Nobita's Time Heist

Fat Tiger laughed three times with great gusto, "I thought you were someone important, but it turns out you're just a nanny? You've got quite the nerve!"

With a flick of her toe, she hooked a splinter of wood lying on the ground into the air, then, like kicking a soccer ball, she cushioned it with the instep of her foot. She then leaped up and unleashed a perfect high-flying kick, sending the splinter flying. This thing was clearly a fragment that had been smashed into a shop during the battle with the shadow warrior; imbued with kinetic energy, its sharp end pierced the air with a piercing whistle, precisely grazing Da Zangqing's hair and embedding itself in the sedan chair behind her.

"laugh--!!"

The nail penetrated deep into the wood, piercing directly through the thin outer wall of the sedan chair.

The sudden kick silenced the scene instantly. A few beads of cold sweat finally appeared on Da Zangqing's massive face, and for the first time, she stopped speaking in her arrogant tone. Instead, she touched her head; just now, she felt a cold wind blow past, as if the Grim Reaper's blade had slashed across her neck.

She had always looked down on the country bumpkin, seeing him as nothing more than cheap cannon fodder. But at this moment, Gian showed her with his actions that this was not the case.

If he wanted to, that kick could have taken her life.

"You...how dare you..."

"Shaking, aren't you? What were you thinking just now?" Fat Tiger seemed to have expected this, and sneered, "You haven't spent all that money, what if you die... or something like that."

"I wasn't planning on wasting my breath on someone like you, but... I've already been very polite to you!"

Fat Tiger suddenly raised his voice, his eyes wide with rage, as if he were about to take on a thousand men and unleash a torrent of fury on everyone. "Besides stabbing your own people in the back and sending soldiers to take drugs of dubious origin, turning them into monsters, what other good ideas do you have?"

"With a formidable enemy at hand, instead of uniting all forces that can be united, you exclude the only person who has ever defeated Tokugawa from the decision-making circle. On one hand, you expect him to work hard and risk his life for you, and on the other hand, you are wary of him in every way. Look at what you have done! Is there a single act of humanity on your part?!"

"Are you really that afraid of the ronin seizing power? Even with the enemy at the gates, you're still wasting your own time... That iron-headed guy might have been right about one thing: when people are individuals, they're all incredibly smart. But once they become a group, they just look stupid! You high-ranking members who control the Toyotomi family are the biggest idiots of all. You deserve to be in this situation!"

Suneo is naturally smooth-talking, Nobita is rather carefree, and Dekisugi is like a saint descended from heaven. None of the three of them would have uttered such aggressive words.

Only Gian, the most headstrong of the five, can speak without restraint when facing someone standing at the top of the "power pyramid" of the castle tower.

That's always been his way; he says what he thinks.

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.

"You brat...you...how dare you..." Da Zangqing gritted his teeth in anger, his face turning ashen. "Musketeers, prepare!"

Suneo silently placed his hand on Gian's shoulder and immediately activated his wall-penetrating technique, pulling Gian's body into the higher dimension as well. In case of the next volley of bullets, they would only pass through their bodies—this was an unspoken understanding they had developed after fighting side-by-side for so long.

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.

"Ha, you old hag... I was just telling you the truth, and you got so worked up? It's like a wet nurse is giving orders. I think the Toyotomi family's days are numbered."

Fat Tiger lowered his center of gravity, and in the gentle night breeze, his eyes were slightly obscured by his bangs, but they could not hide his impulse for violence and fighting.

He is laughing.

"Actually, I wasn't interested in this war to begin with; we just came to find people. Since things have developed like this..."

"I don't mind letting the Tokugawa family take over history sooner!"

Chapter 46: A God-like Rescue

"despair!"

"despair!"

"despair!"

……

The unhurried sound of hooves broke through, effectively neutralizing the tense atmosphere. The general, clad in red armor and wearing a deerskin helmet, made his appearance once again, followed by the samurai and ronin temporarily stationed in the city, whom the Grand Treasury Lord looked down upon.

Their clothing was incredibly casual, clearly indicating they had been woken from their sleep; some were even barefoot. However, the samurai swords and katanas hanging at their waists blatantly declared their fighting prowess—this was still a force that would pay a price if engaged in reckless combat.

Without gestures or commands, the group stopped in unison, making way for their commander. But just looking at that sea of ​​heads was enough to command respect for Xin Fan.

Hideyori was taken aback. He suddenly wondered if he could mobilize these samurai to carry out his orders so precisely in the dead of night.

The more he thought about it, the more desperate he became.

"Hide Norai."

After dismounting, Nobushige still bowed respectfully to Hideyori, his tone still showing the deference of a subject to his lord, without any intention of overstepping his bounds.

“Sanada…” Hideyori suddenly seemed a little embarrassed. “I heard that you recently defeated several Tokugawa generals at the front, forcing them to retreat fifty miles. Well done.”

"Thank you for the compliment," Nobushige replied humbly. "Lord Hideyori, the battle has been intense these past few days. Our soldiers are fighting on the front lines, and we need you to coordinate the supply of weapons, food, water, and manpower from the rear. It is a matter of great importance, and your burden is equally heavy. No matter what situation we are in now, please remember that you are always the backbone. If you don't get enough rest, you are prone to making mistakes, which will affect your judgment and assessment of the battle situation."

