I formed the strongest swordsman group

Kinoshita Mai doesn't understand French at all, so she is completely confused now.

Qingden once studied French for a while under Elodie's step-by-step guidance.

Although his level is not high, he can barely understand what these two grandfathers and grandsons are talking about.

Therefore, when he heard Elodie say this: "I think... this is a good opportunity! An opportunity to prove to the world that we are not Yi Di", he, like Anthony, showed an expression of surprise.

Perhaps to take care of Mai Kinoshita, who didn't understand French, Elodie switched back to Japanese:

"Grandpa, ever since we crossed the ocean and worked hard to reach this distant country, I have been thinking: Why are the people in this country so hostile to us? Why do they regard us as barbarians?"

"I think... the biggest reason is that the countrymen behind us, together with Britain, the United States and other countries, used violent means to force open the country's borders and force the shogunate to sign a series of unequal treaties."

"By acting like this, trying to get the people of this country to look favorably upon us is like asking Marie Antoinette to bathe in milk again - it's simply impossible."

[Note: Marie Antoinette (1755-1793): Queen of France, known for her extravagant lifestyle]

Elodie's pretty face gradually turned into a rich bitter color.

"I'm just an ordinary girl... I'm a person of few words."

"I can't get involved in the important matters of the family and the country."

"I can't convince France to radiate goodwill towards this country."

"But...even if it's just a little bit, I want to ease the gap between the two nations!"

"The root cause of many disputes in this world is the lack of mutual trust between the two parties! The lack of understanding of each other!"

“Because they don’t understand us, they resist us.”

“Because they don’t understand us, they hate us.”

"If I can become the head of the Shinsengumi, I will have the opportunity to show myself to the world and show off our Frenchness!"

"I know, it's hard."

"I also know that these ideas of mine are too naive and too idealistic."

"The conflict between two ethnic groups... a dispute of this scale will not change significantly because of my personal efforts."

"I'll probably get a lot of looks from people, a lot of abuse from people."

"But, even so, I still want to try!"

“Courage is a far lesser crime than cowardice.”

"Even if I regret it, I want to regret it after trying it!"

Speaking of this, Elodie paused for a moment, seeming to be thinking of new words.

After a while, she spoke again:

"...Grandpa, I know you are worried that I will be in danger."

"As for my personal safety, grandpa, you can rest assured."

As she spoke, she patted her chest, chuckled a few times, and assumed a free and indifferent posture.

"The Zunhu forces headed by Changshu have withdrawn from Kyoto."

"This town is no longer as dangerous as it once was."

"What's more, my job is to be the head of the office, and I'm in charge of the abacus and account books."

"I spend most of my time in a heavily guarded camp."

"If people from the Zunbo Sect want to do harm to me, it won't be that easy."

From ideals to reality... Elodie used her eloquence to the extreme.

Her impassioned speech impressed everyone present.

To ease the gap between the two peoples... It is really admirable to have such grand ambitions at such a young age.

But... I have to say that Elodie's ambition is indeed too idealistic.

As she just said - her personal efforts cannot fundamentally change a dispute of this scale.

However, Qingdeng does not dislike such idealists who "look up to the stars and keep their feet on the ground".

With her courage to practice, the young people who are just waiting to die have no right to blame them.

After Elodie finished speaking, Qingden quietly turned his eyes and looked directly at Anthony.

Whether it's Aoto, Mai Kinoshita, or Elodie, everyone here is waiting for Anthony's reply.

As expected - Anthony frowned, his facial features almost curled up together, and his expression was dominated by strong hesitation.

It is not difficult to understand his tangled mood.

Although the office director does not need to stand on the front line, his safety factor is undoubtedly much safer than other positions.

But... whenever he thinks of the cruelty of the Zunban sect, whenever he thinks of the abyss-like malice of the Zunhuang sect towards Westerners, Anthony feels chills at the root of his teeth, like a thorn in his back.

Elodie is his only granddaughter and his only relative in this distant country.

Letting his granddaughter leave the stable "safe house" and enter the complicated "jungle"... It is really impossible for Anthony to accept it immediately in a short period of time.

In order to reassure him, Qingdeng said in a sonorous and firm tone:

"Monsieur Angoulême, please rest assured."

"Since I dare to recruit Elodie, then I have full confidence to protect her personal safety."

"Even if a million troops attack, I will never let Elodie be harmed at all!"

Anthony: "..."

Qingdeng's passionate speech really made Anthony's expression look better.

However... he remained silent.

Neither agreed nor refused.

Seeing Anthony was silent for a long time, Elodie pursed her lips.

After a while, she suddenly let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh:

"Ah ha ha ha ha..."

"Although I just said a lot of beautiful words."

"But actually..."

