I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Sakamoto Ryoma smiled calmly:

"It's no big deal, I'm used to it."

As he spoke, he moved over to Saigo Kinosuke and sat down cross-legged.

"Saigo-kun, time is of the essence, so I'll keep it brief."

"Katsura Kogoro has put forward five conditions. If Satsuma agrees to these five conditions, they will be willing to form an alliance with you."

As he spoke, Sakamoto Ryoma took out the paper and presented it to Saigo Kinosuke with both hands.

Saigo Kinosuke raised an eyebrow, reached out and picked it up, unfolded it, and began to read it quickly, ten lines at a time.

After a short while, he chuckled lightly twice, his face showing a nonchalant and flippant expression:

"Ryoma, Shintaro, have you both seriously read these five treaties?"

Upon hearing this, Shintaro Nakaoka's heart skipped a beat, and he had a vague premonition of something ominous.

He tried to remain calm while speaking cautiously:

"Of course I've read them, and I've memorized all five treaties!"

Saigo Kinosuke shifted to a more relaxed sitting position, resting his left elbow on his thigh, supporting his chin with his left palm, and shaking the papers in his right hand with a "clattering" sound.

"This is written in great detail about how Satsuma, as an ally, should act when Choshu changes."

"However, if Choshu suffers a major defeat, what should Satsuma do? This document makes no mention of it."

“If we are defeated and the shogunate wins, Satsuma, as an ally of Choshu, will be implicated—this is something I do not want to see.”

Upon hearing this, Shintaro Nakaoka said urgently.

"With Satsuma's help, Choshu will not be defeated!"

Saigo Kinosuke smiled and shook his head:

"Shintaro, I'm glad you value Satsuma so much, but you overestimate Satsuma's strength."

"Indeed, the shogunate is still the same corrupt and decadent shogunate."

"But the current shogunate is supported by a pillar called 'Niou'."

"This main pillar is so huge and so sturdy that it inspires awe."

“As long as Tachibana Seito remains the ‘Lord of the Ninja’ of the Shogunate, even if I unite the western provinces to attack him with all my might, I am not certain of victory.”

“These five treaties only benefit Choshu, with Choshu reaping all the advantages while Satsuma bears all the hard work.”

“Such a treaty is far too unfair to us, and I would never agree to it.”

With that, Saigo Kinosuke gently tossed his hand, letting the paper in his palm float back to Sakamoto Ryoma's knees.

Shintaro Ooka gritted his teeth, his expression humble and his tone earnest as he quickly said:

"Mr. Saigo, if you have any objections to the five treaties proposed by Mr. Katsura, you can negotiate them slowly!"

While he was trying to persuade Saigo Kichinosuke, he was racking his brains for a solution.

However, at that moment, Sakamoto Ryoma, who hadn't spoken a word since the beginning, suddenly raised his head and glared impatiently at Saigo Kinosuke opposite him:

"It's so noisy and incessant!"

"You wouldn't happen to be Saigo Kinosuke's body double, would you?"

"The Saigo Kichinosuke I know wouldn't be so long-winded!"

"Are you willing to form an alliance with Changzhou or not? Just say it straight! Don't waste everyone's time!"

Instantly, the room fell silent...

The next instant, beams of angry gazes focused on Sakamoto Ryoma.

Kichinosuke Saigo's prestige in Satsuma was almost comparable to that of Seito in the Shinsengumi.

A considerable number of Satsuma samurai—especially those from the lower and middle classes—regarded Saigo Kichinosuke as a god.

It's no exaggeration to say that nowadays, the people of Satsuma only know Saigo-dono, not Satsuma-go!

To insult Saigo Kichinosuke in front of a group of Satsuma samurai... Such an act is tantamount to suicide.

Shintaro Ooka stared wide-eyed at Ryoma Sakamoto in disbelief.

His expression seemed to say: "Brother, are you kidding me? You were just acting crazy with the people from Changzhou, and now you're doing it again? Don't you value your own life?"

Ignoring Shintaro Ooka's rebuke and the Satsuma samurai's anger, Ryoma Sakamoto spoke in a clear, deliberate voice:

"By forming an alliance with Choshu, we can gain the strength to compete with Tachibana Seito—isn't that enough of a benefit?"

