Chapter 209: Crocodile's Expectation!
Chapter 209: Crocodile's Expectation!
[Woo woo woo woo——]
A high-pitched Whistle Sound rang out before the tightly shut City Gate of Kongokaku. It was a massive white Iron-Armored Train, standing a full ten meters tall from its wheels to its roof.
It's worth noting that as the Capital of the Shogunate, Kongokaku's City Gate was not of the Drawbridge Style like other 'Stations', but rather a Steel Gate that lifted up and down.
The Turret Roofs on its City Gate were surprisingly all covered with Blue-Green Tiles, presenting a lush green vista that truly revealed an ancient luxury.
"Report, the 'Iron Fortress' has arrived from Line 4!"
Inside the City, within a Blue-Tiled Hall that was the most prominent in Height, a Samurai knelt on one knee, lowering his Head and loudly reporting to General-sama on the platform.
"Finally arrived? Let them in."
Koukyuu Amatori pondered for a moment before issuing the Order.
At this time, the Samurai Chief Steward and the Rōjū stood on either side of him, as one was the Military Minister and the other the Political Minister.
"General, I always feel something feels strange..." the Samurai Chief Steward said in a low voice.
Michiyuki Makino also began to suggest, "How about this, I'll go meet them and see if it's really my little niece."
"Alright!"
Koukyuu Amatori nodded. After the 'Rōjū' stepped out of the Main Hall, he instructed the Samurai Chief Steward, "Dispatch two teams of Samurai and four teams of Soldiers."
"Yes!"
[Clank clank clank]
As the City Gate slowly lifted upwards, the 'Iron Fortress' proceeded Inside the City along the Track. By the time it slowly came to a stop at the Station, it was already targeted by Steam Gun Muzzles from all directions.
"I am the Chief Steward of the Yotsume Clan, Ayame!"
In this tense atmosphere, a Girl of excellent appearance, wearing a pink Long Dress, walked out from the front cabin of the Train and shouted loudly towards the surrounding Soldiers.
"We are escorting Mima Amatori here!"
Beside her was Mima Amatori, whose arms and wrists were bound by Thick Rope. He was wearing a thin White Shirt, his Head slightly lowered. He looked very dishevelled and dejected.
However, the Guards beside the two, besides the Samurai Kurusu, also included Sharyō, a former Cadre of the Hunter Guard. He was also dressed as an ordinary Soldier at this time.
"Princess Ayame, it really is you. You've grown up. Where is your Father?"
As soon as the group got off the Train, Michiyuki Makino, who had been waiting, walked over with a few Samurai and asked in surprise.
"Lord Uncle, long time to see!"
Yotsugawa Ayame looked at him with a hint of surprise. Hearing the question, she showed a sad Expression and softly replied, "By the Kabane..."
"Is that so? What a pity. But you said you captured Mima Amatori? How did you manage that?" Michiyuki Makino looked at Mima Amatori with great surprise.
"It was achieved fortunately through the collective efforts of everyone on the 'Iron Fortress' and after paying a certain Sacrifice. At that time, most of the Hunters Soldiers were luring Kabane or intercepting fleeing Citizens. We went around the back and directly occupied 'Kotetsujyo', which had sparse Military Strength, and captured Mima Amatori within!"
Yotsugawa Ayame spoke calmly, explaining everything.
"I see, that truly was fortunate..."
Michiyuki Makino suddenly understood. There was nothing they could do; they didn't know that Mima Amatori was a Kabaneri.
"Uncle, everyone has lost their Hometown and is physically and mentally exhausted from travelling such a long distance. We hope Kongokaku can take us in," Yotsugawa Ayame said sincerely.
"That's not a problem, but everyone here, regardless of whether they have Scars or not, must first be held in a Prison Cell for three days. Can you accept that?" Michiyuki Makino asked.
"Understood, we are willing to accept!"
"Then you and Mima Amatori will come with me to see General-sama. The others will go for Inspection." Michiyuki Makino glanced at the low-headed Mima Amatori and turned to leave.
Thirty minutes later, in the Shogunate Council Hall.
"It's been a long time, Mima."
Koukyuu Amatori sat on the main seat atop a raised platform with two tiers of steps, looking down at Mima Amatori kneeling below. The two were Father and son, yet they were like Enemies.
