I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Qing Deng was unaware that someone had noticed and understood the full meaning of his slip of the tongue.

"A good wife..."

The whisper, so faint it would be an exaggeration to describe it as "as soft as a mosquito's buzz," drifted from Souji's lips.

The chieftain picked up her bowl and chopsticks, lowered his head, and shoveled large mouthfuls of noodles into his mouth.

She used a wide bowl, slightly larger than her small face, to cover her slightly upturned lips that curved into a honey-colored arc, and her face, which was flushed with a faint crimson hue.

……

……

Japan does not have the custom of setting off firecrackers or fireworks during the New Year, so it is quiet outside.

It was quiet all around... Correction, it should be said that the entire Edo was quiet.

This largest city in Japan, enveloped in the night and the pale moonlight, is as quiet as the depths of a lake.

The air was filled with the aroma of buckwheat noodles and a peaceful atmosphere.

Every now and then, bursts of laughter would drift out from one of the mansions.

Such a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere makes it hard to imagine that this city suffered countless setbacks and hardships in the past year.

The radical anti-foreign faction's indiscriminate killings; the anti-foreign group's unscrupulous sabotage; the large influx of unemployed vagrants leading to a severe deterioration of public order...

Thanks to the concerted efforts of law enforcement personnel from various public security agencies, including the "Sanhui" magistrate's office headed by Seito and the fire-fighting thieves' office, the security situation in Edo was greatly improved.

The Expulsion Group ceased to exist, and the "radical anti-foreign movement," which had been raging since the assassination of Ii Naosuke, gradually subsided; lawless ronin fell silent and began to behave themselves.

At first glance, it seems that the bright days have arrived.

However... anyone with a little insight and a broad perspective can see that peace is far from being achieved.

Qing Deng agrees with some of the remarks made by Daizo Ito during his visit this morning: times are changing dramatically.

The current situation in Japan shows no signs of improvement; on the contrary, it is trending towards getting worse and more bloody.

The idea of ​​respecting the powerful and suppressing the weak is currently prevalent among the general public and even among officials.

Many officials in the shogunate were proponents of the "respect and quell" ideology—especially members of the Hitotsubashi faction.

A significant portion of the Hitotsubashi faction held the idea of ​​respecting and rebellion in the highest esteem.

The radical zealots who harbored radical ideas of expelling foreigners, like the madmen of the Expulsion Group, did not disappear. They simply changed their "clothes" and no longer called themselves "patriots to expel foreigners." Instead, they used the Emperor's name and began to call themselves "patriots to honor and expel foreigners."

They gained a legitimate reason for their actions.

They evolved and became more difficult to deal with.

As long as Qingdeng remains in a law enforcement agency like the Fire and Thieves Bureau, he will inevitably have to deal with these radical anti-foreign zealots... ah, no, now we should call them "anti-foreign zealots"—yes, he will inevitably have to "deal with" these people sooner or later.

However, no matter what, the old year has passed and the new year is about to begin.

No one can say for sure what will happen in the coming year or even further into the future.

In short, let's embrace the present moment to the fullest.

Enjoy this rare moment of tranquility.

Qingdeng took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time—it was exactly 8 p.m., four hours before 1861.

—Speaking of which…it seems like it’s almost been a year since I transmigrated to this world…

If Qing Deng remembered correctly, he was transported to this world on January 12, 1860.

All things considered, Qingdeng has indeed been living in this new world for nearly a year.

Time flies...

A smile reminiscent of nostalgia appeared on Qingdeng's lips.

The previous year went by so fast.

Still confused about the situation after being transported to this world, he followed Arima and the others with a bewildered expression, the scenes of raiding the Jin-gishu's stronghold still fresh in his mind. In the blink of an eye, he found himself celebrating the upcoming New Year with his brothers.

The previous year had passed very slowly.

Looking back carefully, Qingdeng has met a lot of people and experienced a lot in the past year.

He had subordinates who shared his glory and his shame, brothers who were loyal to him, and a girl he deeply loved.

He has solved murder cases, eliminated terrorists, and fought bandits.

This year in Qingdeng was more fulfilling and exciting than ten years for an average person.

Qingdeng stuffed the pocket watch back into his pocket, raised his eyes, and scanned the faces of everyone in front of him one by one.

Harada was boasting again about the origin of the scar on his stomach.

