Nobita's Time Heist

The two hadn't expected that even whispering like that, Nobushige's gaze still fell upon them. His years of battlefield experience allowed him to immediately discern that their armor and weapons were not original, but rather salvaged from others. However, in the current situation, this wasn't a major problem.

"Let's discuss the matter of confiscating the knives again."

"What?" The captain's eyes widened, seemingly not expecting such a resolute denial. He emphasized, "This was directly handled by the Grand Treasury Minister..."

“My position was personally appointed by Lord Hideyori. Now that the enemy may attack the castle at any time, weapons cannot be surrendered. If you have any objections, you can go to Lord Hideyori and have me relieved of my post.”

Nobushige didn't waste too much time on the henchmen. His gaze swept over the enamel mug in Fat Tiger's hand, roughly reconstructing what had just happened, and he asked, "Who are these two?"

"Um, Lord Sanada, we have long admired your reputation. It is truly an honor to meet you today." Suneo cleared his throat and began with a rather official speech. "We are two ronin from Sapporo. Hearing of the changes in the world, we came here specifically to assist Lord Hideyori. To be able to fight alongside you all..."

His plan was to use this opportunity to establish contact with Nobushige and demonstrate his loyalty. With his silver tongue and the ability to infiltrate the upper echelons of Osaka Castle within three days, and given that Nobushige was in control of the castle's defenses, it should be easier to get information about Shizuka from him.

However, Gian doesn't think so.

“We’re here to find someone.” He poured the knife tip out of the enamel cup and casually put the cup down. “Do you know Minamoto Shizuka? She was one of our companions, but we got separated. I got information from the Tokugawa army that she’s currently at Osaka Castle and is involved in some kind of ‘sorcery’.”

Have you heard about this?

……

Nobushige's pupils noticeably dilated and contracted, and his eyes darted around rapidly—a natural reaction when a person is thinking.

"follow me."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Shizuka?!"

……

For the first few seconds, Shizuka thought she was hallucinating and remained leaning against the window frame, listlessly watching the last rays of sunset sink below the horizon. But she quickly realized that the hallucination shouldn't be so clear. When she turned her head, she saw Gian and Suneo waving at her, grinning from ear to ear.

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is considered one of the four great joys in life, and its significance is no exaggeration.

Moreover, this was 1615, a completely different world for Shizuka and her companions. If it weren't for the konjac slices still being effective in translating, they might not even have had a language barrier. In an era when the fastest mode of transportation was still horse-drawn carriages, encountering someone they knew well was exactly like seeing a family member.

"How did you all..." Shizuka stammered, "I've been using the [Finding Staff] to look for you these past few days, but the staff just stands up. I was worried, what if you went to a different era?!"

"A few days?" Suneo suddenly understood. "I get it! The time machine sent us to the same place, but at different times. Shizuka arrived a few days before us!"

Fat Tiger shrugged. "Luckily it's only a few days. What if we'd arrived more than ten years earlier?"

"What if I arrive a decade or two earlier... I'll build my own power, become a daimyo during the Warring States period, unify all of Japan, and then quietly wait for you to come." Shizuka said this with a very domineering tone, as if she were joking. "Emperor Saga's surname is Minamoto, and so is mine. What's wrong with that?"

The three men exchanged smiles, instantly dispelling the tension of an impending battle. With their companions by their side, they felt as if they had been buffed by each other, believing they could accomplish anything.

“As expected, they are indeed your companions.” Shinshige, who maintained a safe social distance throughout, smiled slightly and nodded to Shizuka. “Now I can rest assured.”

"I'm sorry. I had to refuse your request..." Shizuka looked slightly guilty. "I hope you can understand. The specific reasons are complicated, but I also have my own difficulties."

"It's alright, Lord Gen, I completely understand." Nobushige nodded to her with great composure, his every move resembling a perfect samurai template. "The way of the army lies in troop deployment. It depends on whether the soldiers are well-trained, whether the changes on the spot are unexpected, and whether the reserves and supplies are sufficient. Only when these are in a large lead can the battle be decided. I have never heard of anyone who can win indefinitely by relying on divine arts."

"I will arrange for your two companions to be in the room next to yours. If you need anything, please let me know. I have military duties to attend to, so I will not disturb your reunion any longer."

He bowed slightly and left with near-perfect etiquette, disappearing into the hazy twilight.

Chapter 28: If Nobita could see this too.

"Still no news about Nobita and Kosuke...?"

