I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"...Seven years ago, when my daughter was eight years old, she suddenly disappeared."

"Based on my subsequent investigation, it is highly likely that she was a victim of human trafficking..."

"I heard she was abducted to the Far East."

"So I traveled around doing business while searching for her."

"The world is so vast that even this small island nation could keep me searching for decades."

"Although I hate to admit it... the chances of finding my daughter are so slim it's despairing..."

"However, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will not give up!"

He paused for a moment after saying this.

When he spoke again, his tone was filled with sorrow:

"Sigh...time flies."

"Seven years have passed since she was abducted and trafficked."

"She's 15 years old this year... she's reached the age where she can get married."

"She will probably grow into a beautiful woman, just like her mother."

It turns out he was a father searching for his missing daughter...

The emotionally expressive Kinoshita Mai immediately showed a melancholy and sorrowful expression.

She was an abandoned child.

Therefore, she has a strong sense of empathy for such things.

In contrast, Qing Deng remained calm.

This isn't because he's cold-blooded.

He was just habitually on guard.

Who is this stranger?

To put it bluntly, to Qingdeng, the other party was a complete stranger.

Qingdeng had no idea about his background at all.

Heaven knows how much of what he just said was true and how much was false.

Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that he has always been telling the truth.

Throughout history, from east to west, human traffickers have always been a constant presence.

Westerners have always been like this.

They always use nice-sounding words like "advanced" and "modern" on their lips, boasting of their own civilization.

Yet, they are undoubtedly the most uncivilized and brutal group.

In the current era where "capitalism is recklessly devouring Europe," Westerners have taken the attribute of "talking about ideologies while being driven by business" to its extreme.

On a macro level, there are governments that brazenly launch wars of aggression in order to sell opium.

On a micro level, there are merchants who will break the bottom line and sell the ropes used to hang themselves without hesitation, as long as there is profit to be made.

Whether it's human trafficking or opium cultivation, as long as it's a profitable business, countless merchants will fight tooth and nail to do it.

Completely disregarding ethics and morality, ignoring fundamental principles and ethics, and taking the so-called "market economy" to its extreme.

Leaving aside the ancient "triangular trade," let's just talk about the present—the most prominent example of human trafficking today is the infamous "Museum of Mankind."

They collect dwarfs, gigantism patients, and other deformed children through various means such as robbery and buying and selling, lock them in cages, and exhibit them around like display objects to satisfy people's curiosity, euphemistically calling it a "human museum".

There are countless other sordid acts committed by Western merchants.

What's even more terrifying is that they made this "blood money" without any malice.

In other words, they don't even realize that what they're doing is wrong or sinful.

That's why Qingdeng always subconsciously remained vigilant and cautious when facing big businessmen from the West—none of these guys who had been baptized by capitalism were easy to deal with!

Judging from what the stranger just said, his daughter seems to be quite good-looking.

This makes it even more plausible that she was trafficked.

After all, Westerners' "preference" for and harm to children is no secret.

The most typical example is "The Godfather and the Little Boy".

If this were the 21st century, she might have been sold to some island.

Thinking of this, Qingdeng couldn't help but feel pity and cast a sympathetic glance at the stranger in front of him.

If everything he just said is true, then this father is truly pitiful.

An 8-year-old girl was abducted, and her whereabouts and fate are still unknown... Just imagining it is incredibly suffocating!

However, aside from offering their deepest sympathy, Aoto and Kinoshita Mai could do nothing else.

They genuinely did not recognize the blonde girl named "Alice de Orléans".

Even if they wanted to lend a helping hand, they didn't know where to begin.

Seeing his hopes dashed once again, the stranger sighed again.

"Sorry to bother you..."

After saying that, he stuffed the old photograph back into his pocket, straightened his clothes, and seemed to be preparing to leave.

Before parting, he said to Qingdeng in a serious tone:

"Sir, please allow me to express my sincere gratitude once again for your help!"

Qingdeng nodded slightly to acknowledge his gratitude.

"Wishing your daughter peace! And wishing you find your daughter soon!"

Kinoshita Mai kindly offered her blessings.

The stranger forced a smile, pulling at the corners of his mouth.

"Yes, thank you for your kind words!"

……

……

The stranger walked at a leisurely pace.

Strangely, he did not head towards the Westerners' settlement, but went straight to the outskirts of Osaka.

Soon, all the buildings disappeared into the distance, leaving only dense forests and bushes.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from his side.

"...Come out."

The stranger said calmly, without any expression.

"...Sir, why have you gone out again without permission?"

Accompanied by a helpless voice, a tall young man slowly emerged from the bushes, walked to the stranger, and then knelt down on one knee.

Upon closer inspection, the man was not a Westerner, but a genuine Japanese man, whose appearance was extremely unremarkable.

"Watching the bustling street scenes—that's one of my few hobbies."

As the stranger spoke, he turned to look at Osaka behind him, which was shrouded in twinkling lights.

"A bustling street scene represents stability, prosperity, and peace."

"These beautiful sights will inspire me! They will fill me with strength! They will give me the energy to continue dedicating myself to this great cause!"

At this point, the stranger paused, then cast a reproachful glance at the young man in front of him:

"What? Do you mean I don't even have the right to 'go out'?"

The young man hurriedly said:

"Please forgive me, sir! I was only concerned for your personal safety!"

The stranger waved his hand.

"Very well. I understand your concerns."

"In fact, I did encounter some trouble just now."

"When I was passing through streets and alleys with a lot of izakayas, I was bothered by some drunkards."

Fortunately, I met a kind person who helped me out of this predicament.

"Oh, right... I forgot to ask their name."

The stranger gave a bitter smile.

"Never mind... Judging from their appearance, they probably won't tell me their real name."

He shrugged and then stepped forward again.

"Let's go, go back."

He hadn't taken two steps when the young man suddenly spoke up—his sudden words left the former frozen in place, as if petrified.

"Sir, we have news about your daughter."

"What did you say?!"

The stranger suddenly turned around, his two sharp, burning gazes piercing straight into the young man.

Although the young man was startled, he dutifully continued the conversation:

"It is understood that the Shinsengumi recently recruited a French girl who is proficient in mathematics to fill the vacancy of 'Head of the Finance Office'."

"The girl's name is 'Elodie Angoulême,' she is 15 years old, and has light blonde hair and sky blue eyes."

The more the stranger listened, the more dramatic his facial expressions became.

First came anticipation, then astonishment, then thoughtful reflection, and finally, ecstasy.

“Elodie… Angoulême… proficient in mathematics… there’s no mistake! It’s definitely her! It’s definitely her!!”