I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"So sleepy... I'm going back to sleep for a good night's rest."

After speaking, Ugaki Goro yawned, turned around, and went up the stairs.

Seeing this, the naive and unassuming commander couldn't help but shout:

"Please wait a moment!"

At the same time, she took a step forward in the direction where Ugaki Goro was.

However, as soon as Souji took one step out, the henchmen of the "Mad Dog Family" surrounded him and blocked his way.

Seeing that the situation seemed beyond repair, Sanako quietly stepped to the side, her lips close to Qing Deng's ear, and whispered:

"Tachibana-kun, should we stop Ugaki Goro?"

Although Sanako used very elegant words, the meaning behind them was very simple and crude—should they force their way through and block Ugaki Goro?

Qingdeng shook his head slightly, almost without hesitation.

With their abilities, defeating the henchmen in front of them and intercepting Ugaki Goro would naturally be no difficult task.

The problem is—they came to the "Mad Dog Family's" headquarters not to beat or kill people, but to extract information from Ugaki Goro.

Therefore, Qing Deng was unwilling to resort to violence indiscriminately in the sunroom.

If Ugaki Goro develops a strong aversion to them and becomes even less willing to speak to them, then it would be a loss for him.

Qing Deng raised his head and gazed at Yu Qian Goro's back.

Just as Ugaki Goro's figure was about to leave Aoto's sight, he said solemnly, word by word:

“Mr. Ugaki, if I said: I want to talk to you about Takayuki Tachibana—even then, would you still remain silent?”

As soon as Qing Deng finished speaking, Ugaki Goro, who was just two steps away from leaving the first floor, suddenly stopped in his tracks, his tall figure frozen in place.

Even though he couldn't see Ugaki Goro's face, Aoto could clearly sense that beneath Ugaki Goro's appearance, a torrent of emotions was surging!

Then, Qingdeng saw the other person slowly turn their head to the side.

What followed was a pair of sharp eyes that shone brightly, as if they were about to pierce through his body.

The languid look in Ugaki Goro's eyes was no longer there.

"...Kid, how do you know this name?"

Deep within Ugaki Goro's tone was a sharp, lingering echo, like a slash.

A sharp aura emanated from Ugaki Goro, giving the impression that he was about to pounce on Aoto and grab his collar at any moment.

"Well...who knows?"

Qingdeng shrugged, deliberately using a lighthearted tone to whet people's appetites.

Their tentative glances met.

Although it was an invisible gaze, it revealed a sharp edge, like a drawn sword, making the air in the room hiss.

This silent standoff... finally ended with Ugaki Goro looking away and turning his head back to face forward.

"...Come up with me."

After leaving those words, Goro Ugaki strode forward again.

Creak, creak... With two thuds on the wooden floor, Ugaki Goro's figure disappeared into the stairwell connecting the first and second floors.

The underlings on the first floor looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion—they couldn't understand why their boss, who had been so focused on going back to sleep until just now, had suddenly changed his mind.

"let's go."

Aoto turned to Souji and Sanako behind him and said.

Both Sanako and Souji were surprised by the sudden turn of events, so they nodded a beat late.

Led by Qing Deng, the two women strode forward. As if forced by Qing Deng's imposing manner, the "Mad Dog Family's" underlings parted to both sides like Moses parting the sea, making way for a straight path leading to the staircase.

……

……

"Come in with me."

Without turning his head, Ugaki Goro spoke to Aoto and the others who were following closely behind him, and then pulled open the paper sliding door in front of him.

Qing Deng and the others followed Ugaki Goro's steps and filed in.

"This is……?"

Qingdeng sniffed.

The smell of paper and ink filled his nostrils.

He looked around—it was an extremely spacious bedroom, which, converted to modern units of area, would be about a hundred square meters.

"Mr. Ugaki, is this your bedroom?"

Qingdeng asked.

"Yes."

Ugaki Goro turned his head and grinned at Aoto.

