My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 43: Chapter 29: North Guard Station’s Top Detective

”Arima, I know your little schemes.”

Hosoi placed his left hand on the table in front of him, tapping its surface rhythmically with his index finger.

”Having Inagawa and Tachibana jointly handle the case serves two purposes: first, it allows Tachibana to learn investigative techniques from Inagawa and gain some experience.”

”Secondly, if luck is on their side and they successfully solve the case, Tachibana’s current political achievements will shine even brighter, and he’ll have a better chance during the upcoming one-and-a-half-month ’Tairō Assessment.’

With that, Hosoi sighed softly.

”Arima, I know you’re someone who always cherishes your subordinates. You want to help them seize more opportunities to gain merit at this critical juncture before the ’Tairō Assessment.’

”But in such matters, one must also consider acting within one’s capacity.”

”Given Tachibana’s current ability, can he truly handle such an important case?”

”Didn’t I just mention? Regardless of whether the case can ultimately be solved, we at the Magistrate’s Office must at least show a serious attitude.”

”Sending Tachibana, if he ends up causing a lot of unnecessary fuss as he had before, then how will we explain ourselves to those who have benefited from Granny Ping and her husband?”

”Even with Inagawa accompanying him to handle the case, I wouldn’t be comfortable entrusting this case to Tachibana!”

”We could consider sending Inagawa to take charge, but Tachibana is absolutely unsuitable.”

Hosoi’s tone was filled with unquestionable decisiveness.

Arima pressed his lips tightly and furrowed his brow slightly, as if contemplating how to organize his words to argue with Hosoi.

The office fell into a brief silence.

But soon, this silence was interrupted by a lazy, deep male voice:

”Ah... I just remembered... over here, Nishino happens to be available.”

The speaker was Tojo, who had been standing silently beside Arima.

Tojo first let out a big yawn and then scratched his ample belly before leisurely continuing:

”The case Nishino was responsible for a few days ago has been successfully concluded.”

”Now, he conveniently has the time and energy to take on other cases.”

”Oh? Is Mr. Nishino available now?”

Upon hearing the name ”Nishino” from Tojo’s mouth, Hosoi immediately displayed a completely different expression than when he had heard Aoto’s name moments earlier.

His mouth curved up, and his eyes sparkled brightly.

Tojo nodded slightly: ”He should be patrolling within his district right now; I can summon him over anytime.”

Hosoi placed his right hand back on the table in front of him and lifted his index finger to tap the surface rhythmically.

”Hmm... Given that Mr. Nishino is conveniently available now... let’s have Mr. Nishino take on this case!”

We’ve dispatched the ’number one problem-solver’ of our North Guard Station’s Town Patrol for this case, so even if it can’t be ultimately solved, no one can criticize us like they did three years ago for ’not handling the matter seriously.’

”Understood.” Tojo responded calmly, ”I’ll go summon Nishino now.”

Seeing Hosoi decide to assign the case to Nishino from the ’Tojo Group,’ Arima was momentarily stunned before gritting his teeth:

”Lord Governor, please...”

”No need to say any more, Arima.” Hosoi replied nonchalantly, ”I’ve already told you once, and I don’t wish to repeat myself.”

”I’ve decided that Nishino will handle this case.”

Arima hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered his head:

”...Yes. I understand.”

...

...

Edo, Mukiura Town, at the crime scene of Granny Ping’s murder—

—What exactly is Blockhead Don doing... why does he keep staring at Granny Ping’s house like that...

Watching Aoto, who had been deep in thought, staring at Granny Ping’s house, Hui Dalang couldn’t help but curl his lips.

As the Patriarch working at the Jishinban in Mukiura Town, Hui Dalang could be considered half a government official.

Hence—he had heard about the ”Blockhead Don” and the origin of this name.

Hui Dalang most despised these incompetent officials who only occupy their positions without contributing.

As a commoner, unless he finds a way to obtain a Samurai status, he will never achieve an official position in his lifetime.

The restrictions of social class mean that he can only revolve around the role of ”Town Official” all his life.

These people born as Samurai, possessing what ordinary townsmen can never obtain despite lifelong efforts, don’t even cherish their privileges and waste their advantageous backgrounds!

Towards this ”Blockhead Don,” Hui Dalang harbors feelings of not just disdain, but also contempt.

To manage to create so many laughable missteps in just half a year after taking office, such as ’accidentally destroying the crime scene’ or ’mixing up victim information,’ could also be considered a talent of sorts.

”...Hui Dalang.”

Upon hearing Aoto’s sudden call, Hui Dalang quickly corrected his expression: ”Ah? Present!”

Aoto shifted his gaze from Granny Ping’s house to Hui Dalang: ”Could you help me gather Granny Ping’s neighbors?”

”Granny Ping’s... neighbors?”

”Yes, I have some questions to ask them.”

—Asking questions... what exactly is this Blockhead Don going to do...

Despite harboring significant disdain and contempt for Aoto, Hui Dalang couldn’t dare to express these true feelings openly.

No matter how incompetent ”Blockhead Don” might be, he is still a Samurai, in charge of overseeing the safety of the large region including Mukiura Town as a Fixed Town Patrol Dōshin.

Even the top of their ”Town Autonomous Organization,” the Town Elder, wouldn’t dare show any disrespect towards Aoto.

Daring not to oppose Aoto’s requests in the slightest, Hui Dalang outwardly smiled while internally cursing profanities, and courteously responded ”yes” before sending someone to bring Granny Ping’s neighbors over.

Before long, the clerks from Jishinban led over ten people, men and women, old and young.

Most of them appeared sorrowful, and the children and women were particularly teary-eyed.

After briefly asking them about where their homes were located, Aoto went straight to the point:

”Granny Ping was fine during the day yesterday, right?”

”Yes...” A middle-aged man with sparse hair wiped the corner of his eyes and explained weakly with low spirits, ”Granny Ping was fine yesterday; in the afternoon, she even chatted with my wife in front of our house for a while...”

”In recent times, did you notice any peculiar behaviors from Granny Ping, like doing things she normally wouldn’t do?”

”No...” The middle-aged man with sparse hair replied first, ”Granny Ping seemed normal throughout... Haven’t noticed anything unusual...”

Others also gave similar answers, stating they hadn’t seen Granny Ping act oddly in recent times.

”Then... last night, did you hear any strange noises from Granny Ping’s house, or notice anything odd? For example: it was late in the night, yet the lights remained on inside.”

After exchanging glances, the neighbors shook their heads, all claiming they went to bed early and hadn’t noticed anything from Granny Ping’s home the previous night.

This era lacks entertainment, and for ordinary townsmen, apart from procreation, there isn’t much night activity after dark. Thus, retiring by 7 or 8 PM after dinner is not unusual at all.

After asking the neighbors a few more questions, Aoto finally finished his inquiries and gestured for them to leave.

”...Hui Dalang.” Once the neighbors left, Aoto turned his gaze back to Granny Ping’s home beside him.

Upon hearing Aoto call him again, Hui Dalang quickly angled his upper body slightly towards Aoto, adopting a posture of attentive listening.

”I need to go inside and take a look at the crime scene.”

”Please continue to monitor this place strictly, ensuring no one enters the house.”

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