I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Miyagawa Otogoro held the sword with both hands, his left hand supporting the bottom of the scabbard and his right hand on the hilt, raising the sword horizontally in front of his chest, and loudly proclaimed, word by word:

"Nagazone Kotetsu!"

In that instant, the air in the room became hot and stuffy.

Kondo Isami's eyes widened, and his ape-like mouth opened slightly:

"Kotetsu?!"

At the same time, the other three—Sōji, Hijikata Toshizo, and Inoue Genzaburo—exchanged glances, each finding intense shock on the other's face.

Inoue Genzaburo said excitedly:

"Nagasone Kotetsu...a sword among swords!"

Like most samurai swords, 'Nagasone Kotetsu' is not only the name of the sword, but also the brand name... that is, the name of the sword's forger.

Nagasone Kotetsu was a famous swordsmith in the early Edo period. After the Battle of Sekigahara (1601), he fled to Kanazawa, where he began to gain fame as a blacksmith.

It is said that the sword made by Kotetsu is not only exquisitely crafted and extremely sharp, but also features ingenious carvings on the blade. It is a famous sword with unique craftsmanship, whether for killing or for display.

Therefore, all swords forged by Kotetsu were given the name "Nagasone Kotetsu".

Because Kotetsu is a brand name, it is not like the Vairocana or the Dingguishen swords of Qingdeng, which are unique treasures with exclusive names.

The exact number of Kotetsu swords that have survived to this day remains uncertain.

The stage names and house names of those renowned Kabuki performers are passed down through generations... and so are the swordsmiths.

Some swordsmiths... especially those who have mastered unique skills, have been making swords for generations.

Their unique skills are passed down only within the family and never to outsiders, hence the distinctions of "first generation XX", "second generation XX", and "third generation XX".

For example, Izumi no Kami Kanesada, which is also a well-known brand.

Izumi no Kami Kanesada is one of the most famous sword-making families of the time, and their tradition has continued for more than 300 years.

Among them, the swords forged by the second-generation Izumi no Kami Kanesada are the most famous and sharp.

The renowned swords such as Kuji Kanesada and Renjin Mukoku were all crafted by the second Izumi no Kami Kanesada.

Currently, the Izumi no Kami Kanesada has been the eleventh generation, and he now resides in Aizu, serving the Aizu Domain.

After Matsudaira Katamori, the lord of the Aizu Domain, was appointed as the Kyoto Guardian and led the domain's troops to defend Kyoto, the eleventh Izumi no Kami Kanesada was also taken to Kyoto and became active as the "Aizu Domain's official swordsmith."

Compared to Izumi no Kami Kanesada, whose lineage was passed down through generations, Nagasone Kotetsu's line only lasted until the second generation before it died out.

The Second Generation Nagasone Kotetsu... This was a figure from over two hundred years ago.

Due to the interruption of its lineage and the passage of time, the number of Kotetsu swords currently in existence is extremely small, making them incredibly rare.

"Brother, you actually managed to buy Kotetsu?"

Kondo Isami involuntarily cast a surprised and suspicious glance at his older brother.

Just like warriors, farmers are also divided into different classes.

Although Kondo Isami's family were farmers, they were not poor; in fact, they were quite wealthy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to learn swordsmanship from a young age.

Although the price of existing Kotetsu on the market is outrageously high, Miyagawa Otogoro can still afford it if he grits his teeth.

Kondo Isami was shocked to discover that his elder brother had access to Kotetsu!

You should know how many swordsmen and collectors have wanted to buy Kotetsu but couldn't?

"hey-hey!"

Miyagawa Otogoro smiled憨厚ly.

"Yes, I also find it incredible. Perhaps it's divine protection. Come on! Ah Sheng, you should try it!"

Kondo Isami nodded vigorously and took the knife with both hands.

The crimson hilt, round guard, and sword fittings are all in the currently popular red scabbard style.

With a clang, he pushed the knife out of the scabbard, revealing the brass latch used to hold the scabbard in place, and then drew the knife out of the scabbard in one go.

In that instant, even those in the outer corridor could clearly hear the clear, ringing sound, like the tinkling of wind chimes.

The blade is 2 feet 3 inches long (about 66cm). The blade blank is well-made, with tight itame muscle on the blade surface. The smoothness of the blade edge is impeccable, and the back of the blade has a slight curve, all done in one go.

Kondo Isami raised his sword, stood facing the sky, and carefully examined the blade in the bright sunlight streaming into the hall. Souji and the others leaned over to join him in the examination.

After a moment, Kondo Isami nodded slightly and murmured:

"Hmm, a fine knife... a fine knife...!"

Hearing his younger brother's evaluation, Miyagawa Otogoro beamed with joy, his smile almost reaching his ears.

However... suddenly, Kondo Isami frowned slightly without making a sound.

At the same time, Souji and the others seemed to have discovered something, and their expressions became strange.

