"Hahaha……"
It was not until a while after Lin had finished speaking that Shimada chuckled dryly.
"Is my father back?"
Shimada raised his hands and grabbed his hair, his expression full of confusion.
"I will leave Edo and return to the base camp in Owari soon." Lin then continued, "Before we leave Edo, you should go meet your father."
"Eh?" Mucun interrupted, "Lord, are we going back?"
"Yes. After all, there is no reason for us to stay in Edo any longer. We will return to Owari in a few days. However, the specific time and method of return are yet to be determined."
After saying that, Lin turned her gaze back to Shimada in front of her.
"Go home and see father... Is this an order..." Shimada asked.
Lin shook her head: "Although you are nominally my subordinates, I don't want to interfere too much in your private lives."
"I just suggest you go home. It's up to you to decide whether to go home or not."
"...I understand." Shimada said softly, "I will think about it carefully..."
"Well. Think about it carefully." After saying that, Lin turned her head and looked at Mamiya and others beside her. "I seemed to hear you guys talking about something enthusiastically just now. What were you talking about?"
"We were discussing the 'missing incident' that seems to be very popular recently." Mamiya answered honestly.
"'Disappearances'? What's that?"
Mamiya and others briefly explained to Lin the general content of the incident.
"There has been a large number of missing persons in the Kansai region..." Lin frowned, "It seems that there is now a rampant human trafficking group in Kansai..."
"That's what I think," Mucun continued. "With so many people missing, there must be some organized human trafficking. But they even kidnapped men and the elderly - I really don't understand."
"If you can't understand it, then don't worry about it." Lin was not very interested in this "disappearance incident". "Just treat it as a topic of conversation after dinner. We have nothing to do with it and we can't control it. Let the shogunate investigate and deal with it slowly."
"It's almost time for lunch. I'm going to go cook. In about half an hour, you can come and wash your hands and eat."
After saying this, Lin turned around gracefully, put her hands behind her back and walked quickly towards the kitchen.
Cooking is one of Lin's few hobbies. On weekdays, three meals a day for Mamiya and others are prepared by Lin.
After Lin's injuries recovered enough for her to cook, she resumed her old job as a chef.
After watching Lin leave, Mamiya raised his hand and patted Shimada on the shoulder: "I think what the lord said just now is right. You have been away from home for a long time. Since your father has returned to Edo, go home to see him."
"Let me think about it..." Shimada smiled bitterly, "Mamiya-senpai, as you know, my relationship with my father is not very good..."
Shimada let out a long sigh.
"I thought he would stay in Osaka until winter was completely over, but I didn't expect him to come back so soon..."
"Shimada, if you decide to go home later and want to find someone to keep you company, you're most welcome to come find me." Makimura smiled, raised his right thumb and pointed it at himself, "I'd really like to meet your father."
"You want to meet Shimada's father?" Asai asked, "Why?"
"No reason, I just wanted to see what the highly praised Shimada Soichiro looks like."
"The Kansai region, centered around Kyoto and Osaka, has many temples and shrines, so it has always been the main work area for the temple and shrine magistrates and their officials."
Mucun said slowly.
"When I was still a yokoro in Kyoto, I heard about Shimada's father, Shimada Soichiro, the temple and shrine magistrate and Ginmimono director."
"I heard that he is a man of outstanding talent. He managed the complicated management of temples and shrines in an orderly manner."
"Shimada Soichiro once came to Kyoto and attended a banquet with a bunch of high-ranking officials. I also attended that banquet, but unfortunately, because of my low rank, I was a million miles away from Shimada Soichiro and had no idea what he looked like."
Temple and Shrine Magistrate - One of the highest officials in the shogunate. Responsible for managing temples, shrines and their territories throughout the country and formulating religious policies. He is also responsible for investigating lawsuits and crimes in temples and shrines and their territories. Because of the high position, it is usually held by the hereditary daimyo.
The Temple and Shrine Bugyo Ginmimono Tsoyuba can be understood as the right-hand man of the Temple and Shrine Bugyo, assisting in handling the various tasks that the Temple and Shrine Bugyo is responsible for. It is also a very high-ranking official. Compared with the Kyoto Yoriki that Makimura once served, it is simply a world of difference.
"Ah, I remember now—" Mamiya suddenly said, "When Shimada first joined our Huluwu, Makimura jumped up in shock when he learned that Shimada was the son of Shimada Soichiro."
