I formed the strongest swordsman group.

Chapter 763 Answer me! Why did Tachibana Aoto have a harem? [4600]

Mai Kinoshita doesn't understand French at all, so she is completely confused.

Qingdeng once studied French for a while under Elodie's hands-on guidance.

Although my level was not very high, I could barely understand what the grandfather and grandson were talking about just now.

Therefore, when he heard Elodie say, "I think... this is a good opportunity! An opportunity to prove to the world that we are not barbarians," he, like Anthony, showed an expression of inexplicable surprise.

Perhaps to take care of Mai Kinoshita who didn't understand French, Elodie switched back to Japanese:
"Grandpa, ever since we traveled across the ocean and came to this distant country with great effort, I have been wondering: Why are the people of this country so hostile to us? Why do they regard us as barbarians?"

"I think... the biggest reason is that the country behind us, together with Britain, the United States and other countries, used violent means to force the country's borders to open and forced the shogunate to sign a series of unequal treaties."

"To expect the people of this country to look favorably upon us is like asking Marie Antoinette to bathe in milk - it's simply impossible."

[Note: Marie Antoinette (1755-1793): Queen of France, known for her extravagant lifestyle]

A look of deep bitterness gradually appeared on Elodie's pretty face.

"I'm just an ordinary girl... I have no influence."

"I can't get involved in family and national affairs."

"I can't convince France to show goodwill to this country."

"But...even if it's just a little bit, I want to ease the gap between the two nations!"

"The root cause of many disputes in this world is the lack of mutual trust and understanding between the two parties!"

“Because they don’t understand us, they resist us.”

“Because they don’t understand us, they hate us.”

"If I can become the head of the Shinsengumi, I will have the opportunity to show myself and our French people to the world!"

“I know. It’s hard.”

"I also know that these ideas of mine are too naive and too idealistic."

"The conflict between the two nations... a dispute of this magnitude will not change significantly because of my personal efforts."

"I will probably receive many cold stares and be insulted by many people."

"But even so, I still want to try!"

"The crime of courage is far less serious than that of cowardice."

“Even if I regret it, I want to regret it after I’ve tried it!”

Having said this, Elodie paused, as if she was thinking of new words.

After a while, she spoke again:
"...Grandpa, I know you are worried that I will be in danger."

"Regarding my personal safety, Grandpa, you can rest assured."

As she spoke, she patted her chest, chuckled a few times, and put on a free and easy, indifferent attitude.

"The Sonnō forces, led by Choshu, have already left Kyoto."

"This town is not as dangerous as it used to be."

"Besides, I am the head of the department, responsible for the abacus and account books."

"I usually spend most of my time in the heavily guarded garrison."

"If the Zun Rang faction wants to harm me, it won't be that easy."

From ideals to reality...Elody used her eloquence to the fullest.

Her impassioned speech inspired respect from everyone present.

To ease the gap between the two nations... It is really admirable that he has such a grand ambition at such a young age.

But... I have to say that Elodie's ambition is indeed too idealistic.

As she just said - her personal efforts could not bring about fundamental changes in a dispute of this scale.

However, Qingdeng does not dislike such idealists who "look up at the stars and keep their feet on the ground."

Just based on her courage to put it into practice, those scoundrels who just want to eat and wait for death have no right to blame them.

After Elodie finished speaking, Qingdeng quietly turned his gaze and looked straight at Anthony.

Whether it was Qing Deng, Kinoshita Mai or Elodie, everyone present was waiting for Anthony's reply.

As expected—Anthony’s brows were furrowed, his facial features were almost curled together, and his expression was dominated by strong hesitation.

It is not difficult to understand his conflicted mood.

Although the director does not need to stand on the front line, his safety factor is undoubtedly much safer than other positions.

But... whenever Anthony thought of the brutality of the Zunyang faction, and the deep-seated malice of the Zunyang faction towards Westerners, he felt a chill in his teeth and a thorn in his back.

Elodie was his only granddaughter and his only relative in this distant country.

Letting his granddaughter leave the stable "safe house" and walk into the intricate "jungle"... It is really impossible for Anthony to accept it immediately in a short period of time.

In order to reassure him, Qing Deng said in a sonorous and firm tone:

"Don't worry, Monsieur Angoulême."

"Since I dare to recruit Elodie, I have the confidence to guarantee her personal safety."

"Even if a million troops come to attack, I will never let Elodie get hurt!"

Anthony: "..."

Qing Deng's passionate speech did make Anthony's expression look better.

However... he remained silent.

Neither agree nor refuse.

Seeing that Anthony remained silent for a long time, Elodie pursed her lips.

After a while, she suddenly let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh:
"Ah ha ha ha ha..."

"Although I just said a lot of nice things."

"But actually..."

