So far, five shops have been attacked by them.

The crime is so egregious that it has been listed as a "key concern" by the Edo Government.

Because they always wear black masks every time they commit a crime, the enforcement office gave them the code name "Masked Party" for the convenience of calling them.

"According to reports from spies and informants, a gangster named 'Kinemon' in Zhuoding is very likely to be a member of the 'Masked Party'."

"Someone in 'The Masked Party' has a dark red birthmark on his ankle - that Kin'emon has the same appearance."

"And the height and body shape are also quite consistent."

"Combined with Kinemon's usual character of not doing anything serious and only knowing how to do all kinds of dirty things to make a living, there is a high possibility that he is a member of the 'Masked Party'."

"so--"

Bo Jing moved his gaze and scanned the faces of everyone present.

"Let's take a trip!"

"That Kinemon only goes to two places on weekdays - his home and a casino in Table Town."

"Therefore, two teams of people were sent to arrest him."

"One team is responsible for staying at his house, and the other team is responsible for blocking him at the casino where he often goes."

"Whether we can seize Kinemon is directly related to whether we can uproot that 'masked party' that has done many evil things."

"So I decided to send out heavy troops for this operation! We can only succeed, not fail!"

"Hinata-kun, Kitaoji-kun, you two are responsible for leading the team to guard Kinemon's house."

"Yes!"*2

Hinata and Kitaoji, who were ordered to general, responded in unison.

Hinata is a member of the Temporary Return, while Kitaoji is a member of the "Tōjo Group" of the Sadachi Return.

"Then……"

Susui slowly turned his gaze to Aoto and... Nishino who was sitting not far from Aoto.

"Tachibana-kun, Nishino-kun."

"You two are responsible for leading a team to monitor the casino where Kinemon often goes."

Qingto was stunned for a moment when he was suddenly called upon by Bo Jing, and then he quickly reacted.

"Yes!"*2

Aoto and Nishino shouted "yes" at the same time.

…

…

"Hmph! Hum hum hum~! Hum la la~~"

Okita held the box of wagashi that Kiryu gave them just now under his right arm, humming the song he had composed in just 2 seconds and playing with the caracara in his hand.

"Karakala" is a children's toy from the Edo period that looks a bit like a rattle.

When he left Chishiya and headed back to the Imperial Guard Hall, Okita caught a glimpse of a purple caracara that he liked very much from a street vendor specializing in selling children's toys.

Purple is Okita's favorite color, and the ribbons she usually uses to tie her hair are never any other color than purple.

Okita, who "fell in love at first sight" with the purple Caracara, took out his wallet without thinking -

Hence Okita's current appearance of playing with caracara and having a silly time.

Humming a self-composed song, he returned to the trial hall. When he saw Kondo, who was currently arranging his bamboo swords in the dojo, Okita immediately greeted him.

"Brother Kondo! Look at this!" Okita waved the Caracara in his hand vigorously until it made a "clicking" sound. "Isn't it beautiful?"

Kondo looked at the caracara in Okita's hand with a speechless expression, and then looked at Okita who was looking excited.

"General Secretary, you are 16 this year, why do you still act like a child and like to play with such children's toys?"

"Toys are just toys." Okita said confidently, "Who said we adults can't play with children's toys?"

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

"Let's not talk about it anymore. Director-General, I have something good to tell you."

Kondo grinned.

"Ah Sui, he came back just now."

"Huh?" Okita's eyes lit up, "Mr. Hijikata is back?"

Okita quickly turned around and looked around: "Where is he?"

"Just went out again." Kondo replied, "While you were out, Ah Sui went back to the Trial Guard Hall, stayed in the Trial Guard Hall for a while and then left."

"Going out again? Is his injury healed?"

Kondo nodded: "Don't you know who Ah Sui is? His body is very strong and his injuries have been completely healed."

"Mr. Hijikata, he is out now..." Okita seemed to recall some bad memory at this time, and his two beautiful eyebrows slowly knitted, "Did he say what he was going out to do?"

"He said that he had been away from Edo for nearly two months and wanted to say hello to some of his Edo friends."

Okita's originally frowning eyebrows relaxed slightly: "Are you going to say hello to your friend... I hope he really went to say hello instead of causing trouble outside again..."

"Soji, don't always think of Sui like some kind of ghost." Kondo said helplessly, "Asui... is indeed very troublesome, but he won't be like him on the first day after returning to Edo after a long absence.

Just run out and cause trouble."

…

…

Edo, Takucho, somewhere——

"One, three, five, single!"

"Hahaha! I won! I won! I have enough money to go to Yoshiwara tonight!"

"Ahhhhhhhh! Why did you lose again!"

"Come again! I will definitely win this time!"

…

Even though he was separated by a street, waves of casino-specific shouts and shouts continued to reach Qingdeng's ears.

Qingdeng stood by the window, looking at the casino diagonally opposite.

Although it is broad daylight and has not even reached noon yet, this does not prevent those gambling dogs from throwing their money and lives on the gambling table.

Looking towards the casino, you can often see many people hurrying to leave when passing by the casino door, unwilling to stay in front of the casino door for even a second.

The gamblers coming out of the casino basically have only two expressions - arrogant with joy or sick with pain.

Since the establishment of the Edo shogunate, the shogunate has expressly stipulated that it is prohibited to open casinos and prohibit people from gathering together to gamble.

However, this law is no different than farting.

Due to various indescribable reasons, the Edo shogunate has always turned a blind eye to the opening of casinos.

During the Edo period, it was basically Yakuza who opened casinos.

Gambling, pornography, and loan sharking—these were the three main and most profitable businesses of the Yakuza in the Edo period.

At this time, Nishino's voice came over: "How is it? Have you seen Kin'emon?"

Nishino's question was not asked to Aoto, but to a short middle-aged man who was standing next to Aoto and looking at the casino through the window with Aoto.

"I haven't seen him yet." The middle-aged man replied respectfully.

Nishino nodded slightly, and then said in a nonchalant manner: "Then please continue to monitor me."

Short middle-aged man: "Yes!"

At this moment, Qingnog and Nishino were staying in a slightly shabby hotel.

After receiving the order from Susui to "go to the casino to block Kinemon", Aoto and Nishino immediately ordered their respective subordinates and rushed to Takucho.

Of course - although saying "call all subordinates" seems very powerful, in fact the only subordinate Aomori can name is his bodyguard Saito.

After arriving at Takamachi with Nishino, Aonto and the others first met with the family heads and servants of Takumachi's own clan and asked them to allocate some people to help them capture Kin'emon, and then went to Kin'emon.

Frequent casino.

There is a hotel diagonally opposite the casino, which is a good surveillance location, so Qingteng and the others opened a room on the highest floor of the hotel to monitor the activities of the casino.

This short middle-aged man who is currently looking at the casino with Aoshito and who has just been questioned by Nishino is an old employee of Takucho's own division. He recognized Kin'emon's appearance, so he was brought over by Aoshito and the others.

Help identify who Kinemon is.

"Nishino-sama, water." At this time, one of Nishino's subordinates, Okahiki, handed Nishino a glass of water.

Nishino nodded and took the glass of water from his subordinate.

While sipping the water in the cup, he suddenly turned his attention to Qingden, who was still looking out of the window out of boredom.
To be continued...