Upon hearing this, a strange light appeared in Saigo Kinosuke's eyes.

Sakamoto Ryoma continued speaking:

"The Saigo Kichinosuke I know is a man like a tiger!"

"He was ambitious and full of passion! He couldn't stand what Tachibana Seiden was doing, and he was even less willing to be subordinate to Tachibana Seiden."

“Mr. Saigo, if you dare not compete with Tachibana Seito, then please just say so!”

"If you are afraid of Tachibana Seiden, you may simply bow down and submit to him! I will not stop you!"

"But if you want to defeat Tachibana Seiden and become the number one in this era, you can only join forces with Choshu—Saigo-kun, you should know this very well!"

"So, Saigo-kun, stop procrastinating! Seize the opportunity before you!"

"The longer the Satsuma-Chōchō reconciliation takes, the greater the chances of the shogunate winning!"

"This is your only chance—your last chance to compete against Tachibana Aoto!"

"If you think what I just said was all nonsense, then come and chop off my head!"

After speaking, Sakamoto Ryoma lowered his head as before, brushed aside his messy hair, and revealed the back of his neck.

The sudden outrageous remarks and the unexpected "desire to die" left everyone present bewildered.

The Satsuma samurai looked at each other, unsure whether to refute Sakamoto Ryoma or, as he "demanded," draw their swords and behead him.

In the end, they could only look to Saigo Kinosuke and leave the decision to the supreme leader.

Saigo Kinosuke gazed intently at Sakamoto Ryoma.

After a moment, he said quietly:

"...Ryoma, your provocation tactic is too simplistic."

Sakamoto Ryoma said expressionlessly:

"No, I didn't use any reverse psychology. What I said above is all from the bottom of my heart."

"I really can't stand your attitude of deliberately putting on airs when you clearly want to join forces with Changzhou but are worried about all sorts of things."

"Changju needs your help, and you also need Changju's strength."

"Saigo-kun, stop with all that complicated stuff."

"Katsura Kogoro is willing to compromise, but please show some goodwill as well!"

Sakamoto Ryoma stared directly at Saigo Kichinosuke without flinching, his eyes gleaming.

The room was once again enveloped in tranquility.

Time slipped away, bit by bit...

The atmosphere was so heavy that everyone's sense of time became strange.

It felt like a long time had passed, but in reality only one minute had gone by.

"It's really not a good feeling to have my inner thoughts exposed by your blunt words."

Saigo Kinosuke said this half-jokingly, then took a deep breath.

"To become the first person of this era...that's a really good saying."

"Fine, I'm tired of this endless testing anyway."

"It's not impossible for me to agree to the five conditions proposed by Katsura Kogoro."

Upon hearing this, both Sakamoto Ryoma and Ooka Shintaro were stunned by their surprise.

However, before they could even show their delight, Saigo Kinosuke abruptly changed the subject:

“But… we Satsuma want a ‘greater good’.”

Sakamoto Ryoma paused, looking puzzled:

"'Righteousness'?"

Saigo Kinosuke said calmly:

"A just cause is the only rule of war."

"I need a righteous cause that can get Satsuma and Choshu to join forces when the shogunate shows its claws."

Sakamoto Ryoma scratched his head:

“In the name of ‘righteousness’ in resisting the shogunate… In that case, why don’t we add another treaty to this document?”

Saigo Kinosuke showed a look of great interest:

"Oh? Another treaty?"

Sakamoto Ryoma nodded vigorously:

"Article 6: The two domains shall unite to be loyal to the Emperor and do their utmost for the future of Japan."

"In that case, Satsuma's participation in the war is not for the Shogun, but for the Emperor and for the future of Japan."

"In this way, no matter what happens to Choshu in the future, Satsuma will have a solid 'righteous cause' to stand on."

After a moment's thought, Saigo Kinosuke nodded slightly.

"I see... That's a good suggestion. Alright, let's add this treaty then."

At this point, Saigo Kinosuke blinked, as if he had just thought of something, and cast a meaningful glance at Sakamoto Ryoma:

"Ryoma, you are indeed a very interesting person."

Sakamoto Ryoma's face showed surprise: