"How... how do you use this thing?"
"Uh..."
Faced with Amayuki's question, Lancer was momentarily stumped. Although he had learned about firearms at the CCG, he had never learned to drive a tank. Fortunately, the system was relatively considerate and included a set of operation and maintenance manuals.
"Wait a moment, I'll demonstrate for you."
Lancer climbed inside and began flipping through the manual. He adjusted the turret, locked onto a target, loaded a shell, and finally—fired!
BOOM!!!
Unlike the previous small explosion, this shell landed in the lake and pulverized a protruding rock on the lakebed. The violent explosion, flying dust, and spray caused Amayuki's eyes to widen in shock.
Watching the Kappa get so excited he could barely control his body, Lancer couldn't help but offer a warning.
"This thing looks powerful, but it's only effective against weak opponents. It moves slowly, turns slowly, and while the armor is decent, it won't stop the attack of a truly powerful youkai. More importantly, it only has one way to attack. I could easily dodge these shells, and you could defend against them with water. It's not as 'overpowered' as you might think."
Lancer words gradually woke Amayuki from his "fantasy."
Undoubtedly, Lancer behavior wasn't that of a typical "salesman." Even when confessing to a girl, people usually highlight their strengths; who lists their flaws?
But Lancer wasn't just selling a weapon; he viewed it as a gift for a friend. Modern weapons were better suited for large-scale battlefields; their effectiveness against agile, high-tier individual combatants was limited.
Having lived for hundreds of years, Amayuki quickly calmed down. If the flaws Lancer mentioned existed, then the weapon wasn't as game-breaking as he imagined, but it might provide a new path for the weaker members of the Kappa clan.
"This thing... Lancer, how many do you have?"
"Uh... I have some, but not a lot."
Lancer wasn't lying. His points were in the five figures, but one of these tanks cost over 1,000 points. He could only buy about twenty if he spent everything.
However, Amayuki didn't greedily ask for more. He lowered his head in thought and finally looked up at Lancer with a serious expression.
"Do you have the manufacturing technology for them?"
"I don't have that. But I can give you a few more tanks, along with matching tools and manuals..."
The system's "Supplies Shop" sold local specialties and unique items from various worlds, not manufacturing blueprints.
"It's enough... thank you."
Simple words, but they were enough to convey his gratitude. Lancer just smiled and waved it off.
At this moment, Lancer didn't know what strange events this seemingly casual step would trigger. Seeing the satisfied expression on the Kappa's face, he accepted the "Wind God's Fan" with a clear conscience.
"No rush for this. We'll look at it later. Let's drink first!"
"Right! Drinking first!"
Amayuki's slightly green body was turning red with excitement, but he didn't care. He was genuinely thrilled.
The Kappa clan was in a period of stagnation. He and his peers had long given up on expanding their influence; now they cared about the survival of the clan. According to Lancer, as long as they learned the operation method, most people could use these—especially strong youkai. More importantly, Lancer mentioned a special version called the "Type 59 Modified Star-Destroyer" that could supposedly destroy a city with one shot. It sounded incredible; even for him, destroying a city was no simple feat.
If he was just happy before, now he was full of anticipation.
Crunch~ Crunch~
Lancer was happy because the mission was one step from completion. Amayuki was full of hope for the clan's future. Only a young girl holding a "Special Kappa Cucumber" looked at Lancer with a subtle gaze.
She knew the power of that thing. But currently, her identity was "Zero," his weapon. Speaking up might cause unnecessary trouble, so she decided to just eat her cucumber in peace.
The cucumber was indeed crunchy and satisfying. The young girl holding it flashed a brilliant smile.
"The Youkai Sage? You're looking for information on her?"
Actually, Lancer hadn't initially planned to ask about the "Youkai Sage" since the matter was so secretive. But Amayuki noticed Lancer unease and, perhaps due to the alcohol, stood up, slapped Lancer shoulder, and said it would be an insult if he didn't tell him. Finally, Lancer gave a brief summary of his journey from the Oni to the Tengu and then to the Kappa.
Upon hearing the name "Youkai Sage," Amayuki's expression grew complex. Lancer patted his shoulder.
"No need to worry. I've already made an agreement with the Tengu. They'll give me the info I want."
"The Tengu? No wonder... I was wondering why an 'Oni' like you would work for them. I see... but there's no need. This isn't something that can't be said. I'll tell you everything I know."
Lancer opened his mouth to correct the "Oni" label again but gave up. The information was more important.
Amayuki looked at his sake dish with a nostalgic expression.
"Actually, that 'Youkai Sage' appeared over 400 years ago. I was still a young man then. There were far fewer humans than now, and very few cities. Youkai were more numerous, and there were constant wars over territory. Then, a powerful female youkai appeared and ended it all..."
"The Youkai Sage?"
"Yes, the Youkai Sage."
Mentioning the name, his eyes were full of memories...