Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

It seems that the true purpose of Garan no To is to run an Odd Jobs shop.

Damn, I just walked into my own house and got beaten up by my own employees?

Upon hearing this, Samael's face darkened.

But then, after filtering the information, the ancient snake's face darkened even more.

Wait a minute, something's not right.

It's clearly me who's responsible for supporting these three girls!

The initial education was provided by Ritsuka Shuse, and the later funding came from the parliament's allocation of funds. When did that woman, Orange, ever contribute a single penny?

Seriously? You're even trying to undermine the council's walls! And you're not even paying us, just freeloading off my divine child's labor!

How can you do this to your teacher?

The Speaker, who had inadvertently uncovered this kind of corruption at the lower levels, was so angry that he gritted his teeth and wished he could grab his good apprentice and give him a hundred lectures on the spot!

One hundred times!

However, the reason why Aozaki Touko was able to poach this player was, of course, due to the poor defense of Samael, her "father".

Because he adopted a laissez-faire attitude and didn't want to interfere too much in the lives of the three girls, he was unaware that they had already graduated from university and were working illegally in the Tokyo area as a group, which was really quite incompetent of him.

At that moment, as his thoughts returned, Samael realized a serious problem.

"So, the Tokyo here is the same as the real Tokyo?"

"That's true for some now, but it's uncertain for the future."

Ryougi Shiki's gaze sharpened, and she answered solemnly.

Samael instantly understood the meaning of Ryougi Shiki, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Is reality being replaced?"

Asagami Fujino nodded slightly, and Tono Akiha's expression became more serious.

Samael frowned and asked thoughtfully.

"How long is the time left?"

"do not know……"

"What do you know about that general?"

The three of them, along with the three heroic spirits, shook their heads again.

Left with no other option, Samael turned his attention to the only person at the scene who might know the truth.

"Miss Okita, and you?"

"I'm sorry, this is confidential and I cannot disclose the information!"

Okita Souji put on a stern face, adopting a businesslike demeanor.

Samael sighed in exasperation and had no choice but to settle for second best.

"Then please introduce me to your general."

"No, the General is holding a purification ceremony tonight and will not see any outsiders."

Okita Souji continued to shake her head, even though Sei Shonagon and the other two beside her were giving her meaningful glances. This dutiful young swordswoman showed no sign of backing down.

After a moment of silence, the girl spoke frankly.

“You are very strong. If you were to harbor any ill intentions, I'm afraid no one in the shogunate could stand against you. I cannot take that risk…”

Then, Okita Souji's gaze swept over the man in front of him, his expression resolute.

"I'm sorry, you're too dangerous. I have to report your location to the bureau and then send someone to conduct a full investigation into you."

With that, the young swordswoman turned and walked towards the door, preparing to fulfill her duty.

Samael sighed, seemingly troubled.

"She's going to report us, what should we do..."

Suddenly, Okita Souji, who had just turned around, froze on the spot, as a variety of gazes, some regretful, some excited, and some helpless, converged on her.

The situation has reversed, and it seems like I'm the one who's walked into the wolf's den.

Fifteen minutes later, the poor heroic spirits of the shogunate were pinned to the ground.

Sei Shonagon wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead and turned to give Samael a bright and healthy smile.

"Boss, we have a basement! It's absolutely soundproof; even if you shout your lungs out, no one will hear you..."

"I can take charge of the interrogation!"

"I'll go out to keep watch!"

The three heroes who had just made a grave mistake unanimously changed their allegiance and sought to atone for their errors.

"Guh, I won't say anything, just kill me!"

Miss Okita, with her neck stiffened, made a solemn and indignant declaration, looking as if she were bravely going to her execution.

Samael's lips twitched slightly as he looked at Okita Souji, who had been forced to the ground and sold to him, and the three men who were practically fawning over him.

That familiar feeling was like seeing myself right after I was sold to the shogunate.

Chapter 48 Sister Shi, Don't Be Shy!

Several hours later, outside the basement door.

Samael, who was leaning against the railing drinking tea, glanced at the creaking door and the three heroic spirit interrogators who filed out from inside, and raised an eyebrow.

"She confessed?"

"No, she's fainted again."

Oda Nobunaga shook his head, his face full of regret.

Samael's expectant expression froze, and he inwardly cursed.

If I remember correctly, this is the third time, right?

So what exactly did you guys do in there?!

"How about we wake her up and let me try? I guarantee I can pry her mouth open!"

Oda Nobunaga licked his thin lips, his tongue curling, looking eager to try.

"Forget it……"

Samael quickly waved his hand, stopping Oda Nobunaga from persecuting his friend.

He worried that if things continued like this, before he could even get his hands dirty, these reckless Heroic Spirits would ruin Ms. Okita in the basement, who was already suffering from a frail debuff and couldn't handle any more trouble.

Let's hope he doesn't end up taking the blame himself.

Upon hearing the order to end the interrogation, Oda Nobunaga's crimson eyes revealed a hint of regret, clearly indicating that he was still somewhat unsatisfied.

After all, on the surface, one was an official and the other a thief.

