I was a swordsman in ancient Japan, Volume 1: Samurai Life from Scratch, Chapter 621: Departure! Osaka! [5400] The fate between myself and Hasegawa Heizo is really wonderful. This is what Ogata saw in the casino just now.
The first thought that came to my mind when I was the commander.
Counting last summer's visit and this time, Ogata has only been to Kyoto twice.
As a result, he met Hasegawa both times... It was a coincidence that made Ogata wonder if the land of Kyoto had some magic power.
After confessing his identity to Hasegawa in a low voice, Obi let go of Hasegawa's right arm that he had been holding tightly just now.
After his right arm was released, Hasegawa rubbed his right shoulder while taking a few steps back to increase the distance between himself and Ogata.
"Ogata Ittosai... it's really you... No wonder the sword on the waist of this guy wearing a hat looked familiar just now... Why... are you in Kyoto? Why are you in that casino just now? Casino
Were those people inside killed by you?"
Perhaps because he was too shocked, Hasegawa could not speak smoothly.
"The reason why I am in Kyoto is purely accidental. I just came to see an old friend of mine who lives in Kyoto. As for why I was in the casino just now, it is a long story."
"This is not a good time or a good place to talk."
"Anyway, Mr. Hasegawa, can you temporarily withdraw the pursuit of me and my companion?"
"...You didn't even tell me the ins and outs of why you were in that casino, and you asked me to withdraw my pursuit of you. This is very difficult for me to handle." Hasegawa said solemnly.
"I also want to clear up your misunderstanding about us as soon as possible, but now is not a good time to talk. After all, the rest of your subordinates may come here at any time."
Ogata put the scarf back on his face.
"In short, you should temporarily withdraw your pursuit of me and my companions."
"After five o'clock tonight, if you come to this alley again, I will meet you here and explain everything to you."
After Hasegawa stared deeply at Ogata's face for a while, he nodded: "...I understand. I will come here again at five o'clock tonight, so don't break your promise."
"Don't worry." Ogata said in a joking tone, "I am very eager to clear up your misunderstanding about me and my companion. After all, I don't want my companion to be ruined by being targeted by the government.
It was a peaceful life.”
After finishing speaking, Ogata jumped up to a nearby house and disappeared into the eastern night in a blink of an eye.
After Hasegawa watched Ogata leave, he quickly walked to the four subordinates who had been knocked unconscious by Ogata just now and shook them awake.
After they woke up leisurely, they hurriedly asked Hasegawa what happened just now.
Hasegawa said:
"You were knocked unconscious by that man in a bamboo hat! I was almost knocked unconscious by him! He ran away again after seeing that he couldn't capture me quickly! He is fleeing to the west now! Call everyone to search westward immediately!"
"Also, go and give the order to the person responsible for chasing the bald head to stop the pursuit,"
"Huh? Why?" asked a subordinate.
"Don't ask so many questions." Hasegawa said, "I have my own arrangements."
…
…
Ah...my waist hurts...
At this time, Feng Mo was lurking in a certain alley, rubbing his waist that had not hurt for a long time.
Feeling the constant pain coming from his lower back, a helpless smile appeared on Feng Mo's face.
These bursts of pain told Feng Mo a cruel fact one after another: he was already an old man whose waist couldn't stand the torment.
Why do other elderly people at my age still have very thick hair and good health, but I am losing my hair and my health is poor...
Feng Mo complained quietly in his heart about the injustice of God, while cautiously peeking out of the alley.
Outside the alley, a large number of official officers who had been bribed by thieves were slowly approaching this place.
"Sure enough, you are no longer useful as you get older..." Feng Mo murmured softly, "There are only so many pursuers, but I can't get rid of them..."
After sighing heavily, Feng Mo pressed his right hand on his lower back, stood up, and prepared to continue escaping from the pursuit of these officials.
But at this moment, Feng Mo suddenly heard a very noisy sound coming from outside the alley.
Looking out of the alley, I saw that the officials who were approaching the alley where Feng Mo was were suddenly turned back for some reason.
"What's wrong?" Feng Mo looked at the officials who suddenly left with a puzzled look.
