My Gang of Swordsmen

Chapter 329 - 133: Aoto vs. Man-Slayer Group! Copying the Deceiver Talent! [6800]

Should I say it was a stroke of good luck? After agreeing to help Mukiwa investigate this "Street Killing Incident," Aoto was actually prepared for a long haul.

After all, there were just the two of them, with no additional manpower or resources to call upon. Relying solely on the method of "waiting for the hare" to catch the suspect, who knows how long they might have to wait.

But who would’ve thought—on the first night after agreeing to help Mukiwa, they encountered a very suspicious suspect...

Sometimes Aoto felt that his luck was indeed quite peculiar.

Some very unlikely events often happened to suddenly fall on him.

Just over a month ago, after the Red-faced Brothers were reported to have fled from Kansai to Kantou, the Edo Magistrate’s Office held a meeting to remind the officials in the "Three Times" case to be cautious of this pair of brothers during street patrols.

In this meeting, an official presiding from the Osaka Magistrate’s Office, originating from Kansai, specifically mentioned some important intelligence about the Red-faced Brothers.

While silently tailing the Red-faced Brothers and their followers with Mukiwa, Aoto quietly recalled what he had heard at that meeting.

This pair of brothers were the most difficult type of criminals to deal with: random murderers.

Analyzing the actions of the brothers so far, it was not hard to deduce—they went around killing simply because they wanted to kill.

Not for money, not for lust, nor did they discriminate against the gender or age of their victims, as long as it was a person.

The older brother, Yoshikawa Ichitaro, was a brute skilled in wielding a Great Tachi, possessing sheer brute strength but lacking intelligence.

The younger brother, Yoshikawa Kojirō, was the opposite of his elder brother, with average martial power but an exceptionally clever mind.

It was said that the younger brother, Yoshikawa Kojirō, was very thoughtful and cunning in his actions.

He could tell lies completely contrary to reality so convincingly, it was hard to detect any flaws.

The reason the brothers had not yet been captured was largely due to the younger brother Kojirō’s cunning strategies, thinking of various schemes to narrowly escape while fleeing from Kansai to Kantou.

For instance: when nearly cornered by officials, they would use particularly sincere, emotionally charged lies to deceive kind-hearted civilians into providing them with shelter or food.

In short—it was a gang of ruthless thugs.

Matching his light steps, Aoto also slowed his breathing considerably.

The Hieda Residence Area didn’t have any paved roads, just an expanse of muddy ground, which obscured the sounds of their footsteps well.

Aoto and Mukiwa were like playing hopscotch, moving in and out of the shadows of buildings while maintaining a distance of 7 or 8 meters from the Red-faced Brothers.

Unaware that they were being followed, the Red-faced Brothers and their men sneaked deeper into the Hieda Residence Area, as if searching for something, all the while looking around cautiously.

What are they looking for—this question popped up in Aoto’s mind, just as he saw the Red-faced Brothers and their men suddenly stop in their tracks.

The Red-faced Brothers stopped, and Aoto and Mukiwa had to come to a halt as well, shrinking behind a thatched house, with only half of their faces peeking out to observe the situation.

They saw the Red-faced Brothers and their gang all focused their gaze on something in front of them.

From where Aoto and Mukiwa hid, they could see what the Red-faced Brothers were looking at—a young girl curled up at the roadside.

The girl was about 14 years old, very skinny, her limbs appeared to be screwed onto her body like loose bolts, as if they might fall off at any time.

Her clothes were tattered and filthy, barely different from rags, and because she was so skinny, the clothes hung on her like they were draped over a skeletal frame.

Her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, she slept sweetly at the filthy roadside.

There was no one else on the street besides the girl.

After examining the girl, the Red-faced Brothers exchanged glances with their men.

Then...Aoto saw them flash wicked smiles that made one feel uncomfortable just looking at them.

Blades glimmered.

Led by the Red-faced Brothers, the eight samurai drew their swords in a "gentle" manner that made no sound, then treaded "gently" toward the girl.

The sleeping girl...her small chest rose and fell rhythmically.

Completely unaware of the impending danger!

Both Aoto and Mukiwa’s expressions had now suddenly changed.

Anyone could see what the Red-faced Brothers intended to do!

In the next instant, as his pupils slightly contracted, Aoto reacted swiftly—his expression turned serious as he reached for the Orange Water at his left waist, while stepping out from behind the house with his left foot.

Beside him, Mukiwa was a bit quicker with her actions.

"This is far enough!" Mukiwa leapt out nimbly, landing in the middle of the street directly facing the Red-faced Brothers and their men.

Mukiwa’s shout shattered the silence like a mirror breaking.

The Red-faced Brothers and their gang paused, then quickly turned to look toward the voice, which was now coming from behind them from Mukiwa.