As the conversation suddenly changed, she slowly lowered her head and looked at the tatami in front of her knees, as if she was too shy to look at anyone.

"'Easing the gap between the two nations'... This is just one of my purposes."

"My other purpose is completely selfish - I want to stay in a lively place with masters and dancing ladies."

"I hate being alone."

"I really don't want to..."

At this point, her voice stopped.

Immediately afterwards, she took a deep breath and gathered strength and emotion:

"I really don't want to be alone in this big house anymore..."

The moment Elodie finished speaking, Anthony's demeanor changed like an ice cube placed under the scorching sun.

The hesitant expression faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye, and turned into a color of shame and distress...

…

…

Osaka, a certain teahouse——

With a bang, Boss Kiryu pushed open the paper sliding door in front of him.

Sunlight penetrated through the crack in the door and penetrated into the room. The dust in the air shone under the light.

"...Kuro, long time no see."

An old female voice came from the room.

Boss Kiryu smiled slightly:

"Lord, I'm back."

After saying that, he stepped forward and entered the room.

Although this tea room is not small in size, its decoration is unexpectedly simple.

The paper sliding doors that surround the entire teahouse are of a common type on the market, and are not luxury items painted with luxurious ukiyo-e paintings.

The only furniture in the room is a screen depicting the famous historical event of "Water Attack on Takamatsu".

[Note: Water attack on Takamatsu: Toyotomi Hideyoshi's classic work. He used the ingenious strategy of water attack to capture the Maori family's Takamatsu Castle. 】

Directly in front of this screen, a gray-haired old woman sat peacefully.

This old woman is very short, only about 1.5 meters tall. She has silver hair with no trace of color.

Judging from her appearance alone, she must be at least eighty years old.

Although his facial features are not beautiful, there is a different kind of heroic spirit lingering between his eyebrows.

She is clearly in her prime years, but just like Boss Kiryu, her eyes sparkle with a vitality that is no less than that of a young person.

At first glance, this is just a well-maintained lady with good temperament.

However... the person who can make Boss Kiryu call him "Lord"... the identity of this old woman is already revealed.

She is Kinoshita Mai’s grandmother and the helmsman of Calabash House—Kinoshita Rin!

Kinoshita Rin raised her eyes and looked at Boss Kiryu carefully from head to toe.

"Kuroro, I haven't seen you for a while, and the wrinkles on your face seem to have diminished."

Boss Kiryu smiled:

"Maybe it's because I always encounter happy things recently."

"Isn't there always a saying - 'Smile often and prolong life'."

As far as status is concerned, the two of them are proper 'kings and ministers'.

But judging from the actual performance, the distance between the two is actually very subtle.

Boss Kiryu sat cross-legged in front of Kinoshita Rin in a carefree and natural manner, and their knees almost touched each other.

Kinoshita Lin didn't care about this and allowed the other party to make such intimate gestures.

This way of getting along with each other...not so much as a monarch and his ministers, but more like close friends.

"My lord, I'm going to ask you directly - what do you want me to do if you call me back to Osaka so suddenly?"

"Kuroro, it's rare to meet again, can't we talk about some happy things first?"

Although she was complaining, Kinoshita Rin silently put away the joking expression on her face and put on a solemn expression.

"Kuroro, the spies lurking in Hakodate came to report - 8 days ago, 'Meiou' appeared at Hakodate port."

[Note·Hakodate: A city in the southern part of Ezo Island (now Hokkaido). 】

Ming Wang——The moment he heard this name, Boss Kiryu seemed to be stimulated by a strong electric current. His whole body stiffened suddenly and his pupils contracted.

"...what he said is true."

Kinoshita Rin nodded lightly.

"Although I don't know why that guy appeared at Hakodate Port, I guess he probably wanted to return to the mainland by boat."

"..."

Boss Kiryu was silent at first, and then whispered quietly:

"I see...your boy...it turns out you have been hiding in Ezochi...!"

Soon enough, Boss Kiryu suddenly reached out and grasped the saber beside his leg, and immediately stood up, trying to leave this place.

However, as soon as he turned around, Kinoshita Rin let out an imposing low roar:

"Kuroro, come back."

Boss Kiryu was stunned for a moment, stopped, and turned half of his body.

"Lord..."

"Don't be impulsive, calm down."

"..."

Boss Kiryu stood straight on the spot, neither speaking nor moving.

Looking at Boss Kiryu who looked like a clay sculpture, Kinoshita Lin sighed softly:

"Kuro, I can understand your mood."

"I know you're desperate to clear the door."

"However, we didn't know the specific movements of 'King Ming' when we arrived."

"Secondly...you are no longer young."

"Do you still think you are a cool young man in your twenties or thirties?"

"You can't beat that guy with this old and decayed body."

