Chapter 227: Chapter 106: Blonde Loli Comes Knocking [7200]_2

"At present, the Western Barbarians are wantonly defiling the land of our Divine Kingdom."

"In this time of national crisis, everyone should stand up, bravely fight the enemy, and serve the country with utter loyalty!"

"Think of those patriots who hold a blade in their hands, fearlessly confronting the barbarians and traitors."

"They can even disregard their own lives and safety. Now, all we ask is for you to lend some money, yet you’re reluctant."

"It’s not like we won’t repay you. Didn’t I say earlier that once the anti-foreigner cause is fully victorious, we’ll repay you double?"

The shopkeeper was now so anxious he was nearly in tears. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Honorable Samurai, it’s not that I don’t want to give you money! Our family truly doesn’t have any money!"

"Ah!" At this moment, a skinny fellow, as thin as a stick, standing behind the big-nosed man, raised his hand and pointed at the shopkeeper’s counter, "You there, using the Barbarians’ stuff?"

The skinny fellow dashed to the counter and grabbed a Western pocket watch from the top.

"I see!" The big-nosed man furrowed his eyebrows, "No wonder you’re unwilling to lend us money, turns out you’re a traitor using the Barbarians’ goods!"

Swish— The big-nosed man drew the sword from his waist.

"Ah!" The shopkeeper’s daughter was so frightened she backed off several steps, her face turning pale.

The shopkeeper was also scared by the gleaming sword in the big-nosed man’s hand, but he still forced himself to speak quickly and calmly, "Ho-Honorable Samurai! This pocket watch was given to me by a friend, I didn’t buy it..."

"Does it matter whether you bought it or not?" The big-nosed man retorted, "Regardless of whether you bought it or someone gifted it to you, using the Barbarians’ goods makes you a traitor!"

"I ask you one last question!" The big-nosed man glared fiercely at the shopkeeper, placing his sword on the shopkeeper’s neck, the blade aimed at the shopkeeper’s carotid artery, "Do you or do you not wish to support our anti-foreigner cause?"

Feeling the cold metallic touch on his neck, the shopkeeper’s body trembled violently.

The shopkeeper dared not further contend with these so-called "patriots," who seemed like ferocious gods.

He shivered and stumbled back to the counter, took out a small brocade box from under it, and with slightly trembling fingers, he pulled out a handful of fragmented copper coins mixed with a few scattered silver coins.

The big-nosed man grabbed the small change from the shopkeeper’s hand, stuffed it into his bosom, and without even a word of thanks, waved for his three companions to hurry away.

After hurriedly rushing out of the fabric store, they suddenly realized: the street was bustling with noise at both ends.

Turning to look left and right—Aoto, accompanied by Saito and the fully-armed Jishinban officials of Mukiura Town, was charging at them mightily.

"Damn it!" Watching Aoto’s magistrate’s seal cage and red-tasseled jitte at his waist, the big-nosed man’s expression changed suddenly, "It’s the Dōshin from the Magistrate’s Office!"

He urgently scanned around, searching for a way to escape.

There were only two directions they could flee—eastward or westward.

But both exits were now blocked by Aoto and his men.

Twelve Jishinban officials were on the west side, fewer on the east with only eight Jishinban officials, but Aoto and Saito themselves were leading from the east.

After some weighing of options, the big-nosed man gritted his teeth and charged westward, his and his companions’ swords drawn and waving wildly.

The informants and Jishinban officials used long ladders and tridents as their primary tools for catching criminals.

The so-called "trident" was a long iron fork.

First using the ladder to control the criminal’s movements, then poking the trident through the ladder’s rungs to trap him.

Because of the trident’s exceedingly long reach, and since capturing criminals was often done with overwhelming numbers, even a skilled martial artist could be controlled if not careful.

Seeing the big-nosed man and others charging their way, the twelve Jishinban officials at the western exit swiftly formed a formation.

Six held three ladders, controlling the escape paths of the big-nosed man and others, while the remaining six poked at them through the gaps in the ladder rungs with tridents.

From merely the way the big-nosed man and his cronies held their swords and moved their feet, it was clear—they knew nothing about martial arts.

In the blink of an eye, two of the big-nosed man’s companions were caught by the tridents of the officials, pinned to the ground, unable to move.

Taking advantage of the moment when the officials were dealing with his two companions, the big-nosed man and the skinny fellow barely managed to escape the officials’ formation.

However... they hadn’t gotten far before Aoto, leading the other officials, caught up with them from the east...

The big-nosed man and the skinny fellow both moved slowly, far slower than Aoto.

Ever since acquiring the "Strong Muscle" talent that made his muscles less prone to fatigue, and his legs less easily exhausted or sore, Aoto’s sprinting and long-distance running abilities had significantly improved.

Aoto first caught up with the slowest runner, the skinny fellow.

He raised his hand, yanked the back collar of the skinny fellow’s clothes, and kicked sharply at the back of the skinny fellow’s right knee.

The skinny fellow screamed, lost his balance, and fell flat on his face.

After the skinny fellow fell, the Jishinban officials following closely behind Aoto quickly rushed in, pinned the skinny fellow down, and tied him tightly with coarse hemp rope.

After subduing the skinny fellow, Aoto immediately pursued the big-nosed man.

The big-nosed man realized he had no chance of outrunning Aoto. Unless he did something, he would be caught in just a few seconds.