I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

Kinoshita Mai tilted her head back, giving Aoto a long, curious look.

"What's wrong?" Aoto asked, puzzled as to why Kinoshita Mai was looking at him like that.

"Ah...it's nothing..."

When Aoto turned his gaze towards her, Kinoshita Mai, who was too shy to meet his eyes, quickly lowered her head again, looking at her small toes covered in white socks, and continued softly:

"When I went to the clothing store to pick up my traditional clothing just now, I heard some people talking about you inside..."

"They say: a man named Tachibana Seiden solved a murder case yesterday in less than an hour..."

[Note: Gofuku refers to kimono. The term "kimono" did not exist in ancient Japan.]

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng chuckled, "So that's how it is... Has yesterday's events spread so quickly throughout the city...?"

"I never imagined you were Tachibana Aoto..." Aoto vaguely saw a hint of admiration in Kinoshita Mai's smile. "You're amazing! You solved the clan murder case in less than an hour..."

"Ah, I was just lucky," Qingdeng said casually with a smile.

Although they only exchanged a few words with Kinoshita Mai, these few words successfully eased the awkward atmosphere between them. Kinoshita Mai's previously tense shoulders relaxed a lot, and her voice became louder and clearer.

Taking advantage of the improved atmosphere between the two, Qing Deng pressed his advantage.

Kinoshita Mai's words just now gave him a very good starting point for the conversation—

"You just said you went to the kimono shop to pick up your kimono. So, is this cloth bag you're holding right now the clothes you just picked up from the shop?" Qing Deng gestured with his lips toward the cloth bag that Kinoshita Mai was holding in both hands.

Kinoshita Mai nodded: "This is a gift I prepared for my friend."

"friend?"

“Yes, I have a very important friend who and her grandfather are moving from Osaka to Edo for a while because of some things.” Kinoshita Mai, still staring intently at her toes, said slowly, “If nothing unexpected happens, they should arrive in Edo in about ten days.”

"Tomorrow I will leave Edo to meet them at Fujisawa-juku on the Tokaido."

"I was initially worried that the Wu-style clothing I prepared for my friend wouldn't be ready in time..."

"Fortunately, the clothing shop managed to finish making my custom-made clothing before tomorrow."

"You're going to go all the way out of the city to Fujisawa-juku to meet your friend?" Qing Deng exclaimed in a low voice.

To come all this way from outside the city to greet you... that's going to the extreme with all the formalities.

"Hmm...after all, she's my most important friend." Kinoshita Mai gave a shy smile mixed with excitement and anticipation.

*******

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Chapter 43 Bushido is a pile of shit

After chatting briefly with Kinoshita Mai for a while, the two finally left the path that would likely leave a huge psychological scar on Kinoshita Mai for the rest of her life.

“I’m going this way next…” Kinoshita Mai pointed to the left-hand intersection.

"Ah, well, we'll have to go our separate ways then. I'm heading this way next." Qingdeng pointed to the right-hand intersection. "May we meet again someday?"

"Hmm..." Kinoshita Mai, whose shy expression hadn't faded and who had barely looked directly at Aoto the entire time, nodded. "Goodbye..."

After saying goodbye to Kinoshita Mai and parting ways, Aoto, supporting the sword at his waist, continued to patrol the area under his jurisdiction.

And just as Aoto and Kinoshita Mai parted ways—

……

……

The North District Office, the office space in the East District—

"Lord Dongcheng, did you call me?"

Nishino opened the door and quickly entered the room.

Nishino, who had no cases to handle today, was just about to head to his assigned area for inspection.

Just as he was about to leave the North Zone, he suddenly received a summons from his superior, Dongcheng, and had to hurry to Dongcheng's office.

Upon entering his boss's office, Nishino saw his boss, Toujou, sitting cross-legged behind his usual desk, looking seriously at something in his hands.

At first glance, one might think Dongcheng is looking at some important document and working diligently.

But in reality... the thing he was looking at so intently was a special picture that was always in high demand among men...

Dongcheng is looking at this painting, the kind that's really outrageous: the female protagonist is a voluptuous young woman, and the male protagonist is a giant octopus...

He was looking at it intently, while using one hand to pick at his toes. After picking at his toes, he used the same hand to blow his nose...

"Hmm...hmm..." Dongcheng kept making deep murmurs as he looked at the painting in his hand. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was admiring some masterpiece.

Upon seeing Nishino arrive, Toujou's face immediately broke into a broad smile.

"Oh! Nishino, you're here!"