Saito remained aloof and independent as always, quietly eating his noodles.

Kondo and Nagakura, both quite drunk, started a dance battle.

Inoue happily took on the role of the atmosphere-maker, clapping along for the two men who were awkwardly dancing.

Hijikata showed off his skills after a long absence, pulling out a shamisen from who-knows-where and providing background music for Kondo and Nagakura in time with Inoue's beat.

While enjoying Kondo and Nagakura's dance, Souji ate and drank heartily with his right hand and left hand, occasionally letting out a cheerful, bell-like laugh.

Looking at the lively scene before him, Qingdeng's smile gradually became more peaceful.

He felt a strange sense of peace and fulfillment welling up inside him.

Qingdeng grabbed his wine bottle and took a big gulp of Tusu wine.

The spicy flames, carrying a unique pleasure, slid from the mouth to the abdomen, then flowed throughout the body, reaching every limb and bone.

Qingdeng has decided to let loose tonight! He'll drink until he's completely drunk!

……

……

About three hours later—

Shieikan, between diners—

"Lulu... Lulu..."

There seems to be some sound.

"Snoring...snoring..."

The sound grew louder and louder.

"Snoring...! Snoring...!"

I understand now, it's the sound of snoring.

There wasn't just one, there were several. Some were loud, some were soft, rising and falling in waves.

Immediately after hearing snoring, Qingdeng smelled a very foul odor—the smell of alcohol.

Under the combined stimulation of deafening snoring and the stench of alcohol, Qingdeng gradually regained consciousness.

As his consciousness gradually returned, he slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing that catches the eye is the darkness that dominates the entire field of vision, followed by the familiar ceiling that one has long been accustomed to seeing.

Without a doubt, I am currently in my own bed.

—Hmm…? Why am I… hiss…!

Qingdeng tried to recall how he got here, but as soon as he started thinking, a needle-like pain struck his brain and then spread throughout his body.

Unable to hold back a cry of pain, Qingdeng quickly raised his hand to press his forehead and gasped for breath.

The coolness of the air conditioning had a certain analgesic effect. After breathing in the cold air bit by bit, Qingdeng gradually felt better.

—How did I... end up in bed? Wasn't I... drinking with my buddies?

A muddled consciousness, chaotic thoughts.

My head was throbbing with pain, and I couldn't organize my thoughts effectively; I couldn't recall anything.

To unravel the mystery of "suddenly appearing in bed," Qingdeng frowned, endured his physical discomfort, and tried hard to recall.

Gradually, he felt something getting tangled in the wire that had been hanging down into the sea of ​​memories—he remembered.

After deciding to indulge himself after a long time, Qingdeng started a "heavy drinking" and "accepting all comers" mode.

He welcomes everyone who comes to toast him and drinks with them to his heart's content.

The more you drink, the more excited you get, and the more excited you get, the more you drink.

During this time, Aoto actively participated in various games spontaneously organized by Kondo and others, such as: baseball boxing, playing mahjong, and impromptu dancing...

And then... no more.

Aoto's memories finally ended with drinking with Souji.

At that time, Aoto, whose mind was already somewhat unclear, and Souji, who was also a little drunk, put their arms around each other and chatted about some random topics that seemed to have some content but also seemed to have no content.

He chattered away with the commander, downing one glass of wine after another—that was Aoto's last memory.

Then, things turned out like this: Aoto woke up in bed with a huge gap in his memory, as if time had traveled through time. Aoto had no recollection of the long period of time he spent drinking with Souji and falling asleep in bed with him, as if someone had cut off a piece of his memory out of thin air.

—Did I drink myself into oblivion...?

Qing Deng couldn't help but smile bitterly.

This was the first time in his life that he had drunk so much that he blacked out.

It can be considered as broadening one's horizons and experiencing a new life on another level.

As for how he ended up in bed, someone must have carried him back after he had blacked out from drinking.

—Ouch… So blacking out from drinking is this painful… My head feels like it’s going to explode…

Qingdeng rubbed his eyes and reached for the pocket watch on the bedside table. Using the "cat's eye" ability, he glanced at the time.

—11:30 PM… Is it still 1860?… Looks like I haven’t slept for too long… Ugh! My bladder is so full…

Qingdeng belatedly realized that his bladder was extremely bloated.

The alcohol you drink tonight will all turn into digested waste products.