In order to become a Heroic Spirit, I had no choice but to cause trouble in history.

But apart from the name change, everything else is still running as usual.

Hijikata was sitting at Kondo's desk, and the two were chatting.

"Kondo, actually sometimes I feel that there's something right about what Serizawa Kamo said."

Kondo looked up at Hijikata's broad back, his voice weak and listless: "What did he say that made you agree?"

"...You're too kind, Kondo." Hijikata Toshizo looked at the ceiling and sighed. "I'm not saying the Shinsengumi are kind, I'm saying you're too kind."

"...You mean what we discussed last night?" Kondo paused for a moment. "We...we shouldn't have done that, after all, Chief Serizawa didn't do anything really bad."

“He doesn’t need to do it, Kondo.” Hijikata Toshizo picked up a pen from the table. “You two’s constant arguing is affecting the daily life of the group.”

He turned around and looked into Kondo Isami's eyes: "You should make a decision."

Kondo's expression was complicated; he opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Hijikata Toshizo laughed and punched Kondo on the shoulder: "That's the real you, Kondo."

As he spoke, Hijikata turned and left. When he reached the door, he glanced back at Kondo and said, "I'll help you make the decisions you can't or dare not make."

"After all... I am the Demon Vice-Commander of the Shinsengumi."

Kondo reached out his hand, intending to stop Hijikata Toshizo, but then withdrew it halfway through.

He smiled.

Oh well, this is fine too.

That evening, Hijikata Toshizo gathered the group of people from the previous day.

"I have already received orders from Director Kondo." He looked at the group of people seriously.

"Serizawa Kamo, as the director, is arrogant, radical, and violent, and has repeatedly disregarded the safety of civilians during operations."

"so--"

“The Serizawa ducks shall be eradicated.”

He spoke each word deliberately and forcefully.

------------

Chapter 386 No Need for Two Bureau Chiefs

September.

Hijikata Toshizo sat opposite Nagakura Shinpachi.

"Captain Nagakura, I would like to ask you... not to interfere in this purge within the Shinsengumi."

"...Don't get involved in the purge of the Serizawa faction by the Kondo faction...?" Nagakura Shinpachi took a deep breath. "Chief Serizawa is my senior, you should know that, right?"

Hijikata Toshizo nodded silently.

Nagakura Shinpachi stared coldly at Hijikata Toshizo: "Give me a reason for not taking action."

"The reason..." Hijikata Toshizo sighed, "The reason is that you and Chief Serizawa and the others are not on the same side."

Nagakura Shinpachi laughed: "What kind of bullshit reason is that?"

Hijikata Toshizo shook his head: "In short, we are indeed going to take action against Chief Serizawa. You... do as you please."

After saying that, Hijikata Toshizo stood up and left.

Nagakura Shinpachi was lost in thought.

He glanced at the light blue haori he was wearing and scoffed.

"Fine, then let's not make a move."

"Anyway, I'm just a knife. It doesn't matter whose hand it's in, so I might as well choose a path that will allow me to survive."

"After all... only by surviving can one create value..."

......

“So, we have to kill Mr. Serizawa.” Hijikata Toshizo said calmly.

"I feel a little sorry for Okita, who usually has a good relationship with Mr. Serizawa..." Yamanami Keisuke looked at Okita Souji with a slightly apologetic look.

During the gathering in Mibu Village, Okita Souji often played with the children of Mibu Village together with Serizawa Kamo. Serizawa Kamo would draw pictures for the children, while Souji would use his Shrinking Earth ability to play hide-and-seek with them.

Okita Souji looked up at the two of them with a somewhat cold expression.

"I have no objection to this internal purge."

"so."

When should we go cut them down?

Hijikata Toshizo's expression was completely unsurprised, while Yamanami Keisuke looked at Okita Souji with a somewhat frightened expression.

“Hijikata…?” Yamanami Keisuke stiffly turned his head to look at Hijikata Toshizo.

