My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 337 - 135: The Legendary Pinnacle of Martial Arts: [State of No Self]! [Massive Update 11,000 Words! Thanks to the Alliance Leader!]

Rest is indeed very important.

After resting for most of the day yesterday, inspiration flowed at night, and I finished writing today’s ten-thousand-word Chapter in one go!

If only I could be in such a state every day...

A long-awaited 11,000-word mega Chapter, asking for monthly votes! Asking for recommendation votes! (Leopard-headed crying.jpg)

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"Xindao! Takamaki! Aomura! You three go around to the right!"

"Yuuki! Narukami! Yugong! You three go around to the left!"

Even while sprinting at full speed, Captain Shimizu of the Arson and Theft Magistrate Fourth Squad methodically issued command after command to his subordinates behind him.

Aoto took the opportunity to glance back again at the pursuing troops closely following them.

— How could it be such a coincidence, running into the Fourth Squad led by Shimizu...

Aoto’s brow involuntarily furrowed slightly.

The renowned Arson and Theft Magistrate (short for Arson and Theft Investigation Team), responsible for handling major and serious cases, is well known by everyone.

Having dealt with all sorts of deranged and vicious criminals for years, their combat power is basically one of the strongest armed units currently deployable by the Shogunate.

As someone within the government, Aoto knows more about the Arson and Theft Magistrate than the average person.

Although the name of the Arson and Theft Magistrate still echoes throughout the land, it inevitably falls into decay with the Shogunate’s waning power.

A considerable number of the captains and team members of the Arson and Theft Magistrate are essentially useless and incompetent.

However — there are still some outstanding talents who uphold the reputation of the Arson and Theft Magistrate, preventing this title from being completely tarnished.

Captain Shimizu of the Fourth Squad is one of those people.

After the Shogunate dispatched the Arson and Theft Magistrate to collaborate with the Magistrate’s Office to eliminate the "Radical Anti-foreigner Faction" led by the Anti-foreigner Group, Aoto had several encounters with this Shimizu.

As far as Aoto knows, this person has a very upright character, never showing mercy to criminals of any kind.

In terms of individual talent... in the entire Arson and Theft Magistrate, only the First Squad Captain, Grandson Chūtarō, can firmly outshine Shimizu.

With such a strong-willed commander, the overall quality of the Fourth Squad is naturally very high.

Encountering the Arson and Theft Magistrate is one thing, but running into one of the toughest individuals within it... This made Aoto, who had just felt fortunate for "finding the street killer on the first night of staking out the Hieda Residence Area," feel rather conflicted.

However, Aoto did not feel annoyed or anxious — when he decided to lend a hand to Mukiwa and investigate the "Street Killing Incident" with Mukiwa, Aoto was already mentally prepared to be hunted by officials as an "accomplice of the Cat Monk."

Aoto did not know that he was not the only one feeling conflicted and confused — Nishino, Shimizu, and others currently chasing them felt the same way.

Who is this person wearing a fox mask acting alongside the Cat Monk? What about the already-deceased "Red-faced Brothers"?

These questions have been echoing in the minds of Nishino, Shimizu, and others since just now.

Earlier, while closely pursuing the Cat Monk, they clearly saw: The Cat Monk turned into a certain street, running towards a black-clothed person wearing a fox mask standing at the corner of the street, and at the feet of this fox-masked person, lay several corpses.

"North Guard Station’s number one detective" Nishino and "Arson and Theft Magistrate Fourth Squad Captain" Shimizu are both very familiar with the images on every bounty poster currently circulating in the market.

With just one glance, they recognized — among the corpses at the feet of the "fox mask," two were the currently wanted, dead-or-alive vicious murderers, the "Red-faced Brothers"!

Who exactly is this "fox mask"? Why are he and the Cat Monk appearing in the Hieda Residence Area? What about the already-deceased "Red-faced Brothers"?

Among them, Nishino, who is currently fully responsible for capturing the Cat Monk, is most shocked by these questions.

He has been dealing with the Cat Monk for such a long time, and this is the first time he has seen someone who seems to be a companion of the Cat Monk!

Da-da-da-da-da-da...!

At this moment, Aoto heard dense footsteps coming from the front.

Looking ahead, the three team members dispatched by Shimizu to intercept them by taking another route were blocking the path at the intersection.

After stopping, these three team members drew their jitte from their waists, ready for battle.

To forcibly break through this trio’s blockade would take some time, which could likely allow Shimizu and others from behind to catch up.

Thus, Aoto and Mukiwa simultaneously looked to the sides, seeking another escape route.

To their left and right were rows of densely packed shops.

Soon, Aoto found a suitable escape direction.

"Miss Kinoshita, this way." Aoto pointed with his hand to a low-sloped shop to his right.

This shop only had one floor, and the eaves were only two meters high.

Mukiwa followed Aoto’s pointing direction, glanced at the shop he indicated, and immediately understood Aoto’s intention.

"Mr. Tachibana, have you had any experience running on rooftops?" Mukiwa asked in astonishment.

"I have a little."

Jumping onto rooftops, running parkour on them... he had done this before when chasing the arsonists who burned his house with Chokata, Saito, and others. Aoto had tried parkour on the rooftops of this era, providing him with some relevant experience.