Simulation: Starting from Under One Person

As for the reason for this judgment, perhaps it's intuition...

A little while later, in a private room at the coffee shop, the two sat facing each other, quietly gazing at one another.

"Say what you want to talk about!"

After pausing to think, Fang Rui said, "...I want to buy information. For every piece of information, I'll give you a box of gold coins."

"A box of gold coins?" Sasaki Isaburo asked.

“A wooden box with sides of one meter,” Fang Rui provided the precise figure.

Sasaki Isaburo raised an eyebrow slightly, said nothing, and waited for Fang Rui to continue.

"The information I want to buy is information about the Three Crows. I want to find someone who is a member of the Three Crows."

"To correct you, there are two people."

Sasaki Isaburo remained silent, his eyes slightly narrowed as if deep in thought. After a moment, he asked, "...Why did you come to me to discuss a deal?"

"Simply put, I know you, I have some basic understanding of you, and I believe you are trustworthy."

Fang Rui explained the reason simply, but Sasaki Isaburo's expression did not change at all, and it was unclear whether he believed it or not.

Sasaki Isaburo wasn't surprised at all when Fang Rui said he knew him, after all, given his status, there were quite a few people who knew him.

However, very few people truly understand him.

Therefore, he didn't take Fang Rui's claim of understanding seriously, merely assuming it was false information from somewhere or just a superficial excuse...

Therefore, he was considering whether to make a deal with Fang Rui.

The news of the sale of the Three Crows did not put any pressure on him, since the Three Crows were loyal to the Heavenly Path Clan, which was the opposing faction he considered.

"I agree to your deal, but I don't have much information about the Three Crows..."

Upon hearing this, Fang Rui said, "You're being too modest. You were once one of the Three Crows, and now you're their subordinate. Who would believe you don't have some important information?"

However, on the surface, Fang Rui did not say that. He merely nodded slightly in agreement, as if to say that the Three-Winged Crow was so mysterious that it was already quite remarkable to know even a little bit of information about it.

As for anything else, neither of them said anything; it was just a transaction, and there was no need to delve into it further.

After agreeing to the deal, the two exchanged email addresses and then left the coffee shop. The first transaction took place a day later...

After all, Sasaki Isaburo could carry away a box of gold coins by himself, but his appearance would definitely be rather strange and unsightly.

The most likely scenario is that Sasaki Isaburo carried the wooden box home with him...

It's strange no matter how you look at it.

Now alone again, Fang Rui continued his journey towards the Shinsengumi's base. After some time, he arrived at the Shinsengumi's headquarters, obtained the information he needed, and then headed to the shogun's residence...

The general's residence was heavily guarded, with a sentry every three steps and a patrol every five steps...

Unfortunately, it was completely useless to Fang Rui. Even without using "cognitive impairment," he was still able to evade all the patrolling soldiers and reach the interior of the castle.

Inside the castle, everything was in perfect order, looking majestic, yet the atmosphere was heavy.

Even though the current shogun Tokugawa Shigeshige and his sister are both good-natured people, it hasn't changed the atmosphere of the castle.

And what's wrong with the layout of the house? Why is it such a mess?

Where is the general? Could he have gone out to play with Matsudaira Katakuri?!

Hopefully not...

With that in mind, Fang Rui found another acquaintance, a one-sided acquaintance.

Princess Chengye, the general's younger sister, is also a good person, kind, a little cunning, or perhaps just naturally cunning.

Asking her about the general's whereabouts should give you the answer.

Without any disguise, Fang Rui approached Princess Chengye and asked directly, "Princess Chengye, do you know where the general is?"

Chapter 551 Princess Chengye's "Incognito Visit"

"My brother's gone out~"

Princess Chengye's tone was slightly cheerful, for reasons unknown, but Fang Rui didn't pay attention. He was more concerned about something else: the general wasn't home.

"Do you have the general's contact information?" Fang Rui continued to ask.

"Yes." Princess Chengye seemed to have no guard up. She answered whatever Fang Rui asked and immediately gave him the general's email address.

"Thank you so much for your help. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Having obtained what he wanted, Fang Rui was naturally willing to give some reward to Princess Chengye who had helped him.

"I want to... go outside the city for a while."

Having an older brother who frequently runs away from home, Princess Chengye naturally thought about running away herself. Now that she saw an opportunity, she was determined to seize it…

"You trust me that much? Aren't you worried that I'm a bad person?" Fang Rui asked in a strange tone.

Princess Chengye was very honest. "I was a little worried at first, but after spending some time with you, I realized you're not a bad person."

"Your attitude changes so quickly," Fang Rui muttered, not caring what Princess Chengye was thinking. He knew perfectly well that he was a good person.

"When shall we set off?" Princess Chengye asked eagerly, while also providing information, "Now that no one is with me, it's the perfect time to run away from home."

“Alright! Let’s go now.” Fang Rui did not refuse Princess Cheng Ye’s kindness. He led her, leaping across rooftops and walls, and a few minutes later they had left the general’s mansion and arrived outside the castle.

Outside the castle, in the streets closest to it, no ordinary people lived; the inhabitants were all nobles, officials, or residents of military garrisons…

After all, the general's mansion was heavily guarded, divided into an inner city and an outer city. Considering timely support and guard rotation, it was quite reasonable to establish the garrison near the castle.

