"Um... excuse me!"
A clear, urgent female voice suddenly rang out from the outskirts of the crowd.
Everyone turned to look, only to see a young woman with a high purple ponytail and a face mask pushing through the crowd, running over in a hurry.
She was dressed capably and efficiently, her eyes reflecting both shrewdness and anxiety.
The newcomer was none other than the strategist of the Arataki Gang—
Kuki Shinobu!
After being teased all day by a mischievous fox lady at the Grand Grand Narukami Shrine, she had finished her day's work feeling utterly exhausted.
On her way home, she heard that a "strange ship larger than a mountain" had arrived at the Ritou Docks.
Coupled with that terrifying heartbeat that had sent Inazuma's birds and beasts fleeing in panic.
Kuki Shinobu's heart tightened. Remembering that Onibaba usually set up her stall near the docks, she feared for the old woman's safety and ran all the way there.
As soon as she reached the docks, she saw Onibaba being supported by a Melusine, walking toward the giant ship.
Standing before the stall were several unfamiliar faces with distinct temperaments, clearly not people from Inazuma.
"Onibaba! Are you alright?!"
Kuki Shinobu first called out to the old woman. Seeing the Melusine politely wave to indicate everything was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention to King's group.
Her gaze swept over them quickly—
The black-haired man in the center had a terrifyingly fierce aura.
One didn't even need to fight him to know he was incredibly strong!
The tall purple-haired woman beside him had her hand constantly on her sword hilt, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
This was Fontaine's strongest Champion Duelist, which meant this group came from Fontaine.
The cat-eared maid wasn't simple either, even though she was so quiet she almost seemed nonexistent.
But intuition told Kuki Shinobu that she was no ordinary person.
As for that blonde and the white floating thing... wait, aren't those Lumine and Paimon?!
Kuki Shinobu froze for a moment, a flash of joy appearing in her eyes.
With acquaintances present, she could at least communicate with these distinguished figures.
She nodded to Lumine and then spoke to King, who appeared to be the leader, her tone extremely respectful:
"Honored sir, I am a temporary shrine maiden of the Grand Grand Narukami Shrine, Kuki Shinobu."
"May I ask if your lordship has come from afar for some important matter?"
As she spoke, she secretly sized up the giant steel ship filling the Ritou Docks and the striking Fontaine flag at the bow, her mind racing:
Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!
Fontaine has made such a massive display.
They couldn't be here to occupy Inazuma, could they?
Before King could answer, an anxious and somewhat foolish loud voice suddenly erupted nearby:
"Shinobu! Where is Onibaba?!"
Arataki Itto, with his messy white hedgehog hair and bright red oni horns standing out in the sunlight, forced his large frame through the panicked crowd, his face full of anxiety.
"Did you find Onibaba?! Is she okay?!"
Itto rushed forward, panting for breath, completely ignoring King's group and their imposing aura, his eyes only searching for Onibaba.
When he saw the Melusine doctor supporting Onibaba and carefully stepping onto the gangway of the "justice," he clearly relaxed, but then a heavy sense of self-reproach flooded his honest face.
"It's all my fault... I'm useless!"
Itto punched his own head hard, making a dull thud, his red eyes full of frustration. "It's because I can't earn money to support Onibaba that she has to come to the docks every day at her age, braving the cold wind to sell those few naku weed. Her health was already bad, what if..."
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