Volume 5: Kyoto Summer Campaign Chapter 295: Kyoto’s Red Light District (Part 2)
If it were someone else, upon hearing the word “intuition” from Shenshan’s mouth, they might sneer at it.
But Mucun did not do so.
After hearing what Shenshan said, Mucun's expression became even more serious and solemn.
"I have also reported this idea to Lord Toda. I asked Lord Toda to investigate the case in depth. Unfortunately, Lord Toda simply refused to listen to me..."
"Of course." Makimura responded expressionlessly, "You and Toda Tadahiro have always had a bad relationship. He rarely listens to your 'enemy', doesn't he?"
Shenshan just smiled bitterly and shook his head, without responding to Muchun's words.
"Lord Toda has taken back all the security rights in Kyoto from me."
"I can't even mobilize a single like-minded person in Kyoto right now."
The official rank of Kyoto Shoshidai was higher than that of Kyoto Cho-bugyo.
As the chief minister of Kyoto, Toda Tadahiro has the power to enforce public security in Kyoto, and his priority is far higher than that of Kamiyama Koshinosuke, the mayor of Kyoto.
With just one word from Toda Tadahiro, Kamiyama would become a commander without any soldiers but a single one who could not mobilize any of his like-minded followers.
"…Did Toda Tadahiro take the wrong medicine? As far as I know, he never cared about Kyoto's public security. Did he leave all the public security work in Kyoto to you?"
"Why is he so concerned about Kyoto's security now? He even issued a city-wide warrant for the arrest of Ogata Ittosai so efficiently."
"The reason why Lord Toda is so concerned about this murder case is purely because he wants to catch the murderer before the banquet tonight begins so that he can have more bragging rights at the banquet tonight."
"banquet?"
"The Lord of Owari Domain - Tokugawa Munemichi. You should is the one who loves the Gion Festival."
"He came to watch the Gion Festival again this year."
"Not only did he come to watch the Gion Festival again this year, he also obtained permission from the Shogun to use the Ninomaru Gardens in Nijo Palace."
"Lord Tokugawa Munemichi will host a grand banquet tonight at the Ninomaru Gardens in Nijo Palace ."
"By then, all the dignitaries from Kyoto and surrounding areas will attend."
"If we can catch the murderer before the banquet begins, Toda Tadahiro will be able to brag to everyone at the banquet again about how safe Kyoto is with him in charge, and how the murderer was caught in less than a day."
"There is another reason why Lord Toda is so concerned about this murder case. It is because the murderer has affected the holding of the Gion Festival."
"I have received reports that many citizens are now in a state of panic because the murderer has killed so many people and has not yet been caught."
"If the Gion Festival is not held smoothly, it will definitely make Lord Tokugawa Munemichi, who has come all the way to watch the Gion Festival, unhappy."
"So in order to avoid being scolded by Tokugawa Munemichi, Lord Toda must take this murder case that has affected the Gion Festival seriously no matter what."
"I can't mobilize any of the Yoriki, Doshin, or Okabiki in Kyoto right now."
"I would be very disappointed if I don't get to the bottom of this case."
"My intuition is telling me that a group of people are planning something bigger and more dangerous, and this murder of more than 40 people is just to divert the attention of our Kyoto Prefecture."
"When I think about this, I can't sleep or eat."
"So—Makimura, I need your help."
"I need you to help me investigate this case and find out who is behind this!"
"... Lord Kamiyama. You think too highly of me." Makimura said self-deprecatingly, "I have been a ronin for two years. I have long forgotten how to investigate cases."
Shenshan ignored Mucun's self-mockery.
Just staring at Makimura's face...
Mucun seemed to feel uncomfortable under Shenshan's gaze, and the self-deprecating look on his face gradually disappeared.
Finally - he let out a long sigh.
"…Let me talk to my companions first."
"companion?"
"Hey, hey, hey, Master Shenshan, what's with that expression on your face? I've been wandering outside for two years, so I should have a new companion, right?"
"They are all important companions to me. I must consult with my companions before I can give you a clear response."
“…I understand.” Shenshan nodded.
…
…
In a hotel in Kyoto.
"Come on, Katsurokuro, try it."
“My lord, what is this…?” Shimada respectfully took a pancake-shaped mochi from Lin’s hand.
"This is the Kyoto confectionery I just tried to make - a one-liter cake. Please help me taste it and see how it tastes."
"Yes... Yeah! So delicious! So sweet!"
