I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The visitor was none other than the current magistrate of the Northern Garrison: Tadashi Usui.

Behind Bo Jing was a large group of people—all of them Bo Jing's entourage.

As Usui and his entourage crossed the bridge, Gofuku Bridge suddenly became crowded.

Samurai who value face and honor above all else are most particular about pomp and circumstance.

Samurai with a certain official rank were usually surrounded by a retinue when they went out.

Take the magistrate's assistants as an example—the magistrate's assistants can carry boxes, straw sandals, guns, etc., to accompany him.

The so-called "box carrier" is someone who is specifically responsible for helping to carry and hold boxes.

As the name suggests, the person in charge of straw sandals is responsible for carrying the shoes.

The gunner was responsible for holding the long guns used for show.

The briefcase that Yoriki carries while on duty contains 15 pieces of clothing: a kimono with an iron-like hemp lining, a kimono with a crested lining and shoulder covering, a riding kimono, a nokabuki, an obi (belt), an obi sash, a kimono with a crested veil, a white veil, a crested black haori (hair jacket), a black gauze haori (hair jacket), white foot bags, and dark blue foot bags, etc., for use in official business, visits, business trips, and disguise.

If even someone with a mere 200 koku of salary could bring so many followers and so many clothes, then let alone someone like Usui, who was in charge of the entire Hokuban-sho and had a salary of 3000 koku.

Usui had a total of 12 followers, and his clothes, shoes, spare swords, and other items filled two large chests.

Looking at the long line of "followers" carrying large and small bags behind Usui, Nishino couldn't help but frown.

Nishino simply couldn't appreciate the idea of ​​someone bringing so many attendants and belongings when going out.

How can you get things done and solve cases when you have several large boxes of clothes and shoes, as well as so many useless followers?

Although Nishino was displeased, he did not show it.

Bo Jing was, after all, his superior.

How can a samurai be disrespectful to his superior?

Nishino quickly relaxed his brows, pulled at the corners of his mouth, and forced a lukewarm smile.

"Hakui-sama, good morning."

"Hehehe, good morning to you too. Nishino-kun, you seem to be later than usual today. What's wrong? Did something happen at home?"

"Hmm...I guess so."

Nishino gave a bitter smile.

The scenes of Chotaro's rude remarks and Ahe knocking Chotaro away flashed before his eyes.

Nishino didn't want to discuss the topic further, so he laughed it off and moved on from it.

Busy with his work, Nishino exchanged a few brief pleasantries with Usui before respectfully saying:

"Lord Usui, I have important matters to attend to, please excuse me for taking my leave now."

After saying that, Nishino turned to leave.

However, he had only taken one step with his left foot when he heard Nishino shout:

"Nishino-kun, wait a minute!"

Upon hearing this, Nishino was puzzled, but he could only retract the foot he had stepped out with.

"Lord Usui, what's wrong?"

"Uh... Nishino-kun, it's like this..."

As he spoke, Usui picked at his scalp, which was perfectly smooth from his shaved head, and his gaze wandered around unnaturally.

"I have something extremely important to tell you."

"Since we've run into each other, I might as well tell you about this."

Looking at Usui's hesitant expression, Nishino felt a sense of foreboding...

"Nishino-kun, didn't you catch a thief who raped a woman last month?"

"Yes, that guy is part of a criminal gang. I'm currently detaining him in the interrogation room for questioning, hoping to find out the whereabouts of his other accomplices..."

Before Nishino could finish speaking, Usui interrupted him in a firm and unyielding tone:

"Stop the interrogation and release him immediately."

In an instant... Nishino's expression changed in a flash.

"What did you say? Let him go? Why?!"

Nishino's eyebrows shot up, and his eyes glared like cowbells.

Because he was too emotional, his voice cracked uncontrollably.

"Sigh...what else could it be..."

Usui sighed, extended his right index finger, and pointed to the sky above.

"He has someone protecting him—it's that simple."

"There are people in higher-ups..."

Nishino murmured.

