I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The ages varied, ranging from middle-aged people in their forties to young men in their teens and twenties.

After glancing at it a few times, Yamazaki felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

Although he wasn't skilled in martial arts, he was still an excellent ninja who had undergone rigorous training. He had learned many close-combat techniques from Maki, and before joining the Shinsengumi, he had also practiced some jujitsu. So compared to ordinary people, he could be considered a martial artist.

Therefore, even though he only looked at them with the naked eye, he could easily identify many martial arts masters among them who were worth being wary of.

Putting everything else aside, their steady and powerful gait, strong and sturdy arms, and sharp, eagle-like eyes were enough for Yamazaki to conclude that they were no ordinary people!

—Were they samurai who went out for training together? Or perhaps…?

Just as Yamazaki was secretly speculating about the identities of these people, his pupils suddenly contracted—because he spotted a very familiar face among the group of samurai.

The face flashed a few times in the gaps in the crowd before disappearing into the throng of heads and finally vanishing into the stairwell.

So surprised was he almost cried out.

Just as the cry was about to escape his lips, he snapped back to reality and desperately closed his mouth, managing to swallow the sound back down.

Before joining the Respect for the Emperor movement, Katsura Kogoro was already a renowned and outstanding figure.

At that time, there was no one in the entire Edo martial arts circle who didn't know Katsura Kogoro.

Therefore, Katsura Kogoro's appearance is not a rare secret.

When Katsura Kogoro became a notorious criminal designated by the shogunate, wanted posters depicting his detailed appearance were scattered all over the country.

Katsura Kogoro is very good-looking, with a dignified and elegant appearance.

At first glance, one might mistake him for a scholar from the Changpingzaka Academy.

[Note: Shōheizaka Gakumonsho: A higher education institution directly under the jurisdiction of the Edo Shogunate. It was the highest institution of Confucian education during the Edo period.]

For this reason, Katsura Kogoro's appearance is easy to remember and easy to draw. Skilled painters can sketch Katsura Kogoro's features with just a few strokes, unlike Yamazaki Sumire.

Memorizing the appearances of major wanted criminals such as Genzui Kusaka, Masanobu Kosaka, and Kogoro Katsura is a fundamental skill for the members of the Shinsengumi's Ninth Division.

Yamazaki had seen the portraits of these people on the wanted posters thousands of times.

Therefore, even though he only glanced at him briefly, he was absolutely certain that this person was Katsura Kogoro!

The fact that Katsura Kogoro appeared at Ikedaya—what does this mean? A little thought will reveal the answer.

Instantly, Yamazaki felt a chill run down his spine—a sudden outpouring of cold sweat soaked the back of his clothes.

At the same time, his heart began to pound in his chest—thump, thump, thump—a sound that was both tense and excited!

After telling the boss, "I'm going back to work now," he turned and walked towards the kitchen.

However, just as he was about to return to the kitchen, he suddenly turned a corner and headed straight for the back door of the shop.

As he walked slowly, his senses sharpened to their peak, not missing a single sound or movement around him.

He felt like he had walked over a hundred kilometers in just a hundred meters.

Just as he reached out to open the back door, a crisp voice suddenly rang out from behind him:

"Huh? You are... Oh! It's Reinosuke!"

Yamazaki was stunned for a moment.

In a moment, he returned to normal, his expression as usual.

"Miss Jane, what are you doing here?"

As he asked the question, he turned to look at the girl behind him—A-Jian, one of the tenors of the Ikedaya.

Ah Jian held a basin of freshly washed rice in her hands, and smiled sweetly:

"I was about to ask you the same thing, what are you doing here sneaking around like that?"

Yamazaki shrugged:

"It's nothing, I just heard stray cats meowing outside the back door, so I went to chase them away."

"Stray cats? Ah, I think that's true. For some reason, I've been hearing stray cats meowing outside these past few days. Those stray cats are so annoying! They're always trying to steal food."

After complaining, A-Jian pretended to be annoyed:

"Alright, forget about the stray cat! Although I really want to borrow the cat's paws, a cat's paws are no match for a human hand. Tui-no-suke, hurry up and come help! We can't keep the customers waiting! I don't want to get scolded by the boss."

As she spoke, A-Jian, carrying a large amount of rice in her arms, hurriedly made her way to the kitchen with small, quick steps.