This was perhaps the charm of Nobushige; his tone was very calm, without any aggressive air, as if he were truly an elder, wholeheartedly considering your needs. Hideyori, still young, pondered for a moment and nodded in agreement.

"Similarly, gentlemen, whether you are officers, soldiers, ronin, or samurai, we are all one family in the face of a formidable enemy. If we expend too much energy tonight, we will bleed on the battlefield tomorrow. We are already outnumbered, and we must not make unnecessary sacrifices. I think... it would be best if this farce tonight could end here."

Nobushige tilted his head slightly. "Lord Hideyori, what do you think?"

“But…” Hideyori hesitated, “These two have broken into the barn at night, violating a taboo. Even if they are your subordinates, if I don’t punish them…”

"Let me clarify one thing first, Lord Hideyori: these two are not from my clan. In short, their arrival here has nothing to do with the conflict between our two families; they are simply looking for companions. That's all I know." Nobushige gave Oofumi and Gian a look, revealing a reassuring smile, and continued, "I guarantee with my integrity that they are not traitors within the Tokugawa clan."

"I believe tonight's events were a misunderstanding. Please allow me to bring them back. I assure you that these two will not interfere with your decisions in any way again. Are you satisfied with this outcome?"

All the nice things that needed to be said have been said. All the ways to save face have been offered have been exhausted.

Regardless, this farce must stop.

“Hoo…” Hideyori took a deep breath. “In that case, Sanada, take them back…”

"No! We can't let this go!" A sharp female voice interrupted again. It seemed that Nobushige's attitude had given Ōkura-kyō a false impression. She stood next to Hideyori again and protested, "This is treason! Sanada, what do you think you're doing? You're just a country samurai that His Highness Hideyoshi kindly took in. Everything you have is given to you by the Toyotomi family! Being loyal to your duty is just your responsibility. Do you really want to defy the Toyotomi family's will?"

"Lord Daikura, I had no such intention."

"Prove it to me, and I'll spare these two thieves! At the same time, all of you ronin and samurai must surrender your swords! Otherwise, it will be considered a betrayal of the Toyotomi clan, and you will all be punished..."

“That’s enough—!!!”

Toyotomi Hideyori suddenly flew into a rage, his eyes turning bloodshot, and with a whoosh, he drew the sword from his waist.

Crimson Blade.

The crimson light flickered erratically, as if whispering in his ear.

“I! Toyotomi Hideyori, I am the true head of the Sanada family! You are my mother’s wet nurse, and I have always respected you…”

His gaze gradually turned cold, like the chilling glint on the blade.

“But this city can only have one person giving orders, and that is me! Tonight, if any of you haven’t remembered this, you’d better engrave it in your minds! I…” When they met eyes, Hideyori was also somewhat dazed when he saw the incredulous look in Okura-no-kami’s eyes.

He seemed guilty and sheathed the crimson blade.

"That's enough for tonight, that's the patriarch's order! Throw this pile of iron shells outside, I don't want to see it again! Also..." Hideyori bowed slightly, "The Toyotomi family thanks you for everything you've done, Sanada Shogun."

Nobushige's expression remained calm; he simply knelt down and humbly said, "That is my honor."

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.

Thus, the long night and the farce within the magnificent castle finally came to an end. Both sides, except for the Grand Minister of Finance, accepted the outcome. However, she was clearly powerless… all her power within the Toyotomi family stemmed from her status as the mistress's wet nurse. But when the nominal highest authority rejected her, she was, of course, nothing at all.

Hideyori withdrew his troops, and Nobushige also dismissed his samurai, sending them back to rest. Under the brilliant starry sky, the streets and alleys suddenly became deserted, as if the jagged edges of the previous scene were nothing but a bizarre dream.

"How should I put it? Thank you so much..."

Before Xiaofu could even display his talent, Xinshige waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

"You two are Shizuka's friends, so this is just a small thing I can do for her." Nobushige's smile remained calm, but Suneo could see the fatigue in his eyes—he was the core of the fight against the Tokugawa family, shouldering such enormous pressure, personally fighting on the front lines, and working non-stop. It was impossible for him not to be exhausted.

Even so, his smile still felt like a gentle breeze when he was with outsiders.

“I trust you two as much as I trust Ms. Shizuka, so… you don’t need to explain anything to me.”

He pointed to the castle tower in the distance, "She must still be waiting for your news, so don't waste any more time on me."

"Go back to her."

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.

"Damn, this lump of iron is really heavy..."

"What on earth is this thing? I heard it could move before? Just like a person!"

"Who knows? His Highness told us to throw it, so let's just throw it as far as possible."

……

In the deep darkness of the night, no one cares what is happening in the corners of the city.

When the previously still body suddenly moved, and the large hand covered their faces, their final screams were swallowed up by the cold, hard metal.

"Hiss..."

A puff of white smoke rose from their faces, and moments later, the two unfortunate soldiers were reduced to dried-out corpses, like lemons squeezed dry. The dark red optical lenses, having absorbed the lives of the two men, barely managed to light up again.

