As soon as Hasegawa finished speaking, Ojoji responded without thinking.
"I won't regret it."
"If I could go back to the past once, even if I knew I would be a prisoner in the future, I would still swing my sword to kill that thief Matsudaira Gennai without hesitation."
Ogata's words were not in a high tone.
But he said it categorically without any hesitation.
Hasegawa stared straight at Ogata.
I don't know if it was Ogata's misunderstanding, but he always felt that Hasegawa's expressionless face now had a hint of smile.
"...Ogata Ittosai. I actually don't hate you."
"About Matsudaira Gennai, the former lord of the Hirose Domain...Although I have lived in Edo for a long time, I have heard some stories about him."
"You killed this beast for the people of Hirose Domain... To be honest, I admire you very much."
Speaking of this, Hasegawa seemed to have some bad memories, and his face became a little heavier.
"I...if only I could have the courage and courage like you..."
"From the perspective of the shogunate and bushido, you are a heinous traitor who has committed the serious crime of regicide."
"But from the perspective of the people and the justice of the world, you are a hero worthy of respect."
"If possible, I don't actually want to arrest you."
"But...I'm sorry. We are each our own masters and we all pursue our own policies."
"How can I say that I am also a minister, the leader of Huo Fu Thief Gai."
"So... I'm sorry."
"Kihira, there is no need to apologize to me." Ogata shrugged, "I understand you. So there is no need to apologize to me, and there is no need to feel any guilt."
"When I decided to kill that thief Matsudaira Gennai, I was mentally prepared for such a day."
After saying that, Ogata leaned back casually, leaning against the cold and somewhat damp brick wall behind him in a very comfortable posture.
"So - Kihira. What is the punishment I am about to receive? Should I be beheaded directly on the spot, or should I be escorted back to Edo and be beheaded again?"
"If I could choose, I would choose the latter."
"Before I die, I want to see what Edo is like as the most prosperous town in Japan."
"I will work hard to help you get this treatment."
After leaving these words in a half-joking tone, Hasegawa straightened up his body that was leaning against the wall behind him, then turned and left.
"Hurry up and eat, Ogata Ittosai. I'll see you later when I have time."
"Hey! Wait a minute! I still have some questions to ask you!"
Ogata still has many questions for Hasegawa, such as: Was Mamiya caught by you?
But Hasegawa just waved his hand.
"I will answer your questions slowly after I come to see you next time."
…
…
Ogata doesn't know, nor does he care, where he is being held.
I don’t know if it was because of Hasegawa’s special care, but Ogata had three meals to eat a day, and each meal was quite hearty.
Although the food was good, my life was very boring.
After all, in prison, there is nothing else to do except eat and sleep.
Naturally, Ogata's two sabers are not with him.
Sakakibara's certificate of the Ichitō-ryu, the secret book of the "Muga Two-knife style", and his money bag—all three of his belongings were naturally confiscated by the official servants who had been punished by the thieves.
Ogata, who has nothing to do, the only way to pass the time now is to constantly practice the "breathing of the source"...
Although Hasegawa had said before that he would visit him when he had time, Ogata never saw Hasegawa again after that goodbye.
More than a month has passed like this...
…
…
Tatsuno Fan? In the temporary residence of the fire bandits——
Hasegawa is currently in his room, reading a book.
And this book? It was one of the few luggage found from Ogata - "Muga Two Swordsman Style".
After reading it hurriedly several times? Hasegawa let out a long sigh.
"No... I still can't understand... What kind of crappy book is this..."
For more than a month, Hasegawa has been reading this book "Musoku Two Swordsman Style" whenever he has free time.
As a sword practitioner? Naturally, you are extremely interested in this book, which looks like a secret book on swordsmanship.
But in the past month or so, no matter how many times Hasegawa picked up this book, he would eventually put it down helplessly.
No matter how many times he read it, Hasegawa could not understand what was written on it.
This made Hasegawa suspect more than once - maybe this was not a swordsmanship secret book at all, but just a random graffiti drawn by someone who was bored.
Although they have successfully captured "Rukou Hachiman" and "Executioner Ittosai", Hasegawa and the others have not yet found the real target of their trip - "Buddha Enemy".
So after catching Mamiya and Ogata, Hasegawa still led his subordinates to stay in Tatsuno Domain and continued to pursue the traces of the "Buddha Enemy".
However, after more than a month of tracking, nothing was found.
The "Buddha Enemy" might have left Tatsuno Domain - although he was unwilling to face it, Hasegawa had to admit that this might be a cruel reality.
The reason why Hasegawa led his men to stay in Tatsuno Domain was, on the one hand, to continue pursuing the "Buddha Enemy".
The other reason is to wait for a reply from Edo.
A reply about... how to deal with Ogata and Mamiya.
In the past, Hasegawa certainly didn't need to go to such trouble? He also had to send a message to Edo to request instructions from the shogunate.
But now? With some special circumstances arising from Kii's side, Hasegawa has to inform the shogunate first after catching serious criminals like Ogata and Mamiya, so that the shogunate can decide on the disposal plan.
.
Before the response from the shogunate arrived, Hasegawa could only put Ogata and Mamiya in prison.
Hasegawa had just closed the copy of "Muga Ryuto-ryu" and put it back on the table in front of him. Imai's excited shouting suddenly came from outside the room:
"Lord Hasegawa! The envoy from the shogunate has just arrived with a reply!"
After hearing Imai's words, Hasegawa said quickly:
"Bring me the reply!"
"yes!"
The sliding paper door was opened unceremoniously by Imai.
With a face full of joy, Imai quickly entered the room holding a rolled scroll, and then handed the scroll to Hasegawa.
After receiving the scroll handed over by Imai and confirming that there was no sign that the scroll had been opened, Hasegawa hurriedly loosened the ropes that bound the scroll, and then hurriedly unrolled the scroll.
Scanning every word written on the scroll.
As Hasegawa's eyes moved rapidly over the words on the scroll, Hasegawa's expression gradually became complicated.