"Halt! This is the Tenryou Commission's forward outpost. Unauthorized personnel must leave immediately!"
Before Bai Luo and Tatyana could even set foot in Tatarasuna, they were stopped by a squad of Shogunate soldiers at a checkpoint.
They eyed Bai Luo's glaring red robe with disgust. If not for standing orders and the fact that Bai Luo carried only a tattered oil-paper umbrella, they might have already taught this "Himura Battousai impersonator" a lesson.
"I came here after seeing this."
Carefully retrieving a flyer from his pocket, Bai Luo smiled and handed it over.
The soldier took the flyer and froze for a moment.
Because it bore the insignia of a superior officer—meaning they had to give this man special treatment.
Glancing at the seemingly visually impaired girl behind Bai Luo, the soldier said nothing and simply waved them through.
Bai Luo had expected them to be searched, so he'd prepared for Tatyana to use her illusions to "smuggle" them past.
Who would've thought they'd let them in so easily?
They didn't even ask him to remove his mask.
Past the checkpoint, someone was already waiting for them.
The man looked surprised when he saw Bai Luo and his companion—he hadn't expected anyone to make it over from Nazuchi Beach.
Though Bai Luo was dressed like Battousai, he carried no visible weapon, only a worn-out oil-paper umbrella at his waist.
It seemed these two had been lucky enough to avoid the pirates infesting the area.
"Where are you from?"
The registration officer pulled out paper and a brush, ready to record their details.
"The Hanamizaka district of Inazuma City."
Bai Luo smiled politely, giving a false address.
"Hanamizaka? What are you doing here?"
The officer, who had already filled out part of the form, looked up in surprise.
Judging by their clothes... the fine fabric didn't seem like something Tatarasuna miners or Yashiori refugees could afford. They probably weren't lying.
"My lady, Miss Hina, enjoys writing light novels. We came to Yashiori Island to gather material, but we got caught up in this disaster. We'd appreciate your kindness."
As he spoke, Bai Luo took out the money pouch Gorou had given him and stuffed a hefty handful of Mora into the man's hand.
The registration officer quickly glanced around.
After confirming no one was watching, he swiftly pocketed the coins.
"So... Hanamizaka, right? Don't take the big ship. I can arrange a small boat to send you back."
After securing the Mora, the man tore up the half-written form and spoke as if nothing had happened.
He seemed to know something about the "big ship."
"My lady, Miss Hina, has an old eye condition and can't withstand sea winds. Please understand."
The man's attitude only deepened Bai Luo's suspicions about the ship.
So he simply handed over Gorou's entire money pouch as a gift.
It wasn't his money anyway—why would he care?
Though handing it over like this wasn't as satisfying as shouting, "Put it on General Gorou's tab!"
"Fine. I'll arrange the best spot for you."
Looking at the pouch of Mora, the registration officer clearly wanted to say more.
But bound by military regulations, he held back.
After filling out the forms, he even wrote a small note for them to take along.
"Give this to the soldier escorting you to camp. He'll know what to do."
"Thank you for your kindness."
"You two... sigh, never mind."
The man had a good eye. Based on Bai Luo's demeanor and bearing, he could tell these two were either nobility or people of status.
It was a shame they'd end up on that ship.
But you can't save those hell-bent on dying. If they insisted on boarding, this was all he could do.
Hopefully, his colleagues could help—at the very least, he couldn't take their Mora for nothing.
With the forms in hand, Bai Luo followed another soldier, skirting around the Mikage Furnace at Tatarasuna's center (now shielded by a barrier), heading toward Fort Fujitou.
Bai Luo assumed they were being taken to the military camp, but halfway there, the soldier detoured, leading them to a beach between Kujou Encampment and Tatarasuna.
A dock stood there, already crowded with refugees and miners who had come from Yashiori Island after receiving the flyers.
Judging by the tents and banners, this had once been a Treasure Hoarder stronghold. But when the Shogunate and the resistance clashed, those rats had sniffed danger and fled.
The camp had since been repurposed by the Shogunate—now the perfect place to quarantine those affected by the Tatarigami.
The Shogunate had seen firsthand how terrifying the Tatarigami was. They wouldn't dare casually mix these people into their ranks.
"New arrivals?"
The officer in charge of the camp frowned at Bai Luo's outfit. No Shogunate soldier would admire or idolize Battousai—if not for him, the war wouldn't have been so difficult.
And Battousai had even wounded the god they worshipped.
But soon, his expression smoothed into a practiced smile.
He hadn't forgotten his duty.
"This was given to me by the gentleman at the checkpoint."
Bai Luo handed over the forms and the note, explaining their origin.
"Oh? Let me see."
The officer unfolded the note, skimmed it, then crumpled it and tossed it into the sea.
Bai Luo had already peeked at it—it was written in some kind of code. He'd have his intelligence team decipher it later.
"So you're from Hanamizaka? Fine, follow me. I'll assign you a decent tent."
Bai Luo's Mora hadn't gone to waste. The officer's expression softened, his smile gaining a hint of sincerity.
But beneath that sincerity lurked something like pity.
He could tell these two weren't affected by the Tatarigami. They must've gotten the flyer and come here by chance.
Well, since they already knew about this, they might as well board the ship too.
Weaving past refugees lying or sitting on the ground, the officer led them to a relatively clean tent.
"You and your wife can stay here. We'll notify you when it's time to board. Don't wander around, or you'll be arrested as resistance spies."
After carefully instructing them, the officer finally left.
More refugees from Yashiori Island kept arriving—he had too much to deal with to chat with Bai Luo and his companion.
And just like that, the two had officially infiltrated the camp.