"Cough, cough."
Takasugi Shinsuke, who had been half-kneeling on the ground, seized the chance to catch his breath and regain a little strength.
Using his sword to support himself, he struggled to his feet.
His face was still pale, but his emerald-green right eye had once again ignited with a cold flame.
Casually wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he corrected Gintoki in a hoarse yet clear voice.
"Kijima Matako and Kawakami Bansai are my subordinates."
After a pause, Takasugi met Gintoki's sidelong glance and said coldly, "And I don't need to leave."
Gintoki picked his ear and mocked, "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."
"When we start fighting later, if you drag us down and end up as a meat patty beneath that bear's paw, I'm not collecting your corpse."
Takasugi merely responded with a cold sneer.
Very quickly, with Shinpachi, Kagura, Chunhe, and Elizabeth working together,
the severely injured and unconscious Kawakami Bansai and Kijima Matako were swiftly moved away.
Shinpachi looked worriedly at the people confronting each other in the middle of the road.
In the end, he gritted his teeth and left the scene.
He knew very well that, with his strength, staying would not help at all.
At that moment, only three people remained standing side by side on the wreckage-strewn road.
Sakata Gintoki, unusually serious; Katsura Kotaro, solemn-faced;
and Takasugi Shinsuke, battered all over but no less imposing.
Facing them was Major Debes, the "Black Bear," standing like a Demon God,
his entire body radiating monstrous fury and savage intent.
Gintoki took a deep breath and lowered Toyako from his shoulder.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, he assumed a somewhat convincing opening stance.
Then he declared loudly, "Well, then."
"Next, we—"
After a pause, Gintoki seemed to come