I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Just moments ago, he had been speaking to Sasaki with a gentle and considerate expression, saying "Thank you for your hard work," but his expression suddenly changed drastically!

His eyebrows stood on end, his eyes bulged with anger, and his face, already flushed from drunkenness, turned even redder in an instant.

"Oh shit!"

While cursing loudly, Shimizu Gosaku forcefully flung the empty wine bottle in his hand.

The wine bottle, flying in a parabolic arc, grazed Sasaki's cheek before crashing to the ground behind him with a loud clatter, shattering into countless pieces.

One second he's all smiles and pleasantries, the next he's furious... Shimizu Gosaku's rapid mood swings send chills down your spine.

But Sasaki seemed completely used to this situation.

"No more alcohol to drink... What bad luck..."

Shimizu Gosaku, supporting himself against the wall behind him, slowly got up from the ground.

"There's no other way... Hey! Let's go! We need to buy some alcohol!"

He issued harsh orders to his subordinates in an imperious manner.

Just as he was about to lead his men past Sasaki with unsteady steps—

"...As your superior, you are already drunk. Why don't you go home and rest for a while?"

Sasaki called out to Shimizu Gosaku in as humble a tone as possible.

"...Huh?"

Shimizu Gosaku paused, slowly turned his face, and cast a very imposing gaze at Sasaki.

"Sasaki... I'm enjoying my drink... Don't bother me."

Having said that, Shimizu Gosaku ignored Sasaki.

He turned his gaze away and continued leading his men out of the alley.

But at that moment, something happened.

"Um...!"

Just moments ago, Shimizu Gosaku was perfectly fine, but suddenly he clutched his head and let out a painful groan.

"Am I an adult?"

"I am the master!"

"Has the illness flared up again?"

……

Shimizu Gosaku's men cried out in alarm.

Sasaki couldn't help but give Shimizu Gosaku a surprised and worried look.

“药……药……药……”

Shimizu Gosaku reached into his robes with trembling hands and took out a small porcelain bottle, about the size of a thumb.

"?!" Sasaki's expression turned extremely strange as he looked at the porcelain bottle in Shimizu Gosaku's hand.

"Hah...! Hah...! Hah...!" Shimizu Gosaku hurriedly poured a purple and red pill from the porcelain bottle, stuffed it into his mouth with a "whoosh," and swallowed it without even chewing it.

After swallowing the strangely colored pill, Shimizu Gosaku's expression returned to normal at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"That feels good..."

Shimizu Gosaku pressed his forehead, leaned against the wall beside him, and after a long while, he let out a long sigh as if he had been relieved.

"gone……"

Shimizu Gosaku "separated" from the alley wall he was leaning against and walked out of the alley again.

Sasaki didn't call out to Shimizu Gosaku again... but just stood there, watching Shimizu Gosaku leave.

Only after Shimizu Gosaku's figure had completely disappeared from sight did Sasaki take a deep breath and let out a silent sigh.

Sasaki always felt very sorry for their leader's nephew.

Shimizu Gosaku has suffered from a strange illness since childhood, and his head often aches.

When I first got sick, the symptoms weren't severe. When it flared up, I would only feel like my head was being lightly pricked with needles.

But as he got older, the symptoms worsened. The headaches became more and more frequent and intense.

Nowadays, "needle pricking" has been replaced by "hammering".

When the disease is at its worst, the patient often writhes on the ground in pain, letting out screams that are so shrill they are inhuman. The patient cannot even bear to touch their hair; if their hair is touched, it feels like their entire scalp is being pricked with needles.

Their leader, Shimizu Eiichi, always cherished his family.

Unable to bear seeing his nephew suffer from illness, he took Shimizu Gosaku to see all sorts of famous doctors.

I've seen all sorts of doctors, from traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to Western medicine practitioners... In short, I've seen every kind of doctor who can treat patients.

Unfortunately... most doctors can't even diagnose what disease Shimizu Gosaku has.

The few doctors who could barely identify the cause of Shimizu Gosaku's illness all shared a surprisingly consistent opinion: Shimizu Gosaku's illness was not fatal, but it was incurable and could not be cured by medicine; he could only endure the pain through sheer willpower.

Having lost hope of treatment, Shimizu Gosaku spends every day in agony, and even attempted suicide several times due to unbearable headaches.

Shimizu Gosaku's painful life continued until one day... Shimizu Eiichi suddenly gave Shimizu Gosaku a strange medicine.

It's the kind of red and purple pill that Shimizu Gosaku just ate.

This is not a medicine for treating illness; as far as Sasaki knows, it seems to be a painkiller that can greatly reduce the pain when the body is afflicted.

This medicine is indeed remarkably effective. Whenever Shimizu Gosaku has an attack, he immediately swallows one pill and feels the pain dissipate.

