My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 560: Chapter 183: Final Showdown! Aoto vs. Shinno [9000]_3

”Carrot! Go!”

”Moo moo~~”

Under Sazanoko’s urging, Carrot mooed and trotted towards the couple, carrying Sazanoko on its back.

”Hey!”

Sazanoko shouted loudly at the couple.

”Get on the horse... ah, no, get on the cow! I’ll take you to find a doctor!”

...

...

To reduce their visibility and improve escape efficiency, Shinno ordered the strategy of ”divide and scatter,” with everyone dispersing and escaping on their own.

At this moment, under the ”divide and scatter” strategy, Shinno was left with only three subordinates as he moved north along the silent street, which didn’t even have a stray dog.

”Mr. Kamino! It seems like no one is chasing us anymore!”

One of Shinno’s subordinates on his left suddenly shouted this towards Shinno.

This shout made Shinno turn his head to look back.

Indeed... behind, apart from the street bathed in moonlight and dense night, there was nothing else.

But to be safe, Shinno didn’t stop; he continued north, fleeing towards a place far away from the settlement.

”Damn it...”

Just as he refocused his gaze ahead, Shinno muttered a curse under his breath.

Looking back on tonight’s operation... it was a complete and utter disaster!

A disaster that couldn’t be worse!

The only goal achieved tonight was successfully setting fire to the settlement.

But this small success was entirely insignificant compared to the huge failure of ”suffering great casualties yet failing to kill Tachibana Aoto.”

For Shinno, the failure of ”not killing Tachibana Aoto” was enough to erase all the glory of tonight.

The overwhelming bitterness and anger made Shinno feel his hands were trembling slightly.

——Forget it... calm down first...

Shinno repeatedly whispered ”calm” to himself and took several deep breaths in succession.

The originally cloudy pupils gradually regained their clarity.

——Although the casualties were heavy tonight... as long as some time is patiently spent, the personnel lost tonight can gradually be replenished.

——There is no shortage of patriots with anti-foreigner aspirations.

——Afterwards... that hateful Tachibana Aoto must be made the top priority to deal with!

If Shinno gained anything tonight... it was the realization of how great a threat Aoto posed to their Anti-foreigner Group.

He can no longer simply be seen as a Magistrate’s Office ”Three Times” official.

Such strength, such a growth rate... no word of the threat he poses can be excessive.

Having regained his composure, Shinno began thinking about how to exact revenge on Aoto afterward and how to kill this now formidable Aoto.

At this moment.

Just as Shinno was still contemplating his future plans, he suddenly heard two somewhat solitary footsteps coming from behind him.

Footsteps... these were the sounds Shinno least wanted to hear right now.

He turned his neck, made stiff by nerves tightening instantly, to look back... only to see in the layers of moonlight and night behind him, two figures—one tall, one petite—were coming straight towards them.

These figures were Aoto and Mukiwa!

Shinno’s expression changed drastically.

”Have they caught up...” Shinno squeezed out the words between clenched teeth.

The three subordinates beside Shinno also noticed Aoto and Mukiwa pursuing them closely, and their expressions immediately turned as grim as Shinno’s.

Following Shinno’s lead, they turned into a narrow alley on the right, hoping to shake off Aoto and Mukiwa by moving through the complex terrain.

Speed... that was Aoto and Mukiwa’s forte.

Their legs still retained considerable strength thanks to ”Strong Muscle.”

With the effect of the ”Take the Lead” talent, Shinno and his group not only failed to distance themselves from Aoto and the others, but the gap between them was closing even more.

If this continues, it won’t be long before Aoto and Mukiwa catch up... the three subordinates beside Shinno, realizing this, exchanged glances and immediately showed expressions of resolve and determination.

”Mr. Kamino, you go first!” someone shouted, ”We’ll hold off that traitor and that woman for you!”

These three were all loyal to Shinno, seeing him as an irreplaceable figure in completing the anti-foreigner cause, willing to give their all for his safety.

Faced with the loyal subordinates’ voluntary rear-guard request, Shinno’s reaction was — to nod and agree without hesitation.

”Alright! Please!”

Shinno left with just this indifferent message... not even sparing a glance back at the subordinates who stopped and lingered there.

”Traitor! Die!”

”Celestial Punishment!”

...

The three who halted their steps to buy Shinno time, drew their swords, moving forth to confront Aoto and Mukiwa.

The strength of these three was far from substantial; Mukiwa alone could have toppled them easily.

Consequently, under the combined fierce attack of Aoto and Mukiwa, this extremely fragile ”blocking formation” was swiftly torn apart.

However — these three weren’t completely sacrificed in vain.

Their desperate stalling delayed Aoto and Mukiwa for a few seconds.

And these few seconds were enough for Shinno to run to a place beyond Aoto and Mukiwa’s sight.

”Mr. Tachibana, that Shinno is getting away!”

As Mukiwa shouted this anxiously, Shinno’s silhouette had almost vanished from their field of vision.

Mukiwa was about to give chase, but Aoto called out to stop her first.