They were all exceptionally talented swordsmen. Although they were not professional swordsmiths or connoisseurs, and their personal experience could not be described as having examined countless swords, they still possessed the basic ability to appreciate the quality of swords.

Admittedly, the quality of this "Kotetsu" is indeed excellent... but such quality seems unworthy of the Kotetsu name...

Hijikata Toshizo crossed his arms and pursed his lips.

Just as he raised his head, preparing to say something to Miyagawa Otogoro, his sleeve was secretly tugged by a small hand that reached out from the side.

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at the commander.

"Mr. Hijikata, please don't speak," Souji said with his eyes.

As soon as you open your mouth, you're sure to get something nice to say... There's a hidden message in her eyes.

After warning Hijikata Toshizo, Souji turned to look at Miyagawa Otogoro and asked softly:

"Brother Miyagawa, this Kotetsu must be quite expensive, right?"

Miyagawa Otogoro did not notice anything unusual about them.

Still basking in the joy of having given the right gift, he laughed heartily:

"Yeah, it's definitely not cheap!"

As he spoke, he held up five fingers.

"Fifty taels of gold! Although it hurts a bit, I really want Ah Sheng to have an unparalleled, peerless sword, so I gritted my teeth and bought it!"

50 ryo... Upon hearing this number, Kondo Isami, Souji, and the others all underwent a meaningful change in their expressions.

Kondo Isami raised an eyebrow, then smiled calmly.

A look of helplessness crossed Souji's face, as if to say, "Ah, I knew it..."

Hijikata Toshizo felt Inoue Genzaburo's gaze.

He turned his head and was met with a questioning look from Inoue Genzaburo: Hijikata-kun, this sword...

"Alright, we know, just don't say it out loud," Hijikata Toshizo said with a look in his eyes.

Kondo Isami held the "Kotetsu" in his hand, his face showing a complex expression of emotion:

"Brother, you've gone to so much trouble..."

"Hahaha, Ah Sheng, don't worry about it! This is just a small token of my appreciation!"

The word "mother-in-law" is completely unrelated to Kondo Isami.

Since his elder brother had said so, he no longer hesitated.

With a clang, he sheathed the "Tiger Blade" and then held it tightly to his chest.

"Brother, thank you!"

Miyagawa Otogoro nodded, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Ah Sheng, you must make a name for yourself with this Kotetsu!"

"Yes! I will!"

……

……

"Alright, the sword has been delivered, and I should head back now!" After safely handing Kotetsu to his younger brother, Miyagawa Otogoro prepared to return home.

Kondo Isami tried his best to persuade him to stay.

"Brother, at least stay for dinner before you leave."

"No, I have a lot of important things to do at home."

Miyagawa Otogoro was determined to leave, and Kondo Isami, unable to dissuade him, had no choice but to get up and see him off.

He led the Souji and others to see Miyagawa Otogoro off to the entrance, then stood outside the gate of the Shieikan and watched him leave.

After the steady, powerful footsteps faded into the distance, Hijikata Toshizo scratched his head and let out a long sigh.

“…Asheng, your brother has been deceived. It’s impossible for Nagasone Kotetsu to be bought for a mere 50 taels of gold. It would cost at least 1 or 200 taels of gold. If it were the first generation Kotetsu, it wouldn’t be impossible for it to cost 500 taels of gold.”

Before he could finish speaking, the commander-in-chief pursed his lips, put his hands on his hips, and retorted irritably:

“Mr. Hijikata, although this sword is a fake, its quality is quite good! It is worth the high price of 50 taels of gold, so Mr. Miyagawa has not been cheated!”

Hijikata Toshizo glanced sideways at the Souji.

"This sword is indeed of decent quality, but it's ultimately not a genuine Kotetsu!"

"If word gets out that 'the sword used by the Shinsengumi chief and the fourth head of the Tennen Rishin-ryu main family is a fake,' not only will Katsuyuki lose face, but the Shinsengumi's reputation will also be affected."

"Tsukasa, you wouldn't want to see the Shinsengumi, which Tachibana worked so hard to build, disturbed by rumors that could have been avoided, would you?"

Everyone present knew Souji's true gender, so Hijikata Toshizo directly called Souji by her real name: "Tsukasa-chan".

Hijikata Toshizo, as expected of Aoto's handpicked "the most skilled military talent in the Shinsengumi," deliberately used Aoto's reputation to intimidate Souji.

The effect was outstanding—Souji was instantly speechless, unsure how to respond.

At this moment, Kondo Isami turned around, looking helplessly at the young couple who resembled siblings, and interjected:

"Alright, you two, stop arguing. I want to cherish my brother's feelings. From now on, this 'Kotetsu' will be my new sword!"

Upon hearing this, Hijikata Toshizo quickly replied:

"Ah Sheng, what nonsense are you talking about? You should be using a better, more powerful sword, not wearing a fake one on your waist!"