As the topic suddenly changed, she slowly lowered her head and looked at the tatami in front of her knees, as if she was shy and dared not look at people.

"'Ease the gap between the two nations'... this is just one of my goals."

"My other purpose is completely selfish - I want to stay in a lively place with a master and a dancer."

“I hate being alone.”

"I really don't want to..."

Having said this, she paused.

Then, she took a deep breath, gathering her strength and emotions:

"I really don't want to stay alone in this big house anymore..."

The moment Elodie finished speaking, Anthony's expression changed like an ice cube placed under the scorching sun.

The hesitant look faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye, and was replaced by shame and heartache...

……

……

A teahouse in Osaka——

With a whoosh, Mr. Kiryu pushed open the paper sliding door in front of him.

The sunlight penetrated through the crack in the door and into the room, and the dust in the air sparkled under the light.

"...Jiulang, long time no see."

An old female voice was heard from inside the room.

Boss Kiryu smiled slightly:
"My lord, I'm back."

After saying that, he stepped forward and walked into the room.

Although this tea room is not small, its decoration is surprisingly simple.

The paper sliding doors that surround the entire tea room are of the common type found on the market, not luxury items with luxurious Ukiyo-e paintings.

The only furniture in the room is a folding screen depicting the famous historical event of the "Water Attack on Takamatsu".

[Note: Water attack on Takamatsu: Toyotomi Hideyoshi's classic move, he used the ingenious strategy of water attack to capture the Takamatsu Castle of the Mori family.]

Right in front of the screen, a white-haired old woman was sitting quietly.

The old woman was very short, only about 1.5 meters tall, with a head full of silver hair without a single trace of other colors.

Judging from her appearance alone, she must be at least eighty years old.

Although his facial features are not handsome, there is a unique heroic spirit lingering between his eyebrows.

Although she is already in her twilight years, she, like Boss Kiryu, has a vitality in her eyes that is no less than that of young people.

At first glance, this is just a well-maintained and elegant lady.

However... the identity of this old woman who can be called "Lord" by Kiryu Boss... is already obvious.

She is none other than Kinoshita Mai’s grandmother and the person in charge of Calabash House—Kinoshita Rin!

Kinoshita Lin raised her eyes and looked at Boss Kiryu carefully from head to toe.

"Jiulang, I haven't seen you for a while, and the wrinkles on your face seem to have decreased."

Boss Kiryu smiled:

"Maybe it's because I've been having so many happy things happen to me lately."

"There's always a saying that goes, 'Laughing often prolongs life.'"

In terms of status, they are a perfect "king and subject". But in terms of actual performance, the distance between them is actually very subtle.

Boss Kiryu sat cross-legged in front of Kinoshita Lin in a carefree and natural manner, with their knees almost touching.

Kinoshita Lin didn't care about this and allowed the other party to do such intimate things.

This way of getting along... rather than being like a king and his subjects, it's more like close friends.

"My Lord, I will ask you directly - why did you suddenly summon me back to Osaka?"

"Jiulang, it's a rare reunion, can't we talk about some happy things first?"

Although she was complaining, Kinoshita Lin silently put away the joking look on her face and put on a solemn expression.

"Jiulang, the spy lurking in Hakodate reported that 8 days ago, the 'Ming Wang' appeared at the port of Hakodate."

【Note: Hakodate: a city in the southern part of Ezo (now Hokkaido). 】

Ming Wang - the moment he heard this name, Boss Kiryu seemed to be stimulated by a strong electric current. His whole body suddenly stiffened and his pupils contracted.

"…I take it seriously."

Kinoshita Lin nodded slightly.

"I don't know why that guy appeared in Hakodate Port, but I guess he probably wanted to take a ship back to his homeland."

"..."

Boss Kiryu was silent at first, and then murmured quietly:

"I see... you... have been hiding in Ezo...!"

In a flash, Boss Kiryu suddenly reached out and grabbed the sword beside his leg, then stood up and tried to leave.

However, just as he turned around, Kinoshita Lin roared with great momentum:

"Jiulang, come back."

Boss Kiryu was startled for a moment, stopped, and turned half his body sideways.

"Lord..."

"Don't be impulsive. Calm down."

"..."

Boss Kiryu stood there straight, neither speaking nor moving.

Looking at the Kiryu boss who looked like a clay sculpture or a wooden sculpture, Kinoshita Lin sighed softly:

"Jiulang, I understand how you feel."

"I know you're eager to clean up the mess."

"But, we don't know the specific movements of 'Ming Wang'."

"Secondly... you are not getting any younger."

"Do you still think you're a cool guy in your twenties or thirties?"

"You can't defeat that guy with this old, decayed body."

"So, don't be impulsive."

Having said this, she pointed to the floor in front of her.

"Come back and sit down."

"..."

This time, Boss Kiryu was no longer stubborn.

