"This is such a troublesome situation…" Kawaki sighed, scratching the back of his head with some frustration. "If things keep going this way, it's going to be a real headache…"
"Kawaki-san, don't worry," Shige Shige reassured him. He then took a step forward, his presence as the Shogun commanding the room as he sternly ordered, "Stand down! That's an order from the Shogun!"
However, much to Shige Shige's surprise, the shadow warriors didn't stop. They continued charging straight at both him and Kawaki.
"The idiot Shogun is still an idiot, huh?"
Kawaki placed a hand on Shige Shige's shoulder, pulling him back, while he stepped forward and kicked the nearest shadow warrior, sending him flying. He quickly grabbed the fallen warrior's sword and effortlessly stabbed it into another who was rushing forward.
"What do you think that old man's trying to do? He's just doing this to make a show in front of the idiot Shogun. Maybe it's some kind of warning… or a so-called 'friendly' reminder. He just wants to show that the puppet who's been straying from his control is still bound by the strings in his hands…"
Standing calmly with his hands behind his back, Sada Sada looked at Shige Shige, who had been pulled aside by Kawaki and now sat on the ground in disbelief. Sada Sada chuckled and continued, "Exactly. Shige Shige, everything you have was given to you by me, including your position as Shogun. It was I who raised a powerless child who lost his father early on into a Shogun. I even helped you govern, getting cursed as a traitor and bearing all the blame while protecting you and this country. Have you forgotten who did all that? It was me! I, Tokugawa Sada Sada, am the true father of this nation! And you… just need to remain my puppet."
"Uncle…" Shige Shige could only stare wide-eyed at Sada Sada in shock.
Boom! Boom! Boom! One by one, the shadow warriors who got close to Kawaki were sent flying. The room's doors and screens had already been shattered by the impact of the bodies Kawaki threw out.
Blood splattered everywhere, almost painting the entire room red—on the floor, the ceiling, the walls, and even on Shige Shige's clothes.
The entire Edo Castle echoed with the sounds of slaughter, screams, and the sharp clash of blades cutting through flesh.
Using his umbrella, Kawaki once again smashed away several shadow warriors who got too close. He glanced at the courtyard, where more shadow warriors, loyal only to Sada Sada, were fighting against the Mimawarigumi. He calmly said, "If I'm not mistaken, the Shinsengumi over at that gorilla's place is probably dealing with something similar, right? I really underestimated this old man. I thought he just wanted to get rid of that petty man, but it turns out he wants to wipe out the entire police force…"
He then looked back at Shige Shige, who was still in shock. "Stop standing around. If you can, find a place to hide. I can't really let loose with you here. By now, you should have figured out what this old man's true goal is…"
"Uncle, you…" Shige Shige stood up, looking directly into Sada Sada's eyes without fear. "Are you starting to fear me?"
Sada Sada smirked slightly but didn't answer.
"So that's it…" Shige Shige sighed, his eyes softening as he looked down. "You deliberately allowed the Mimawarigumi to guard Edo Castle, but your real plan was to eliminate the Hitotsubashi faction's police force. Those attacks on Hitotsubashi officials earlier—that was your doing too, wasn't it? To justify bringing the Mimawarigumi into Edo Castle."
"So what if you figured it out, Shige Shige?" Sada Sada responded indifferently, his eyes filled with scorn. "Not just the Mimawarigumi, but also the Shinsengumi, who now follow only you—both of these organizations will be completely wiped out today! My men will take back control of this country! Then… the Mimawarigumi will die fighting assassins, and the Shinsengumi will be destroyed by a sudden attack from loyalist warriors! Shige Shige, your ambition… is finished. Everyone who stood behind you is… gone! From now on, you'll obediently be my puppet!"
"I see now…" Shige Shige lifted his head, staring unflinchingly at Sada Sada amidst the chaos of clashing swords. "So, Uncle had planned everything from the start. If your plan succeeds today, Edo will no longer have the Shinsengumi or the Mimawarigumi. And now, many Hitotsubashi officials and my friends are surely being targeted by assassins. After this, neither the Hitotsubashi faction nor I would be able to resist your power, right, Uncle?"
"You've gotten smarter lately," Sada Sada remarked.