Although I don’t know what happened, this is undoubtedly the best time to escape.
Feng Mo continued to press his right hand on his waist and quickly left the alley, running in the direction away from the officials.
…
…
Outside the Wisteria House, A-Machi and A-Zhu were shocked when they saw a large number of thieves-turned-officers rushing into the casino.
Immediately afterwards, the two of them saw two figures who were suspected to be Ogata and Fuma coming out of the broken window on the second floor of the Wisteria House, followed by a large number of officials chasing after them.
Ashuku, who was young and not very clear about the strength of Ogata and Fuma, was frightened by this sudden turn of events and was at a loss.
But knowing that such a small number of officials could not do anything to Ogata and Hasegawa, Acho was much calmer.
When Azuki asked Amachi what to do now, Amachi only said calmly: We can't help you much now. We just need to wait here quietly for them to come back. They will probably come back soon.
Omachi's judgment was very accurate. After successfully reaching an agreement with Hasegawa, Oromachi immediately returned to the Wisteria House and found Atachi and Aszuki who had been waiting outside the Wisteria House.
After taking the two of them back to Feng Mo's home, they saw Feng Mo who must have just returned home.
After the four reunited, Oconon told everyone a series of things including the agreement he had just reached with Hasegawa.
"No wonder those officials who were chasing me so hard suddenly withdrew..." Feng Mo touched his shiny bald head.
"Master Ittousai, are you still friends with the famous Hasegawa Heizo?"
The fact that the shogunate's most wanted criminal and Hasegawa, who was feared by countless criminals as "Kibira", were friends was beyond the limits of Asuki's imagination.
As he spent more and more time with Ogata, Azuki found out more and more that he was an incredible man. Not only was his swordsmanship unparalleled, he also had incredible connections.
At this time, Azuki couldn't help but look at Ogata like a fangirl.
"Friends..." Ogata scratched his hair, "My relationship with Mr. Hasegawa is very complicated. I don't know if I can use the simple word 'friend' to describe my relationship with Mr. Hasegawa."
...We can be regarded as friends with a special relationship for the time being."
"Aya, do you really want to go back to that alley to meet Hasegawa Heizo later?" Achi looked at Ogata with a bit of worry.
"Of course, after all, we have to clear up his misunderstanding about us." Ogata smiled and touched Amachi's head, "After all, if we let him issue a wanted order for Master Feng, it would be troublesome."
"Don't worry. Nothing unexpected will happen."
"After all, Mr. Hasegawa is not a fool."
The smile on Ogata's face now became a little more meaningful.
"Mr. Hasegawa must know by now that even if he pays the thief with fire and changes his full combat power, he can't do anything to me."
…
…
Around five o'clock in the evening, Ogata returned to the alley as promised.
Before entering the alley, Ogata paid special attention to observe whether there were any ambushes lurking around.
After confirming that there was no one else around, he strode into the alley.
As soon as he entered the alley, Oban immediately saw Hasegawa who seemed to be waiting here in advance.
There was no one else around Hasegawa, so he stood alone in the alley.
Looking at Hasegawa, who was waiting for him alone, the corners of Ogata's mouth subconsciously raised slightly.
Although he had some unpleasant experiences with him, he still had a good impression of this "Onihei" who was willing to stand up for the people, was deeply loved by the people, and had shared the joys and sorrows with him.
Looking at him reunited after a long separation, a smile appeared on Ogata's face involuntarily.
"I've kept you waiting, Mr. Hasegawa." Ogata said, pulling down the towel from his face.
"I didn't wait long," Hasegawa said, "I just arrived."
After finishing speaking, Hasegawa looked at Ogata's face with the hood pulled down with eyes containing complex emotions.
"... Ogata Ittousai, we are so incredibly destined... I thought I would never have the chance to meet you after we parted ways in Edo last year."
"I didn't expect that we would meet again after only being apart for a few months."
"I just saw you, Mr. Hasegawa, leading a large group of people in the casino rushing up the stairs. I was so shocked that my heart almost stopped beating." Ogata said in a joking tone.
