I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

“I have no name or surname, you may call me ‘Rakshasa’.”

Upon hearing the name "Rakshasa," Nishino's pupils instantly contracted.

"Rakshasa...you are the murderer who killed Kanazawa Tadatsugu and Kanazawa Koto!"

With a swift movement, Nishino stood up and lunged forward, landing on the wooden fence. He gripped the bars tightly with both hands, pressing his face against the gaps in the fence.

He stared intently at the face of the Rakshasa so close to him, as if trying to imprint the other's features firmly into the depths of his mind.

"It's down."

Luocha smiled slightly and, without the slightest hesitation, openly and frankly admitted her "relationship" with the Jinze siblings.

His polite and refined manners, his gentle and courteous tone... it's hard to believe that such a well-mannered gentleman is actually a cold-blooded killer and powerful swordsman who harms the innocent and swiftly kills "Fire Hound".

Nishino glanced at Rakshasa, then at my grandson. His eyes were filled with a cold, hateful glint, radiating a chilling sharpness.

"As I thought... My grandson, you were indeed in cahoots with the murderer who killed the Jinze siblings!"

My grandson smiled but said nothing.

Nishino asked:

"When did you start conspiring together?!"

"It has been that way from the very beginning."

My grandson spoke while revealing a rather amusing expression.

"At the beginning?"

Despite Nishino's obvious wavering and subsequent questioning, Abiko maintained his nonchalant and flippant attitude, speaking slowly and deliberately in a teasing tone:

“Didn’t you understand? I said ‘from the very beginning’—from the very beginning, I have been an undercover agent planted by the Fazhu Party within the Fire Payment Thief Bureau.”

My grandson paused. Only after a moment did he continue:

“Nishino-kun, if I could, I wouldn’t want to kidnap you.”

"But there's nothing we can do... because you're the 'number one detective' at the Northern Police Station."

The smile on my grandson's face gradually disappeared... replaced by a solemn expression with hard, cold features.

"If we let you continue the investigation, the consequences could be disastrous."

So—I'm sorry.

After he finished speaking, a look of regret appeared on my grandson's face.

Judging from appearances alone, it is difficult to tell whether his apology was genuine or insincere.

However, it doesn't matter anyway—Nishino didn't care about his apology at all.

His attention was completely drawn to the unfamiliar word my grandson had just uttered.

"Punish the party according to the law...? What is this?"

"That's a good question!"

Suddenly, the Rakshasa interrupted.

"Nishino-kun, I'll get straight to the point."

"The law punishes factions, which is the secret society to which I and my grandson belong."

"We are determined to overthrow the Edo Shogunate! To exterminate the Tokugawa family! Eliminate the wicked! Bring peace to the world!"

"I have always valued talent! I never hesitate to praise and win over anyone who is capable and has made contributions!"

"Nishino-kun, I've heard of your great name and deeds for a long time!"

"You are not only highly skilled in combat, but also adept at solving cases; you are exactly the kind of talent we need!"

"I admire you! Join us!"

After saying this, Rakshasa stretched out his hand towards Nishino, as if seeking a handshake from a fellow countryman.

Rakshasa's words were like a series of bombshells being dropped into Nishino's mind.

After a long while, he finally mustered all his strength and roared like boiling water suddenly overflowing:

"Overthrow the Edo Shogunate? Exterminate the Tokugawa Clan? What a joke!!"

Nishino's roar was so loud that it nearly shook the dust off the roof beams.

"My grandson! I thought you were just colluding with thugs, but I never imagined your actions would be so despicable! You have actually betrayed your country and colluded with the enemy!!"

Faced with Nishino's roar, my grandson's reaction was... rather indifferent.

He glanced at Nishino with a relaxed, amused look, rolled his tongue, and asked softly:

"Treason? Collusion with the enemy? Which country did I betray? Which enemy did I collude with?"

"You, a member of the Manchu bannermen, have actually betrayed the Shogunate! You've joined the bandits! Isn't this treason and collusion with the enemy?! Do you even know the meaning of 'shame'? Where is your 'loyalty'?!"

"Shame...Loyalty and righteousness..."

My grandson carefully pondered the two words Nishino had just uttered.

After a short while, he chuckled softly through his nostrils, then raised his chin and looked down at Nishino.

"Is it noble and loyal to be a dog of the shogunate like you?"

My grandson's eyes, expression, and tone revealed undisguised sarcasm.

In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene changed.

A tense atmosphere permeated the air, making one gasp involuntarily.

"Alright, alright, both of you calm down."

Rakshasa stepped half a step to the side, blocking the way between Nishino and my grandson, and acted as a peacemaker.

However, as soon as he opened his mouth, he was met with a sharp rebuttal from Nishino.

"Shut up! Traitorous scoundrel!"

Driven by an indescribable rage, Nishino launched into a tirade of profanities, disregarding his image:

“I am a member of the Imperial Guard, and my family has been favored by the Emperor for generations! I should bravely serve my country! How can I follow Mei Xue’s example of surrendering the city and betraying my master for personal gain? How can I follow Hong Jiu of the Ming Dynasty, kneeling before the traitor and becoming known throughout the land for my rebellious deeds!”

