I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Suddenly, a clanging and banging sound came from downstairs, which was unusually noisy.

In the midst of his excitement, Sakamoto Ryoma shouted without hesitation:

"Quiet! Don't make a sound!"

It was this shout that alerted the group of "uninvited guests" to Sakamoto Ryoma's whereabouts.

Thump thump thump thump thump thump!

The floor of the corridor thumped loudly underfoot.

Shintaro Nakaoka was the first to notice the anomaly; the smile on his face vanished instantly, and his expression changed drastically.

"Oh no! It's an assassin!"

As he shouted a warning, he instinctively reached for the knife—but grasped nothing.

Their swords were kept in niches out of reach.

In the blink of an eye, several assassins burst into the room!

call out!

The first assassin swept his blade across the ground, knocking Nakaoka Shintaro to the ground.

The second assassin bypassed the first assassin and swung his blade at Sakamoto Ryoma's head.

Sakamoto Ryoma was caught off guard and took a solid cut to the forehead.

Because it happened so suddenly, Sakamoto Ryoma felt no pain.

He lunged toward the alcove and grasped Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki.

Alas... the third assassin has already attacked!

There was no time to draw his sword, so Sakamoto Ryoma could only raise the sword, blade and sheath together, above his head to block the third assassin's slash.

The opponent's attack was powerful and heavy, and Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki's sword scabbard was cleaved open.

The aftereffects of the knife wound to the head began to appear.

Sakamoto Ryoma felt his consciousness fading and his body unable to exert any strength.

In the blink of an eye, the fourth assassin arrived.

call out!

While Sakamoto Ryoma was preoccupied with the third assassin, the fourth assassin swung his sword, striking Sakamoto Ryoma squarely in the body.

At this point, Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro were completely unable to resist.

They lay on the tatami mats, enduring one stab after another, blood splattering throughout the room.

"Alright, alright, that's enough."

At a command, the assassins all stopped their blades.

Lying in a pool of blood, Sakamoto Ryoma was too weak to get up and didn't even know if he was breathing.

His vision was blurred; he could only vaguely make out a tall, shadowy figure standing before him, obscuring the candlelight.

"Sakamoto Ryoma, this is all your fault. It's because you didn't listen to advice that you've suffered this disaster."

After leaving those words, the shadowy figure waved his hand to indicate "retreat" and turned to leave.

The assassins sheathed their weapons and followed the shadowy figure away.

This sarcastic remark, half indifferent and half regretful, made Sakamoto Ryoma's eyes widen.

In that instant, he understood the assassins' identities...

"So that's how it is..."

As he muttered to himself, a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.

Lacking the strength to turn his head, Sakamoto Ryoma could only ask in a weak voice:

"Shintaro... are you... still alive...?"

Then, Shintaro Nakaoka replied in an equally weak voice:

"Barely alive...but dying soon..."

"Oh, I see... Me too..."

Sakamoto Ryoma used his last bit of strength to pull out Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki from his hand.

Through the mirror-like blade, he could barely make out his current appearance—his face was covered in blood, and brain matter was oozing from the wound on his forehead.

With injuries like these, even if a renowned doctor arrived immediately, it would be impossible to save him.

"Shintaro... I've been slashed in the head... I'm dying..."

As soon as he finished speaking, with a "clang," Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, which was in his hand, fell onto the tatami mat.

At that moment, Sakamoto Ryoma noticed something out of the corner of his eye—a brocade pouch fell out of his pocket and landed right in front of him.

This is a talisman that Ah Long made for him.

Looking at the brocade pouch, a hint of regret appeared on Sakamoto Ryoma's face.

"I'm sorry... Arlong... I'm sorry... Shintaro... I'm sorry... everyone..."

I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Sakamoto Ryoma murmured the same words over and over again, slowly closing his eyes...

*******

*******

It's almost the end of the month again! Readers with monthly passes, please be sure to vote for this book! (crying leopard head.jpg)

Please vote with monthly tickets! Please vote with recommendation tickets! (Leopard crying.jpg)

The content of this chapter is mostly based on historical facts.

Sakamoto Ryoma's sudden death truly seems like "fatalism," with various coincidences leading to his demise.

Because Fengji was sent to buy chickens, there was one less clever servant who could have given a heads-up.

Because I happened to be sick, my physical condition was not good.

Because I haven't used force in a long time, my reaction time has slowed down considerably.

Because the knife was in the alcove, I couldn't draw it in time.

These coincidences led to Sakamoto Ryoma's death.

The true identities of the assassins who killed Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro are a historical mystery.

Leopard uses one of the guesses—Sakamoto Ryoma's "peace proposal" displeased Saigo and others in Satsuma, so the latter decided to kill him to silence him.

Given the Meiji government's utter lack of moral boundaries, Saigo and his associates might actually have done something like that.

In conclusion, with Sakamoto Ryoma dead, the last shackle that could have restrained the North-South conflict has been broken.

The final battle of this book is about to begin.

Chapter 1130 Qingdeng's Dream: Ushering in a True New Era! [5000]

Kyoto, Kawaramachi, somewhere——

"Oh, I'm so full."

Harada Sanosuke patted his round belly, looking completely satisfied.

"Kujiro, the ryotei you recommended is really good."

Oishi Kujiro, who was walking alongside him, grinned.

"Eating delicious food and drinking fine wine are among my few hobbies. I lived in Kyoto for quite some time, and I know exactly where the tea and wine are good, and where the food is delicious."

Harada Sanosuke laughed a few times:

"Aha! We get along really well! I'm a pretty easygoing person, but I'm quite particular about food and drink!"

Two days ago, the two came to Kyoto together on a business trip.

After successfully completing their mission, the two of them, on the recommendation of Oishi Kuwajiro, enjoyed a good meal tonight.

Eating together is always one of the best activities to build relationships.

Thanks to the delicious food, the two, who were initially somewhat unfamiliar with each other, quickly became much more acquainted.

Just as they were chatting idly as they slowly walked back to the Rensheng Village—

"……Um?"

Harada Sanosuke's expression changed abruptly, and he instinctively gripped the spear on his back.

Almost at the same time, Ōishi Kuwajiro beside him also raised his hand to grip the sword at his waist, frowned slightly, and muttered:

"It smells of blood..."

After exchanging a glance, the two of them simultaneously turned east to search for the source of the bloody smell.

They walked through streets and alleys, leaving houses behind, and finally arrived at a simply decorated soy sauce shop—a signboard with the three large characters "Omi-ya" (Omi-ya) came into view.

The closer you get to this shop, the stronger the stench of blood becomes.

The two exchanged another glance, and then both drew their weapons.

Harada Sanosuke pushed open the shop door with the tip of his spear and rushed inside, followed closely by Oishi Kuwajiro.

Upon entering, the horrific scene inside caused their expressions to change slightly.

Near the entrance hall, close to the earthen floor, lay a young man lying on the ground.

His eyes were wide open in a daze, and he was clutching a piece of paper in his hand. A huge slash extended from the back of his head to his waist. His skull and spine had been severed, and his brains were spilled all over the ground. His death was gruesome.

It would be impossible for a mere corpse to have such a strong smell of blood.

In other words... this shop has most likely become a sad graveyard.

"Captain Harada, a massacre has occurred here."

"The thief may not have left yet, so don't be careless."