After Hasegawa chuckled a few times, he raised his eyes again and looked at Ogata in front of him, his expression gradually becoming complicated.
"...We haven't seen each other for a few months, and you have done another feat that has never been done before, and will probably never be done again... It's really your fault. The 10,000 coalition forces of the shogunate and the Northeastern vassals were all defeated by you."
.”
Hearing Hasegawa's words, Ogata was stunned, and the faint smile on his face froze.
"Obviously when I first met you, you were not that great a swordsman." Hasegawa continued, "But in less than a year, you have grown to this point... With such a talent like yours,
It really makes people unable to even envy your courage..."
"Mr. Hasegawa, you really know what I did in Ezo Land..." The smile on Ogata's face turned into a bitter smile.
"I'm the commander of Huo Fu Thief Kai, and I'm not a lower-level official. Isn't it strange that I don't know about this?"
Having said this, Hasegawa sighed, and then said seriously:
"Okay, that's enough for the pleasantries. Let's talk about business. Why were you in the Wisteria Room just now?"
"There is no special reason." Ogata said slowly, "I just came here to kill the 'Big Buddha Clan'."
Ogata explained in as simple terms as possible why he was in the Wisteria House and what he had just experienced in the Wisteria House.
Later, Ogata asked Hasegawa:
"Mr. Hasegawa, what about you? Why are you in Kyoto? Are you here in Kyoto to catch thieves again?"
"As the commander of the Huo Fu Thief Kai, besides catching thieves, what other reason could I have for?" Hasegawa said in a self-deprecating tone, "I don't know if you know that I was raped by you in the casino just now.
Among the people killed, there was a guy named Shirakawa Shuichiro."
"He is the leader of a bandit gang called the 'Blood Mist Crowd', and he is the target of my trip."
"It was just to pursue him that I led my people to Kyoto."
"Oh...then if I kill him...will I miss your job?" Ogata raised his hand and touched the back of his neck.
"That's not the case." Hasegawa said, "It would be best if we could catch him. It doesn't matter if we kill him directly. Even if we catch him, we would just kill him in another place."
"That Bai Chuan is not a man of mediocre skill. I was already mentally prepared to kill and injure a few of my subordinates. Now that you have killed him for me, you have saved me a lot of trouble."
"That's good." Ogata nodded lightly, "In short, Mr. Hasegawa, this is the reason why my companion and I ended up in that casino."
"So, since I helped you in disguise, can you pretend that you haven't seen me or my companion?"
Hasegawa did not answer Ogata immediately.
But after looking at Ogata deeply for a while, he finally nodded slowly:
"...I understand. This time...just pretend that I haven't seen you and your companion. I also think of it as repaying the favor I owe you."
"You owe me a favor?" Ogata asked doubtfully.
"Last year, you helped resolve this favor from Shiranui, and I haven't repaid you yet."
"Now it's time to settle down between you and me."
After saying that, Hasegawa crossed his hands and put them into the sleeves on both sides, passed by Ogata, and walked out of the alley.
"Then, farewell."
"Are you leaving?" Ogata asked.
Ogata was a little surprised that Hasegawa left so quickly.
He originally thought that Hasegawa would have quite a few questions to ask him when they reunited after a long absence.
And he really wanted to chat with Hasegawa for a while and catch up on old times.
"Well. I still have a lot of things to deal with. Besides, it would be better for the two of us to try to avoid meeting and contact as much as possible, whether in public or in private."
Hasegawa stopped, then squeezed out a stiff smile that was difficult to describe in words, and turned to look at Ogata behind him.
"I told you something similar before in Edo. I am an official, and you are a gangster wanted by the shogunate."
"And now, since you defeated the shogunate's army, our positions have become more antagonistic."
"Let me tell you the truth too."
"For generations, our Hasegawa family has grown up on the stipends of the shogunate."
"So when I learned that you defeated the 10,000 coalition forces of the shogunate and the Northeastern vassals... I felt uncomfortable."
"And you are mine..."
When Hasegawa said this, he suddenly stopped.
As if he was considering what to say next.
After a long pause, he uttered the remaining words.
"...He is someone who has fought side by side with me."
