Chapter 294 The Red Light District of Kyoto (Part 2)
If it were other people, they might sneer at the word "intuition" after hearing it from Shenshan's mouth.
But Makimura was not like this.
After hearing these words from Shenshan, Makimura's face became more serious and dignified.
"I also reported this idea to Mr. Toda. I asked Mr. Toda to investigate the case in depth, but it's a pity that Mr. Toda couldn't listen to me at all..."
"Of course." Makimura responded expressionlessly, "The relationship between you and Toda Tadahiro has never been good. He rarely listens to your 'enemy', right?"
Shenshan only smiled bitterly and shook his head, without saying anything about going to Yingmu Village.
"Lord Toda has taken back all the security rights in Kyoto from me."
"Now I can't even tempt even one of my colleagues in Kyoto."
The level of official positions in Kyoto is higher than those in Kyoto.
As the Kyoto Governor, Toda Tadahiro has the power of security in Kyoto. And his priority is far higher than that of Kamiyama Koshinosuke, who is the leader of the Kyoto town.
With just one word from Tadahiro Toda, Kamiyama will become a mere commander who cannot even mobilize a single person.
"...Did Toda Tadahiro take the wrong medicine? As far as I know - he never cares about the security of Kyoto. Are all the security issues in Kyoto left to you?"
"Why is he so concerned about the security work in Kyoto now? He actually issued the city-wide order to arrest Ogata Ittosai so efficiently."
"The reason why Mr. Toda is so concerned about this murder is simply because he wants to catch the murderer before tonight's banquet starts, so that he can have more at tonight's banquet.
It’s just bragging rights.”
"banquet?"
"Lord of the Owari Domain - Lord Tokugawa Munemu. You should have heard of his name. He is the one who likes the Gion Festival very much."
"He came to watch the Gion Festival again this year."
"This year he not only came to watch the Gion Festival again, but he also obtained the right to use the Ninomaru Garden of Nijo Imperial Palace from the shogun."
"Lord Tokugawa Munemu will hold a grand banquet tonight in the Ninomaru Garden of Nijo Imperial Palace."
"At that time, all dignitaries from Kyoto and surrounding areas will participate."
"If we can catch the murderer before the banquet starts, Toda Tadahiro can once again brag to everyone at the banquet that with him in charge, Kyoto's security is so good, and it only took less than a day to catch him.
murderer."
"Sama Toda, another reason why he is so concerned about this murder case is because the murderer has already affected the holding of the Gion Festival."
"I have received reports - because the murderer has killed too many people and has not been caught, many citizens are now panicked."
"If the Gion Festival does not go smoothly, it will definitely displease Tokugawa Munemu-sama who came specially to watch the Gion Festival."
"So in order to avoid being scolded by Tokugawa Munumu, Lord Toda must face up to the murder case that has affected the Gion Festival no matter what."
"I can't mobilize any Yuli, Yuli, Okabiki in Kyoto right now."
"If this case is not investigated in depth, I will really be unwilling to do so."
"My intuition is telling me crazily: There is a group of people planning something else, bigger, and more dangerous, and this murder case of killing more than 40 people in a row is just to attract the attention of our Kyoto Prefecture.
force."
"When I think about this, I can't sleep or eat well."
"So - Makimura, I need your help."
"I need your help to investigate this case and find out the mastermind behind it!"
"...Kamiyama-sama, you think too highly of me." Makimura laughed at himself, "I have been a ronin for two years, and I don't know how to investigate the case."
Kamiyama ignored Makimura's self-mockery.
Just staring straight at Makimura's face...
Makimura seemed to feel uncomfortable being stared at by Kamiyama, and the self-deprecating look on his face gradually disappeared.
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Finally - let out a long sigh.
"...Let me talk to my companions first."
"companion?"
"Hey, hey, Master Shenshan, what's your expression? I've been wandering for two years, so I should have a new companion, right?"
"They are all important companions to me. I must consult with my companions before I can give you a clear reply."
"...I understand." Shenshan nodded.
…
…
Kyoto, inside a hotel.
"Come on, Katsurokuro, let's have a taste."
"My lord, is this...?" Shimada respectfully took a piece of mochi made into a cake shape from Lin's hand.
"This is the one-liter cake I tried to make just now. Try it for me and see how it tastes."
"Yes... um! It's delicious! It's sweet!"
