Chapter 220: Chapter 105: Sakurada Gate Incident! Demons and Monsters Revealed! [Special 10K Release]

"Mr. Arimura." Kurosawa Chuzaburo exhaled a breath of white mist, "Are you nervous...?"

"It’s a bit embarrassing to say." Arimura Jisaburo smiled bitterly and showed Kurosawa Chuzaburo his right hand, "I’m so nervous... Look, my hand keeps shaking uncontrollably."

Arimura Jisaburo’s right hand shook violently as if it was spasming.

He lifted his left hand and grasped his right hand forcefully, trying to stop the trembling.

However, because his left hand was also shaking, as his left hand gripped his right wrist, the palms continued to affect each other, and both shook even more.

"I see... I’m very nervous too." Kurosawa Chuzaburo also showed Arimura Jisaburo his palms—his hands were trembling as well.

Even though their hands and feet trembled fiercely due to nervousness and fear, the determination and resolve in their eyes did not fade in the slightest.

Whoosh!

The wind and snow became fiercer.

The Ii formation was nearly at their designated battle location.

Kurosawa Chuzaburo, responsible for their left-wing vanguard, exhaled white mist again and probed into his chest, withdrawing a revolver with an oil-slicked, gleaming barrel...

...

...

"Ogata Shiroshige is tasked to stay behind to witness the successful assassination of Ii Naosuke, hence not participating in the assassination."

"After the successful assassination, Saito Kanmon will deliver the Execution Letter to the Senior Councillor, so he will accompany Ogata Shiroshige, staying behind and not participating in the assassination."

With that said, Sakai Tetsu no Suke opened a brocade box beside him.

Inside the brocade box lay five brand-new revolvers quietly.

"These five short guns were handed over to me by Mr. Kaneko."

"I am responsible for taking one, the remaining four—"

Sakai Tetsu no Suke took out a pistol from the brocade box.

"Saito Kanmon."

"Yes!" Saito Kanmon solemnly accepted the gun with both hands from Sakai Tetsu no Suke.

"Inada Shigetaka." Sakai Tetsu no Suke took another pistol from the brocade box.

"Yes!" Inada Shigetaka mimicked Saito Kanmon’s earlier action, accepting the gun with both hands from Sakai Tetsu no Suke.

"Mori Goroichiro."

"Yes!"

"Kurosawa Chuzaburo."

"Yes!"

After distributing the four pistols one by one to the four people led by Saito Kanmon, Sakai Tetsu no Suke returned to a stern, upright posture.

"When Mr. Mori has slain the vanguard of the Ii formation, taking advantage of the weakened defense around the palanquin..."

Sakai Tetsu no Suke turned his eyes to Kurosawa Chuzaburo. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Mr. Kurosawa, you are responsible for shooting at the palanquin with the short gun."

"Shoot at Ii Naosuke’s palanquin?"

"Indeed." Sakai Tetsu no Suke nodded solemnly, "If we can directly shoot him dead with the handgun, that’s obviously the best."

"If you can’t kill him outright, at least injure him."

"Ii Naosuke is a master of Iaido who pioneered the ’New Heart New Stream’."

"In terms of personal skill, he is arguably stronger than most of his guards."

"If we can wound him before the battle officially begins, our chance of victory will significantly increase."

"...I understand!" Kurosawa Chuzaburo nodded forcefully, gripping the short gun he was holding tightly, "Leave it to me!"

Sakai Tetsu no Suke moved his gaze and examined his comrades surrounding him.

"Everyone, the day we have been waiting for has finally come!"

"Ii Naosuke’s myriad crimes are endless."

"He shows no respect to His Majesty the Emperor. Without waiting for His Majesty’s consent, he unilaterally signed humiliating and unequal treaties with countries like the United States and France."

"He is a scourge to the nation. Submissive to foreigners, he aims to completely open the borders and abolish the two-hundred-year-old ’National Lockdown Order,’ signing one unequal treaty after another with Western Barbarians; domestically, he cruelly persecutes patriots devoted to the Anti-foreigner Cause, countless righteous people harmed by him."

"He humiliates our Lord. Our Lord, dedicated to the country and the people, is exhausted from working for the Anti-foreigner Cause, yet suffers unjust treatment from Ii Naosuke."

"If such a national traitor is allowed to continue his malign actions, the nation will cease to be a nation!"

Sakai Tetsu no Suke stood up abruptly, simultaneously grabbing the sword resting beside his right side.

"The day after tomorrow, with the sound of gunfire as the signal, upon hearing Mr. Kurosawa’s gunshot, both wings will charge forward to claim Ii Naosuke’s head!"

Sakai Tetsu no Suke held his sword horizontally in front of him.

"We’ll use our swords to eliminate treacherous ministers and traitors!"

"We’ll use our swords to forge a new era!"

"Celestial Punishment for National Traitors!"

The people, infected by Sakai Tetsu no Suke’s words, excitedly grabbed their swords and stood up one after another.

"Celestial Punishment for National Traitors—! Celestial Punishment for National Traitors—! Celestial Punishment for National Traitors—!"

They raised their swords high, continuously shouting in unison.

...

...

"Celestial Punishment for National Traitors... Celestial Punishment... National Traitors...!" Arimura Jisaburo muttered these words over and over, trying to draw strength from these simple terms.

Mori Goroichiro, responsible for slaying the vanguard of the Ii formation, stood by the street.

Dressed as a Ronin, he lightly patted the "Petition of Grievance" that he would use later as a guise to plead for justice.

Inada Shigetaka and others, responsible for launching an attack on the right wing, were seated around a tea stall.

They disguised themselves as a group of country Samurai visiting Edo, drinking the hot tea purchased from the tea shop, and quietly discussing the Ii formation that has now appeared near the Sakurada Gate.

"The palanquin is engraved with the Tachibana crest... This should be the Ii formation, right?"

"Yes, it is. The Tachibana crest is the family crest of the Ii family."

"Speaking of family crests, I still think the Kikyo flower crest and Gentiana leaf crest are the best looking."