If there was only one place on fire, it could still be explained as "it’s currently the season that’s prone to fires," or said to be a coincidence.
But so many places catching fire at the sa ti... This can’t be explained away with just the word "coincidence!"
It’s already determined that these fires were deliberately set, but the fog clouding Aoto’s mind remains thick.
The intelligence is still too lacking.
Were these fires set by the Anti-foreigner Group?
Why set fires everywhere? Is it to divert our attention and energy so that we are too occupied to handle other matters?
If the arson is rely a cover they’re using... then what is their true objective?
Should we consult the higher-ups now on what action to take?
...
Aoto furrowed his brow, ditating deeply on the next course of action.
Suddenly, Aoto heard a "clack-clack-clack-clack" sound behind him...
This sound... it’s a bit like the sound of running on a wooden corridor.
However, the problem is that Aoto is currently outdoors, not indoors... Where is this strange sound of running on a wooden corridor coming from?
Before Aoto could turn around to investigate what this eerie sound was all about, the peculiar "wooden corridor running sound" abruptly stopped.
Imdiately after, a neutral, genderless deep voice sounded from the direction where the running had ceased—
"Tachibana Aoto! Catch this!"
...
...
Edo, Foreign Language Research Institute—
Shinno slowly stepped on the stairs, heading to the top floor of the Investigation Office, while expressionlessly questioning the One-ard Warrior beside him:
"So... everyone who is still alive has now hidden on the top floor?"
The One-ard Warrior, his face grim, nodded: "The first and second floors have been cleared."
"The remaining people are now gathered in a corridor on the west side of the top floor."
"They’ve built three walls using doors, tatami, and furniture, and made a few wooden spears. It looks like they intend to defend that corridor to the death."
"That corridor has only one entrance, I’ve already sent people to block this only entry, if they want to escape they’ll have to jump out of the corridor windows."
"But if they attempt to jump out the windows, the ’Encirclent Group’ surrounding the Investigation Office outside will be waiting for them."
"That Katsu Rintarō has a barbarian revolver. To minimize losses I’ve sent for large enough iron items that can be used as shields."
Shinno nodded: "Mm, you’re doing well."
After briefly praising the One-ard Warrior, Shinno let out a cold laugh.
"Katsu Rintarō is actually here... this is indeed a pleasant surprise."
Their goal tonight was very simple: to destroy this nauseating Foreign Language Research Institute, which was filled with "traitors."
Shinno never anticipated—Katsu Rintarō happened to be in the Institute this night.
This unexpected delight delivered to their doorstep could not be missed.
After all, Katsu Rintarō, with his abhorrent conduct as a "traitor," was surely one of their necessary targets, and since they encountered him tonight, they might as well kill him!
Under the guidance of the One-ard Warrior, Shinno arrived at the top floor of the Investigation Office, at the entrance of the corridor where Katsu Rintarō and others were holding out.
The mbers of the Anti-foreigner Group responsible for blocking this corridor were now hiding behind walls on the east and west side of the entrance, in places unreachable by Katsu Rintarō’s bullets.
Shinno stood sideways behind the west wall outside the corridor, poking half of his head out of the wall to look inside.
Inside the corridor, Katsu Rintarō holding the revolver was accompanied by apprentices and staff wielding various weapons, hiding behind the first wall.
Upon seeing Shinno peeking from the outside, Katsu Rintarō imdiately raised the revolver in his hand, aiming at Shinno.
Shinno hurriedly retracted his head behind the wall.
"Seems like only that Katsu Rintarō has a revolver," Shinno said calmly, "Once we handle Katsu Rintarō, the others pose no threat."
"Mr. Kamino, why don’t we just set fire and burn Katsu Rintarō along with this Institute? Our kerosene should have been spread sufficiently."
Under Shinno’s orders, the troops invading the Investigation Office were divided into two groups; one group was responsible for eliminating all living things within, while the other was spreading kerosene to later burn the Institute to the ground.
With the persistent efforts of the "Kerosene Team," the air on the first and second floors of the Institute now reeked of kerosene.
"No," Shinno imdiately refuted, "setting fire and waiting for the flas to climb up takes too long."
"Although the Magistrate’s Office is currently distracted by the fires we set across the Edo Castle Town, to be safe, we must eliminate these traitors as quickly as possible."
"Therefore, we must storm them."
As Shinno finished speaking, several mbers were seen carrying thick wooden boards approaching them.
"We couldn’t find any iron items big enough for shields! The only sizeable iron implent here was an iron pot, so we brought a few large wooden boards!"
"Wooden boards?" The One-ard Warrior frowned, his expression darkening.
From the pistol power he had just seen Katsu Rintarō wield... wooden boards of this thickness couldn’t possibly stop the bullets from his revolver...
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