Steam burst forth, shrouding the surrounding area in something like fog as it rumbled away from Kōkan Station...

This journey was mainly for exchanging supplies, so unlike in the original story, the armored Hayajiro was not carrying many elderly, weak, sick, or disabled passengers.

Most of its members were able-bodied adults responsible for transport, as well as Samurai armed to the teeth.

The main purpose of the trade was to exchange Jet Bullets for food and one of the primary materials needed to make them: Dada Iron.

This substance called Dada Iron was an important material among the Mission Space's Black Technology. Like a catalyst, it made metal easier to melt, allowing it to produce the metal jet effect of Armor-piercing Bullets.

Xu Yue's main assistants on this trip were Kibito, the tall Samurai who appeared frequently in the original story, and the somewhat unfortunate Kurusu.

To prevent any more trouble, Xu Yue had also brought the three surviving members of the Railway Guerrillas aboard.

As for the missing Jiong Jiong, her mission had already been settled. With no more conflict of interest and a need to keep a low profile, she had no reason to recklessly court death...

Due to the limitations of information transmission in this era, news of Hasshun Station's fall had still not arrived, even though they had set out several days later. They also had not encountered the several events from the original plot along the way, so they had not actually lost much time.

Naturally, Xu Yue had no intention of bypassing such a ready-made opportunity to farm mission progress, and he continued directing the Koutetsujou toward its original destination...

Hasshun Station was located atop a mine. It had always maintained a good relationship and trade with Kōkan Station, with much of its refined metal sold there for the construction of armored Hayajiro.

Thus, choosing to travel toward Kongokaku by way of this station was only natural.

Woo—woo—

A whistle signaling communication rang out, but there was not the slightest response.

In an instant, the atmosphere aboard the Koutetsujou turned grave.

Kurusu hurried to Xu Yue's private room and said solemnly,

"My lord, something has happened at Hasshun Station. There has been no response at all."

At that moment, a Samurai who had climbed atop the Hayajiro to observe through binoculars had also spotted something.

"Smoke signals! Suspected survivor camp."

The Koutetsujou's whistle had likely caught the survivors' attention, prompting them to release the smoke signal.

The survivors were located on a freight platform.

It stood apart from the station itself and was used to load finished metal onto Hayajiro. It was connected to the railway tracks and offered a certain degree of safety.

Having found their destination, the Hayajiro naturally switched tracks and headed toward the platform.

The people on the platform could be said to be all the survivors from Hasshun Station. Only a few dozen people remained from the entire station, showing just how horrific the disaster had been.

"Black Smoke... Black Smoke crossed the walls and attacked. It was practically hell on earth."

"It was too horrible, too horrible. Thank goodness you came. Otherwise, we wouldn't have known what to do."

"..."

The survivors' faces were filled with numbness and despair. Even the relief of being rescued could not conceal those negative emotions.

Xu Yue maintained his gentle smile throughout, quietly listening to their accounts.

Perhaps because of his demeanor, the atmosphere gradually began to settle.

After all, they had been saved. Things were much better than before.

"Kaku, huh? It might not be bad to have you provoke Mumei a little."

From the corner of his eye, Xu Yue noticed a lame old soldier signaling to Mumei, and he recognized the man's identity.

One of Biba's "ears" in the Hunting Party, he had obtained intelligence that the shogunate had purchased a large quantity of weapons.

His feelings toward Biba were complicated. He admired Biba and wanted to follow him, yet he also resented Biba for abandoning him. He was practically like the lead in some third-rate romance drama.

However, Xu Yue still had great use for this fellow. He had no intention of exposing him and simply allowed him to provoke Mumei.

Encouraging Mumei's belief that strength was paramount was clearly beneficial to him.

When it came to strength,

in this Mission Space, I fear no one...

After speaking privately with Kaku, Mumei seemed somewhat dispirited, while Sion, who had gone with her, wore a grave expression.

She seemed to take Kaku's message very seriously.

However, because her experiences had been completely different from the original story, and because Xu Yue's strength suppressed even hers, Mumei did not recklessly attempt a lone breakthrough like she had in the original. She merely stood beside Xu Yue in low spirits, listening to the discussion of what to do next.

"Now that the tracks are blocked by the collapsed steel beams, we'll need to use the steam crane cables at the mine to lift them away."

"There are no Kabane nearby. The plan should be feasible."

"But we can't let our guard down. Hasshun Station's fall was far too strange."

"..."

In the end, Mumei could not help speaking up.

"What's the big deal? Leave it to me and your lord. You can go move those things without worry."

Well, compared to the original story, where she had confidently claimed she could handle it alone, she now knew to include Xu Yue.

"How could we possibly allow that?"

"My lord may be strong, but he cannot take such risks."

Xu Yue, however, took it in stride and replied in his usual gentle tone,

"It's fine. It's decided, then. Just try to be quick."

"My lord!"

Kurusu was clearly overflowing with loyalty and righteousness. He was deeply dissatisfied with Xu Yue's risky decision and shot Mumei a vicious glare.

Mumei glared right back without yielding, and the two stared each other down.

"Then I request to come along as well."

Kurusu did not challenge Xu Yue's decision with insubordination. Instead, he wanted to accompany him and fulfill his duty as a Samurai.

"You? No, you can't. You're too weak."

Mumei was truly blunt. In fact, Kurusu's strength was among the top tier in this world. His physical abilities could not compare to a Kabaneri's, but his technique was absolutely first-rate.

"Fine. If Kurusu wants to come, then let him. Oh, and bring those three men here."

Xu Yue had always presented himself as gentle and easygoing before everyone, so naturally he did not refuse Kurusu's request. However, as though he had thought of something, he told them to bring over the three Railway Guerrillas.

"I have something to say to them. Everyone, rest up for now. We'll act this afternoon."

After dismissing the others, Xu Yue brought the three uneasy men into a private room aboard the Koutetsujou.

The room contained all sorts of frightening-looking "torture instruments": neck restraints, branding irons, steel nails, and more.

The three were so frightened that they immediately dropped to their knees and began kowtowing frantically, fully displaying the backbone of the Great Qing.

"Spare us, sir! We'll confess, we'll confess!"

"They did approach us back then, but we were too scared, so we refused."

"We were just afraid they'd retaliate, so we didn't inform you. It was our fault."

Watching these three utterly spineless men, Xu Yue could not help rubbing his brow. He did not know whether relying on them to carry out his plan would be dependable.

"Don't worry. I have a tremendous opportunity to give you..."

After calming the brief disturbance in his heart, Xu Yue's smile remained as gentle as ever. Yet in the eyes of the three men, it seemed somewhat chilling...

If nothing unexpected happens, there may very well be only one chapter again tomorrow... Drawing circles ing.

It's the new book period, so please give all kinds of support~