In the room, Shizuka tried almost every tool she knew that could be used to find someone, but still came up empty-handed, and couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.

"Maybe only the three of us came to this era." Suneo pouted. "By the way, Shizuka, how exactly did you and Sanada Nobushige meet?"

"It wasn't that complicated. I crashed into the center of the battle with the time machine. I had already put on the [Super Glove] when I suddenly encountered him. He led his troops to attack and helped me escape. He even found me a room to stay in the castle tower. To repay him, I used the [Weather Box] to create a heavy rain that extinguished the fire ox formation sent by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Somehow, the news leaked out, as fast as the wind... Not only did the Tokugawa army find out, but the Toyotomi family also found out."

Shizuka shook her head with a wry smile. "They suddenly called me the shrine maiden of the Genji, saying I possess some kind of... Shinto magic, and they hope I can lend them a hand in the upcoming battle."

"You refused?"

"There's nothing I can do. History has already been set. The Toyotomi family will be replaced by the Tokugawa family. That's how history works."

Shizuka looked out the window at the already darkening sky, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "This summer, there aren't many days left to endure."

"The fall of Osaka Castle was nothing short of a catastrophe for the people living here. To watch helplessly as people died, unable to offer any assistance, was truly..."

Despite having just eaten dinner, Gian sat down cross-legged again and began to devour the pastries on Shizuka's table. He had once held a gluttony contest in town, and without any external assistance, he had barely managed a tie with Nobita, who had swallowed a man-made black hole. His appetite could only be described as bottomless.

"In the end, this is a matter between Toyotomi and Tokugawa, isn't it?" Fat Tiger's tone wasn't as conflicted as theirs. On the contrary, he was always a thick-skinned person, and when faced with such a moral dilemma, he simply stepped over it. "We are neither retainers of the Toyotomi family nor have we received any favors from the Tokugawa family. Since that's the case, this inevitable war has nothing to do with us. Even if the castle falls and many bad things happen, it has nothing to do with you, Shizuka."

Shizuka and Suneo looked at him in surprise. After a while, she smiled with relief, "Xiaowu, really, I almost didn't recognize you."

"but……"

She slowly took a folded piece of Xuan paper from her pocket, placed it on the table, and unconsciously lowered her voice.

"There are reasons why I chose to stay in Osaka Castle."

The paper was spread out, making a rustling sound.

A dragon, outstretched, is printed on it in lead-red ink.

"This is……"

"After I made it clear for the first time that I would not provide assistance, a drug began to circulate in the army. It was kept very secret and was only distributed to officers and soldiers; ronin who came from various places did not receive this treatment."

Shizuka gently touched the red dragon pattern with her fair fingers and said in a deep voice, "I asked Nobushige, but he knew very little about it. This medicine came directly from the upper echelons of the Toyotomi family. It is packaged in this kind of Xuan paper and is called 'Dragon Pill'. It seems to have been personally approved by Hideyori."

"...And then?" Fat Tiger tilted his head. "What are the effects after taking it?"

"It's still highly confidential for now. It hasn't been rolled out on a large scale; it's only being tested on some small teams. However, I've heard some rumors."

As Shizuka's tone softened, the situation became increasingly confusing.

"Limbs can regenerate, wounds can heal on their own, and the dead can return from the Sanzu River as if they were reborn."

"Did you remember something?"

"Dragon disease... an advanced version of dragon disease!" Suneo gasped. "You mean, there are time-traveling criminals among the high-ranking members of the Toyotomi family? The same group we encountered on the Santa Maria?"

"It's more accurate to say that it could only be the same group. Given the current situation, with the Time Police getting serious, I really can't think of anyone else who would still be active outside.

Fat Tiger picked up a piece of Xuan paper with his fingers, rubbed it for a moment, and frowned. "Damn it... they want to use something ahead of its time to make the Toyotomi family win the war!"

"In that case, the Tokugawa Shogunate will cease to exist, and Japanese history will be thrown into chaos once again." Xiaofu seemed to have already imagined that tragic scene, and couldn't help but swallow hard. "Imagine what would happen to the Toyotomi family if they unified the country with this kind of mysterious technique? That family was never fit to be rulers; they all died young. In comparison, Japan under the Tokugawa family's rule was at least more stable!"

Actually, his explanation is a bit far-fetched.