Looking at Shimada who was eating the one-liter cake she had just tried to make with particular sweetness, a satisfied smile appeared on Lin's face.
After finishing a liter of cake in no time, Shimada looked up at Lin in front of him.
Then, he asked Lin cautiously:
"Um... Lord... are we really not going to try to rescue Makimura-senpai...?"
"Katsurokuro, you're so annoying! How many times have you asked me this question? No! Let that idiot eat prison food in prison for a few days and let him reflect on his mistakes in prison!"
Hearing Lin say this in such a resolute tone, Shimada's face turned bitter.
Just as Shimada was about to say something else, Asai suddenly burst into the room:
"Lord! Mucun is back!"
After saying that, Asai turned his body to the side, revealing Makimura standing behind him.
Shimada was stunned when he heard Asai's words and saw Makimura's tall and divine figure.
Before he could react, he felt a gust of wind in front of him - Lin, who was originally standing in front of him, was holding a knife and running towards Mucun in a hurry.
Lin first walked around Mucun and looked him up and down carefully.
After seeing that Mucun had good skin and no injuries on his body, Lin's tense expression relaxed a little.
"Yahachi...how did you get back? You didn't do anything weird to get out of prison, did you?"
"My lord, this is... a long story."
…
…
Makimura summarized everything that had just happened to him in prison in the shortest possible words.
“…That Kamiyama Koshinosuke actually asked you to come out of retirement.” Lin looked thoughtful. “It seems that Kamiyama trusts your character and ability.”
"…After all, we worked together for five years."
Mucun responded softly.
"I came to negotiate with you, my lord, so that Lord Shenshan would release me."
"...Not bad." Lin's face showed a faint smile at this time, "This is a good opportunity."
"Good opportunity?" Shimada asked puzzledly.
"A..." Lin raised her right hand and rubbed her thumb and index finger together, "A good opportunity to get some benefits from Kyoto Prefecture..."
…
…
Nearly half an hour later——
"Hey! Someone just saw Ogata Ittosai! He ran in that direction!"
"Okay! You guys go search that alley!"
"yes!"
"You guys, just go there!"
"yes!"
…
A man with great power methodically directed his Tongxin and Gangyin to conduct a careful and somewhat creepy search of every street nearby.
After receiving a report that a samurai who looked like Ogata Ittosai was found in a ramen restaurant, this Yoriki immediately coordinated with the rest of his colleagues to search the surrounding area centered on the ramen restaurant.
The suspect had been seen running away several times before, so the search area had been narrowed down little by little.
Although the blocks in Kyoto are all in a grid shape, there are large and small, long and short streets and alleys within and between the blocks.
Every officer would feel a surge of pressure when entering a remote and dark alley to conduct a search, fearing that Ogata Ittosai would suddenly jump out from a dark place ahead...
"Hey, this alley seems safe too."
"Hmm...it seems so."
Two Okabiki were searching a certain alley and asked and answered this question.
Although a large number of Okamoto had been transferred to this area, there was still a serious shortage of manpower.
The Gang Yins were divided into groups of two or three to search every street and alley around.
Holding lanterns in their hands, they illuminated the last part of the alley that was not covered by light. After not finding anything unusual, the two Okabekis breathed a sigh of relief.
After this question and answer, the two of them began to walk out of the alley, holding their lanterns.
However, just as they turned around, they suddenly felt a gust of wind blowing from above them...
Kara.
There was a sound of bones breaking.
One of the two Okayin turned his head and saw that his companion's neck had been broken by a young man.
Before he could even scream, the young man let go of his companion whose neck had been twisted and rushed towards him...
…
…
[Ding! Use Shiranui Style Ninjutsu and Shiranui Style Jujutsu to kill the enemy.]
[Gain 75 personal experience points, and 70 experience points for the Ninjutsu "Shiranui Style Ninjutsu"]
[Current personal level: Lv24 (2680/3200)]
[Shiranui Style Jujutsu Level: 2nd Stage (30/500)]
[Ding! Experience value is full, the level of Shiranui Jutsu is increased by 1 level, and 2 skill points are obtained]
[Currently remaining skill points: 2 points]
After using the Shiranui-ryu jutsu to neatly break the neck of the Okabiki, Ogata rushed towards the other Okabiki without any pause or hesitation, and quickly controlled him.
"Be quiet."
Ogata covered Okabiki's mouth tightly with his right hand.
"I have a lot of questions for you. Answer them one by one."