"Ah." Asai said, "Now that you mention it... I remember it now. It seems to be true."
"If you want to go with me, Makimura-senpai, I have no objection..." Shimada smiled tiredly, as if he was exhausted. "But I have to consider whether I should go back to see my father..."
"To be honest - I don't really want to go back to see my father..."
…
…
At this moment——
Edo, Shimada family residence——
The Shimada family, with a household salary of 9,000 koku, was a veritable wealthy family among the hatamoto samurai.
Since they are a wealthy family, their mansion will naturally not be shabby.
The luxury of the Shimada family's mansion is enough to make many poor daimyo feel ashamed.
In a room deep inside the luxurious Shimada family mansion, a middle-aged man with half of his hair and beard white was holding a katana. With the sunlight shining in from the window, he carefully examined the blade of the katana in his hand.
"master."
At this moment, an old male voice sounded outside the door.
"Come in." said the middle-aged man called the master.
Wow——
The paper sliding door was opened, and a neatly dressed old man knelt on one knee in front of the paper sliding door.
"Sir," the old man said, "the answer has come from the Yamada Asaemon family."
"What do they say?" asked the master.
"They said that they couldn't spare any manpower for the moment. If we want to test the knife, we have to wait for some time."
"Is that so..." The master slowly put the knife in his hand back into the scabbard.
"Do we have to wait until the Yamada Asaemon family has spare manpower?" the old man asked.
"Of course." The master answered without hesitation, "It's rare to get a knife as good as the California Heavy, so it must be tested by those professional executioners."
After saying that, the master turned his head and gave the old man a warm smile.
…
…
Red Moon Fortress, Kunoa's clinic—
"Have you packed your luggage?" Kunoya leaned against the wall behind him and asked Ogata and Atachi in his usual lazy tone.
"Yeah." Ogata nodded, "It's all packed up."
"Don't forget anything valuable. If you forget anything valuable, I won't help you take care of it." After saying this in a joking tone, Kunoya sighed softly, "I'm now used to seeing you two every day when I come to the clinic. You're leaving tomorrow, and I'm a little sad to see you go."
Looking at Kunoya, who usually looks lazy but now shows a rare look of regret, a smile containing complex emotions appeared on Ogata's face.
"Thank you for your care during this period." After saying that, Ogata stood up and bowed to Kunoya.
And Ating beside him followed closely, stood up and saluted Kunoa.
As the undoubted greatest contributor to the rescue of the Red Moon Fortress, Ogata was somewhat flattered by the luxurious treatment he received while recuperating in the fortress.
They have priority access to high-quality medicines, and although their daily meals are patient meals tailor-made for them by Kunoya, the ingredients used are of the highest quality.
As Ogata's wife and one of the great contributors to the rescue of the Red Moon Fortress, A-Machi also received this excellent treatment.
In such a superior recuperation environment, both Ogata and Atachi's bodies recovered at a fast and steady pace.
The first one to recover was Ogata, whose injuries were mostly superficial and whose "vitality" was abnormally high.
Then, 5 days ago, Ating's body recovered. Except for a more conspicuous scar on her collarbone, everything was back to normal and she regained her previous vitality.
While Ating was recovering, Lin Ziping's body also recovered almost completely and he was able to endure the hardship of the long journey.
So after Ating and Hayashi Shiping recovered, Oufang discussed with Hayashi Shiping about "when to leave the fortress". In the end, they decided to leave the fortress tomorrow.
Therefore - tonight is the last night that Ogata and his companions will stay in the Red Moon Fortress.
Ogata and his friends had long ago informed Chanup and the others of the time when they and Lin Ziping would leave the fortress, so starting from this morning, one after another, people familiar with Ogata came to say goodbye to him.
Chanup, Aisuma, Ayizan, Yashili…
Sculucci did not come to say goodbye.
Because Skulucci is also preparing to lead his subordinates away from here tomorrow morning.
A few days ago, Skulucci was already in a state of "being able to leave at any time". When to leave depends entirely on Skulucci's mood.
Apart from Ogata, Skulucci had no other acquaintances in the Red Moon Fortress.
After learning that Ogata was leaving tomorrow, Skulucci, realizing that there was no point in staying in the fortress any longer, decided to leave with Ogata and the others at the same time, and thus chose to leave the farewell until tomorrow morning.
