With those words, Rakshasa grabbed the red-handled tachi, fastened it to his waist, and slowly stood up.
"...Eiichi, I have a small task for you."
"Lord Rakshasa." Shimizu Eiichi hurriedly lowered his body, fists pressed against the tatami, "Please instruct me."
"You have two days to spread the story of how ’North Guard Station Town-Patrol Dōshin Tachibana Aoto successfully repelled over 200 Anti-foreigner Faction rioters with few men’ throughout the streets and alleys of Edo."
"Lord Rakshasa?" Shimizu Eiichi was taken aback, "What’s the purpose of this?"
"If I remember correctly, that Tachibana Aoto is only 18 this year. If he becomes famous at such a young age, it might easily lead to some... difficult-to-handle troubles for someone his age, both for himself and from the outside world."
"I want to test him. To see if Tachibana Aoto remains calm and collected after a night of fame, or if he becomes delusional."
"Lord Rakshasa, are you intending to recruit Tachibana Aoto?"
"For such a talented individual, there’s no reason not to recruit them, is there?" Rakshasa adopted a playful tone, "Our Law Punishment Faction is quite short-handed... or rather, we’ve always been short-handed."
"If that Tachibana Aoto is truly a talent worthy of expectation, it’s quite necessary to try recruiting him."
"Spreading this news... should be an easy task for you, Eiichi, right?"
Shimizu Eiichi’s lips curled up: "Piece of cake. Lord Rakshasa, by the night after tomorrow at the latest, you’ll find that no matter where you go in Edo, you’ll hear people discussing Tachibana Aoto."
After he finished speaking, Shimizu Eiichi paused.
"By the way, Lord Rakshasa, since you’re intending to recruit that Tachibana Aoto, should we ask Shinno to stop harassing him?"
"Shinno seems intent on taking harsh retaliatory action against Tachibana Aoto."
"No need," Rakshasa said without hesitation, "If Tachibana Aoto can’t even withstand the level of Shinno, then his strength and luck are merely mediocre, and he wouldn’t be worth recruiting."
"Don’t bother with Shinno, let him do as he wishes towards Tachibana Aoto."
"Understood." Shimizu Eiichi nodded, "I understand."
"Also, Eiichi. Starting tomorrow, I will temporarily leave Edo to stay in the Mito Domain for a while. During my absence, I’ll need you to oversee the operations of our Law Punishment Faction’s bases in Edo."
"Going to the Mito Domain?" Shimizu Eiichi furrowed his brows, "Why so suddenly?"
"The Mito Domain seems to be planning something big lately." Rakshasa’s mouth curled up, "Reliable intelligence has been received: a group of vassals from the Mito Domain plans to infiltrate Edo to assassinate Ii Naosuke."
Shimizu Eiichi’s eyes widened in shock.
He instinctively wanted to let out a gasp of surprise.
But as soon as his mouth opened, he seemed to remember something and hurriedly covered it with his hand to suppress the loud sound.
After taking several deep breaths to calm down slightly, Shimizu Eiichi, with a look of disbelief, quietly asked,
"Assassinate Ii Naosuke...? Are those vassals from the Mito Domain serious?"
"They seem serious." Rakshasa clasped his hands behind his back, "I was quite surprised when I first learned of this intelligence..."
"Mr. Orochi is also very concerned about this matter. He personally sent me a letter, requesting me to go to the Mito Domain to gather more intelligence."
"I have no idea when I’ll be able to return to Edo."
"Anyway—during my absence from Edo, I’ll leave Edo in your hands."
Shimizu Eiichi solemnly nodded, "Please leave it to me."
After giving all his instructions to Shimizu Eiichi, Rakshasa, with his hands behind his back, walked out of the room.
Just as he was about to pass through the sliding door—
"Ah, yes, that’s right."
Rakshasa halted, turning his gaze back to Shimizu Eiichi.
"Eiichi, before I return to Edo, have your men refrain from collecting the gambling debts that Aoto’s father owes."
"After I return to Edo and have some time, we’ll reactivate your ’Debt Collection Team’."
"At that time, I plan to accompany your ’Debt Collection Team’ to Tachibana Aoto’s house."
Rakshasa’s eyes curved into two crescent moons as he smiled.
"I want to see with my own eyes what the only son of Tachibana Ryuzo, who has given us so much trouble, looks like."
Shimizu Eiichi: "Yes!"
Edo, somewhere—
After parting ways with Rakshasa and Shimizu Eiichi, the somber-faced Shinno did not stop for a moment and headed straight for a dilapidated house located in a rarely passed corner of Edo.
As soon as he entered the house, several samurai surrounded him.
"Suzuki, go prepare the kerosene." After entering the house, Shinno, without any greeting, immediately ordered the samurai who gathered around him, "The more kerosene, the better."
"Fujita, arrange for people to watch over Tachibana Aoto’s house."
"Report to me immediately once Tachibana Aoto returns home!"
With that, a fierce glint shot from Shinno’s eyes.
"Mr. Shinno, what is the kerosene for?" asked Suzuki, the one sent to prepare the kerosene, with a hesitant look.
"...That Tachibana Aoto has severely weakened our Anti-foreigner Group," Shinno said coldly, "It’s only fair to return the favor."
Two days later—
January 30—
After Arima successfully led the group to meet Aoto and others, it took them two days to finally return safely to Edo.
Upon arriving in Edo, Anthony and Elodie were immediately taken away by people from the French Embassy.
Oomura and his group were temporarily housed by the Magistrate’s Office at a certain "temporary residence."
As for Aoto, he was personally escorted by Arima back to his home, which he had been away from for over ten days...
"Young young master! How did you get so injured!"
Seeing Aoto, finally home with many bandages around his body, Kyūbē was so shocked he was at a loss for words.
Soon after Arima personally escorted Aoto home, two "guests" arrived immediately.
These visiting "guests" were Mr. Inagawa and Ushiyama.
Upon learning of Aoto’s safe return, the two rushed over to Aoto’s house to see how Aoto, who had only gone out to investigate a theft case, had ended up in such chaos.
Edo, Hachidori-bori, Aoto’s home—
Nighttime—
"Hey, Tachibana! You weren’t seriously injured, were you?" Mr. Inagawa, with a worried look, circled Aoto.
"Mr. Inagawa, I’m fine." To demonstrate that he was in no distress, Aoto raised his right hand and heavily patted his left shoulder a few times, "As you can see, I’m in great shape."
At this moment, in the hall, Aoto, Arima, and Ushiyama were seated together, while Mr. Inagawa circled Aoto.
Saito sat in a corner of the room, clutching his sword, eyes closed and resting.
Kyūbē was busy in the kitchen, preparing snacks and tea for the guests, Arima, Mr. Inagawa, and Ushiyama.
Mr. Inagawa circled Aoto several times and, after confirming that Aoto’s current condition was indeed decent, finally showed a relieved expression and sat back down in his former spot.
"Tachibana, you really... have such unlucky luck..." Mr. Inagawa, pondering how to describe Aoto’s situation, stammered for a long time before squeezing out, "such unlucky luck..."
"It was just supposed to be a simple trip away on business... how did things turn out like this... sigh..."
Requesting monthly tickets! Requesting recommendations!
Originally wanted to challenge myself by writing another 10,000-word update, but after reaching 9,100 words, I really couldn’t keep going... (crying emojis)

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