My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 36: Chapter 24: Law Punishment Faction and Saito Ichiro

Since ”Original Tachibana Aoto” was promoted to upper rank, he has been independently responsible for 11 cases in total over the past six months under Arima.

Among these 11 cases, there were major ones like murder and theft, as well as some relatively easy ones. But regardless of the type of case, to ”Original Tachibana Aoto”, it made no difference—he couldn’t solve a single one...

Not only could he not solve the cases, but he has also caused a lot of jokes...

For example—

When investigating a murder case, he mixed up the gender of the victims and the cause of death...

While investigating a theft, he accidentally damaged items at the scene, leaving the crime scene unrecognizable...

Even in relatively simple cases like investigating ”boss suspected of employee abuse”, he managed to create a lot of problems.

No matter what the case was, in the end, others had to clean up ”Original Tachibana Aoto’s” mess.

In a competitive relationship with the ”Arima Group”, the ”Tojo Group” couldn’t pass up the chance to kick them when they’re down after seeing Arima had such a ”high-quality male”.

Thus, the dōshin from the ”Tojo Group” gave ”Original Tachibana Aoto” an insulting nickname: ”Blockhead Don”.

This nickname initially spread within a small range in the ”Tojo Group”.

Gradually, under the deliberate efforts of the ”Tojo Group”, this nickname spread wider and wider.

Until now, this nickname has basically spread throughout the entire North Guard Station.

Almost everyone at the North Guard Station knows that the ”Arima Group” from the Fixed Town Patrol has a big fool with the nickname ”Blockhead Don”.

Because ”Original Tachibana Aoto” was so excessively incompetent, causing Hosoi to frequently suffer from the controversies ”Original Tachibana Aoto” stirred up, even Hosoi couldn’t have much regard for ”Original Tachibana Aoto”, which is why when Hosoi talked to Aoto earlier, there was a faint trace of annoyance in his eyes.

But fortunately——no matter how others mocked ”Original Tachibana Aoto”, the people in the ”Arima Group” always remained united.

Whether it was Arima, or Inagawa, or Ushiyama, none of them looked at their junior with prejudice, instead, they have always been helping him, teaching ”Original Tachibana Aoto” how to handle those paperwork, teaching ”Original Tachibana Aoto” how to handle various cases, trying to help ”Original Tachibana Aoto” shake off the label of ”Blockhead Don”.

After Aoto respectfully said, ”I understand...,” Hosoi reminded everyone in the room again about the ”assessment of the Ii Dairou”.

Only after a while, did he show a bit of fatigue in his brows, waving to everyone.

”Alright, I’ve said everything I needed to say.”

”Dismissed! Everyone go back to your respective duties!”

”I hope all of you work hard!”

”In one and a half months, I hope to see my North Guard Station’s ’Three Times’, without anyone being disgracefully stripped of their official status!”

As he spoke these words, Hosoi specifically glanced at Aoto...

While the people in the room were getting up in twos and threes, preparing to leave, Arima tilted his head slightly to the side, quietly saying to Ao, Inagawa, and Ushiyama behind him:

”After the meeting ends, come to my office.”

...

...

At Arima’s office in the North Guard Station——

”...Mr. Tachibana. Although the Lord Governor’s words were a bit harsh just now, he is also doing it for your own good...”

After the members of the ”Arima Group” returned to Arima’s office at his request, Arima immediately sat behind his desk and began clumsily comforting Aoto.

He must have thought—after Hosoi said those words to Aoto in front of everyone, it was very likely to hurt Aoto’s self-esteem, so he racked his brain to squeeze out comforting words for Aoto.

But in essence, after being scolded by Hosoi like that face-to-face, Aoto didn’t feel any damage to his self-esteem.

He just felt... quite depressed!

——How many more troubles do I have to bear?!

After being targeted by the ”Anti-foreigner Faction” for his head, targeted by the Yakuza for money, reprimanded by friends and family for hiding that he was attacked by the ”Anti-foreigner Faction”, another problem named ”Blockhead Don” was forced onto Aoto’s back...

Since traveling through time until now, in less than three full days, Aoto has been either bearing troubles or on the way to bearing troubles...

One wave has yet to subside, another wave rises again.

The Anti-foreigner Faction, Yakuza... these two big troubles haven’t even been resolved, and now a new trouble popped up.

The assessment organized by Ii Dairou in one and a half months... this new trouble is no less urgent and serious than the Anti-foreigner Faction targeting his head a little bit.

One penny short can defeat a nobleman—this is an eternal truth.

If kicked out of the North Guard Station’s Three Times, it would mean the only source of income for the Aoto family would be cut off.

It’s very difficult for a samurai to find work, many positions are unwilling to hire samurais.

Some positions even strictly prohibit samurais from participating.

If you want to work at a construction site carrying bricks or wood, the foreman might not even pay attention to you.

The rift between classes makes most commoners see samurais as a bunch of fussy lords, preferring to leave their manpower empty rather than hiring samurais.

If Aoto really got kicked out of the North Guard Station, at that time, not to mention repaying ”the Shimizu Clan’s” money, even daily sustenance would become a big problem.

Even before the Anti-foreigner Faction comes for his head, the Shimizu Clan harasses them, he and Kyūbē might starve to death at home...

One tricky problem after another keeps finding its way to him... making Aoto want to escape reality...

”...Lord Arima, rest assured.” After Arima’s comforting voice fell, Aoto, standing shoulder to shoulder with Inagawa and Ushiyama, slightly restrained the depression in his heart, and squeezed out a smile toward Arima, ”I have not yet become so fragile that I would be severely affected and lose all ambition over such a small matter.”

