I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Father, I still don't understand... Just for your own selfish reasons, you're going to stir up trouble?"

Mael shrugged, looking completely indifferent.

"Stirring up trouble? That's a really harsh way to put it."

"Alright, let's leave this topic here."

"Even if I told you the principle of being willing to die to pursue a grand goal, you wouldn't understand."

Upon hearing this, Elodie's pupils constricted to pinpoints, and her expression changed drastically.

After a moment, she slowly lowered her head and clenched her fists.

"...Yes, I really don't understand."

"However, I understand one thing—many people died in the Battle of Hakodate a few days ago."

"Father, did you see the full panorama of the battlefield at that time?"

"You fled far away by ship at the time, so you probably didn't see it, right?"

"You stand atop a massive warship, overlooking the battlefield from a high vantage point."

"The blood that splattered everywhere didn't even get on your beautiful clothes."

"Those filthy hands can't even reach your noble ankles."

“You can confidently say, ‘I want to achieve grand goals,’ and ‘These are the necessary costs to achieve grand goals.’”

"But I can't do that."

"Because I am on the battlefield."

"A few months ago, I took to the battlefield for the first time, blocking the 'Faki Coalition' on the vast plains and buying time for the defense of Edo in the rear."

"I personally killed the enemy soldier in front of me."

"I watched my companions fall to the ground with my own eyes."

"I tried my best, but there were still many companions I couldn't save."

"I fought with all my might, but there are still many enemies I cannot defeat."

"After this battle, I truly realized how cruel war can be."

“Father, the reason you insisted on establishing the country was not to create a better world, and you had no noble sentiments. It was purely to satisfy your own selfish desires.”

"For you, as long as you can realize this ambition, whether it means breaking with your family or causing widespread suffering, it is all a tolerable 'price'."

"In that case, I simply cannot understand your lofty ideals, nor do I want to understand them at all."

Having said that, Elodie lowered her head—the shadows cleverly obscuring her face, making it impossible to see the expression etched on her face—and resolutely turned away.

"Excuse me, Master, I'm not feeling well, I'll head back now."

Before Qingdeng could reply, she left on her own, her footsteps fading into the distance.

Ogata turned to watch Elodie leave, and after she had completely disappeared, he clicked his tongue and said in a mocking tone:

"Poor thing, your daughter completely hates you now."

Upon hearing this, Mael's expression changed drastically.

Since waking up, he has maintained a calm and composed demeanor, showing no fear even when facing Qingdeng directly, as if he were unafraid of any danger.

However, at this moment, faced with Ogata's sarcasm, he lost his composure.

But his eyes widened, his teeth clenched, and he glared angrily at Xu Fang, shouting sharply:

"Shut up!"

Ogata ignored his threats and said quietly:

"I can see that you still care about your daughter."

"However, for you, 'family ties' are nothing compared to 'ambition'."

“You abandoned ‘family’ and chose ‘ambition’.”

I have no intention of judging your merits or demerits.

"But... your choice will ultimately be tinged with loneliness."

"Just like now."

Mael's anger intensified, his face contorted, his lips moving as if he were devising words to refute Ogata.

However, in the end, he didn't say a word.

He withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and no longer looked at Ogata... or rather, dared not meet Ogata's gaze.

At this moment, Qing Deng gazed intently at Ma'er and slowly said:

“Mael, now I understand why you incited the Ainu to rebel.”

"You're trying to weaken the Ainu so you can eventually annex this land, aren't you?"

Without looking up, Mael said coldly:

"Yes."

"One of the biggest problems in annexing Ezo is how to deal with the Ainu people."

“My ‘new nation’ needs a sufficient workforce, and these Ainu people are precious laborers that should not be wasted. Therefore, we cannot exterminate the Ainu people like the Americans exterminated the Native Americans.”

"Just when I was having a problem, I happened to discover Cialis."

“The ‘Yamato Conquest’ that Cialis has been pursuing is exactly what I want.”

"If I provide assistance, he will help me find and gather the Ainu people who are rebellious."

"Given the size of the Ainu, there is no way they could defeat the Edo Shogunate led by 'Niou'."

“Once all the Ainu people with a rebellious spirit are dead, the remaining Ainu people will be easy to rule and obedient.”

"However, I ultimately underestimated your strength."

"I never expected that you could recapture Wulingguo so quickly, and I never expected that I would fall into your hands."

Mael let out a long sigh and lowered his head even further.

"Tachibana Aoto, that's enough for today..."

"I'm a little tired, I really can't talk anymore."

"Anyway, I'm already locked up in jail, so even if I wanted to escape, I wouldn't be able to."

"If you have any other questions, please come to me another time."

"I want to rest... Let me rest for a while..."

Aoto and Ogata exchanged a glance.

After a short while, the two of them remained silent and quietly retreated outside.

Qingdeng, who was walking behind, closed the door behind him.

The moment the door closed, it carried away the last ray of light inside the room.

Alone in his room, Mael was plunged into endless darkness, devoid of both sound and light.

……

……

After leaving the secret cell where Mael was imprisoned, Qingdeng went outside and gazed at the distant sea, lost in thought.

Suddenly, Ogata's voice sounded behind him:

"What are you thinking about, Tachibana-kun?"

As Ogata asked the question, he walked over to Aoto's side and stood next to him.

Qingdeng smiled helplessly:

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about Mael's confession."

"Which part of the confession?"

"His confession about how he was determined to build a nation because of a lack of excitement in his life."

Qingdeng paused, then adopted a serious tone:

"I have fought countless battles and encountered all sorts of opponents."

“Some opponents are greedy for money, some are power-hungry, but opponents like Mael are truly rare.”

"He does not crave material enjoyment, but only pursues a sense of accomplishment on a spiritual level."

"To be honest, such opponents are the most terrifying. They often have a very formidable drive and an indomitable will."

Ogata nodded:

"Yes, I feel the same way. I've also encountered such opponents, and they all left a very deep impression on me."

Qingdeng smiled helplessly, then turned around and walked back to the camp.

"Fine, I won't think about it anymore."

"Sirika has been executed and Mael has been captured. Although the process was somewhat tortuous, the war in the north has come to a successful conclusion."

"Next, it's time to head back to the capital region."

Ogata raised an eyebrow:

"So soon? Shouldn't we rest for a couple more days?"

Qingdeng shook his head:

"The decisive battle between East and West is imminent."

“At this critical juncture, the longer I am away from the capital, the more likely unexpected problems will arise.”

"While I'm in the north suppressing the rebellion, those guys in the West might start up some big trouble again..."

As Qingdeng spoke, he turned his head to the west, his expression becoming solemn and his gaze slightly narrowed.

……