"How is it? Doesn't my room seem quite different from what you expected?"

"……Um."

Qingdeng nodded honestly.

"Your room... has so many books..."

Aoto originally thought that a battle maniac like Ugaki Goro, who was known for his "love of fighting," would have a messy room full of "wild" vibes.

Wooden swords, bamboo swords, katanas, tachi, wakizashi, and other weapons were scattered all over the floor.

They might even display human skulls as decorations, just like Oda Nobunaga twisted off Azai Nagamasa's head and used his skull as a sake cup.

However, after actually seeing Goro Ugaki's bedroom with his own eyes, Aoto was surprised to find that Goro Ugaki's bedroom was surprisingly elegant.

The bedding, elbow rests, and other items, while not exactly neatly arranged, were not particularly messy either.

In Ugaki Goro's bedroom, the most numerous pieces of furniture are bookshelves.

A large bookshelf, over 2 meters tall, filled three walls except for the door, with books piled high on it.

A significant number of books were even piled up haphazardly on the tatami mats because there wasn't enough room for them, forming towering mountains.

"Mr. Ugaki, do you enjoy reading?"

Qing Deng couldn't help but ask.

"I only like reading novels."

Ugaki Goro answered without hesitation.

"I am not interested in any books other than novels."

"I've recently become a big fan of Sojiro's works. I think Sojiro's talent is comparable to Kyokutei Bakin!"

********

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After watching the seal show yesterday, I'm full of energy again!

However, due to various reasons, today's update is a little shorter... I'm very sorry! (crying leopard head.jpg)

But don't worry, because the seal energy is full, the author will be updating like crazy soon!

Chapter 421 Qingdeng is in debt again, burdened with a loan of 5000 taels of gold. [4400]

Upon hearing the name "Sōjirō," Aōdō couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Although they have never met, there is a very strange connection between Aoto and Sojiro.

The name of Niou is known to all—Sōjirō contributed to Aoto's achievement.

And it was a huge contribution.

Based on the story of Aoto, Sojiro created a captivating storybook.

After this story was published, it became an instant bestseller.

Between those who enjoy following the news and those who enjoy listening to storytelling, the latter undoubtedly constitutes the overwhelming majority.

Therefore, most people only learned of the existence of a person named "Tachibana Seito" through the stories written by Sojiro.

Even the name "Niou" was created by Sojiro.

It can be said that without Sojiro, Aoto would not have the high popularity he enjoys today.

Ugaki Goro said that Sojiro's talent was comparable to Kyokutei Bakin's... Aoto has never read either of their novels, so he has no comment on this.

However, he personally believes that such high praise for Sojiro is mostly an exaggeration.

Even someone like Qing Deng, who has little knowledge of Japanese classical literature, knows that the Quqin Matei is to Japan what Luo Guanzhong and Shi Nai'an are to China.

Speaking of the zither, the zither arrives.

As soon as Ugaki Goro finished speaking, Aoto caught a glimpse of a set of books stacked at his feet out of the corner of his eye. The cover of the book had a line of large, eye-catching words printed on it: "The Tale of the Eight Dogs of Nanso Satomi".

"Mr. Ugaki, you've also read 'The Eight Kenkendens of Nanso Satomi'?"

"How could someone like me, who is obsessed with novels, not have read 'The Eight Kenkendens of Nanso Satomi'?"

Ugaki Goro replied in a half-joking tone.

"That's true."

Qingdeng smiled and agreed.

"Nansō Satomi Hakkenden" - a work by Kūkin Matō, and also his most famous work.

This book was published as a serial, first appearing in the 11th year of the Bunka era (1814), and was not completed until recently... in the 13th year of the Tenpo era (1842).

It is a masterpiece that took 28 years to complete.

During the writing process, the author, Qu Qinma Ting, even suffered the misfortune of going blind, but still managed to complete the entire work by dictating other people's notes.