Oda Nobunaga, who was keen on causing trouble, had his share of battles of wits with Okita Souji, who was in charge of Shinjuku security, and was even frequently caught and beaten up for overstepping his bounds.

Now that the situation has reversed and he has a rare opportunity to retaliate, Oda Nobunaga is playing a variety of tricks today.

Even so, she couldn't get the Shinsengumi member to talk.

Clearly, Ms. Okita's moral character is absolutely acceptable.

Considering his dedication, Samael didn't want to push him too hard.

After all, he only needed some information to piece together clues; now was not the time to confront the shogunate head-on.

With no other option, seeing how tight-lipped Okita Souji was, Samael had to settle for second best and borrow relevant materials from the Shunshu Publishing House to search for them on his own.

Fifteen minutes later, in the backyard.

A gentle breeze swept across the lake, creating ripples on the water.

Samael sat in the pavilion, enjoying pastries, and flipped through the encrypted dossier in front of him, quickly reading through the intelligence gathered there.

Each time a volume is finished, the doll that accompanies her presents a new volume with a face identical to Ryougi Shiki's.

After learning of the doll's other purpose in Fuyuki City, the victim whose portrait rights had been violated brought the "evidence" with her to Tokyo.

Even so, upon meeting again, the adorable doll-like creature could not escape its fate of working and serving.

Above the red clay stove, flickering flames licked the bottom of the kettle, gradually boiling the sweet mountain spring water.

Asagami Fujino patiently ground the new tea in the porcelain cup, her every move elegant and steady, neither hurried nor slow, capturing the essence of the tea ceremony: "harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility."

Compared to the tea ceremony, which requires patience, the two priests beside them were not so patient.

Furthermore, they seem to prefer alcohol to tea.

Tono Akiha picked up her porcelain cup and drank the sake that Okita Souji hadn't finished under the cherry blossom tree.

Bored, Ryougi Shiki leaned against the railing, looking at the lake under the setting sun, and casually opened a can of beer, occasionally taking a few sips.

Their skillful movements were clearly the result of being taught by Aozaki Touko.

Samael gritted his teeth and added another mark to his otherwise good apprentice's record.

But the gaze that had been fixed on Ryougi Shiki paused.

At this moment, Ryougi Shiki, who was sitting cross-legged on a soft cushion, had put on a red leather jacket over her blue kimono for easy movement, making her look even more capable.

With her beautiful short black hair that just barely covered her ears, she exuded a unique androgynous beauty.

Men will think she is a woman, and women will mistake her for a man; she is a Japanese beauty who appeals to both men and women.

"What, you want a drink too?"

After being stared at for a while, Ryougi Shiki, realizing what was happening, turned around, looked at herself, then at the person opposite her, and hesitantly raised the can in her hand.

"There's only this one can left in the fridge, save some for me,"

Shedding her dignified and aloof beauty, she unintentionally reveals a boyish straightforwardness. The clash between these two completely different temperaments adds a rare touch of adorable naivety.

Samael stared at the half-empty can of beer handed to him, paused for a moment, and then couldn't help but smile.

"There's only a little bit, and it's all cheap stuff that you can buy at a convenience store. What's the point of fighting you for this?"

He paused, his dark eyes gleaming, and his deep voice exuded a strong allure.

"But speaking of which, I seem to remember that Orange has a habit of hoarding some nice brand-name goods in her rented place, so that she won't have nowhere to satisfy her cravings when she gets a craving."

"where?"

Ryougi Shiki paused slightly as she drank, her eyes gleaming slightly.

At the same time, Tono Akiha, who had put down her cup, couldn't help but turn her head, her gaze intense.

"Count me in!"

Even the usually calm Asagami Fujino couldn't help but stop grinding the tea leaves, a hint of curiosity and impulse appearing in her eyes.

Since graduation, they had been tricked into working illegally here for several years, and the woman had never paid them a single penny.

If they have the chance to take advantage of a ruthless boss, they will certainly not hesitate.

"Hmm, unanimously approved!"

Samael smiled mockingly, raised his finger to the artificial lake in front of him, and then flicked his finger across it.

Suddenly, the shimmering lake surface was split by an invisible force, and the water flowed to both sides, revealing the lakebed covered with pebbles.

Immediately afterwards, Samael raised his arm slightly, and the layers of pebbles loosened. Two wooden boxes sealed with magical runes rose from the bottom of the lake and landed lightly on the table where everyone was sitting.

Three oppressed migrant workers eagerly opened the box and placed bottles of expensive-looking liquor, whose names they didn't recognize, on the table.

In addition, there were several cartons of "Yanlong" brand cigarettes and some beautifully packaged local specialties from various countries, such as chocolate, tea, coffee, and black tea.

Although the three of them didn't need these for the time being, they accepted them without hesitation, considering them as their salary for working hard over the years.

As the instigator, Samael also enthusiastically participated in dividing the spoils, completely emptying Aozaki Touko's secret stash in Tokyo.

In a moment of mischief, the group even went so far as to restore the box to its original state, stuff it full of stones, and put it back in its hiding place, intending to give the unscrupulous boss a surprise.

Wow, what goes around comes around.