I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

The scene just now truly deserves the description of "Nine Tripods in One Thread".

Just as the chaotic footsteps were about to reach Nishino, my grandson finally uttered the words he had been waiting for: "Found him, Nishino-kun, let's retreat!"

Before jumping out the window, my grandson didn't forget to pour fuel on the Russian's bookshelf and then throw down a lit Western match.

Bear!

The raging fire immediately engulfed the Rakshasa's bookshelf.

In the critical moment of desperately trying to escape, instead of taking the time to run away, they deliberately stopped to pour oil and set it on fire...

My grandson's actions seem puzzling at first glance, but Nishino knows that he is not trying to annoy the Rakshasa or for any malicious reason—but rather to confuse the Rakshasa and protect himself.

By burning the entire bookshelf, Rakshasa would have difficulty knowing which document his grandson and Nishino had taken, thus greatly increasing the difficulty of his investigation. This method is a common trick used by intelligence agents.

After his breathing had calmed down a bit, Nishino sheathed his sword and said sternly to my grandson:

"Hurry up, don't linger here."

Although they had already left the Rakshasa's stronghold far away, they were still uneasy until they completely got rid of this tall, bright red building from sight.

My grandson nodded and said:

"Okay, let's go. Follow me."

Before Nishino could respond, my grandson turned and headed east on his own.

Nishino followed along, somewhat confused.

"My grandson, where are you taking me?"

My grandson grinned, revealing a faint smile.

"I'll take you to see my comrades. I need to immediately inform them of the valuable discovery I just made in the Rakshasa's dormitory and discuss our next steps with them."

Comrade!

Upon hearing this, Nishino's gaze narrowed slightly.

My grandson's comrade... that means he's one of the other members of the Big Salt Party...

The thought of meeting a large number of traitors and rebels soon filled Nishino with mixed feelings.

Suddenly, he turned the turmoil in his heart into sound.

"My grandson, what did you find in Rakshasa's bedroom just now?"

"I'll tell you this after I meet up with my comrades. I don't want to repeat the same thing twice."

Seeing that my grandson remained silent, Nishino said nothing more.

The two sped along the deserted night road, one after the other, without saying a word.

After a short while, Nishino broke the silence by speaking again:

"...My grandson, why did you become a thief?"

"Ok?"

My grandson, without even turning his head, uttered a curt "Hmm?"

Nishino continued the conversation:

“You are of bannerman origin, from a prominent family, and have enjoyed a life of luxury for generations.”

"Besides that, you also have a respectable job as a former thief turned public servant."

"You have status and position... The shogunate has treated you well, so why did you betray your country and collude with the enemy?"

“I acknowledge that Ōshio Heihachirō is a man of great talent and virtue.”

"And your dream of a world free from hunger is indeed worthy of recognition."

"But that is not enough to justify your becoming thieves."

"The God of the East Shrine pacified the three rivers, conquered the Totomi region, allied with Kiyosu, defeated the Takeda, destroyed the Toyotomi, established the shogunate, and created an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity."

[Note: Tosho Shinkun refers to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was posthumously granted the divine title "Tosho Daigongen." Mikawa and Tōtōmi are place names in Japan. Kiyosu refers to Oda Nobunaga.]

"Our shogunate has been established for 260 years, with benevolence and virtue extending far and wide, and its grace and favor profound."

"Moreover, the current great tree master works tirelessly day and night, enduring hardship and humiliation."

[Note: Ōki-no-kō is an honorific title for the current Shogun.]

"At present, the sea is teeming with ships, and Western barbarians and bandits are causing trouble one after another. This is the time for virtuous and righteous people to risk their lives."

“If you truly consider it your duty to revitalize the country and ensure its peace, then you should serve the shogunate, not act as local bullies.”

These words had been bottled up in Nishino's heart for a long time.

Upon learning that my grandson was a bandit leader of the Great Salt Party, he had been wanting to ask him this question ever since.

My grandson didn't keep Nishino waiting too long.

As soon as Nishino finished speaking, he let out a strange, intriguing low laugh.

"Nishino-kun, I didn't expect you to be so eloquent! You can give a really good lecture~~"

"How should I put it... your words just now are only good for fooling others, don't fool yourself too~~"

Upon hearing this, Nishino's face immediately darkened with anger.