"So I am caught between the shogunate and you... very entangled and embarrassed."
"So for your sake and my sake, I won't even meet in private from now on."
Hasegawa then changed his tone, whether he was joking or telling the truth.
"After all, I can't guarantee that every time I see you, I can suppress the urge to bring you to justice, even if the success rate of catching you is extremely slim now."
"If I can arrest you now, your achievements will be so great that my salary can be doubled in an instant by 5 or 6 times... No, 10 times is also possible, and it will make you famous in history."
"To be honest, I'm quite excited about such a generous reward."
After finishing speaking, Hasegawa silently added in his heart:
Especially now that the old man is holding the hand, and he urgently needs merit to show his loyalty and show that he is still useful...
Ogata has been looking at Hasegawa since just now.
He looked calm at first.
Then, the emotions hidden in the eyes slowly became complicated...
"...I understand." Ogata forced a smile towards Hasegawa, "Then let's say goodbye, Mr. Hasegawa. I wish you good luck in martial arts."
"Yes." Hasegawa nodded slightly and smiled at Ogata, "I also wish you good luck in martial arts."
After saying the words "Martial fortune is prosperous", Ogata, whose eyes were still filled with complicated emotions, turned around with a slight hesitation.
Hasegawa also withdrew his gaze at this time.
Xufang faces the alley entrance to the east.
Hasegawa faces the alley entrance to the west.
The two of them strode in completely opposite directions.
…
…
The sudden appearance of the "Big Buddha Clan" forced Ogata and his friends to postpone their plan to go to Osaka.
But fortunately, it didn't take long. The original plan was to leave today, so the total delay was only one day.
We were attacked last night, and today we successfully killed the mastermind Daifo Xun.
Without Daibutsu Xun, whether the "Dabutsu clan" can continue to exist is a question. Feng Mo finally got his revenge smoothly and no longer has to worry about finding that his home has been burned down after returning from a trip.
Kaoru the Great Buddha has been killed, and Hasegawa has made an agreement with Ogata to pretend that he and Fuma have never seen each other. The matter has finally come to an end.
Considering that Fuma was old, Ogata thought that he had worked hard all day, so it would be okay to rest for a day before setting off for Osaka. However, Fuma said that due to his own reasons, the date of leaving for Osaka had been postponed by one day.
, if it was postponed for another day, he would feel very embarrassed and insisted that he could leave tomorrow.
Ogata couldn't defeat Fuma, so after a good night's rest, in the early morning of the next day, Ogata, Fuma, Atachi, and Tsukuba stood in front of Fuma's house, carrying their own luggage, doing the final packing.
examine.
"You didn't forget anything, right?" Fuuma, who only carried a small package containing a few changes of clothes and some daily necessities, asked Ogata and others.
Ating nodded: "I've got them all."
"Then let's set off." Feng Mo chuckled, "Go to Osaka, the 'Kitchen of the World'!"
Feng Mo walked at the front of the team and seemed to be in high spirits.
"Lord Feng." Azhu walked a few steps quickly and walked side by side with Feng Mo, "Why do you look so happy?"
"Because I am indeed very happy now." Feng Mo smiled kindly at A Zhu, "I haven't traveled with so many people like this for a long time, and I still traveled with so many young people. I am now
I feel like I have become several years younger.”
As Tsukuru and Fuma, who were as excited as going on an autumn outing with friends for the first time, chatted with each other, Ogata silently followed Fuma's side.
He lowered his head slightly, looking worried.
"What's wrong with you? You look like you're in a bad mood."
At this time, Ogata heard Omachi's voice coming from his side.
After turning his head to look at Omachi who was looking at him with concern, Ogata smiled:
"I'm not in a bad mood."
"I just...feel a little emotional..."
At this time, Ogata turned his head and looked to the southeast, which was the direction of the alley where he and Hasegawa met and parted ways last night.
"...The executioner Ittosai who is respected and admired by countless people...his life is not that glamorous..."
Ogata seemed to be talking to Amachi, or to himself.
Atachi looked straight at Ogata's face.
She didn't say much.
He just quietly stretched out his right hand and grasped Ogata's calloused left palm.
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