"The core nuclear reactor has been detected to be missing."

"Energy storage system loss detected."

"The external weapon system has been detected as missing."

"Asymmetric X-element generator loss detected."

"A loss of turbine energy storage circuit has been detected."

……

"The person is on the circuit, normal."

After a series of chilling self-checks, he twisted his neck and turned stiffly toward the castle tower.

"Gang...Tian...Wu!!"

Chapter 47: Still Planning! Shameless! Still planning!!

"boom!"

The wooden door closed, completely blocking the heavy snow from entering; not a single snowflake could drift in. At least inside this wooden cabin, the snow could be seen as a pleasant, tranquil scene, rather than a source of constant worry about potential casualties.

"How are you?" The gang members gathered around Arthur with concern, brushing the snowflakes off his clothes.

“Well…it’s mostly thanks to Charles. We hunted two deer, and with the emergency food we found in the storeroom, it should be enough to feed everyone for a while.” Arthur took off his hat, breathed on his palms, and said, “This house is very warm and can accommodate so many of us. Now that we have plenty of food, I think…we should stay here for a few months to avoid the Pinkerton detectives’ search. We can make further plans once things have calmed down.”

Hearing him say this, everyone nodded and began to seriously consider the feasibility of the plan.

The period when Van der Linde drifted from Heishui Town to Lidao Village was probably the most destitute and low point in his life. Even now, thinking about it still makes me shudder.

So when Arthur suggested heading back to the snowy mountains for a massive tactical detour, most of the gang members were quite reluctant. The Pinkerton detectives might not come, but the freezing conditions, coupled with the hasty departure and lack of supplies, would be enough to put them in serious trouble.

But... who could have imagined that Arthur and Nobita, who were expected to perish while covering the retreat, had already arrived at the snow mountain ahead of schedule and found a sufficiently large shelter for them. Although it was built of wood, it was surprisingly sturdy and large enough to accommodate Fan Bang and his family. The warehouse next to it also contained a large amount of military rations, which, although not very tasty, would definitely be enough to last for several months.

Arthur claimed that this was a military fortress built at the end of the war, but it was over before it could be used, and the resources inside were not taken away, which benefited them.

Nobody's a fool; anyone could see that something was off about this new boy.

Regardless of how he and Arthur escaped the Pinkerton detectives' encirclement without even a scratch... the entire group of over twenty people hurried towards the snow-capped mountains without encountering a single interception. The formidable Pinkerton detectives seemed to have suddenly fallen silent, watching helplessly as they made their way up the snow-capped mountains.

Then, what was once a barren wasteland suddenly transformed into a military fortress that seemed to have been built specifically for them. It was well-supplied, easy to defend, and located in a remote area—it was as if God had taken pity on these people and given them a gift.

They've all been through life and death, and they know one thing well—there's no such thing as luck without a reason. What's happening right now might be a sign of some kind of change.

However… no one can say for sure where this vaguely anticipated change will ultimately lead them. At least for now, they no longer have to worry about the cold and hunger.

……

Dutch stood at the entrance to the stairs, silently watching Arthur being surrounded by a group of gang members, who bombarded him with questions. The atmosphere in the living room suddenly fell silent, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace. Everyone turned to look at him, their faces reflecting their own thoughts.

"Dutch!" Arthur greeted him as usual, but he felt no guilt towards this person.

“Welcome back, Mr. Morgan. Your potential is indeed greater than we imagined.” The tone was cheerful, yet carried an inexplicable sense of detachment. “Come on, and bring your new friend along. He’s done so much for the gang with you; he deserves to be involved.”

"Let's talk about 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.

This wasn't the first time Nobita had attended a meeting that was so significant for a team.

In fact, he himself was quite adept at organizing small meetings such as pre-battle mobilization meetings. He could clearly sense that at this moment, this gang, squeezed into the cracks of the times, had reached a crucial juncture. The long escape from Saint Denis to the snow-capped mountains pushed this farce to its climax.

At the critical moment of life and death, he chose to remain silent, observing from the sidelines as he studied new rope tricks, leaving the choice of fate to them.

……

"Alright, gentlemen, as I said before, we have once again reached a difficult moment." Dutch closed the book he regarded as his bible, "The American Story," and his gaze swept over the attendees. He clenched his fist. "Those 'civilized people' in the city... you have all seen what kind of faces they have. They see us as despicable bandits who do all kinds of evil, who want to take over the land we live on bit by bit, and replace everything we see with their roaring factories, and drive us to extinction!"

“We are criminals, Dutch, no offense intended.” Hosea sighed, raised his hand, and pointed in Nobita’s direction. “Besides this kid, I mean… look at our gang. Murder, theft, robbery, fraud, we’ve done it all.”

"Do you still remember how many lives you've taken, Dutch?"

“You’re old, my friend, you really are old.” Dutch was clearly not satisfied with this answer. “We are fighters! I’ve spent my whole life fighting against change, against nature, against civilization… Look around, this corrupt and greedy country needs me, but it needs you even more!”

"..."

Hosea looked at him with a complicated expression and remained silent for a moment.