"Yes, Father."
Meanwhile, the Samurai and Soldiers who were leading the Citizens from the 'Iron Fortress' towards the Inspection Hall discovered something strange along the way.
"What's the Situation? Why are all these people so tall? I checked, and basically, they're all around 1.8 meters!"
"Maybe that's why they could capture Mima Amatori. How could they do it without some Ability/Skill?"
"The problem is there don't seem to be any women or Children, or elderly..."
The High-Rank Samurai leading the way at the very front twitched his ears, clearly having heard the Discussion among the surrounding Soldiers.
This made him hesitate and stop, then turn around to examine these Survivors and Soldiers who were said to be from Aragane Station and Iwato Station.
He suddenly realized that they were indeed all at the same Height as himself, and the Muscles beneath their Thin Clothes appeared very bulging.
"These Gazes..."
When he saw that every one of these people dared to look him in the eye as equals, a bad feeling arose in his Heart. Suddenly, he saw the person closest to him slowly reveal a playful, sinister grin towards him.
"Not good!!"
[Bang——]
Suddenly.
Just as the High-Rank Samurai made a move to draw his Blade, his Face was instantly covered and grabbed by a Palm, causing his Vision to suddenly turn to Darkness.
The next second.
With a muffled squelch, the person with the sinister grin was seen drawing his Blade and cutting off the High-Rank Samurai's large Head.
A foul-smelling Hot Blood spurted from the severed Neck, turning into drops of Blood Rain in the air and dripping onto the nearby Samurai and Soldiers.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!"
"Murder!"
Amidst the rising and falling Screams and Exclamations, the Army Headquarters Colonel raised his Neck and shouted loudly.
"Act!!!"
This ear-splitting roar immediately suppressed all the noise, but it also directly ignited the raging War. The Army Soldiers, having received the Order, quickly pulled out Pistols from under their Clothing and fired repeatedly at the panicked Kongōkaku Soldiers around them.
[Bang bang bang bang bang]
How could the Kongōkaku Soldiers have ever seen such small Firearms? They had originally thought that disarming these people of their Steam Guns would solve everything.
In that instant, over ten Soldiers were shot through the Chest, Neck, Shoulder, and even Face, only managing to let out one last Scream before falling to the ground dead.
But at this moment, all the Kongōkaku Soldiers reacted. They occupied all the advantageous Terrain and were clearly superior in numbers.
Therefore, they quickly calmed down and began to return fire with the Steam Guns they used to fight the Kabane.
Although they dared not engage the Kabane face-to-face, they were not afraid of opponents who were also Human. Or rather, as Soldiers of the Shogunate Capital, they inherently had a sense of superiority over Soldiers from outside.
[Swish swish swish swish swish!]
However, all these Advantages and Mindsets were instantly turned into nothingness amidst the Explosion Flames and Air Currents when the Army Soldiers threw out Grenades one after another.
They had never seen Grenades either...
Not to mention the Army Officers who were moving at high Speed In the Court, constantly slaughtering the Soldiers who were standing in high places and Shooting downwards.
Wherever they went was a complete Massacre. Whether Soldiers or Samurai, they truly achieved equality for all beings; there was simply no Opponent that required a second swing of the Blade.
"Take the City Gate!!"
Meanwhile, outside Kongokaku City, a black Iron-Armored Train rushed towards the open Steel City Gate along the Track with a clanking sound, like a giant Wild Beast.
"Ha—Ha—Ha—Ha—"
The two-and-a-half-meter tall Crocodile, holding a lit Cigar, stood on top of the 'Kotetsujyo', facing the oncoming Gale, listening to the dense Gunshots from Inside the City, and laughing wildly and arrogantly.
Especially his Black Justice Coat, which fluttered non-stop in the Wind.
At this moment, he truly began to like the feeling of leading an Army to occupy a nation's Capital City, even though the Opponent was truly a bit unbearable to look at.
But he believed that in the Future, he would definitely encounter opponents and Wars that would make him feel exhilarated.
"Whitebeard, I will catch up to you sooner or later, surpass you, and defeat you, with this Power of the Multiverse!"
(End of this chapter)