He sat back down obediently.

"…I'm sorry, everyone. I'm really sorry…"

He lowered his head deeply, his face filled with deep shame.

"Because of my stupidity, I have left behind such a huge disaster..."

Kinoshita Lin smiled.

"Jiulang, what nonsense are you talking about? This is not your fault. We have never blamed you. If we have to blame someone, we can only blame that guy for his bad intentions and his self-degradation."

As she spoke, she reached out and patted Boss Kiryu's shoulder.

"I will send out as many spies as possible and try to find that guy as soon as possible."

"Although that guy is very strong... but as long as we gather the heroes of my Gourd House, we can always bring him to his death."

Kinoshita Lin's careful comfort made Mr. Kiryu's face look much better.

"Thank you, my lord."

Kinoshita Lin nodded with a smile on her face.

"Okay... let's stop here for now on the topic of 'Ming Wang'."

"Now it's time to move on to the next business."

"I have hurriedly summoned you back to Osaka precisely to discuss these two important matters with you in person."

Boss Kiryu raised his eyebrows vigorously - the next important matter?
Before he could ask a question, Kinoshita Lin reached into her bosom and took out a scroll.

"Jiulang, when you reported Ah Wu's recent situation in your letters, you always told me: 'Ah Wu and Tachibana Aoto have a deep relationship. The two of them are simply a match made in heaven. It's just around the corner for them to get together.' Is that right?"

At this moment, Boss Kiryu's heart skipped a beat.

Although he couldn't tell why, he had an extremely strong ominous premonition in his heart!

"Yes, it is……"

He replied guiltily.

Kinoshita Lin continued:
"Although I have never seen Tachibana Aoto in person, he is indeed a great man of the time. At a young age, he has become a daimyo with 30 fiefs and a strong army. He is truly the best in the current shogunate."

"If he and Wu are in love with each other, I will be happy to see it happen."

"It's just... Jiulang, I have some questions that I want to ask you in person."

Having said this, she slowly unfolded the scroll in her hand.

"Captain of the Shinsengumi Division 7, Chiba Sanako."

When Kinoshita Lin read out this name, Boss Kiryu's heart skipped a beat.

Not only that, his face began to turn pale.

"She is 25 years old this year. She is the eldest daughter of the great swordsman Chiba Sadakichi. She is proficient in all eighteen martial arts, and her best skills are kodachijutsu and naginatajutsu."

"In addition to martial arts, she also has a good understanding of elegant things such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting."

“What an outstanding woman.”

"Even I envy her a little bit."

"But...it's really weird."

"Jiulang, in your words, Tachibana Aoto and Aminoh are a loving couple."

"But according to my investigation, this guy seems to have a very ambiguous relationship with Chiba Sanako."

"Many soldiers in the Shinsengumi even tacitly accepted Chiba Sanako as their mistress."

From the beginning, Mr. Kiryu lowered his head silently, staring at the tatami in front of his knees, as if he wanted to burn a hole in it with his gaze, and he didn't dare to look at Kinoshita Lin at all.

Not only that, cold sweat began to ooze out of his forehead, first as "beads of sweat" and then gradually connected into "streams of sweat".

Kinoshita Lin’s narration... no, to be more precise, her “trial” is still going on.

"Originally, the special relationship between Tachibana Aoto and Chiba Sanako has confused me."

"But I didn't expect that there would be something even more confusing later."

Kinoshita Lin pulled the scroll in her palm to the lower half.

"Captain of the Shinsengumi First Division, Okita Souji."

"He is 19 years old this year, a handsome young man, a swordsmanship prodigy that is rarely seen in ten years, and the 'First General of the Shinsengumi' second only to Aoto."

"He is obviously a man, but he actually has an unclear relationship with Tachibana Aoto."

"So much so that the rumor spread among the Shinsengumi that 'Tachibana Aoto is a member of the Shudo sect.'"

"This Tachibana Aoto is quite capable."

"From my Ah Wu to the daughter of the Chiba family, to the handsome young man... you have quite an appetite."

After saying this, Kinoshita Lin threw away the scroll in her hand with an indifferent look on her face.

"Jiulang, look straight at me, don't avoid me."

"Answer me: what is going on?"

Boss Kiryu's head was so low that it almost hit the ground.

His inner clothes were soaked through with cold sweat pouring down like a waterfall.

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Asking for a monthly ticket! Please vote for recommendation! (Leopard head crying.jpg)

PS: The plot of "persuading Anthony" is really boring, so Leopard will speed up and finish it in half a chapter without wasting words. Say "thank you Leopard" quickly

　Leopard remembered!

　　I am no ordinary seal.

　　I am the King of Elden!

　　Elden Ring, start!

　　Return to the Junction! Head straight to the Shadow Land!
　　(End of this chapter)