My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 42: Chapter 28: Tachibana Aoto? What Case Can He Solve?

”... After receiving the report, I immediately organized personnel to strictly seal off the scene and prohibited any unauthorized individuals from approaching.”

”At the same time, I also sent someone to the North Guard Station to report the case at the earliest opportunity and dispatched others to find and contact Granny Ping’s relatives and friends.”

After reporting everything he knew to Aoto, Hui Dalang stood respectfully with his hands by his sides.

”... A physician couple loved by countless people...,” Aoto muttered, frowning slightly, as he turned to look at the dense crowd gathered around Granny Ping’s house.

Aoto could understand why so many people had gathered and why they looked so sorrowful and were wailing in grief.

”It’s the most troublesome kind of case...” Aoto murmured.

Aoto stood with his hands on his hips, turning his head to look at the tightly sealed house beside him.

He appeared lost in thought.

...

...

North Guard Station, the Town Magistrate’s office—

—how could it be that such a troublesome person was killed...

Looking at the urgent letter just sent from Mukiura Town on the table, Hosoi sighed wearily, rubbing his tightly furrowed brow.

Though he had never met Granny Ping, Hosoi had long heard of the renowned ”Bodhisattva couple” reputation she and her husband held.

Upon learning from the urgent message from Mukiura Town that such prominent figures had died tragically in their home, Hosoi’s brows furrowed immediately.

This year marks Hosoi’s fourth year in the role of Town Magistrate at the North Station.

Having served as an ”Edo Market” for so long, Hosoi could instantly identify that yet another extremely troublesome case had emerged!

Given the limited technology, there obviously wasn’t street surveillance or fingerprint collection and such convenient technological products or investigative methods available in this era.

Basic infrastructure and security forces were also extremely underdeveloped.

Thus, in this still-ancient society, solving major cases like murders was naturally very difficult.

Out of ten major cases, perhaps seven or eight might become unsolved mysteries.

Often, after a lot of fuss, nothing would be achieved in the end.

When faced with significant cases, whether they could be solved largely depended on one’s luck.

Because it’s difficult to solve, murder cases have always been among the least favorite for the ”Three Times” samurai.

If it’s a murder case involving a high-ranking or extremely famous person, it would be even more detestable.

This is because such cases come with substantial pressure to solve...

If the victim is an ordinary person without much background or status, failing to solve the case wouldn’t matter much, as the victim’s family, lacking backing, wouldn’t pose much of a threat to the Magistrate’s Office.

How could ordinary folk contend with officials with two-faced natures?

But if the victim has an unusual background or status... that’s where it becomes troublesome. If the case isn’t resolved beautifully, at the very least, one could face criticism or get cursed, and at worst, it could significantly impact one’s official career.

And the unfortunate Granny Ping happens to belong to the category of people with quite high standing...

There have been similar cases previously.

Hosoi remembers clearly—three years ago, a person with a Bodhisattva’s heart was also murdered.

This individual was a wealthy merchant, known for his philanthropy, often providing for those in difficulty, earning the gratitude of many.

At the time when this merchant was murdered, the Magistrate’s Office was busy handling other major cases with no spare personnel from the ”Three Times,” so this case had to be temporarily shelved...

Those who had received help from the merchant were not having it.

They couldn’t tolerate their benefactor’s tragic death not being addressed by the Magistrate’s Office sending a ”Three Times” unit.

Gathering, numbering in the hundreds, they stormed the Magistrate’s Office demanding an explanation.

Although the rebellion was eventually suppressed through both diplomatic and martial means, Hosoi remains apprehensive about this event to this day...

Because after the incident, his superior unleashed a tirade of colorful language at him...

The townsmen gathered and stormed the Magistrate’s Office due to the unresolved public outrage—a matter that couldn’t just be glossed over with a laugh... naturally, Hosoi wasn’t let off easily.

Hosoi’s superior lashed out at him brutally.

And Hosoi resorted to his country’s long-standing traditional skill—kneeling in the earth-bowing position, repeatedly exclaiming ”gomen’nasai!,” until his voice was hoarse, only then his superior’s anger slightly subsided.

