My Gang of Swordsmen-Chapter 128 - 83: Prelude to the Storm—Edo to Launch “Counter-Terrorism Operation”
"Kyūbē, if you can avoid going out in the future, try your best not to."
"When it’s necessary to go out, do so during the daytime."
"Stick to the busy avenues."
"When buying groceries or daily necessities, shop in areas with better security."
"Yes..." Kyūbē sighed deeply with his head down, "Young Master, I find it so unfair..."
"You have just accomplished such a brilliant feat."
"And yet... life has become unsettled because of it..."
Aoto smiled and raised a hand to gently pat Kyūbē’s back a few times: "For samurai like us who have ’Three Times,’ being resented and seeking revenge is just a common occurrence."
"Relax a bit, Kyūbē."
Aoto gently consoled the old servant who felt dissatisfied with his encounter—
Bang bang bang...!
Aoto, Saito, and Kyūbē had just seen off Ma, Bo, and Niu, and were still standing in the entrance.
The three of them simultaneously turned to look at the door where several moderate knocks suddenly came from...
After the knocking, a rather spirited male baritone followed from outside the door:
"Is anyone home?"
This male voice was quickly followed by a pleasant androgynous voice:
"Is anyone home—?"
Hearing these two voices, Aoto was taken aback, then hurriedly descended to the earth room in two or three steps, and pulled the door open.
As the door opened—a broad mouth and a slender, lightly buoyant high ponytail tied with a purple satin ribbon appeared in Aoto’s vision.
"Mr. Kondo? Mr. Chokata?"
Standing outside the door, Kondo and Chokata displayed looks of joy when they saw Aoto.
"Mr. Tachibana." Chokata said, "You’re back in Edo, huh?"
...
...
The Aoto family’s drawing room became lively once again.
Aoto sat facing Kondo and Chokata.
Saito, as usual, sat in the corner of the room, expressionless and silent, holding his sword.
Meanwhile, Kyūbē had retreated to the kitchen, preparing new tea.
"Mr. Tachibana, who is this?" Kondo signaled toward Saito with his eyes.
Oh right... the people from Shiwei Hall still don’t know Saito...
Aoto cleared his throat: "This is Saito Ichiro, a bodyguard my elders hired for me."
"Bodyguard?" Kondo’s eyes lit up, then he cast a curious glance at Saito, "Since you can be a bodyguard... you must be quite skilled, right?"
Aoto nodded: "Saito is a Master of All Techniques in the No External Stream. Thanks to Saito, I have escaped danger several times."
"Master of All Techniques in the No External Stream...!" Kondo expressed surprise and admiration toward Saito.
Sitting beside Saito, Chokata also blinked a few times, taking a closer look at Saito.
"To be so young and already a Master of All Techniques in the No External Stream... What an extraordinary talent!" For some reason, Kondo, suddenly feeling a bit excited, straightened his back, and addressed Saito seriously, "Nice to meet you! I am Kondo Isami, the Deputy Master of the Natural Reason Heart School Trial Guard Hall!"
After Kondo Isami formally announced his title to Saito, Chokata, momentarily stunned, quickly followed suit, straightening his back:
"Chokata Toshisuke of the same Natural Reason Heart School Trial Guard Hall!"
Saito seemed not quite used to Kondo and Chokata’s enthusiasm, so he subtly shrank back, nodding in acknowledgment to them.
"Mr. Kondo, Mr. Chokata." After facilitating the introductions between Saito and Kondo and Chokata, Aoto moved his perplexed gaze back and forth between their faces, "Why have you come here?"
"Ah... It’s like this..." Kondo laughed.
...
In short, Kondo and Chokata came to see if Aoto had returned to Edo.
Ushiyama had just told Aoto earlier: that the rumors of his "outnumbered victory over Anti-foreigner Faction ruffians" had spread throughout Edo with a remarkable speed.
The Shiwei Hall only heard about it from a neighbor this evening.
Once Kondo, Chokata, and the others realized that Aoto had accomplished such a remarkable feat, they were all astounded.
No wonder he hasn’t shown up at the Sword Dojo for over ten days... So he was out there subduing ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ ruffians...
Aoto was a member of their Shiwei Hall.
Moreover, he was a promising young star on whom Kondo and the others had placed high hopes.
Having gone through such a vicious battle... Kondo thought it unlikely that Aoto emerged unscathed.
Thus, out of concern for Aoto’s current status, after much consideration, Kondo decided to come with Chokata to Aoto’s home to see if he had returned to Edo.
When Aoto first apprenticed at the Shiwei Hall, he registered his address in the "Apprentice Register."
Kondo and Chokata had used the address recorded in the "Register" to find Aoto’s house smoothly in Hachidori-bori.
Subsequent events need not be overstated.
Kondo and Chokata were also quite fortunate to have met Aoto, who happened to return to Edo this afternoon, after knocking on his door—no trip wasted.
Once Kondo concisely explained why he and Chokata were there, Aoto thought to himself, "So that’s how it is," then smiled and softly said in a polite tone:
"Mr. Kondo, Mr. Chokata, thank you for coming specifically to check on me."
"As you can see, I’m doing well at the moment."
Aoto raised a hand to pat his chest.
"All my wounds have started to heal with new flesh."
"In another two or three days of rest, they’ll be back to normal."
As soon as Aoto finished speaking, Chokata, sitting opposite him, immediately exclaimed with eyes sparkling, in an eager tone:
"Mr. Tachibana! You’re amazing! You managed to lead so few people and beat those annoying ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ ruffians to a pulp!"
——Ah... there it is... Mr. Chokata’s ’You’re amazing’...
——Don’t you have any other adjectives...
Aoto noticed that Chokata’s "vocabulary" seemed to be terribly lacking...
Aside from "You’re amazing," it seemed he didn’t know any other words to praise someone...
Last time, when Aoto cracked Granny Ping’s case, Chokata also continuously used "You’re amazing" to praise Aoto.
"Thank you for the compliment." Although silently mocking Chokata’s vocabulary, Aoto still promptly smiled, modestly saying, "But to be honest—with that battle, a lot of it was luck..."
Aoto hadn’t finished speaking...
...
Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack, crack...
...
Suddenly... from outside, came a succession of noises like porcelain shattering.
This strange sound interrupted Aoto.
Inside the drawing room, whether it was Aoto or Saito, Kondo or Chokata, they hadn’t had time to react to the sudden, strange noise—
Roar roar roar roar...!
The sound of flames fiercely burning rushed into everyone’s ears like waves upon waves.
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