Almost all the people who are familiar with Ogata and others have come to see them.
Ogata and Atachi didn't have much luggage to begin with, and now they had all been packed.
There is nothing to do now except sleep and wait for tomorrow to come.
"If you don't have anything else to do, go to bed quickly. After tomorrow, you will have to travel." Kunoya left the wall she had been leaning against since the beginning, "It's almost time for me to go back to my own home and rest. You should also go to bed early."
"Before I go back, let me confirm one thing - you plan to leave at dawn, right?"
"That's right." Ogata nodded.
"Then I will try to get up early tomorrow and see you off at the city gate." Kunoya smiled, "But I may not be able to wake up on time. If you don't see me at the city gate tomorrow morning, don't blame me."
"It's okay." Ogata smiled, "I won't care about this kind of thing. I have received your kindness. If you really can't get up tomorrow morning, just go back to sleep."
"Excuse me." Just as Ogata finished speaking, an old male voice suddenly came from outside the clinic door, "Excuse me, is Ogata-kun here?"
"Oh?" Kunoya turned her head and looked at the door of the clinic. "Young man, it seems that someone is coming to see you off."
"That sound is..." Ogata muttered.
"Should we let him in?" asked Kunoya.
Ogata: “Of course.”
Kunoya walked to the door herself and lifted the door curtain. Behind the curtain was Tang Shen, whose body was wrapped like a mummy... or Shendu.
"You two can chat slowly." Kunoya took out her pipe from her arms, "I'll go home first. Remember not to chat too late, or it will affect tomorrow."
After briefly instructing Ogata, Kunoya strode out of the clinic with the newly lit pipe in her mouth.
"Sorry for bothering you so late." After Kunoya left, Shen Du slowly walked to Ogata and sat down cross-legged.
"It doesn't matter." Ogata said, "My wife and I usually don't go to bed that early anyway."
Since leaving Edo with Atachi, Ogata and Atachi have unknowingly developed the habit of going to bed late because they have to do extremely intense physical exercise every night.
Ogata looked at Shen Du's left arm, which was hung in front of his chest, and his right hand, which was wrapped tightly. Shen Du's most serious injury was the spear stab on his left shoulder. His right arm was severely strained due to overwork.
Shen Du noticed Ogata's gaze, so he gently shook his right arm and said with a wry smile: "You young people's bodies are indeed more energetic than those of old people like us. You are already full of energy, but I am still like this."
Ogata had heard from Ating and others recently about what Shen Du did in the fortress when he went out to ask Skulucci and others for help, as well as the true identity of this "pet trader".
"Did Kunoya and the others tell you when your body will recover?" Ogata asked.
"Kunoya and the others said that my body probably won't be able to recover to the state before the injury." Shendu said calmly, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him, "I'm old, and my physical condition is not as good as you young people."
"Such a serious injury has damaged the vitality of the body. Even if the injury recovers, the body will become much weaker than before."
"But it doesn't matter. I've lived enough anyway. I'm at an age where it wouldn't be surprising if I died at any time."
"What's more, this battle is probably the last time I will act recklessly in my life." Shen Du smiled, raised his eyes and looked at Ogata, "Being able to fight side by side with the famous Ittosai in this last reckless act, I will die without regrets."
After defeating the shogunate's army, Ogata's true identity was completely exposed. However, since Chanup and his companions lived in a secluded place far away from the Japanese, neither Chanup nor Skulucci and his companions knew how famous "Ogata Issei" was in Japan - except for Kamado and Hayashi Shihei.
Shen Du and Lin Ziping both lived in Japan before, so they naturally knew who Ogata Yoshisei was.
But both of them tacitly chose to keep it secret and did not tell anyone how famous the young samurai who saved the fortress was in Japan.
"It is an honor to fight alongside the legendary Fujosai," Ogata said modestly.
“Hahahaha.” Shen Du laughed a few times. “I should be the one who feels honored, since I was able to make that Itdaosai remember this nickname of mine that I thought had long been forgotten by the world.”
After laughing, Shen Du pursed his lips and looked at Ogata with complicated eyes.
"Ogata Ittosai, I really... envy you..."
"When I was about your age, I also wore a sword on my waist and followed Miyamoto Musashi's example to travel around to seek fame and fortune. However, after all that travel, I gained nothing except a bunch of enemies."