Being berated without suffering other substantial penalties was considered a blessing amidst misfortune.

Since then, Hosoi has kept an eye out for similar cases...

The present moment mirrors the past.

Once again, a person with remarkably high public regard, admired by many, was brutally murdered...

Having learned from past experiences, with the quick discernment that this case couldn’t be handled simply, Hosoi took a few deep breaths to compose himself and promptly ordered to summon the Fixed Town Patrol and Temporary Patrol Yoriki.

In no time, the two Yoriki from the Fixed Town Patrol: Arima and Tojo, and the two from the Temporary Patrol, had all assembled in front of Hosoi.

Once everybody was present, Hosoi wasted no time with courtesies, quickly and brusquely stated:

”Just now, the Jishinban from Mukiura Town sent an urgent message—an old lady named Aping residing in Mukiura Town Third District was brutally murdered at home...”

Hosoi briefly recounted the case details from the urgent message received from the Jishinban of Mukiura Town to Arima and Tojo.

The Yoriki from both Fixed and Temporary patrols were seasoned veterans with years of experience in the ”Three Times.”

Upon hearing the beginning of the case, they immediately realized how difficult it was to handle, causing their eyes to slightly darken.

”You should have all figured out by now—this case cannot be dealt with carelessly.” After outlining the main details of the case, Hosoi said calmly, ”Regardless of whether we can solve this case in the end, the Magistrate’s Office must at least put forth a serious attitude and dispatch experienced Dōshin to handle it.”

”Otherwise, we’ll repeat our mistake from three years ago where unhappy townsfolk stormed the Magistrate’s Office because of dissatisfaction with how we handled the case.”

At this point, Hosoi couldn’t help but hunch his shoulders.

The scenes of screaming ”gomen’nasai” until hoarseness three years ago flashed uncontrollably through his mind...

”So, I have summoned you to ask if there are any Dōshin under your command available to handle the case?”

No sooner had Hosoi finished speaking than the two Yoriki from the Temporary Patrol shook their heads, indicating their Dōshin were all busy with pressing cases.

Knowing the Temporary Patrol’s Dōshin were unavailable—Hosoi had expected this.

As the ”Universal Brick” of the ”Three Times,” members of the Temporary Patrol were essentially used like dogs.

It was rare for the Dōshin of the Temporary Patrol to have the leisure of idling their days away!

Seeing that he couldn’t rely on the Temporary Patrol’s Dōshin, as he expected, Hosoi shifted his gaze to the two Yoriki from the Fixed Patrol—Arima and Tojo.

Whenever Arima and Tojo stood side by side, they exuded an air of humor from between them.

Because the two were almost opposites in both appearance and demeanor.

The former was impeccably neat in both body and clothing, exuding a ”stringent” aura from head to toe.

While the latter was extremely unkempt, blatantly bearing the word ”sloppy” on his face.

The stark visual contrast and discrepancy between these two standing together were almost laughable.

Meeting Hosoi’s gaze, Arima pursed his lips, thought for a moment, then said:

”... Lord Governor. On my side... Inagawa and Tachibana currently have no tasks at hand.”

Upon hearing Inagawa and Tachibana... more accurately, upon hearing ”Tachibana’s” name, Hosoi’s lips twitched slightly...

”Lord Governor,” Arima said, adjusting both his expression and tone, ”may I speak?”

”... Go ahead.”

”As you have mentioned, Lord Governor, this case cannot be treated lightly.”

”Therefore, I suggest we dispatch two Dōshin to jointly take responsibility for this case.”

”On my side, Inagawa and Tachibana happen to be free of tasks, able to dedicate enough time and effort to jointly handle the matter...”

Before Arima could finish his sentence—

”So—your recommendation is to dispatch Inagawa and Tachibana, letting these two handle the case together?”

Hosoi interrupted Arima’s narrative, shrugging both shoulders and adopting an impatient tone:

”Inagawa is alright, but sending Tachibana to handle this case? What case could he solve?”

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