Looking at Shimada, who was eating the one-liter pancake she had just tried to make, which was extremely sweet, a satisfied smile appeared on Lin's face.
After eating up the one-liter cake in three strokes, Shimada raised his eyes and looked at Lin in front of him.
Then, with a cautious look, he asked Lin:
"Um... my lord... we really don't try to rescue Makimura-senpai...?"
"Katsurokuro, you are so annoying! How many times have you asked me this question? Don't go! Let that fool eat his own food in jail for a few days, and let him reflect on it in jail!"
Shimada looked bitter when he heard Lin say such words in such a firm tone.
Just when Shimada was about to say something else, Asai suddenly burst into the room:
"Lord! Makimura is back!"
After saying that, Asai turned his body to one side, revealing Makimura standing behind him.
Hearing Asai's words and seeing Makimura's tall divinity, Shimada was stunned.
Before he had time to react, he felt a gust of wind blowing in front of him - Lin, who was standing in front of him, held her knife and ran towards Makimura in a hurry.
Lin first walked around Makimura and looked at Makimura carefully.
After seeing that Makimura had good skin and flesh, and no injuries on his body, Lin's originally tense expression relaxed slightly.
"Mihachi...how did you come back? You probably didn't do anything strange to get out of prison, right?"
"Lord, this is... it's a long story."
…
…
Makimura summarized everything that had just happened in prison in the shortest possible words.
"...That sacred mountain Koshinosuke actually asked you to come out." Lin looked thoughtful, "It seems that that sacred mountain trusts your character and ability."
"...After all, we have worked together for 5 years."
Makimura responded softly.
"I just came to negotiate with you, my lord, so that Lord Shenshan could let him go."
"...Not bad." A faint smile appeared on Lin's face, "This is a good opportunity."
"Good opportunity?" Shimada on the side asked doubtfully.
"One..." Lin raised her right hand and rubbed her thumb and index finger together, "A good opportunity to get some benefits from Kyoto Prefecture..."
…
…
Nearly half an hour later——
"Hey! Someone just saw Ogata Ittosai's figure! He fled in that direction!"
"Okay! You guys go search that alley!"
"yes!"
"You guys, just go there!"
"yes!"
…
One of his men, Oka Hiki, commanded his subordinates in an orderly and orderly manner, and searched every nearby street in an almost horrifying manner.
After receiving a report that a samurai who looked exactly like Ogata Ittosai was found in his family's ramen shop, this Yuriki immediately collaborated with the rest of his colleagues to conduct a search of the surrounding area centered on this ramen shop.
The suspect's escape has been witnessed several times just now, and the search scope has been narrowed down little by little.
Although the various blocks in Kyoto are all in a grid shape, there are large and small, long or short avenues and alleys within the blocks and between the blocks.
When every officer enters a remote and dark alley to conduct a search, he will feel a sudden increase in pressure, fearing that Ogata Ittosai will suddenly pop up in a dark place ahead...
"Hey, this alley seems safe too."
"Hmm...it seems true."
Two Okabiki who were searching a certain alley were asking and answering questions like this.
Although a large number of Okahiki have been transferred to this neighborhood, there is still a serious shortage of manpower.
The Okabiki were divided into groups of two or three, or three or three, and searched every street and alley in the surrounding area.
Holding the lantern in their hands, they illuminated the last part of the alley that was not shrouded in light. After finding nothing unusual, the two Okabiki breathed a sigh of relief.
After these questions and answers, the two of them started walking out of the alley with their respective lanterns in hand.
However - just as they turned around, they suddenly felt a gust of wind blowing from above them...
Kara.
The sound of bones being broken was heard.
One of the two Okabiki turned his head and saw that his companion had his neck broken by a young man.
Before he could scream, the young man let go of his companion whose neck had been broken and rushed toward him...
…
…
[Ding! Use Shiranui-style ninjutsu and Shiranui-style jujutsu to kill the enemy]
[Acquire 75 personal experience points and 70 experience points for the Ninjutsu "Shiranui-ryu Ninjutsu"]
[Current personal level of Shiranui-style jujutsu level: Ding! When the experience value is full, the level of Shiranui-style jujitsu will be increased by 1 level, and 2 skill points will be obtained]
[Currently remaining skill points: 2 points]
After using Shiranui-ryu Jujutsu to cleanly break the neck of the Okahibiki, Ogata didn't make any pause or hesitation, pounced on the other Okahibiki, and then quickly controlled him.