No one has ever witnessed what the Toyotomi dynasty was like under its rule; the dynasty lasted only two generations before its demise. The only relevant historical figure is Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Historical records describe him as outwardly lenient but inwardly suspicious, outwardly warm but inwardly cold, making him extremely difficult to get along with. Even so, there is no evidence to suggest that Japan under the Toyotomi dynasty was necessarily worse than that under the Tokugawa dynasty; it is simply a historical fact they are familiar with, nothing more.

But to the stubbornly resisting Toyotomi clan, this was their only chance to survive. In the game of power, it's either live or die; you can never rely on the mercy of your opponents.

“In that case, let’s join this war.” After a moment of silence, Fat Tiger quickly found his answer. “Weren’t the Dragon Pills distributed to the soldiers? Perfect, we can stay here under Shizuka’s name, continue our investigation, trace the source, find the mastermind, and then…”

He made a gesture of waving his hand in mid-air, the meaning of which was self-evident.

“Wait a minute, Gian, I thought…” Suneo, who was suffering from a brief bout of battlefield PTSD, gestured frantically, “We don’t need to go to the battlefield ourselves, right? Nobushige Masami is a good angle. From a standpoint of opinion, he’s naturally at odds with the Toyotomi clan’s higher-ups, so it’s easy to win him over as an ally. Let me go and persuade him; maybe I can directly…”

"Save your breath, Suneo. Did you see that man's eyes? He's not the kind of person who can be coerced or bribed," Gian muttered. "Otherwise, with such an exaggerated difference in combat strength, only a fool would come."

As he spoke, Fat Tiger appeared confident, even smiling. "Do you think it's possible... if I achieve outstanding military exploits and rise through the ranks quickly enough, I could gain the trust of the Toyotomi clan's higher-ups? Then they'd assign me the Dragon Pill, and I'd pretend to swallow it, then use it to analyze..."

He snapped his fingers. "Mission accomplished!"

"Although I don't think it will go very smoothly, thank you anyway, Xiaowu." Seeing his confident look, Shizuka couldn't help but chuckle. "Anyway, at least we know what to do next."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The rare silence, perhaps because she had found her goal and had familiar and reliable companions by her side to support her, made Shizuka breathe a long sigh of relief, and she was no longer so tense.

Turned.

It was already evening, and in this sky that had not yet been polluted by industrial monsters, a half-moon hung high, shining with a clear white light that made the surrounding stars appear dim.

"I didn't even notice, it's so beautiful..."

Shizuka sighed and said softly, "If Nobita could see this too, that would be wonderful."

Chapter Twenty-Nine: I can already see Tahiti beckoning to us!

"So, that's what I meant... It shouldn't be a problem for them to stay at the camp for a while until they find somewhere else to go, right?"

……

In Shedi Belle, in a dilapidated villa, Da Xiong and Asul stood together, being stared at like exotic animals by a large gang. This was very different from the "gang" Da Xiong remembered; it was more like a big family. Old people, women, children, and many people who at first glance didn't seem to be able to form a fighting force all lived in this large villa, watching them with different perspectives.

"Oh, great, cowboy, great!" The blond man with a mustache and slanted eyes sneered. "This time it's two kids. What can they do? Steal, rob, cheat? Besides adding two more mouths to the camp—I mean, two more mouths on top of all the mouths we have to feed."

“You’d better shut your mouth, Micah. They’re just staying temporarily. I’ll take care of all their needs, from food and lodging to accommodation. It won’t cost the camp a penny, and it’s none of your business to tell them what to do.” Arthur didn’t hold back at all. After cursing him, he turned his gaze directly to the middle-aged man in the center of the crowd, wearing a red vest, with a strong and burly build. “In the end, Dutch just wants to lend them a place. I’ll have them tidy up and stay for a while.”

“I found these two kids in the Odrisco gang camp, but they’re definitely not Odrisco gang members. If they were, they should have shot me instead of being buried in the snow.”

"..." Dutch stared at him intently for a long time. After a while, a strange smile appeared on the man's lips. He asked, "Why are you asking me, child? Haven't you already made up your mind?"

Nobita saw a momentary look of surprise on Arthur's face, as if he wasn't sure what his boss meant. But Dutch didn't give him time to think. He immediately turned around, opened his arms to Nobita and Asul, and smiled. "Welcome to the Van der Linde gang, kids. As you can see, we've always been 'open to all.' Native Americans, Black people, Mexicans... Creating a gang that can accommodate everyone, changing the world—that's what I, Dutch Van der Linde, have always strived for."

