My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 119: Chapter 81: ”Mr. Tachibana, Are You Interested in Iaido?

”Alright.” Ii Naosuke’s lips curled up slightly, ”I will.”

Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from outside the room:

”Lord Ii, North Guard Station Town Magistrate: Hosoi Chosiro requests an audience.”

”...Hosoi?” Ii was taken aback, his brows furrowing quickly, ”He came to see me at this time?”

Ii Naosuke pursed his lips tightly.

Then he silently bowed his head, looking at Ajiuu who was kneeling in front of him.

”Go quickly.”

As soon as Ii Naosuke’s gaze fell on Ajiuu, Ajiuu gave him a gentle smile.

”Finish your business quickly so you can come back early to sleep.”

”...Sorry.” Ii Naosuke gave Ajiuu an apologetic smile before putting on a stern face and swiftly leaving the bedroom.

...

...

Ii Naosuke returned to the spacious room where he had just met with Ando Nobuaki.

The room remained unchanged, but the person was different.

Hosoi, neatly dressed, was respectfully kneeling where Ando Nobuaki had sat.

It was already very late, and Ii Naosuke was somewhat tired, so he didn’t engage in small talk with Hosoi, who had come to visit suddenly in the night.

After entering the room and sitting on the main seat, he immediately asked Hosoi:

”Hosoi, what brings you here at this late hour?”

Hosoi bowed his head deeply and replied respectfully, then said in a steady voice:

”Lord Tairō, I just received an urgent letter from a subordinate: a French merchant and his family were attacked by a large group of ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ rebels on their way to Edo.”

”What?” Ii Naosuke’s expression changed, ”A merchant from France was attacked?”

Ii Naosuke’s fist clenched tightly as he urgently asked:

”What about the French merchant who was attacked?”

”He... he and his family are unharmed.” Hosoi’s expression turned strange, ”A subordinate of mine... the one who sent me the urgent letter, he led over twenty guards and repelled nearly two hundred ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ rebels, ensuring the safety of the French merchant and his family.”

”...What?” Ii Naosuke leaned slightly toward Hosoi, doubting what he heard, ”Hosoi, say it again.”

...

...

Tokaido, Kanagawa Inn—

Kneeling in front of Aoto, who was bare-chested, Kiryu examined Aoto’s wounds and said in a praising tone:

”Wow... Mr. Tachibana, your wounds are healing quickly.”

”Mm.” Aoto nodded, casually said, ”I’ve always been like this since I was a kid, my wounds heal very fast.”

After casually brushing off Kiryu, Aoto lowered his head and glanced at the wounds on his body, thinking to himself:

—The new talent I copied is much stronger than expected...

After successfully defeating Mogami Shofu, Aoto successfully copied a new talent from him: ”Healthy Body,” where the recovery speed of wounds far exceeds that of ordinary people.

This new talent couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment, just right for Aoto, who was heavily injured after a major battle.

That ”Snowy Night Chaos”... was already 6 days ago.

With only a little over 30 men, they drove back over 200 ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ rebels, killing more than 60, and sent the attacking enemy fleeing—considering the disparity in numbers and the results, it was unquestionably a resounding victory.

But the cost was considerable.

After tallying the casualties post-battle, of Oomura’s group of guards, only 18 survived, and every survivor was wounded.

Although it was a great victory, it wouldn’t be surprising if those ’Anti-foreigner Faction’ rebels launched another attack anytime.

Who knows how many of them there are, or if they’ll immediately rally a large group to attack again?

Therefore, they could no longer stay out in the open, nor continue to Edo.

So, after a simple discussion, Aoto and the others decided to head to the nearest post station to seek refuge and send a message to Edo asking for reinforcements.

Anthony’s horses were either dead or had fled; not one was left.

Without horses to pull the cart, Anthony, Elodie, and the others could only walk with Aoto on foot, heading to the nearest post station: Kanagawa Inn.

They arrived safely at Kanagawa Inn, and Aoto promptly had the Inquiry House at Kanagawa Inn send a letter co-signed by him, Anthony, and Oomura to Edo, informing the Magistrate’s Office of their situation and requesting reinforcements.

At the same time, he entrusted the Inquiry House at Kanagawa Inn to help transport the bodies of the fallen guards, which had to be temporarily left on the battlefield due to the lack of transport, back.

Edo wouldn’t possibly not send reinforcements.

After all, Anthony is a Westerner, and specifically a Frenchman.

In recent years, relations between France and the Edo Shogunate have been quite close, so anything related to the French would receive special attention from the Shogunate.

As long as Anthony’s Westerner identity is highlighted, Edo would surely pay attention and immediately send a large force to escort them back to Edo.

After sending out this letter, Aoto and the others quietly tended to their wounds while waiting for Edo’s reinforcement to arrive.

In these past few days, it was mainly Boss Kiryu who treated their wounds.

Previously, Boss Kiryu had humbly mentioned that he only knew a little about medicine.

But after observing these past few days, Aoto found that Boss Kiryu’s medical skills were clearly not just ”a little”...