"Don't make a sound."
Ogata firmly covered Okabiki's mouth with his right hand.
"I have many questions to ask you. Please answer them one by one."
"I will let go of your mouth later. If you dare to scream, I will kill you immediately."
Having said that, in order to enhance his deterrence, Ogata raised the thumb of his left hand that had been pressed on the sheath, and slightly pushed the blade of Dai Shiten out of the sheath.
The cold light reflected from the finger-width blade popped out of the scabbard flashed in the eyes of this Okabiki, causing the fear in Okabiki's eyes to increase exponentially.
After seeing Okabiki nodding his head violently several times, Ogata slowly let go of Okabiki's mouth.
"First of all, the first question..."
…
…
After asking until there were no more questions, Ogata began to ponder, with a thoughtful look on his face.
"I... I promise I won't tell anyone about what I saw you..." Seeing that Ogata didn't ask him any more questions, the Oka said tremblingly.
Ogata raised his eyes and glanced at this Okabiki.
Then--
laugh.
The sound of a sharp knife entering flesh was heard.
Ogata covered the Okahibiki's mouth with his left hand, pulled out the Great Freedom with his right hand, and pierced the Okahibiki's heart with a bird thorn.
[Ding! Use Sakakibara Itto style Bird Thorn to kill the enemy]
[Acquire 70 personal experience points and 65 swordsmanship "Sakakibara Itto-ryu" experience points]
[Current personal level of Sakakihara Itto-ryu level: Sorry..."
After leaning into the man's ear and whispering like this, Ogata let go of the body of Okabiki, who had completely lost all life.
"What is this all about..."
Ogata sighed silently as he put the Da Zi Zai blade back into its scabbard that had been wiped clean of blood.
Ogata has figured out what happened.
To put it simply - he has become a scapegoat.
Inexplicably, he was blamed for a series of murders.
Around the time he and A-machi were cleaning Fuma's mansion, Kyoto Prefecture began a city-wide manhunt for him.
All police forces in Kyoto Prefecture informed the citizens of Kyoto to be wary of Ogata Ittosai house by house, and searched for Ogata Ittosai house by house.
The gang of Okahiki just happened to be searching for that ramen shop, and then they happened to meet Ogata, who happened to be eating noodles in this ramen shop...
"This thing is useless..." Ogata casually threw aside the Tengu mask fastened to his waist.
He had just learned from Nakabiki that wearing masks is now prohibited in Kyoto.
In order to prevent the officials from looking for Ogata.
Now at this time, wearing a mask has become the most conspicuous thing.
"I don't know how Amachi is doing now..." Ogata muttered.
Compared to his own safety, Ogata is now more worried about Atachi.
Even though he himself was already in an unsafe situation.
Because he was not familiar with Kyoto, Ogata had run into dead ends several times, and the officials had discovered him several times.
If he hadn't mastered the basic Shiranui-ryu stealth technique and had the ability to climb walls and climb roofs, Ogata would have been surrounded by officials long ago.
Just when Ogata was thinking about whether there was a way to regain contact with Amachi, whom he had lost contact with now, low footsteps suddenly sounded from the other end of the alley.
Ogata quickly lowered his body weight and placed his right hand on the handle of Dai Shiten's sword.
"Brother Ogata, it's me."
As soon as the fingertips of Ogata's right hand touched the handle of Da Shiten's sword, a familiar voice sounded from the source of the footsteps.
"Makimura?" Ogata raised an eyebrow.
The right hand that was already holding the handle of the Da Shi Tian knife slowly released it.
Makimura slowly emerged from the darkness that was invisible to the naked eye.
Makimura did not come alone.
Behind him were Shimada, Asai, and Lin.
"Why are you here?" Ogata asked.
"I will explain this to you slowly later. You come with me first. I will explain it slowly to you on the way."
"Coming with you? Where to go?"
"You are not familiar with Kyoto. If you run around like this and are surrounded by officials in Kyoto, it is just a matter of time. I will take you to a suitable place to hide. You can avoid the limelight in that place first."
"A suitable place to hide?" Ogata asked in a half-joking tone, "Could it be some kind of cave or something?"
"Of course not." Makimura smiled meaningfully, "The place I want to take you to is the place that almost all men in Kyoto dream about - Shimabara."