"As for fame, I'm not that famous. The name 'Fujyosai' is only known in the Ou area... Outside of Ou, no one knows me."
"In the end, he became disillusioned and retired to the Matsumae domain, where he made a living by selling pets."
"And you have become famous at such a young age, left your name in history, and even got married and have such an excellent wife. It really is... I envy you so much..."
"Famous all over the world..." Ogata slowly smiled bitterly, "Tang...ah, no. Mr. Shen Du, I am indeed 'famous' in Japan at the moment, but this 'name' is not a 'good name', but a 'bad name'."
"I am now living a life where I have to rely on a human skin mask to cover my face."
"Even so, do you still envy me?"
"Ittosai, you don't know that." Shendu shook his head, "I don't know if you have investigated it - you just have a bad reputation in the shogunate and the court."
"But among the people, your good reputation far outweighs your bad reputation."
"You have to know that the shogunate's reputation among the people is not very good right now."
"You have repeatedly opposed the shogunate, which has made many people very excited."
"I have witnessed several times with my own eyes that civilians praised your feats of killing the tyrant and attacking Nijo Castle."
" The first time I heard your name was when I was drinking in a pub, and heard a few civilians praising you for killing the tyrant."
"When I first learned your name and what you had done, I had only one thought: There really are geniuses in this world who can easily do things that you can't do..."
Fujosai continued to look at Ogata with complicated eyes. He was smiling, but a hint of loneliness slowly emerged in his eyes.
"There is no place in the world for an old man like me who is not talented and weak."
"Live more brilliantly and brilliantly, Ittosai."
"I look forward to hearing more stories about you, a young ."
"Don't die so easily. If you die so easily, it will make me... no, it will make us, the samurai who have lived a mediocre life, feel very troubled."
"A new legend?" Ogata said in a half-joking tone. "Then I can only ask you to wait without any expectation. I can't guarantee that I will be able to do anything that can be called a 'legend' in the future."
"Then I'll do as you say - wait without any expectations." Shen Du said with a smile.
…
…
The next day——
Red Moon Fortress, at the city gate——
"Ogata-kun." Lin Ziping, who was standing next to Ogata, asked, "Have you prepared all the luggage?"
"Everything is ready. What about you?"
Lin Ziping smiled and raised his hands: "This cloth bag on my back is all my luggage."
The sky was just turning light grey, but many people, led by Chanup, were already standing at the gate of the inner wall of the Red Moon Fortress.
Senior officials led by Chanup and Retannoe.
Ogata's acquaintances, led by Aizan, Yashiri, and Kunoya.
They all came to see off Ogata, Skulucci and others.
Ogata, Atachi, and Hayashi Shiping stood next to Radish and Grape, doing the final luggage check.
Radish was a lucky horse. He carried Ogata into battle without suffering any serious injuries.
After Ogata and others checked their luggage, Chanup and others came forward one by one to offer Ogata words of farewell.
Ayi Zan: "Ogata-kun! I wish you a safe journey!"
Yashili: "Please don't forget us! If you have the chance in the future, please come and see us!"
Kunoya: "I successfully woke up, but I'm so sleepy...haha~~"
Shen Du: "Remember what I told you last night - don't die easily."
…
Ogata accepted everyone's farewells one by one.
At this moment, he caught a glimpse of Skulucci striding towards him from the corner of his eye.
"Ogata-kun. See you someday if we have the chance."
"Yeah." Ogata nodded vigorously. "Must-have."
"Ogata-kun. Although I asked you to give me a message for Mr. Kinoshita before, if you see Mr. Kinoshita again, could you give me a new message?"
"Hmm? Go ahead."
"You tell Mr. Kinoshita, 'Although I became a notorious Cossack to make a living, I have never forgotten what I have always wanted to do.' Just tell Mr. Kinoshita the exact words, and he will definitely understand."
"Okay..." Although Ogata didn't understand what this meant, he still took note of it silently, "If I meet Master Genichi later, I will tell him what you said."
Skulucci smiled brightly: "Then thank you for your help."
…
…
The farewell ceremony for Ogata and others lasted nearly half an hour.
The farewell finally ended when everyone came up to say farewell words.
Amid the farewells of the crowd, Ogata, Atachi, and Hayashi Shiping - three people on two horses slowly drove away from the Red Moon Fortress.
The executioner Ittosai - embarks on a journey again.