Dongcheng casually tossed the drawing in his hand onto the table right in front of Xiye without any hesitation.

Nishino, as if he had seen this all along, asked calmly:

"Lord Dongcheng, what brings you here?"

"I have something important to tell you." Dongcheng yawned widely. "But before we get down to business, let's chat for a bit first."

After saying that, Dongcheng raised the corner of his mouth.

"How does it feel to have the case in Kimyuu-cho snatched away by that Tachibana Aoto yesterday?"

Nishino was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly regained his usual (￣︿￣) cold expression.

"To be honest—I'm very unhappy."

"Last night I was so depressed that I ate less than a few bowls of rice at dinner."

"But I must admit that in handling yesterday's case, I was completely defeated by Tachibana Seiden, and I accept the defeat wholeheartedly."

"Upon arriving at the crime scene, I also noticed that there seemed to be something wrong with that candle."

"But I haven't been able to make the connection as quickly as Tachibana Aoto did, that 'townsmen rarely use candles'."

Having said that, Nishino sighed.

"It wasn't until I returned to the Hokuban-doku yesterday and learned from others how Tachibana Seito solved the case that I finally understood why I hadn't realized that the townspeople didn't use candles much when I saw them at the crime scene."

"Because my family has always used candles."

"I have never used lamp oil since I was a child."

"The idea that 'it's only natural to have candles in the house' has been subtly and gradually taken root in my mind."

"I am so ashamed that I made such a stupid mistake."

Seeing the hint of shame on Nishino's face, Toujou grinned:

"That Tachibana Aoto has really changed a lot."

“Yesterday, when he was reporting to me and Lord Usui and others on how he solved the case, I specifically asked him, ‘Are you trying to steal my credit?’”

"Faced with such a tricky question, his answer, while not flawless, was hard to fault."

"Not only has his ability to solve cases improved a lot, but he also seems to have become more tactful."

A faint smile appeared on Nishino's lips.

"I've heard about that Ju Qingdeng, and I wonder why he was able to undergo such a transformation."

"If he really does realize the weight of his responsibility and is determined to change his ways, as he claims... well, that would be a good thing."

"With one less person holding us back, the burden on our shoulders can be lightened a bit."

"Hmph..." Toujou smiled meaningfully, "If Tachibana Aoto becomes reliable... that means the strength of the 'Arima Group' will be greatly enhanced. Aren't you worried that after the 'Arima Group' becomes stronger, it will cause our 'Toujou Group's' status in the Hokuban Police Station to decline, making it difficult to get any good cases?"

"Heh." Nishino sneered, "Let them come at me."

"I don't think the 'East City Group,' with me in charge, is so weak that the 'Arima Group' can surpass us so quickly."

"Hehehe..." Dongcheng chuckled for a while, then stretched lazily. "Alright, let's stop this small talk for now."

"Let's get down to business."

“Nishino, after several days of discussion, the higher-ups have decided that you will take over the ‘Neko-sō’ case.”

“‘Cat Monk’?” Nishino’s brow twitched.

"What's wrong?" Dongcheng grinned, looking at Nishino's expression. "Nishino, why do you look like you don't know who Cat Monk is?"

"Ah, speaking of this Cat Monk, Nishino, have you heard the rumors about Cat Monk that have been circulating widely among the common people lately?"

"Many people are saying that this Cat Monk is actually a female ninja who has mastered some kind of ninjutsu that is almost lost."

Dongcheng, with a forced smile, shrugged his shoulders.

"I wonder where this rumor actually came from..."

"If that cat monk really is some kind of female ninja... that would be great. I've never seen what a ninja looks like in my entire life."

Nishino ignored Tojo's joke.

His expression turned slightly serious, and he asked in a solemn tone:

"Lord Tojo, why did you suddenly decide to hand over the 'Neko-sō' case to me?"

"What else could it be?" Dongcheng sneered. "It's because the person in charge of this case before hasn't made any progress."

"In order to catch this big thief, the 'three-times' of our two garrisons in the south and north have changed three chief officers in succession."

"But without exception—all have come to nothing. The investigation into 'Cat Monk' is still ongoing, and we still haven't figured out whether he is male or female."

"Nishino, you should know what kind of people those Neko-sō stole money from, right?"

"Each one has more powerful backers than the last, and each one is incredibly influential."

"Everyone knows they're no good, but we just can't do anything about them."

“Those who have been harmed by Mao Xiaoseng have recently put pressure on our government, demanding that we arrest Mao Xiaoseng as soon as possible.”