“Okita will not hesitate on matters of principle, Yamanami, you are overthinking it.” Hijikata Toshizo said with a slight smile. “Then… let’s begin the plan.”

“But before that, there’s one more troublesome person we need to deal with.” His eyes narrowed, a hint of bloodlust flashing in them.

......

Serizawa Kamo never returned after leaving the Shinsengumi. He left a message for Kondo and then brought two Shinsengumi members to his house in Osaka.

He vaguely realized something.

Then, on September 13th, Niimi Nishiki, located in a corner of Osaka, was forced to commit suicide, and Serizawa Kamo's heart sank completely.

Should we run away?

This question lingered in Serizawa Kamo's mind.

In the end, Serizawa Kamo chose to stay in the garden.

September 18th.

Five figures arrived outside the Serizawa residence.

Today is a rainy day, and the rain is so loud that it can cover up a lot of things.

Four people stood at the entrance of the Serizawa residence.

Hijikata Toshizo glanced at everyone and asked, "Where did Harada go?"

"They've gone to block the back door," Yamanami Keisuke replied. "We can't fail this time; we have to succeed."

Saito Hajime smoothed his long hair and shook the raindrops off his head: "So? Which one should we start killing?"

There are three people in the Serizawa residence: Serizawa Kamo, Hirayama Goro, and another member of the team named Hirama.

Hijikata stroked the gun in his hand and said coldly, "Kill Serizawa first. If necessary, we can even spare the other two."

Click.

The bullet is loaded.

"Only Serizawa."

"That guy has to be killed on the spot."

For this operation, he specifically asked Kondo Isami to request a gun from his superiors.

After observing the structure of the house, Yamanami Keisuke said to Hijikata, "Then, Saito and I will enter from the side, and you and Okita will rush in from the front?"

Okita Souji's eyes appeared particularly cold against the backdrop of the rain: "I understand."

Hijikata, holding a gun in one hand and a knife in the other, shouted: "...Go!"

boom--

After everyone dispersed, Okita cleaved open the door of the Serizawa residence with two slashes and, together with Hijikata, launched a direct assault through the front door.

They encountered two servants on the road, but the two men ignored them without hesitation.

Their only target was Serizawa Duck in the living room.

Serizawa Duck poured himself a bowl of wine.

bang——

The door was kicked open violently.

“...You’re here.” Serizawa took a sip of his drink and looked at Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke standing in front of him. “I was getting a little impatient… Hijikata.”

He held the sake bowl up to Hijikata Toshizo's direction and shook it: "Want a drink?"

Hijikata pointed his gun at Serizawa Kamo, his expression icy: "Mr. Serizawa... as long as you're still around, the Shinsengumi can never be united, so..."

"Please, just go die."

Serizawa showed no surprise, simply smiling and saying, "Oh... so you're asking me to die?"

He took another sip of his drink: "So, this time it was Kondo who ordered it?"

Hijikata Toshizo shook his head: "This has nothing to do with Mr. Kondo; it's just that I acted arbitrarily."

Keisuke Yamanami stood to one side, gripping the hilt of his katana: "The Shinsengumi doesn't need two commanders. We must work together under Commander Kondo's leadership to move forward."

He repeated Hijikata's words: "So, Mr. Serizawa, please just die."

Serizawa Kamo burst into laughter: "Hahahaha!!!"

"Utterly ridiculous, utterly laughable!"

He pointed at Hijikata and then at Sanamatsu: "You think you can get a public office like this without me?"

"Without me, you would just be a bunch of country samurai who parted ways with Kiyokawa Hachiro and have nowhere else to turn outside Kyoto."

"You haven't forgotten who introduced you to Matsudaira Katamori, have you?"

Hijikata Toshizo and Yamanami Keisuke did not respond.

At that moment, two sharp blades suddenly thrust in through the window behind them—

Zheng—

Ping! Ping!