"So, don't be impulsive."

At this point, she pointed to the floor in front of her.

"Sit back."

"..."

This time, Kiryu boss was no longer stubborn.

He sat back in his seat obediently.

"...I'm sorry, everyone, really sorry..."

He lowered his head deeply, his face full of shame.

"Because of my stupidity, I left such a big disaster..."

Kinoshita Lin smiled.

"Jiulang, what nonsense are you talking about? This is not your fault. We have never blamed you. If we have to blame someone, we can only blame that guy for his bad intentions and self-degradation."

As she spoke, she reached out and patted Kiryu boss on the shoulder.

"I will send as many spies as possible to find that guy as soon as possible."

"Although that guy is very strong... but as long as we gather the heroes of my gourd house, we can always kill him."

Kinoshita Lin's careful comfort made Kiryu boss's face look much better.

"My lord, thank you very much."

Kinoshita Lin nodded with a smile on her face.

"Okay... let's stop talking about the topic of 'Ming Wang' for now."

"Now it's time to talk about the next business."

"It was precisely because I hurriedly summoned you back to Osaka to discuss these two major matters with you in person."

Kinoshita boss raised his eyebrows vigorously-the next business?

Before he asked a question in return, Kinoshita Lin reached out his hand and took out a scroll.

"Jiulang, when you reported Awu's recent situation in your letter, you always told me: 'Awu and Tachibana Aoto have a deep relationship, and the two are simply a match made in heaven. They will be together soon,' right?"

At this moment, Kiryu's heart stopped beating for a few beats.

Although he couldn't tell why, he had an extremely strong ominous premonition in his heart!

"Yes, yes..."

He replied guiltily.

Kinoshita Rin continued:

"Although I have never seen Tachibana Aoto in person, he is indeed a great man of the time. At a young age, he became a daimyo with 300,000 fiefs and a strong army. He is indeed the number one in the current shogunate."

"If he and Awu are in love, I would be happy to see it happen."

"It's just...Jiulang, I have some questions that I want to ask you in person."

At this point, she slowly unfolded the scroll in her hand.

"Captain of the Shinsengumi 7th Division, Chiba Sanako."

When Kinoshita Lin read out this name, Kiryu's heart skipped a beat.

Not only that, his face began to turn pale.

"25 years old this year, the eldest daughter of the great swordsman Chiba Sadakichi, proficient in all kinds of martial arts, among which the Kodachi technique and the Naginata technique are the best."

"In addition to martial arts, she is also quite knowledgeable about elegant things such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting."

"What an excellent woman."

"Even I envy her a little."

"But... it's really strange."

"Jiulang, in your words, Tachibana Aoto and Aminoh are a loving couple."

"But according to my investigation, this guy seems to have a very ambiguous relationship with Chiba Sanako."

"Many soldiers in the Shinsengumi even tacitly accept Chiba Sanako as their mistress."

From the beginning, Boss Kiryu silently lowered his head, staring at the tatami in front of his knees, as if he wanted to burn a hole in it with his eyes, and didn't dare to look at Kinoshita Rin.

Not only that, cold sweat began to ooze out of his forehead. First it was "sweat beads", and then gradually connected to "sweat streams".

Kinoshita Rin's narration... no, to be more precise, her "judgment" is still going on.

"Originally, the special relationship between Tachibana Aoto and Chiba Sanako has already confused me."

"But I didn't expect that there would be something more confusing later."

Kinoshita Rin pulled the scroll in her hand to the lower half.

"Captain of the Shinsengumi First Division, Okita Souji."

"This year, he is 19 years old, a beautiful boy with a pretty face, a swordsmanship prodigy that is rare in ten years, and the 'First General of the Shinsengumi' second only to Aoto."

"He is obviously a man, but he actually has an unclear relationship with Tachibana Aoto."

"So much so that the rumor within the Shinsengumi is that 'Tachibana Aoto is a member of the Zhongdao'."

"This Tachibana Aoto... is quite capable."

"From my Ah Wu to the daughter of the Chiba family, to the handsome boy... he has a big appetite."

After speaking, Kinoshita Rin threw away the scroll in her hand with a cold face.

"Jiulang, look at me straight, don't avoid me."

"Answer me: What is going on?"

Boss Kiryu's head was almost knocked to the ground.

His inner clothes were soaked by the cold sweat.

Please vote for the monthly ticket! Please recommend! (Leopard head crying.jpg)

PS: The plot of "persuading Anthony" is really boring, so Leopard will speed up and finish it in half a chapter without wasting words. Say "Thank you Leopard" quickly

Leopard remembered!

I am not an ordinary seal.

I am the King of Elden!

"Elden Ring", start!

Return to the border! Go straight to the shadow land!