Chapter 236: Chapter 108: Acquiring the Divine-level Talent: [Ghost Heart]

Purple is Chokata’s favorite color; she never uses any other color ribbons but purple to tie her hair.

Chokata fell in love at first sight with this purple Karakara and without hesitation, took out her wallet—

And thus, Chokata now found herself in this silly state, playing with the Karakara while smiling foolishly.

Humming a self-composed song, she returned to Shiwei Hall, seeing Kondo currently tidying up bamboo swords in the dojo. Chokata rushed over.

"Brother Kondo! Look at this!" Chokata vigorously waved the Karakara in her hand, making it clatter noisily. "Isn’t it beautiful?"

Kondo looked at the Karakara in Chokata’s hand with a speechless expression, then glanced again at the excited Chokata.

"Toshisuke, you’re 16 this year too. Why are you still like a child, enjoying such children’s toys?"

"A toy is just a toy," Chokata stated with confidence, "Who ever said we adults can’t play with children’s toys?"

Kondo sighed: "Alright. As long as you like it."

"Let’s not talk about this. Toshisuke, I have good news for you."

Kondo grinned widely.

"Asui just returned a moment ago."

"Hmm?" Chokata’s eyes lit up, "Mr. Hijikata is back?"

Chokata quickly turned her head, scanning the surroundings: "Where is he?"

"He just went out again," Kondo replied, "While you were out, Asui came back to Shiwei Hall for a bit, stayed for a while, then left again."

"He went out again? Is his wound healed?"

Kondo nodded: "Don’t you know what kind of person Asui is? His constitution is very strong, and that minor wound has completely healed."

"Mr. Hijikata went out...," Chokata now looked as if she was recalling some unpleasant memory, her beautiful eyebrows slowly knitting together, "Did he say what he was going out to do?"

"He said he’s been away from Edo for almost two months and wants to greet some Edo friends of his."

Chokata’s originally furrowed brows slightly relaxed: "To greet friends, huh... I hope he’s really just going to greet them and not cause trouble out there again..."

"Toshisuke, don’t always imagine Asui as some kind of monster," Kondo said helplessly, "Asui... he does cause a lot of trouble, but he’s not going to run out and cause trouble on the first day he’s back in Edo."

...

...

Edo, Takaracho, somewhere—

"One-three-five, odd!"

"Hahahaha! I won! I won!! I have money to go to Yoshiwara again tonight!"

"Ahhhhh! Why did I lose again!"

"Come on, come on! This time I’ll definitely win!"

...

Even though it was across the street, the distinctive shouts and calls from the casino continuously streamed into Aoto’s ears.

Aoto stood by the window, looking out toward the casino diagonally opposite.

Even though it wasn’t even noon yet, this didn’t stop those gamblers from recklessly throwing their money and lives on the gambling table.

As one gazes at the casino, they often see people quickening their steps as they pass by the entrance, unwilling to linger even a second longer in front of the casino.

The guests exiting the casino have basically two types of expressions—either strutting around elated or looking so miserable it’s heart-wrenching.

Ever since the Edo Shogunate was established, the Shogunate explicitly stated: no casinos are to be set up, and gambling gatherings are prohibited.

However, that law is as good as farting.

Due to various unspeakable reasons, the Edo Shogunate has always turned a blind eye to setting up casinos.

In the Edo Era, casinos were essentially run by the Yakuza.

Gambling, prostitution, loan sharking—these were the three main businesses operated by the Yakuza in the Edo Era, and the most profitable.

At this moment, Nishino’s voice came through: "Well? Did you see Kin’emon?"

Nishino’s question wasn’t directed toward Aoto, but rather to a short middle-aged man standing by Aoto’s side, also gazing at the casino through the window.

"Haven’t seen him yet," the middle-aged man answered respectfully.

Nishino nodded slightly, then said in a plain tone: "Then please keep watching."

The short middle-aged man responded, "Yes!"

At this moment, Aoto was with Nishino in a slightly rundown hotel room.

After receiving the order from Hosoi to "block Kin’emon at the casino," Aoto had immediately teamed up with Nishino, gathered their respective subordinates, and headed to Takaracho.

Of course—although saying "gathered their respective subordinates" sounds impressive, in reality, the only subordinate Aoto could muster was his bodyguard, Saito.

After arriving at Takaracho with Nishino, they first met with the local Jishinban patriarch and servants, requesting them to allocate some people to assist in capturing Kin’emon, and then they headed to the casino that Kin’emon frequented.

Opposite the casino is a hotel that makes an excellent surveillance point, so Aoto and the others rented a room on the top floor of this hotel to monitor the casino’s activity from there.

The short middle-aged man, now gazing at the casino with Aoto and just questioned by Nishino, is an old servant from Takaracho’s Jishinban. He recognized Kin’emon’s face, so he was brought along by Aoto and others to help identify Kin’emon.

"Lord Nishino, water." At this moment, an undercover informant under Nishino handed him a cup of water.

Nishino nodded, accepting the cup of water from his subordinate.

While sipping the water, he suddenly shifted his gaze to Aoto, who was still gazing outside out of boredom.