Seeing Aoto speaking like this, Arima’s face showed a bit of relief like he had just sighed.

After saying a few more comforting words to Aoto, Arima gradually stopped providing comfort to Aoto, straightened his face, and seriously said:

”You all heard the words the Magistrate just said at the meeting very clearly, right?”

”I won’t say anything more official or hackneyed.”

”In short—over the next one and a half months, let’s all work hard.”

”No need to worry about being eliminated because of inadequate performance at the assessment in one and a half months.”

Arima shifted his gaze, carefully examining the faces of Ao, Inagwa, and Ushiyama one by one.

”There’s still plenty of time, enough to make preparations.”

”As long as we work together and assist each other, passing Ii Dairou’s assessment won’t be particularly difficult.”

At this point, Arima deliberately fixed his gaze on Tachibana Aoto.

Ao, Inagwa, Ushiyama: ”Yes!”

”Mr. Tachibana.” Arima turned his gaze back to Tachibana Aoto, ”Regarding the fact that you’ve been targeted by the ’Anti-foreigner Faction’, I will report this matter to the Lord Governor and discuss with him how to handle it.”

”In the coming period, you must remember to avoid traveling at night and going to isolated places.”

”And then...”

Arima paused.

”...don’t make the foolish mistake of ’concealing and not reporting’ again.”

”With the ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ becoming increasingly rampant, having encountered their attacks twice, you should have reported the relevant information about their assaults on you without delay.”

Arima’s slightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

”If anything happens to you, we won’t be able to face Ryuzo in the afterlife.”

Aoto: ”Yes...”

Arima waved a large hand: ”Inagawa, Ushiyama, you two stay. Mr. Tachibana, go ahead and carry out your patrol duties for today.”

Seeing that Arima only asked him to leave while keeping Inagawa and Ushiyama behind, Tachibana Aoto was momentarily stunned.

”...Understood.” After looking thoughtfully at Inagawa and Ushiyama standing beside him, Aoto gave a light bow to his superior and then quickly left Arima’s office.

Once Aoto stepped out of the room and confirmed he had completely left, Arima immediately fixed his owl-like gaze on Inagawa and Ushiyama.

”I don’t need to tell you why I asked you two to stay, right?”

”...It’s about Tachibana’s assessment and the Anti-foreigner Faction’s attacks on him, right?” Ushiyama said lightly.

Arima nodded: ”What the Lord Governor said earlier... is absolutely correct.”

”Based on Mr. Tachibana’s current achievements, he likely won’t pass the assessment in a month and a half.”

”If we don’t quickly come up with some ways to help him, he will definitely be removed from his position after the assessment.”

”Therefore, I plan to assign some easier tasks that could boost his achievements to him.”

”In the next month and a half, I hope you two will help Mr. Tachibana as much as possible.”

”With our assistance, passing Ii Dairou’s assessment isn’t an impossible task for Mr. Tachibana.”

”Of course.” Inagawa grinned, ”Without you having to say it, Arima-dono, we already have that intention.”

Inagawa smiled and then slightly lowered his head.

The mouth that had just curled up, drooped down.

”Mr. Tachibana is Ryuzo’s only son.”

”Even just for Ryuzo, we have to help Mr. Tachibana all the way.”

Saying this, a veil of mixed emotions, including pain and regret, cast a shadow over Inagawa’s brow.

”Back then... if we had timely extended a helping hand to Ryuzo, he might not have owed that damn gambling debt to the ’Shimizu Clan’, and he might not have been forced to die in vain by that damn ’Law Punishment Faction’.”

”This time, even if I have to risk my life, I must help Mr. Tachibana...”

”Inagawa!”

Before Inagawa could finish speaking, Ushiyama, who had been silent, interrupted him with a stern look.

”In the Magistrate’s Office... don’t mention Ryuzo’s matters.” Ushiyama looked warily at the door behind them, ”Especially not the ’Law Punishment Faction’ either...!”

The room’s atmosphere... descended into an eerie silence at that moment.

The air seemed to grow thick with heaviness.

”...I apologize.” Inagawa closed his eyes, parting his lips to let out a long, painful sigh.

”...Let’s get back to the main topic.” Arima’s voice lightened the tense, oppressive atmosphere in the room, ”Let’s change the subject temporarily, and talk about how to protect Mr. Tachibana from the ’Anti-foreigner Faction’.”

”Those ideologically extreme ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ are an unpredictable group of lunatics.”

”They come and go without a trace, making it incredibly difficult to annihilate them completely.”

”Until they are completely wiped out, we need to devise a method to ensure Mr. Tachibana is not harmed by those lunatics again.”

”Therefore, I have a plan: the three of us will pool resources to hire a bodyguard for Mr. Tachibana, how about that?”

”A bodyguard?” Inagawa asked, ”Pooling our resources to hire a bodyguard for Mr. Tachibana... I have no objection, but who should we hire?”

”I happen to have the perfect candidate in mind.” Arima said, ”Do you remember the young man I told you about before, who uses a left-handed sword?”

Ushiyama: ”Are you talking about... Saito Ichiro?”

Arima nodded: ”I think Saito Ichiro is a great fit. Hiring him to protect Mr. Tachibana means ordinary riffraff won’t be able to do anything to Mr. Tachibana.”

Inagawa and Ushiyama exchanged a look.

Then nodded vigorously.

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