[Note: Baisetsu's Surrender: Baisetsu, also known as Anayama Baisetsu (1541-1582), was a military commander during the Sengoku period and a retainer of the Takeda clan. In 1582, Anayama Baisetsu, stationed in Surrender, feeling that the Takeda clan's power was waning, secretly contacted Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was attacking Surrender, offering to accept his son Anayama Nobuharu as the successor to the Takeda clan in exchange for the "bloodless surrender" of Surrender. Tokugawa Ieyasu agreed, and Anayama Baisetsu surrendered the castle.]

[Note: Hong Jiu of the Ming Dynasty: Hong Jiu refers to Hong Chengchou (1593-1665), courtesy name Yanyan, style name Hengjiu. He was respectfully addressed as "Old Man Hong Jiu" by the literati. Defeated by the Qing army in the Battle of Songjin, he surrendered to the Qing and thereafter served them wholeheartedly. Not only were he despised by the Ming people, but even the Qing people looked down on him. During the Qianlong era, he was included in the "Biographies of Traitorous Officials."]

Nishino's words were undeniably passionate and inspiring.

He resolutely rejected the olive branch extended by the Rakshasa.

His resolute gaze seemed to pierce through the demon before him, who had come to tempt the world.

However... Rakshasa stared at Nishino with an expression as if watching a child play pranks.

"Nishino-kun, you really are stubborn!"

"What did you say?!"

The anger on Nishino's face was so intense it was beyond measure.

“Nishino-kun, I ask you: Why is justice lost and corruption rampant today?”

"Was it because Westerners invaded?"

"I don't think so."

“Even before the ‘Black Ships’ incident, the country was already in a state of turmoil.”

"In the eighth year of the Tenpo era (1837), the Ōshio Heihachirō Rebellion broke out, and the commercial capital of Ōsaka was engulfed in war, shaking the entire country—can you say that the Ōshio Party's uprising was due to interference from Westerners?"

"Is it because the daimyo of the Western Lands are getting restless?"

"I don't think so."

"The daimyo of the western provinces have only been making moves in the last few years. Before that, the western provinces, including the Choshu domain, were more docile than rabbits in front of the shogunate."

"So, what is the reason that the whole world is in such dire straits?"

"The answer is simple—it's all because of the Tokugawa family's mischief!"

"During these two hundred years of peace, the Edo Shogunate became increasingly arrogant and extravagant."

"Bribery is common among high-ranking officials, who exchange gifts with each other without regard for morality or righteousness."

"Therefore, they sought personal enrichment for themselves and their families, and levied heavy taxes on the people within the territory."

"For many years, the people have already struggled to cope with the annual tributes and other duties. Now, with further exploitation, their resources are becoming increasingly depleted."

"This situation has become the norm from the shogunate down to the various domains, eventually leading to poverty and hardship for the whole country, and causing everyone to complain."

"The common people had no way to express their grievances, so they joined together in rebellion, and their resentment reached the heavens."

"However, the Tokugawa family remained largely oblivious, and treacherous and wicked men continued to hold power, spending their days scheming to extract money and rice, which angered the entire nation!"

"The common people are starving and destitute, with nowhere to stand."

“Those in power possessed land and newly cultivated land, and were well-fed and clothed without lack. They indulged in delicacies from land and sea, surrounded by wives and concubines; or they lured powerful retainers to brothels and taverns, where they drank and feasted without restraint, spending thousands of dollars at a time.”

"At this time of hardship for the people, those in power still live in luxury, indulging in pleasures among actors and prostitutes, just as before. This situation is no different from the extravagant feasts of King Zhou!"

"To witness the chaos in the country without self-examination, to disregard the plight of ordinary people begging for food, and to pledge allegiance to such a family and such a government—how is this any different from aiding and abetting evil?"

"This is precisely the time for virtuous and ambitious people to dedicate their lives! People of insight should be passionate and zealous!"

"If we wish to restore order to this chaotic world, there is no other way but for righteous individuals to unite and carry out righteous deeds!"

"Although we lack the power of Tang and Wu, or the virtue of Confucius and Mencius, things have come to this point, and we can no longer tolerate it. We have no choice but to take the responsibility of the world upon ourselves and risk the calamity of our clan's extermination!"

"Now our lord gathers men of noble aspirations, rouses the spirit of righteous men, unites sworn brothers, without a trace of selfishness, and rises up to punish the corrupt officials who harm the people! Together we will help to restore the nation!"

"We not only wish to destroy the shogunate, but also to revive the political system of Emperor Jimmu! We must rebuild moral order and sweep away the decadent and extravagant ways of recent years!"

“Our actions are neither like those of Taira no Masakado and Akechi Mitsuhide of this dynasty, nor are they motivated by any selfish desire to steal the nation!”

[Note: Taira no Masakado (?-940), a powerful clan leader and military commander in the Kanto region during the mid-Heian period of Japan. In 939, he rebelled against the Kyoto court, proclaiming himself "New Emperor." In 940, he was defeated by Taira no Sadamori and killed by an arrow. This rebellion is known as the "Taira no Masakado Rebellion."]

[Note: Akechi Mitsuhide (1528-1582) was a military commander during the Sengoku period and a retainer of the Oda clan. In 1582, he launched the Honnoji Incident, betraying the Oda clan and leading to the death of Oda Nobunaga.]

"Our purpose is as clear as the sun, moon, and stars! It is solely to emulate the sincere hearts of Tang, Wu, Emperor Gaozu of Han, and Emperor Taizu of Ming in comforting the people and punishing the guilty!"