"Directly giving money to the poor can indeed temporarily improve their lives, but it can’t make their lives better in the long run."
"So I’ve decided—to save up all the money I’ve stolen and, in the future, build a school with low tuition that all poor people can afford, a school specializing in literacy, abacus, sewing, and various other skills."
"Only education can ensure that everyone’s lives continue to improve."
"The backyard of Thousand Affairs House has always been my responsibility; Mr. Kiryu never manages it, so I can safely hide the money in this deep tree hole without worrying about Mr. Kiryu discovering it."
"Although the money I’ve saved so far... is still far from enough to establish a school."
"But I believe that soday I will definitely build the school of my dreams."
Listening quietly to Mukiwa’s calm words, Aoto looked at Mukiwa’s eyes with a surprised expression.
Mukiwa wasn’t wearing a veil at the mont.
Usually, this child who always had an expression of timidity or shyness on her face... her eyes were now shining with a resolute light.
"Building a school, huh..." Aoto murmured softly, then smiled, "A noble ideal."
"Miss Kinoshita, tonight, my greatest takeaway... is having a completely different view of you."
Aoto’s sudden complint left Mukiwa stunned for a mont. She quickly turned her head to avoid eye contact, her face slightly flushed, lips moving as if wanting to say sothing to Aoto, but the words didn’t co out.
Chirp, chirp, chirp...
At this mont, a few loud bird calls reached Aoto and Mukiwa’s ears.
Birds are chirping... indicating that dawn is near.
"Haha... Before I knew it, it’s almost daybreak." Aoto slowly stood up, "Miss Kinoshita, I should probably head back now."
"If I don’t hurry back, it’ll be hard to explain if Mr. Chokata and others find out I’m not at Shiwei Hall."
"Mm." Mukiwa also stood up, "Tonight, thank you so much for your assistance."
"I told you, no need to thank ." Aoto waved his hand with a smile, "Miss Kinoshita, see you later."
"Ah, Mr. Tachibana." Just as Aoto turned around and was about to leave, Mukiwa suddenly called out to him.
"Hmm? What’s up?"
Mukiwa’s naturally hanging hands clenched and relaxed, her eyes darting around, stamring: "If... I encounter another incident in need of your assistance in the future... would you be willing to help again?"
Aoto’s expression paused.
He lifted his gaze, looked at Mukiwa for a while, then glanced at the tree hole where the money was hidden—
"...As long as I have the ti, and I can be of help." Aoto smiled and nodded slowly yet firmly.
Seeing Aoto’s gesture and hearing his words, Mukiwa, after a mont of surprise, showed a joyful smile with a hint of shyness.
That smile was like sunlight streaming through the clouds.
...
...
As Aoto climbed over the wall of the Thousand Affairs House and quickly left under the cover of night—
"...Finally gone."
A loud yawn ca from a large tree beside the Thousand Affairs House.
"Ha... so tired... I can finally go back to sleep. Getting old, energy really isn’t what it used to be."
On the tree sat an elderly man with glasses, cross-legged on a thick branch.
If Aoto or Mukiwa were present, they would certainly be shocked speechless upon seeing this old man.
This elderly man... was Boss Kiryu!
Cross-legged on the branch, Kiryu relied on the dense leaves for cover, leaning against the trunk, holding a tachi with a purple-black hilt and sheath, a large curve.
He watched Aoto through the gaps in the leaves, sending him off with a aningful gaze.
"Sigh... I really don’t know how I’m going to report this to Lord..."
He lanted lowly in a helpless tone, stretching his limbs lazily.
Bzzz, bzzz, bzzz...
Suddenly, a fly flew over, buzzing around Kiryu.
Kiryu waved his hand at the fly, trying to shoo it away, but the fly deftly spiraled upward, evading Kiryu’s swat and continued buzzing around him.
Kiryu waved his hand again, and the fly dodged again.
After several repetitions, Kiryu frowned, glanced at the persistent fly, then reached for the hilt of the tachi in his arms—
Click.
The mont Kiryu touched the tachi’s hilt, a crisp sound of resheathing was heard.
"Alright... ti to sleep." Stretching again with a lazy yawn, Kiryu slowly stood up, using the tree trunk for support.
And as he stood up, a fly cut neatly in two floated lightly to the ground next to him...
...
...
Although Nishino and Shimizu failed to capture Aoto and Mukiwa, they still did not co away empty-handed; they successfully apprehended Tora Goro, and those knocked unconscious by Mukiwa, Kuichiro, Hex Sanlang, and others.
Nishino and Shimizu took them all back to the Magistrate’s Office and subjected them to rigorous interrogation.
After a severe round of questioning, they finally learned from Tora Goro and the others why Cat Monk and the "Black Fox Mask" appeared in the Hieda Residence Area.
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