My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 2: Chapter 1: Tachibana Aoto

He had quite a few titles, ”Niō,” ”Shogunate’s Ultimate Sword,” ”Pillar of the Nation,” ”Friends of France”... However, before earning so many glorious titles, he was just a small, invisible government official contemptuously called ”Blockhead Don.”

——Volume 1, Aoyama Capture Record, Prologue

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Year 7 of Ansei (1860 AD), January 12th, Night——

Edo (the ancient name of Tokyo, Edo is now Tokyo), North Town Magistrate’s Office——

”When we rush in later, those who surrender will not be killed, those who resist will be executed on the spot, that’s all.”

This deep male voice reached Qin Deng’s ears.

Qin Deng looked blankly at the owner of this male voice.

The owner of this deep voice was a young man about 27 years old.

This person had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a face full of righteousness, wore a kimono, and a hat. The wide sleeves of his kimono were tied with a thin strap, and he had a pair of long and short Samurai Swords on his left waist.

——Where am I?

Qin Deng turned his blank gaze, scanning around.

He found himself in a spacious room, and although it was nighttime, the room was illuminated with candles scattered around, making it fairly bright.

Qin Deng first looked at himself——he was sitting on a small stool, wearing a feathered robe with maroon as the primary color, and the sleeves of the robe and the kimono underneath were also tied with a thin strap.

On his left waist, there were also a pair of long and short Samurai Swords, and on his right waist, there was an oddly-shaped weapon.

When he looked at the strange weapon on his right waist, a term sprang to Qin Deng’s mind: Jitte.

[Note · Jitte: A short weapon in Japan, can be understood as an oddly shaped iron stick, a standard weapon for ”police” during the Edo period, existing much like a baton.]

Qin Deng felt that his body was exceptionally heavy, he touched his chest and found a chain armor under his kimono.

——What the hell... is going on...?

Qin Deng turned his bewildered gaze around.

On both sides of him sat young men dressed similarly to him. They all had Samurai Swords and Jitte on their waists as well.

One had an ordinary appearance, half-closed eyes, looking half-asleep.

The other was handsome, with wide-open eyes, looking dazed.

In front of him stood twenty or so people. Unlike Qin Deng, they had no stools to sit on, they all stood, holding various weapons.

Qin Deng slowly began to understand the situation he was in.

——Am I... in Ancient Japan?

His mouth gradually opened in shock.

”Mr. Tachibana, what’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

Mr. Tachibana——a name both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.

Hearing someone call this name, Qin Deng instinctively turned towards the voice.

The person calling this name was the young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, full of righteousness, who had just declared, ”Those who surrender will not be killed, those who resist will be executed on the spot.”

Looking at this young man, a name sprang to Qin Deng’s mind: Arima Hideyoshi, a Yoriki from the North Town Magistrate’s Office, his direct superior.

[Note · Yoriki: A title from the Edo period, can be understood as a mid-level official in the government]

”We are about to raid the Righteous Group’s hideout,” Arima said sternly, ”Lift your spirits quickly.”

Only fluent Japanese came from his mouth, and although Qin Deng had never learned Japanese, he understood what was being said.

”Sorry,” Qin Deng said instinctively, ”I apologize for the embarrassment.”

The words that instinctively came from Qin Deng’s mouth were fluent Japanese as well.

Arima looked at Qin Deng with a puzzled expression for a few moments, then ignored him, folding his arms across his chest and closing his eyes to rest.

Qin Deng was still in a state of confusion, not yet accustomed to the current situation.

He took several deep breaths, trying hard to calm his panic.

Just as Qin Deng’s emotions slightly steadied, segments of memory suddenly emerged in his mind——

He was called Tachibana Aoto.

Eighteen years old this year.

One of the Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin at Edo’s North Town Magistrate’s Office.

North Town Magistrate’s Office: Also referred to as ”North Guard Station,” can be understood as Edo’s city government.

Fixed Town Patrol: The department specifically responsible for maintaining city security.

And Dōshin, is a title, a lower position than Yoriki, a grassroots position in the government.

The so-called ”Magistrate’s Office Designated Town Patrol Dōshin” are grassroots personnel responsible for city security, more like grassroots police officers.

His mother passed away from illness when he was young.

His father was originally a Dōshin in Edo as well, but unfortunately died of illness half a year ago, and he subsequently inherited his father’s position and became a new Dōshin at the North Town Magistrate’s Office.

At this very moment, he was preparing to charge with his colleagues into the hideout of a group of bandits who called themselves the ”Righteous Group” and eliminate them completely.

Though this bandit group bore the elegant name ”Righteous Group,” they were actually a gang of scoundrels who committed arson, murder, robbery, and all sorts of evil acts.

As early as a month ago, the government had been tracking the whereabouts of the ”Righteous Group,” and finally located their stronghold a while ago. Tonight, they had mustered forces to wipe them all out.

And Qin Deng was one of those responsible for participating in tonight’s operation.

While Qin Deng was still digesting the recurrent fragments of memory surfacing in his mind, the door to the room was suddenly pulled open—a big, plump man with several attendants entered through the open door.

After this big man entered the room, Arima abruptly opened his eyes and then rose to salute the fat man: ”Lord Governor!”

The others in the room also quickly rose to salute the fat man, just like Arima. As for Qin Deng, he also instinctively stood up to salute.