"...Who exactly is protecting that beast?"

"Don't ask too many questions; knowing too much won't do you any good."

Usui sighed again.

“Nishino, I completely understand how you feel.”

"To be honest, I'm also filled with resentment right now."

"But there's no other way... I have to obey my superior's orders."

"I feel helpless too..."

Although the Edo-cho Magistrate, the Temple and Shrine Magistrate, and the Administrative Magistrate were collectively known as the "Three Magistrates," and had extremely dazzling and prestigious titles, the Edo-cho Magistrate's Office still faced many constraints.

[Note: The Kansei-bugyō (輝定輩行) was responsible for civil litigation, civil administration, and all shogunate finances within the territories directly under the shogunate's control.]

[Note: Temple and Shrine Administrator: Responsible for managing temples and shrines throughout the country, and handling lawsuits involving people within the temple and shrine territories.]

In short—officials far more powerful than the Edo-machi magistrate were readily available.

Leaving aside high-ranking officials of the shogunate such as the senior councilors and young officials, the lords of powerful domains such as the Aizu Domain, Satsuma Domain, and Owari Domain alone were not people that the Edo town magistrate could afford to offend.

"This is... utterly absurd! Please forgive me, but I find it difficult to accept!"

Nishino gritted his teeth.

"Lord Usui, do you know how much time and effort my men and I spent to catch that beast?"

"Just let him go like that? I can't accept this outcome!"

"Not to mention, the victim's family is still waiting for us to seek justice for them!"

Bo Jing has been sighing non-stop since just now.

"Regarding the victim's family... that beast's accomplice has reached an agreement with the victim's family, and both parties have agreed to settle the matter privately."

“Just now, I received the ‘petition’ from the victim’s family, who are willing to forgive that beast and request the government to give him a chance to reform.”

Nishino stood frozen in place, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

After a long while, he murmured in a mechanical tone:

"Private?"

One side consists of ordinary, unassuming people.

The other side consists of powerful and influential figures who have connections to the highest levels and can directly demand that the released individuals be carried out.

Even a fool could tell that the other party hadn't used any legitimate means to persuade the victim's family.

It must be full of inequality.

No... the matter itself is extremely unequal.

"Stop joking...!"

Nishino's hands, which had been hanging down naturally, slowly clenched into fists.

"Lord Usui, this is... not the first time!"

"If the law is not followed, things will not be consistent; if the law is not followed, orders will not be obeyed!"

"If this continues, the law will cease to be law!"

Yes, just as Nishino said—this is not the first time he has experienced this kind of mess where “those who should be arrested cannot be arrested, and those who should be killed cannot be killed.”

Usui gazed at Nishino, a look of helplessness on his face.

"Nishino-kun, you'll get used to these things."

"To go far in an official career, one must learn to 'get used to' it and 'play dumb'."

"If you take everything too seriously, you will not only live a very tiring life, but you will also easily attract thorny troubles."

At this point, Usui chuckled, then took a half step forward, standing closer to Nishino, and patted Nishino's shoulder, speaking in the tone of a senior, experienced person:

“Nishino-kun, this is a rare opportunity, so I’ll share some of my experience as an official with you.”

"Do you know what my biggest secret is to my long-standing position as the Magistrate of the Hokubansho in Edo and my successful career?"

Before Nishino could answer, Usui answered his own question:

That is, "Flatter more, kowtow more, talk less, do less."

"The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; if you do nothing, you make no mistakes."

"Do things diligently without offending anyone."

"If something might offend someone, do it cautiously, or simply don't do it at all."

"We must obey all orders from above without question."

"I would rather die than inquire about information that I am not allowed to know by my superiors."

"If you accidentally make a mistake and your superiors blame you, don't try to argue. Immediately bow deeply and shout in a sincere tone, 'I'm so sorry!'"

"If all else fails, kneel down on the ground, do a dogeza (a traditional Chinese kowtow), press your forehead to the ground, and shout 'I'm so sorry!'"