"I will let go of your mouth in a moment. If you dare to scream, I will kill you immediately."
After that, in order to increase his deterrent power, Ogata raised the thumb of his left hand, which had been pressing on the mouth of the scabbard, and pushed the blade of Daishikatsu slightly out of the scabbard.
The cold light reflected by the finger-wide blade that popped out of the scabbard flashed in Okamura's eyes, causing the fear in his eyes to increase exponentially.
After seeing Okabiki nod his head several times, Ogata slowly let go of Okabiki's mouth.
"First, the first question..."
…
…
After asking until there were no more questions left, Ogata fell silent, looking thoughtful.
"I...I promise not to tell anyone about what I saw you..." Seeing that Ogata didn't ask him any more questions, the Okabiki said timidly.
Although Okabiki said this, his hand had already quietly touched the ten hands on his lower back.
There was a hint of cruelty in his eyes.
He mistakenly thought that Ogata would not notice his little move to attack Ogata by surprise.
Of course, it was just a misunderstanding...
Ogata raised his eyes and glanced at Okabiki.
Then--
laugh.
The sound of a sharp blade entering flesh was heard.
Ogata covered the mouth of this Okabiki with his left hand, pulled out the Daijizai with his right hand, and used the bird thorn to pierce the heart of this Okabiki.
[Ding! Use Sakakibara's sword style, Bird Thorn, to kill the enemy.]
[Gained 70 personal experience points, and 65 swordsmanship "Sakakibara Ittoryu" experience points]
[Current personal level: Lv24 (2750/3200)]
[Sakakibara Ittoryu Level: 9th Stage (3750/4000)]
Only after Okabiki was completely dead did Ogata slowly let go of his body.
"What is going on..."
As Ogata put the Great Freedom Blade, which had been wiped clean of blood, back into the scabbard, he sighed silently.
Ogata had figured out what was going on.
To put it simply, he became the scapegoat.
For no apparent reason, he was blamed for a series of murders.
Probably when he was cleaning out Fuma's mansion with Atachi, Kyoto Prefecture began a city-wide manhunt for him.
All police forces in Kyoto Prefecture went door to door to inform the citizens of Kyoto to be vigilant against Ogata Ittosai, and searched for Ogata Ittosai from house to house.
The group of Okabiki just happened to be searching for that ramen shop, and they happened to run into Ogata who was eating noodles in this ramen shop...
"This thing is useless now..." Ogata casually threw aside the Tengu mask that was tied around his waist.
He had just learned from Naoka Yin that in order to make it easier for the officials to find Ogata, wearing masks was now prohibited in Kyoto.
Wearing a mask at this time has become the most conspicuous thing.
"I don't know how Atachi is doing now..." Ogata muttered.
Compared to his own safety, Ogata is now more worried about Atachi.
Even though he himself was in a difficult situation.
Because he was unfamiliar with Kyoto, Ogata had run into dead ends several times, causing the officers to discover him several times.
If Ogata had not mastered the elementary Shiranui-style stealth technique and had not been able to climb walls and onto roofs, he would have been surrounded by the officials long ago.
Just as Ogata was thinking about whether there was any way to reconnect with Atachi, who had been cut off from him, low footsteps suddenly sounded from the other end of the alley.
Ogata quickly lowered his center of gravity and placed his right hand on the hilt of Daishikite's sword.
"Brother Ogata, it's me."
As soon as Ogata's right fingertips touched the hilt of Daishikatsu's sword, a familiar voice rang out from the source of the footsteps.
"Makimura?" Ogata raised his eyebrows.
The right hand that had been holding the hilt of the Great Shitian Sword slowly loosened its grip.
Mucun slowly emerged from the darkness that was too dark to be seen by the naked eye.
Mucun did not come alone.
Following behind him were Shimada, Asai and Lin.
"Why are you here?" Ogata asked.
"I'll explain this to you slowly later. Please come with me first. I'll explain it to you slowly on the way."
"With you? Where to?"
"You are unfamiliar with Kyoto. If you keep running around like this, it's only a matter of time before you are surrounded by Kyoto officials. I will take you to a suitable hiding place, and you can stay out of the spotlight there for now."
"A suitable place to hide?" Ogata asked in a half-joking tone , "Is it not a cave or something like that?"
"Of course not." Makimura smiled meaningfully, "The place I'm going to take you to is the place that almost all men in Kyoto dream of - Shimabara."