Hosoi Chosiro——this pudgy man’s name. He was the Town Magistrate of the North Guard Station, akin to Edo’s Mayor.

Hosoi waved his hand, signaling everyone to dispense with the formalities.

”Tonight, I entrust everything to you!” Hosoi said loudly, ”According to the intelligence from our informants, the bandits of the Righteous Group are still at their stronghold...”

Hosoi spoke a barrage of words, summed up, it was to motivate everyone to work hard tonight to catch the thieves, ensuring the arrest operation was a resounding success.

After concluding this brief mobilization, Hosoi signaled to a nearby attendant, who promptly handed over the items he had been holding all along to Hosoi—dried bonito flakes, squid strips, tied kelp, and a pot of sake.

Hosoi took these items and personally handed them to Arima.

This was one of the Edo Era’s customs: During large-scale arrest operations, the Town Magistrate would personally give bonito flakes and other snacks along with sake to the leading Yoriki to boost morale.

Arima accepted the drinks and food, finished them off in just a few bites and swallows.

”Arima-kun, I wish you all a victorious return.” Hosoi forcefully patted both shoulders of Arima.

”We will risk our lives for this!” Arima responded loudly, then handed the emptied sake bottle back to Hosoi.

”It’s time!” Arima shouted to Qin Deng and the others, ”Follow me!”

With that, he adjusted the sword on his left hip and charged out of the room, taking the lead.

The others in the room followed closely behind.

Qin Deng, still in a daze, could only jog along with the crowd.

They rushed out of the Magistrate’s Office, racing towards Edo’s western outskirts under the cover of night.

After jogging for nearly 20 minutes, they finally arrived at an inconspicuous house, led by Arima.

At first glance, this house looked quite ordinary.

However, upon government investigation, it had been identified as the hideout of the ”Righteous Group.”

According to informant intelligence, the core members of the ”Righteous Group” were all meeting in this house tonight.

Upon arriving at the ”Righteous Group” hideout, Arima, without any hesitation, drew his long sword from his waist with a ”swoosh” and kicked open the front door of the house:

”We are the officials from the Edo North Guard Station! In the name of the public, we are conducting a search!”

After Arima rushed in with sword drawn, the others also drew their swords and charged in en masse.

Cries of astonishment and screams of pain began to echo intermittently in the room. The unpleasant smell of blood started to permeate the air.

Qin Deng followed the crowd into the ”Righteous Group” hideout.

Soon after entering, Qin Deng saw a bald man frantically swinging a sword, trying to break through his colleagues’ encirclement.

However, just as he broke through the net, a sword unexpectedly slashed down from behind him, shattering his head.

Blood sprayed from the bald man’s wound, splattering directly onto the ceiling.

This vivid scene of gore even startled Qin Deng.

The colleagues who rushed into the room scattered, going to various corners to pursue members of the ”Righteous Group.”

As Qin Deng pondered what he should do next, he saw a strange shadow moving in the corner of his eye to his left.

Turning his head to look left—turns out, it was a middle-aged man widening his eyes, shouting angrily as he charged at Qin Deng with a raised sword.

His target was Qin Deng!

Watching the middle-aged man charging at him with a raised sword, Qin Deng was initially startled, then instinctively drew the short sword from his waist, well-suited for narrow space combat, and quickly positioned it with both hands gripping the hilt.

A strange sensation appeared in Qin Deng’s palms.

Although it felt like the first time wielding a samurai sword, he knew clearly how to grip and—how to swing it!

There was a window beside Qin Deng.

The bright moonlight streamed through the window, casting onto Qin Deng and the sword.

In the moonlight, Qin Deng’s sword reflected a dazzling white arc.

”Die, you shogunate dog!”

The middle-aged man, reaching a distance where his sword could strike Qin Deng, shouted angrily and fiercely swung his sword at Qin Deng’s head.

Qin Deng took a deep breath and quickly sidestepped, evading the middle-aged man’s swinging sword.

Missing the strike, the middle-aged man relentlessly attacked Qin Deng again.

Having just crossed over, Qin Deng’s mind was still in turmoil.

Unclear about what time it was, or where he was.

But he knew one thing—taking down the person clearly trying to kill him was surely the right move!

Clang!

Qin Deng used his short sword to parry the middle-aged man’s incoming sword.

The middle-aged man pushed forward with his strength, and Qin Deng countered with the same force, thus beginning a contest of strength between them.

This contest of strength did not last long.

After only a few seconds, Qin Deng seized an opportunity, kicked out with his foot, and struck the middle-aged man’s abdomen hard with his tough kneecap.

The middle-aged man let out a wretched scream, his body curling up like a shrimp, unable to hold his sword properly.

Qin Deng pursued his victory.

In one swift motion, he leapt forward and struck the middle-aged man’s side neck hard with the butt of his short sword’s handle.

”Ugh...”

The middle-aged man made a sound like he was blowing bubbles, followed by flipping his eyes upward, collapsing to the ground face-up.

Seeing that the middle-aged man had finally fallen, Aoto couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.

However, just then, a strange voice suddenly echoed in Qin Deng’s mind:

[Ding! Talent detected]

[Successfully copied talent: ”Night Vision”]

[Talent Description: Capable of seeing clearly even in complete darkness]

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