"Yes, I have," Shige Shige replied, glancing at Kawaki, who seemed to be casually fighting, yet without a single drop of blood on him. "I feel like I'm starting to see the future of this country more clearly. But Uncle, I never intended to oppose you, at least not before. I've always respected and admired you from the bottom of my heart."
"And from today onwards, you won't?" Sada Sada asked coldly, narrowing his eyes as a murderous intent flashed in them. "You're too arrogant, Shige Shige. Puppets are easy to replace…"
"Actually, Uncle, I'm really grateful to you today," Shige Shige continued. "I finally understand what I've been lacking as a Shogun. Now, even if I have to resort to any means necessary, even if it means opposing you, I want to protect this country and its people. However, there's a difference between us, Uncle. Your ruthlessness is driven by selfish desires, but what I've learned is to be ruthless for the sake of this country and all its citizens. I'm sorry, Uncle…"
"Anyone can talk big, but the real outcome is already clear, Shige Shige."
"Well, this is getting bad…" Kawaki said, pulling his umbrella out of the shadow warrior in front of him. He watched as the warrior, now lifeless, slowly collapsed. Kawaki smiled menacingly, his eyes narrowing as he continued, "I'm sorry, sir, I just couldn't control my strength. As I said before…"
Ignoring the two shadow warriors swinging their swords at him, Kawaki turned his back to them, exposing himself to their attacks as he addressed Sada Sada and Shige Shige.
"I said, if this continues, things will get really troublesome…" Kawaki shrugged, spreading his hands.
At that moment, the two shadow warriors froze in place, their blades inches from Kawaki's back.
Shing—
No one saw what happened, but the next moment, the two shadow warriors collapsed, blood gushing from their bodies as they fell to the ground.
Kawaki opened his umbrella, blocking the spray of blood. His eyes widened, and a savage grin spread across his face as he said, "Because… it's starting to excite me."
Instantly, everyone in the room froze, their movements halting completely. Not just inside, but even outside, where the shadow warriors and the Mimawarigumi were fighting, everyone stopped moving.
At that moment, everyone felt as if they were being stared down by an unbeatable beast, too terrified to even breathe as cold sweat dripped down their faces.
"You… you…" Sada Sada stammered, his hand trembling as he pointed at Kawaki. "Who… who are you?!"
"To be honest, ever since I saw your face, I've been suppressing the urge to kill you…" Kawaki said as he slowly walked towards Sada Sada, his steps steady and deliberate as if following some unseen rhythm.
In the short distance of only a few meters, it took Kawaki about ten seconds to reach Sada Sada. Even more strangely, as Kawaki passed by them, the shadow warriors fell silent one after another, collapsing into pools of blood.
The spraying blood resembled blooming flowers, petals scattering, yet not a single drop touched Kawaki. It was all blocked by his umbrella.
"You know," Kawaki said as he reached Sada Sada, raising a finger with a smile, "because of you, I lost another 'friend' today. So, I'm a little angry, but I haven't decided whether to take your head just yet. Can you give me a little time to think about it?"
Sada Sada's face contorted with rage, his teeth grinding. "You… you traitor! Do you know who I am?! I am the father of this country! The greatest hero of this nation!"
"Um, are you mistaken about something?" Kawaki replied with a smile. "I… am not a citizen of this country. And… if I remember correctly, I used to be something in this country… What was it called again? Oh yeah, a loyalist warrior or something. But it was so long ago, I can't really recall."
"So, you're one of those damned loyalists!" Sada Sada's eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Kawaki.
"I said it was a long time ago. Your hearing must be going too, huh?"
"Ah la la~," Sasaki's voice suddenly came from the doorway. "I only stepped out for a short while, and such a thing has already happened. My apologies, Shogun-sama and former Shogun Sada Sada-sama. The Mimawarigumi will ensure your safety."
Kawaki continued to smile as he looked at Sasaki, who was being supported by Imai Nobume—a girl with long, smooth blue hair cascading naturally down her back, wearing the Mimawarigumi uniform with a long sword at her waist. Despite the injury to his abdomen, Sasaki's expression remained calm, while Nobume's red eyes showed no emotion at all.
"Well, well, I thought you were already dead. But it turns out you're still alive, you petty-minded, perverted cop."
I woke up late...