My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 407: Chapter 150: Shiwei Hall Is Growing Prosperous!

Kondo straightened his back and solemnly continued speaking to Zhouzhu:

”As Asui just mentioned—if we can truly succeed in recruiting some renowned scholars to become members of our Shiwei Hall, it would indeed be quite beneficial for the future development and growth of our dojo!”

”For such benefits alone, I believe it is worth giving this plan a try!”

”That’s the logic indeed...” Zhouzhu sighed, ”But didn’t I also say earlier? Why would those renowned scholars want to become disciples or patrons of our ’Taro Dojo’?”

Kondo, taking a firm stand, responded immediately without hesitation as soon as Zhouzhu finished speaking:

”If we can’t find any willing scholars to join us... we don’t really lose anything either.”

Kondo chuckled.

”If we do succeed in recruiting any scholars, then we hit the jackpot.”

”But if no scholars come to us, we lose nothing either.”

Seeing Kondo’s enthusiasm for the plan, Zhouzhu raised his eyebrows a few times with effort.

After a long silence, Zhouzhu sighed with resignation:

”...Alright, since you want to give it a try, go ahead.”

”You now are essentially half in charge of both the Kondo family and Shiwei Hall.”

”Anyway, it won’t be long before I fully retire and hand over the Natural Reasoning Heart School sect leader role and Shiwei Hall to you.”

”So go ahead with what you young people think is best.”

With his father expressing agreement and support for his ideas, Kondo excitedly bowed to Zhouzhu, thanking him.

Hijikata, pleased that his envisioned plan was approved, also felt joyful.

Chokata, who was now slightly less inebriated, asked Kondo and Hijikata:

”So... where are we going to find those renowned scholars?”

Chokata asked a critically important question directly.

”...We’ll rely on fate and take our time to find them.” Kondo laughed dryly a few times, ”It’s unrealistic to find a world-renowned scholar right away.”

”Such esteemed figures, our small Shiwei Hall can’t accommodate.”

”So let’s proceed steadily and gradually.”

”For now, I plan to first try recruiting those who have only modest fame within the city of Edo.”

Kondo paused briefly, pursed his lips, and let out a low self-deprecating laugh:

”However, even those with modest fame in Edo aren’t easy to find...”

”Even if we locate them, getting them to join Shiwei Hall isn’t easy.”

”Oh oh...” Chokata nodded earnestly, then crossed his arms, pouting in thought.

Because of Chokata’s thin arms and legs, when he made such a crossed-arm gesture, it didn’t create an air of authority, but rather made him appear even smaller.

”People with modest fame in Edo... I don’t seem to know such people...” Chokata muttered.

Hearing Chokata’s mutter, Aoto couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth, quietly thinking with a hint of exasperation:

——You, as a shut-in, would be unlikely to know any scholars!

Even when Aoto first stayed at Shiwei Hall, he already noticed: Chokata was truly a hardcore shut-in.

Usually, he never went out.

Out of 24 hours a day, he spent all 24 hours cooped up in Shiwei Hall.

Occasionally going outside was either to replenish his essential ”strategic resources” for daily survival: gold flat sugar, or when he craved sweets from a few teahouses or pastry shops he often visited.

Chokata’s social circle was basically confined within Shiwei Hall. His regular friends included only the few people like Aoto, Kondo, and Hijikata.

If Chokata actually knew any Edo scholars, Aoto would be genuinely shocked.

”Alright, let’s leave these matters for later thoughts.” Aoto picked up a fish he disliked and hadn’t touched from his plate, giving it to Chokata, who loved it, ”For now, let’s eat well and have fun. Here, have this fish...”

”Ah!”

Before Aoto finished speaking, Chokata exclaimed, interrupting Aoto’s words, then suddenly lifted his head as if remembering something.

”Almost subconsciously missed out... isn’t there someone right here who might know some scholars?”

Chokata turned his face, showing a broad smile to Aoto...

”Mr. Tachibana!”

Chokata laughed as he extended his left elbow, poking Aoto’s side.

”As an official working in the ’Three Times’ at the Magistrate’s Office, surely you have some connections, right?”

”Do you know anyone with modest fame in Edo?”

”Huh?” Aoto was taken aback.

Now, it was Aoto, entirely unprepared for such a question from Chokata, who was deep in thought.

Connections... As a Dōshin responsible for handling various criminal cases at the North Guard Station, Aoto obviously had some connections.

But those connections were mostly fellow ’public servants at the Magistrate’s Office.’

Among all the people he knew, the only one who could be regarded as a scholar... seemed to be Katsu Rintarō, whose life he recently saved at the Foreign Language Research Institute.

However, for a political figure like Katsu Rintarō, busy with various administrative affairs every day, it didn’t seem possible for him to become a disciple or patron of their Shiwei Hall.

After careful consideration, failing to think of any suitable candidates, Aoto bitterly smiled and shook his head.