Yamazaki smiled helplessly—a hint of regret flashed between his brows.

"Okay, okay, I'll come help right now."

He followed Ajay—before that, he quietly reached out and unlocked the back door latch.

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Chapter 813: Dharma punishes Prajna, please join!

Kyoto, Sanjo Bridge (west of the Kamo River), Ikedaya, a room on the second floor—

Katsura Kogoro unfastened the sword from his waist and held it in his right hand.

When he entered the room, there were already quite a few people sitting inside.

Upon seeing Katsura Kogoro arrive, everyone in the room parted to the left and right, clearing a path to the head seat, much like Moses parting the sea.

"Mr. Gui, please come this way!"

An unassuming samurai—Otaka Matajiro, also a leader of the pro-imperial faction—stepped forward and gestured for Katsura Kogoro to enter.

Katsura Kogoro nodded in acknowledgment and stepped forward.

At this moment, Otaka Matajiro looked puzzled.

"Mr. Gui, and who is this?"

As he asked the question, he raised his gaze and stared intently at the young samurai following closely behind Katsura Kogoro, scrutinizing him carefully from head to toe.

The man was tall and slender, about 1.7 meters, with no wakizashi at his waist, only a katana with a red and purple handle and sheath.

Although he was dressed in a proper kimono, he was wearing a Western-style top hat and a Western-style cloak that reached his waist.

A mix of Japanese and Western styles... this look is as bizarre as it gets.

Upon seeing this person's attire, everyone in the room showed displeasure.

All of you here are supporters of the ideology of respecting and resisting.

They felt a deep-seated aversion and rejection to everything related to the West—be it ideas or clothing.

Therefore, it's no wonder that people are reacting this way.

When they saw this person brazenly wearing a Western-style top hat and cloak in front of them, they were all filled with rage and cast displeased and resentful glances at him.

Katsura Kogoro explained calmly:

"This is my bodyguard."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man raised his hand to adjust the top hat on his head and bowed slightly.

"Greetings, I am Katsura Kogoro's bodyguard. Please take care of me."

As he spoke, a hint of mockery flickered across his face from under his hat.

"...Hey, what's with your outfit?"

What's meant to happen will happen—a burly, hulking samurai suddenly stood up and moved to the side of the "top hat samurai".

The "top-hatted samurai" shrugged, looking completely innocent.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with my outfit?"

The "majestic warrior" gritted his teeth and pointed to the other man's hat and cloak.

"Your hat! And your cloak! They're really an eyesore! We don't welcome people dressed in Western clothes here! I'm giving you two choices: either take off your hat and cloak, or get out of here, clothes and all!"

Having said that, the "majestic warrior" raised his right hand and pressed down on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his threat beyond measure.

However, the "top-hatted warrior" remained calm in the face of the "majestic warrior's" stern threats.

He tilted his head slightly and glanced at the other person calmly.

What if I say 'I refuse'?

"I will neither take off my hat and cloak nor leave Katsura Kogoro's side."

What can you do to me? What can you do to me?

Instantly, the room was filled with a strong smell of gunpowder.

The "majestic warrior" immediately furrowed his brows, his eyes bulged, and veins popped out on his neck and temples.

Then there was a clang—he raised his left thumb, pressed it against the hilt, and pushed the knife out a little over an inch, revealing the red copper tenon.

The enemy's murderous intent was already evident! On the other hand, the "top hat knight" made no move whatsoever, everything remained the same, he stood straight with his arms hanging naturally at his sides, his expression calm and composed.

At this critical moment, a broad, thick hand reached out from the side and stood between the "top-hatted warrior" and the "robust warrior".

"enough!"

Katsura Kogoro raised his voice, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entire room.

"Did we gather here just to fight?"

"They're fighting amongst themselves before the meeting has even started! What kind of nonsense is this!"

"The infighting among us loyalists has gone on for far too long! Enough blood has been shed!"

"Do we really have to continue fighting amongst ourselves even in this tiny space?"

"Matsuda-kun, put your sword away!"

"Tonight... no, no matter when or where, we, the loyalists of the Righteous Army, must never again draw our swords against our comrades!"

"It is precisely to achieve this goal that I have been working tirelessly and striving until now!"