Just as he was about to say something, my grandson interrupted him:

“Nishino-kun, I’d like to ask you instead—why didn’t you ‘betray your country and join the traitors’ like me?”

"...Huh?"

For a moment, Nishino couldn't believe his ears.

My grandson's outrageous and outrageous remarks made his eardrums go numb.

Why didn't I betray my country and join the rebels? Is that even a question? I am the son of the Nishino family, a family of loyal ministers for generations! I would rather die than do anything that violates the honor of a samurai!

Perhaps sensing the resentful gaze from Nishino, my grandson turned his head, glancing indifferently at Nishino behind him out of the corner of his eye, and slowly said in a tone devoid of joy or sorrow:

“Nishino-kun, you made a mistake just now.”

"It is not because I became an official of the shogunate that I am obligated to serve the shogunate."

"It is because I happen to be an official of the shogunate that I am even more determined to oppose the shogunate."

“Nishino-kun, as someone who shares the same feelings as the people of Hokuban-sho-cho, you should be able to understand that feeling, right?”

"That feeling of not being able to arrest those who should be arrested, and not being able to kill those who should be killed."

Upon hearing my grandson's words, Nishino's facial features instantly became incredibly stiff.

At the same time, my grandson revealed a solemn expression as cold as ice, and even his signature drawn-out way of speaking disappeared.

"Although the functions of the Fire-Fighting Thieves Bureau and the Magistrate's Office 'Three Times' are very different, there is one thing they have in common: we can both see a great deal of cruelty."

"Corrupt officials with bloated minds, insatiable unscrupulous merchants, hypocrites who deceive the world and steal fame, impoverished and destitute people, ever-increasing evil, and endless bloodshed..."

“We are not like the old Chinese and the young people, who are high and mighty, where all we see is peace and tranquility, without a trace of dirt.”

"They are not as insignificant as peddlers, lowly officials, or grassroots bureaucrats, who are mired in the mire, struggling to make ends meet, and are already exhausted just trying to get by."

"We are caught between the two, and the absurdity of 'heaven' and the sorrow of 'earth' are clearly reflected in our eyes."

"Bullshit 'Fire Dragon'... Bullshit 'Fire Thief's Top Crime Solver'... I can't even save a little girl who has been defiled and forced to commit suicide."

“Nishino-kun, I believe you can empathize with this desperate situation and the painful experience of being unable to help when you could have done so.”

"How can a country be governed well when surrounded by these insects?"

“Pruning, fertilizing and watering a large tree whose roots are already rotten is meaningless. At most, it can only slow down the decay of the tree, but the rotten tree will eventually decay and collapse.”

"The only way to bring it back to life is to completely tear down this rotten tree and then plant a new sapling in the same spot."

At this point, my grandson paused, then put on a strange expression that was both ambiguous and full of charm.

"Nishino-kun, I've rambled on and on about so much, you must find it hard to process it all, right?"

"I have no intention of forcibly changing your mind."

"I don't expect you to suddenly realize this and become one of our comrades overnight, instead of a loyal retainer of the shogunate."

"But...you went through all that trouble to learn both literary and martial arts, just to serve the Shogun...to someone you've never even met?"

Is this all you aspire to?

"In your eyes, is it only by being loyal to the shogunate that one can become a worthy samurai?"

What kind of samurai do you envision?

The barrage of questions, like a machine gun, stunned Nishino.

To cover his confused expression, he subconsciously turned his face away.

Anger, confusion, bewilderment... a mix of emotions welled up in Nishino's heart, leaving him speechless.

His body instinctively resisted my grandson's words.

But...but...my grandson's voice, his series of questions, seeped uncontrollably into the depths of his mind...

Just as Nishino was caught in a dilemma, his familiar, drawn-out way of speaking returned:

"Nishino-kun, you can think about those questions I just mentioned later. We've arrived."

Nishino paused for a moment, then looked around.

After a non-stop, high-speed journey, they had left the city and arrived in the outskirts of Edo.

All around was grass and mud, and ahead was an empty crossroads.

My grandson stood in the middle of the intersection, took out a small bamboo flute about an inch long from his pocket, put it to his lips, and blew hard.

Glug~ Glug~ Glug~

The sound emanating from the flute was not a melodious flute tune, but rather a lifelike hooting of an owl.

"Alright~ My comrades will be here soon~~"

"...Your comrade is an owl?"

"Wow~ Nishino-kun, I didn't know you had such a witty side~~"