Besides, the Shinsengumi and the patrol police are not too far from the shogun's residence, so they can arrive to provide support immediately if needed.

Therefore, after leaving the castle, Fang Rui did not slow down. He flew across the walls like a gust of wind, causing gasps of surprise from passersby.

His ability to scale walls and rooftops was clearly suspicious, so the alarm was immediately sounded, and a group of people rushed out to try to catch Fang Rui. Unfortunately, no one could keep up with his speed.

Even the Oniwabanshu (a powerful military unit in Japan) cannot match their running speed.

Moreover, the Imperial Guards have already disbanded and it's impossible for them to be here to hunt down Fang Rui.

While the soldiers in the garrison and the private soldiers in various mansions were in turmoil, Fang Rui had already arrived in Kabukicho.

"Wow, so fast!" Princess Chengye, being carried on Fang Rui's back, recalled the previous lightning speed and was very excited, somewhat like she was riding a roller coaster at an amusement park.

'It feels like...the class has dropped.'

After mentally complaining for a moment, Fang Rui didn't continue carrying Princess Chengye. They had reached a safe area, so of course he had to put her down and let her walk on her own...

"Where should we go now?!"

Princess Chengye looked around curiously at everything she saw. It seemed she hadn't left the castle many times, and even if she had, she wouldn't have come to Kabukicho. Everything here interested her.

In response to her question, Fang Rui slowly shook his head, "...I don't know, I'm not very familiar with this place, let's find a guide first!"

The Yorozuya trio would be a great guide choice, but unfortunately, they're currently in the hospital. Shimura Tae and Sakata Gintoki are both injured, and Shimura Shinpachi will definitely stay to take care of them. As for Kagura…

It's hard to say; she might stay in the hospital, or she might go back to the Yorozuya...

Let's go to the Yorozuya first! Even if we can't find Kagura, we can ask Otose for help.

In Kabukicho, Otose is known as one of the Four Heavenly Kings and has quite a network of connections, since two of the Four Heavenly Kings have a good relationship with her...

Besides, Otose has lived in Kabukicho for so long that she knows a lot of people. While she doesn't have perfect relationships with everyone, she has a very good relationship with most of them.

Therefore, it's the right thing to do to find her.

Looking back, Princess Chengye and Kagura didn't know each other at this point in time. If she had met Kagura, they would have met beforehand...

So……

How will the relationship between two people change if their first encounter takes a different turn?

Ordinary friends, or still best friends?

Different situations are difficult to predict.

Without dwelling on the matter, Fang Rui looked at Princess Chengye. Because her "running away from home" was so sudden, Princess Chengye hadn't changed into ordinary clothes and was still wearing those gorgeous and heavy outfits.

"...It's not very convenient to move around!"

Ordinary streets and castle corridors are completely different. Wearing such heavy clothing, it's impossible to walk. In fact, the clothes would get very dirty in just a few minutes.

"Let me take you to a clothing store to buy some clothes first! You shouldn't... mind wearing Western clothes, right?"

Fang Rui asked this question because, compared to kimonos, he felt that Western-style clothing was more suitable for movement, while the convenience of kimonos lay in another aspect...

"I don't mind." Cheng Ye had no objection whatsoever; in fact, she was quite curious.

Perhaps due to her status, she mostly came into contact with kimonos, all kinds of kimonos, while she had very little contact with Western-style clothing.

Hearing Fang Rui's words now felt somewhat novel.

With Cheng Ye on his back, Fang Rui continued to scale walls and rooftops, arriving at a shop in no time. After selecting an outfit, the two left the clothing store. The gorgeous kimono was packed in a shopping bag and carried by Fang Rui.

Initially, Fang Rui intended to sell it to a shop owner, but the owner lacked the courage to buy it. The kimono's elegance was fine, but Cheng Ye's kimono had a mark, a symbol of her status…

Therefore, the shop owner did not dare to acquire it. After all, even if he spent money to acquire it, he could not resell it, which would be a pure waste of money. No one would do a business that loses money.

Fang Rui expressed his understanding of this.

As Chengye walked along the street, he observed the passersby. These people were different from those he knew in his daily life; they were less fake and more genuine...

Living in the complex world of a general's mansion, one encounters officials and nobles daily. Even without witnessing the intrigue firsthand, one can gain insight into the power struggles from various angles.

The people of Kabukicho don't have as many schemes as officials and nobles. Their lifestyle is more direct; when they're angry, they fight directly. There are no scheming tricks, and physical confrontations are more popular.

In just a few hundred meters, he had already witnessed several fights. For Fang Rui, who was well-informed, this was nothing out of the ordinary, but to Cheng Ye, it was quite novel.

After all, who would fight in front of a princess? They'd even avoid having the princess see them arguing...

Not to mention, the fighting style in Kabukicho is devoid of martial ethics, with all sorts of underhanded tactics employed...

The innocent princess was stunned.

Fang Rui didn't stop Cheng Ye from "watching the show." Anyway, she would be corrupted after meeting Kagura, so it didn't matter whether it was sooner or later.

Some time later, the two arrived at the Otose Tavern. It was already nightfall, and the servants in the castle had discovered that the princess and the general were missing. Panic was spreading among them.

The disappearance of generals is an occasional occurrence.

After all, Matsudaira Katakuri often took the shogun away from the castle to play in other places, sometimes openly and honestly, and sometimes secretly...