But... whether it was just Sasaki's imagination or not, he always felt that this "painkiller"... seemed a bit strange.

Ever since Shimizu Gosaku took this medicine, his entire personality has become strange.

It seems he's increasingly losing control of his emotions and desires.

In terms of personal talent alone, Shimizu Gosaku is by no means an outstanding talent.

He was fond of alcohol and women. His daily entertainment consisted of frequenting various izakayas, gambling dens, and Yoshiwara in Edo. Apart from drinking, gambling, whoring, and smoking, he was good for nothing, a typical piece of hopeless good-for-nothing.

However, despite his incompetence, he rarely caused trouble outside by using his status as "nephew of the leader of the Shimizu clan".

The change in circumstances began when Shimizu Eiichi gave him that strangely colored "painkiller".

After taking the medicine, Shimizu Gosaku caused more and more trouble outside.

They often get into heated conflicts with people on the street over trivial matters.

If he takes a fancy to a woman, he will harass her directly, or even drag her to a secluded place and assault her.

When you feel like drinking, just drink as much as you want, no matter the time or place, until you're completely satisfied.

He rarely did things like bullying men and women before... Shimizu Gosaku is, after all, a relative of their boss, so they can't just ignore him.

In order to help Shimizu Gosaku smooth over the trouble he had caused, Sasaki and his "subjects" went to great lengths.

Fortunately, the Shimizu clan had deep roots and extensive connections in Edo; otherwise, given the trouble Shimizu Gosaku caused, he would have been dragged to the execution ground long ago and made a guinea pig for the Yamada Asaemon family, who had made a living by killing for generations.

Many high-ranking members of the "Shimizu Clan" have reported Shimizu Gosaku's recent outrageous behavior to Shimizu Eiichi, hoping that Shimizu Eiichi can properly discipline Shimizu Gosaku.

However... Shimizu Eiichi always presented a decisive and ruthless style in front of his subordinates and outsiders, but he often hesitated when it came to dealing with family relationships.

He had given Shimizu Gosaku a very serious warning, telling him to tone down his temper and stop causing trouble outside.

But the results are minimal.

These symptoms of Shimizu Gosaku feel like... he has lost the ability to control his own desires.

Besides desire, Shimizu Gosaku's emotions often spiral out of control.

His emotions became increasingly unpredictable and elusive.

Often, one minute they're talking to you in a friendly manner, and the next they're suddenly yelling at you in a fit of rage.

Sasaki was unsure whether Shimizu Gosaku's transformations were all due to the strange "painkiller" given to him by Shimizu Eiichi... He dared not think too much about it or investigate the matter further.

After all, this matter was their leader's family affair, and such a high-level incident was beyond the scope of what a low-ranking official like him could interfere with.

Sasaki had advised the already drunk Shimizu Gosaku to go home and rest because he was worried that Shimizu Gosaku, whose mind and consciousness were becoming more confused under the influence of alcohol, might cause some trouble again.

Shimizu Gosaku wouldn't listen to his advice... so Sasaki had no choice.

Verbally advising the leader's nephew to go home and rest was the only thing he, as a low-ranking official of the "clean water clan," could do.

To forcefully demand that Shimizu Gosaku go home quickly? Don't be ridiculous. Only Shimizu Eiichi has the right and the guts to do something like that.

Feeling that he had done everything he could, Sasaki composed himself and retraced his steps.

As soon as he stepped out of the alley, he saw a thin figure running towards him, panting heavily.

It was Kinzaburo who had just reported to him that "Shimizu Gosaku is drinking nearby."

"Kin-san-ro, what brings you here again? What happened this time?"

"..." Kinzaburo showed a strange expression and did not respond to Sasaki's question immediately.

He silently quickened his pace slightly, approached Sasaki's side, and brought his lips close to Sasaki's ear, whispering a few words.

A scene very similar to the one just now unfolded.

After hearing Kinzaburo's whisper, Sasaki's expression suddenly changed.

However, unlike before, Sasaki did not calmly wave Kinsaburo away this time.

He immediately took off running, heading straight for the street corner ahead.

A short while later, Sasaki, who had been speeding along, found an open-air tea stall.

The tea stall is very small, with only five benches, and they are almost all occupied.

Upon seeing the colorful tattoos on Sasaki and the others, the tea stall owner and customers fell silent—except for a middle-aged man wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat and simple clothes, who sat alone in the corner, calmly holding a teacup with both hands and sipping his tea.

Sasaki hurriedly squeezed into the empty seat next to the middle-aged man, lowered his voice, and said in a deep voice:

“老爹……！”

Within the Shimizu clan, which operates on a family system, the person whom Sasaki respectfully addresses as "Old Man"... the identity of this middle-aged man is already quite obvious.

"Sasaki," Shimizu Eiichi took a sip of his perfectly warm tea, "How is it? Is the fireworks display venue still peaceful?"