Right now, someone was sneaking out of the bushes near the "Barrier." He looked awfully like an assassin, instantly putting Aqing on high alert. That person, startled by Aqing's low shout, ducked back right away—but after a moment, as if realizing something was off, he poked his head out again for a peek. It turned out to be none other than Maeda Toshie, who'd been exiled after making a huge blunder.
Harano was speechless for a moment, then laughed and waved, "What are you up to? Playing the thief?"
Maeda Toshie was just as speechless. Right now, everyone else was crammed in front of the Divine Palace, cheering. He'd figured nobody would be out here—only to find this oddball Harano, who, even when war is about to break out, doesn't bother asking for divine protection, and instead just lurks outside for god-knows-what reason. And now he'd been caught red-handed.