“As far as I know, Colm O’Driscoll would never raise children in a gang, and you certainly aren’t part of the O’Driscoll gang. I’m sorry for what you’ve been through… In this corrupt world, everyone has to carefully choose their way of life. And I, this old man in front of you, my choice is… to become a ‘dreamer’.”

He pointed to his head, then to his holster.

"Use this, and this, to change this shitty world."

"Please remember, in my gang, everyone is one family. We must unite to survive. There is no discrimination, no informing, no rifts. Though we are not related by blood, we are closer than real brothers and sisters."

"Thank you again, children, and welcome to the Van der Linde gang!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In a dilapidated guest room, Da Xiong and Asuer looked at each other in dismay. The walls were peeling, the ceiling was almost moldy, and there was a bed that was practically spotless. There were also some unidentified stains on the floor that looked like vomit, and the smell of alcohol seemed to be seeping in from the cracks in the walls and the floor. Combined with this scene, it was particularly nauseating.

“That’s true. After all, they’re a gang. These guys are risking their lives, they don’t know what tomorrow will bring. How could they possibly spend time cleaning?” Asur spread his hands and said with a wry smile, “At least there’s a bed we can lie on.”

"Alright, it's already good enough that they're willing to take us in, don't think too much about it." Da Xiong took out a roll of wallpaper from his pocket and hesitated, "Although we can use the [Hanging House] to improve the living experience, but... if they push the door open and can't see the two of us, things will become very difficult, so let's forget about it."

"Hey, hey, no way?!" Asuron panicked immediately, reaching out to snatch the wallpaper from Nobita's hand. "I don't want to lie on this kind of bed!"

"What?" Da Xiong quickly raised his hand. "Aren't you a scavenger?"

“Even scavengers have a clean place to sleep, don’t make us sound like we’re living in the open! Besides, this kind of house is uninhabitable if it’s not cleaned up, right? If you can’t see it, you can’t see it. Just say we went out to make money, and when we come back, you can use some gadgets to conjure up something valuable, right…”

The wooden door opens.

What Arthur saw was Asur and Nobita almost touching each other. She was trying to grab the wallpaper from Nobita's hand, but to onlookers, this little action was automatically ignored.

“Oh, right, of course I know… Young people recover so quickly, haha…” Arthur pretended to close the door, “This shabby house isn’t soundproof, as you know. I don’t think this young girl can withstand much stress, so you’d better keep your noise down…”

“You might have a serious misunderstanding, Arthur.” Nobita said, both amused and exasperated. “Her and I… how should I put it, it’s not the kind of relationship you’re thinking of.”

"It doesn't matter. These days, everything is in such a mess. Having family around is better than anything else."

He winked at Da Xiong and gave him a somewhat meaningful smile. "When I was your age, I already had kids."

"in addition……"

After a moment of contemplation, seemingly experiencing intense inner turmoil, he finally spoke, "You two would be better off staying away from our gang's affairs. After all, we're bandits, and this is better for both of us."

……

He closed the door, as if shutting out the whole world. In the campsite outside the villa, the campfire flickered, and the gruff voices of gang members were still talking, their sounds reaching the room but becoming muffled.

Asur remained silent for a long while before finally speaking, "What do you think..."

"I don't like that man."

"..." Asur paused for a moment, "I haven't asked yet."

"Really?" Nobita seemed to just realize what was going on, and scratched his head with a smile. "For some reason, it's like I already knew what you were going to ask."

"That guy named Dutch, well... how should I put it? Although he accepted us and said a lot of nice things, but..."

"Knowing full well that he's a bandit, yet he calls himself a 'dreamer,' it's a bit disgusting."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Are you serious, Dutch?"

On the second floor, in another room, Arthur spread his hands, his expression less one of shock and more one of growing dissatisfaction. "A major bank in Saint Denis? Now? With Pinkerton already watching us?"

"Did you leave all your courage behind on that trip to the snowy mountains, my child?" Dutch, puffing on a large cigar, continued, "I've said it many times before, we need one last sum of money before we can all escape. And with two more children you brought back, we need even more!"

"They are just..."

“Oh, don’t mention it, kid.” Dutch shook his head. “Like poor Mrs. Adler, they’re all victims of the sins Colm committed. If you let them leave the gang, they’ll be devoured in five days.”

"..." When Nobita and Asul were mentioned, Arthur's expression changed slightly, and his tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

“This is not a good idea, Dutch.”