I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Hey! It's the Shirobei Club! Come quick, help me!"

It's one thing if they don't use honorifics.

They didn't even say "please".

They didn't even look at anyone!

After saying that, without considering that they also had work to do, he unreasonably recruited people to work for them and assist them in the search for Tachibana Takayuki.

Shinzaburo and the others were naturally unwilling to swallow this insult, but they were helpless—who could blame them for the low status of Shirobei's club?

Even with a thousand grievances, one can only endure, endure, and endure some more.

Ultimately, whether I find Ju Qingdeng or not, whether Ju Qingdeng is dead or alive, what does it matter to me?

Shinzaburo pursed his lips unhappily.

He is the kind of person who "only wants to do his own job well and doesn't bother with other people's business."

"Searching for and arresting Tachibana Seito" was neither the task of their Shirobei Club nor the task of Shinzo Tashin.

Even if Tachibana Aoto cannot be found, or if Tachibana Aoto accidentally escapes from Yoshiwara, neither he nor Shirobei's club will bear any responsibility.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that Shinzaburo was quite looking forward to the scenario of "gaining nothing" or "failing at the last minute."

Because in this way, he could see the annoyed officials of the magistrate's office looking furious.

If that's the case, what reason do I have to work hard?

Therefore, under the influence of such thinking, Shinzaburo's work performance... can be summed up in one word—slacking off!

Going crazy slacking off!

Very efficient at slacking off!

At first glance, he seemed very serious when checking every person who wanted to leave Yoshiwara.

His gaze repeatedly swept across the faces of those being investigated and the portraits in their hands.

In reality, his seemingly serious gaze was just for show!

He would simply glance at each person who came for inspection and then let them pass.

Could something have been overlooked?

What if we accidentally let Tachibana Aoto escape?

What's it to him!

Just as Shinzaburo was yawning and preparing to continue slacking off, a petite figure that was extremely familiar to him... no, to all the clerks at Shirobei's office, suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

"Hmm? Granny Guasheng?"

The visitor was none other than Guasheng Xiu.

"Shinzaburo, you've been forced into hard labor?"

With a slight smile on his face and his hands behind his back, Uryuu Hide walked past the queue and straight up to Shinzaburo.

Shinzaburo gave a wry laugh and waved his hand.

"Oh, Granny Guasheng, don't even mention it. After tonight, I'm going to go to Kan'ei-ji Temple to burn some incense and pray for some good luck."

When he said those words, Shinzaburo carefully chose his honorifics.

This was hardly a secret in Yoshiwara—most of the clerks at Shirobei's office held a "both respectful and annoyed" attitude towards this "super senior" who had served in Yoshiwara for over seventy years and whose seniority was unmatched.

No one dares to question Gu Shengxiu's character.

His selfless character, his easygoing manner that never puts on airs, and his warm-hearted willingness to help others are priceless.

More than half of the people in the entire Shirobei Club had received guidance and assistance from Uryuu Hide.

However... on the other hand, Uryuu Hide's care for the courtesans annoyed the clerks at Shirobei's club.

Aren't the so-called courtesans just a bunch of exquisite commodities?

They are no different from the vegetables in the market, the drinks in the izakaya, or the tea in the teahouse.

Just try your best to make sure they don't die, isn't that enough?

Their food, clothing, daily necessities, their private lives, and their relationship status are things their bosses should be concerned about.

How much do you earn in a month? Why bother taking care of a mere "product" like a mother hen?

The starkly different attitudes toward courtesans are the biggest source of conflict between Uryuu Hide and the clerks at Shirobei's brothel.

Neither of them could convince the other.

Over time, the two sides drifted apart.

Whenever a courtesan was in trouble, Uryuu Hide preferred to help her personally rather than ask the clerks at Shirobei's brothel for help.

The clerks at Shirobei's club were happy to have some peace and quiet.

However, this is the only point of irreconcilable disagreement between the two sides.

Normally, the clerks at Shirobei's office still treated Uryuu Hide with the utmost respect.

If anyone dares to harm Uryuu Hide, the clerks at Shirobei's office will be the first to object!

"Haha, remember to call me when you go to Kan'ei-ji Temple to offer incense. I've been wanting to pay my respects to Buddha lately."

"Hahaha! Okay! No problem!"

At this point, Shinzaburo noticed that Uryuu Hide looked like he was about to go out, and behind him stood a rather unfamiliar young man.

"Grandma Guasheng, are you planning to go out?"

"Ah."

Guasheng Xiu didn't say much, only nodded slightly.

"Who is this person behind you?"

Shinzaburo raised his gaze and stared directly at the young man following closely behind Uryuu Hide.

He was much taller than the average person, with two swords at his waist, a black scarf around his neck, and a blue haori cloak. He had a long, thick beard, wheat-colored skin that seemed to have been exposed to the sun for a long time, and dark circles under his eyes that looked like he hadn't slept well for days... a face I had never seen before.

"This is my friend, I'm taking him out."

Guasheng Xiu's answer remained brief.

"friend……?"

A look of suspicion flashed in Shinzaburo's eyes.

He casually glanced at the young man's face.

No matter how much he looked at, stared at, or scrutinized the young man, he remained expressionless and motionless throughout.

Less than 10 seconds passed in that instant.

"...Alright, then you and your friend can go ahead first, Mother-in-law."

Shinzaburo stepped to the side, making room for an adult to pass through.

"I am extremely grateful."

Gua Shengxiu bowed to Shinzaburo.

"Hanada-kun, let's go."

A faint look of surprise flashed across the young man's face.

Led by Gu Shengxiu, two figures, one tall and one short, one young and one old, strode away...

No sooner had the two men left than a constable from the magistrate's office strode toward Shinzaburo.

"Hey! What's going on with those two? You didn't seem to check on them!"

He opened his mouth with a "Hey"... Shinzaburo's face showed displeasure as he twitched his lips, the movement almost imperceptible.

"Those two people were people I know."

"Someone I know?"

The official frowned deeply.

"Who are they? Are they clerks from Shirobei's brothel? Or agents from a brothel?"

"What's it to you? Why do you care so much?"

Shinzaburo tilted his head and gave the other person a sidelong glance.

"Anyway, it's someone I know, it couldn't possibly be 'Nioh'."

"you……!"

Shinzaburo's attitude instantly angered the officials.

He made a gesture as if to curse, but just as the curse was about to come out, he seemed to remember something important and swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.

No matter how arrogant the officials of the magistrate's office were, they dared not have a direct conflict with the people of Shirobei's club in public.

If this gets out, at best I'll be scolded and punished, at worst I'll lose my job!

"You just wait and see!"

After glaring fiercely at Shinzaburo and uttering those harsh words, the officer quickly left Shinzaburo's sight without lingering for even half a second.

Shinzaburo remained silent.

However, though he didn't speak, his eyes and expression as he watched the officials leave conveyed a refined and scholarly message precisely—

Fuck you! If you've got the guts, bring it on!

……

……

"We should be able to get here by now."

Guasheng Xiu looked around to make sure no one was around and no one was following them. He then reached for the water bottle at his waist and tossed it to Qingdeng.

"Here you go, Orange, take this and wash your face."

"They broke through the blockade so easily...?"